UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☒ ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31 , 2021
or
☐ TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from
______________to ______________
Commission File Number 000-55626
WESTERN URANIUM &
VANADIUM CORP.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Ontario, Canada 98-1271843
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
330 Bay Street , Suite 1400
Toronto , Ontario , Canada
M5H 2S8
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(970) 864-2125
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area
Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name
of exchange on which registered
N/A
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Shares
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known
seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required
to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Note – Checking the box above will not
relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from their obligations under those
Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1)
has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically
every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is
a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.
See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,”
and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒ Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check
mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has
filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting
under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its
audit report. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is
a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of June 30, 2021, the aggregate market value of
the common shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $ 57,503,108 .
As of April 13, 2022, 42,921,644 of the registrant’s no par value
common shares were outstanding.
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP.
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
USE OF NAMES
ii
CURRENCY
ii
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS AND INTRODUCTION
ii
CAUTIONARY
NOTE TO INVESTORS CONCERNING DISCLOSURE OF MINERAL RESOURCES & RESERVES
ii
GLOSSARY
iv
GLOSSARY OF REGULATORY AGENCIES AND EXCHANGES
v
PART I
1
ITEM 1.
BUSINESS
1
ITEM 1A.
RISK
FACTORS
7
ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED
STAFF COMMENTS
16
ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES
17
ITEM 3.
LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
35
ITEM 4.
MINE
SAFETY DISCLOSURES
36
PART Ii
37
ITEM 5.
MARKET
FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
37
ITEM 6.
[RESERVED]
37
ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
37
ITEM 7A.
QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
48
ITEM 8.
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
48
ITEM 9.
CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
48
ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
48
ITEM 9B.
OTHER
INFORMATION.
49
ITEM 9C.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT
INSPECTIONS.
49
PART III
50
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
50
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
52
ITEM 12.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
53
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
55
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
56
PART IV – OTHER INFORMATION
57
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS,
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
57
ITEM 16.
FORM
10-K SUMMARY
58
SIGNATURES
59
i
USE OF NAMES
As used in this Form 10-K annual report, unless the context otherwise
requires, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “Western” and “WUC”, or the “Company”
refer to Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp., an Ontario Canadian corporation, and its subsidiaries.
CURRENCY
The accounts of the Company are reported in U.S.
dollars. Unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts referenced in this Form 10-K annual report and the consolidated financial statements
are stated in U.S. dollars.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS AND INTRODUCTION
The statements contained in this document that are not purely historical
are “forward-looking statements.” Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements,
including those regarding future operations, are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and they involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements
contained in this document include statements regarding our proposed services, market opportunities and acceptance, expectations for revenues,
cash flows and financial performance, and intentions for the future. Such forward-looking statements are included under Item
1. “Business” and Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations”. All forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date hereof, based on information
available to us as of such date, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. It is important to note that
such statements may not prove to be accurate and that our actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated
in such statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are those described
under Item 1. “Business,” Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable
to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this section and other factors included elsewhere in
this document.
CAUTIONARY NOTE TO INVESTORS
CONCERNING DISCLOSURE OF MINERAL RESOURCES & RESERVES
We are deemed to be a U.S.
domestic issuer for United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) purposes, most of our shareholders are U.S.
residents, and we are required to report our financial results under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”).
However, because we are incorporated in Ontario, Canada and are also listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, this Annual Report may
also contain or incorporate by reference certain disclosure that satisfies the additional requirements of Canadian securities laws that
differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws.
On October 31, 2018, the
SEC adopted the Modernization of Property Disclosures for Mining Registrants (the “New Rule”), introducing significant changes
to the existing mining disclosure framework to better align it with international industry and regulatory practice, including Canadian
National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), a rule developed by the
Canadian Securities Administrators (the “CSA”) that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific
and technical information concerning mineral projects. The New Rule was codified as 17 CFR Subpart 220.1300 and 229.601(b)(96) (collectively,
“S-K 1300”) and replaced SEC Industry Guide 7. Pursuant to the New Rule, issuers are required to comply with S-K 1300 as
of their annual reports for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021.
Unless otherwise indicated,
the following terms, when used in this Form 10-K annual report, have the meanings given them in S-K 1300. The applicable S-K 1300 definitions
are copied below.
S-K 1300 Terms and Definitions:
● Exploration
stage issuer is an issuer that has no material property with mineral reserves disclosed.
● Exploration
stage property is a property that has no mineral reserves disclosed.
● Feasibility
study is a comprehensive technical and economic study of the selected development
option for a mineral project, which includes detailed assessments of all applicable modifying
factors, as defined in S-K 1300, together with any other relevant operational factors, and
detailed financial analyses that are necessary to demonstrate, at the time of reporting,
that extraction is economically viable. The results of the study may serve as the basis for
a final decision by a proponent or financial institution to proceed with, or finance, the
development of the project.
(1) A feasibility
study is more comprehensive, and with a higher degree of accuracy, than a pre-feasibility study, as defined in S-K 1300. It must contain
mining, infrastructure, and process designs completed with sufficient rigor to serve as the basis for an investment decision or to support
project financing.
(2) The confidence
level in the results of a feasibility study is higher than the confidence level in the results of a pre-feasibility study. Terms such
as full, final, comprehensive, bankable, or definitive feasibility study are equivalent to a feasibility study.
ii
● Indicated mineral resource is
that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on
the basis of adequate geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological certainty
associated with an indicated mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to
apply modifying factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the
economic viability of the deposit. Because an indicated mineral resource has a lower level
of confidence than the level of confidence of a measured mineral resource, an indicated mineral
resource may only be converted to a probable mineral reserve.
● Inferred mineral resource is that
part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis
of limited geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological uncertainty associated
with an inferred mineral resource is too high to apply relevant technical and economic factors
likely to influence the prospects of economic extraction in a manner useful for evaluation
of economic viability. Because an inferred mineral resource has the lowest level of geological
confidence of all mineral resources, which prevents the application of the modifying factors
in a manner useful for evaluation of economic viability, an inferred mineral resource may
not be considered when assessing the economic viability of a mining project, and may not
be converted to a mineral reserve.
● Measured mineral resource is
that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on
the basis of conclusive geological evidence and sampling. The level of geological certainty
associated with a measured mineral resource is sufficient to allow a qualified person to
apply modifying factors, as defined in S-K 1300, in sufficient detail to support detailed
mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Because a measured
mineral resource has a higher level of confidence than the level of confidence of either
an indicated mineral resource or an inferred mineral resource, a measured mineral resource
may be converted to a proven mineral reserve or to a probable mineral reserve, each as defined
in S-K 1300.
● Mineral reserve is an estimate
of tonnage and grade or quality of indicated and measured mineral resources that, in the
opinion of the qualified person, can be the basis of an economically viable project. More
specifically, it is the economically mineable part of a measured or indicated mineral resource,
which includes diluting materials and allowances for losses that may occur when the material
is mined or extracted.
● Mineral resource is
a concentration or occurrence of material of economic interest in or on the earth’s crust
in such form, grade or quality, and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for economic
extraction. A mineral resource is a reasonable estimate of mineralization, taking into account
relevant factors such as cut-off grade, likely mining dimensions, location or continuity
that, with the assumed and justifiable technical and economic conditions, is likely to, in
whole or in part, become economically extractable. It is not merely an inventory of all mineralization
drilled or sampled.
● Qualified
person is an individual who is:
(1) a mineral industry
professional with at least five years of relevant experience in the type of mineralization
and type of deposit under consideration and in the specific type of activity that person
is undertaking on behalf of the registrant; and
(2) an eligible member
or licensee in good standing of a recognized professional organization at the time the technical
report is prepared. For an organization to be a recognized professional organization, it
must:
(i) be either:
(A) an organization recognized
within the mining industry as a reputable professional association; or
(B) a board authorized
by U.S. federal, state or foreign statute to regulate professionals in the mining, geoscience
or related field;
(ii) admit eligible members
primarily on the basis of their academic qualifications and experience;
(iii) establish and require
compliance with professional standards of competence and ethics;
(iv) require or encourage
continuing professional development;
(v) have and apply disciplinary
powers, including the power to suspend or expel a member regardless of where the member practices
or resides; and
(vi) provide a public
list of members in good standing.
iii
GLOSSARY
The following defined technical
terms are used in this Annual Report:
● Area
of influence method: Method used to calculate mineral resources that requires construct
a polygon around each hole to determine an area of influence for that hole; and then
the total volume directly beneath the polygon is assigned the same values as the drill hole
from which we constructed the polygon.
● Assay: The
testing of a metal or ore to determine its ingredients and quality.
● Copper: A
red-brown metal, the chemical element of atomic number 29.
● Crosscut:
A horizontal opening driven from a shaft and (or near) right angles to the strike of
a vein or other orebody.
● Drift:
A horizontal underground opening that follows along the length of a vein or rock formation
as opposed to a crosscut which crosses the rock formation.
● Environmental
Impact Assessment: A multi-step procedure done to evaluate the environmental impacts
of mining projects as well as actions that can be taken to mitigate identified impacts. The
assessment is prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act for a mineral project.
● eU3O8: This
term refers to equivalent U3O8 grade derived by gamma logging of drill holes.
● Extraction: The
process of physically extracting mineralized material from the ground. Exploration continues
during the extraction process and, in many cases, mineralized material is expanded during
the life of the extraction activities as the exploration potential of the deposit is realized.
● Environmental
Protection Plan (EPP): a plan submitted by a designated mining operation for approval
as part of the operator’s or applicant’s permit for such operation pursuant to rules promulgated
by the board for protection of human health or property or the environment in conformance
with the duties of operators.
● Face:
The surface/end of a drift, crosscut or stope in which work is taking place/advancing.
● Formation: A
distinct layer of sedimentary or volcanic rock of similar composition.
● Grade: Quantity
or percentage of metal per unit weight of host rock.
● Host
rock: The rock containing a mineral or an ore body.
● In-situ recovery
or ISR: The recovery, by chemical means, of the uranium component of a deposit without
the physical extraction of uranium-bearing material from the ground. ISR utilizes injection
of appropriate oxidizing chemicals into a uranium-bearing sandstone deposit by injection
wells, with the uranium-bearing solution being removed by extraction wells; also referred
to as “solution mining.”
● Mineral: A
naturally formed chemical element or compound having a definite chemical composition and,
usually, a characteristic crystal form.
● Mineralization: A
natural occurrence, in rocks or soil, of one or more metal yielding minerals.
● Mineralized
material: Material that contains mineralization (e.g., uranium, vanadium and/or
copper) and that is not included in an SEC Reserve as it does not meet all of the criteria
for adequate demonstration of economic or legal extraction.
● NOI: A
Notice of Intent, filed by the Company to a regulatory agency as a part of a licensing or
permitting action related to a mineral project.
● Open
Pit: Surface mineral extraction in which the mineralized material is extracted from
a pit or quarry.
iv
● Ore: Mineral-bearing
rock that can be mined, processed and concentrated profitably under current or immediately
foreseeable economic conditions. A company may only refer to reserves (as that term is defined
in S-K 1300) as “ore.”
● Ore
body: A mostly solid and fairly continuous mass of in-ground mineralization estimated
to be economically mineable.
● Plan
of Operations: Plan for a mineral project prepared in accordance with applicable
United States Bureau of Land Management or United States Forest Service regulations.
● Reclamation: The
process by which lands disturbed as a result of mineral extraction activities are modified
to support beneficial land use. Reclamation activity may include the removal of buildings,
equipment, machinery, and other physical remnants of mining activities, closure of tailings
storage facilities, leach pads, and other features, and contouring, covering and re-vegetation
of waste rock, and other disturbed areas.
● Stope:
An excavation in a mine from which ore is, or has been excavated.
● Uranium: a
heavy, naturally radioactive, metallic element of atomic number 92. Uranium in its pure form
is a heavy metal. Its two principal isotopes are U-238 and U-235, of which U-235 is the necessary
component for the nuclear fuel cycle. However, “uranium” used in this Annual
Report refers to triuraniumoctoxide, also called “U3O8” and the primary component
of “yellowcake,” and is produced from uranium deposits. It is the most actively
traded uranium-related commodity.
● Uranium
concentrate: a yellowish to yellow-brownish powder obtained from the chemical processing
of uranium-bearing material. Uranium concentrate typically contains 70% to 90% U3O8 by
weight. Uranium concentrate is also referred to as “yellowcake.”
● Vanadium:
A naturally occurring element within approximately 65 minerals and fossil fuel deposits.
It is essentially the by-product of ores that are mined for other minerals.
● V2O5: Vanadium
pentoxide, or the form of vanadium typically produced at the White Mesa Mill, also called
“black flake.”
GLOSSARY OF REGULATORY AGENCIES AND EXCHANGES
● APCD: Colorado
Air Pollution Control Division
● BLM: The
U.S. Bureau of Land Management, an agency of the United States Department of the Interior.
● DRMS:
Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
● DoC: The
U.S. Department of Commerce, an executive department of the federal government.
● DoE: The
U.S. Department of Energy, a cabinet-level department of the United States Government.
● DEQ: Department
of Environmental Quality.
● DWQ: The
Utah Division of Water Quality.
● EPA: The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an independent agency of the United States government.
● MLRB:
Mined Land Reclamation Board of the state of Colorado.
● MSHA: The
Mine Safety and Health Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor.
● NRC: The
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an independent agency of the United States government.
● SEC: The
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, an independent agency of the United States federal
government.
● WQCD:
Colorado Water Quality Control Division
v
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
CORPORATE HISTORY
Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. (formerly known
as Western Uranium Corporation) was incorporated in December 2006 under the Ontario Business Corporations Act and was formerly a non-listed
reporting issuer subject to the rules and regulations of the Ontario Securities Commission. On November 20, 2014, the Company completed
a listing process on the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”). As part of that process, the Company acquired 100% of the issued
and outstanding shares of Pinon Ridge Mining LLC (“PRM”), a Delaware limited liability company. The transaction constituted
a reverse takeover of Western by PRM. After obtaining appropriate shareholder approvals, the Company subsequently reconstituted its board
of directors and senior management team.
On August 18, 2014, the Company closed on the purchase
of certain mining properties in Colorado and Utah from Energy Fuels Holding Corp. Assets purchased included both owned and leased lands
in Utah and Colorado and all represent properties that have been previously mined for uranium to varying degrees in the past. The acquisition
included the purchase of the Sunday Mine Complex. The Sunday Mine Complex is located in western San Miguel County, Colorado. The complex
consists of the following five individual mines: the Sunday mine, the Carnation mine, the Saint Jude mine, the West Sunday mine and the
Topaz mine. The operation of each of these mines requires a separate permit and all such permits have been obtained by Western and are
currently valid. In addition, each of the mines has good access to a paved highway, electric power to existing mine workings, office/storage/shop
and change buildings, and extensive underground haulage development with multiple vent shafts complete with exhaust fans. After the completion
of the 2019/2020 project, the Sunday Mine Complex was advanced such that it is operationally ready to re-start mining operations.
On September 16, 2015, Western completed its acquisition
of Black Range, an Australian company that was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange until the acquisition was completed. The
acquisition terms were pursuant to a definitive Merger Implementation Agreement entered into between Western and Black Range. Pursuant
to the agreement, Western acquired all of the issued shares of Black Range by way of Scheme of Arrangement (“the Scheme”)
under the Australian Corporation Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Black Range Transaction”), with Black Range shareholders being issued
common shares of Western on a 1 for 750 basis. On August 25, 2015, the Scheme was approved by the shareholders of Black Range and on
September 4, 2015, Black Range received approval by the Federal Court of Australia. In addition, Western issued to certain employees,
directors and consultants options to purchase Western common shares. Such stock options were intended to replace Black Range stock options
outstanding prior to the Black Range Transaction on the same 1 for 750 basis.
In connection with the Black Range Transaction, Western
acquired the net assets of Black Range. These net assets consist principally of interests in a large uranium resource located in Colorado
(the “Hansen-Taylor Complex”) and a 100% interest in a 25 year license for Kinetic Separation (“Kinetic Separation”,
formerly known as “Ablation”) and related patents from Ablation Technologies, LLC. The Hansen-Taylor Complex is principally
a sandstone-hosted deposit that was discovered in 1977.
Furthermore, related to Kinetic Separation in connection with the acquisition
of Black Range Minerals Ltd. (“Black Range”), the Company assumed a call option agreement between Black Range and Mr. George
Glasier. Prior to the Black Range Transaction, George Glasier, the Company’s CEO, who is also a director of the Company (“Seller”),
transferred his interest in a former joint venture with Ablation Technologies, LLC to Black Range. In connection with the transfer, Black
Range issued 25 million shares of Black Range common stock to Seller and committed to pay $500,000 AUD ($362,794 USD as of December 31,
2021) to Seller within 60 days of the first commercial application of the Kinetic Separation. Western assumed this contingent payment
obligation in connection with the Black Range Transaction.
The Kinetic Separation process is dramatically different
from conventional mining techniques. Subject to regulatory approvals for the use of Kinetic Separation, the benefits of Kinetic Separation
are as follows:
● Mining, crushing, and separation
of waste from minerals (uranium and vanadium), used most effectively, occurs underground
(inside the mine). Under this approach the costs of moving material to the surface are less
as 85%-90% of the mined material remains underground and is never brought outside the mine.
● Less
radiometric exposure throughout the process due to reduced waste rock on the surface and
after the milling process less tailings. Overall surface waste material is reduced and the
time duration of material handling is reduced.
● Lower
costs for transportation of post-kinetically separated material because 85-90% of the mined
material would not need to be transported.
● Once
the kinetically separated material reaches the mill, the acid consumption at the mill and
power is much less due to the lower quantity and more concentrated material moving through
the milling process.
1
Kinetic Separation can be used on legacy uranium stockpiles in the
western United States. WUC would kinetically separate these stockpiles, removing 85-90% of the uranium. This is an application through
which Kinetic Separation could positively contribute to the “greening of the environment”. According to a study there are
approximately 4,225 legacy uranium mines from the 1940-1970 period throughout the Western United States, most of which have waste stockpiles.
In the estimation of management, Kinetic Separation
mining allows the cost of production of uranium to be reduced by 44-53%.
Our common shares are listed on the Canadian Securities
Exchange, also known as the “CSE,” under the symbol “WUC”, and are also quoted in the United States on the OTCQX
Best Market under the symbol “WSTRF.” We are headquartered in Ontario, Canada with mining operations in the two U.S. states
of Utah and Colorado. The mailing address of our headquarters is 330 Bay Street, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, M5H2S8, Canada, and the
telephone number is (970) 864-2125. Our corporate website is located at http://www.western-uranium.com/.
We are an “emerging growth company” as
that term is defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”). The JOBS Act defines an “emerging
growth company” as one that had total annual gross revenues of less than $1,000,000,000 during the last fiscal year. Section 102(b)
(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards
until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a
class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting
standard. The JOBS Act also provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period provided by Section 102(b)(1)
of the JOBS Act and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable.
Our wholly-owned subsidiaries are Western Uranium
Corp., Pinon Ridge Mining LLC, Black Range Minerals Limited, Black Range Copper Inc., Ranger Resources Inc., Black Range Minerals Inc.,
Black Range Minerals Colorado LLC, Black Range Minerals Wyoming LLC, Haggerty Resources LLC, Ranger Alaska LLC, Black Range Minerals
Utah LLC, Black Range Minerals Ablation Holdings Inc. and Black Range Development Utah LLC.
OUR COMPANY
Western is in the business of exploring, developing,
mining and production of its uranium and vanadium resource properties.
Western is an exploration stage issuer for purposes
of S-K 1300. Under S-K 1300, a mining company like ours can be classified as either an exploration stage issuer, a development stage
issuer or a production stage issuer. Exploration stage issuers are companies that are engaged in the search for mineral deposits, which
are not in either the development stage or the production stage. In order to be classified as a development stage issuer or a production
stage issuer, the Company must have already established mineral reserves. The Company has not established mineral reserves for purposes
of S-K 1300.
Our mineral properties are located in western Colorado
and eastern Utah and adjacent areas of the western United States. Our primary focus is bringing the fully permitted Sunday Mine Complex
into production, permitting the San Rafael Project and the commercialization of Kinetic Separation.
The Sunday Mine Complex is located in western San
Miguel County, Colorado. The complex consists of the following five individual mines: the Sunday mine, the Carnation mine, the Saint
Jude mine, the West Sunday mine and the Topaz mine. The operation of each of these mines requires a separate permit and all such permits
have been obtained by Western and are currently valid. In addition, each of the mines has good access to a paved highway, electric power
to existing mine workings, office/storage/shop and change buildings, and extensive underground haulage development with multiple vent
shafts complete with exhaust fans.
We have acquired a license for Kinetic Separation,
which provides a low cost, purely physical, method of separating uranium and vanadium mineralization from waste. No chemicals are added
in the process, yet very high mineral recoveries can be achieved with considerable mass reduction; facilitating the separation of a high-value,
high-grade ore product from a coarse-grained barren “clean sand” product.
Application of Kinetic Separation is expected to
have a very positive effect on the development of not only our Sunday Mine Complex, but also most of our and others’ deposits,
because it significantly reduces both capital and operating costs. Extensive test work has shown that from amenable sandstone-hosted
ore types, typically more than 90% of the mineralization can be separated into 10-20% of the initial sample mass.
