Laramide Resources (ASX:LAM) subsidiary NuFuels has been awarded a US Department of Energy (DOE) grant of more than US$1.75 million for the joint Churchrock Restoration Study Project.
The joint research project is between NuFuel and the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to develop advanced in-situ recovery (ISR)-related groundwater restoration technology.
Laramide, which has a market capitalisation of $154.77 million, says the expenses for the grant will be shared at a ratio of 40% by NuFuels, to pay for the costs of obtaining the core material and laboratory equipment and supplies, and 60% by the DOE to provide the LANL expertise and facilities and fund research staff.
The project aims to address modern groundwater restoration standards in New Mexico and have a ‘significant’ impact on reducing the full cycle cost related to ISR by reducing the amount of water used during the groundwater restoration process through in-situ restoration techniques.
Laramide notes that the study will be performed using uranium-rich core collected from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission-licensed ISR uranium properties, owned by NuFuels in New Mexico.
Commenting on the grant, Laramide Resources and NuFuels President Marc Henderson says: “We are honoured to have been awarded this grant by the DOE. Los Alamos National Laboratory is one of the premier research institutions in the world.
We believe this project will result in cutting-edge groundwater restoration technology that will enhance post-ISR groundwater quality and be useful for groundwater restoration programs at other uranium-related legacy sites.
“We believe this project will result in cutting-edge groundwater restoration technology that will enhance post-ISR groundwater quality…”
NuFuels will reach out to stakeholders so they may be an integral part of the project as we move forward, and believe the work will be embraced by both the regulatory community and community in general.”
The Churchrock Project aims to demonstrate the capacity to restore groundwater geochemical conditions to background levels at uranium recovery operations through the application of restoration strategies.
These strategies include groundwater sweeping, active treatment through reverse osmosis and recirculation operations, amendment injections, and natural and enhanced attenuation processes.
Laramide Resources is exploring and developing ‘high-quality’ uranium assets in Australia and the western US. The company’s portfolio of assets includes the Westmoreland and Murphy projects in Australia and the Crownpoint-Churchrock, La Jara Mesa, and La Sal projects in the US.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Laramide Resources
