The U.S. clean energy firm enCore Energy Corp. has announced the successful completion of the first phase of construction for its satellite remote ion exchange facility at the Upper Spring Creek in-situ recovery uranium project in South Texas.

This satellite ion exchange facility is the largest such satellite plant ever built by enCore. The completed portion can currently process a flow rate of 1,600 gallons per minute, representing 50% of the plant's total planned capacity. The company stated that the flow capacity is being doubled, with 75% of capacity expected to be operational by the end of June, reaching the full design capacity of 3,200 gallons per minute by the end of July.

Concurrently, work on the first production wellfield that will feed the ion exchange plant is nearing completion. Uranium extraction will commence formally upon receipt of the final permit. Drilling for the first 800-gallon-per-minute module is fully complete, and the wellfield infrastructure for this module is largely finished. Drilling for the second module is approximately 90% complete, with construction of the third and fourth modules progressing simultaneously.

William M. Sheriff, Executive Chairman of enCore Energy, stated, "This milestone reflects the dedication and teamwork of all involved. The Upper Spring Creek project enhances our operational capabilities by supplying loaded resin to the fully permitted Rosita Central Processing Plant." He noted the company plans to enter the operational phase by the end of 2026, following the receipt of the final permit.

The Upper Spring Creek project, wholly owned by enCore, includes a satellite ion exchange facility and associated wellfields and is a key component of the company's South Texas uranium project portfolio. The project was acquired from Signal Equities LLC in December 2020, which had previously secured the permits and approvals for the property as an in-situ recovery uranium project.

The uranium-mineralized sand layer at the project site is located within the Oakville formation, at a depth between 300 and 450 feet below the surface. According to the company, this moderate depth allows for the efficient and economical recovery of uranium using the in-situ recovery method.

The core process of the satellite ion exchange technology involves injecting a leaching solution—a mixture of groundwater and oxygen—into the wellfield to dissolve uranium minerals from the underground sandstone. The uranium-bearing groundwater is pumped to the surface, circulated through the satellite ion exchange plant where uranium is adsorbed onto resin beads, and then transported to the Rosita Central Processing Plant for further refinement.

Financially, enCore reported net income of $0.03 per share for the first quarter of 2026, successfully reversing a loss of $0.13 per share from the same period last year. The company's uranium production for the quarter was 90,000 pounds, an increase of approximately 22% year-over-year. Cash and cash equivalents at quarter-end stood at $41.6 million, with total liquidity reaching $84.7 million.

Analysts anticipate the company's revenue could grow by 62% this year as capacity ramps up. The completion of this construction phase at Upper Spring Creek marks a significant step for enCore in expanding domestic U.S. uranium production capacity.