2
OUR STRATEGY
Our vision is to become a leading uranium and vanadium developer and
producer. Our strategy is to build value for shareholders by advancing our projects towards scaled-up production. The increase in vanadium
price levels during 2017/2018 increased the relative importance of this resource to the Company. Hence, Western is increasingly able to
baseload mine production with vanadium as a co-product. As a result, during 2019 Western implemented a mine re-opening project at the
Sunday Mine Complex to identify high-grade vanadium ore, followed by bulk sampling and development drilling. Active mining was conducted
and the extracted ore was stockpiled underground in the mines. The project was continued in 2020 as multiple surface infrastructure projects
were completed to meet DRMS requirements. Completion of the DRMS prerequisites has enabled the newly mined and stockpiled underground
ore to be brought to the surface. Ore pad construction, the last of the surface projects, was completed; however, its final inspection
approvals were delayed until May 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Company holds an exclusive 25-year license to use Kinetic Separation,
a proven technology that we anticipate will improve the efficiency of the mining from Western’s sandstone-hosted ore. The license
agreement was entered into on March 17, 2015 and expires on March 16, 2040. There are no remaining license fee obligations and there are
no future royalties due under the agreement. The Company has the right to sub-license the technology to third parties. The Company may
not sell or assign the Kinetic Separation license; however, it could be transferred in the sale of Western or the subsidiary holding the
license.
At any time we may have acquisition or partnering
opportunities in various stages of active review, including, for example, our engagement of consultants and advisors to analyze particular
opportunities, analysis of technical, financial and other confidential information, submission of indications of interest, participation
in preliminary discussions and negotiations, and involvement as a bidder in competitive processes.
Capital Raising
On February 16, 2021, the Company closed on a non-brokered private
placement of 3,250,000 units at a price of CAD $0.80 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amount to
CAD $2,600,000.
Each unit consists of one common share of Western plus one common share
purchase warrant of Western. Each warrant entitled the holder to purchase one common share at a price of CAD $1.20 per share for a period
of three years following the closing date of the private placement. A total of 3,250,000 common shares and 3,250,000 warrants were issued
in the private placement.
On March 1, 2021, the Company closed on a non-brokered private placement
of 3,125,000 units at a price of CAD $0.80 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in this private placement amount to CAD $2,500,000.
Each unit consists of one common share plus one common share purchase
warrant. Each warrant entitled the holder to purchase one common share at a price of CAD $1.20 per share for a period of three years following
the closing date of the private placement. A total of 3,125,000 common shares and 3,125,000 warrants were issued in the private placement.
On December 17, 2021, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement
of 372,966 units at a price of CAD $1.60 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted to CAD $596,746.
Each unit consists of one common share plus one common share purchase
warrant. Each warrant entitled the holder to purchase one common share at a price of CAD $2.50 per share for a period of three years following
the closing date of the private placement. A total of 372,966 common shares and 372,966 warrants were issued in the private placement.
On January 20, 2022, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement
of 2,495,575 units at a price of CAD $1.60 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted to CAD $3,992,920.
Each unit consists of one common share plus one common share purchase
warrant. Each warrant entitled the holder to purchase one common share at a price of CAD $2.50 per share for a period of three years following
the closing date of the private placement. A total of 2,495,575 common shares and 2,495,575 warrants were issued in the private placement.
Uranium/Vanadium Production
Western historically positioned itself for operational flexibility
with the goal of beginning production as expeditiously as possible once market conditions for uranium and/or vanadium were favorable.
The 2018 vanadium price rally catalyzed the Sunday Mine Complex project. Western reinitiated active mining operations at the Sunday Mine
Complex project with its infrastructure and exploratory projects, which culminated in the commencement of production with the mining and
stockpiling of the extracted uranium/vanadium ore. The well maintained existing infrastructure from years of previous production allowed
the Company to quickly advance the mine to a production ready status. The mining team refocused on surface infrastructure projects required
by the DRMS. The impact of COVID-19 delayed a re-start beyond 180 days, thus in October 2020 the Sunday Mine Complex was put back into
Temporary Cessation.
3
During 2020, COVID-19 induced mine closures began a rally in uranium
prices. In 2021, catalysts continued to provide positive signals for uranium miners and investors. This catalyzed the ongoing Sunday Mine
Complex project which commenced in July 2021. After completion of infrastructure work in this new area of the mine, exploration and development
of the GMG ore body was the first project phase. Drifting, continuous high-grade ore was intersected, which led to the mining and underground
stockpiling of over 3,000 tons of uranium/vanadium ore during the December 2021 to March 2022 period. At the end of March, the mining
contractor engaged by Western decided to retire from contract mining operations. As a result of this decision, Western will take over
the mining operations and has acquired a full complement of mining equipment. The equipment is being prepared for operations and upgrades
to mine ventilation, support buildings and infrastructure are underway. Further mine development and ore production is expected to resume
in early summer after upgrades are completed. Western’s mining team will be expanded to facilitate mine development and full ore
production.
Western believes that its mineral resources have a reasonable prospect
for economic extraction. However, the Company has not yet completed a preliminary economic assessment under NI 43-101 or a feasibility
study or preliminary feasibility study under S-K 1300 that would be needed to establish the existence of proven or probable reserves and
has instead allocated that capital to the aforementioned mining operations at the Sunday Mine Complex.
URANIUM MARKET OUTLOOK
World demand for clean, reliable, and affordable electricity is growing.
Given the expected construction of nuclear reactors and the expected growth of nuclear energy, we believe that the future for uranium
is positive. Further, 2020 production cuts in response to COVID-19 at peak sidelined approximately 50% of annual global uranium production.
In the United States implementation of the U.S. Uranium Reserve program and the Biden administration’s emphasis on climate change
have the potential to increase U.S. domestic uranium production and create economic pricing levels for U.S. domestic producers. We believe
these factors will provide the price levels needed to support the additional production and supply that will be required. Currently, excess
(secondary) inventory supplies are being drawn down, and additional primary production is forecast to be needed to fulfill the nuclear
fuel requirements of the growing global nuclear reactor fleet.
Once prices rise, it may be difficult for most suppliers
to respond in a timely manner, as it requires many years of permitting and development to bring new mines into production. These lead
times will put further upward pressure on prices. Thus, Western has a competitive advantage, as our mining properties are permitted and
ready to scale-up production on short notice.
As uranium prices have been depressed for about a
decade due to overproduction and reactor shutdowns subsequent to the impact of the 2011 Fukushima earthquake, investors are positioning
in response to early signs of a market recovery; the spot uranium price began 2020 at ~$24 and finished the year at ~$30, but had rebounded
to a short-term ~$34 high in response to COVID-19 production cuts. Japanese utilities have nuclear reactors in the process of restarting
(according to the World Nuclear Association (“WNA”)). According to data from the WNA, Chinese utilities continue to aggressively
build new reactors and buy uranium, with the goal of becoming the world leader in nuclear electricity generation. In total, according
to the WNA, there are about 50 new reactors under construction in 13 countries and in all there are about 160 reactors on order or being
planned, and over 300 more are proposed. It is projected that ~15 new nuclear reactors will be placed into service in 2021.
During the Trump Administration, the U.S. government focused on market distortions
caused by foreign state-owned enterprises and the economic and geopolitical influence lost by allowing Russia and China to take the lead
in nuclear power. In support of the world’s largest nuclear reactor fleet, the U.S. has begun implementing the recommendations of
the Nuclear Fuel Working Group (“NFWG”). The NFWG followed the uranium Section 232 investigation. The national strategic uranium
reserve was signed into law to stabilize the U.S. nuclear fuel cycle by supporting front-end domestic uranium mining. The U.S. Department
of Energy (“DoE”) is establishing program guidelines to initiate purchases of US$75 million of domestic uranium. During August
2021, DOE moved this initiative forward through the dissemination of a Request for Information. On October 13, 2021, Western submitted
a response to the Request for Information: Establishment of the Uranium Reserve Program to the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration.
In January 2022, a summary of comments and responses was released, including next steps which involve following Congressional direction
and implementing the program. The Russia/Ukraine war, as discussed later, has highlighted the nuclear fuel supply chain risks and the
geopolitical risks of dependence on the direct and indirect sourcing of nuclear fuel from state owned enterprises in Russia and former
Soviet republics. This has emphasized the need and triggered increasing calls for the implementation of the Uranium Reserve Program.
Upon taking office, the Biden-Harris Administration
team immediately rejoined the Paris Climate Accord and continued its pursuit of climate change solutions. President Biden has reversed
a number of pro-fossil fuel energy policies, an approach which is expected to continue as the new administration has given all agencies
climate change initiatives and has already started a climate change working group. The Biden-Harris Administration continues to advance
a national clean energy standard that includes nuclear across multiple initiatives. U.S. utilities are expected to be required to produce
an increasing proportion of electricity generation from clean energy power sources. The administration has introduced the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act which contains provisions that are supportive of nuclear power. President Biden attended the United Nations Climate
Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland. His administration simultaneously released a proposed plan targeting the reduction of
methane emissions. Many of the proposed initiatives from the Climate Summit target reduced utilization of fossil fuels and, if implemented,
expand future opportunities for nuclear power generation, given its ability to provide baseload and carbon-free energy. The Biden-Harris
Administration is continuing its efforts to move forward a number of stalled spending programs that contain support for the U.S. nuclear
industry.
4
In response to the elimination of price controls implemented at the beginning
of 2022, anti-government protests erupted in Kazakhstan in early January. The President’s Cabinet resigned and was replaced, after
many arrests and deaths, curfews, and other emergency measures. After a swift crackdown on the unrest, order has largely been restored,
and changes have been implemented at multiple government controlled enterprises, including Kazatomprom, the world’s largest uranium
miner who is responsible for ~40% of global annual uranium production. At local uranium mines it has been reported that production has
not been affected, and the impacts to uranium and uranium equity prices which trended up in early January, reversed in the second half
of January. In February, Russia invaded Ukraine commencing a war between the two countries. Russia is a major global energy supplier and
both countries are top ten uranium producers and Russia is a global leader in nuclear fuel services. Thus, these actions caused a surge
in energy prices initially in oil and gas. On the day prior to the invasion, the spot price of uranium was $43.63/lbs and at the end of
March it had increased to $58.25/lbs. Russia has been the target of unprecedented economic sanctions which have created bottlenecks of
Russian exports, including nuclear fuel. In spite of a large global dependence, nuclear fuel purchasers are continuing to diversify away
from Russian nuclear fuel. There remains a very real possibility of a sanction or counter-sanction terminating the flow of nuclear fuel
from Russia to North America.
Uranium inventories have declined significantly during
the last two years. During 2020, this was caused by COVID-19 induced mine suspensions. During 2021, financial buyers further depleted
uranium inventories. Existing and new nuclear technologies are receiving unprecedented support on a global basis, as a baseload electricity
source with zero carbon emissions, thus expanding future nuclear fuel demand.
The Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (U.UN) (the “Trust”)
took over the former Uranium Participation Corp. (U.TO) and launched an at-the-market program (ATM) on August 17, 2021 to raise capital
for the closed-ended trust. Since the inception of the ATM program, the Trust has bought significant quantities of uranium contributing
to the increase in spot prices. It is anticipated that a Sprott U.S. vehicle will receive New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) approval and
be made available for investment during 2022. It is also likely that a comparable physical uranium holding vehicle will be launched in
affiliation with Kazatomprom, the world’s largest uranium miner.
A uranium global supply/demand imbalance had been projected by analysts
to impact uranium prices in coming years. In 2020 COVID-19 induced mine closures and in 2021 Sprott Physical Uranium Trust began purchasing
uranium, underscoring the imbalance. Both of these catalysts have depleted excess inventories and accelerated the timing of the supply/demand
impact. The nuclear industry is benefiting from many market and governmental catalysts raising investor expectations. Investors have become
well aware of constrained global uranium supplies, improved uranium demand fundamentals, the increasing pace of nuclear technology innovations,
and the global push for climate change solutions. However, in 2022 the Russian invasion of Ukraine has quickly driven the uranium market
strongly upward due to Russia’s dominant market position in the nuclear fuel cycle. Sanctions, phase-outs, and embargoes are being
considered by many countries, while the Russian Federation has considered export bans. Any of these actions would fundamentally alter
the dynamics of the nuclear fuel market as utilities shift buying away from Russia.
OVERVIEW OF THE URANIUM INDUSTRY
The only significant commercial use for uranium is as a fuel for nuclear
power plants for the generation of electricity. The global nuclear and uranium mining industries continue to benefit from the convergence
of multiple trends and increased public, political and government support due to coming new technologies, climate change initiatives,
and energy crisis shortages. These are resulting in extensions to operating lives, a large number of nuclear reactors under construction,
new builds, investments in next generation nuclear technology, and in Japan, increased urgency to re-start the nuclear reactor fleet.
The uranium market has historically been highly cyclical. In the prior
bull market, spot prices rose from $21 per pound in January 2005 to a high of $136 per pound in June 2007 in anticipation of sharply higher
projected demand as a result of a resurgence in nuclear power and the depletion of secondary supplies. Secondary supplies are inventories
of uranium not publicly available for sale, which are primarily held by utility companies and governments. The sharp price increase was
driven in part by high levels of buying by utility companies, which resulted in most utilities covering their requirements through 2009.
A decrease in near-term utility demand coupled with rising levels of supplies from producers and traders led to downward pressure on uranium
prices beginning in the third quarter of 2007. A rebound in uranium prices in conjunction with a recovery in commodities in 2010 was curtailed
by the Fukushima disaster in Japan.
Since the Fukushima disaster in 2011, uranium spot prices entered a
steady decline until June 2014, when they rebounded slightly and peaked again in March 2015 at $39 per pound. After that peak, prices
again began to fall steadily, reaching their lowest point of $18 per pound in November 2016. Prior to COVID-19, annual uranium production
was at its lowest in over a decade, creating a global supply deficit where production was only about two-thirds of consumption. In May
2020, after COVID-19 related production shutdowns, spot prices hit a $34 per pound price before declining to close the year at $30 per
pound. During 2021, market participation by the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust and other secondary market uranium buyers caused prices
to rise to $42.05 per pound at December 31, 2021. Uranium prices held these levels until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused uranium
markets to surge. Prior to the invasion on February 24, 2022, uranium spot prices were in the $43 per pound range and recently closed
at over $63 per pound; an increase of ~$20 per pound and an 11-year high.
5
Based upon these pricing factors specific to the
uranium industry, we foresee a uranium pricing environment which in the coming years will allow Western to initiate full-scale production
in its best properties.
Vanadium
With the exception of the Hansen/Taylor Deposit,
most of the Company’s mining assets, including the Sunday Mine Complex, contain vanadium either as a stand-alone product or a co-product
to uranium.
Conventional and new vanadium applications include
steelmaking, aerospace, stationary energy storage, batteries, and chemicals.
When a very small amount of vanadium is added to steel, the hardening
effect greatly increases its strength. And while steelmaking accounts for roughly 90% of all vanadium currently consumed, it’s estimated
that vanadium is only used in about 9% of all steels today. After steelmaking, the second largest market for vanadium is that of catalysts
and chemical applications. A significant new source of demand for vanadium is from vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) as their adaptation
grows with the stationary storage market.
In 2018 there was structural change in the vanadium markets that caused
prices to spike. China, the largest vanadium producer in the world, had supply disrupted by environmental monitoring and rules while domestic
demand was increasing. China, which had been a net vanadium exporter, flipped and became a net vanadium importer. On the demand side,
China announced a new high strength rebar standard to increase earthquake resistance in February 2018 that became effective on November
1, 2018. On the supply side, in its efforts to fight pollution, Chinese environmental inspections resulted in the closing of dirty processes
in which vanadium was recovered as a byproduct. These policy changes caused a shortage and led to a surge in vanadium prices to all-time
highs during the fourth quarter of 2018. Vanadium closed on December 31, 2018 at $23.15, but owing to a Chinese extension in the implementation
of the new rebar standard, prices plunged to close on December 31, 2019 at $5.25. Notably, the substantial price appreciation in vanadium
delayed the adaptation of VRFB applications as these batteries were no longer considered to be cost competitive.
A Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Vanadium
was undertaken by the U.S. Department of Commerce (“DoC”) during 2020 and submitted to President Biden on February 22, 2021.
The President had 90 days to decide if he concurred with the findings and recommendations and determine whether to take an action to mitigate
the impairment of national security. No action was taken.
The vanadium market price was $8.70 per
pound as of December 31, 2021, which was an increase from the December 31, 2020 price of $7.10 per pound. In the first quarter of
2022, vanadium prices rallied with commodities closing at $12.10 on March 31, 2022.
COMPETITION
There is global competition for uranium/vanadium properties, ore processing
mills, capital, customers and the employment and retention of qualified personnel. We compete with multiple exploration companies for
all of these things. In the production and marketing of uranium and vanadium, there are a number of producing entities globally, some
of which are government controlled and several of which are significantly larger and better capitalized than we are. Several of these
organizations also have substantially greater financial, technical, manufacturing and distribution resources than we have.
Our future uranium production may also compete with uranium from secondary
supplies, including the sale of uranium inventory held by the DoE. At the current time, DoE uranium sales have been suspended. In addition,
there are numerous entities in the market that compete with us for properties and operate in-situ recovery (“ISR”) facilities.
In the event that there is not a buying program in place for uranium/vanadium
ore, the Company would need to arrange with a third party for conventional milling services. Because the number of mills permitted for
processing of uranium and vanadium is very limited, it may be difficult for us to gain access to a mill on favorable terms, or at all.
This could result in increased costs and/or significant delays in, interruption of, or cessation of the Company’s business activities.
The practice of selling uranium/vanadium ore without first processing into yellowcake (U3O8) or Vanadium Pentoxide (V2O5) would likely
generate lower revenues.
If we are unable to successfully compete for properties, mills, capital,
customers or employees or with alternative uranium sources, it could delay or prevent us from achieving our business objectives and could
have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
With respect to sales of uranium, the Company competes primarily based
on price. We will market uranium to utilities and commodity brokers. We are in direct competition with supplies available from various
sources worldwide. We believe we compete with multiple operating uranium companies.
With respect to sales of vanadium, the Company will compete primarily
based upon availability and secondarily on price. There will be direct competition with primary production, secondary production, and
co-production from various companies and processors worldwide as individual entities come online or increase production to address the
supply deficit.
6
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS AND PERMITTING
United States
Uranium extraction is regulated by the federal government, states and,
in some cases, by Native American tribes. Compliance with such regulation has a material effect on the economics of our operations and
the timing of project development. Our primary regulatory costs have been related to obtaining licenses and permits from federal and state
agencies before the commencement of production activities. The environmental regulatory requirements for the ISR industry are well established.
Many ISR projects have gone a full life cycle without any significant environmental impact. However, the process can make environmental
permitting difficult and timing unpredictable. Western does not plan to utilize an ISR mining process on its properties.
Mining Permits are disclosed on a per mine basis
in the “Properties” section, below.
Reclamation and Restoration Costs and Bonding
Requirements
At the conclusion of conventional mining, a site is decommissioned
and reclaimed. Reclamation involves removing evidence of surface disturbance. The reclamation liabilities of the U.S. mines are subject
to legal and regulatory requirements. Estimates of the costs of reclamation are reviewed periodically by the applicable regulatory authorities.
The reclamation liability represents the Company’s best estimate of the present value of future reclamation costs in connection
with the mineral properties. The Company determined the gross reclamation liabilities at December 31, 2021 of the mineral properties to
be approximately $740,446.
The Company is required by State regulatory agencies to obtain financial
surety relating to certain of its future restoration and reclamation obligations. The Company has provided performance bonds issued for
the benefit of the Company in the amount of $740,446 to satisfy such regulatory requirements.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2021, we had six full-time employees and one part-time
employee.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
Risks Related to Our Business
Our business activities are subject to significant
risks, including those described below. Every investor or potential investor in our securities should carefully consider these risks.
If any of the described risks actually occurs, our business, financial position and results of operations could be materially adversely
affected. Such risks are not the only ones we face and additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently
deem immaterial may also affect our business.
Our ability to become a successful operating
mining company is contingent on whether we can continue to access adequate operating capital and can ultimately mine our properties at
a profit sufficient to finance further mining activities and to acquire and finance additional reserves, all in spite of potentially
significant fluctuations in the market prices of uranium and vanadium.
The Company has incurred continuing losses from its
operations and negative operating cash flows from operations, and as of December 31, 2021, the Company had an accumulated deficit of
$13,161,496 and working capital of $4,492,169.
The Company’s ability to continue its planned
operations and to pay its obligations when they become due is contingent upon the Company obtaining additional financing. Management’s
plans include seeking to procure additional funds through debt and equity financings, to secure regulatory approval to fully utilize its
Kinetic Separation technology and to initiate the processing of ore to generate operating cash flows.
If we cannot access additional sources of private or public capital,
partner with another company that has cash resources and/or find other means of generating revenue other than uranium or vanadium sales,
we may not be able to fully realize our planned operations.
Until we can produce and sell sufficient
amounts of uranium and/or vanadium, we will have no way to generate adequate cash inflows except by monetizing certain of our
assets, partnering with third parties that are better financed or obtaining additional financing of our own. We can provide no
assurance that our properties will produce saleable production or that we will be able to continue to find, develop, acquire and
finance additional mineral resources. If we cannot monetize certain existing assets, partner with another company that has cash
resources, find other means of generating revenue other than uranium or vanadium production and/or access additional sources of
private or public capital, we may not be able to remain in business and our shareholders may lose their entire investment.
7
Our ability to function as an operating mining company
will be dependent on our ability to mine our properties at a profit sufficient to finance further mining activities and for the acquisition
and development of additional properties. The volatility of uranium prices makes long-range planning uncertain and raising capital difficult.
Our ability to operate on a positive cash flow basis
will be dependent on mining sufficient quantities of uranium or vanadium at a profit sufficient to finance our operations and for the
acquisition and development of additional mining properties. Any profit will necessarily be dependent upon, and affected by, the long
and short term market prices of uranium and vanadium, which are subject to significant fluctuation. Uranium prices have been and will
continue to be affected by numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include the demand for nuclear power, political and economic
conditions in uranium producing and consuming countries, uranium supply from secondary sources and uranium production levels and costs
of production. A significant, sustained drop in uranium prices may make it impossible to operate our business at a level that will permit
us to cover our fixed costs or to remain in operation.
