NexGen Announces Maiden Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Arrow Deposit

VANCOUVER, July 31, 2017 /CNW/ - NexGen Energy Ltd. ("NexGen" or the "Company") (TSX:NXE, NYSE:NXE) is pleased to announce the positive results of its independent maiden Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") of the basement-hosted Arrow Deposit, located on the Company's 100% owned Rook I project in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin.  

The maiden PEA was completed by Roscoe Postle Associates Inc. ("RPA"), and is based on the mineral resource estimate announced by the Company in March 2017 (with an effective date of December 20, 2016) that comprised an Indicated Mineral Resource of 179.5 M lb of U3O8 contained in 1.18 M tonnes grading 6.88% U3O8, and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 122.1 M lb of U3O8 contained in 4.25 M tonnes grading 1.30% U3O8. The PEA does not include the results of the Company's winter or summer 2017 drill programs which will total over 66,000 m of additional drilling.

Table 1 – Summary of Arrow Deposit Preliminary Economic Assessment

Exchange Rate CAD$1 = USD$0.80

Leigh Curyer, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "The Arrow Deposit is one of the most strategically significant and economically powerful mineral projects I am aware of across any resource commodity. Yet, it is still in it's infancy in terms of ultimate resource size given the openness of mineralization and new discoveries in close proximity to Arrow highlighted in our recent drilling results. This PEA highlights Arrow's unique technical setting, grade and characteristics of mineralization, resulting in it hosting the potential to be a leading source of mined uranium in the world with a relatively low capital and operating cost per lb over the life of the mine. Importantly, the project is located in Saskatchewan – regarded by the Fraser Institute in 2016 as the most attractive mining jurisdiction in the world for investment. With CAD$200 million in the treasury, NexGen is well financed to continue to expand and optimize economically this generational mineral resource."

Table 2 – Summary of Arrow PEA Production Profile

Table 3 – PEA Sensitivity to Uranium Price

Figure 1 – Arrow Undiscounted Cumulative After-Tax Cash Flow

Production Summary

The PEA envisions a production profile supported by conventional long-hole stope mining averaging 1,448 tonnes per day at an average head grade of 1.73% U3O8 over the life of mine. It is envisaged that mine production will be fed into a conventional uranium processing plant where uranium recovery is projected to be 96.0% over the life of mine.

It is envisaged that cemented paste fill tailings will be used, where tailings are constituted into a paste, mixed with approximately 5% cement and delivered back underground.  The cemented paste fill tailings will be used to backfill stopes and the excess will be placed in a, purpose built, Underground Tailings Storage Facility (see Figure 3 below).  Among many other benefits, this tailings management process is expected to significantly reduce the surface footprint of the project.

The positive results of the PEA are a function of a conventional long-hole stope mine plan conceivably extracting compact near-vertical high-grade uranium mineralization localized in competent crystalline basement rocks. Arrow is considered an optimal deposit for long-hole stope mining because it is comprised of stacked high-grade veins with strong continuity on strike, dip and vertical extent.  Additionally, there are natural pillars due to the spacing between the mineralized A1 through A4 shears. Due to the geometry of the Arrow deposit, approximately 93% of the mineral resource was converted into mineable resources. The positive results of the PEA are further supported by a high process recovery rate (96.0%), due to simple mineralogy and low deleterious elements.

Figure 2 – Arrow Annual Production and Grade Profile

Figure 3 – Long Section View of Conceptual Arrow Deposit Mine Infrastructure

Capital Costs

The capital costs (CAPEX) for the contemplated underground mine, process plant and supporting infrastructure at Arrow are estimated at CAD $1.66 billion including initial capital costs of CAD $1.19 billion.  The initial capital cost includes a contingency of 25% or CAD $237 million. RPA estimated the capital costs based on input and consultation with leading expert service providers who have experience in construction projects and cost estimation both in the Athabasca Basin and globally. The CAPEX is summarized below in Table 4.

Table 4 – Summary Breakdown of Capital Cost Estimates

Operating Costs

The operating cost estimate (OPEX) is based on a shaft accessed underground mine with a conventional longitudinal and transverse long-hole stope mining method, conventional processing facility and underground placement of cemented paste tailings. The OPEX is summarized below in Table 5, and the total cash costs and average production from the Arrow deposit over the first five years is compared to current global producers of uranium in Figure 4 and other select underground global producers across commodities in Figure 5.

Table 5 – Unit Operating Cost Estimates

Figure 4 – Total Cash Costs and Annual Production Compared Globally

Notes to Figure 4:

1. Adapted from SNL Metals and Mining.
2. Arrow production and costs based on PEA results.
3. All other data based on 2016 modelled costs and production from SNL Metals and Mining. NexGen makes no representations as to the reliability of this information.
4. SNL estimates costs and production for approximately 70% of uranium operations. 
5. Costs include operational costs.
6. Costs exclude sustaining capital costs, taxes, profit-based royalties, depreciation, and corporate costs.
7. The cost curve does not consider secondary supplies of U3O8.

