ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Corporate Background
Uranerz Energy Corporation (“Uranerz” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada on May 26, 1999. On July 5, 2005, we changed our name from Carleton Ventures Corp. to Uranerz Energy Corporation. Our executive and operations office is located at 1701 East “E” Street, P.O. Box 50850, Casper, Wyoming USA 82605-0850. Our administrative office is located at Suite 1410 - 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2V6. The telephone number for our executive office is (307) 265-8900. The telephone number for our administrative office is (604) 689-1659.
Our common stock is traded on the NYSE Amex Equities and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “URZ” and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol “U9E”.
History
Uranerz was relatively inactive from 1999 until 2005 when it acquired mineral prospecting permits in Saskatchewan, mineral licenses in Mongolia and mining claims and leases in Wyoming. Exploration commenced in 2005 and has continued through 2010. In 2007 we filed uranium mining applications for a project in Wyoming. In 2008 we sold our Mongolian properties and have terminated exploration in Saskatchewan. We continue to acquire additional mineral properties and conduct exploration drilling while pursuing mining permits in Wyoming. We have increased our personnel and operational consultants to move some of our Wyoming properties into the mine planning and permitting stage. The development of our first mine, Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project, is expected to begin in 2011.
Our Business
We are an exploration stage company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and, when warranted, development of uranium properties. We have an interest in the properties described below.
We are principally focused on the exploration of our properties in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming. We are exploring these properties with the objective of assessing their viability for commercial in-situ recovery (which we may also refer to herein as ISR) uranium mining projects. ISR is a mining process that uses a “leaching solution” to extract uranium from underground ore bodies. We also own interests in properties in the Great Divide Basin area of Wyoming, and in Texas.
We have applied for mine operating permits on two of our properties in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming. We have received the Wyoming DEQ permits and are currently awaiting the NRC Source Materials License for developing our commercial in-situ recovery uranium mines. We are also assembling baseline data to permit additional properties in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming which appear to have potential for development.
Recent Corporate Developments
The following significant corporate developments occurred during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2010:
1. We issued 454,100 common shares upon the exercise of stock options for gross cash proceeds of $431,915;
2. We completed a public offering of 6,147,446 common shares, for gross cash proceeds of $20,000,000;
3. We continued our exploration program in Wyoming and significantly increased resources reported under NI 43-101 guidelines - see details under the section heading “Item 2 - Description of Properties”;
4. We continued to advance the licensing and permitting process to construct and operate in-situ recovery uranium facilities on our Nichols Ranch and Hank projects;
5. We started the licensing and permitting process to construct and operate in-situ recovery uranium facilities on our Jane Dough project;
6. We acquired extensive Geological Data on our North Reno Creek uranium prospect located in Campbell County, Wyoming;
7. We acquired the Excalibur/Mountain West log library of some 15,902 drill logs, drill hole maps and geologic cross sections for the Pumpkin Buttes area and commenced a detailed assessment of the data;
8. We completed the design of our proposed Nichols Ranch and Hank mining and processing facilities; and
9. We adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan designed to ensure that all of the Company’s shareholders receive fair and equal treatment in situations where an unsolicited offer to acquire the Company is made.
Competition
Our industry is highly competitive. We compete with other mining and exploration companies in connection with the acquisition of uranium mineral properties and the equipment, materials and personnel necessary to explore and develop such properties. There is competition for the limited number of uranium acquisition opportunities, some of which is with other companies having substantially greater financial resources, staff and facilities than we do. As a result, we may have difficulty acquiring attractive exploration properties, staking claims related to our properties, and exploring and developing our properties.
ISR Mining Process
We plan to use the process of in-situ recovery mining, a process that uses a 'leaching' solution to extract uranium from underground ore bodies. The 'leaching' agent, which contains an oxidant such as oxygen with sodium bicarbonate (commonly known as baking soda) or carbon dioxide, is added to the native groundwater and injected through wells into the ore body in a sandstone aquifer to dissolve the uranium. This solution is then pumped via other wells to the surface for processing -- resulting in a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly mining process.
The ISR mining process differs dramatically from conventional mining techniques in that ISR mining leaves the rock matrix in place. The ISR technique avoids the movement and milling of rock and ore as well as mill tailing waste associated with more traditional mining methods.
Minerals Exploration Regulation
Our uranium mineral exploration and development activities are, and our production activities (if and when they occur) will be, subject to extensive laws and regulations governing exploration, development, production, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, protection and remediation of the environment, protection of endangered and protected species, mine safety, toxic substances and other matters. Uranium minerals exploration is also subject to risks and liabilities associated with pollution of the environment and disposal of waste products occurring as a result of mineral exploration and production.
Compliance with these laws and regulations may impose substantial costs on us and will subject us to significant potential liabilities. Changes in these regulations could require us to expend significant resources to comply with new laws or regulations or changes to current requirements and could have a material adverse effect on our business operations.
Minerals exploration operations are subject to comprehensive regulation which may cause substantial delays or require capital outlays in excess of those anticipated, causing an adverse effect on our business operations. Minerals exploration operations are subject to federal and state laws relating to the protection of the environment, including laws regulating removal of natural resources from the ground and the discharge of materials into the environment. Minerals exploration operations are also subject to federal and state laws and regulations which seek to maintain health and safety standards by regulating the design and use of drilling methods and equipment. Various permits from government bodies are required for drilling operations to be conducted; no assurance can be given that such permits will be received. Environmental standards imposed by federal and state authorities may be changed and any such changes may have material adverse effects on our activities. As of the date of this annual report, other than with respect to the posting of a performance bond, we have not been required to spend material amounts on compliance with environmental regulations. However, we may be required to do so in future and this may affect our ability to expand or maintain our operations. Environmental regulation is discussed in further detail in the following section.
Environmental Regulation
Exploration, development and production activities are subject to certain environmental regulations which may prevent or delay the commencement or continuance of our operations. In general, our exploration and production activities are subject to certain federal and state laws and regulations relating to environmental quality and pollution control. Such laws and regulations increase the costs of these activities and may prevent or delay the commencement or continuance of a given operation. Compliance with these laws and regulations has not had a material effect on our operations or financial condition to date. Specifically, we are subject to legislation regarding emissions into the environment, water discharges, and storage and disposition of hazardous wastes. In addition, legislation has been enacted which requires well and facility sites to be abandoned and reclaimed to the satisfaction of state and federal authorities.
Waste Disposal
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA"), and comparable state statutes, affect minerals exploration and production activities by imposing regulations on the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal and cleanup of hazardous wastes and on the disposal of non-hazardous wastes. Under the auspices of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA"), the individual states administer some or all of the provisions of RCRA, sometimes in conjunction with their own, more stringent requirements.
CERCLA
The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") imposes joint and several liability for costs of investigation and remediation and for natural resource damages, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons with respect to the release into the environment of substances designated under CERCLA as hazardous substances ("Hazardous Substances"). These classes of persons or potentially responsible parties include the current and certain past owners and operators of a facility or property where there is or has been a release or threat of release of a Hazardous Substance and persons who disposed of or arranged for the disposal of the Hazardous Substances found at such a facility. CERCLA also authorizes the EPA and, in some cases, third parties to take actions in response to threats to the public health or the environment and to seek to recover the costs of such action. We may also in the future become an owner of facilities on which Hazardous Substances have been released by previous owners or operators. We may in the future be responsible under CERCLA for all or part of the costs to clean up facilities or property at which such substances have been released, and for natural resource damages.
Air Emissions
Our operations are subject to state and federal regulations for the control of emissions of air pollution. Major sources of air pollutants are subject to more stringent, federally imposed permitting requirements. Administrative enforcement actions for failure to comply strictly with air pollution regulations or permits are generally resolved by payment of monetary fines and correction of any identified deficiencies. Alternatively, regulatory agencies could require us to forego construction, modification or operation of certain air emission sources.
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act ("CWA") imposes restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of wastes, including mineral processing wastes, into waters of the United States, a term broadly defined. Permits must be obtained to discharge pollutants into federal waters. The CWA provides for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for unauthorized discharges of hazardous substances and other pollutants. It imposes substantial potential liability for the costs of removal or remediation associated with discharges of oil or hazardous substances. State laws governing discharges to water also provide varying civil, criminal and administrative penalties, and impose liabilities in the case of a discharge of petroleum or its derivatives, or other hazardous substances, into state waters. In addition, the EPA has promulgated regulations that require us to obtain permits to discharge storm water runoff. In the event of an unauthorized discharge of wastes, we may be liable for penalties and costs.
Underground Injection Control ("UIC") Permits
The federal Safe Drinking Water Act creates a nationwide regulatory program protecting groundwater. This act is administered by the EPA. However, to avoid the burden of dual federal and state (or Indian tribal) regulation, the Safe Drinking Water Act allows for the UIC permits issued by states (and Indian tribes determined eligible for treatment as states) to satisfy the UIC permit required under the Safe Drinking Water Act under two conditions. First, the state's program must have been granted primacy. Second, the EPA must have granted, upon request by the state, an aquifer exemption. The EPA may delay or decline to process the state's application if the EPA questions the state's jurisdiction over the mine site.
Segment Information
Segment information relating to the Company is provided in Note 16 to our financial statements under the section heading “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” below.
Employees
Currently we have sixteen full-time employees, five full time operational consultants and one part-time operational consultant. We operate in established mining areas, which we believe have sufficient available personnel for our business plans.
Available Information
Detailed information about us is contained in our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and other reports, and amendments to those reports, that we file with or furnish to the SEC. These reports are available free of charge on our website, www.uranerz.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such reports with or furnish such reports to the SEC. However, our website and any contents thereof should not be considered to be incorporated by reference into this document. We will furnish copies of such reports free of charge upon written request to our Investor Relations department. You can contact our Investor Relations department at:
Uranerz Energy Corporation	
Investor Relations	
Suite 1410 - 800 West Pender Street	
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6C 2V6	
Telephone: 1 800 689 1659 Email: info@uranerz.com
Additionally, our corporate governance guidelines, Code of Ethics and the charters of each of the standing committees of our Board of Directors are available on our website. We will furnish copies of such information free of charge upon written request to our Investor Relations department.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Stockholders should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below.
Our failure to successfully address the risks and uncertainties described below would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and/or results of operations, and the trading price of our common stock may decline and investors may lose all or part of their investment. We cannot assure you that we will successfully address these risks or other unknown risks that may affect our business.
Risks Related to Our Business
Our future performance is difficult to evaluate because we have a limited operating history.
We were incorporated in 1999 and we began to implement our current business strategy in the uranium industry in the beginning of 2005. Our operating cash flow needs have been financed primarily through issuances of our common stock. As a result, we have little historical financial and operating information available to help you evaluate our performance or an investment in our securities.
Because the probability of an individual prospect ever having reserves is remote, our properties may not contain any reserves, and any funds spent on exploration may be lost.
We have no uranium producing properties and have never generated any revenue from our operations. Because the probability of an individual prospect ever having reserves is remote, our properties may not contain any reserves, and any funds spent on exploration may be lost. Notwithstanding our disclosures to Canadian authorities under National Instrument 43-101, we do not know with certainty that economically recoverable uranium exists on any of our properties. We may never discover uranium in commercially exploitable quantities and any identified deposit may never qualify as a commercially mineable (or viable) reserve. We will continue to attempt to acquire the surface and mineral rights on lands that we think are geologically favorable or where we have historical information in our possession that indicates uranium mineralization might be present.
The exploration and development of mineral deposits involves significant financial and other risks over an extended period of time, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate. While discovery of a uranium, precious or base metal deposit may result in substantial rewards, few properties which are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines. Major expenditures are required to establish reserves by drilling and to construct mining and processing facilities at a site. Our uranium properties are all at the exploration stage and do not contain any reserves at this time. It is impossible to ensure that the current or proposed exploration programs on properties in which the Company has an interest will result in the delineation of mineral deposits or in profitable commercial operations. Our operations are subject to the hazards and risks normally incident to exploration, development and production of uranium, precious and base metals, any of which could result in damage to life or property, environmental damage and possible legal liability for such damage. While we may obtain insurance against certain risks, the nature of these risks is such that liabilities could exceed policy limits or could be excluded from coverage. There are also risks against which we cannot insure or against which we may elect not to insure. The potential costs which could be associated with any liabilities not covered by insurance, or in excess of insurance coverage, or compliance with applicable laws and regulations may cause substantial delays and require significant capital outlays, adversely affecting our future earnings and competitive position and, potentially our financial viability.
We have a limited operating history and have losses which we expect to continue into the future. As a result, we may have to suspend or cease exploration activities.
We were incorporated in 1999 and are engaged in the business of mineral exploration. We have not realized any revenue from our operations. We have a relatively limited exploration history upon which an evaluation of our future success or failure can be made. We have incurred losses since inception. Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and positive cash flow is dependent upon:
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our ability to locate a profitable mineral property;
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our ability to generate revenues;
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our ability to control costs.
Based upon current plans, we expect to incur operating losses in future periods. This will happen because there are expenses associated with the research and exploration of our mineral properties plus development costs to produce saleable product. We cannot guarantee we will be successful in generating revenues in the future. Failure to generate revenues may cause us to go out of business.
Because some of our officers and directors do not have technical training or experience in exploring for, starting, and operating a mine, we may have to hire qualified personnel. If we can’t locate qualified personnel, we may have to suspend or cease exploration activity.
Some, but not all, of our officers and directors do have experience with exploring for, starting, and operating a mine. Because some of our officers and directors are inexperienced with exploring for, starting, and operating a mine, we may have to hire qualified persons to perform surveying, exploration, and water management of our properties. Some of our officers and directors have no direct training or experience in these areas and as a result may not be fully aware of many of the specific requirements related to working within the industry. Their decisions and choices would typically take into account standard engineering or managerial approaches mineral exploration companies commonly use. However, our exploration activities, earnings and ultimate financial success could suffer irreparable harm due to certain of management’s decisions. As a result we may have to suspend or cease exploration activities, or any future warranted development activities, which would likely result in the loss of your investment.
Our future profitability will be dependent on uranium prices.
Because a significant portion of our anticipated revenues are expected to be derived from the sale of uranium, our net earnings, if any, can be affected by the long- and short-term market price of U3O8. Uranium prices are subject to fluctuation. The price of uranium has been and will continue to be affected by numerous factors beyond our control. With respect to uranium, such factors include the demand for nuclear power, political and economic conditions in uranium producing and consuming countries, uranium supply from secondary sources, uranium production levels and costs of production. Spot prices for U3O8 were at $20.00 per pound U3O8 in December 2004, and then, to $35.25 per pound in December 2005 and $72.00 per pound in December 2006. During 2007 the spot price reached a high of $138.00 per pound. The spot price of U3O8 was approximately $90.00 per pound in December 2007. The spot price declined during 2008, reaching a low of $44.00 per pound in October. In 2009, the spot price of U3O8 had a high of $51.50 and a low of $42.00. In 2010 the spot price had a high of $62.50 and a low of $40.75. The spot price of U3O8 was approximately $62.25 per pound and the long term price was approximately $65.00 per pound in December 2010.
Our operations are subject to environmental regulation and environmental risks.
We are required to comply with applicable environmental protection laws and regulations and permitting requirements, and we anticipate that we will be required to continue to do so in the future. The material laws and regulations within the U.S. that the Company must comply with are the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), Atomic Energy Act, Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (UMTRCA), Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, Federal Land Policy Management Act, National Park System Mining Regulations Act, and the State Mined Land Reclamation Acts or State Department of Environmental Quality regulations, as applicable. We also are required to comply with environmental protection laws in Canada. We are required to comply with the Atomic Energy Act, as amended by UMTRCA, by applying for and maintaining a Source Material license from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Uranium operations must conform to the terms of such license, which include provisions for protection of human health and the environment from endangerment due to radioactive materials. The license encompasses protective measures consistent with the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. We intend to utilize specific employees and consultants in order to comply with and maintain our compliance with the above laws and regulations.