Evaluating our future performance may be difficult
since we have a limited financial and operating history, with significant negative cash flow and an accumulated deficit to date. Furthermore,
there is no assurance that we will be successful in securing additional sources of capital sufficient to support our planned operations.
As such, substantial doubt exists as to whether our cash resources and working capital will be sufficient to fund our planned operations
over the next twelve months. Our long-term success will depend ultimately on our ability to raise additional capital, to achieve and
maintain operational profitability and to develop positive cash flows from our mining activities.
As more fully described within this annual report,
we acquired our first mineral properties in November of 2014. To date, we have been acquiring additional mineral properties and raising
capital. We hold uranium projects in various stages of exploration in the states of Colorado and Utah.
As more fully described under “Liquidity and Capital Resources”
of Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations”, we have a history
of significant negative cash flows and net losses, with an accumulated deficit balance of $13.2 million and $11.1 million at December
31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We have been reliant on royalty revenues and equity financings from the sale of our common shares in
order to fund our operations. We do not expect to achieve profitability or develop positive cash flows from operations in the near term.
As a result of our limited financial and operating history, including our significant negative cash flows and net losses to date, it
may be difficult to evaluate our future performance.
At December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had working capital
of $4,492,169 and $162,375, respectively. The continuation of the Company as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to obtain
adequate additional financing. However, there is no assurance that we will be successful in securing any form of additional financing
in the future; therefore, substantial doubt exists as to whether our cash resources and working capital will be sufficient to enable the
Company to continue its operations over the next twelve months. The consolidated financial statements for the two years ended December
31, 2021were prepared assuming that the Company would continue as a going concern. These consolidated financial statements do not include
any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Our reliance on equity and debt financings is expected to continue
for the foreseeable future. The availability of such funds whenever such additional financing is required, will be dependent on many factors
beyond our control, including, but not limited to, the market price of uranium, the continuing public support of nuclear power as a viable
source of electricity generation, the volatility in the global financial markets affecting our stock price and the status of the worldwide
economy, any one of which may cause significant challenges in our ability to access additional financing, including access to the equity
and credit markets. We may also be required to seek other forms of financing, such as asset divestitures or joint venture arrangements
to continue advancing our uranium projects, which would depend entirely on finding a suitable third party willing to enter into such an
arrangement, typically involving an assignment of a percentage interest in the mineral project.
Our long-term success, including the recoverability
of the carrying values of our assets and our ability to acquire additional uranium projects and continue with exploration and pre-extraction
activities and mining activities on our existing uranium projects, will depend ultimately on our ability to achieve and maintain profitability
and positive cash flow from our operations by establishing ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium and to develop these
into profitable mining activities. The economic viability of our mining activities has many risks and uncertainties. These include, but
are not limited to: (i) a significant, prolonged decrease in the market price of uranium; (ii) difficulty in marketing and/or selling
uranium concentrates; (iii) significantly higher than expected capital costs to construct the mine and/or processing plant; (iv) significantly
higher than expected extraction costs; (v) significantly lower than expected uranium extraction; (vi) significant delays, reductions
or stoppages of uranium extraction activities; and (vi) the introduction of significantly more stringent regulatory laws and regulations.
Our mining activities may change as a result of any one or more of these risks and uncertainties and there is no assurance that any ore
body that we extract mineralized materials from will result in achieving and maintaining profitability and developing positive cash flow.
8
Our operations are capital intensive, and
we will require significant additional financing to continue production at the Sunday Mine Complex, continue exploration and begin pre-extraction
activities on our other existing uranium/vanadium projects, and acquire additional uranium/vanadium projects.
Our operations are capital intensive and future
capital expenditures are expected to be substantial. We will require significant additional financing to fund our operations, including
continuing production at the Sunday Mine Complex, continuing exploration on our other existing projects and beginning pre-extraction
activities on those projects, which include assaying, drilling, geological and geochemical analysis and mine construction costs, and
acquiring additional uranium/vanadium projects. In the absence of such additional financing, we would not be able to fund our operations,
which may result in delays, curtailment or abandonment of any one or all of our uranium projects.
Uranium/vanadium exploration and pre-extraction
programs and mining activities are inherently subject to numerous significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ
significantly from expectations or anticipated amounts. Furthermore, exploration programs conducted on our uranium/vanadium projects
may not result in the establishment of ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium/vanadium.
Uranium/vanadium exploration and pre-extraction programs and mining
activities are inherently subject to numerous significant risks and uncertainties, many beyond our control, including, but not limited
to: (i) unanticipated ground and water conditions and adverse claims to water rights; (ii) unusual or unexpected geological formations;
(iii) metallurgical and other processing problems; (iv) the occurrence of unusual weather or operating conditions and other force majeure
events; (v) lower than expected ore grades; (vi) industrial accidents; (vii) delays in the receipt of or failure to receive necessary
government permits; (viii) delays in transportation; (ix) availability of contractors and labor; (x) government permit restrictions and
regulation restrictions; (xi) unavailability of materials, equipment and milling facilities; and (xii) the failure of equipment or processes
to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations. These risks and uncertainties could result in delays, reductions or stoppages
in our mining activities; increased capital and/or extraction costs; damage to, or destruction of, our mineral projects, extraction facilities
or other properties; personal injuries; environmental damage; monetary losses; and legal claims.
Success in uranium/vanadium exploration is dependent
on many factors, including, without limitation, the experience and capabilities of a company’s management, the availability of
geological expertise and the availability of sufficient funds to conduct the exploration program. Even if an exploration program is successful
and commercially recoverable uranium/vanadium is established, it may take a number of years from the initial phases of drilling and identification
of the mineralization until extraction is possible, during which time the economic feasibility of extraction may change such that the
uranium ceases to be economically recoverable. Uranium/vanadium exploration is frequently non-productive due, for example, to poor exploration
results or the inability to establish ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium, in which case the uranium project may
be abandoned and written-off. Furthermore, we will not be able to benefit from our exploration efforts and recover the expenditures that
we incur on our exploration programs if we do not establish ore bodies that contain commercially recoverable uranium/vanadium and develop
these uranium/vanadium projects into profitable mining activities, and there is no assurance that we will be successful in doing so for
any of our uranium/vanadium projects.
Whether an ore body contains commercially recoverable
uranium/vanadium depends on many factors including, without limitation: (i) the particular attributes, including material changes to
those attributes, of the ore body such as size, grade, recovery rates and proximity to infrastructure; (ii) the market price of uranium,
which may be volatile; and (iii) government regulations and regulatory requirements including, without limitation, those relating to
environmental protection, permitting and land use, taxes, land tenure and transportation.
We have established the existence of mineralized
materials on our uranium properties. However, we have not established any measured, indicated or inferred mineral resources or any proven
or probable reserves through the completion of a feasibility study for any of our uranium properties and we have no current plans to
seek to do so, as it would not serve a business purpose at the present time. Furthermore, we have no current plans to establish proven
or probable reserves for any of our uranium properties as it doesn’t serve a business purpose at the present time.
Because the number of mills permitted for
processing of uranium and vanadium is very limited, it may be difficult for us to gain access to a mill on favorable terms, or at all,
and this could negatively affect our ability to do business.
In the event that there is not a buying program
in place for uranium/vanadium ore, the Company would need to arrange with a third party for conventional milling services. Because the
number of mills permitted for processing of uranium and vanadium is very limited, it may be difficult for us to gain access to a mill
on favorable terms, or at all. This could result in increased costs and/or significant delays in, interruption of, or cessation of the
Company’s business activities. The practice of selling uranium/vanadium ore without first processing into yellowcake (U3O8) or Vanadium
Pentoxide (V2O5) would likely generate lower revenues.
Our ability to realize anticipated benefits
of the Kinetic Separation process is subject to uncertainties associated with that process.
In order to utilize Kinetic Separation to process
uranium/vanadium bearing ore, there are uncertainties that must be addressed. Currently, to utilize Kinetic Separation the Company would
need to either apply for its own milling license for a processing facility or arrange to utilize a third party’s mill, either of
which would entail delays and associated costs. The Company and its regulatory counsel are continuing to seek an alternative path forward
that would allow the Company to use Kinetic Separation either inside a uranium mine or on the surface outside of the underground workings
to further reduce transportation costs. There is no assurance that such an alternative approach will be approved.
9
In addition, although the Company has conducted initial
tests of its Kinetic Separation technology with what appear to be positive results, those results have not been validated by a qualified
person.
We do not insure against all of the risks we
face in our operations.
In general, where coverage is available and not prohibitively
expensive relative to the perceived risk, we will maintain insurance against such risk, subject to exclusions and limitations. We currently
maintain insurance against certain risks including securities and general commercial liability claims and certain physical assets used
in our operations, subject to exclusions and limitations; however, we do not maintain insurance to cover all of the potential risks and
hazards associated with our operations. We may be subject to liability for environmental, pollution or other hazards associated with
our exploration, pre-extraction and extraction activities, which we may not be insured against, which may exceed the limits of our insurance
coverage or which we may elect not to insure against because of high premiums or other reasons. Furthermore, we cannot provide assurance
that any insurance coverage we currently have will continue to be available at reasonable premiums or that such insurance will adequately
cover any resulting liability.
Our inability to obtain financial surety would
threaten our ability to continue in business.
Future financial surety requirements to comply with
federal and state environmental and remediation requirements and to secure necessary licenses and approvals may increase significantly
as future development and production occurs at certain of our sites in the United States. The amount of the financial surety for each
producing property is subject to annual review and revision by regulators. We expect that the issuer of the financial surety instruments
will require us to provide cash collateral for a significant amount of the face amount of the bond to secure the obligation. In the event
we are not able to raise, secure or generate sufficient funds necessary to satisfy these requirements, we will be unable to develop our
sites and bring them into production, which inability will have a material adverse impact on our business and may negatively affect our
ability to continue to operate.
Acquisitions that we may make from time to
time could have an adverse impact on us.
From time to time, we examine opportunities to acquire
additional mining assets and businesses. Any acquisition that we may choose to complete 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. Our
success in 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 those of our Company. Any acquisitions would be accompanied
by risks which could have a material adverse effect on our business. For example, there may be a significant change in commodity prices
after we have committed to complete the transaction and 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. In the event that we choose to raise debt capital to finance any such acquisition, our leverage
will be increased. If we choose to use equity as consideration for such acquisition, existing shareholders 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 uranium industry is subject to numerous
stringent laws, regulations and standards, including environmental protection laws and regulations. If any changes occur that would make
these laws, regulations and standards more stringent, it may require capital outlays in excess of those anticipated or cause substantial
delays, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations.
Uranium exploration and pre-extraction programs and
mining activities are subject to numerous stringent laws, regulations and standards at the federal, state, and local levels governing
permitting, pre-extraction, extraction, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, protection and reclamation
of the environment, protection of endangered and protected species, mine safety, hazardous substances and other matters. Our compliance
with these requirements requires significant financial and personnel resources.
The laws, regulations, policies or current administrative
practices of any government body, organization or regulatory agency in the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction, may change
or be applied or interpreted in a manner which may also have a material adverse effect on our operations. The actions, policies or regulations,
or changes thereto, of any government body or regulatory agency or special interest group, may also have a material adverse effect on
our operations.
10
Uranium exploration and pre-extraction programs and
mining activities are subject to stringent environmental protection laws and regulations at the federal, state, and local levels. These
laws and regulations, which include permitting and reclamation requirements, regulate emissions, water storage and discharges and disposal
of hazardous wastes. Uranium mining activities are also subject to laws and regulations which seek to maintain health and safety standards
by regulating the design and use of mining methods. Various permits from governmental and regulatory bodies are required for mining to
commence or continue, and no assurance can be provided that required permits will be received in a timely manner.
Our compliance costs including the posting of surety
bonds associated with environmental protection laws and regulations and health and safety standards have been significant to date, and
are expected to increase in scale and scope as we expand our operations in the future. Furthermore, environmental protection laws and
regulations may become more stringent in the future, and compliance with such changes may require capital outlays in excess of those
anticipated or cause substantial delays, which would have a material adverse effect on our operations.
To the best of our knowledge, our operations are
in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable laws, regulations and standards. We may not be able or may elect not to
insure against the risk of liability for violations of such laws, regulations and standards, due to high insurance premiums or other
reasons. Where coverage is available and not prohibitively expensive relative to the perceived risk, we will maintain insurance against
such risk, subject to exclusions and limitations. However, we cannot provide any assurance that such insurance will continue to be available
at reasonable premiums or that such insurance will be adequate to cover any resulting liability.
We may not be able to obtain, maintain or amend
rights, authorizations, licenses, permits or consents required for our operations.
Our exploration and mining activities are dependent
upon the grant of appropriate rights, authorizations, licenses, permits and consents, as well as continuation and amendment of these
rights, authorizations, licenses, permits and consents already granted, which may be granted for a defined period of time, or may not
be granted or may be withdrawn or made subject to limitations. There can be no assurance that all necessary rights, authorizations, licenses,
permits and consents will be granted to us, or that authorizations, licenses, permits and consents already granted will not be withdrawn
or made subject to limitations.
Closure and remediation costs for environmental
liabilities may exceed the provisions we have made.
Natural resource companies are required to close
their operations and rehabilitate the lands in accordance with a variety of environmental laws and regulations. Estimates of the total
ultimate closure and rehabilitation costs for uranium operations are significant and based principally on current legal and regulatory
requirements and closure plans that may change materially. Any underestimated or unanticipated rehabilitation costs could materially
affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Environmental liabilities are accrued when they become known, are
probable and can be reasonably estimated. Whenever a previously unrecognized remediation liability becomes known, or a previously estimated
reclamation cost is increased, the amount of that liability and additional cost will be recorded at that time and could materially reduce
our consolidated net income in the related period.
The laws and regulations governing closure and remediation
in a particular jurisdiction are subject to review at any time and may be amended to impose additional requirements and conditions which
may cause our provisions for environmental liabilities to be underestimated and could materially affect our financial position or results
of operations.
Major nuclear incidents may have adverse effects
on the nuclear and uranium industries.
The nuclear incident that occurred in Japan in March
2011 had significant and adverse effects on both the nuclear and uranium industries. If another nuclear incident were to occur, it may
have further adverse effects for both industries. Public opinion of nuclear power as a source of electricity generation may be adversely
affected, which may cause governments of certain countries to further increase regulation for the nuclear industry, reduce or abandon
current reliance on nuclear power or reduce or abandon existing plans for nuclear power expansion. Any one of these occurrences has the
potential to reduce current and/or future demand for nuclear power, resulting in lower demand for uranium and lower market prices for
uranium, adversely affecting the Company’s operations and prospects. Furthermore, the growth of the nuclear and uranium industries
is dependent on continuing and growing public support of nuclear power as a viable source of electricity generation.
11
The marketability of uranium concentrates will
be affected by numerous factors beyond our control which may result in our inability to receive an adequate return on our invested capital.
The marketability of uranium concentrates extracted
by us will be affected by numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include macroeconomic factors, fluctuations in the market
price of uranium, governmental regulations, land tenure and use, regulations concerning the importing and exporting of uranium and environmental
protection regulations. The future effects of these factors cannot be accurately predicted, but any one or a combination of these factors
may result in our inability to receive an adequate return on our invested capital.
The only significant market for uranium is
nuclear power plants world-wide, and there are a limited number of customers.
We are dependent on a limited number of electric
utilities that buy uranium for nuclear power plants. Because of the limited market for uranium, a reduction in purchases of newly produced
uranium by electric utilities for any reason (such as plant closings) would adversely affect the viability of our business.
The price of alternative energy sources affects
the demand for and price of uranium.
The attractiveness of uranium as an alternative fuel
to generate electricity may be dependent on the relative prices of oil, gas, wind, solar, coal and hydro-electricity and the possibility
of developing other low-cost sources of energy. If the prices of alternative energy sources decrease or new low-cost alternative energy
sources are developed, the demand for uranium could decrease, which may result in a decrease in the price of uranium.
The title to our mineral property interests
may be challenged.
Although we have taken reasonable measures to ensure
proper title to our interests in mineral properties and other assets, there is no guarantee that the title to any of such interests will
not be challenged. No assurance can be given that we will be able to secure the grant or the renewal of existing mineral rights and tenures
on terms satisfactory to us, or that governments in the jurisdictions in which we operate will not revoke or significantly alter such
rights or tenures or that such rights or tenures will not be challenged or impugned by third parties, including local governments, aboriginal
peoples or other claimants. Our mineral properties may be subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers or claims, and title may
be affected by, among other things, undetected defects. A successful challenge to the precise area and location of our claims could result
in us being unable to operate on our properties as permitted or being unable to enforce our rights with respect to our properties.
Due to the nature of our business, we may be
subject to legal proceedings which may divert management’s time and attention from our business and result in substantial damage
awards.
Due to the nature of our business, we may be subject
to numerous regulatory investigations, securities claims, civil claims, lawsuits and other proceedings in the ordinary course of our
business. The outcome of these lawsuits is uncertain and subject to inherent uncertainties, and the actual costs to be incurred will
depend upon many unknown factors. We may be forced to expend significant resources in the defense of these suits, and we may not prevail.
Defending against these and other lawsuits in the future may not only require us to incur significant legal fees and expenses, but may
become time-consuming for us and detract from our ability to fully focus our internal resources on our business activities. The results
of any legal proceeding cannot be predicted with certainty due to the uncertainty inherent in litigation, the difficulty of predicting
decisions of regulators, judges and juries and the possibility that decisions may be reversed on appeal. There can be no assurances that
these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or operating results.
Competition from better-capitalized companies
affects prices and our ability to acquire both properties and personnel.
There is global competition for uranium/vanadium properties, ore processing
mills, capital, customers and the employment and retention of qualified personnel. In the production and marketing of uranium and vanadium,
there are a number of producing entities, some of which are government controlled and all of which are significantly larger and better
capitalized than we are. Many of these organizations also have substantially greater financial, technical, manufacturing and distribution
resources than we have.
Our uranium production also competes with uranium recovered from the
de-enrichment of highly enriched uranium obtained from the dismantling of United States and Russian nuclear weapons and imports to the
United States of uranium from the former Soviet Union and from the sale of uranium inventory held by the DoE. In addition, there are numerous
entities in the market that compete with us for properties and mills and are attempting to become licensed to operate ISR and/or underground
mining facilities. If we are unable to successfully compete for properties, mills, capital, customers or employees or with alternative
uranium sources, it could have a materially adverse effect on our results of operations.
12
Because we have limited capital, inherent mining
risks pose a significant threat to us compared with our larger competitors.
Because we have limited capital, we may be unable to withstand significant
losses that can result from inherent risks associated with mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, flooding, earthquake,
interruptions due to weather conditions and other acts of nature which larger competitors could withstand. Such risks could result in
damage to or destruction of our infrastructure and production facilities, as well as to adjacent properties, personal injury, environmental
damage and processing and production delays, causing monetary losses and possible legal liability. Our business could be harmed if we
lose the services of our key personnel.
Our business and mineral exploration programs depend upon our ability
to employ the services of geologists, engineers and other experts. In operating our business and in order to continue our programs, we
compete for the services of professionals with other mineral exploration companies and businesses. Our ability to maintain and expand
our business and continue our exploration programs may be impaired if we are unable to continue to employ or engage those parties currently
providing services and expertise to us or identify and engage other qualified personnel to do so in their place. To retain key personnel,
we may face increased compensation costs, including potential new stock incentive grants and there can be no assurance that the incentive
measures we implement will be successful in helping us retain our key personnel.
If we fail to maintain proper and effective
internal controls, our ability to produce accurate and timely consolidated financial statements could be impaired, which could harm our
operating results, our ability to operate our business and investors’ views of us.
Ensuring that we have adequate internal financial
and accounting controls and procedures in place so that we can produce accurate consolidated financial statements on a timely basis is
a costly and time-consuming effort that will need to be evaluated frequently. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires public companies
to conduct an annual review and evaluation of their internal controls. The Company is in the process of reviewing its internal control
over financial reporting in the interest of complying with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Our failure to maintain the effectiveness
of our internal controls in accordance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, which could have an adverse effect on the
price of our common shares.
The Company may be subject to certain tax consequences
in its business, which may increase the cost of doing business.
The Company may not be able to structure its acquisitions
to result in tax-free treatment for the companies or their stockholders, which could deter third parties from entering into certain business
combinations with the Company or result in being taxed on consideration received in a transaction.
Our business, financial condition and results
of operations may be negatively affected by economic and other consequences from Russia’s military action against Ukraine and the
international sanctions imposed in response to that action.
In late February 2022, Russia launched a large-scale
military attack on Ukraine. The invasion significantly amplified already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine,
Europe, NATO and the West, including the United States. In response to the military action by Russia, various countries, including the
United States, the United Kingdom and European Union issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. Such sanctions included,
among other things, a prohibition on doing business with certain Russian companies, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs;
a commitment by certain countries and the European Union to remove selected Russian banks from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial
Telecommunications, or SWIFT, the electronic banking network that connects banks globally; a ban of oil imports from Russia to the United
States; and restrictive measures to prevent the Russian Central Bank from undermining the impact of the sanctions. Additional sanctions
have been and may be imposed in the future. Such sanctions (and any future sanctions) and other actions against Russia may adversely
impact, among other things, the Russian economy and various sectors of the economy, including but not limited to, financial, energy,
metals and mining, engineering and defense and defense-related materials sectors; result in a decline in the value and liquidity of Russian
securities; result in boycotts, tariffs, and purchasing and financing restrictions on Russia’s government, companies and certain
individuals; weaken the value of the ruble; downgrade the country’s credit rating; freeze Russian securities and/or funds invested
in prohibited assets and impair the ability to trade in Russian securities and/or other assets; and have other adverse consequences on
the Russian government, economy, companies and region. Further, several large corporations and U.S. states have announced plans to divest
interests or otherwise curtail business dealings with certain Russian businesses.