Figure 5 – Total Unit Operating Costs Per Tonne Costs Compared Globally

Notes to Figure 5:

1. Unit operating costs are the sum of site-based mining, processing, and general and administration.
2. All of the comparable projects are underground mines with production rates ranging from nominally 1,000 tpd to 6,000 tpd. 
3. The majority of data points are mines that are considered to be in remote areas.
4. Data is based on a variety of sources, including SNL Metals and Mining, and publicly available information. NexGen makes no representations as to the reliability of this information.

The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves.  There is no certainty that PEA results will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Conference Call & Webinar:

NexGen will host a conference call and accompanying live webinar today, Monday July 31, 2017 at 8:15 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.

NexGen will discuss the results of the PEA before opening the call to questions from participants.  To join the call please dial (647) 427- 7450 (Local/International) or (888) 231-8191 (North America Toll Free) and an operator will put the call through. An accompanying live webcast and slides are available at the following link https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/1473876/9E04D006580642EEF7C22DCE3E35143A.

A recorded version of the proceedings will be available on our website (www.nexgenenergy.ca) shortly after the call. The playback numbers are (416) 849-0833 (Local/International) or (855) 859-2056 (North America Toll Free) (Playback Passcode 60229327) and available until October 30, 2017.

About NexGen

NexGen is a British Columbia corporation with a focus on the acquisition, exploration and development of Canadian uranium projects. NexGen has a highly experienced team of uranium industry professionals with a successful track record in the discovery of uranium deposits and in developing projects through discovery to production.

NexGen owns a portfolio of prospective uranium exploration assets in the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, Canada, including a 100% interest in Rook I, location of the Arrow Discovery in February 2014 and Bow Discovery in March 2015 and the Harpoon discovery in August 2016. The Arrow deposit's updated mineral resource estimate with an effective date of December 20, 2016 was released in March 2017, and comprised 179.5 M lbs U3O8 contained in 1.18 M tonnes grading 6.88% U3O8 in the Indicated Mineral Resource category and an additional 122.1 M lbs U3O8 contained in 4.25 M tonnes grading 1.30% U3O8 in the Inferred Mineral Resource category.

Technical Disclosure

The scientific and technical information in this news release with respect to the PEA has been reviewed and approved by David Robson, P.Eng., M.B.A., and Jason Cox, P.Eng. of RPA, each of whom is an independent "qualified person" under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI-43-101").  All other scientific and technical information in this news release has been approved by Mr. Garrett Ainsworth, P.Geo., Vice President – Exploration & Development for NexGen.  Mr. Ainsworth is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101 and has verified the sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information or opinions contained herein by reviewing original data certificates and monitoring all of the data collection protocols.

Technical Reports

The mineral resource estimate referred to herein was announced by the Company on March 6^th, 2017, and has an effective date of December 20, 2016.  For details of the Rook I Project including the quality assurance program and quality control measures applied and key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resource set forth herein please refer to the technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Rook 1 Property, Saskatchewan, Canada" dated effective March 31, 2017 (the "Rook 1 Technical Report"). The Rook I Technical Report is available on NexGen's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

A new technical report in respect of the PEA, that will supersede the Rook 1 Technical Report,  will be filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and EDGAR (www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml) within 45 days of this news release.

SEC Standards

Estimates of mineralization and other technical information included or referenced in this news release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. The definitions of proven and probable mineral reserves used in NI 43-101 differ from the definitions in SEC Industry Guide 7. Under SEC Industry Guide 7 standards, a "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves, the three-year historical average price is used in any reserve or cash flow analysis to designate reserves and the primary environmental analysis or report must be filed with the appropriate governmental authority. As a result, the reserves reported by the Company in accordance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC standards. In addition, the terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and normally are not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. "Inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Additionally, disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian securities laws; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measurements. Accordingly, information contained or referenced in this news release containing descriptions of the Company's mineral deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, without limitation, the completion of the technical report in support of the PEA. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof.

Forward-looking information and statements are based on the then current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about NexGen's business and the industry and markets in which it operates. Forward-looking information and statements are made based upon numerous assumptions, including among others, that the proposed transaction will be completed, the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price of uranium, the cost of planned exploration activities, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment, supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct NexGen's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward looking information or making forward looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performances and achievements of NexGen to differ materially from any projections of results, performances and achievements of NexGen expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others, negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of the availability of additional financing, the risk that pending assay results will not confirm previously announced preliminary results, imprecision of mineral resource estimates, the appeal of alternate sources of energy and sustained low uranium prices, aboriginal title and consultation issues, exploration risks, reliance upon key management and other personnel, deficiencies in the Company's title to its properties, uninsurable risks, failure to manage conflicts of interest, failure to obtain or maintain required permits and licenses, changes in laws, regulations and policy, competition for resources and financing and other factors discussed or referred to in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 31, 2017 under "Risk Factors".

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

Non-IFRS Measures

This news release refers to cash cost and certain other non-IFRS measures. These measurements have no standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. These measurements are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

SOURCE NexGen Energy Ltd.