The uranium industry is subject not only to the worker health and safety and environmental risks associated with all mining businesses, but also to additional risks uniquely associated with uranium mining and processing. The possibility of more stringent regulations exists in the areas of worker health and safety, the disposition of wastes, the decommissioning and reclamation of exploration and in-situ recovery mining sites, and other environmental matters, each of which could have a material adverse effect on the costs or the viability of a particular project. We cannot predict what environmental legislation, regulation or policy will be enacted or adopted in the future or how future laws and regulations will be administered or interpreted. The recent trend in environmental legislation and regulation, generally, is toward stricter standards and this trend is likely to continue in the future. This recent trend includes, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to air and water quality, mine reclamation, waste handling and disposal, the protection of certain species and the preservation of certain lands. These regulations may require the acquisition of permits or other authorizations for certain activities. These laws and regulations may also limit or prohibit activities on certain lands. Compliance with more stringent laws and regulations, as well as potentially more vigorous enforcement policies or stricter interpretation of existing laws, may necessitate significant capital outlays, may materially affect our results of operations and business, or may cause material changes or delays in our intended activities.
Our operations may require additional analysis in the future including environmental and social impact and other related studies. Certain activities require the submission and approval of environmental impact assessments. Environmental assessments of proposed projects carry a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and directors, officers, and employees. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain or maintain all necessary permits that may be required to continue operations or exploration of properties or, if feasible, to commence development, construction or operation of mining facilities at such properties at economically justifiable costs.
We intend to extract uranium from our properties using the in-situ recovery mining process which may not be successful.
We intend to extract uranium from our properties using in-situ recovery mining, which is suitable for extraction of certain types of uranium deposits. This process requires in-situ recovery mining equipment and trained personnel. Competition and unforeseen limited sources of supplies in the industry could result in occasional spot shortages of supplies, and certain equipment such as drilling rigs and other equipment that we might need to conduct exploration and, if warranted, development. We will attempt to locate additional products, equipment and materials as needed. If we cannot find the products and equipment we need, we will have to suspend our exploration and, if warranted, development plans until we do find the products and equipment we need.
We face risks related to exploration and development, if warranted, on our properties.
Our level of profitability, if any, in future years will depend to a great degree on uranium prices and whether any of our exploration stage properties can be brought into production. The exploration for and development of mineral deposits involves significant risks. It is impossible to ensure that the current and future exploration programs and/or feasibility studies on our existing properties will establish reserves. Whether a uranium ore body will be commercially viable depends on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: the particular attributes of the deposit, such as size, grade and proximity to infrastructure; uranium prices, which cannot be predicted and which have been highly volatile in the past; mining, processing and transportation costs; perceived levels of political risk and the willingness of lenders and investors to provide project financing; labor costs and possible labor strikes; and governmental regulations, including, without limitation, regulations relating to prices, taxes, royalties, land tenure, land use, importing and exporting materials, foreign exchange, environmental protection, employment, worker safety, transportation, and reclamation and closure obligations.
We are subject to the risks normally encountered in the mining industry, such as:
the discovery of unusual or unexpected geological formations;
accidental fires, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters;
unplanned power outages and water shortages;
controlling water and other similar mining hazards;
operating labor disruptions and labor disputes;
the ability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment, or labor;
our liability for pollution or other hazards; and
other known and unknown risks involved in the conduct of exploration, the operation of mines and the market for uranium.
The development of mineral properties is affected by many factors, including, but not limited to: the cost of operations, variations in the grade of ore, fluctuations in metal markets, costs of extraction and processing equipment, availability of equipment and labor, labor costs and possible labor strikes, and government regulations, including without limitation, regulations relating to taxes, royalties, allowable production, importing and exporting of minerals, foreign exchange, employment, worker safety, transportation, and environmental protection. Depending on the price of uranium, we may determine that it is impractical to commence, or, if commenced, continue, commercial production. Such a decision would negatively affect our profits and may affect the value of your investment.
Because we may be unable to meet property payment obligations or be able to acquire or maintain necessary mining licenses, we may lose interests in our exploration properties.
The agreements pursuant to which we acquired our interests in some of our properties provide that we must make a series of cash payments over certain time periods, expend certain minimum amounts on the exploration of the properties or contribute our share of ongoing expenditures. If we fail to make such payments or expenditures in a timely fashion, we may lose our interest in those properties. Further, even if we do complete exploration activities, we may not be able to obtain the necessary licenses to conduct mining operations on the properties, and thus would realize no benefit from our exploration activities on the properties.
Our mineral properties may be subject to defects in title.
We own, lease, or have under option, unpatented and patented mining claims, mineral claims or concessions and fee mineral leases which constitute our property holdings. The ownership and validity or title of unpatented mining claims and concessions are often uncertain and may be contested. We also may not have, or may not be able to obtain, all necessary surface rights to develop a property. We have not conducted title research in relation to many of our mining claims and concessions to ensure clean title. We cannot guarantee that title to our properties will not be challenged. Title insurance is generally not available for mineral properties and our ability to ensure that we have obtained secure claim to individual mineral properties or mining concessions may be severely constrained. Our mineral properties may be subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims, and title may be affected by, among other things, undetected defects. We may incur significant costs related to defending the title to our properties. A successful claim contesting our title to a property may cause us to compensate other persons or perhaps reduce our interest in the affected property or lose our rights to explore and, if warranted, develop that property. This could result in us not being compensated for our prior expenditures relating to the property. Also, in any such case, the investigation and resolution of title issues would divert our management's time from ongoing exploration and development programs.
Because we may be unable to secure access rights, we may be unable to explore and/or develop our properties.
Our mineral rights do not always include rights of access or use of the surface of lands. We require agreements with land owners for these rights which may be difficult to obtain and which may require cash payments.
Because mineral exploration and development activities are inherently risky, we may be exposed to environmental liabilities.
The business of mineral exploration and extraction involves a high degree of risk. Few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into production. At present, none of our properties has a known body of commercial ore. Unusual or unexpected formations, formation pressures, fires, power outages, labor disruptions, flooding, explosions and the inability to obtain suitable or adequate machinery, equipment or labor are other risks involved in extraction operations and the conduct of exploration programs. Although we intend to carry liability insurance with respect to our mineral exploration operations, we may become subject to liability for damage to life and property, environmental damage or hazards against which we cannot insure or against which we may elect not to insure. Previous mining operations may have caused environmental damage at certain of our properties. It may be difficult or impossible to assess the extent to which such damage was caused by us or by the activities of previous operators, in which case, any indemnities and exemptions from liability may be ineffective. If any of our properties is found to have commercial quantities of ore, we would be subject to additional risks respecting any development and production activities. Most exploration projects do not result in the discovery of commercially mineable deposits of ore.
Because we have not put a mineral deposit into production before, we may have to acquire outside expertise. If we are unable to acquire such expertise we may be unable to put our properties into production.
Our Board of Directors includes six individuals, two of whom are in operational management, that have technical or financial experience in placing mining projects into production. However, we may also be dependent upon using the services of appropriately experienced personnel or entering into agreements with other companies that can provide such expertise.
Acquisitions and integration issues may expose us to additional risks which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our business strategy includes making targeted acquisitions. Any acquisition that we make may be of a significant size, may change the scale of our business and operations, and may expose us to new geographic, political, operating, financial and geological risks. The success of our acquisition activities depends on our ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates, negotiate acceptable terms for any such acquisition and integrate the acquired operations successfully with our own. Any acquisitions would be accompanied by risks which could have a material adverse effect on our business. For example, there may be significant decreases in commodity prices after we have committed to complete the transaction and have established the purchase price or exchange ratio; a material ore body may prove to be below expectations; we may have difficulty integrating and assimilating the operations and personnel of any acquired companies, realizing anticipated synergies and maximizing the financial and strategic position of the combined enterprise and maintaining uniform standards, policies and controls across the organization; the integration of the acquired business or assets may disrupt our ongoing business and our relationships with employees, customers, suppliers and contractors; and the acquired business or assets may have unknown liabilities which may be significant. If we choose to use equity securities as consideration for such an acquisition, existing stockholders may suffer dilution. Alternatively, we may choose to finance any such acquisition with our existing resources. There can be no assurance that we would be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with such acquisitions.
The mining industry is highly competitive.
The business of the acquisition, exploration, and development of uranium properties is intensely competitive. We will be required to compete, in the future, directly with other corporations that may have better access to potential uranium resources, more developed infrastructure, more available capital, and better access to necessary financing, and more knowledgeable and available employees than us. We may encounter competition in acquiring uranium properties, hiring mining professionals, obtaining mining resources, such as manpower, drill rigs, and other mining equipment. Such competitors could outbid us for potential projects or produce minerals at lower costs. Increased competition could also affect our ability to attract necessary capital funding or acquire suitable producing properties or prospects for uranium exploration in the future.
Risks Related to Corporate and Financial Structure
We are dependent upon key management employees.
The success of our operations will depend upon numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including (i) our ability to enter into strategic alliances through a combination of one or more joint ventures, mergers or acquisition transactions; and (ii) our ability to attract and retain additional key personnel in sales, marketing, technical support and finance. We currently depend upon our management employees to seek out and form strategic alliances and find and retain additional employees. There can be no assurance of success with any or all of these factors on which our operations will depend. We have relied and may continue to rely, upon consultants and others for operating expertise.
Our growth will require new personnel, which we will be required to recruit, hire, train and retain.
We expect significant growth in the number of our employees if we determine that a mine at any of our properties is commercially feasible, we are able to raise sufficient funding and we elect to develop the property. This growth will place substantial demands on us and our management. Our ability to assimilate new personnel will be critical to our performance. We will be required to recruit additional personnel and to train, motivate and manage employees. We will also have to adopt and implement new systems in all aspects of our operations. This will be particularly critical in the event we decide not to use contract miners at any of our properties. We have no assurance that we will be able to recruit the personnel required to execute our programs or to manage these changes successfully.
Legislation, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, may make it difficult for us to retain or attract officers and directors.
We may be unable to attract and retain qualified officers, directors and members of board committees required to provide for our effective management as a result of the recent and currently proposed changes in the rules and regulations which govern publicly-held companies. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has resulted in a series of rules and regulations by the Securities and Exchange Commission that increased responsibilities and liabilities of directors and executive officers. The increased personal risk associated with these changes may deter qualified individuals from accepting these roles.
Stock market price and volume volatility.
The market for our common stock may be highly volatile for reasons both related to the performance of the Company or events pertaining to the industry (i.e. mineral price fluctuation/high production costs/accidents) as well as factors unrelated to the Company or its industry. In particular, market demand for uranium fluctuates from one business cycle to the next, resulting in change of demand for the mineral and an attendant change in the price for the mineral. Our common stock can be expected to be subject to volatility in both price and volume arising from market expectations, announcements and press releases regarding our business, and changes in estimates and evaluations by securities analysts or other events or factors. In recent years, the securities markets in the United States have experienced a high level of price and volume volatility, and the market price of securities of many companies, particularly small-capitalization companies, have experienced wide fluctuations that have not necessarily been related to the operations, performances, underlying asset values, or prospects of such companies. For these reasons, the price of our common stock can also be expected to be subject to volatility resulting from purely market forces over which we will have no control.
Granting of options may negatively impact the value of our common shares.
Because the success of the Company is highly dependent upon its respective employees, we may in the future grant to some or all of our key employees, directors and consultants, options to purchase shares of our common stock as non-cash incentives. Those options may be granted at exercise prices equal to market prices at times when the public market is depressed. To the extent that significant numbers of such options may be granted and exercised, the interests of the other stockholders of the Company may be diluted.
The issuance of additional shares of common stock may negatively impact the trading price of our shares of common stock.
We have issued equity securities in the past and may continue to issue equity securities to finance our activities in the future, including to finance future acquisitions, or as consideration for acquisitions of businesses or assets. In addition, outstanding options and warrants to purchase shares of common stock may be exercised, resulting in the issuance of additional shares of common stock. The issuance by us of additional shares of common stock would result in dilution to our stockholders, and even the perception that such an issuance may occur could have a negative impact on the trading price of our shares of common stock.
The value of an investment in our shares of common stock could decline substantially.
The market price for shares of our common stock has been and can be expected to remain highly volatile. As a result, shareholders might experience an extreme variation in the value of their holdings. Trading prices of many exploration stage companies, including us, have experienced price and volume fluctuations which have, at times, been seemingly unrelated to the performance of the companies whose securities were affected.
We do not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
We have never paid a dividend to our shareholders, and we intend to retain our cash for the continued development of our business. We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. As a result, your return on investment will be solely determined by your ability to sell your shares in a secondary market.
We depend on our ability to successfully access the capital and financial markets. Any inability to access the capital or financial markets may limit our ability to execute our business plan or pursue investments that we may rely on for future growth.
We rely on access to long-term capital markets as a source of liquidity for capital and operating requirements. If we are not able to access financial markets at competitive rates, our ability to implement our business plan and strategy may be affected. Certain market disruptions may increase our cost of borrowing or affect our ability to access one or more financial markets. Such market disruptions could result from:
adverse economic conditions;
adverse general capital market conditions;
poor performance and health of the uranium industry in general;
bankruptcy or financial distress of unrelated uranium companies or marketers;
significant decrease in the demand for uranium;
adverse regulatory actions that affect our exploration and development plans; and
terrorist attacks on our potential customers.
Recent market events and conditions, including disruptions in the U.S. and international credit markets and other financial systems and the deterioration of the U.S. and global economic conditions, could, among other things, impede access to capital or increase the cost of capital, which would have an adverse effect on our ability to fund our working capital and other capital requirements.
Beginning in late 2007, the U.S. credit markets began to experience serious disruption due to a deterioration in residential property values, defaults and delinquencies in the residential mortgage market (particularly, subprime and non-prime mortgages) and a decline in the credit quality of mortgage backed securities. These problems led to a slow-down in residential housing market transactions, declining housing prices, delinquencies in non-mortgage consumer credit and a general decline in consumer confidence. These negative conditions peaked in 2008, causing a loss of confidence in the broader U.S. and global credit and financial markets and resulting in the collapse of, and government intervention in, major banks, financial institutions and insurers and creating a climate of greater volatility, less liquidity, widening of credit spreads, a lack of price transparency, increased credit losses and tighter credit conditions. Various actions by the U.S. and foreign governments are targeting general conditions of the capital markets, financial instruments, banks, investment banks, insurers and other financial institutions to stabilize and improve the broader credit and stock markets. The general economic indicators, including low consumer sentiment, high unemployment and low economic growth indicate continued economic uncertainty.
These unprecedented disruptions in the current credit and financial markets have had a significant material adverse impact on a number of financial institutions and have limited access to capital and credit for many companies. These disruptions could, among other things, make it more difficult for us to obtain, or increase our cost of obtaining, capital and financing for our operations. Our access to additional capital may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
We do not have any unresolved comments from the SEC staff regarding our periodic or current reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES
Overview
We are an exploration stage company engaged in the acquisition, exploration and, if warranted, development of uranium properties. “Uranium” used in this context refers to U3O8. U3O8, also called yellowcake, is triuranium octoxide produced from uranium ore and is the most actively traded uranium-related commodity.
We are focused on both the exploration and development of our properties in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming. We are exploring these properties with the objective of assessing their viability for commercial ISR uranium mining. ISR is a mining process that uses a “leaching solution” to extract uranium from underground ore bodies.