The ramifications of the hostilities and sanctions
may not be limited to Russia, Ukraine and Russian and Ukrainian companies and may spill over to and negatively impact other
regional and global economic markets (including Europe and the United States), companies in other countries (particularly those that
have done business with Russia and Ukraine) and on various sectors, industries and markets for securities and commodities globally,
such as oil and natural gas. Accordingly, the actions discussed above and the potential for a wider conflict could increase financial
market volatility and cause severe negative effects on regional and global economic markets, industries, and companies. In addition,
Russia may take retaliatory actions and other countermeasures, including cyberattacks and espionage against other countries and companies
around the world, which may negatively impact such countries and companies.
13
The extent and duration of the military action or
future escalation of such hostilities, the extent and impact of existing and future sanctions, market disruptions and volatility, and
the result of any diplomatic negotiations cannot be predicted.
While we expect any direct impacts to our business
to be limited, the indirect impacts on the economy and on the mining industry and other industries in general could negatively affect
our business and may make it more difficult for us to raise equity or debt financing.
In addition, the impact of other current macro-economic
factors on our business, which may be exacerbated by the war in Ukraine – including inflation, supply chain constraints and geopolitical
events – is uncertain.
The COVID-19 coronavirus could adversely impact
our business, including our mine development plans.
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus,
COVID-19, was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. Since then, the COVID-19 coronavirus has spread to multiple countries, including
the United States. As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread in the United States, we may experience disruptions that could
severely impact our business, including:
● interruption
of key mining activities due to limitations on travel, gathering, or business operations
imposed or recommended by federal or state governments, employers and others.
● limitations
in employee resources, including because of sickness of employees or their families or the
desire of employees to avoid contact with large groups of people.
● delays
in financial reporting and filings due to the impact of mitigation efforts on staff and service
providers
● changes
in local regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak which may
require us to change the ways in which mining is conducted, which may result in unexpected
costs.
● delays
in necessary interactions with regulators and other important agencies and contractors due
to limitations in employee resources or new procedures due to limitations imposed by COVID-19.
● reduction
in the global demand for uranium and/or vanadium due to reduced primary applications of uranium
(nuclear power generation) and vanadium (steelmaking).
● COVID-19
restrictions could cause a decline in energy consumption or indirectly reduced oil prices
could lessen the demand for nuclear power.
● COVID-19
previously caused uranium mine closures that have taken substantial uranium supply offline
and increased the spot price of uranium to date during this crisis, there is no guarantee
that this relationship will continue as the COVID-19 crisis is ongoing and the dynamic of
the mine closure/spot price relationship may change.
The global outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus continues
to evolve. The extent to which the COVID-19 coronavirus and its subvariants may impact our business will depend on future developments,
which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, such as the ultimate geographic spread of the disease, the duration
of the outbreak, travel restrictions and social distancing in the United States and other countries, business closures or business disruptions
and the effectiveness of actions taken in the United States and other countries to contain and treat the disease.
Risks Related to Our Stock
If we are unable to raise additional capital, our business may
fail and shareholders may lose their entire investment.
We had $880,821 and $565,250 in cash at
December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional capital after we
exhaust our current cash. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities,
the issuance of such securities would likely result in substantial dilution to existing shareholders. If we borrow money, we will
have to pay interest and may also have to agree to restrictions that limit our operating flexibility.
14
If additional capital is not available in sufficient amounts or on
a timely basis, we will experience liquidity problems, and we could face the need to significantly curtail current operations, change
our planned business strategies and pursue other remedial measures. Any curtailment of business operations would have a material negative
effect on operating results, the value of our outstanding stock is likely to fall, and our business may fail, causing our shareholders
to lose their entire investment.
Shareholders could be diluted if we were to
use common shares to raise capital.
We may need to seek additional capital to carry our business plan.
This financing could involve one or more types of securities including common shares, convertible debt or warrants to acquire common shares.
These securities could be issued at or below the then prevailing market price for our common shares. Any issuance of additional common
shares could be dilutive to existing shareholders and could adversely affect the market price of our common shares.
The Company’s common shares may at times be traded in low
volumes, which may negatively affect your ability to sell shares.
The Company’s common shares
may trade at times in low volumes on both the CSE and OTCQX, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our common shares
at or near bid prices at any given time may be relatively small. This situation may be attributable to a number of factors, including
the fact that we are a small company that is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others
in the investment community who can generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such institutionally
oriented persons, they tend to be risk-averse in this environment and would be reluctant to follow an early stage company such as ours
or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we became more advanced and viable. As a consequence, there may
be periods of several days or more when trading activity in the Company’s shares is minimal, as compared to a seasoned issuer which
has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. The
Company cannot give you any assurance that a broader or more active public trading market for our common shares will develop or be sustained. Due
to these conditions, we can give you no assurance that you will be able to sell your shares at or near bid prices or at all if you need
money or otherwise desire to liquidate your shares. Further, certain institutional and other investors may have investment
guidelines that restrict or prohibit investing in securities traded in the over-the-counter market. These factors may have
an adverse impact on the trading and price of our securities and could result in the loss by investors of all or part of their investment.
The Company’s common share price may
be volatile.
The future trading price of the Company’s common
shares may be volatile and may fluctuate substantially. The price of the common shares may be higher or lower than the price you pay
for your shares, depending on many factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control and may not be directly related to its
operating performance. These factors include the following:
●
price and volume
fluctuations in the overall stock market from time to time;
●
significant volatility
in the market price and trading volume of securities of mineral exploration and mining companies;
●
changes in
government regulations or regulatory policies with respect to mineral exploration and mining companies or in the status of our regulatory
approvals;
●
actual or anticipated
changes in earnings or fluctuations in operating results;
●
announcements by us or
by our competitors of acquisitions or of new products, commercial relationships or capital commitments;
●
disruption to our operations
or those of other contractors critical to our operations;
●
the emergence of new competitors;
●
commencement of, or our
involvement in, litigation;
●
dilutive issuances of our
common shares or the incurrence of additional debt;
●
adoption of new or different
accounting standards;
●
general economic
conditions and trends and slow or negative growth of related markets;
●
loss of a major
funding source; or
●
departures
of key personnel.
15
Due to the continued potential volatility of its
stock price, the Company may be the target of securities litigation in the future. Securities litigation could result in substantial
costs and divert management’s attention and resources from the business.
The sale of shares by our directors and officers
may adversely affect the market price for our shares.
Sales of significant amounts of common shares held by our officers
and directors, or the prospect of these sales, could adversely affect the market price of our common shares. Management’s stock
ownership may discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, which in turn
could reduce our stock price or prevent our shareholders from realizing a premium over our stock price.
We have never paid or declared any dividends
on our common shares.
We have never paid or declared any dividends on our common shares or
preferred stock. Likewise, we do not anticipate paying dividends or distributions on our common shares. Any future dividends on common
shares will be declared, if at all, at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend, among other things, on our earnings,
our financial requirements for future operations and growth, and other facts as we may then deem appropriate.
Our Chief Executive Officer is our
largest shareholder, and as a result he may be able to exert control over us and may have actual or potential interests that may
diverge from yours.
George Glasier, our CEO, beneficially owns, in the aggregate, about
12.1% of our common shares. As a result, Mr. Glasier might be able to influence many matters requiring shareholder approval, including
the election of directors and approval of mergers and other significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have
the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control, and could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a
premium for their common shares as part of a sale of our company and may affect the market price of our stock.
Furthermore, Mr. Glasier may have interests that diverge from those
of other holders of our common shares. As a result, Mr. Glasier may vote the shares he owns or controls or otherwise cause us to take
actions that may conflict with your best interests as a shareholder, which could adversely affect our results of operations and the trading
price of our common shares. Through this control, Mr. Glasier can exert influence over our management, affairs and all matters requiring
shareholder approval, including the approval of significant corporate transactions, a sale of our company, decisions about our capital
structure and the composition of our board of directors.
Risks Related to Our Regulatory Environment
The SEC’s adoption of the “Modernization
of Property Disclosures for Mining Registrants,” as codified in S-K 1300, has created new disclosure requirements for mineral reserves
and mineral resources that create some ambiguity for issuers required to comply with both the requirements of S-K 1300 and NI 43-101
and may result in increased compliance costs.
SEC Industry Guide 7 has been rescinded and replaced
by S-K 1300, which requires that we disclose specific information related to our material mining operations, including with particularity
any mineral resources and mineral reserves. Although we have established the existence of mineralized materials on our uranium properties,
we have not established any measured mineral resources or any proven or probable reserves through the completion of a feasibility study
for any of our uranium properties and we have no current plans to seek to do so, as it would not serve a business purpose at the present
time. Nevertheless, if in the future we were to seek to identify any measured mineral resources or to establish any proven or probable
reserves, we would be required to provide disclosure in that regard under both S-K 1300 and NI 43-101. While S-K 1300 is substantively
similar to NI 43-101 (with the primary difference being NI 43-101’s required format, a matter on which S-K 1300 is silent), S-K
1300 is potentially subject to unknown interpretations, which could require the Company to incur substantial costs associated with compliance.
We cannot predict the nature of any future enforcement, interpretation, or application of S-K 1300. Any further revisions to, or interpretations
of, S-K 1300 or NI 43-101 could result our company incurring unforeseen costs associated with compliance with both of those disclosure
regimes.
ITEM
1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None
16
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Company headquarters is maintained through a
lease at 330 Bay Street, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 2S8.
An operations facility is rented at 31617 Hwy
90 Road, Nucla, Colorado, USA 81424 which houses the Kinetic Separation units and an office.
The diagram below illustrates the location of
the Company’s properties:
1. Sunday Mine Complex
2. San Rafael
3. Sage
4. Dunn
5. Van 4
6. Hansen/Taylor Ranch
7. Bullen Property (Weld County)
17
Overview
Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp is engaged
in the business of exploring, developing, mining and production from its uranium and vanadium resource properties.
On September 16, 2015, in connection with the
Black Range Transaction, the Company acquired additional mineral properties. The mining assets acquired through Black Range included
assets in the states of Colorado, Wyoming, and Alaska. None of these mining assets are operational at this time. As these properties
have not formally established proven or probable reserves, there may be greater inherent uncertainty as to whether or not any mineralized
material can be economically extracted as originally planned and anticipated.
The Company’s mining properties acquired
on August 18, 2014 that the Company retains as of December 31, 2021, include:
● San
Rafael Uranium Project located in Emery County, Utah
● The
Sunday Mine Complex located in western San Miguel County, Colorado
● The
Van 4 Mine located in western Montrose County, Colorado
● The
Sage Mine project located in San Juan County, Utah and San Miguel County, Colorado
● Dunn
Project located in San Juan County, Utah.
The Company’s mining properties acquired
on September 16, 2015 that the Company retains as of December 31, 2021, include:
● Hansen,
North Hansen, High Park, and Hansen Picnic Tree, located in Fremont and Teller Counties,
Colorado
● The
Keota Uranium project acreage located in Weld County, Colorado
● Ferris
Haggerty located in Carbon County, Wyoming
The Company has a 100% interest in all of these
properties except for the Hansen/Taylor Ranch, of which the company owns 49%.
Although we have established the existence of
mineralized materials on our uranium properties, we have not established any measured, indicated or inferred mineral resources or any
proven or probable reserves through the completion of a feasibility study for any of our uranium properties and we have no current plans
to seek to do so, as it would not serve a business purpose at the present time.
The near term plan for the Company’s resources
is to initially mine at the Sunday Complex. The Sunday Mine Complex is an advanced stage property with a significant drilling and production
history. Mining and drilling occurred contemporaneously from the 1950’s through the mid 1980’s. From the 1980’s to
the present, mining and drilling occurred only sporadically, typically when uranium or vanadium prices were high. The last previous mining
interval was from 2006 to 2009. Based on the available records, only in 2009 did any surface drilling take place since mid-1980. Past
operators have generated abundant geologic and mining data, and there are open faces underground that show mineralized zones. Near term
exploration is not needed because the underground infrastructure has been already developed.
Mining Properties
Set forth below are details regarding our mining
properties operated by us, which have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of S-K 1300.
1.
Sunday Mines Complex
The Property
The Sunday Mine Complex
is located in western San Miguel County and is part of the Uravan Mineral Belt. The property is situated 25 miles north of Dove Creek,
Colorado, on the north flank of Disappointment Valley and portions of Big Gypsum Valley. Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (“EFR”)
acquired the property in June 2012 from Denison Mines Corp. The complex consists of five individual mines with mine workings located
along a two mile stretch of the southern side of Big Gypsum Valley, with underground workings extending generally south, with associated
vents and surface facilities. The mines are, from east to west: Sunday, Carnation, Saint Jude, West Sunday, and Topaz. The
mines were previously actively mined from 2007 to 2009, by a prior owner. In 2017, the mines were re-opening for a project involving
exploration, development, and mining.
18
The property consists
of 221 unpatented claims on public land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) Tres Rios
Field Office, covering approximately 3,800 acres. The area covers parts of sections 10, 13, 14, 15, 23, 24, and 26 T44N
R18W, and sections 18, 19, 20, and 30 T44N R17W. Total annual BLM claim maintenance fees are approximately $34,255 due
September 1st each year. The property has access to grid power and has a natural underground source of water due to an aquifer.
As a mine that has produced in the recent past, the Sunday Mine Complex has a robust infrastructure. The roads are all-weather, electric
power is grid-tied, surface facility structures that meet Colorado State standards exist, and water is present. During 2019, a mine re-opening
project was implemented at the Sunday Mine Complex to identify high-grade vanadium ore, followed by bulk sampling and development drilling.
Active mining was conducted and the extracted ore was stock piled underground in the mine. Each of the five associated mining permits
are in Temporary Cessation status.
GMG, Sunshine, and Patsun claims
(totaling twenty claims in the northeast portion of the property) carry a 12.5% royalty on all ore produced.
Accessibility
The property is best
accessed from Colorado. Access from Colorado is via State Highway 141 east out of Naturita, CO for about 3.7 mi (6 km) until the 141/145
Highway junction, then about 22.4 mi (36 km) south on Hwy 141, then about 6.2 mi (10 km) northwest on County Road 20R (Gypsum Valley
Road). The State Highway 141 is a paved all-weather road and the County Road 20R is a gravel road passable in all but the worst weather.
History
The Sunday Mine Complex
consists of six different mines. These are the Topaz, West Sunday, Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and the GMG. The mines have had a number
of owners and operators. Maps and documents made available to the author show that the following companies have been involved in the
all or parts of the property prior to WUC acquisition of the SMC in April 2014: Matterhorn Mining (1950’s-1960’s, Climax
Uranium 1960’s, Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) 1970’s-1980’s, Atlas Minerals (1980’s), Energy Fuels Nuclear
(early 1990’s), International Uranium Corp. (1990’s-2000’s), Denison Mines (USA) (2000’s), and Energy Fuels (2010’s).
The documents are incomplete as so this list may be as well. Since UCC days, the ownership has been clear. In 1983 Union Carbide transferred
its mineral interests to UMETCO, a wholly-owned subsidiary. For the sake of consistency, the name Union Carbide will be used even if
technically the ownership was UMETCO at the time.
Records made available
by the Company and a search of public documents on-line indicates exploration drilling starting on the property in the early 1950’s.
Two Defense Minerals Exploration Administration (DMEA) reports, one on the Sunday area and the other on the Topaz area, indicated some
drilling and minor surface extraction had occurred by the mid 1950’s (DMEA, 1953 & 1956). Additionally, historic maps of the
area show the Sunday mines in operation in the 1950’s (Denison Mines, 2008).
The records & anecdotal
evidence indicate that from the mid-1960’s until the early 1980’s, the SMC produced material from relatively steady ongoing
mining operations. These ceased in 1984 when Union Carbide closed their Uravan mill. Since then, the property has been idle, with the
exception of brief periods in the late 1980’s when UCC mined for a short time during a spike in vanadium prices, in the mid-1990’s
with International Uranium Corporation and another one in 2006-2009 when Denison Mines extracted ore from the mine. During all three
periods, the ore was processed at the White Mesa Mill located just south of Blanding, UT.
Exploration and development
drilling on the property was contemporaneous with the mining. The available database records show that at least 1,419 holes have been
drilled on the property. This is an incomplete list, as an examination of the available maps and cross-sections show a number of holes
that are not in the database. A best estimate for total distance drilled is about 850,100 ft (259,175 m). Anecdotal evidence and some
maps also give evidence that underground long holes (test holes drilled from the mine workings anywhere from 50 ft (15 m) to 300 ft (91
m) long) were used extensively throughout the mined areas.
The 2-D digitized mine
workings, done by Denison Mines show extensive stopping and drifting within parts of the SMC. Generational mine maps indicate that more
mine workings exist than are shown in the digital database. A very conservative rough estimate of the linear mine workings based on the
digital database is in excess of 50,000 ft (15,244 m) with many stopes. Figure 6.2.1 shows the known drill hole and mine working locations.
Based on the records
and on field inspection, it is evident that the Property has a significant history of drill exploration and mine development.
Anthony R. Adkins, P.
Geol., LLC was commissioned by the Company to prepare a technical report compliant with NI 43-101 on the Sunday Mine Complex Uranium
(SMC) Project (the “Sunday Mine Report”). The Sunday Mine Report was finalized on July 7, 2015 and filed on sedar.com on
July 16, 2015.
The Sunday Mine Report is an historic estimate
of measured and indicated resources (not reserves) under NI 43-101. However, the Company is not treating the historical estimate as current
mineral resources, and S-K 1300 does not permit such historic estimates to be disclosed in Form 10-K annual reports.
19
There is no more recent data available on the
Sunday Mine Complex project resource than that of the Sunday Mine Report. In order to disclose a resource estimate as current, the Company
would need to engage a qualified person (as defined under 43-101 and S-K 1300) to, among other things, take account of any exploration
or other work on the Sunday Mine Complex since the date of the historical estimate and produce a technical report compliant with NI 43-101
and a feasibility study compliant with S-K 1300. The Company currently does not intend to commission such a technical report or feasibility
study.
Project Geology
Geologically, the main hosts for uranium-vanadium
mineralization in the Sunday Mine Complex are fluvial sandstone beds assigned to the upper part of the Salt Wash Member of the Jurassic
Morrison Formation, with minor production coming from conglomeratic sandstones assigned to the lower portion of the Brushy Basin Member
of the Morrison Formation. Mineralization from both members is present at the property, with the mine production coming from the Salt
Wash Member. Beds generally strike NW-SE and dip SW, with some exceptions within fault bounded blocks adjacent to Big Gypsum Valley.
Restoration and Reclamation
Each of the mines
are permitted separately with the DRMS and are considered to be in temporary cessation status. The mines and their permitted acres and
financial warranties are, from east to west, the Sunday (60 acres, $330,242), Carnation (9.8 acres, $40,245), Saint Jude (9.8
acres, $69,828), West Sunday (12.1 acres, $85,036), and Topaz (30 acres, $99,893).
Permitting Status
The air permits for the site are currently
being renewed with APCD. A Stormwater permit is in place with the WQCD and a Stormwater Management Plan is in
effect. However, a mine water treatment plant will need to be permitted for treating mine water, as there is currently 55 million
gallons of water in the lower portion of the mine where most of the remaining resource is located. This will require a discharge
permit with the WQCD and revisions to the Plan of Operations, EPP, and one of the DRMS mine permits. Special Use Permits are also in
place with San Miguel County, which mainly address road maintenance and transportation issues with some limitations in effect on
when and how many trucks may be used for ore haulage to the mill. On February 4, 2020, the Colorado DRMS sent a Notice of Hearing to
Declare Termination of Mining Operations to Western for the Sunday Mine Complex. At issue is the application of an unchallenged
Colorado Court of Appeals Opinion for a separate mine, with very different facts that is retroactively modifying DRMS rules and
regulations. The Company maintains that it was timely in meeting existing rules and regulations. A permit hearing was scheduled for
October 21, 2020 to determine temporary cessation status. In a unanimous vote, the MLRB approved temporary cessation status for each
of the five Sunday Mine Complex permits (Sunday, West Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz). On October 9, 2020, the MLRB issued a
board order which finalized the findings of the July 22, 2020 permit hearing. On November 10, 2020, the MLRB issued a board order
which finalized the findings of the October 21, 2020 permit hearing. On November 6, 2020, the MLRB signed an order placing the five
Sunday Mine Complex mine permits into Temporary Cessation. On November 12, 2020, a coalition of environmental groups (the
“Plaintiffs”) filed a complaint against the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the July 22, 2020 decision by requesting
termination of the Topaz Mine permit. On December 15, 2020, the same coalition of environmental groups amended their complaint
against the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the October 21, 2020 decision requesting termination of the Topaz Mine permit. The
Company has joined with the MLRB in defense of their July 22, 2020 and October 21, 2020 decisions. On May 5, 2021, the Plaintiff in
the Topaz Appeal filed an opening brief with the Denver District Court seeking to overturn the July 22, 2020 and October 21, 2020
MLRB permit hearing decisions on the Topaz Mine permit. The MLRB and the Company were to respond with an answer brief within 35 days
on or before June 9, 2021, but instead sought a settlement. The judicial review process was delayed as extensions were put in place
until August 20, 2021. A settlement was not reached and the MLRB and the Company submitted answer briefs on August 20, 2021. The
Plaintiff submitted a reply brief on September 10, 2021. On March 1, 2022, the Denver District Court reversed the MLRB’s
orders regarding the Topaz Mine and remanded the case back to MLRB for further proceedings consistent with its order. The decision
by the District Court has an appeal window of 49 days. The Company is also working toward the completion of an updated Topaz mine
Plan of Operations which is a separate federal requirement of the BLM for the conduct of mining activities on federal land.
