Interview with William Sheriff, Executive Chairman of enCore Energy Corp.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/wyoming-uranium-companies-at-heart-of-the-us-nuclear-revival-5749

Recording date: 28th March 2025

enCore Energy stands at a pivotal moment in its corporate journey, emerging as one of only two uranium producers in the United States at a time when domestic production capabilities carry increasing strategic importance. The company has recently undergone significant management changes, with the board deciding to replace CEO Paul Dorenson to refocus priorities from the building phase to production efficiency.

Executive Chairman Bill Sheriff characterizes this transition as necessary to instill a greater "sense of urgency" throughout the organization. "We are changing the culture and the culture starts from the top down in any organization," Sheriff explains. "A sense of urgency doesn't mean panic, it means motion. You need to keep things in motion."

The company's In-Situ Recovery (ISR) operations in Texas present an unusual technical challenge – the recovery process works exceptionally well, with over 80% of uranium recovered within just four months. This creates what Sheriff describes as a "double-edged sword" – rapid cash flow generation coupled with the need for continuous drilling to maintain production levels. The company's challenge has been keeping drilling activities paced appropriately to offset the steep production decline curves.

This production profile differs significantly from typical ISR operations, which generally see recovery spread over 12-15 months. Sheriff compares the situation to natural gas from fracking: "You get several months of joy and then it tails off very quickly. You don't get any less product, you just get it a whole lot sooner."

The management reset coincides with enCore implementing several strategic initiatives. The company has eliminated uranium spot market purchases to fulfill contracts – a practice that previously resulted in financial losses when buying at higher prices than contracted sales prices. Sheriff confirms: "Looking forward in 2025, all projections are we will not buy uranium in the spot market to deliver into our contracts this year."

Cost optimization efforts are underway, with the company "rationalizing every position and every expenditure." Production costs were approximately $40 per pound according to recent filings, with management confident in their ability to improve this metric. The company has also divested its New Mexico assets to concentrate resources on production-stage projects in Texas and South Dakota, adding approximately $30 million to its balance sheet through asset dispositions.

For investors, enCore represents a rare opportunity to gain exposure to actual uranium production in the United States. While the company has faced operational challenges, its focus on efficiency, cost control, and production growth positions it to potentially benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals. As Sheriff notes: "If you're looking at it as a race, we've got a heck of a head start over those that aren't in production or those that aren't even permitted yet."

Investors should monitor upcoming quarterly reports for evidence that operational improvements are translating into enhanced financial performance. With many competitors facing significant hurdles to reaching production, enCore's status as an active producer with cash flow provides a meaningful competitive advantage in an increasingly supply-constrained uranium market.

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View enCore Energy's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/encore-energy

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