Concurrent with our exploration activities, we are also preparing the Nichols Ranch Unit for construction of the central processing plant and well field which is expected to begin in 2011. We applied for and expect to receive our mine construction and operating permits on two of our properties in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming, known as the Nichols Ranch and Hank Units in 2011. We believe that these properties have the potential, based on data in our possession, of being developed into commercial ISR uranium mines. These permits will allow us to produce uranium yellowcake concentrate, which can be sold directly to utilities for fuel used in nuclear electrical generating facilities. Because of the long lead times for environmental permitting of mining operations in North America, we filed applications to the State of Wyoming (WDEQ) and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for permits for the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project in December 2007. The status of our permitting activities is described more fully below under the heading “Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project”.
Our Wyoming properties totaling 100,337 acres include:
Powder River Basin
100% owned properties, which totaled 26,544 acres as of December 31, 2010;
properties of Arkose Mining Venture, in which we hold an 81% interest, which totaled 67,273 acres as of December 31, 2010.
Great Divide Basin
100% owned properties, which totaled 6,520 acres as of December 31, 2010.
We completed a substantial exploration program on our Powder River Basin properties in 2010. A total of 312 drill holes and 24 wells were completed in 2010, representing approximately 241,600 feet of drilling at an average depth of 719 feet per hole. Uranium trend holes, delineation holes and wells were drilled utilizing two drill rigs and two electric log probing units.
The objective of the 2010 drilling program was to find previously unknown or little-known uranium mineralization trends and to delineate known trends, which would provide data for permitting and eventual production operations in favorably identified areas. During the 2010 drilling program, approximately ten miles of uranium roll front trends were investigated. The water wells were installed to facilitate environmental data collection for future project permitting purposes.
Our 2010 drilling program led to the preparation and filing of two National Instrument 43-101 Technical Reports, which are described in more detail below under “2010 Drilling Program”.
In anticipation of receiving all the approvals necessary to mine, we have commenced a marketing program for conditional sales of uranium from our Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project. In July of 2009, we entered into a sales agreement with Exelon Generation Company, LLC for the sale of uranium over a five-year period. In August of 2009, we entered into a second contract for the sale of uranium to another U.S. utility, also over a five-year period.
Our plan of operations during 2011 is to:
continue with our exploration of our Powder River Basin Properties as detailed below under “2011 Exploration Program”;
commence construction of our Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project; and
continue the permitting process for our Jane Dough property.
We have sufficient financing to continue our exploration and permitting activities and design and early stage construction activities over the next twelve months. However, we may require additional financing in order to complete construction of our Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project. There is no assurance that we will be able to obtain the necessary financing to complete construction or carry out mining activities, if mining is warranted.
All of our projects are at the exploration stage and there can be no assurance that a commercially viable mineral deposit, or reserve, exists on any of our properties until appropriate exploratory work is done and a comprehensive evaluation based on such work concludes legal and economic feasibility. Further exploration may be required before a final evaluation as to the economic, technical and legal feasibility of mining of any of our properties is determined. There is no assurance that further exploration will result in a final evaluation that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on any of our mineral properties.
Operations
Our exploration program in the Wyoming Powder River Basin is directed by Mr. Kurtis Brown, Senior Vice-President Exploration and is supervised by Mr. George Hartman, our Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. We engage contractors to carry out our exploration programs under Mr. Brown’s supervision. Contractors that we plan to engage include project geologists, drilling companies and geophysical logging companies, each according to the specific exploration program on each property.
Our management will make determinations as to whether to proceed with the additional exploration of our Wyoming Powder River Basin mineral properties based on the results of the preliminary exploration that we undertake. In completing these determinations, we will make an assessment as to whether the results of the exploration are sufficiently positive for us to proceed with more advanced analysis.
Wyoming - Powder River Basin
Our Powder River Basin properties in Wyoming as shown in the map below:
Uranerz Energy Corporation - Wyoming Property Location - December 2010
Source: Uranerz Energy Corporation 2010
We plan to maintain, explore and, when warranted, develop our properties in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming.
Powder River Basin Properties
As of December 31, 2010, our Powder River Basin properties include both our 100% owned properties and those properties included within the Arkose Mining Venture. These principal properties comprise in total approximately 93,816 acres and consist of a combination of federal mining claims, state mineral leases and private fee mineral leases. A map showing the location of our 100% owned Powder River Basin and Arkose Mining Venture properties is provided below:
Uranerz Energy Corporation - Powder River Basin - December
Source: Uranerz Energy Corporation 2010
An additional map showing the location of our properties within the general Powder Basin property area and our key property units is presented below:
Uranerz Energy Corporation - Powder River Basin - Property Units - December 2010
Source: Uranerz Energy Corporation 2010
Ownership Interests
Our ownership interests in the properties within the Powder River Basin are summarized as follows:
100% Owned Properties
Our 100% owned properties are comprised of unpatented lode mining claims, state leases and fee (private) mineral leases, as summarized as follows:
(i) Subject to royalties, as discussed further below.
These 100% owned properties in the Powder River Basin include the following core property units:
We continue to look for more prospective lands in the Powder River Basin and as a result may locate, purchase or lease additional unpatented lode mining claims; and/or purchase or lease additional fee mineral (private) lands during the next twelve months, however there is no assurance any additional properties will be acquired.
Arkose Mining Venture
The Arkose Mining Venture properties are comprised of unpatented mineral lode claims, state leases and fee (private) mineral leases, as summarized as follows:
(i) Subject to royalties, as discussed further below.
We completed the acquisition of an undivided 81% interest in the Arkose Mining Venture (the “Venture”) mineral properties on January 15, 2008. This acquisition was completed pursuant to a purchase and sale agreement with the Venture previously announced on September 19, 2007 between Uranerz, and NAMMCO, Steven C. Kirkwood, Robert W. Kirkwood and Stephen L. Payne (collectively, the “NAMMCO Sellers”). The total purchase price that we paid to acquire this 81% interest in the Arkose Mining Venture included cash of $5,757,000 and 5,750,000 shares of our common stock issued to the NAMMCO Sellers. The NAMMCO Sellers entered into a voting agreement with us effective January 15, 2008 pursuant to which each of the NAMMCO sellers granted to our management or our appointed agent the right to vote fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding and currently held shares issued as consideration for the acquisition, whether held directly or indirectly by each of the NAMMCO sellers, for a period of three (3) years following the date of the issuance.
In connection with our acquisition of an 81% interest in the Arkose Mining Venture, we entered into a venture agreement dated as of January 15, 2008 (the “Venture Agreement”) with United Nuclear, LLC (“United Nuclear”), a limited liability company wholly owned by the NAMMCO Sellers and their designee under the purchase and sale agreement. Under the Venture Agreement, we agreed that United Nuclear will hold (and contribute to) its nineteen percent (19%) working interest in the Arkose Mining Venture, and we will operate and be the manager of the Arkose Mining Venture under the name “Arkose Mining Venture”. We and United Nuclear agreed to contribute funds to programs and budgets approved under the Arkose Mining Venture in accordance with our respective interests in the Venture.
The Venture Agreement provides that we, as manager, will have management and control over operations carried out by the Venture. We are obligated to present proposed programs and budgets to the management committee of the Venture on an annual basis. The proposed programs and budgets may include exploration programs, pre-feasibility studies, feasibility studies, development, mining, and expansion or modification of operation plans. Proposed programs and budgets are reviewed by the management committee appointed under the Venture which includes at least two members from each company appointed by Uranerz and United Nuclear respectively. Unless otherwise provided in the Venture Agreement, the vote of the participant with a participating interest greater than 50% will determine decisions of the management committee. A participant may elect to participate in an approved program and budget either (i) in proportion to the participant’s respective interest in the Venture, or (ii) not at all. In the event that a participant elects not to participate in a program and budget, then its participating interest in the Venture Agreement is subject to recalculation in accordance with the Venture Agreement to reflect the decision not to participate.
This overview of the Venture Agreement does not provide a full discussion of all terms and conditions of the Venture Agreement. Investors are encouraged to read the entire copy of the Venture Agreement that was filed with the SEC as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 22, 2008.
The Arkose Mining Venture includes the following property units on which we have conducted exploration:
South Doughstick
Cedar Canyon
East Buck
South Collins Draw
Sand Rock
Little Butte
House Creek
Beecher Draw
Lone Bull
Other Powder River Basin Projects
Through a combination of claim staking, purchasing, and leasing, we also have acquired interests in several projects that lie within the Powder River Basin but outside of the project areas discussed above. These properties include the Verna Ann, Niles Ranch, and Reno Creek projects which cover approximately 1,673 acres. In general, these projects are located in sandstone basins of Tertiary age with known uranium mineralization. However, due to our focused approach we have not yet initiated exploration work on these projects. Additional leasing in the Reno Creek Project has prompted us to acquire past exploration and development data for this area to support a National Instrument 43-101 report which was published on October 13, 2010. If warranted, environmental base line work may begin thereafter with the goal of submitting an environmental permit application for ISR facilities.
Forfeiture of certain Powder River Basin and Great Divide Basin interests
During August 2010, we decided to forfeit our interests in certain mining claims in the Powder River Basin and the Great Divide Basin which we determined, based on the review, analysis and recommendations of our geological staff, did not merit further exploration and accordingly were no longer of strategic interest or value to the Company. The claims, which were forfeited effective September 1, 2010 when the annual renewal fee would have become due, were comprised of: 295 claims in which we had held a 100% interest in the Collins Draw, Eagle, Cyclone Rim, WM, Bison Basin, JS, Divide, C-Line, and West North Butte project areas and 1269 claims in the Little Butte, South Collins, East Buck, Kermit, Sand Rock, Cedar Canyon, Lone Bull, Stage, and Beecher Draw project areas, in which we held an 81% interest through the Arkose Mining Venture. We will continue to review our property portfolio and may decide to forfeit other properties in the future if we determine that they are no longer of strategic interest.
NI 43-101 Technical Reports
We have obtained technical reports on the following material properties:
Cautionary Note to United States Investors
As a company listed on the TSX, we are required by Canadian law to provide disclosure in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). This required disclosure includes the preparation and filing of technical reports on our material mineral properties with Canadian securities commissions under NI 43-101. These technical reports are furnished by us to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on Form 8-K in order to satisfy our “public disclosure” obligations under SEC Regulation FD and are not filed with the SEC. U.S. reporting requirements for disclosure of mineral properties, including disclosure required in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, are governed by the Industry Guide 7 ("SEC Guide 7") of the SEC. The standards of disclosure of mineral properties under NI 43- 101 and SEC Guide 7 are substantially different. All mineral resources disclosed in our NI 43-101 technical reports referenced herein have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources and mineral reserves of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in National Instrument 43-101, commonly referred to as "NI 43-101". The terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve" and "probable mineral reserve" are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101. These definitions differ from the definitions in SEC Guide 7. Under SEC 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.
The NI 43-101 technical reports referenced herein use the terms "mineral resource," "measured mineral resource," "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource". We advise shareholders that these terms are defined in and required to be disclosed by NI 43-101; however, these terms are not defined terms under SEC Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Shareholders are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into SEC Guide 7 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 rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Shareholders are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of any mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained pounds" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; 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 measures.
The following information regarding our ownership interests in our material properties, their geology and their exploration history is taken from these technical reports.
Hank Unit and Nichols Ranch Unit
Within the Nichols Ranch Unit we have 36 unpatented lode mining claims, two fee surface and mineral leases, and one surface use agreement. There is an overriding royalty interest in favor of Excalibur Industries on all federal unpatented lode mining claims that were acquired by us from Excalibur Industries. Many of the unpatented lode mining claims located at the Hank Unit and at the Nichols Ranch Unit have an associated gross royalty payable to Excalibur Industries of 6 percent when the spot price of uranium is less than $45.00 per pound and of 8 percent if the uranium spot price is $45.00 per pound or higher. In addition, there is a portion of the Nichols Ranch Unit that includes private (fee) mineral that is subject to the above Excalibur Industries royalty, plus an additional royalty payable to the fee mineral owner under the fee leases (equaling a 12 percent or 16 percent royalty depending upon the spot price of uranium).
Within the Hank Unit, we have 66 unpatented lode mining claims, two fee surface and mineral leases, and one surface use agreement. The Hank Unit permit boundary encompasses approximately 2,250 acres. Within the permit boundary, we have the right to mine approximately 1,393 acres of mineral rights. Of the 66 unpatented lode mining claims comprising the Hank Unit, 56 of the claims have a royalty interest burden, payable to Excalibur Industries, of six or eight percent depending on the selling price of uranium. This royalty interest is based on uranium produced from these claims.
West North-Butte Satellite Properties
The West North-Butte property covers approximately 1,960 acres of land and is comprised of 125 unpatented lode mining claims and one surface use agreement, of which 6 unpatented lode mining claims are subject to a royalty interest burden, payable to Excalibur Industries, of six or eight percent depending on the price of uranium.
The east portion of the West North-Butte property covers approximately 325 acres of land and is comprised of 17 unpatented lode mining claims and one surface use agreement. None of the claims in this property are subject to a royalty.
The Willow Creek property covers approximately 220 acres of land and is comprised of 11 unpatented lode mining claims and one surface use agreement, all of which unpatented lode mining claims are subject to a royalty interest burden, payable to Excalibur Industries, of six or eight percent depending on the price of uranium.
Arkose Mining Venture
The Arkose Mining Venture properties consist of unpatented lode mining claims, fee mineral leases, and state mineral leases. The land surface consists of private, federal and state lands. There are 2,857 unpatented lode mining claims included in the Arkose Property which comprise 46,763 acres and 70 fee mineral leases and 3 state leases included in the Arkose Property which comprise 20,510 acres. All of the unpatented lode mining claims are owned by us subject to the beneficial interests of the participants in the Arkose Mining Venture.
Of the 2,857 unpatented lode mining claims, 775 unpatented lode mining claims have an overriding royalty interest burden of 0.25% . This overriding royalty interest is based on production of uranium on these claims.
The title of the Arkose Mining Venture to the leased property included in the Arkose Property is a leasehold interest subject to the various terms as set forth in the applicable leases (the “Arkose Leases”). The Arkose Leases are mineral leases only and the Arkose Mining Venture obtained surface use agreements with the various surface owners of said lands prior to commencing any activities. The majority of the Arkose Leases (other than the three state leases, which are paid annually) are paid up for either five or ten years. The five-year paid-up leases have an option to extend for a second five-year term, and for so long thereafter as the property under the lease is in production. The Arkose Leases only cover uranium and other fissionable minerals. Commingling of ores from adjacent lands is allowable under the fee mineral leases.
Royalties under the fee mineral leases are variable and can range from a flat 4% on uranium production to a sliding scale of 2-10% with different intermediate break points with the 10% rate applying to sales prices of $100 per pound of U3O8 and greater.
Unpatented Lode Mining Claims
Our unpatented lode mining claims, including those subject to the Arkose Mining Venture, are located on minerals owned by the federal government and open to location, with the surface being owned either by the federal government or private individuals. In addition, the unpatented lode mining claims are recorded in the appropriate county and filed with the state office of the Bureau of Land Management (the “BLM”).
The unpatented lode claims do not have an expiration date. However, affidavits must be filed annually with the BLM and respective county recorder’s offices in order to maintain the claims’ validity. All of the unpatented lode claims have annual filing requirements ($140 per claim) with the BLM, to be paid on or before September 1 of each year.
Most of the above-mentioned unpatented lode claims are located on Stock Raising Homestead land where the U.S. government has issued a patent for the surface to an individual and reserved the minerals to the U.S. government subject to the location rights by claimants as set forth in the 1872 Mining Law.
Mining Leases
Our leasehold interests within our 100% owned properties are subject to the various terms as set forth in the applicable leases. The state leases and leases on fee mineral lands usually have annual payments, royalty obligations, and the term of the leases vary, but for the most part can be extended by production. The fee surface and mineral leases apply only to uranium and other fissionable minerals and typically have a 10-year term with the right to extend the leases with production. Commingling of production from adjacent lands is allowable under the fee mineral leases.