Major permits currently in place at the
Sunday Complex include:
●
Sunday 112d Mine Permit
M-1977-285 (DRMS)
●
St. Jude 110d Mine Permit
M-1978-039-HR (DRMS)
●
West Sunday 112d
Mine Permit M-1981-021 (DRMS)
●
Carnation 110d Mine Permit
M-1977-416 (DRMS)
●
Topaz 112d Mine Permit
M-1980-055-HR (DRMS)
●
West Sunday Plan
of Operations COC 52049 (BLM)
20
●
Sunday, St. Jude and Carnation
Plan of Operations COC-53227 (BLM)
●
Resolution #1997-18
Mine Permit (San Miguel County)
●
Resolution 2007-34 Topaz
and Sunday Expansion (San Miguel County)
●
Resolution 2008-41 Increased
Ore Haulage (San Miguel County)
●
Road & Bridge Special
Construction Permit (SCP) 06-14 (San Miguel County)
2.
San Rafael
The Property
The San Rafael Uranium Project land position
is comprised of a contiguous claim block covered by 136 BM unpatented federal lode mining claims and 10 Hollie unpatented federal lode
mining claims.
The San Rafael Project is located in the historic
Tidwell District about 10 miles west of Green River, Utah. Most of the property is north of Interstate Highway 70 at the Hanksville exit.
Energy Fuels became operator of the San Rafael
Project when it acquired Magnum Minerals in June 2009. It consisted of two core uranium deposits, the Deep Gold and the Down Yonder.
In January 2011, EFR acquired the 10 Hollie claims from Titan Uranium. These claims covered the eastern portion of the Deep Gold deposit,
greatly increasing resources. WUC acquired the property from Energy Fuels and currently holds the 146 claims in the project area.
21
The San Rafael Uranium Project is currently being
held as a property that is exploratory in nature with no identified reserves. Exploration and mining plans have not been prepared for
the project. The Company has not yet undertaken any development work at the property. Power and water sources have not yet been formally
assessed.
Magnum’s acquisition of the claims and
some of the data Magnum purchased encumbers the claims. This includes a 2% Net Smelter Return royalty to Uranium One, successor to Energy
Metals for claims acquired by Magnum as earn-in to a JV, and a 2% net sales price royalty to Kelly Dearth on the BM claims. There is
no royalty on the Hollie claims.
The unpatented claims are located on approximately
2,900 acres of land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in sections 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 35, T21S, R14E, SLPM,
Emery County, Utah. Holding cost $22,630 due to BLM for claim maintenance fees prior to September 1 each year.
Accessibility
The property is located on the eastern side of
the San Rafael Swell in east-central Utah, approximately 140 air miles southeast of Salt Lake City. The little desert community of Green
River, Utah is located about ten miles to the east. In a general sense the San Rafael Uranium Project property position lies within a
wedge shaped area, roughly bound along its northeast edge by US Highway 6-50 and along its southeast edge by Interstate 70.
Concerning additional local access features,
U.S. Highway 6-50 crosses just north of the greater San Rafael Uranium Project area in a northwesterly direction and is roughly paralleled
by the regional railroad line. Access to the property is generally good year around, except for periods of heavy snowstorms during December
through February and increased monsoon rains and summer cloudburst storms during August through October. Access for drilling and other
exploration activity is excellent, except during occasional heavy rainy periods which can create heavy flash flooding and roads mudding-up
and becoming impassable.
History
The Deep Gold deposit was originally discovered
by Continental Oil Company (Conoco) and Pioneer Uravan geologists in the late 1960s and 1970s to early 1980s, respectively. Exploration
drilling was conducted just east of the core of the Tidwell Mineral Belt and north-northeast of the Acerson Mineral Belt. The area containing
the deposits was considered to contain highly prospective paleo trunk stream channel trends. Some of the larger historic producing mines
in the area were Atlas Minerals’ Snow, Probe, and Lucky Mines. The deposit in the San Rafael Project is an open concordant, channel-controlled,
sandstone-hosted, trend type, with mineralization hosted in the upper sandstone sequence of the Salt Wash Member of the Upper Jurassic
Morrison Formation.
In addition to Conoco, Pioneer Uravan, and Atlas
Minerals, the US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and other companies (Union Carbide, Energy Fuels Nuclear, and others) conducted exploration
drilling and mining in the area. Some of these companies performed historic resource estimates on the Deep Gold deposits, but they are
not considered compliant with NI 43-101 standards.
Depth to mineralization at the Deep Gold deposit
in Section 23 averages 800 feet, with hole depths averaging approximately 1,000 feet. Magnum purchased and otherwise acquired most of
the available historic exploration data produced by the previous operators. A 100 hole, 100,000 foot drilling program is warranted to
discover and define additional uranium resources. Total cost for this work would be $US 1.3 million to $US 1.5 million, based on an all-inclusive
cost of $US 15/foot.
The Tidwell Mineral Belt and the San Rafael Uranium
District have been the sites of considerable historic exploration drilling and production, with over 4 million pounds of uranium and
5.4 million pounds of vanadium produced. Production from the Snow, immediately up dip of the Deep Gold deposit, which produced for nine
years, starting in March 1973 and ending in January, 1982 consisted of 650,292 pounds of U 3 O 8 contained in 173,330
tons of material at an average grade of 0.188% U 3 O 8 (Wilbanks, 1982).
O. Jay Gatten, P. Geol.,
LLC was commissioned by the Company to prepare an independent technical report compliant with NI 43-101 on the San Rafael Uranium Project
(including the: Deep Gold Uranium Deposit and the Down Yonder Uranium Deposit) (the “San Rafael Report”). The San Rafael
Report was finalized on November 19, 2014 and filed on sedar.com on November 20, 2015.
The San Rafael Report is an historic estimate
of indicated and inferred uranium resources (not measured resources or reserves) under NI 43-101. However, the Company is not treating
the historical estimate as current mineral resources, and S-K 1300 does not permit such historic estimates to be disclosed in Form 10-K
annual reports.
There is no more recent data available on the
San Rafael Uranium Project property than that of the San Rafael Report. In order to disclose a resource estimate as current, the Company
would need to engage a qualified person (as defined under 43-101 and S-K 1300) to produce a technical report compliant with NI 43-101
and a feasibility study compliant with S-K 1300. The Company currently does not intend to commission such a technical report or feasibility
study.
22
Project Geology
Geologically, the main hosts for uranium-vanadium
mineralization in the San Rafael Project are the fluvial sandstone beds assigned to the upper part of the Salt Wash Member of the Jurassic
Morrison Formation.
Restoration and Reclamation
All exploration permits have been terminated
and all bonds released. An EA was completed by BLM in 2008 for drilling up to 150 holes. A large area has been surveyed for cultural
and paleontological resources which would expedite future exploration permits. No mine permitting activities have yet occurred.
Permitting Status
All exploration permits have been terminated
and all bonds released. An EA was completed by BLM in 2008 for drilling up to 150 holes. A large area has been surveyed for cultural
and paleontological resources which would expedite future exploration permits. No mine permitting activities have yet occurred.
3.
Sage
The Property
On July 1, 2014 PRM concluded a deal with EFR to acquire 44 contiguous
unpatented mining claims on the Utah side of the Colorado-Utah state line at the head of Summit Canyon at the south end of the Uravan
Mineral Belt.
The 94 unpatented claims are located
on approximately 1,942 acres land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in sections 34 and 35, T32S, R26E, SLPM, San Juan
County, Utah and sections 25 and 26, T43N, R20W, NMPM, and sections 19, 29, 30, 31, and 32, T43N, R19W, NMPM San Miguel County, Colorado. Holding
cost is $14,370 due to BLM for claim maintenance fees prior to September 1 each year. The property has access to grid power,
however, no source of industrial water has yet been identified. The Sage Mine Project is currently being held as a property that is exploratory
in nature with no identified reserves. Exploration and mining plans have not been prepared for the project. Western Uranium & Vanadium
Corp. has not yet undertaken any development work at the property.
23
Accessibility
The Sage Plain Project property can be accessed
from the north, south, and east on paved, all-weather county roads. The nearest towns with stores, restaurants, lodging, and small industrial
supply retailers are Monticello, Utah, 26 road miles to the west, and Dove Creek, Colorado, 20 road miles to the southeast. Larger population
centers with more supplies and services are available farther away at Moab, Utah (61 road miles to the north) and Cortez, Colorado (54
road miles to the southeast).
U.S. Highway 491 connects Monticello, Utah to
Dove Creek and Cortez, Colorado. There are two routes north from this highway to the project. At one mile west of the Colorado/Utah state
line (16 miles east of Monticello or 10 miles west of Dove Creek), San Juan County Road 370 goes north for 10 miles to the Calliham Mine
portal site drive way. The mine portal is one-half mile east of Road 370, on a private road. An alternate route is to turn north on Colorado
Highway 141(2 miles west of Dove Creek) for 9.5 miles to Egnar, Colorado, then turn west on San Miguel County. Road H1 for 1.2 miles
before intersecting San Juan County Road 370. Road 370 would be taken north for 4 miles to the Calliham Mine portal site driveway. Road
H1 from Egnar would also be used if one was traveling to the project on Highway 141 from farther north in Colorado, such as Naturita,
Colorado (a total of 62 miles away).
History
The property includes the historic producing
Sage Mine and boarders the famous Deremo Mine and the Calliham Mine (combined historic production of over 8 million lbs. U 3 O 8 and
70 million lbs. V 2 O 5 ). The uranium-vanadium deposits occur in the upper and middle sandstones of the
Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation.
WUC is in possession of historic mine and drill
maps. About 200 historic holes were drilled on the claims at the Sage Mine. A considerable, but unknown amount of drilling occurred historically
on the eastern (Colorado) part of the claims along the benches of Summit and Bishop Canyons. Historic production from several small mines
occurred on the Colorado claims (Red Ant, Black Spider, etc.).
The Sage Mine was developed, operated, and permitted
by Atlas Minerals in the 1970s. It closed in 1982 and was ultimately sold and the permit transferred to Butt Mining Company under a Small
Mine NOI. Jim Butt operated the mine for a short time in the early 1990s when vanadium prices were high; however, the mine has been idle
since that time.
In the fall of 2011, Colorado Plateau Partners
drilled seven holes totaling 4,873 feet at the Sage Mine property to confirm historic map data and explore for a possible east-west channel
connecting the mine to a mineralized body to the west. The drilling was successful in meeting the objectives of confirming the accuracy
of the historic data and verifying a historically defined mineralized body. One hole exploring a possible mineralized trend connecting
the mine to the western mineralized body intercepted 2.0 feet of 0.407% eU 3 O 8 . Another hole intercepted mineralization
greater than 1.0 foot of 0.16% eU 3 O 8 .
Prior to the Company’s acquisition of the
Sage Mine property, Energy Fuels, Colorado Plateau Partners (a Joint Venture between Energy Fuels and Lynx-Royal) completed a NI 43-101
technical report on the Sage Plain Project (Technical Report on Colorado Plateau Partners LLC (Energy Fuel Resources Corporation/Lynx-Royal
JV) Sage Plain Project, San Juan County, Utah and San Miguel County, Colorado by Douglas C. Peters, Certified Professional Geologist,
Peters Geosciences Golden, Colorado December 16, 2011) (the “Sage Mine Energy Fuels Report”).
The Sage Mine Energy Fuels Report resource is
an historic estimate of mineral resources (not reserves) under NI 43-101. The Company is not treating the historical estimate as current
mineral resources, and S-K 1300 does not permit such historic estimates to be disclosed in Form 10-K annual reports.
Energy Fuels submitted an Exploration NOI to
the BLM in March 2013 for the site thereby establishing a nominal permit for the facility. Permitting for mine expansion was started
in 2012, but was discontinued due to other priorities. This work included installing 3 monitoring wells around a proposed portable water
treatment plant (exploration permit E/037/0188; bond $16,020) and conducting baseline studies (archeology, biology, groundwater). Eight
baseline groundwater sampling events have been completed, which will allow for submittal of a complete groundwater discharge permit application
to DWQ.
Other than offsetting some of the historic drill
holes and use of gamma logs where available, no verification of the historical data has been conducted. No core is available at the present
time from the earlier exploration or production work.
There is no more recent data available on the
Sage Mine project resource than that of the Sage Mine Energy Fuels Report. In order to disclose a resource estimate as current, the Company
would need to engage a qualified person (as defined under 43-101 and S-K 1300) to produce a technical report compliant with NI 43-101
and a feasibility study compliant with S-K 1300. The Company currently does not intend to commission such a technical report or feasibility
study.
Project Geology
The Sage Plain and nearby Slick Rock and Dry
Valley/East Canyon districts uranium vanadium deposits are a similar type to those elsewhere in the Uravan Mineral Belt. The location
and shape of mineralized deposits are largely controlled by the permeability of the host sandstone. Most mineralization is in trends
where Top Rim sandstones are thick, usually 40 feet or greater.
24
The Sage Plain District appears to be a large
channel of Top Rim sandstone which trends northeast, as one of the major trunk channels that is fanning into distributaries in the southern
portion of the Uravan Mineral Belt. The Calliham/Crain/Skidmore (Calliham Mine) and Sage Mine deposits, as well as nearby Deremo and
Wilson/Silverbell mines appear to be controlled by meandering within this main channel.
The Morrison sediments accumulated as oxidized
detritus in the fluvial environment. During early burial and diagenesis, the through-flowing ground water within the large, saturated
pile of Salt Wash and Brushy Basin material remained oxidized, thereby transporting uranium in solution. When the uranium-rich waters
encountered the zones of trapped reduced waters, the uranium precipitated. Vanadium may have been leached from the detrital iron-titanium
mineral grains and subsequently deposited along with or prior to the uranium.
The thickness, the gray color, and pyrite and
carbon contents of sandstones, along with gray or green mudstone, were recognized by early workers as significant and still serve as
exploration guides. Much of the Top Rim sandstone in the Sage Plain Project area exhibits these favorable features; therefore, portions
of the property with only widely spaced drill holes hold potential. However, without the historic drill data, it cannot be determined
where sedimentary facies are located (e.g., channel sandstones thin and pinch-out, or sandstone grades and interfingers into pink and
red oxidized sandstone and overbank mudstones). Furthermore, locations of interface zones of the oxidized and reduced environments are
hard to predict. Until more historic data are obtained and/or more drilling occurs on the property away from the historic mines, these
outlying areas remain exploration targets.
Restoration and Reclamation
A financial warrant is posted with the Colorado
Mined Land Reclamation Board for the amount of $40,124.
Permitting Status
Although the mine is permitted (S/037/0058) and
bonded ($40,124) for reclamation it is not permitted for mining. Because of its location on BLM managed land, an Environmental Impact
Assessment will need to be prepared for the site by a third-party contractor once a Plan of Operations is submitted for the mine operation.
An amendment to the Small Mine Reclamation NOI will also be needed with Utah Division of Oil Gas and Mining to allow for mine expansion.
Existing permits include:
Small Mine Reclamation
permit with the Utah Division of Oil Gas and Mining.
Basis of Disclosure
The scientific and technical information provided
in this Form 10-K on the Sage Mine, as well all data and exploration information reported in this Form 10-K on the Sage Mine, is based
on the information reported in the Sage Mine Energy Fuels Report.
4.
Dunn
The Property
The 11 unpatented claims are located on approximately
220 acres of land administered by the BLM in sections 14 and 15, T32S, R25E, SLPM, San Juan County, Utah. Holding costs of the 11 claims
will be $1,705 due to BLM before September 1 each year.
The Dunn Project is currently being held as a
property that is exploratory in nature with no identified reserves. Exploration and mining plans have not been prepared for the project.
Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. has not yet undertaken any development work at the property. Power and water sources have not yet
been formally assessed.
25
Accessibility
The property lies in Bear Trap Canyon, a tributary
at the head of East Canyon. This is midway between the EFR Rim Mine and the Calliham/Sage mine area. Access to the Dunn project
is from West Summit Road (San Juan County Road 313), 10.8 miles north of the junction with U.S. Highway 491. West Summit Road is a two-lane
paved road that is well maintained year round. At 10.8 miles, a graveled Class D County Road (unnamed), spurs off of West Summit Road,
passes through the leased lands and terminates at the Dunn Portal at approximately 2.1 miles from the spur. The nearest town to the Dunn
project is Monticello, Utah which is approximately 65 miles away. The closest commercial airport facilities are located in Cortez, Colorado,
approximately 65 miles to the southeast, and Moab, Utah approximately 65 miles to the northwest; both airports have daily commercial
flights to-and-from Denver International Airport.
History
The first discovery of uranium-vanadium mineralization
within close proximity to the Dunn project was by Homestake Mining Company in the late 1960s at what would eventually become the Wilson
Mine 4 miles to the east. Mineralization associated with the Dunn mine was discovered by Gulf Oil Corporation in the late 1960s, which
was subsequently acquired by Homestake, followed by Atlas Minerals in the 1970’s. Between 1975 and 1983 Atlas completed 243 drill
holes at the Dunn project with an average total depth of 724 feet. By 1981, Atlas had delineated a resource that could justify the construction
of a 3,825 foot decline. The decline successfully reached the perimeter of delineated mineralization, but before any production-mining,
Atlas ceased operations in 1983 when faced with financial setbacks that required them to divert funds.
In July 2013, Energy Fuels Resources acquired
the Dunn Mine property from American Strategic Minerals Corporation and Kyle Kimmerle.
Project Geology
The Dunn project occurs on structurally unaffected
terrain between the gently folded Boulder Knoll anticline to the southwest and the more prominent salt-cored Lisbon Valley anticline
to the northeast. The strata beneath the project are relatively flat, and no major faults or folds are expected to disrupt bedding or
unit contacts.
Uranium-vanadium mineralization at the Dunn is
hosted in the Salt Wash Member of the Jurassic Morrison formation which occurs at approximately 500 to 750 feet below the surface. The
average depth to the mineralized sandstones within the Salt Wash Member is 650 feet from the surface.
The primary uranium mineral is uraninite with
minor amounts of coffinite. The primary vanadium mineral is Montroseite.
Restoration and Reclamation.
No liabilities currently exist.
Permitting Status
No permits currently exist.
Basis of Disclosure
The scientific and technical information provided
in this Form 10-K on the Dunn Project American Strategic Mineral Corporation is based on information provided in a NI 43-101 technical
report prepared by American Strategic Minerals Corporation (the previous owner of the Dunn Project) entitled Technical Report on American
Strategic Minerals Corporation’s Dunn Project, San Juan County, Utah by Dr. David A. Gonzales, PhD, PG, Durango, Colorado March
23, 2012. Mr. Gonzales is a qualified person for purposes of NI 43-101. However, none of the data, other exploration information or other
results reported in that report are being incorporated into this Form 10-K.
5.
Van #4
The Property
The Van#4 is located in the Uravan Mineral Belt
on Monogram Mesa in Montrose County, Colorado. The property had been held by Denison and its predecessors for many years. The property
consists of 80 unpatented mining claims covering the mine site and long-known deposit to the east, plus two large claim groups to the
north, east, and south with exploration potential.
The 80 unpatented claims are located
on approximately 1,900 acres land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in sections 27, 28, 29, 33, and 34, T48N,
R17W, NMPM, and some in section 3, T47N, R17W, Montrose County, Colorado. The Holding costs of the 80 claims will be $12,400 due
to BLM before September 1 each year. There are no royalties encumbering these claims.
26
The property includes the Van #4 shaft and associated
surface facilities, which need renovation. The mine is connected to the Ura decline on claims in Bull Canyon to the southwest,
not owned by WUC. It has been on standby for many years. Denison completed reclamation of two of the ventilation holes in 2008 and
2010. The property has access to grid power; however, no source of industrial water has been identified yet. The Van 4 mine is currently
being held as a property that is exploratory in nature. Exploration and mining plans have not been prepared for the project. Western
Uranium & Vanadium Corp. has not yet undertaken any development work at the property. Power and water sources have not yet been assessed.
A prior owner of the Van 4 Mine had been granted
a first Temporary Cessation from reclamation of the mine by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (“MLRB”) which was
set to expire June 23, 2017. Prior to its expiration, PRM formally requested an extension through a second Temporary Cessation. PRM subsequently
participated in a public process which culminated in a hearing on July 26, 2017. Prior to the hearing, three non-profit organizations
who pursue environmental and conservation objectives filed a brief objecting to the extension. The MLRB board members voted to grant
a second five-year Temporary Cessation for the Van 4 Mine. Thereafter, the three objecting parties filed a lawsuit on September 18, 2017.
The MLRB was named as the defendant and PRM was named as a party to the case due to the Colorado law requirement that any lawsuit filed
after a hearing must include all of the parties in the proceeding. The plaintiff organizations are seeking for the court to set aside
the board order granting a second five-year Temporary Cessation period to PRM for the Van 4 Mine. The Colorado state Attorney General
was defending this action in the Denver Colorado District Court. On May 8, 2018, the Denver Colorado District Court ruled in favor, whereby
the additional five-year temporary cessation period was granted. The Plaintiffs appealed this ruling to the Colorado Court of Appeals
and on July 25, 2019 the ruling was reversed, ruling that the additional five-year temporary cessation period should not have been granted.
