Interview with Mark Chalmers, CEO, Energy Fuels

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/energy-fuels-nyseuuuu-americas-critical-minerals-champion-2025s-best-uranium-stock-returns-8965

Recording date: 29th January 2026

Energy Fuels, a leading U.S. uranium and critical minerals producer, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) through a scheme of arrangement valued at under 6% of its share registry. The transaction represents a significant milestone in Energy Fuels' strategy to build vertical integration across the rare earth supply chain, adding metals and alloys production capabilities to complement its existing separation operations at the White Mesa mill in Utah.

ASM brings immediate production capability through its South Korean facility, which currently produces approximately 1,300 tons per annum of neodymium-iron-boron alloy—a critical material for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and clean energy applications. The facility is already expanding to 3,600 tons per annum in Phase 2, with plans for Phase 3 expansion to 5,600 tons. Additionally, ASM had been developing plans for a U.S. facility with phased development up to 4,000 tons per annum, providing Energy Fuels with domestic production capabilities that align with government initiatives to reduce dependence on Chinese rare earth supply chains.

The acquisition also includes the Dubbo project in New South Wales, Australia—a permitted rare earth development that adds another feed source to Energy Fuels' growing portfolio. The project is being re-evaluated using a heap leach processing approach that significantly reduces capital requirements by producing an intermediate concentrate for shipment to White Mesa mill rather than building full on-site separation facilities.

CEO Mark Chalmers emphasized that vertical integration addresses a fundamental challenge in the rare earth industry: fragmentation. By controlling multiple steps from separation through alloys production, Energy Fuels expects to improve margins by up to 20% while positioning itself as a strategic partner for government programs and commercial customers seeking integrated solutions. The transaction is expected to close by the end of June 2026, following shareholder votes and court approvals under Australian law.

Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/energy-fuels

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