Surface Rights
The Powder River Basin area has surface rights under applicable laws that allow for exploration disturbance, road construction and facility siting. The claimant must first notify the surface owner of its intention to locate unpatented lode mining claims on the owner’s surface and then try and reach an agreement with the surface owner to pay for damages caused by the claimant’s operations. If an agreement cannot be reached, the claimant may post a bond with the Bureau of Land Management to cover the amount of the damages caused by the claimant’s operations.
We have negotiated surface use agreements with various surface owners covering a majority of our project areas. We are currently negotiating with various surface owners to enter into surface agreements covering the balance of the unpatented lode claims not already covered by surface use agreements. The surface use agreements typically provide for reimbursement to the surface owner of actual damages resulting from our operations.
Taxes and Fees
We will be required to pay severance tax and ad valorem tax to the State of Wyoming, in addition to various maintenance, land impact and access fees as well as other consideration to surface holders.
Location and Access; Topography, Elevation and Vegetation; Climate
The Powder River Basin area is located approximately 50 road miles southwest of Gillette, Wyoming and 100 road miles northeast of Casper, Wyoming. The area is accessed from State Highway 50 from the east or State Highway 387 from the south, and various internal gravel surface county and private roads. Casper is on Interstate 25, approximately one hour by air from either Denver, Colorado or Salt Lake City, Utah.
Our Powder River Basin properties are located in portions of Campbell and Johnson Counties, Wyoming, U.S.A., and are approximately 60 air miles northeast of Casper, Wyoming. The Powder River Basin properties cover lands in various sections in the Townships 41 to 44 North and Ranges 74 to 78 West.
The center of our properties (centered east-west) is approximately eight miles west of the junction of Wyoming Highways 50 and 387. The properties are accessible via two-wheel drive on existing county and/or private gravel and dirt roads. Accessibility for drilling is acceptable with the exception of during occasional wet or snowy ground surface conditions. Road development and improvements may be required at a later time in order to support future development, if warranted, of well fields and processing facilities.
The Powder River Basin properties are located within the Wyoming Basin physiographic province in the central portion of the Powder River Basin, within the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District. The Pumpkin Buttes are a series of small buttes rising several hundred feet above the surrounding plains. Portions of the Powder River Basin properties are located east, west and south of these buttes. The cap rocks on top of the buttes are erosional remnants of the Tertiary White River Formation that is believed to have overlain the majority of the Powder River Basin. The volcanic tuffs in the White River Formation have been cited as the source of uranium in this basin.
The area in which the Powder River Basin properties is located is a low lying plain, and elevations range from approximately 4,390 feet (1,440 meters) in the northwest to approximately 5,450 feet (1,790 meters) in the southeast. Historically and currently the land is used for livestock and wildlife grazing. Vegetation is characteristically sagebrush grassland with some pines on elevated terrain and some deciduous trees within drainages.
The climate is semi-arid and receives an annual precipitation of approximately 9.4 inches, the most falling in the form of late autumnal to early spring snows. The summer months are usually hot, dry and clear except for infrequent heavy rains. Cold, wind and snow/blizzards can make winter exploration work in this area difficult but not impossible. The weather may limit the time periods for capital construction but should not have any significant adverse impacts on the operation of an ISR facility.
Geology
The potential target mineralization within the Powder River Basin properties is believed to be alteration-reduction trends hosted in the Eocene age channel sands that lie at depths of approximately 300 to 1,100 feet from the surface. Roll front deposits of uranium mineralized material are anticipated to occur within these properties. An alteration reduction trend is a natural chemical boundary trend line in a sandstone aquifer where reduced (non-oxidized) sand is in contact with altered (oxidized) sand. Uranium mineralization may be found along the trend line.
Our Powder River Basin properties contain alteration-reduction trends hosted in Eocene age channel sands. Alteration-reduction trends in the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District are typically composed of multiple, stacked roll front deposits that often contain associated uranium mineralization. A stacked role front is a type of uranium occurrence found in thick sandstone where a number of mineralization trends are stacked on top of each other. Uranium mineralization within and adjacent to the Powder River Basin properties are found in the Eocene Wasatch Formation (Wasatch). The Wasatch is a fluvial deposit composed of arkosic sandstones that are typically 25% or more feldspar grains and indicates a source rock where chemical weathering was not extreme and the sediments have not been transported far. A fluvial deposit is a deposit of uranium mineralization found in sandstones that originated from sediments laid down by streams and rivers. The arkosic sandstone is a type of sandstone that contains a high percentage of feldspar grains. The medium grain size and relatively good sorting of this sediment implies water transportation, probably in a meandering river/stream system. The Wasatch formation is interlaid with sandstones, claystones, siltstones, carbonaceous shale, and thin coal seams that overlie the Paleocene Fort Union Formation, another fluvial sedimentary unit.
Exploration History
Our Powder River Basin properties are located within the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District which was the first commercial uranium production district in Wyoming. Uranium was first discovered in the Pumpkin Buttes in 1951. Intermittent production from some 55 small mines through 1967 produced 36,737 tons of ore containing 208,143 pounds of uranium. This early mining focused on shallow oxidized ores exploited by small open pit mines. The ore was generally transported to the Atomic Energy Commission buying station in Edgemont, South Dakota. Modern mining in the district has focused on deeper reduced ores. Uranium One’s Christensen Ranch and Irigaray ISR uranium mining areas and processing facilities are located within the Pumpkin Buttes Mining District, approximately 10 and 16 air miles, respectively, from the Arkose Property. These mines have completed successful ISR mining and aquifer restoration in the Wasatch formation.
These properties were originally part of a large exploration area encompassing Townships 33 through 50 North of Ranges 69 through 79 West, on the 6th principal meridian. In 1966, Mountain West Mines Inc. (MWM, now Excalibur Industries) began a successful drilling exploration program in a portion of this area. In 1967, MWM entered into an agreement with Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company (CCI) for further exploration and option if suitable resources were found. CCI exercised its option in 1976 with plans to begin underground mining operations in the vicinity of North Butte. Changing economic conditions and the development of ISR mining technology reportedly ended much of CCI’s interest in the area. By the late 1980s they began selling select properties or allowing them to revert back to the federal government.
In addition to CCI, other uranium exploration companies during the last forty years have controlled property either within or near our Powder River Basin properties. These included Kerr McGee, Conoco, Texaco, American Nuclear, Tennessee Valley Authority and Uranerz U.S.A., Inc. Uranium One NC (via subsidiary Cogema Resources Inc. (“Cogema”), and Power Resources Inc. (a subsidiary of Cameco Corporation) have retained portions of their original land positions in the area. The mining claims and leases originally controlled by most of these companies were let go over the years due to market conditions. These property abandonments continued into 2004.
As a result of this history of exploration and our own exploration efforts, there is available to us for our exploration of the Powder River Basin properties published and unpublished mineral trend projections, mineral resource summaries and historic and current mineral resource reports developed by us or other operators from these properties or adjacent mineral properties, as applicable. In addition, there are publicly available drill results from approximately 1,250 coal bed methane (CBM) exploration/production wells in the region of the Arkose Mining Venture properties, which are discussed further below.
Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project
Between 1968 and 1980, CCI drilled 117 holes and installed 3 water wells on the Nichols Ranch property. Texas Eastern Nuclear Inc. in 1985 completed limited drilling and exploration on the property and in early 1990s Rio Algom Co. also completed limited drilling in the area.
Hank Unit
Between 1968 and 1980, CCI drilled 197 holes within the Hank Unit. In 1985, Texas Eastern Nuclear, Inc. completed limited drilling and exploration on the property (approximately 28 borings). In the early 1990s, Kerr McGee Corporation and Rio Algom Mining Corporation also completed limited drilling in the area.
We drilled 61 exploratory holes and seven wells within the Hank Unit during 2006 and 2007 and eight additional wells in 2009. We drilled 257 exploration holes, including three core holes and three water wells, at Nichols Ranch during 2006 and 2007 and 25 exploration holes and seven wells in 2009. There was no new drilling activity at Nichols Ranch or Hank during 2010.
West North- Butte Satellite Properties
Between 1968 and 1985, CCI drilled approximately 380 exploratory holes with the satellite properties. From 1983 to 1985, Texas Eastern Nuclear drilled approximately 12 exploratory holes in the satellite properties and from approximately 1990 to 1992 Rio Algom Mining Corporation drilled approximately 5 exploratory holes. In 2006, we completed an acquisition of the satellite properties, and in 2007 and 2008, drilled approximately 127 exploratory holes.
Arkose Mining Venture
It is estimated that over 4,000 historic uranium exploration holes may have been drilled within the Arkose Property. This exploration was conducted by numerous exploration companies from the 1960s through the 1990s. Although this historic exploration data are known to exist, obtaining information on all but a handful (less than 50) of specific drill hole data, such as gamma, resistivity, and lithology logs, was not possible until 2010 when Uranerz acquired the Excalibur/Mountain West log library. Coal bed methane (“CBM”) exploration/production wells were drilled by numerous companies for development of CBM resources in the area. A total of approximately 1,250 CBM exploration/production wells have been drilled on or immediately adjacent to the Arkose Property. Most of this drilling was completed from 1,200 to 2,000 feet deep and is on-going. CBM exploration/production wells and their associated gamma logs are all drilled and logged through the uranium mineralization-bearing sand horizons. Utilizing the available uranium drill data and the CBM drill data base, we had a technical report prepared in February 2008 to independently address the geology and potential uranium mineralization within our mineral holdings on the Arkose Mining Venture. This technical report was prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 requirements, as discussed above under “NI 43-101 Technical Reports”.
The NAMMCO Sellers commenced acquiring rights to the properties comprising the Arkose Property in 2005, and continued to do so through 2006 and 2007. On January 15, 2008, we completed the acquisition of an undivided 81% percent interest in the Arkose Property and formed the Arkose Mining Venture with the vendors of these properties, the NAMMCO Sellers, as described in greater detail above under “Arkose Mining Venture”.
Local Resources and Properties Infrastructure
Infrastructure at the site of the Powder River Basin properties is dominantly related to local oil, gas, and CBM exploration and development. Mineralized locations will affect future siting of well fields and processing facilities.
Generally, the proximity of the Powder River Basin properties to paved roads will be beneficial with respect to transportation of equipment, supplies, personnel and product to and from the properties. Power transmission lines are located on or near parts of the Powder River Basin properties. Based upon discussions with the local electrical service provider, overhead power is currently committed but additional power for future projects can be made available. Water is available from wells developed at planned facility locations (potable) and water for in-situ recovery (“ISR”) operations, if necessary, will come from the operation itself, i.e. the extracted groundwater. Therefore, the basic infrastructure (power, water and transportation) required to support an ISR mining operation is located within reasonable proximity of the Powder River Basin properties.
Personnel required for exploration, construction and operation at the Powder River Basin properties are expected to come from Gillette, Wright, Buffalo and Casper, Wyoming.
Typical ISR mining operations also require a disposal well for limited quantities of fluids that cannot be returned to the production aquifers. Oil and gas wells within aquifers that have been or can be condemned for public use, are commonly utilized for such purposes. Oil and gas wells, both abandoned and producing, are located in the immediate vicinity of the properties.
Our Powder River Basin properties are undeveloped and do not contain any open-pit or underground mines. There is no plant or mining equipment located on any of our Wyoming mineral properties. There are no pre-existing mineral processing facilities or related wastes on the property.
Exploration Completed by Uranerz
2010 Drilling Program
During 2010 we were engaged in drilling exploration/development efforts on both our 100% owned Powder River Basin properties and on the Arkose Mining Venture Powder River Basin properties. The purpose of the 2010 drilling program was to find previously unknown or little-known uranium mineralization trends and to delineate known trends, which would provide data for permitting and eventual production operations in favorably identified areas. During the 2010 drilling program, approximately 10 miles of uranium roll front trends were investigated.
On our 100% owned properties, 49 delineation holes and one well were drilled on our Reno Creek properties. The purpose of this drilling was for confirmation of historic drilling data prior to publishing an independent National Instrument 43-101 report on the property which was completed on October 13, 2010. At the Uranerz North Rolling Pin property an independent National Instrument NI 43-101 Technical Report dated June 4, 2010 was published.
In our Jane Dough project area, composed of the Doughstick, South Doughstick, and North Jane areas, a total of 24 baseline environmental monitor wells and one exploration hole were drilled. The wells were drilled in four clusters of four to six wells, with each well completed in a different sand horizon. The purpose of the well installation program was to collect water quality and hydrologic data for future mining permit purposes. These wells and the exploration hole equaled some 10,525 feet of drilling.
During 2010, on Arkose Mining Venture properties, a total of 311 holes were drilled. At Arkose’s South Doughstick Extension Property a total of 52 holes were drilled with targets in the 100 sand. At the Arkose Kermit project area 57 exploration holes were drilled in the 100 sand with mineralization found in pod-like structures. Drilling was also conducted at the East Buck project area with 202 exploration holes drilled. Targets were in the 100 through the 130 sands.
2009 Drilling Program
During 2009 we were engaged in drilling exploration efforts on both our 100% owned Powder River Basin properties and on the Arkose Mining Venture Powder River Basin properties. During the 2009 drilling program, approximately 11.5 miles of uranium roll front trends were investigated.
On our 100% owned properties, 51 delineation holes were drilled on our Nichols Ranch, Doughstick and North Nichols Ranch properties. The purpose of this drilling was primarily to prepare for the installation of baseline monitor wells for our planned Nichols Ranch ISR production facility. A National Instrument 43-101 report was completed on the Nichols Ranch property in June of 2009.
Additional drilling was carried out on the Company’s 100% owned Doughstick properties, which lead to the preparation of a combined National Instrument Report 43 - 101, as described above, in respect of this property as well as Arkose’s North Jane and Doughstick properties.
During 2009, on Arkose Mining Venture properties, a total of 514 holes were drilled. At Arkose’s North Jane Property a total of 51 holes were drilled with mineralization found in two horizons of the 100 sand. A combined National Instrument 43-101 independent report in respect of the Company’s 100% owned Doughstick property and Arkose’s North Jane and Doughstick properties was prepared in respect of the 2009 drilling results from those properties and filed in January of 2010.
At Arkose’s South Doughstick property 104 delineation drill holes were completed. Favorable mineralization led to the completion of an independent National Instrument NI 43-101 technical report dated October 12, 2009 and subsequently amended on February 25, 2010.
2008 Exploration Program
In 2008 we were engaged in drilling exploration efforts on both our 100% owned Powder River Basin properties, and on the Arkose Mining Venture properties. During the 2008 drilling program, approximately 19 miles of uranium roll front trends were investigated. For the 2008 drilling season, March 6, 2008 through December 12, 2008, a total of 933 exploration and delineation holes were completed. The average depth per hole was 687 feet and a total of 640,578 feet was drilled. Breakout of the drilling was 165 holes on our 100% owned properties and 768 holes on Arkose Mining Venture properties.
We determined based on the results of this drilling program to complete a NI 43-101 technical report on the South Doughstick property. We received this technical report in February of 2010.
During 2008 no new exploration work was undertaken in the immediate Nichols Ranch proposed mine area.
In December 2008 we received an independent NI 43-101 technical report for the nearby West North-Butte Satellite Properties. A copy of this technical report was filed on SEDAR on December 11, 2008 and a copy furnished to the SEC on December 11, 2008.
2006 and 2007 Exploration Programs
We drilled a total of 78 rotary drill holes on the Hank, Nichols Ranch, and Doughstick projects during 2006, with 46 holes demonstrating uranium mineralization.