The MLRB and the Colorado Attorney General advised
Western that it will not make an additional appeal of the ruling. Further, the time period for an appeal has passed. The Judge has subsequently
issued an instruction for the MLRB to issue an order revoking the permit and putting the Van 4 Mine into reclamation. On January 22,
2020, the MLRB held a hearing and on March 2, 2020, the MLRB issued an order vacating the Van 4 Temporary Cessation, revoking the permit
and ordered commencement of final reclamation, which must be completed within five (5) years. The Company commenced reclamation of the
Van 4 Mine but progress has been delayed both by COVID-19 restrictions and countywide fire and open flame restrictions. The reclamation
cost is fully covered by the reclamation bonds posted with the state of Colorado. Our mining operations team has made significant progress
on the reclamation as all surface structures have been disassembled and removed with the exception of the head frame.
Accessibility
The Van #4 mine is accessible via Montrose County
Roads year-round.
History
The Van#4 was initially permitted in the late
1970s and early 1980s by Union Carbide as part of a number of small mines named the Thunderbolt Group. Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. (EFN)
acquired the mine in 1984 and then transferred the mine and permits to International Uranium Corporation (IUC) in 1997. IUC re-permitted
the mine with DRMS (then known as the Division of Minerals and Geology) in 1999 because the previous permit had included other mines
in the area that were not acquired by IUC. Mine Permit M-1997-032 with DRMS is currently in good standing and bonded for $75,057.
Amendment AM-1, which incorporated the approved EPP, was issued on May 30, 2012. The permit has been transferred over the years from
IUC to Denison Mines (USA) Corp. to Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. and now to WUC by way of PRM.
Project Geology
The uranium-vanadium deposits occur in the upper
and middle sandstones of the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation. Deposits in this part of the Uravan Mineral Belt have a moderate
V 2 O 5 : U 3 O 8 ratio. The Company is in possession of much historic mine and drill data
(former Union Carbide/Umetco property), as well as up-to-date mine maps. Denison drilled most recently (summer 2008) 21
wide-spaced exploration holes in sections 27 and 34. All have been reclaimed and the permit terminated.
Restoration and Reclamation.
There is a reclamation bond held by the Colorado
DRMS for $75,057.
27
Permitting Status
Permit compliance is currently limited to an
annual stormwater inspection; stormwater improvement work was completed in 2010 and 2012. The air permit with APCD
was recently allowed to lapse, as the company does not have any immediate development or operation plans for the mine. The mine does
not have EPA approval for radon emissions; however, this approval may not be needed to restart mining, as the life-of-mine production
will likely be less than 100,000 tons. The DRMS mining permit was put into Temporary Cessation in February, 2014. Existing major permits
at the mine include:
●
BLM Plan of Operations
COC-62522 (same as DRMS Permit M-97-032)
●
DRMS 110d (Small Mine,
DMO) Mine Permit M-97-032
6. Hansen/Taylor Ranch
The Property
Within the Project area, Black Range has mining
agreements, owns fee minerals, holds options to purchase fee mineral rights, holds federal unpatented mining claims and mineral leases
with the State of Colorado, and has in place surface access agreements, including:
- 1 x private Mineral Lease
- 1 x State Mineral Lease (UR3324)
- 1 x option to purchase 100% of the Hansen and
Picnic Tree Deposits
- 108 Federal unpatented mining claims
28
The Hansen/Taylor Ranch Project is currently
being held as a property that is exploratory in nature with no identified reserves. Neither exploration plans nor a mining plan exist
for the project. Black Range Minerals has not undertaken development work at the property since groundwater well installation in 2013.
Power and water sources have not yet been formally assessed.
Notably a portion of the Hansen/Taylor deposit
was in dispute during 2017. On September 16, 2015, in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Black Range, the Company assumed
an option and exploration agreement (the “Option and Exploration Agreement”) with STB Minerals, LLC, a Colorado limited liability
company (“STB”). The Option and Exploration Agreement gives the Company the right to purchase 51% of the mineral rights of
specific areas of the Hansen and Picnic Tree deposits (for which the Company already holds 49% of the rights). If the Company were to
exercise its option under the Option and Exploration Agreement, it would require the Company to (a) make a cash payment of $2,500,000
immediately upon exercise; (b) issue common shares to STB amounting to a value of $3,750,000 immediately upon exercise; and (c) issue
common shares to STB amounting to a value of $3,750,000 on the date that is 180 days following exercise. The Option and Exploration Agreement
was scheduled to expire by its terms on July 28, 2017 if not exercised.
The Option and Exploration Agreement provided
an extension for an “event of force majeure”. Under this clause, the Company would receive an extension of the period during
which it could exercise its option if it experiences an unreasonable delay outside its control that prevents it from exercising the option.
On May 10, 2017, the Company provided to STB a notice that it was exercising the force majeure clause due to the delay by government
regulators in licensing the Company’s Kinetic Separation and permitting mining at the Hansen property. STB has contested the Company’s
finding that an event of force majeure has occurred. Ongoing negotiations continued until September 21, 2017 when the Company and STB
agreed to settle the matter through the pre-established arbitration mechanism. Prior to the commencement of arbitration, a settlement
was agreed to on February 28, 2018 through the execution of an Amendment of Option and Exploration Agreement. As consideration, the Company
paid STB a $20,000 extension payment and granted STB the right to seek a bona fide written offer over the remaining term, and agreed
to the removal of the force majeure clause from the agreement. The Company received an extension until July 28, 2019 and a right of first
refusal to match any bona fide written offer. Hence the Company already owned 49% of the resource property and retained an option to
purchase the 51% of the resource property that the Company did not already own for the duration of the agreement. Further the Company
believes the execution of this agreement was without financial implications, and as such, the Company has not made any adjustment to
these consolidated financials related to this matter.
Prior to July 28, 2019, the Company decided not
to exercise the option to purchase the remaining 51% of the mineral rights of specific areas of the Hansen and Picnic Tree deposits,
and thus the option has expired unexercised.
Accessibility
The Project is located in Fremont County, in
South Central Colorado approximately 30 miles northwest of the city of Canon City. Canon City is the closest population center, and had
a population of 16,400 in 2010. The largest metropolitan area in close proximity to the Project is Colorado Springs which is located
approximately 46 miles northeast of Canon City and has a population of approximately 416,000. Figure 1 shows the locations of these population
centers with respect to the Project.
For ground travel, Canon City is best accessed
from Denver/Colorado Springs via I-25 south to State Highway 115 which intersects Highway 50 just east of Canon City. For air travel,
alternatives include the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS), which is a 16-gate facility served by 14 airlines and Denver’s
International Airport (DEN), which is 149 miles from Canon City. There is a small airport, Fremont County Airport (CNE), located in Canon
City, which is open to private flights. The property has access to grid power; however, no source of industrial water has been identified
yet.
History
Uranium mineralization was discovered in the
Tallahassee Creek District in 1954 by two groups of prospectors. Between 1954 and 1972, 16 small open pit and underground mines were
operated in the district. Discoveries, and most producing mines and production were in the Tallahassee Creek Conglomerate, with one mine,
the Smaller Mine, producing from the Echo Park Formation. Exploration efforts were minimal until Rampart Exploration Company (Rampart),
under contract to Cyprus, explored the Taylor Ranch area beginning in 1974 and discovered the Hansen Uranium Deposit along with other
uranium deposits in the district. Cyprus took the Hansen and Picnic Tree deposits through a positive final feasibility analysis in 1980
for an open-pit mining and conventional uranium milling operation, and secured all necessary operating permits in 1981. The collapse
of the uranium market led to Cyprus abandoning the project which lay dormant until Black Range Minerals began activities in late 2006.
Black Range Mineral’s Taylor Ranch Project,
CO, consists of a combination of private, BLM and State Section minerals, and private, BLM and State Section surface rights. Ownership
of the private minerals and surface has mainly been by local ranchers. Western Nuclear held a portion of the property briefly in 1968.
Cyprus gained control of mineral and surface rights during the period 1975-1978.
29
In 1993, Cyprus sold their Tallahassee Creek
holdings to Noah (Buddy) and Diane Taylor who had managed ranching activities on the property. The Taylors were not able to make the
final payment to Cyprus and sold the southern portion of their holdings which included the Hansen and Picnic Tree deposits to New Mexico
and Arizona Land (now NZ Minerals) in 1996 who, in 1998, sold the property to South T-Bar Ranch, a subsidiary of Colorado developer Land
Properties, while reserving a 49% interest in the minerals.
This part of Cyprus’ prior holdings was
subdivided, mainly into 35-acre parcels. Beginning in December 2006, through various purchases, leases and option agreements, Black Range
Minerals has obtained mineral rights to most of the original Cyprus holdings.
Prior to the Hansen/Taylor Project being acquired
by WUC, a mineral resource for the Hansen/Taylor Ranch Project for Black Range Minerals Limited. Black Range Reported a JORC compliant
indicated uranium resources. This historic resource estimate was originally reported to Black Range Minerals Limited by Tetra Tech in
four resource memos (collectively, the “Tetra Tech Reports”): 1) High Park Kriging Resources – Taylor Ranch Uranium
Project, April 25, 2008; 2) North Hansen, Boyer Kriging Resources – Taylor Ranch Uranium Project, April 29, 2009; 3) Technical
Memorandum – Boyer, Hansen and Picnic Tree Area Kriging Resources – Taylor Ranch Uranium Project, August 24, 2009; and 4)
Technical Memorandum – Boyer, Hansen and Picnic Tree Area Kriging Resources – Taylor Ranch Uranium Project (Updated 2010),
August 12, 2010. These memos were originally prepared by Rex Bryan of Tetra Tech, a qualified person under NI 43-101. The results reported
in the Tetra Tech Reports are historical estimates under NI 43-101. However, the Company is not treating the historical estimate as current
mineral resources, and S-K 1300 does not permit such historic estimates to be disclosed in Form 10-K annual reports.
The historic Black Range Minerals resource reported
in the Tetra Tech Reports uses JORC indicated and inferred resource categories and does not contain reserves. There is no more recent
data available on the Hansen/Taylor Project resource than that of the Tetra Tech Reports. In order to disclose a resource estimate as
current, the Company would need to engage a qualified person (as defined under 43-101 and S-K 1300) to produce a technical report compliant
with NI 43-101 and a feasibility study compliant with S-K 1300. The Company currently does not intend to commission such a technical
report or feasibility study.
Project Geology
The deposits that make up the Project are tabular
sandstone deposits associated with redox interfaces. The mineralisation is hosted in Tertiary sandstones and/or clay bearing conglomerates
within an extinct braided stream, fluvial system or palaeochannel. Mineralisation occurred post sediment deposition when oxygenated uraniferous
groundwater moving through the host rocks came into contact with redox interfaces, the resultant chemical change caused the precipitation
of uranium oxides. The most common cause of redox interfaces is the presence of carbonaceous material that was deposited simultaneously
with the host sediments. In parts of the Project the palaeochannel has been covered by Tertiary volcanic rocks and throughout the Project
basement consists of Pre-Cambrian plutonics and metamorphic rocks. The volcanic and Pre-Cambrian rocks are believed to be the source
of the uranium.
Restoration and Reclamation
During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company
received notice from the State of Colorado that its surety release request on the Hansen Picnic Tree property had been approved, and
as such, this property is no longer subject to reclamation treatment. As the property wasn’t a current development priority, Western
completed reclamation on the property. The Company recorded a discontinuation of the Hansen Picnic Tree property’s present value
of $44,793 during the fourth quarter of 2021. On December 29, 2021, the Company moved the $154,936 restricted cash deposit into its cash
after receiving payment from the state of Colorado.
Permitting Status
The project currently has an exploration permit
through the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety as well as a Conditional Use Permit with the Fremont County Planning
and Zoning Department.
Basis of Disclosure
The scientific and technical information provided
in this Form 10-K on the Hansen/Taylor Ranch Project, as well all data and exploration information reported in this Form 10-K on the
Hansen/Taylor Ranch Project, is based on the information reported in the Tetra Tech Reports.
30
7.
Bullen Property (Weld County)
The Property
The Bullen Property is a private land parcel
located in Weld County Colorado and is inclusive of 139 surface acres and 160 mineral acres. The property location is Township 9 North,
Range 60 West, 6 th P.M., Section 34:NW/4.
Accessibility
The Bullen Property is accessible via Weld County
roads year-round.
History
The Bullen Property is an oil and gas property
located in Weld County Colorado. The Company acquired this non-core property in 2015 in the Black Range Minerals Limited acquisition.
Black Range purchased the property in 2008 for its Keota Uranium Project. This project ran from 2008 to 2013, and at its peak there were
five strategic interests which comprised approximately 3,300 acres in the Keota Uranium District. After the project ceased, the Bullen
Property was the only acreage retained in Weld County by virtue of its outright ownership.
31
In 2017, the Company signed a three year oil
and gas lease which in 2020 was extended for an additional three year term or the end of continuous operations. The consideration was
in the form of upfront bonus payments and backend production royalty payments. Additional right-of-way easement agreements were signed
which allowed for the development of a pipeline. The lease agreement allows the Company to retain property rights to vanadium, uranium,
and other mineral resources.
In early 2020 Bison Oil & Gas traded this
lease to Mallard Exploration (“Mallard”), Mallard subsequently filed an application with the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation
Commission (COGCC) to update the permitting to create a new pooled unit.
In late 2020 Mallard began development of the
pooled unit. By March 31, 2021, the drilling portion of the project had been completed for the eight horizontal wells named Blue Teal
Fed. Seven wells were drilled to a 2.5 miles lateral length and one well was drilled to a 3.0 mile lateral length. These DJ-Basin wells
target the Niobrara formation. During 2021, the operator completed all well development stages and each of the eight (8) Blue Teal Fed
wells commenced oil and gas production by mid-August 2021. The first royalty payment was made in January 2022 and monthly royalty payments
have been received subsequently. These wells continue to rank among the top Colorado producing wells. Due to the success of the first
8 wells, the operator has decided to develop a second set of 8 wells within Western’s royalty area during 2022.
Project Geology
The Bullen Property is located within the Denver-Julesburg
Basin (“D-J Basin”) which is inclusive of multiple oil and gas formations.
Permitting Status
Mallard’s application with the Colorado
Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) created a new order to establish a drilling and spacing unit and set the maximum number
of horizontal wells that may be drilled. The field rules were approved on August 24, 2020 (COGCC Order No. 535-1325). This order pooled
five adjoining parcels into a 3,200 acre pooled unit (“Unit”) and set the maximum number of wells at 24. A total of 16 wells
have been permitted in the Unit.
32
OTHER
Ferris Haggerty
The Property
No leases or land use remain.
Accessibility
The reclamation project is accessible 4 to 6
months out of the year due to snow and closed access. Take Wyoming Highway west from Encampment, Wyoming for approximately 11 miles.
Once across the divide, to the northeast there is a pullout for Medicine Bow National Forest recreation. Follow 4 wheel drive route 412
(Continental Divide Trail) for approximately 5 miles to the Haggerty creek watershed. Turn southwest onto a steep 4 wheel drive rout
and travel for approximately 1.5 miles until you are at the property.
History
The Ferris-Haggerty Mine Site was one
of the richest components of the Grand Encampment Mining District in Carbon County, Wyoming. The site was first exploited
by Ed Haggerty, a prospector from Whitehaven, England, in 1897, when he established the Rudefeha Mine on a rich deposit of copper
ore. Haggerty was backed by George Ferris and other investors, of whom all but Ferris dropped out. The partners sold an interest to Willis
George Emerson, who raised investment funding for improvements to the mine. These facilities included a 16-mile (26 km) aerial tramway
from Grand Encampment over the Continental Divide to the smelter in Encampment and a 4-mile (6.4 km) pipeline to
the mine. The mine’s assets were eventually acquired by the North American Copper Company for $1 million. By 1904 the mine had
produced $1.4 million in copper ore, and was sold to the Penn-Wyoming Copper Company. However, even with copper prices peaking in 1907,
the company had difficulty making a profit from the remove mine site. The company was over-capitalized and under-insured, and was suffered
devastating fires at the mine site in March 1906 and May 1907 which halted production. Business disputes and a fall in copper prices
prevented re-opening of the mine even after it was rebuilt. Machinery was salvaged after a foreclosure in 1913. A total
of $2 million in copper ore was extracted from the mine during its life.
Project Geology
The Deposit is a tabular injection of magmatic
metal differentiation product at the margins of an ultramafic intrusive of early Archean age (2.2 billion years ago). This intrusive
was injected into pre-existing high siliceous sandstones and shales of massive thickness (+2,000 ft). Mineralization at the Ferris-Haggarty
mine consists of disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite grains that occur along bedding planes of the host quartzite. However, the massive
ore body mined at the Ferris-Haggarty was described by Spencer (1904) to lie along quartzite-Schist contacts and to cross cut foliation.
Based on the historic description, the ore may have been remobilized from the host quartzite during regional metamorphism and emplaced
along the quartzite-schist contact by way of permeable fractures. The impermeable hanging wall schist may have formed a natural barrier
to the ore solutions and produced an unusually rich ore body.
Restoration and Reclamation
Grass must grow on the drill pad disturbance
areas from drilling which took place in 2007. These drill pads are located at 10,000 feet above sea level on the north face of a mountain
on the Continental Divide.
During the first quarter of 2021, the Company received notice that
its Ferris Haggerty property was no longer considered to be subject to reclamation treatment. On April 29, 2021, the Company moved the
Ferris Haggerty $10,000 restricted cash deposit into its cash after receiving payment from the state of Wyoming.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The Company’s carrying value of property,
plant and equipment is as follows:
The
Company holds a license to use Kinetic Separation, a proven technology that we anticipate will improve the efficiency of the sandstone
hosted uranium mining process, although there are some uncertainties about whether the anticipated benefits will be realized. See Item
1, “Business – The Kinetic Separation Process.” Kinetic Separation is a low cost, purely physical method of uranium
and vanadium ore extraction. Kinetic Separation has been initially tested in order to understand the hydro and mechanical separation
processes. The Company used a prototype Kinetic Separation test system to test several different samples of uranium ore from the Sunday
Mine Complex and the Hansen/Taylor Ranch properties. In all cases, uranium ore that was entered into the Kinetic Separation pilot test
system appeared to concentrate most of the uranium into the post kinetically separated material consisting of a fraction of the original
mass, leaving most of the post kinetically separated materials which did not contain any uranium. The results of these tests have not
yet been validated by a qualified person.
33
During 2016, the Company submitted documentation to the Colorado Department
of Public Health and Environment (“CDPHE”) for a determination ruling regarding the type of license which may be required
for the application of Kinetic Separation at the Sunday Mine Complex within the state of Colorado. During May and June of 2016, CDPHE
held four public meetings in several cities in Colorado as part of the process. On July 22, 2016 CDPHE closed the comment period. In connection
with this matter, the CDPHE consulted with the NRC. In response, the CDPHE received an advisory opinion dated October 16, 2016, which
did not contain support for the NRC’s opinion and with which the Company’s regulatory counsel does not agree. NRC’s
advisory opinion recommended that Kinetic Separation should be regulated as a milling operation but did recognize that there may be exemptions
to certain milling regulatory requirements because of the benign nature of the non-uranium bearing sands produced after Kinetic Separation
is completed on uranium-bearing ores. On December 1, 2016, the CDPHE issued a determination that the proposed Kinetic Separation operations
at the Sunday Mine must be regulated by the CDPHE through a milling license. Beginning in 2017 the Company’s regulatory counsel
has prepared significant documentation in preparation for a prospective submission. On September 13, 2019, the Company’s regulatory
counsel submitted a whitepaper to the NRC entitled “Recommendations on the Proper Legal and Policy Interpretation for Using Kinetic
Separation Processes at Uranium Mine Sites.” On July 24, 2020, the NRC staff responded with a letter in support of the original
conclusion. Western’s regulatory counsel has proposed alternatives. However, management has decided not to proceed at this time,
given its present opportunity set.
The Company holds mineral properties as outlined below.
Pinon Ridge Properties
On August 18, 2014, the Company purchased mining
assets from Energy Fuels Holding Corp. in an arm’s length transaction. The mining assets include both owned and leased land in
the states of Utah and Colorado. All of the mining assets represent properties which have previously been mined to different degrees
for uranium. As some of the properties have not formally established proven or probable reserves, there may be greater inherent uncertainty
as to whether or not any mineralized material can be economically extracted as originally planned and anticipated.
The Company’s mining properties acquired
on August 18, 2014 which the Company still retains as of December 31, 2020, include the San Rafael Uranium Project located in Emery County,
Utah; the Sunday Mine Complex located in western San Miguel County, Colorado; the Van 4 Mine located in western Montrose County, Colorado;
the Sage Mine project located in San Juan County, Utah; and the Dunn project located in San Juan and San Miguel counties, Colorado.
Black Range Properties
On September 16, 2015, in connection with the
Black Range Transaction, the Company acquired additional mineral properties. The mining assets acquired through Black Range include leased
land in the states of Colorado, Wyoming and Alaska. None of these mining assets were operational at the date of acquisition. As these
properties have not formally established proven or probable reserves, there may be greater inherent uncertainty as to whether or not
any mineralized material can be economically extracted as originally planned and anticipated.
The Company’s mining properties acquired
on September 16, 2015 which the Company still retains as of December 31, 2020, include Hansen, North Hansen, High Park, Hansen Picnic
Tree, Taylor Ranch, located in Fremont County, Colorado. The Company also acquired Keota located in Weld County, Wyoming.
In connection with the Black Range Transaction,
Western assumed a mortgage secured by land, building and improvements at 1450 North 7 Mile Road, Casper, Wyoming, with interest payable
at 8.00% and payable in monthly payments of $11,085 with the final balance of $1,044,015 due as a balloon payment on January 16, 2016.
The Company did not pay the mortgage on its due date. On May 26, 2016, the Company executed agreements with the mortgage holder whereby
in an equal exchange the mortgage was exchanged for the land, building and improvements on which it was secured, pursuant to which no
further financial consideration is required.
