Alligator Energy Ltd (ASX:AGE) is progressing its primary focus on uranium with the appointment of a highly skilled and experienced executive as chief operating officer and approvals received for drilling of the key Samphire Uranium Project in South Australia.
In the role of COO Dr Andrea Marsland-Smith will lead and advance the project in a prolific uranium-producing area, guide work at other company projects and assist in pursuing further opportunities aligned to the corporate strategy.
SA Government green light
Also giving the company a lift today has been approval by the SA Department for Energy and Mining of the Exploration Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation (E-PEPR) for proposed drilling operations at Samphire.
The contracted drilling company is coordinating their team’s access into SA, with anticipated start on-site during the first week of November 2021.
Wealth of experience
Marsland-Smith brings a wealth of experience through her previous role as one of the five-member Executive Management Team of Heathgate Resources, owner/operator of the Beverley/Beverley North and operator of the Four Mile ISR uranium projects in South Australia.
Her roles on these projects have ranged through technical and field positions in geology through to head of Geology, head of Regulatory & Compliance, and head of Operations up to 2019.
Alligator Energy CEO Greg Hall said: “We are extremely pleased to have secured Andrea’s services for this key role to advance Samphire, as well as provide very experienced input and guidance to our exploration.
"Andrea’s wealth of experience in discovering and advancing uranium resources, ISR operations, and broad sector engagement around these is rare within Australia.”
Uranium sector work
Marsland-Smith's most recent role as head of HSSE, Regulatory & Compliance, Aboriginal and Government Affairs for Heathgate is testament to her skills in building strong relationships both internally and externally.
This role involved overseeing the key areas of government relations, uranium export logistics, production, construction, maintenance, technical development & services, environment, radiation, safety, mine site medical services & administration.
Since completing a PhD in Economic Geology, Marsland-Smith has worked predominantly in the uranium sector including for companies such as Uranium Equities (exploration in the Alligator Rivers Uranium Province where AGE also has property), Areva and Sinosteel Uranium SA, along with Heathgate.
In 2008 she was the recipient of AMEC (ASX:111)’s Explorer of the Year Award for the Four Mile Uranium discovery.
“Of paramount value”
AGE says that this combined experience over many years overseeing multi-disciplinary exploration and ISR uranium operations teams of at times 250-plus staff, along with high-level experience in leadership, coaching and mentoring and a strong commercial business acumen, makes her the ideal person to lead and guide the Samphire Uranium Project and team through early evaluation stages, technical reviews and feasibility and towards future production.
"The experience she has of the importance of geological and hydrogeological settings, plus resources understanding for successful ISR operations is of paramount value to the stage we are at,” Hall added.
“Added to this is Andrea’s experience in the Alligator Rivers Uranium Province and her international exposure to the uranium business.”