Deep Yellow Limited announced to release the results of the Tumas DFS, showing the uranium project as a potential world-class operation delivering robust returns to shareholders. The Tumas DFS Executive Summary prepared by DFS lead engineer, Ausenco Services Pty Ltd, with key input and direction from the Deep Yellow subject matter experts. A key feature of the DFS, compared to the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) outcome, is the increased production capacity of the plant from 3Mlbpa U3O8 to 3.6Mlbpa U3O8 and the increased throughput from 3.75Mtpa to 4.15Mtpa (11%).

This has allowed positive economics to flow, despite a 26% increase in initial capital as a result of inflationary (and Covid) impacts over the past 2.25 years and the 20% increase in capacity. The Company is satisfied that the increase in both capital and operating costs identified in the DFS is reflective of the increased plant capacity and inflationary forces experienced in the 2.25 years since the PFS was completed. These inflationary and Covid-related pressures appear to have been most significant over the past year and to have reached a peak, with some costs now showing signs of reducing.

This robust outcome underlines the prudent approach the Company and its development team take to each consecutive stage of project development, from Scoping Study to operations. The Tumas DFS, even under these difficult circumstances, has delivered strong results due to improved productivity and the conservative cost assumptions applied in the preceding studies. The experienced project development team has been consistent since September 2019 when the Tumas Scoping Study was commenced.

Sustainability: Deep Yellow intends to adopt world-class sustainability initiatives in the development of Tumas. An Environmental Impact Assessment, meeting the requirements of the Namibian Government regulations, was completed by an independent third-party and involved extensive consultation with Government and community stakeholders. Consultation will continue with stakeholders of the three major towns of Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Windhoek in Namibia before final submission to Government.

Potential areas of environmental impact have been identified and detailed management plans, mitigation measures and monitoring requirements are detailed in the Environmental Management Plan. Key highlights include amendments to the mine plan sequencing to avoid or minimise disturbance to areas of ecological importance. The process plant has been specifically designed to produce a benign tailings stream that will not have any long-term environmental impacts once final rehabilitation and closure of the project has been completed.

The predicted tailings behaviour, with respect to groundwater impact, has achieved independent, third-party endorsement from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Tumas will utilise mined-out areas for the storage of the benign tailings meaning open pits will be filled, covered and rehabilitated back to the original landform. The Company also intends to utilise solar farm technology to reduce the requirement for grid power and lower CO2 emissions by an estimated 850,000t over the life of the mine.

The uranium produced by the mine will displace approximately 34,200,000 tonnes of black coal over the LOM, resulting in an additional reduction in CO2 emissions of 89,300,000 t over the LOM. Development of the Tumas Project is expected to result in significant, positive socio-economic impacts for the local, regional, and national economy including benefits in the creation of approximately 800 jobs in construction, approximately 520 direct jobs (including site contractors) and a further approximately 1,900 to 2,550 indirect jobs during operations.