During the second quarter of 2016, the
Company initiated actions to cancel its coal mining leases in Alaska. In connection therewith, the Company notified the state of
Alaska of its intent to forfeit the posted bond in satisfaction of the reclamation liabilities at the site. In response to the
Company’s notification, the Company received notification that the state of Alaska was initiating forfeiture of the
Company’s performance bond for reclamation. However, the notice indicated an additional surety bond of $150,000 in excess of
the $210,500 cash bond, which had been posted by the Company upon purchase of the property. The Company and its advisors do not
believe that it is obligated for this additional amount of claimed reclamation obligation. The Company is working with its legal
counsel and the State of Alaska to resolve this matter. The Company has not recorded an additional $150,000 obligation as the
Company does not expect, based on the advice of legal counsel, to be obligated to an amount greater than that presently reflected in
the reclamation liability. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company adjusted the fair value of its reclamation
obligation and for the Alaska mine, accreted $183,510 to bring its reclamation liability to face value. The portion of the
reclamation liability related to the Alaska mine, and its related restricted cash are included in current liabilities, and current
assets, respectively, at a value of $215,976 and $215,976. On January 20, 2017, the State of Alaska notified the Company that its
reclamation bond had been forfeited to be used to satisfy the reclamation obligation. However, no amount had yet been determined in
respect to the final cost of the reclamation obligation.
34
As the properties are not in production, they
are not covered by various types of insurance including property and casualty, liability and umbrella coverage. We have not experienced
any material uninsured or under insured losses related to our properties in the past and believe our approach sufficient given the inactivity.
ITEM
3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Other than described below, management is not
aware of any material legal proceedings that are pending or that have been threatened against us or our subsidiaries or any of our respective
properties, and none of our directors, officers, affiliates or record or beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common shares, or any
associate of any such director, officer, affiliate or shareholder, is (i) a party adverse to us or any of our subsidiaries in any legal
proceeding or (ii) has an adverse interest to us or any of our subsidiaries in any legal proceeding.
The Company is subject to periodic inspection
by certain regulatory agencies for the purpose of determining compliance by the Company with the conditions of its licenses. In the ordinary
course of business, minor violations may occur; however, these are not expected to result in material expenditures or have any other
material adverse effect on the Company.
35
A prior owner of the Van 4 Mine had been granted
a first Temporary Cessation from reclamation of the mine by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (“MLRB”) which was
set to expire June 23, 2017. Prior to its expiration, PRM formally requested an extension through a second Temporary Cessation. PRM subsequently
participated in a public process which culminated in a hearing on July 26, 2017. Prior to the hearing, three non-profit organizations
who pursue environmental and conservation objectives filed a brief objecting to the extension. The MLRB board members voted to grant
a second five-year Temporary Cessation for the Van 4 Mine. Thereafter, the three objecting parties filed a lawsuit on September 18, 2017.
The MLRB was named as the defendant and PRM was named as a party to the case due to the Colorado law requirement that any lawsuit filed
after a hearing must include all of the parties in the proceeding. The plaintiff organizations are seeking for the court to set aside
the board order granting a second five-year Temporary Cessation period to PRM for the Van 4 Mine. The Colorado state Attorney General
was defending this action in the Denver Colorado District Court. On May 8, 2018, the Denver Colorado District Court ruled in favor, whereby
the additional five-year temporary cessation period was granted. The Plaintiffs appealed this ruling to the Colorado Court of Appeals
and on July 25, 2019 the ruling was reversed, ruling that the additional five-year temporary cessation period should not have been granted.
The MLRB and the Colorado Attorney General advised
Western that it will not make an additional appeal of the ruling. Further, the time period for an appeal has passed. The Judge has subsequently
issued an instruction for the MLRB to issue an order revoking the permit and putting the Van 4 Mine into reclamation. On January 22,
2020, the MLRB held a hearing and on March 2, 2020, the MLRB issued an order vacating the Van 4 Temporary Cessation, revoking the permit
and ordered commencement of final reclamation, which must be completed within five (5) years. The Company commenced reclamation of the
Van 4 Mine but progress has been delayed both by COVID-19 restrictions and countywide fire and open flame restrictions. The reclamation
cost is fully covered by the reclamation bonds posted upon acquisition of the property.
On February 4, 2020, the Colorado DRMS
sent a Notice of Hearing to Declare Termination of Mining Operations related to the status of the mining permits issued by the state of
Colorado for the Sunday Mine Complex. At issue is the application of an unchallenged Colorado Court of Appeals Opinion for a separate
mine (Van 4) with very different facts that are retroactively modifying DRMS rules and regulations. The Company maintains that it was
timely in meeting existing rules and regulations. The hearing wa s scheduled to be held during several
monthly MLRB Board meetings, but this matter has been delayed several times. The permit hearing was held during MLRB Board monthly meeting
on July 22, 2020. At issue was the status of the five existing permits which comprise the Sunday Mine Complex. Due to COVID restrictions,
the hearing took place utilizing a virtual-only format. The Company prevailed in a 3 to 1 decision which acknowledged that the work completed
at the Sunday Mines under DRMS oversight was timely and sufficient for Western to maintain these permits. In a subsequent July 30, 2020
letter, the DRMS notified the Company that the status of the five permits (Sunday, West Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz) had been
changed to Active status effective June 10, 2019, the original date on which the change of the status was approved. On August 23, 2020,
the Company initiated a request for temporary cessation status for the Sunday Mine Complex as the mines had not been restarted within
a 180-day window due to the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, a permit hearing was scheduled for October
21, 2020 to determine temporary cessation status. In a unanimous vote, the MLRB approved temporary cessation status for each of the five
Sunday Mine Complex permits (Sunday, West Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz). On October 9, 2020, the MLRB issued a board order which
finalized the findings of the July 22, 2020 permit hearing. On November 10, 2020, the MLRB issued a board order which finalized the findings
of the October 21, 2020 permit hearing. On November 6, 2020, the MLRB signed an order placing the five Sunday Mine Complex mine permits
into Temporary Cessation. On November 12, 2020, a coalition of environmental groups (the “Plaintiffs”) filed a complaint against
the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the July 22, 2020 decision by requesting termination of the Topaz Mine permit.
On December 15, 2020, the same coalition of environmental groups amended
their complaint against the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the October 21, 2020 decision requesting termination of the Topaz Mine permit.
The Company has joined with the MLRB in defense of their July 22, 2020 and October 21, 2020 decisions. On May 5, 2021, the Plaintiff in
the Topaz Appeal filed an opening brief with the Denver District Court seeking to overturn the July 22, 2020 and October 21, 2020 MLRB
permit hearing decisions on the Topaz Mine permit. The MLRB and the Company were to respond with an answer brief within 35 days on or
before June 9, 2021, but instead sought a settlement. The judicial review process was delayed as extensions were put in place until August
20, 2021. A settlement was not reached and the MLRB and the Company submitted answer briefs on August 20, 2021. The Plaintiff submitted
a reply brief on September 10, 2021. On March 1, 2022, the Denver District Court reversed the MLRB’s orders regarding the Topaz
Mine and remanded the case back to MLRB for further proceedings consistent with its order. The Company and the MRLB have until April 19,
2022 to appeal the Denver District Court’s ruling. The Company is also working toward the completion of an updated Topaz mine Plan
of Operations which is a separate federal requirement of the BLM for the conduct of mining activities on federal land.
ITEM
4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
For Western, safety is a core value, and we strive
for superior performance. Our health and safety management system, which includes detailed standards and procedures for safe production,
addresses topics such as employee training, risk management, workplace inspection, emergency response, accident investigation, and program
auditing. In addition to strong leadership and involvement from all levels of the organization, these programs and procedures form the
cornerstone of safety at Western, ensuring that employees are provided a safe and healthy environment and are intended to reduce workplace
accidents, incidents and losses, comply with all mining-related regulations and provide support for both regulators and the industry
to improve mine safety.
The operation of our U.S. based mine is subject
to regulation by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act
of 1977 (the “Mine Act”). MSHA inspects our mine on a regular basis and issues various citations and orders when it believes
a violation has occurred under the Mine Act Following passage of The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006, MSHA significantly
increased the number of citations and orders charged against mining operations. The dollar penalties assessed for citations issued has
also increased in recent years.
Western is required to report certain mine safety
violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and
Item 104 of Regulation S-K, and that required information is included in Exhibit 95 and is incorporated by reference in this annual report.
36
PART II
ITEM
5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
Our common shares trade on the OTCQX Market under
the “WSTRF” trading symbol.
Our common shares are listed for trading in Canada
on the CSE under the symbol “WUC”.
Shareholders
According to our transfer agent, as of March 31,
2022 there were approximately 3,400 holders of record of our common shares.
ITEM
6. [RESERVED]
Not Applicable
ITEM
7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Forward-Looking Statements
The information disclosed in this annual report,
and the information incorporated by reference herein, include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our or our management’s expectations,
hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other
characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words
“anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,”
“project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but
the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
The forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference
in this annual report are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on
us and speak only as of the date of each such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those
that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control)
or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described in Item 1A, “Risk
Factors,” and this Item 7 of this annual report. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of
our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements.
We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
The following discussion should be read in conjunction
with our audited consolidated annual financial statements and footnotes thereto contained in this annual report.
Overview
General
Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. (“Western”
or the “Company”, formerly Western Uranium Corporation) was incorporated in December 2006 under the Ontario Business Corporations
Act. On November 20, 2014, the Company completed a listing process on the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”). As part of
that process, the Company acquired 100% of the members’ interests of Pinon Ridge Mining LLC (“PRM”), a Delaware limited
liability company. The transaction constituted a reverse takeover (“RTO”) of Western by PRM. Subsequent to obtaining appropriate
shareholder approvals, the Company reconstituted its board of directors and senior management team. Effective September 16, 2015, Western
completed its acquisition of Black Range Minerals Limited (“Black Range”).
37
On August 18, 2014, the Company closed on the
purchase of certain mining properties in Colorado and Utah from Energy Fuels Holding Corp. Assets purchased included both owned and leased
lands in Utah and Colorado, and all represent properties that have been previously mined for uranium to varying degrees in the past.
The acquisition included the purchase of the Sunday Mine Complex. The Sunday Mine Complex is located in western San Miguel County, Colorado.
The complex consists of the following five individual mines: the Sunday mine, the Carnation mine, the Saint Jude mine, the West Sunday
mine and the Topaz mine. The operation of each of these mines requires a separate permit, and all such permits have been obtained by
Western and are currently valid. In addition, each of the mines has good access to a paved highway, electric power to existing declines,
office/storage/shop and change buildings, and an extensive underground haulage development with several vent shafts complete with exhaust
fans. These properties were formerly secured by a first priority interest collateralizing a $500,000 promissory note which was paid in
full on August 31, 2018, and thus, the properties are now held free and clear of encumbrances. The Sunday Mine Complex is the Company’s
core resource property and was assigned “Active” status effective June 2019.
On September 16, 2015, Western completed its
acquisition of Black Range, an Australian company that was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange until the acquisition was completed.
The acquisition terms were pursuant to a definitive Merger Implementation Agreement entered into between Western and Black Range. Pursuant
to the agreement, Western acquired all of the issued shares of Black Range by way of Scheme of Arrangement (“the Scheme”)
under the Australian Corporation Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Black Range Transaction”), with Black Range shareholders being issued
common shares of Western on a 1 for 750 basis. On August 25, 2015, the Scheme was approved by the shareholders of Black Range, and on
September 4, 2015, Black Range received approval by the Federal Court of Australia. In addition, Western issued options to purchase Western
common shares to certain employees, directors, and consultants. Such stock options were intended to replace Black Range stock options
outstanding prior to the Black Range Transaction on the same 1 for 750 basis.
The Company has registered offices at 330 Bay
Street, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 2S8, and its common shares are listed on the CSE under the symbol “WUC”
and are traded on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol “WSTRF”. Its principal business activity is the acquisition and
development of uranium and vanadium resource properties in the states of Utah and Colorado in the United States of America (“United
States”).
Recent Developments
February 2021 Private Placement
On February 16, 2021, the Company closed on a non-brokered private
placement of 3,250,000 units at a price of CAD $0.80 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted to
CAD $2,600,000. Each unit consisted of one common share of Western plus one common share purchase warrant of Western. Each warrant entitled
the holder to purchase one common share at a price of CAD $1.20 per share for a period of three years following the closing date of the
private placement. A total of 3,250,000 common shares and 3,250,000 warrants were issued in the private placement.
March 2021 Private Placement
On March 1, 2021, the Company closed on a non-brokered
private placement of 3,125,000 units at a price of CAD $0.80 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted
to CAD $2,500,000. Each unit consisted of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitled the holder to
purchase one common share at a price of CAD $1.20 per share for a period of three years following the closing date of the private placement.
A total of 3,125,000 common shares and 3,125,000 warrants were issued in the private placement.
December 2021 Private Placement
On December 17, 2021, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement
of 372,966 units at a price of CAD $1.60 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted to CAD $596,746
(USD $434,973 in net proceeds). Each unit consisted of one common share plus one warrant. Each warrant entitled the holder to purchase
one common share at a price of CAD $2.50 per share for a period of three years following the closing date of the private placement. A
total of 372,966 common shares and 372,966 warrants were issued in the private placement.
38
Bullen Property (Weld County)
The Bullen Property is an oil and gas property
located in Weld County Colorado. The Company acquired this non-core property in 2015 in the Black Range Minerals Limited acquisition,
and Black Range purchased the property in 2008 for its Keota Uranium Project.
In 2017, the Company signed a three year oil
and gas lease which in 2020 was extended for an additional three year term or until the end of continuous operations. The consideration
was in the form of upfront bonus payments and backend 3/16 th production royalty payment. Additional right-of-way easement
agreements were signed which allowed for the development of a pipeline. The lease agreement allows the Company to retain property rights
to vanadium, uranium, and other mineral resources.
A 2019 lawsuit was filed in the Weld County District
Court over the original Bullen Property deed language which was negotiated before the Company acquired Black Range by prior management
and a bank representing the estate of the property owner. The Company settled with the plaintiffs by awarding the estate’s beneficiaries
a non-participating royalty interest of 1/8th for all hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon substances that are produced and sold from the
property.
In early 2020, Bison Oil & Gas traded
this lease to Mallard Exploration (“Mallard”), Mallard subsequently filed an application with the Colorado Oil &
Gas Conservation Commission (“COGCC”) to update the permit to create a new pooled unit.
During 2021, the operator advanced through the
oil well production stages: drilling was completed in the first quarter, wellfield completion/fracking was completed during the second
quarter, drill out was completed in July, and flowback was completed in August. By August 2021, each of the eight (8) Blue Teal Fed wells
had commenced oil and gas production. The first royalty payment was made in January 2022 and monthly royalty payments have been received
subsequently. These wells continue to rank among the top Colorado producing wells. Due to the success of the first 8 wells, the operator
has decided to develop a second set of 8 wells within Western’s royalty area during 2022. During the years ended December 31, 2021
and 2020 the Company recognized aggregate revenue of $272,142 and $54,620, respectively, under these oil and gas lease arrangements. On
January 31, 2022, the Company received $207,552 as payment for royalties recognized during the period August 2021 through December 2021.
Kinetic Separation Licensing
During 2016, the Company submitted documentation
to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (“CDPHE”) for a determination ruling regarding the type of license
which may be required for the application of Kinetic Separation at the Sunday Mine Complex within the state of Colorado. During May and
June of 2016, CDPHE held four public meetings in several cities in Colorado as part of the process. On July 22, 2016, CDPHE closed the
comment period. In connection with this matter, the CDPHE consulted with the NRC. In response, the CDPHE received an advisory opinion,
dated October 16, 2016, which did not contain support for the NRC’s opinion and with which the Company’s regulatory counsel
does not agree. NRC’s advisory opinion recommended that Kinetic Separation should be regulated as a milling operation but did recognize
that there may be exemptions to certain milling regulatory requirements because of the benign nature of the non-uranium bearing sands
produced after Kinetic Separation is completed on uranium-bearing ores. On December 1, 2016, the CDPHE issued a determination that the
proposed Kinetic Separation operations at the Sunday Mine Complex must be regulated by the CDPHE through a milling license. Beginning
in 2017, the Company’s regulatory counsel prepared significant documentation in preparation for a prospective submission. On September
13, 2019, the Company’s regulatory counsel submitted a white paper to the NRC entitled “Recommendations on the Proper Legal
and Policy Interpretation for Using Kinetic Separation Processes at Uranium Mine Sites.” On July 24, 2020, the NRC staff responded
with a letter in support of the original conclusion. Western’s regulatory counsel has proposed alternatives. However, management
has decided not to proceed at this time, given its present opportunity set.
39
Sunday Mine Complex Permitting Status
On February 4, 2020, the Colorado DRMS sent a Notice
of Hearing to Declare Termination of Mining Operations related to the status of the mining permits issued by the state of Colorado for
the Sunday Mine Complex. At issue was the application of an unchallenged Colorado Court of Appeals Opinion for a separate mine (Van 4)
with very different facts that are retroactively modifying DRMS rules and regulations. The Company maintains that it was timely in meeting
existing rules and regulations. The hearing was scheduled to be held during several monthly MLRB Board meetings, but this matter was delayed
several times. The permit hearing was held during the MLRB Board monthly meeting on July 22, 2020. At issue was the status of the five
existing permits which comprise the Sunday Mine Complex. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the hearing took place utilizing a virtual-only
format. The Company prevailed in a 3-to-1 decision which acknowledged that the work completed at the Sunday Mine Complex under DRMS oversight
was timely and sufficient for Western to maintain these permits. In a subsequent July 30, 2020 letter, the DRMS notified the Company that
the status of the five permits (Sunday, West Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz) had been changed to “Active” status effective
June 10, 2019, the original date on which the change of the status was approved. On August 23, 2020, the Company initiated a request for
Temporary Cessation status for the Sunday Mine Complex as the mines had not been restarted within a 180-day window due to the direct and
indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, a permit hearing was scheduled for October 21, 2020 to determine Temporary Cessation
status. In a unanimous vote, the MLRB approved Temporary Cessation status for each of the five Sunday Mine Complex permits (Sunday, West
Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz). On October 9, 2020, the MLRB issued a board order which finalized the findings of the July 22,
2020 permit hearing. On November 12, 2020, a coalition of environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the MLRB seeking a partial appeal
of the July 22, 2020 decision by requesting termination of the Topaz mine permit. On December 15, 2020, the same coalition of environmental
groups amended their complaint against the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the October 21, 2020 decision requesting termination of the
Topaz mine permit. The Company has joined with the MLRB in defense of their July 22, 2020 and October 21, 2020 decisions. On May 5, 2021,
the Plaintiff in the Topaz Appeal filed an opening brief with the Denver District Court seeking to overturn the July 22, 2020 and October
21, 2020 MLRB permit hearing decisions on the Topaz mine permit. The MLRB and the Company were to respond with an answer brief within
35 days on or before June 9, 2021, but instead sought a settlement. The judicial review process was delayed as extensions were put in
place until August 20, 2021. A settlement was not reached and the MLRB and the Company submitted answer briefs on August 20, 2021. The
Plaintiff submitted a reply brief on September 10, 2021. On March 1, 2022, the Denver District Court reversed the MLRB’s orders
regarding the Topaz Mine and remanded the case back to MLRB for further proceedings consistent with its order. The Company and the MRLB
have until April 19, 2022 to appeal the Denver District Court’s ruling. The Company is also working toward the completion of an
updated Topaz mine Plan of Operations which is a separate federal requirement of the BLM for the conduct of mining activities on federal
land.
40
Sunday Mine Complex Project 2021 Restart
The project entailed the development
of multiple SMC ore bodies. This year’s project involves a shift in the base of operations from the St. Jude Mine (2019) to the
Sunday Mine (2021). Underground development began in August following mine ventilation, power upgrades, and increasing explosive capabilities.
The first target was the extension of the drift (tunnel) 150 feet to reach the first surface exploration drill hole to access the GMG
Ore Body (GMG). Early results were positive as drilling toward the GMG resulted in the location of ore-grade material within thirty feet
of the existing mine workings. Notably, only limited exploration drilling has been done in this area due to the mountainous terrain on
the surface above. As drifting proceeded, very high-grade ore continued to be intersected through the drift path and on both sides of
the drift. As a result, the team shifted from development to mining. During the December 2021 to March 2022 period, over 3,000 tons of
high-grade uranium/vanadium ore was mined from the drift. The mining contractor calculated grades based upon on site scintillometer readings.
At the end of March, the mining contractor engaged by Western decided to retire from contract mining operations. As a result of this
decision, Western will take over the mining operations and has acquired a full complement of mining equipment. The equipment is being
prepared for operations and upgrades to mine ventilation, support buildings and infrastructure are underway. Further mine development
and ore production is expected to resume in early summer after upgrades are completed. Western’s mining team will be expanded to
facilitate mine development and full ore production.
Van 4 Mine Permitting Status
A prior owner of the Van 4 mine had been granted
a first Temporary Cessation from reclamation of the mine by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (“MLRB”) which was
set to expire June 23, 2017. Prior to its expiration, PRM formally requested an extension through a second Temporary Cessation. PRM subsequently
participated in a public process which culminated in a hearing on July 26, 2017. Prior to the hearing, three non-profit organizations
who pursue environmental and conservation objectives filed a brief objecting to the extension. The MLRB board members voted to grant
a second five-year Temporary Cessation for the Van 4 mine. Thereafter, the three objecting parties filed a lawsuit on September 18, 2017.
The MLRB was named as the defendant and PRM was named as a party to the case due to the Colorado law requirement that any lawsuit filed
after a hearing must include all of the parties in the proceeding. The plaintiff organizations are seeking for the court to set aside
the board order granting a second five-year Temporary Cessation period to PRM for the Van 4 mine. The Colorado state Attorney General
was defending this action in the Denver Colorado District Court. On May 8, 2018, the Denver Colorado District Court ruled in favor, whereby
the additional five-year Temporary Cessation period was granted. The Plaintiffs appealed this ruling to the Colorado Court of Appeals,
and on July 25, 2019, the ruling was reversed, ruling that the additional five-year Temporary Cessation period should not have been granted.