During 2006 environmental permitting activities also continued at the Hank and Nichols Ranch projects with the completion of a total of five hydrogeologic test wells, and the drilling of six core holes. The core was submitted for laboratory testing to support radiation permitting requirements as well as to define resource disequilibrium attributes.
From February 19 to December 20, 2007, we drilled a total of 486 uranium trend delineation holes and eight hydrologic sampling wells on our 100% owned properties located in the central Powder River Basin, utilizing as many as three drill rigs and one electric log probing unit. This represents a total of approximately 300,000 feet of drilling with an average depth of 617 feet per hole.
A total of 214 delineation holes were drilled on Nichols Ranch in 2007. In the final months of the 2007 drilling program, we focused our exploration efforts on our West North-Butte, Collins Draw, Hank and Nichols Ranch properties to facilitate sub-surface geologic mapping with cross sections and to refine previous geologic models delineating known trends of uranium mineralization.
2011 Exploration/ Development Program
For 2011, the Arkose Mining Venture plans to utilize two drill rigs and one electric logging unit. Supervision in the field would be conducted by a Uranerz field geologist. The drilling is planned to concentrate on exploration for uranium in the northeast targets of East Buck and Kermit project areas to finish exploration that was started in 2010. New drilling is also planned in the southern portion of the Arkose property. Drilling in the southern area would be largely greenfield with wide space holes to explore for and bracket uranium trends encountered at depths up to 1000 feet. On Uranerz 100% properties, confirmation drilling will be conducted in preparation of completing a NI 43-101 report on the Collins Draw property.
During 2011, the Uranerz plan for the development of production and monitor wells at Nichols Ranch, Mining Area 1 (MA1) will be undertaken. The plan includes a year-long drilling program beginning after the NRC Materials License has been issued. This work will require up to six contract drill rigs, existing company electric logging unit, cementing unit, backhoe, a cement mix truck, a cement storage silo, air compressor for well development, a pump pulling unit, a staff of 12 new field personnel to conduct cementing, well equipment installation, and other surface facilities.
It is estimated that one well pilot hole per two installed wells will be “Drilled Not Completed” (DNC) due to the irregular mineralization outline. These holes will be abandoned with cement using the company cementing unit.
The well field installation includes drilling, casing, cementing, well development, pump, wire, drop pipe, oxygen system, and a weather enclosure. After the wells have their completion zones finished a pump pulling unit will install the production/monitor pumps. A total of 556 wells are planned to be installed including 75 perimeter monitor wells, 263 injection wells, 218 recovery wells, and 241 DNCs. Most of Mining Area 1 wells should be installed during 2011.
Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project
The mine plan for the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project includes a central processing facility at our Nichols Ranch property and a satellite ion exchange facility at our Hank property. The initial production level from these two properties is planned to be in the range of 600,000 to 800,000 pounds per year of uranium (as U3O8). The central processing facility is planned for a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds per year of uranium (as U3O8) and it is intended that it will process uranium-bearing well-field solutions from Nichols Ranch, as well as uranium-loaded resin transported from the Hank satellite facility, plus uranium-loaded resin from any additional satellite deposits that may be developed on our other Powder River Basin properties. We believe this centralized design enhances the economics of our potential additional satellite projects by maximizing production capacity while minimizing further capital expenditures on processing facilities. The detailed engineering is complete and the project is ready to be bid for construction.
Preliminary Assessment
We obtained a preliminary assessment or scoping study of the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project in July 2008. The preliminary assessment was prepared for us in accordance with the guidelines set forth under NI 43-101 and the Standards and Guidelines of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum incorporated by reference therein for the submission of technical reports on mining properties. The purpose of the assessment was to perform a preliminary evaluation of the technical and economic viability of the Project using the most current scientific, engineering and cost information available. The preliminary assessment was prepared to support our development and licensing strategy for our Nichols Ranch and Hank properties. Investors are cautioned that this assessment was preliminary in nature and is not based on capital and operating costs estimates that are sufficiently refined to support a feasibility study evaluating the project.
The assessment analyzed the planned development of a commercial uranium ISR and processing operation. The evaluation uses available design information to develop capital and operating cost estimates for the proposed well fields, processing plants, infrastructure and associated facilities. Capital and operating cost estimates were provided in the preliminary assessment along with an economic analysis based on these costs and projected revenue from the recovery and sale of uranium (U3O8).
Location of the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project
The Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project will be on the properties comprising our Nichols Ranch ISR main unit and our Hank ISR satellite unit, as illustrated below:
Uranerz Energy Corporation - Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project Map - December 2010
Source: Uranerz Energy Corporation 2010
Targeted Mineralization
The targeted mineralized zones for the Nichols Ranch Unit in the A sand unit are 300 to 700 feet below the surface and occur in two long narrow trends meeting at the nose. The nose is in the northwest corner of the deposit where the two narrow trends meet to form the tip of the geochemical front. The Hank Unit’s two targeted mineralized zones in the F Sand unit range from 200 to 600 feet below the ground surface depending on the topography and changes in the formation elevation and stratigraphic horizon.
Mining Plan
In order to mine the uranium resources at the Nichols ranch ISR Uranium Project, infrastructure, including four well fields, a central processing plant (the “Nichols Ranch CPP”) and a satellite ion exchange (IX) plant (the “Hank Satellite Facility”) are being designed and will need to be constructed. Well fields are designated areas above the mineralized zone that are sized to achieve the desired production goals. The piping/well system will inject water-leaching solution into the mineralized zone and recover the uranium-enriched water after it has flowed through the mineralization. The mineralized zone is the geological sandstone unit where the recovery solutions are injected and recovered in an in-situ recovery well field, and it is bounded between impermeable aquitards. Production areas are the individual areas that will be mined in the well field. The injection and recovery wells are completed in the mineralized zone intervals of the production sand.
We anticipate the patterns for the injection and recovery wells to follow the conventional five-spot pattern. Depending on the mineralized zone shape, seven spot or line drive patterns may be used in some locations. A typical five spot pattern contains four shared injection wells and one recovery well. The dimensions of the pattern vary depending on the mineralized zone, but the injection wells will likely be between 50 to 120 feet apart. In order to effectively recover the uranium and also to complete the groundwater restoration, the wells will be completed so that they can be used as either injection or recovery wells. During mining operations, a slightly greater volume of water will be recovered from the mineralized zone aquifer than injected in order to create a cone of depression or a flow gradient towards the recovery wells.
The Nichols Ranch Unit is anticipated to include the Nichols Ranch CPP and two production areas, NR-1 and NR-2. As the productivity or solution grade (uranium concentration in the lixiviant) of some patterns for NR-1 decrease below the economic limit, replacement patterns from NR-2 will be placed into operation in order to maintain the desired flow rate and solution grade at the processing plant. Eventually, all the patterns in NR-1 will reach their economic limit and all production flow in that area will cease. At that time, all production flow will be coming from NR-2 and restoration activities will commence at NR-1.
Each planned Nichols Ranch Unit production area includes a number of injection wells, recovery wells, monitoring wells, header houses and associated piping and power supply. Header houses will be located within the well field and will distribute recovered fluids from recovery wells to trunk lines, and injection fluids from the processing facility through the trunk lines to injection wells. The planned Nichols Ranch Unit (Mining Units 1 and 2) is anticipated to include the following:
445 injection wells;
381 recovery wells;
126 monitoring wells; and
15 header houses.
The planned Hank Unit will include a satellite IX facility and two production areas, H-1 and H-2. The Hank Unit production areas will follow a similar developmental, production, and restoration schedule as outlined above for the Nichols Ranch Unit production areas.
Each planned Hank Unit production area includes a number of injection wells, recovery wells, monitoring wells, header houses and associated piping and power supply. The planned Hank Unit is anticipated to include the following:
168 injection wells;
150 recovery wells;
53 monitoring wells; and
6 header houses.
Four Underground Injection Control (UIC) deep disposal wells will also be required, two at the Nichols Ranch Unit and two at the Hank Unit, for disposal of liquid wastes from well field bleed, processing plant operations and restoration.
Mine Planning and Permitting
We are proceeding with mine planning for the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project that will be sited on the Hank and Nichols Ranch properties. The primary regulatory approvals for an ISR uranium mine come from the WDEQ at the state level, and from the NRC at the federal level. The WDEQ issues a Permit to Mine, and the NRC issues a Source Materials License. We filed applications for these permits to the State of Wyoming (WDEQ) and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”) in 2007. As part of the permitting application and review process, both the state and federal agencies look at all environmental aspects of a proposed ISR mine including reclamation of the land surface following mining operations, and restoration of impacted ground water. Work place safety and the safety of the public are also closely monitored by regulatory agencies. Posting of a reclamation bond by the mine operator with the regulatory agencies in an amount to cover the total estimated cost of reclamation by a third party is also a requirement of the law. The reclamation bond must be a "hard" bond which means it must be either cash, certificate of deposit, letter of credit or some other similar type of financial instrument.
In October of 2009 WDEQ - Air Quality Division approved and issued the air quality permit for our Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project in the form of a permit to construct the project, including the Nichols Ranch central processing plant and the Hank Satellite facility. This is the first operational permit for construction of the Project.
In December 2010, after we satisfied all requirements including the posting of a reclamation bond, the WDEQ issued a Permit to Mine for our Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project.
In January of 2011, the final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (‘SEIS”) for our Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project was posted on the NRC website and published in the Federal Register. In the SEIS, the NRC reported its conclusion that there were no major environmental impacts that would preclude licensing of the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project. The NRC may issue the final Source Materials License 30 days after the publication of the final SEIS. We intend to commence construction of the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project once the Source Materials License is issued by the NRC.
We caution investors that we have not at this stage completed any comprehensive feasibility studies on these properties demonstrating that development of any of the properties is commercially warranted. Proceeding with these advanced activities prior to completing detailed feasibility analysis adds risk to our plan of operations and we may incur costs which might not otherwise have been incurred.
Prior to the start of mining (the injection of lixiviant into the ore body aquifer), we must have obtained all the necessary permits, licenses, and approvals required by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality - Land, Water and Air Divisions and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The various state and federal permits and licenses that are needed or have been obtained for the Project are summarized below:
Permits and Licenses for the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project
Notes: NRC - Nuclear Regulatory Commission
WDEQ-LQD - Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Land Quality Division
WDEQ-WQD - Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Water Quality Division
WDEQ-AQD - Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Air Quality Division
WYPDES - Wyoming Pollution Discharge Elimination System
SEO - State Engineer's Office
2011 Plan of Operations for Powder River Basin Properties
During 2011, we plan to:
continue with our exploration of our Powder River Basin Properties as outlined above under “2011 Exploration Plan”;
continue with our permitting and mine planning efforts, including proceeding with environmental studies and engineering and design, in connection with the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project and potential satellites, as outlined above under “Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project ”; and
commence construction of our Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project once the Source Materials License has been received.
All of our projects are at the exploration stage and there can be no assurance that a commercially viable mineral deposit, or reserve, exists on any of our properties until appropriate exploratory work is done and a comprehensive evaluation based on such work concludes legal and economic feasibility. Further exploration may be required before a final evaluation as to the economic, technical and legal feasibility of mining of any of our properties is determined. There is no assurance that further exploration will result in a final evaluation that a commercially viable mineral deposit exists on any of our mineral properties. We anticipate that we will require additional financing in order to pursue full development of these projects. We have sufficient financing to continue exploration and development planning of our mineral claims but there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain the necessary financing to conduct mining activities, if warranted. Because of the long lead times for environmental permitting of mining operations in North America, we have collected environmental baseline data and filed the environmental permitting applications on two of our properties in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming that we feel may have the potential, based on data in our possession, of being developed into commercial in-situ recovery uranium mines. However, we have not at this stage completed any comprehensive feasibility studies on these properties demonstrating that development of any of the properties is commercially warranted. Proceeding with these advanced activities prior to completing detailed feasibility analysis adds risk to our plan of operations and we may incur costs which might not otherwise have been incurred.
Wyoming - Great Divide/Red Desert Properties
Our Great Divide Basin properties currently consist of the Eagle project and various Wyoming State Leases totaling 6,520 acres. The Eagle property is comprised of a 640 acre Wyoming State Lease. This project is located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The Eagle project and these leases will not be considered a material property until more data and information on the project can be obtained.
Saskatchewan Canada
Our Cochrane River property in Saskatchewan extends to the northeast of the northern portion of Wollaston Lake, in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. In 2007, a total of seven claims were staked within the boundaries of the original two mineral prospecting permits. Four of the seven claims were allowed to expire in 2010 and the remaining three claims expired on January 30, 2011. We have no other property interests in Saskatchewan.
Texas
In 2007 we completed an initial leasing program of approximately 7,200 acres in the State of Texas. Based on geologic reports and more than 90 historic drill holes, these 7,200 acres are believed to cover a northeast-southwest uranium mineralization trend.
Geologic study has been completed on the historic data we obtained from third parties. Plans for field work on these properties have been deferred due to our focus on our Wyoming properties. Our Texas project is presently not considered a material property and will not be considered a material property until more data and information on the project can be obtained.
2011 Property Expenditures
Our cash expenditures in 2011, excluding capital assets and major property acquisitions, are estimated to be $9.8 million, as follows:
These estimates are subject to change. When the Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project is approved, capital costs in the range of $34 million may be incurred.
Mine Safety Disclosure
Pursuant to Section 1503(a) of the recently enacted Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), issuers that are operators, or that have a subsidiary that is an operator, of a coal or other mine in the United States are required to disclose in their periodic reports filed with the SEC information regarding specified health and safety violations, orders and citations, related assessments and legal actions, and mining-related fatalities. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, the Company had no such specified health and safety violations, orders or citations, related assessments or legal actions, mining-related fatalities, or similar events in relation to the Company’s United States operations requiring disclosure pursuant to Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are not aware of any material pending or threatened litigation or of any proceedings known to be contemplated by governmental authorities which are, or would be, likely to have a material adverse effect upon us or our operations, taken as a whole. There are no material proceedings pursuant to which any of our directors, officers or affiliates or any owner of record or beneficial owner of more than 5% of our securities or any associate of any such director, officer or security holder is a party adverse to us or has a material interest adverse to us.
ITEM 3A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our current executive officers and key employees. The ages of the executive officers and key employees are shown as of December 31, 2010.
The following is a description of the business background of the executive officers of Uranerz Energy Corporation.
Mr. Glenn Catchpole was appointed to the Board and became our President on March 1, 2005. Mr. Catchpole is a licensed engineer who holds an M.S. in civil engineering from Colorado State University. He has been active in the uranium solution mining industry since 1976, holding various positions including well field engineer, project manager, general manager and managing director of several uranium solution mining operations.
In 1988 Mr. Catchpole joined Uranerz U.S.A., Inc. and Uranerz Exploration and Mining Ltd. and became Director of Regulatory Affairs, Environmental Engineering and Solution Mining. Mr. Catchpole’s responsibilities included the monitoring and oversight of the environmental and regulatory aspects of two large uranium mines in Canada and the operational aspects of one uranium solution mine in the United States. In 1996 Mr. Catchpole was appointed General Manager and Managing Director of the Inkai uranium solution mining project located in the Republic of Kazakhstan (Central Asia). In 1998 Cameco Corporation acquired Uranerz U.S.A. Inc., and Mr. Catchpole continued his post with the Inkai project. Mr. Catchpole spent six years taking the Inkai project from acquisition through feasibility study, joint venture formulation, government licensing, environmental permitting, design, construction and first phase start-up.
Following his departure from Cameco in 2002, Mr. Catchpole has been an independent consulting engineer providing project management to the oil and gas, mining, and construction industries from 2002 until joining our company in March 2005.
Mr. George Hartman was appointed to the Board of Directors and the role of Vice-President, Mining on May 9, 2005 and subsequently appointed Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. He has thirty-seven years experience in developing green field projects into mining production companies including both metals and industrial mineral projects. He has an M. S. degree in Mineral Economics (Colorado School of Mines) and a B. S. in Chemistry (University of Denver). Four process patents have been granted in his name. His experience includes thirteen years managing several in-situ recovery uranium mines from green field exploration sites through commercial production.
