Uranium miningNuclear energyMining engineering
A federal tribunal has issued the final authorization that allows Denison to move from permitting into physical preparatory works for the Phoenix development. The decision combines the regulator’s review outcomes and public hearing record and removes the last federal barrier that had been holding up construction readiness.
Management expects site mobilisation to begin once the board signs off on a final investment decision, with surface preparation able to start immediately thereafter. The company forecasts a roughly two‑year construction window, positioning the mine to deliver initial production around mid‑2028.
Phoenix will use the in‑situ recovery (ISR) extraction method, a lower‑surface‑disturbance approach that the company argues supports stronger sustainability outcomes compared with conventional excavation techniques. That operational choice has been central to regulatory and community engagement that unfolded over several years.
The licence includes specified conditions that Denison agreed to resolve prior to active construction; the company reports those items have been addressed during pre‑licence work. Indigenous partners, provincial authorities and local communities were active participants in the review process that culminated in the federal decision.
Denison holds the controlling interest in the Wheeler River joint venture and is the named operator for Phoenix, while a minority partner retains a small ownership stake. The firm has already secured a construction management contract and says its balance sheet is positioned to support the move to a final investment decision.
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