GTI Energy Ltd (ASX:GTR, OTC:GTRIF) has announced plans to move forward with drilling to upgrade and expand its Lo Herma ISR Uranium Project in Wyoming’s Southern Powder River Basin, following a recently completed scoping study demonstrating the project's potential viability.
The study, conducted by BRS Engineering Inc., found that the Lo Herma Project could support an in-situ recovery (ISR) mining operation with an alkaline recovery process and central processing plant (CPP). With capital and operating cost estimates already in place, GTI is now preparing to launch a comprehensive drilling program aimed at increasing the resource confidence and expanding the project's footprint.
Scoping study confirms potential viability
The scoping study for the Lo Herma Project focused on evaluating the feasibility of a wellfield and processing plant, along with a satellite mining operation. The findings were positive, with the study identifying suitable wellfield layouts, a processing flowsheet and a potential CPP site.
Estimated capital and operating costs suggest a financially attractive ISR operation with significant expansion potential.
“Completion of the positive interim scoping study is a very important milestone for the Lo Herma project’s development,” said GTI Energy CEO and executive director Bruce Lane.
“Whilst the study did not meet the resource confidence level to allow us to publish the production targets and financial outcomes, we are nevertheless very encouraged by the results, and we are confident that further drilling will deliver the necessary resource upgrades."
Lane further emphasied the importance of continued exploration, citing the rapid growth of the US nuclear power sector and the tightening global uranium supply as factors supporting the project's future success.
Drilling to focus on resource upgrades and expansion
With the results of the scoping study in hand, GTI is preparing for the next phase of exploration at Lo Herma. The company is finalising plans for drilling in the second half of 2025, with an expanded fieldwork program aimed at both upgrading the current inferred resources and growing the project’s total mineral resource.
The planned drilling will prioritise infill drilling at Mine Units 1 (MU1) and 2 (MU2) to help increase the confidence of the current resource, while step-out drilling along the northern trends will target resource expansion. GTI is also gathering additional hydrogeological data, which will inform the project's environmental and operational planning.
Lo Herma drilling focus in context of mine units and plant location
The company's efforts will include aquifer pump testing to enhance the understanding of groundwater dynamics in the area. These tests will provide key data that will support the development of a detailed hydrogeological model, a critical component for advancing the project.
Lo Herma and other GTI projects in Wyoming
The Lo Herma Project remains GTI Energy’s flagship asset, but the company also holds several other high-potential uranium projects in Wyoming, including properties in the Great Divide Basin and Green Mountain areas. GTI has established itself as a key player in Wyoming’s uranium exploration space, with drill-permitted projects and a growing portfolio of resources.
As of December 2024, GTI's total mineral resources across Wyoming include 7.53 million tonnes, with 10.23 million pounds of contained U3O8. The company’s exploration targets in the region, based on historical data and recent drilling, suggest a total potential resource ranging between 12.14 million and 15.21 million tonnes.
GTI Energy's next phase of drilling at Lo Herma promises to be a pivotal step in unlocking the project's full potential, and the company remains optimistic about the future of the Lo Herma Project and its broader exploration efforts.