For the past fourteen years Mr. Hartman was General Manager for Fort Cady Minerals Corporation where he had complete responsibility for solution mining and process development, permitting, design, procurement, construction, production and property management. Property management included federal mining claims and private leases for a large deposit of borate mineral. He managed the project from test stage through construction and operation of a demonstration production facility. He was also involved with product marketing.
From 1982 to 1989 Mr. Hartman was General Manager, In Situ Leach Projects, for Uranerz USA. During this period he managed the interests of all in-situ uranium projects which Uranerz USA owned including Ruth, Crow Butte, and North Butte. Under his management, Uranerz USA served as the contract operator for the successful test solution mining of the Christensen Ranch uranium property now owned by Uranium One. He was on the Uranerz USA acquisition team that studied potential uranium and precious and base metal properties in Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, California and Wyoming.
Prior to joining Uranerz USA, Mr. Hartman was president of Ogle Petroleum Inc. from 1979 to 1982 where he was in overall operating charge of this uranium production company that joint ventured with Duke Power on a commercial solution mine in Wyoming. He was responsible for managing the project from green field exploration through commercial production (shipped filtered yellowcake to the converter). Mr. Hartman personally designed the processing plant facilities.
Also, previous to his work with Uranerz USA, Mr. Hartman was the Texas Mines Manager for Wyoming Mineral Corporation (Westinghouse) from 1976 to 1979, where he was responsible for the management of two production in-situ uranium mines with ion exchange processing plants in Bruni, and Three Rivers, Texas (shipped dried yellowcake to the converter).
Mr. Dennis Higgs is a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Higgs was appointed to the Board of Directors as President and Chief Executive Officer on May 26, 1999, and resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer on March 1, 2005. Mr. Higgs became Executive Chairman of our Board of Directors on February 1, 2006.
Mr. Higgs has been involved in the financial and venture capital markets for over twenty-five years, raising millions of dollars in the United States, Canada and Europe. He founded his first junior exploration company in 1983 and took it public through an initial public offering in 1984. Since then, Mr. Higgs has been involved in the founding, financing and initial public listing of several companies.
In July 1990, Mr. Higgs established Senate Capital Group Inc., a private venture capital company which provides management consulting and investor relations services.
Mr. Benjamin Leboe was appointed as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer on May 23, 2006 and acted as our Corporate Secretary from October, 2006 to December, 2007 and from January 2009 to July 2009. He was appointed Senior Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer on July 1, 2010. Mr. Leboe was a Senior Consultant, of the Business Development Bank of Canada from January 2005 to February 2006. Previously, from 1990 to 2004, Mr. Leboe was a senior financial officer and executive in public companies based in Vancouver and Montreal.
Mr. Leboe has been the Principal of Independent Management Consultants of British Columbia from 1990 to date. Mr. Leboe was previously a partner of KPMG Consulting from 1978 to 1990. Mr. Leboe received his bachelor of commerce degree from the University of British Columbia. Mr. Leboe is a Chartered Accountant and a Certified Management Consultant in the Province of British Columbia.
Mr. Kurtis Brown was appointed Senior Vice-President, Exploration in March 2007. Mr. Brown, a 35 year veteran in the mineral extraction industry, started his uranium geology career with the OPI-Western Joint Venture in Wyoming in 1977. Mr. Brown managed the daily operation of the well fields, and developed innovative methods for regulating flow balance, conducting well field maintenance, and performing well work-over. He also served as the designated mine site radiation safety officer. In the mid-1980s Mr. Brown assisted with the start-up of the Christensen Ranch ISR commercial uranium mine performing environmental permitting and compliance duties. Mr. Brown was also involved with aquifer restoration activities at the Irigaray ISR mine.
Mr. Brown joined Uranerz USA, Inc. (former Uranerz Group and unrelated to Uranerz Energy) in 1989 to conduct detailed feasibility studies for the proposed North Butte ISR mine. His work included well field geology, reserves estimation, design and selection of surface and down hole equipment, and cost analysis. He also conducted claims assessment drilling and assisted in the procurement of required state and federal mining permits. Prior to joining the Company full-time in 2007, Mr. Brown was a Company consultant, providing geology services including the acquisition evaluations of Great Divide and Powder River Basin projects.
Mr. Brown received his Bachelor's degree in Geology from the University of Wyoming. He is a Registered Professional Geologist in Wyoming and a Certified Safety Professional. In addition to his uranium background, he has extensive experience in coal and industrial minerals mining as well as oil and gas extraction.
Mr. Douglas Hirschman was appointed our Vice-President, Lands in December 2007. Mr. Hirschman is a graduate of the University of Wyoming and has over 30 years of experience in the mineral exploration industry serving in various capacities and most recently as Manager of Lands, International, Newmont Mining Corporation. Mr. Hirschman has supervised mineral property acquisitions, prepared and negotiated agreements including joint ventures, performed land status investigations on federal, state and private mineral interests in the Western USA, and maintained land records insuring timely satisfaction of land payments and agreement obligations.
Ms. Sandra MacKay was appointed our Vice-President, Legal and Corporate Secretary in July 2010. From July 2009 to June 2010 Ms. MacKay was Legal Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Uranerz. Ms. MacKay obtained her Bachelor of Laws in 1983 from the University of British Columbia. She practiced as a commercial and securities lawyer with a major Vancouver law firm before joining Chevron Canada Limited as in-house counsel. Ms. MacKay has over 20 years of experience working as counsel within business organizations in a variety of industries including petrochemical, engineering, and biotechnology. She has most recently acted as corporate counsel to QLT Inc., a Vancouver based dual listed (Nasdaq/TSX) international biotechnology company, and as Vice President and General Counsel to Aker Solutions Canada Inc., a Vancouver based international supplier of engineering technology which is part of the Aker group of Companies based in Oslo, Norway. Ms. MacKay has acted for both public and private companies on a wide variety of corporate-commercial transactions including acquisitions, licensing transactions, and joint ventures and has provided general counsel to her clients on various subject matters including securities law compliance, employment law, corporate governance and general corporate-commercial matters.
Arrangements between Officers and Directors
To our knowledge, there is no arrangement or understanding between any of our executive officers and any other person, including directors, pursuant to which the officer was selected to serve as an officer.
Family Relationships
None of our executive officers are related by blood, marriage, or adoption to any other director or executive officer.
Legal Proceedings
We are not aware of any material legal proceedings to which any of our executive officers or any associate of any of our executive officers is a party adverse to us or any of our subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to us or any of our subsidiaries.
We are not aware of any of our executive officers being involved in any legal proceedings in the past ten years relating to any matters in bankruptcy, insolvency, criminal proceedings (other than traffic and other minor offenses) or being subject to any of the items set forth under Item 401 of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. (Removed and Reserved)
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common stock began trading on the NYSE Amex Equities exchange (formerly, the American Stock Exchange) on August 10, 2006 under the symbol “URZ”, and previously, since May 6, 2004, on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Over the Counter Bulletin Board (“OTCBB”) under the symbol “URNZ”, formerly known as “CVTU”. Our common stock has also traded, since August 2007, on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “URZ” and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol “U9E”.
The following table shows the high and low sales price or bid price for our common stock for the calendar quarters indicated, as reported by the NYSE Amex Equities, www.nyse.com.
As of March 1, 2011, the closing bid quotation for our common stock was $4.93 per share as quoted by the NYSE Amex Equities.
As of March 1, 2011, we had 75,699,074 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, held by approximately 11,500 shareholders. Many shares are registered through intermediaries, making the precise number of shareholders difficult to obtain.
Dividend Policy
We anticipate that we will retain any earnings to support operations and to finance the growth and development of our business. Therefore, we do not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any further determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent on the financial condition, operating results, capital requirements and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant. We have never declared a dividend.
There are no restrictions in our articles of incorporation or bylaws that prevent us from declaring dividends. The Nevada Revised Statutes, however, do prohibit us from declaring dividends where, after giving effect to the distribution of the dividend:
1. We would not be able to pay our debts as they become due in the usual course of business; or
2. Our total assets would be less than the sum of our total liabilities plus the amount that would be needed to satisfy the rights of shareholders who have preferential rights superior to those receiving the distribution.
We have never paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain any profits we earn to finance the growth and development of our business. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Repurchase of Securities
During 2010, neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company repurchased shares of common stock of the Company registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
As at December 31, 2010, we had one equity compensation plan under which our shares of common stock have been authorized for issuance to our officers, directors, employees and consultants, namely our 2005 Stock Option Plan. Our 2005 Stock Option Plan has been approved by our shareholders.
The following summary information is presented for our 2005 Stock Option Plan as of December 31, 2010.
2005 Stock Option Plan Information
The following is a summary of important Stock Option Plan provisions. It is not a comprehensive discussion of all of the terms and conditions of the Stock Option Plan. The information provided below may be modified or altered by some provisions in the Stock Option Plan. Readers are advised to review the full text of the Stock Option Plan to fully understand all terms and conditions of the Stock Option Plan.
Purpose
The purpose of the Stock Option Plan is to advance the best interests of the Company by providing additional incentive to those persons who have a substantial responsibility for its management, affairs, and growth by increasing their proprietary interest in the success of the Company, thereby encouraging them to maintain their relationships with the Company. Further, the availability and offering of Stock Options under the Plan supports and increases the Company’s ability to attract, engage and retain individuals of exceptional talent upon whom, in large measure, the sustained progress growth and profitability of the Company for the shareholders depends.
Persons Eligible
Any employee, director, general partner, officer, attorney, accountant, consultant or advisor providing services to the Company or any parent, affiliate, or subsidiary of the Company is eligible to be designated a participant in the Stock Option Plan.
Administration
The Company’s Compensation Committee administers the Stock Option Plan The Committee has the power to: (i) designate Stock Option Plan participants; (ii) grant stock options; (iii) establish rules and regulations for the administration of the Stock Option Plan; (iv) determine the amount, price, type and timing of each stock option grant; (v) cancel any stock option awarded under the Stock Option Plan, under certain circumstances; (vi) correct defects in the Plan or in any granted stock option; and (vii) make any other determination or take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Stock Option Plan.
Shares Available under the Stock Option Plan
The total number of shares of the Company available for grants of stock options under the Stock Option Plan is 10,000,000 Common Shares, subject to adjustment as herein provided, which shares may be either authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Shares of the Company. If a stock option or portion thereof expires or terminates for any reason without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased shares covered by such nonqualified stock option shall be available for future grants of stock options under the Stock Option Plan. Shares issuable upon exercise of stock options have been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 21, 2005.
Terms and Conditions of Stock Options
Stock options may be granted to any person who is performing or who has been engaged to perform services of special importance to management in the operation, development and growth of the Company. As of June 11, 2008 the option price of stock options is set at the weighted average closing market price for the five days preceding the grant. All stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan must be granted within ten years of the date the plan was adopted and all granted stock options must be exercised within ten years of the date of grant. The Committee may grant stock options which vest in installment periods and may modify such periods to accelerate vesting. Stock options are evidenced by a form stock option agreement.
Exercise of Stock Options
The exercise of vested stock options is made upon written notice to the Company of intent to exercise and payment of the exercise price. The exercise price may be paid (i) in cash, cashier’s check, certified check, bank draft or money order, or (ii) at the discretion of the Committee, by delivery of fully paid non-assessable common shares of the Company, valued at the fair market value for such shares, determined by the average of the high and low sales price of the Company’s common shares on the date of exercise.
Transfer of Stock Options
Except by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or with the written consent of the Committee, no right or interest in any stock option granted under the Stock Option Plan is assignable or transferable, and no right or interest of any optionee is liable for, or subject to, any lien, obligation or liability of the optionee. Upon petition to, and thereafter with the written consent of the Committee, an optionee may assign or transfer all or a portion of the optionee’s rights and interest in any stock option granted under the Stock Option Plan. Stock options are exercisable during the optionee’s lifetime only by the optionee or assignees, or the duly appointed legal representative of an incompetent optionee, including following an assignment consented to by the Committee.
Adjustments to Stock Options
In the event that the outstanding common shares of the Company are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kinds of shares or other securities of the Company by reason of merger, consolidation, other reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination of shares, stock split-up or stock dividend:
Prompt, proportionate, equitable, lawful and adequate adjustment shall be made of the aggregate number and kind of shares subject to stock options which may be granted under the Stock Option Plan, such that the optionee shall have the right to purchase such common shares as may be issued in exchange for the common shares purchasable on exercise of the nonqualified stock option had such merger, consolidation, other reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination of shares, stock split-up or stock dividend not taken place;
Rights under unexercised stock options or portions thereof granted prior to any such change, both as to the number or kind of shares and the exercise price per share, will be adjusted appropriately, provided that such adjustments will be made without change in the total exercise price applicable to the unexercised portion of such nonqualified stock options but by an adjustment in the price for each share covered by such nonqualified stock option; or
Upon any dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any merger or combination in which the Company is not a surviving corporation, each outstanding stock option granted hereunder shall terminate, but the optionee shall have the right, immediately prior to such dissolution, liquidation, merger or combination, to exercise his nonqualified stock option in whole or in part, to the extent that it shall not have been exercised, without regard to any installment exercise provisions in such nonqualified stock option.
Also, upon the occurrence of any person acquiring more than 20% of the common shares of the Company through a tender offer, exchange offer, or otherwise, upon a change in control of the Company or upon the sale of substantially all the assets of the Company, any optionee who is also a Company insider will be entitled to receive cash for their nonqualified stock options equal to the final offer price per share paid in the offer or similar event, or in the case of a change in control or sale of assets, the aggregate fair market value of the shares.
Amendment of the Plan
The Board of Directors may at any time suspend or terminate the Plan, in whole or in part or amend it from time to time as appropriate in the best interests of the Company. No amendments will, without the consent of the optionee, affect previously granted stock options.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
We did not sell any securities in 2010 that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Stock Performance Graph
The performance graph below shows Uranerz Energy Corporation’s cumulative total return based on an initial investment of $100 in Uranerz’ common stock, as compared with the Russell 2000 Index, AMEX Natural Resources Index, AMEX Composite, NASDAQ Composite Total Return, and a peer group consisting of Uranium Energy Corp., UR Energy Corp., and Powertech Uranium Corp. The chart shows yearly performance marks over a five year period. This performance chart assumes: (1) $100 was invested on January 1, 2006 in Uranerz common stock at the initial price of $1.00, in the Russell 2000 Index, AMEX Natural Resources Index, AMEX Composite, NASDAQ Composite Total Return, and the peer group’s common stock; and (2) all dividends are reinvested. Canadian dollar closing price quotes on the Toronto Stock Exchange are converted to US dollars using the noon exchange rates as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank on the date of the closing price quote. Dates on the chart represent the last trading day of the indicated fiscal year.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Selected financial data about Uranerz for the last five years is set forth in the table below. You should read the data in the table in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes set forth in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our financial statements for the three years ended December 31, 2010, and the related notes thereto, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth under the section heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report. See section heading “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Overview
We are an exploration stage company engaged in the acquisition and exploration of uranium properties. We own interests in properties in Wyoming and Texas. We are principally focused on the exploration of our projects in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming. We plan to maintain, explore and, when warranted, develop our projects in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming.
In December 2007 we filed permit applications to mine two of our properties in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming that we feel may have the potential, based on data in our possession, of being developed into commercial in-situ recovery uranium mines. These permit applications for our Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project are expected to be approved in 2011. Construction will proceed after receipt of all permits.
