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American Lithium Corp announced results from an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment for its wholly owned Macusani uranium deposit located on the Macusani Plateau in Puno, southeastern Peru. Macusani represents one of the largest undeveloped uranium resources globally, hosting extensive near-surface volcanic-hosted uranium mineralization characterized by exceptionally low strip ratios and favorable heap leaching kinetics.
The updated economic study models a large-scale open-pit mining operation producing an average of six million pounds of U3O8 yellowcake per year over an initial twenty-two-year operating mine life. The flow sheet utilizes conventional crushing and coarse ore heap leaching, delivering high overall uranium recoveries exceeding eighty-eight percent within rapid leach cycles without requiring intensive acid consumption or fine grinding.
Base-case economic metrics highlight an after-tax net present value exceeding one billion US dollars at an eight percent discount rate, with an after-tax internal rate of return of over thirty-five percent based on a conservative long-term uranium contract price. Cash operating costs are projected at less than twenty-five dollars per pound of U3O8, positioning Macusani within the lowest quartile of global uranium producers.
Environmental baseline monitoring and community engagement initiatives have progressed under the supervision of Peru s regulatory agencies and regional authorities. Water management plans incorporate dedicated lined heap leach pads, closed-circuit process solution recycling, and high-efficiency reverse osmosis treatment systems to ensure complete isolation of industrial process solutions from regional surface water drainages.
American Lithium emphasized that growing global demand for carbon-free nuclear power provides strong fundamentals for advancing Tier-1 development assets. The company continues infill drilling and environmental baseline studies aimed at advancing Macusani toward a definitive Pre-Feasibility Study while supporting long-term economic development initiatives across regional communities.
American Lithium reported that ongoing metallurgical testwork at certified international laboratories confirms that the Macusani uranium mineralization produces high-grade ammonium diuranate precipitates with low deleterious elements. The company works closely with local community stakeholders to establish sustainable education and vocational employment programs.