Denison Phoenix In-Situ Recovery Uranium Mine Enters Full Construction Phase

Denison Mines Corp. of Canada announced on July 28 that the Phoenix in-situ recovery uranium mine, part of the Wheeler River uranium project in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, has completed site preparation and transitioned from the preliminary engineering phase to full construction. Current project priorities include initiating the installation of the freeze wall around the Phase I mine.

According to the company's disclosure, since site preparation and preliminary engineering began in March 2026, the project has substantially completed site clearing, advanced several time-critical civil works, and constructed construction management facilities. A temporary construction camp has also been installed and put into operation, increasing the on-site accommodation capacity of the Wheeler River project to nearly 400 people, providing conditions for the subsequent increase in construction personnel.

Supporting project construction is progressing concurrently. A nearby quarry continues to produce aggregates required for civil works, and a concrete batching plant has been delivered to the site. Under current arrangements, key concrete placement for the substation and main process plant foundations is expected to begin in August.

Denison stated that the preliminary civil works are progressing as expected, with an estimated completion of over 20% of the total civil works volume to date. Among these, civil earthwork for the process plant area and wellfield area is nearing completion, creating conditions for subsequent plant concrete placement and freeze wall installation. With the start of the second shift, construction intensity is expected to further increase during the remaining summer months to advance key annual milestones, including foundation placement for the process plant and main power transformer, freeze wall installation, and earthworks related to the airstrip and on-site power distribution.

The Phoenix uranium mine is part of the Wheeler River uranium project. Located in the eastern Athabasca Basin, the Wheeler River project is one of the larger undeveloped uranium projects in a region with relatively well-developed infrastructure, comprising the Phoenix uranium mine and the Gryphon uranium mine. The project is 90% owned and operated by Denison, with JCU (Canada) Exploration Company Limited holding the remaining 10%.

According to available information, the Phoenix uranium mine is planned to be developed using in-situ recovery technology. The relevant licensing process was initiated in 2019. The project's environmental assessment was approved by the Government of Saskatchewan in July 2025 and by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in February 2026, along with the issuance of a construction license. The Phoenix project entered full construction in July 2026.