In support of our goals for 2010, we focused our efforts on the following six key operating priorities:
Exploration in Wyoming
Mine planning for our Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project
Environmental and mine planning for additional permitting in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming
Acquisition of properties with uranium potential
Investor relations and financing
Facilities planning
Results of Operations
Twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010 compared to twelve-month period ended December 31, 2009
Revenue
We have not earned any revenues to date and we anticipate that we will not generate any revenues during the twelve month period following the date of this report.
Operating Expenses and Other Expenses (Income)
We incurred total operating expenses of $15,291,692 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010, as compared to $9,556,528 for the corresponding period in 2009. The increase of operating expenses in the amount of $5,735,165 (60%) was primarily attributable to an increase of non-cash expenses amounting to $4,081,900 for warrants issued for mineral properties and stock- based compensation. Mineral property expenditures, for exploration and mine planning, increased $625,523 over 2009. Our general and administrative expenses consisted primarily of stock based compensation, payroll, consulting, investor relations and general overhead increased $3,824,054 or 83% more than 2009 reflecting a $2,823,900 increase in stock based compensation and a $1,000,154 increase in corporate affairs, investor relations and Casper operations.
Our interest expense for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010, imputed on an interest free loan, was $404 (2009 - $2,941). We earned $52,290 of interest income for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010 as compared to $155,402 for the corresponding period in 2009. This reduction was due to low rates of short term investments. The non-controlling interest of our Arkose Mining Venture absorbed $639,419 of our 2010 net loss ($701,972 in 2009). Net loss for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010 was $14,599,983, as compared to $8,699,154 for the corresponding period in 2009, an increase of $5,900,829 (68%). This increase was largely due to the 2010 increase in operating expenses.
Our 2010 Plan of Operations, described in our Form 10K filed March 15, 2010, outlined planned expenditures which were subsequently substantially incurred as expected. Geological data acquisition and stock-based compensation were additional, non-cash expenditures. As we anticipated, our exploration expenses, excluding property acquisitions, continued at a high level throughout the 2010 fiscal year as a result of our planned exploration activities, primarily related to our Arkose properties, and as a result of payments required to maintain our interests in our mineral properties. Our general and administrative expenses continued to increase as we complied with our obligations to many stockholders as a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, listed on the NYSE Amex Equities and the Toronto stock exchanges. As anticipated, we did not earn any revenues during the 2010 fiscal year as we were engaged in exploration and the permitting of our mineral properties.
Cash Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $10,896,545 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010, compared to $8,169,977 for the corresponding period in 2009. The increase in net cash used in operations includes an increase of $625,523 for mineral related cash expenditures, $1,000,756 for general and administrative expenses and $815,381 of prepaid expenses and deposits.
Cash Used in Investing Activities
We invested $1,863,353 in equipment and reclamation bonds in the twelve- month period ended December 31, 2010, compared to $74,663 the corresponding period in 2009.During the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010, we reduced our allocation in securities invested over 90 days by $8,766,943.
Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities amounted to $20,004,293 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010, primarily from a public issue of common stock, compared to $16,184,338 for the corresponding period in 2009.
Twelve-month period ended December 31, 2009 compared to twelve-month period ended December 31, 2008
Revenue
We have not earned any revenues to date and we anticipate that we will not generate any revenues during the twelve month period following the date of this report.
Operating Expenses and Other Expenses (Income)
We incurred total operating expenses of $9,556,528 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2009, as compared to $36,783,869 for the corresponding period in 2008. The decrease of operating expenses in the amount of $27,227,341 (74%) was primarily attributable to the $23,496,936 expenditure in 2008 to acquire and explore mineral properties in Wyoming, as described in detail under the section heading “Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our general and administrative expenses consisted primarily of stock based compensation, payroll, consulting, investor relations and general overhead which decreased $1,553,821 or 25% less than 2008 reflecting a $1,759,152 reduction in stock based compensation and a $205,331 increase in corporate affairs, investor relations and Casper operations.
Our interest expense for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2009, imputed on an interest free loan, was $2,941 (2008 - $5,551). We earned $155,402 of interest income for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2009 as compared to $610,408 for the corresponding period in 2008. This income resulted from short term investments. We sold all our mineral properties in Mongolia in 2008 for a gain on discontinued operations of $977,077. The non-controlling interest of our Arkose Mining Venture absorbed $701,972 of our 2009 operating loss ($949,185 in 2008). Net loss for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2009 was $8,699,154, as compared to $34,247,199 for the corresponding period in 2008, a decrease of $25,548,045 (75%). This decrease was largely due to our 2008 acquisition of mineral properties related to the Arkose Mining Venture.
As we anticipated, our exploration expenses, excluding property acquisitions, continued at a high level throughout the 2009 fiscal year as a result of our planned exploration activities, primarily related to our Arkose properties, and as a result of payments required to maintain our interests in our mineral properties. In addition, as we anticipated, general and administrative expenses continued to increase as we complied with our obligations to many stockholders as a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, listed on the NYSE Amex Equities and the Toronto stock exchanges. As anticipated, we did not earn any revenues during the 2009 fiscal year as we were engaged in exploration and the permitting of our mineral properties.
Cash Used in Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $8,169,977 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2009, compared to $14,182,485 for the corresponding period in 2008. The decrease in net cash used in operations includes a decrease of $6,636,946 for mineral related cash expenditures, primarily from reduced acquisitions.
Cash Used in Investing Activities
We invested $74,663 in equipment and reclamation bonds in the twelve- month period ended December 31, 2009, compared to $633,956 the corresponding period in 2008. In 2008 we received $905,092 cash on the sale of our Mongolian subsidiary, Rolling Hills Resources LLP and, during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2009, we reduced our investment in securities guaranteed by Canadian banks by $11,665,092.
Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities amounted to $16,184,338 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2009, primarily from a public issue of common stock, compared to $23,821,370 for the corresponding period in 2008.
Assets and Liabilities
We had total assets of $40,634,083 at December 31, 2010 compared to $30,810,289 at December 31, 2009, primarily cash accumulated from the sale of shares. Prepaid expenses and deposits amounted to $3,661,573 at December 31, 2010 (2009 - $1,052,626), reflecting our expanded operations. Property and Equipment was $503,129 compared to $540,979 at December 31, 2009. Our liabilities were $759,485 compared to $722,826 at December 31, 2009. Liabilities include due to related parties of` $49,186 (2009 - $54,920) and a loan of $Nil (2009 - $18,079).
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our operations are primarily financed by proceeds from issuances of common stock. Our cash and short term security position at December 31, 2010 was $36,437,370 compared to $29,192,975 as of December 31, 2009. We had working capital of $36,526,165 as of December 31, 2010, compared to working capital of $29,190,701 as of December 31, 2009.
Financings
During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company:
1. Issued 25,000 shares of common stock upon the exercise of share purchase warrants for cash proceeds of $75,000.
2. Issued 454,100 shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options for cash proceeds of $431,915.
3. Issued 2,000,000 warrants, valued at $1,258,000, for common stock for mineral properties.
4. Issued 6,147,446 shares of common stock pursuant to public offering for cash proceeds of $20,000,000 less offering expenses of $1,177,395.
During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company:
1. Issued 242,500 shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options for cash proceeds of $166,125.
2. Completed a public offering of 8,500,000 units, comprised of 8,500,000 common shares and 4,250,000 common share purchase warrants, at $2.00 per unit for gross proceeds of $17,000,000. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share for $3.00 for a period ending April 27, 2012. In the event that the Company’s shares of common stock trade in the United States at a closing price of greater than US$3.50 per share for a period of 20 consecutive trading days at any time following the closing of this offering, the Company may accelerate the expiry date of the warrants by giving notice via a press release to the holders thereof and in such case the warrants will expire on the 30th day after the date on which such notice is given. The Company incurred share issuance costs of $1,634,628 in connection with the issue.
3. Completed a private placement of 9,865,000 units, comprised of 9,865,000 common shares and 4,932,498 common share purchase warrants, at $2.40 per unit for gross proceeds of $23,676,000. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share for $3.50 for a two year period ending April 15, 2010. In the event that the trading price of the Company’s common shares on the American Stock Exchange closes above U.S. $4.50 per share for a period of 20 consecutive trading days at any time after August 16, 2008, the Company may accelerate the expiry time of these warrants by giving notice to the warrant holders by press release and in such case these warrants will expire on the 30th day after the date on which notice is given via press release. The Company paid cash commissions of $1,100,640 and 120,000 warrants to purchase 120,000 common shares at $2.60 per share exercisable for a one year period ending April 15, 2009. The Company incurred share issuance costs in connection with the private placement of $1,347,098 including agents’ warrants with a fair value of $68,041.
Capital Requirements
Our cash position of $36,437,370 at December 31, 2010 is available for future operations. We estimate that our cash expenditures for operations over the next twelve months will be approximately $9.8 million as outlined below. Therefore, we believe that we have sufficient capital to fund expenditures for operations over the next twelve months. Property acquisitions and operations beyond 2011 will be financed through cash on hand, debt and one or more equity issues. We intend to focus our exploration and mine development efforts in Wyoming.
Subsequent to December 31, 2010 we received additional cash from the exercise of stock options and warrants. See Note 17 of the audited consolidated financial statements following under the section heading “Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
Our plan of operation for the next twelve months is to continue with exploration and permitting of our expanded Wyoming Powder River Basin properties. Our planned geological exploration programs are described in Item 2 of this Report. Our planned cash operating expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2011 for corporate expenses, exploration on our Wyoming mineral properties and general and administrative expenses are summarized as follows:
Category Planned Cash Expenditures Over the Next Twelve Months
Exploration $2,880,000
Environmental, production and well planning $690,000
General and Administrative expenses $6,190,000
TOTAL $9,760,000
In addition to our planned operating expenditures we may increase exploration expenditures and make additional property acquisitions beyond the above as opportunities arise and, if warranted, commence capital expenditures for our Nichols Ranch ISR Uranium Project which is under review by licensing authorities. Our exploration and development plans will be continually evaluated and modified as exploration and permitting results become available. Modifications to our plans will be based on many factors, including: results of exploration, assessment of data, weather conditions, exploration costs, the price of uranium and available capital. Further, the extent of our operations and investment programs that we undertake will be dependent upon the amount of financing available to us.
During the twelve-month period following the date of this Annual Report, we anticipate that we will not generate any revenues. We anticipate that funding to carry out our 2011 plans will be from existing resources.
Future Financings
We may require additional financing to carry out an expanded program of exploration, mine planning and property acquisitions during 2011. This may require debt financing and/or additional sales of our common stock in order to raise the funds necessary to pursue opportunities and to fund our working capital.
Issuances of additional shares would result in dilution to our existing shareholders. There is no assurance that we will be successful in completing any financings. Failure to obtain additional financing on a timely basis could require a reduced plan of operations and acquisitions beyond 2011.
As we expect our reliance on equity financings to continue into the future, the future market conditions will be critical for us to raise necessary funds to meet our capital requirements. If we are unable to obtain acceptable financing through equity investments, we will seek multiple solutions including, but not limited to, credit facilities or debenture issuances.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no significant off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to stockholders.
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations extending beyond the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 are described in Note 14 of the audited consolidated financial statements following under the section heading “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our management routinely makes judgments and estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain.
We have identified certain accounting policies, described below, that are most important to the portrayal of our current financial condition and results of operations. Our significant accounting policies are disclosed in Note 2 to the audited financial statements included in this Annual Report.
Mineral Property Costs
The Company is primarily engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. Mineral property acquisition costs are capitalized when management has determined that probable future benefits consisting of a contribution to future cash inflows have been identified and adequate financial resources are available or are expected to be available as required to meet the terms of property acquisition and budgeted exploration and development expenditures. Mineral property acquisition costs are expensed as incurred if the criteria for capitalization are not met. In the event that a mineral property is acquired through the issuance of the Company’s shares, the mineral property will be recorded at the fair value of the respective property or the fair value of common shares, whichever is more readily determinable.
When mineral properties are acquired under option agreements with future acquisition payments to be made at the sole discretion of the Company, those future payments, whether in cash or shares, are recorded only when the Company has made or is obliged to make the payment or issue the shares. When it has been determined that a mineral property can be economically developed as a result of establishing proven and probable reserves and bankable feasibility, the costs incurred to develop such property are capitalized.
During the year ended December 31, 2010, mineral property expenditures totaling $6,661,909 (2009 -$4,778,386, (2008 - $30,505,332) were expensed.
Stock-based Compensation
The Company records stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Based Compensation, which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense based on estimated fair values for all share-based awards made to employees and directors, including stock options.
ASC 718 requires companies to estimate the fair value of share-based awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as its method of determining fair value. This model is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of subjective variables. These subjective variables include, but are not limited to the Company’s expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as an expense in the statement of operations over the requisite service period.
No tax benefits were attributed to stock-based compensation expense because a full valuation allowance was maintained for all net deferred tax assets.
Accounting Developments
The Company has implemented all new accounting pronouncements that are in effect and that may impact its financial statements and does not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued that might have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are not exposed to risks associated with commodity prices, interest rates and credit. Commodity price risk is defined as the potential loss that we may incur as a result of changes in the fair value of uranium. Interest rate risk results from our debt and equity instruments that we issue to provide financing and liquidity for our business. Credit risk would arise from the extension of credit throughout all aspects of our business but is not yet significant.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
December 31, 2010
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Directors and Stockholders
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Uranerz Energy Corporation as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and stockholders' equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 and accumulated from May 26, 1999 (Date of Inception) to December 31, 2010. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidation financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Uranerz Energy Corporation as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 and accumulated from May 26, 1999 (Date of Inception) to December 31, 2010, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 11, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ MANNING ELLIOTT LLP
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
Vancouver, Canada
March 11, 2011
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Expressed in US dollars)
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Expressed in US dollars)
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Expressed in US dollars)
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
For the Period from May 26, 1999 (Date of Inception) to December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
For the Period from May 26, 1999 (Date of Inception) to December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
For the Period from May 26, 1999 (Date of Inception) to December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements)
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
1. Nature of Operations
Uranerz Energy Corporation (the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Nevada, U.S.A. on May 26, 1999. Effective July 5, 2005, the Company changed its name from Carleton Ventures Corp. to Uranerz Energy Corporation. The Company has mineral property interests in the United States.
The Company is an Exploration Stage Company, as defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 915, Development Stage Entities. The Company’s principal business is the acquisition and exploitation of uranium and mineral resources.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
a) Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
These consolidated financial statements and related notes are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and are expressed in US dollars.
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and the accounts of an unincorporated venture, Arkose Mining Venture (“Arkose”) in which the Company holds an 81% interest and maintains majority voting control. Rolling Hills Resources LLC (“Rolling Hills”), a Mongolian company previously wholly-owned by the Company, was consolidated on December 31, 2007. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company disposed of Rolling Hills. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated. The Company’s fiscal year-end is December 31.
b) Use of Estimates
The preparation of these consolidated statements in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company regularly evaluates estimates and assumptions related to useful life and recoverability of long-lived assets, stock-based compensation, asset retirement obligation, deferred income tax asset valuations and loss contingencies. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experience and various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the accrual of costs and expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. The actual results experienced by the Company may differ materially and adversely from the Company’s estimates. To the extent there are material differences between the estimates and the actual results, future results of operations will be affected.
c) Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with maturities of three months or less at the time of issuance to be cash equivalents.
d) Marketable Securities
The Company defines marketable securities as income yielding securities that can be readily converted into cash. Examples of marketable securities include U.S. Treasury and agency obligations, commercial paper, corporate notes and bonds, time deposits, foreign notes and certificates of deposit. The Company accounts for its investment in debt and equity instruments under FASB ASC 320, Investments - Debt and Equity Securities. The Company follows the guidance provided by ASC 320 to assess whether its investments with unrealized loss positions are other than temporarily impaired. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be other than temporary are determined based on the specific identification method and are reported in other income (expense). Management determines the appropriate classification of such securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such classification as of each balance sheet date.
e) Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consists of computers, office equipment and field equipment. These assets are recorded at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated life of five years.
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
f) Financial Instruments/Concentrations
The Company’s financial instruments consist principally of cash and short-term marketable securities, accounts payable and loan payable. Marketable securities consist of time deposits longer than three months and are classified as held to maturity securities. Pursuant to ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures and ASC 825, Financial Instruments the fair value of marketable securities is determined based on “Level 1” inputs, which consist of quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. The Company believes that the recorded values of all of the Company’s other financial instruments approximate their current fair values because of their nature and relatively short maturity dates or durations.
g) Mineral Property Costs
The Company is primarily engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties. Mineral property acquisition costs are capitalized when management has determined that probable future benefits consisting of a contribution to future cash inflows have been identified and adequate financial resources are available or are expected to be available as required to meet the terms of property acquisitions and budgeted exploration and development expenditures. Mineral property acquisition costs are expensed as incurred if the criteria for capitalization are not met. In the event that a mineral property is acquired through the issuance of the Company’s shares, the mineral property will be recorded at the fair value of the respective property or the fair value of common shares, whichever is more readily determinable.
When mineral properties are acquired under option agreements with future acquisition payments to be made at the sole discretion of the Company, those future payments, whether in cash or shares, are recorded only when the Company has made or is obliged to make the payment or issue the shares. When it has been determined that a mineral property can be economically developed as a result of establishing proven and probable reserves and a bankable feasibility, the costs incurred to develop such property are capitalized.
During the year ended December 31, 2010, mineral property expenditures totalling $6,661,909 (2009 - $4,778,386, 2008 - $30,505,332) were expensed.
h) Asset Retirement Obligation
Estimated future removal and site restoration costs, when determinable are provided over the life of proven reserves on a units-of-production basis. Costs, which include production equipment removal and environmental remediation, are estimated each period by management based on current regulations, actual expenses incurred, and technology and industry standards. Any charge is included in exploration expense or the provision for depletion and depreciation during the period and the actual restoration expenditures are charged to the accumulated provision amounts as incurred. At December 31, 2010, the Company has recorded $78,084 (2009 - $75,540, 2008 - $40,500) for well reclamation obligations in accrued liabilities.
i) Foreign Currency Translation
The functional and reporting currency of the Company is the United States dollar. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated to United States dollars in accordance with ASC 740, Foreign Currency Translation Matters, using the exchange rate prevailing at the balance sheet date. Gains and losses arising on translation or settlement of foreign currency denominated transactions or balances are included in the determination of income. Foreign currency transactions are primarily undertaken in Canadian dollars. The Company has not, to the date of these consolidated financial statements, entered into derivative instruments to offset the impact of foreign currency fluctuations.
j) Comprehensive Loss
ASC 220, Comprehensive Income establishes standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive loss and its components in the consolidated financial statements. During the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company had no items that represent a comprehensive loss. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company’s other comprehensive loss consisted of unrealized losses on foreign currency translation adjustments.
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
k) Long-lived Assets
In accordance with ASC 360, Property Plant and Equipment the Company tests long-lived assets or asset groups for recoverability when events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Circumstances which could trigger a review include, but are not limited to: significant decreases in the market price of the asset; significant adverse changes in the business climate or legal factors; accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition or construction of the asset; current period cash flow or operating losses combined with a history of losses or a forecast of continuing losses associated with the use of the asset; and a current expectation that the asset will more likely than not be sold or disposed significantly before the end of its estimated useful life.
Recoverability is assessed based on the carrying amount of the asset and its fair value which is generally determined based on the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and the eventual disposal of the asset, as well as specific appraisal in certain instances. An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount is not recoverable and exceeds fair value.
l) Stock-based Compensation
The Company records stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation - Stock Based Compensation, which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense based on estimated fair values for all share-based awards made to employees and directors, including stock options.
ASC 718 requires companies to estimate the fair value of share-based awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as its method of determining fair value. This model is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of subjective variables. These subjective variables include, but are not limited to the Company’s expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviours. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as an expense in the statement of operations over the requisite service period.
m) Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share
The Company computes net loss per share in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings per Share. ASC 260 requires presentation of both basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) on the face of the statement of operations. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders (numerator) by the weighted average number of shares outstanding (denominator) during the period. Diluted EPS gives effect to all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method and convertible preferred stock using the if-converted method. In computing diluted EPS, the average stock price for the period is used in determining the number of shares assumed to be purchased from the exercise of stock options or warrants. Diluted EPS excludes all dilutive potential shares if their effect is anti-dilutive. Shares underlying these securities totaled approximately 12,960,600 as of December 31, 2010 (2009 - 15,132,200; 2008 - 9,892,200).
n) Income Taxes
Potential benefits of income tax losses are not recognized in the accounts until realization is more likely than not. The Company has adopted ASC 740, Income Taxes as of its inception. Pursuant to ASC 740 the Company is required to compute tax asset benefits for net operating losses carried forward and mineral property acquisition, exploration and development costs. The potential benefits of net operating losses have not been recognized in these consolidated financial statements because the Company cannot be assured it is more likely than not it will utilize the net operating losses carried forward in future years.
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
o) Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Company has implemented all new accounting pronouncements that are in effect and that may impact its financial statements and does not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued that might have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.
p) Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior period’s financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation including the reclassification of non-controlling interest upon the adoption of ASC 810, Consolidation.
3. Cash and Marketable Securities
At December 31, 2010, the Company had $36,437,370 (2009 - $29,192,975) in cash and marketable securities. The marketable securities consist of $Nil (2009 - $8,766,943) of bank guaranteed deposits with terms longer than three months and classified as held-to-maturity. Pursuant to ASC 820 the fair value of all marketable securities is determined based on “Level 1” inputs, which consist of quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. The Company places cash investments in instruments that meet credit quality standards, as specified in our investment policy guidelines.
4. Investment in Rolling Hills
Rolling Hills was formerly a wholly owned subsidiary incorporated in Mongolia. On June 18, 2008, the Company disposed of 60% of its investment pursuant to an option and joint venture agreement. On August 25, 2008, the Company disposed of the remaining 40% of its investment. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company recognized a gain on the disposal of $979,709.
As a result of the Company’s disposal of Rolling Hills all operations related to the former subsidiary have been classified as discontinued operations. Cash flows from discontinued operations were not material and were combined with cash flows from continuing operations within the consolidated statement of cash flows categories.
5. Property and Equipment
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
i) On August 20, 2008, the Company leased 891 acres of mineral properties near the Company’s Nichols Ranch project area in Wyoming for an advanced royalty payment of $22,275.
j) On August 20, 2008, the Company, on behalf of the Arkose Mining Venture, leased 6,073 acres of mineral properties within Arkose’s area of interest in Wyoming for an advanced royalty payment of $151,828.
k) On September 18, 2008, the Company leased 984 acres of mineral properties within the Company’s North Reno Creek project area in Wyoming.
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
b) The components of accrued liabilities are as follows:
8. Loan Payable
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
11. Stock-based Compensation (continued)
The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, was $1,003,198, $276,400 and $641,954, respectively.
The following table summarizes the continuity of the Company’s stock options:
A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested stock options as of December 31, 2010, and changes during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is presented below:
As at December 31, 2010, there was $30,110 of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock option agreements. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 0.40 years.
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
A summary of the changes in the Company’s common share purchase warrants is presented below:
As at December 31, 2010, the following common share purchase warrants were outstanding:
13. Shareholder Rights Plan
The Company has adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan (the "Plan") effective August 25, 2010. The Plan confers one right (a "Right") for each of the Company’s outstanding share of common stock, as at August 25, 2010 and for shares of common stock issued thereafter. Each Right will be evidenced by the Company's shares of common stock and will trade with the Company's shares of common stock. Under the terms of the Plan, the Rights separate and become exercisable upon a “flip-in event”: if a person or group acquires 20% or more of the Company's common stock other than through a take-over bid which meets certain requirements, among them that the offer be extended to all shareholders, that it remain open for 60 days, and that it receive approval of not less than 50% of independent shareholders. If a flip-in event occurs as described in the Plan, the Rights entitle the holder of each Right to purchase for $8.75 per share (the “exercise price”) that number of shares of common stock of the Company which has a market value of twice the exercise price, subject to certain adjustments as provided under the Plan. The Plan is effective for a three-year period.
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
The Company has incurred operating losses of approximately $22,216,673 which, if unutilized, will expire through to 2029. Future tax benefits, which may arise as a result of these losses, have not been recognized in these consolidated financial statements, and have been offset by a valuation allowance. The following table lists the fiscal years in which the loss was incurred and the expiration dates of the losses.
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
16. Segment Disclosures
The Company has two operating segments both involving the acquisition and exploitation of uranium and mineral resources. These operating segments consist of the Arkose Mining Venture (“Arkose”) and the Company’s remaining operations.
Factors used to identify the Company’s reportable segments include the organizational structure of the Company and the financial information available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker in making decisions about how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s operating segments have been broken out based on similar economic and other qualitative criteria. The Company operates both reporting segments in one geographical area, the United States.
The Chief Executive Officer is the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) as defined by ASC 280, Segment Reporting. The CODM allocates resources and assesses the performance of the Company based on the results of operations.
Prior to the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company only had one operating segment. Financial statement information by operating segment for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is presented below:
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2010
(Expressed in US dollars)
Supplemental Financial Information ($, 000)
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
During the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision of and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operations of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a - 15(e) and Rule 15d - 15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation the CEO and the CFO have concluded that as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were adequately designed and effective in ensuring that: (i) information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms; and (ii) material information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow for accurate and timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management conducted an evaluation of the design and operation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on the criteria set forth in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. This evaluation included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design effectiveness of controls, testing of the operating effectiveness of controls and a conclusion on this evaluation. Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009 and no material weaknesses were discovered.
The effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 has been audited by Manning Elliott LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the Company’s financial statements included in this Annual Report.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Manning Elliott LLP, has issued an attestation report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Directors and Stockholders
Uranerz Energy Corporation
(An Exploration Stage Company)
We have audited Uranerz Energy Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Uranerz Energy Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Uranerz Energy Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Uranerz Energy Corporation as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, and stockholders equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 and accumulated from May 26, 1999 (Date of Inception) to December 31, 2010 and our report dated March 11, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ MANNING ELLIOTT LLP
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
Vancouver, Canada
March 11, 2011
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the above-referenced evaluation by management of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
None
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Reference is made to the information set forth under the captions “Election of Directors” and “Executive Officers” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a Corporate Code of Ethics administered by our Senior Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, Benjamin Leboe. We believe our Code of Ethics is reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and promote honest and ethical conduct, to provide full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in public reports, to comply with applicable laws, to ensure prompt internal reporting of code violations, and to provide accountability for adherence to the code. Our Code of Ethics provides written standards that are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:
Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships;
Full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in reports and documents that are filed with, or submitted to, the SEC and in other public communications made by an issuer;
Compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations;
The prompt internal reporting of violations of the Code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the code; and
Accountability for adherence to the Code.
Our Code of Ethics is available at our website at www.uranerz.com. We intend to disclose any waiver from a provision of our Code of Ethics that applies to any of our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions that relates to any element of our Code of Ethics on our website. No waivers were granted from the requirements of our Code of Ethics during the year ended December 31, 2010, or during the subsequent period from January 1, 2011, through the date of this Annual Report.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Reference is made to the information set forth under the captions “Election of Directors” and “Executive Officers” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, in connection with our 2011 annual general meeting of shareholders, which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Reference is made to the information set forth under the captions “Security Ownership of Principal Shareholders and Management” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, in connection with our 2011 annual general meeting of shareholders , which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Reference is made to the information set forth under the caption “Certain Transactions” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, in connection with our 2011 annual general meeting of shareholders , which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Reference is made to the information set forth under the captions “Audit Committee Report” in our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange commission pursuant to Regulation 14A, in connection with our 2011 annual general meeting of shareholders , which information is incorporated by reference to this Annual Report on Form 10-K
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Documents Filed as Part of This Report.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules are omitted and are not applicable or not required, or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits
Where an exhibit is filed by incorporation by reference to a previously filed registration statement or report, such registration statement or report is identified in parentheses.
(1) Previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registrant’s Form SB-2 filed March 15, 2002
(2) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB filed November 21, 2005
(3) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed April 14, 2006
(4) Filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the SEC on November 21, 2005.
(5) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB filed August 15, 2006
(6) Filed as an exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB filed November 13, 2006.
(7) As reported in two separate Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on February 8, 2007.
(8) Previously filed as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed April 2, 2006
(9) As in Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 2, 2006.
(10) Filed as an exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB filed August 14, 2007.
(11) As reported and filed in Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 24, 2007.
(12) As reported and filed in Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 16, 2008.
(13) Filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 17, 2008.
(14) As reported and filed in Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 18, 2008.
(15) Filed as an exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 9, 2008.
(16) Filed as an exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 11, 2008.
(17) Filed as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed July 9, 2009.
(18) Filed as an exhibit to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 10, 2009.
(19) Filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 22, 2009.
(20) Filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 27, 2009.
(21) Filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 8, 2009.
(22) Form of Shareholder Rights Plan filed as an exhibit to our definitive proxy statement on Form 14A filed April 27, 2010.
(23) Filed as an exhibit to our Form 8K filed December 1, 2010.
GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS
The following defined technical terms are used in this Annual Report:
DEQ/WDEQ: Department of Environmental Quality, State of Wyoming
Exploration drilling: drilling done in search of new mineral deposits or for the possible extensions of existing deposits up to the time a company decides that sufficient ore reserves are present to justify commercial development.
FASB: Financial Accounting Standards Board
GAAP: Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
In-situ recovery (ISR): the recovery, by chemical leaching, of the uranium component of an ore body without physically extracting the ore from the ground. ISR mining utilizes injection of appropriate oxidizing chemicals into an ore-bearing sandstone deposit with extraction by production wells; also referred to as solution mining.
NRC: Nuclear Regulatory Commission SEC: Securities and Exchange Commission
SFAS: Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
Uranium: a heavy, naturally radioactive, metallic element of atomic number 92. Its two principal isotopes are 235U and 238U, of which the 235U is the necessary component for the nuclear fuel cycle.
Uranium concentrate (yellowcake): a yellowish to yellow-brownish powder obtained from the chemical processing of uranium ore. Yellowcake typically contains 70 to 90% U3O8 by weight.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this 2010 Form 10K report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
URANERZ ENERGY CORPORATION
By: /s/ Glenn Catchpole
/s/ Benjamin Leboe
Glenn Catchpole, President and CEO
Benjamin Leboe, Senior Vice President, Finance
Principal Executive Officer
Principal Financial Officer and
Director
Principal Accounting Officer
Date: March 11, 2011
Date: March 11, 2011
In accordance with the Securities Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated
Per: /s/ Glenn Catchpole
Glenn Catchpole, President, Director
Date: March 11, 2011
Per: /s/ Dennis Higgs
Dennis Higgs, Executive Chairman, Director
Date: March 11, 2011
Per: /s/ Gerhard Kirchner
Dr. Gerhard Kirchner, Director
Date: March 11, 2011
Per: /s/ George Hartman
George Hartman, Executive Vice President,
Director
Date: March 11, 2011
Per: /s/ Peter Bell
Peter Bell, Director
Date: March 11, 2011
Per: /s/ Paul Saxton
Paul Saxton, Director
Date: March 11, 2011
Per: /s/ Arnold Dyck
Arnold Dyck, Director
Date: March 11, 2011
Per: /s/ Richard Holmes
Richard Holmes, Director
Date: March 11, 2011