The MLRB and the Colorado Attorney General advised
Western that it will not make an additional appeal of the ruling. Further, the time period for an appeal has passed. The judge has subsequently
issued an instruction for the MLRB to issue an order revoking the permit and putting the Van 4 mine into reclamation. On January 22,
2020, the MLRB held a hearing, and on March 2, 2020, the MLRB issued an order vacating the Van 4 Temporary Cessation, revoking the permit,
and ordering commencement of final reclamation, which must be completed within five years. The Company commenced reclamation of the Van
4 mine, but progress has been delayed both by COVID-19 restrictions and countywide fire and open flame restrictions. The reclamation
cost is fully covered by the reclamation bonds that have been posted with the state of Colorado. Our mining operations team has made
significant progress on the reclamation as all surface structures have been disassembled and removed with the exception of the head frame.
41
Uranium Section 232 Investigation/Nuclear Fuel Working Group
Process
An investigation under Section 232 of the
Trade Expansion Act of 1962 was undertaken by the DoC in 2018 to assess the impact to national security of the importation of the
vast majority of uranium utilized by the approximately 100 operative civilian nuclear reactors within the United States. In response
to the Section 232 report, the White House disseminated a Presidential Memoranda in July 2019. At that time, President Trump formed
the Nuclear Fuel Working Group (“NFWG”) to find solutions for reviving and expanding domestic nuclear fuel production
and reinvigorating recommendations.
In April 2020, the DoE released the NFWG report
entitled “Restoring America’s Competitive Nuclear Energy Advantage – A strategy to assure U.S. national security.”
The report outlines a strategy for the reestablishment of critical capabilities and direct support to the front end of the U.S. domestic
nuclear fuel cycle. The NFWG findings and recommendations presented are a positive outcome for U.S. uranium miners; however, the ultimate
outcome and timing remains uncertain as the continuing process requires approvals and budget appropriation from Congress and implementation
by U.S. government agencies.
This remains an ongoing process where a number
of bills were introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House to implement the key provisions of the NFWG report’s recommendations.
In November 2020, after the U.S. election, the Senate Committee on Appropriations released its funding measures and allocations recommending
the creation and funding of the American Uranium Reserve. In October 2020, the DoC extended the Russian Suspension Agreement for an additional
20 years until 2040. Existing categories of quotas on imports of Russian uranium into the U.S. were reduced by a graduated scale, and
additional provisions were modified to eliminate loopholes. An extension of this agreement was among the NFWG’s recommendations.
In further implementation of the report’s recommendations, the DoE made multiple investment awards to companies advancing new nuclear
technologies. TerraPower and X-energy received awards to build demonstration models of their advanced reactor designs, and NuScale received
support to deploy the first U.S. small modular reactor (“SMR”) plan comprised of 12 modules at the Idaho National Laboratory.
The International Development Finance Corp. signed a letter of intent to finance NuScale’s development of 42 SMR modules in South
Africa. In an acknowledgement of the future growth potential of new nuclear technologies, the U.S. government has increased its industry
support to a level not seen in decades. This is being done to level the playing field versus state-sponsored foreign entities. In December
2020, U.S. Congress passed the “COVID-Relief and Omnibus Spending Bill,” which included $75 million for the establishment
of a strategic U.S. Uranium Reserve. The Biden-Harris Administration has rolled the 2021 funding into its 2022 fiscal year budget to
continue this initiative. The DoE continues to work on establishing the parameters of the program and in August 2021, the DoE put out
a Request for Information (RFI) to obtain additional comments related to the establishment of the DoE’s Uranium Reserve program.
On October 13, 2021, Western submitted a response to the Request for Information: Establishment of the Uranium Reserve Program to the
DoE’s National Nuclear Security Administration
Also, recent follow through includes the July
2021 public release of the uranium Section 232 report which the DoC presented to President Trump in April 2019. The report concluded
that uranium imports were “weakening our internal economy” and “threaten to impair the national security” and
recommended immediate actions to “enable U.S. producers to recapture and sustain a market share of U.S. uranium consumption”.
These actions were not taken in favor of the NFWG process.
Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and strong market
positions of Russia and the former Soviet Republics in nuclear fuel the term “energy security” has taken on increased urgency,
as dependencies have impacted many free-market economies. With respect to the uranium market, the national security risks to the United
States have been identified and reported under both the Section 232 Investigation and subsequently by the NFWG. In response to the Russian
invasion, a number of U.S. Senators and Representatives have utilized the Uranium Reserve program as a basis for proposing a U.S. response
to Russia’s invasion and reducing U.S. expenditures benefiting the Russian regime.
Vanadium Section 232 Investigation
In the United States,
a petition for an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 was requested by two domestic companies in November
2019. In June of 2020, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, initiated an investigation into whether the present quantities or
circumstances of vanadium imports into the United States threaten to impair the national security. The Section 232 National Security
Investigation of Imports of Vanadium was concluded, and a report was submitted to President Biden in February 2021. In July 2021, the
report was made public. It concluded that vanadium imports “do not threaten to impair the national security as defined in Section
232,” but identified and recommended “several actions that would help to ensure reliable domestic sources of vanadium and
lessen the potential for imports to threaten national security.” No action has been taken on these recommendations.
42
Biden-Harris Administration
Initiatives
The positive momentum has continued for the nuclear
and uranium mining sector due to the Biden-Harris Administration’s emphasis on climate change. The “Plan to Build a Modern
Sustainable Infrastructure and an Equitable Clean Energy Future” emphasizes climate change solutions. Upon taking office, the Biden
team immediately rejoined the Paris Agreement and continued its pursuit of campaign promises of investments in clean energy, creating
jobs, producing clean electric power, and achieving carbon-pollution free energy in electricity generation by 2035. Since taking office,
President Biden has given all agencies climate change initiatives and has started a climate change working group. The existing U.S. nuclear
reactor fleet currently produces in excess of 50% of U.S. clean energy, and new, advanced nuclear technologies promise to generate additional
clean energy. A White House national climate advisor told the media in a press briefing that the Biden-Harris Administration intends
to seek a national clean energy standard that includes nuclear energy. The Company believes that nuclear energy will be increasingly
able to compete on a level playing field with renewable energy technologies.
There has been legislative advancement of implementation
mechanisms including tax credits, subsidies, and/or U.S. utilities being required to produce an increasing proportion of electricity
generation from clean energy power sources. President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda has several components supportive of nuclear
power generation. Already signed into law is the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that provides the DoE funding to
prevent the premature retirement of existing nuclear plants and invest in advanced nuclear projects. The separate $1.7 trillion Build
Back Better Reconciliation Legislation, which has not yet made its way through the U.S. Congress, further addresses climate change through
the inclusion of a zero-emission nuclear power production credit. If passed in its current form, beginning in 2022 qualified nuclear
power facilities would be eligible to receive a base credit and a bonus credit if certain requirements are met.
President Biden attended the United Nations Climate
Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland. His administration simultaneously released a proposed plan targeting the reduction of
methane emissions. Many of the proposed initiatives from the Climate Summit target reduced utilization of fossil fuels and if implemented
expand future opportunities for nuclear power generation, given its ability to provide baseload and carbon-free energy. To conclude the
COP2, in a surprise announcement, the U.S. and China pledged to work together to slow global warming. This is significant because the
U.S. and China represent the two countries with the largest CO2 emissions. They jointly pledged to take “enhanced climate actions”
to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement temperature goal of limiting global warming to less than 1.5C.
Strategic Acquisition of Physical Uranium
On May 28, 2021, the Company executed a binding
agreement to purchase 125,000 pounds of natural uranium concentrate at the market price. In December 2021, the Company paid $4,020,000
or $32.16 per pound, in connection with its full prepayment of the purchase price for 125,000 pounds of natural uranium concentrate.
This uranium concentrate was delivered to the purchaser on April 13, 2022, pursuant to the terms of the aforementioned uranium concentrates
supply agreement.
Uranium Supply Agreement Delivery
On April 13, 2022, in satisfaction of the Year 5 delivery
under its supply contract, the Company delivered 125,000 lbs of uranium concentrate from its prepaid uranium concentrate inventory. This
delivery of uranium concentrate resulted in a sale of $7,130,000, at a price of approximately $57 per pound. The Company expects to receive
the cash from this sale in May 2022.
Sprott Physical Uranium Trust
The Sprott Physical Uranium Trust (U.UN) (the “Trust”) took
over the former Uranium Participation Corp. (U.TO) and launched an at-the-market program (ATM) on August 17, 2021 to raise capital for
the closed-ended trust. Since the inception of the ATM program, the Trust has bought significant quantities of uranium causing spot prices
to increase. It is anticipated that a Sprott U.S. vehicle will receive New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) approval and be made available for
investment during 2022. It is also likely that a comparable physical uranium holding vehicle will be launched in affiliation with Kazatomprom,
the world’s largest uranium miner.
COVID-19
The world has been, and continues to be, impacted
by the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic. COVID-19, and measures to prevent its spread, impacted our business in a
number of ways. The impact of these disruptions and the extent of their adverse impact on the Company’s financial and operating
results will be dictated by the length of time that such disruptions continue, which will, in turn, depend on the currently unpredictable
duration and severity of the impacts of COVID-19, and among other things, the impact of governmental actions imposed in response to COVID-19
and individuals’ and companies’ risk tolerance regarding health matters going forward and developing strain mutations. To
date, COVID-19 has primarily caused Western delays in reporting, regulatory matters, and operations. Most notably, the Company initiated
a request for Temporary Cessation status for the Sunday Mine Complex in August 2020 as the mines had not been restarted within the 180-day
window due to the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Van 4 Mine reclamation process was delayed because of COVID-19
pandemic lockdowns. The need to observe quarantine periods also caused a limited loss of manpower and delay to the 2021 / 2022 Sunday
Mine Complex project. The COVID-19 pandemic has also limited Western’s participation in industry and investor conference events
during 2020 and 2021. The Company is continuing to monitor COVID-19and its subvariants, and the potential impact of the pandemic on the
Company’s operations.
43
Year Ended December 31, 2021 as Compared to the Year Ended December
31, 2020
The following table presents the Company’s financial results
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2021
2020
Revenue
Lease and royalty revenue
$ 272,142
$ 54,620
Expenses
Mining expenditures
717,657
393,182
Professional fees
365,302
299,908
General and administrative
1,172,585
1,136,049
Consulting fees
29,543
39,137
Total operating expenses
2,285,087
1,868,276
Operating loss
(2,012,945 )
(1,813,656 )
Accretion and interest
(16,960 )
13,338
Settlement expense
78,052
-
Warrant modification expense
-
639,012
Gain on forgiveness of debt
-
(73,116 )
Net loss
(2,074,037 )
(2,392,890 )
Other Comprehensive income (expense)
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
89,020
(110,860 )
Comprehensive Loss
(1,985,017 )
(2,503,750 )
Net loss per share - basic and diluted
$ (0.06 )
$ (0.08 )
Summary:
Our consolidated net loss for the years ended
December 31, 2021and 2020 was $2,074,037 and $2,392,890 or $0.06 and $0.08 per share, respectively. The principal components of these
year over year changes are discussed below.
Our comprehensive loss for the years ended December
31, 2021 and 2020 was $1,985,017 and $2,503,750, respectively.
Revenue
Our revenue for the years ended December 31,
2021 and 2020 was $272,142 and $54,620, respectively. This revenue resulted from lease revenue pursuant to a July 18, 2017 oil and gas
lease agreement, which was extended for an additional three years in 2020 at a 150% increased rate. The February 2, 2018 pipeline easement,
with the initial operator has terminated resulting in a decrease in this portion of revenue. The July 1, 2018 right-of-way agreement
with the new operator was consistent between periods. The aforementioned revenue streams are derived from the Weld County oil and gas
property. By August 2021, each of the eight (8) Blue Teal Fed wells had commenced oil and gas production. On January 31, 2022, the Company
received $207,552 as payment for royalties recognized during the period August 2021 through December 2021.
Mining Expenditures
Mining expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $717,657
as compared to $393,182 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in mining expenditures of $324,475, or 82.5% was principally
attributable to mining expenditures related to restarting mining operations at the Company’s Sunday Mine Complex during the third
quarter of 2021.
44
Professional Fees
Professional fees for the year ended December 31, 2021 were $365,302
as compared to $299,908 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in professional fees of $65,394, or 21.8% was due to a $61,197
increase in legal fees which was primarily attributable to the Form S-1 share registration process.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31,
2021 were $1,172,585 as compared to $1,136,049 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in general and administrative expense
of $36,536, or 3.2% is due to a $136,756 increase in in payroll expenses, and an increase of $36,760 in utilities expenses in connection
with the Sunday Mine Complex project offset by a decrease of $212,796 of stock-based compensation.
Consulting Fees
Consulting fees for the year ended December 31,
2021 were $29,543 as compared to $39,137 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease in consulting fees of $9,594, or 24.5% was
principally due to the Company’s reduced utilization of consultants during the current period.
Accretion and interest
Accretion and interest for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $(16,960)
as compared to $13,338 for the years ended December 31, 2020. The change of accretion and interest of $30,298 was due to the return of
the Hansen Picnic Tree Financial Warrantee with interest.
Warrant Modification Expense
Warrant modification expense for the year ended December 31, 2021
was $0 as compared to $639,012 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decrease in warrant modification expense relates to the Company’s
decision on April 20, 2020 to extend warrants issued to investors during various 2018 private placements and amend the trigger price in
the acceleration clause for each tranche of warrants, resulting in a warrant modification expense of $639,012 in 2020.
Gain on Forgiveness of Debt
Gain on forgiveness of debt for the year ended
December 31, 2021 was $0 as compared to $73,116 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The gain on forgiveness of debt relates to the
Company having its PPP Loan forgiven by the U.S. Small Business Association in December 2020.
Foreign Exchange
Foreign exchange gain (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2021 was
$89,020 as compared to $(110,860) for the year ended December 31, 2020. The change of the foreign exchange gain (loss) of $199,880 is
primarily due to a swing from a loss in 2020 to a gain in 2021 from holding cash balances in Canadian Dollars during a period when the
currency appreciated and the translation gain from using United States Dollars as the reporting currency.
45
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s cash balance as of December
31, 2021 was $880,821. The Company’s cash position is highly dependent on its ability to raise capital through the issuance of
debt and equity and its management of expenditures for mining development and for fulfillment of its public company reporting responsibilities.
Management believes that in order to finance the development of the mining properties and Kinetic Separation, the Company will be required
to raise additional capital by way of debt and/or equity. The Company could potentially require additional capital if the scope of the
Sunday Mine Complex expands. This outlook is based on the Company’s current financial position and is subject to change if opportunities
become available based on current exploration program results and/or external opportunities.
Net cash used in operating activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $6,154,665
for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared with $1,513,626 for the year ended December 31, 2020. Of the $6,154,665 in net cash
used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2021, $2,074,037 is derived from our net loss before non-cash adjustments.
Changes in our operating assets and liabilities for the period primarily include an increase of $4,085,723 in prepaid uranium concentrate
inventory, $269,606 in prepaid expenses and other current assets, an increase of $356,976 in accounts payable and accrued expenses, and
a decrease of $64,620 in deferred revenue.
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $65,000
for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared with $0 for the year ended December 31, 2020.This capital expenditure relates to purchasing
property and equipment for our mining operations.
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for
the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 were $6,309,143 and $73,116, respectively. The Company completed three private placements
during 2021 representing aggregate net proceeds of $4,304,279 and received $2,004,864 from the exercise of warrants during the year ended
December 31, 2021.
Reclamation Liability
The Company’s mines are subject to certain
asset retirement obligations, which the Company has recorded as reclamation liabilities. The reclamation liabilities of the United States
mines are subject to legal and regulatory requirements, and estimates of the costs of reclamation are reviewed periodically by the applicable
regulatory authorities. The reclamation liability represents the Company’s best estimate of the present value of future reclamation
costs in connection with the mineral properties. The Company determined the gross reclamation liabilities of the mineral properties as
of December 31, 2021 and 2020, to be approximately $740,446 and $906,811, respectively. On March 2, 2020, the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation
Board (“MLRB”) issued an order vacating the Van 4 Temporary Cessation, terminating mining operations and ordering commencement
of final reclamation. The Company has begun the reclamation of the Van 4 Mine. The reclamation cost is fully covered by the reclamation
bonds posted upon acquisition of the property. The Company adjusted the fair value of its reclamation obligation for the Van 4 Mine.
The portion of the reclamation liability related to the Van 4 Mine and its related restricted cash are included in current liabilities
and current assets, respectively, at a value of $75,057. The Company expects to begin incurring the reclamation liability after 2054
for all mines that are not in reclamation and accordingly, has discounted the gross liabilities over their remaining lives using a discount
rate of 5.4%. The net discounted aggregated values as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 were $271,620 and $309,940, respectively. The gross
reclamation liabilities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are secured by financial warranties in the amount of $740,446 and $906,811,
respectively.
During the first quarter of 2021, the Company
received notice that its Ferris Haggerty property was no longer considered to be subject to reclamation treatment. The Company recorded
a discontinuation of the Ferris Haggerty property’s present value of $2,669 during the first quarter 2021. On April 29, 2021, the
Company moved the Ferris Haggerty $10,000 restricted cash deposit into its cash after receiving payment from the state of Wyoming. During
the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company received notice that its Hansen Picnic Tree property was no longer considered to be subject to
reclamation treatment. The Company recorded a discontinuation of the Hansen Picnic Tree property’s present value of $44,793 during
the fourth quarter of 2021. On December 29, 2021, the Company moved the $154,936 restricted cash deposit into its cash after receiving
payment from the state of Colorado.
46
Oil and Gas Lease and Easement
The Company entered into an oil and gas lease
that became effective with respect to minerals and mineral rights owned by the Company of approximately 160 surface acres of the Company’s
property in Colorado. As consideration for entering into the lease, the lessee has agreed to pay the Company a royalty from the lessee’s
revenue attributed to oil and gas produced, saved, and sold attributable to the net mineral interest. The Company has also received cash
payments from the lessee related to the easement that the Company is recognizing incrementally over the eight year term of the easement.
On June 23, 2020, the same entity as discussed
above elected to extend the oil and gas lease easement for three additional years, commencing on the date the lease would have previously
expired. During 2021, the operator completed all well development stages and each of the eight (8) Blue Teal Fed wells commenced oil
and gas production by mid-August 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 the Company recognized
aggregate revenue of $272,142 and $54,620, respectively, under these oil and gas lease arrangements. On January 31, 2022, the Company
received $207,552 as payment for royalties recognized during the period August 2021 through December 2021.
Related Party Transactions
The Company has transacted with related parties
pursuant to service arrangements in the ordinary course of business, as follows:
Prior to the acquisition of Black Range, Mr. George Glasier, the Company’s
CEO, who is also a director of the Company (“Seller”), transferred his interest in a former joint venture with Ablation Technologies,
LLC to Black Range. In connection with the transfer, Black Range issued 25 million shares of Black Range common stock to Seller and committed
to pay AUD $500,000 (USD $362,794 as of December 31, 2021) to Seller within 60 days of the first commercial application of the Kinetic
Separation technology. Western assumed this contingent payment obligation in connection with the acquisition of Black Range. At the date
of the acquisition of Black Range, this contingent obligation was determined to be probable. Since the deferred contingent consideration
obligation is probable and the amount is estimable, the Company recorded the deferred contingent consideration as an assumed liability
in the amount of $362,794 and $392,086 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Going Concern
The Company has incurred continuing losses from its operations and as of
December 31, 2021, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $13,161,496 and working capital of $4,492,169.
Since inception, the Company has met its liquidity
requirements principally through the issuance of notes and the sale of its common shares. On February 16, 2021, the Company closed on
a non-brokered private placement of 3,250,000 units at a price of CAD $0.80 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private
placement amounted to CAD $2,600,000 (USD $1,950,509 in net proceeds). On March 1, 2021, the Company closed on a non-brokered private
placement of 3,125,000 units at a price of CAD $0.80 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted
to CAD $2,500,000 (USD $1,918,797 in net proceeds). On December 17, 2021, the Company closed on a non-brokered private placement of 372,966
units at a price of CAD $1.60 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted to CAD $596,746 (USD $434,973
in net proceeds). During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company received $2,004,864 in proceeds from the exercise of warrants.
The Company’s ability to continue its operations
and to pay its obligations when they become due is contingent upon the Company obtaining additional financing. Management’s plans
include seeking to procure additional funds through debt and equity financings, to secure regulatory approval to fully utilize its Kinetic
Separation and to initiate the processing of ore to generate operating cash flows.
There are no assurances that the Company will
be able to raise capital on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, or that cash flows generated from its operations will be sufficient
to meet its current operating costs and required debt service. If the Company is unable to obtain sufficient amounts of additional capital,
it may be required to reduce the scope of its planned product development, which could harm its financial condition and operating results,
or it may not be able to continue to fund its ongoing operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s
ability to continue as a going concern to sustain operations for at least one year from the issuance of the accompanying financial statements.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties.
47
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2021, there were no off-balance
sheet transactions. The Company has not entered into any specialized financial agreements to minimize its investment risk, currency risk
or commodity risk.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies
The preparation of these consolidated financial
statements requires management to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities
at the date of the consolidated financial statements and reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.
Significant assumptions about the future and
other sources of estimation uncertainty that management has made at the end of the reporting period, that could result in a material
adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities, in the event that actual results differ from assumptions made, include,
but are not limited to, the following: fair value of transactions involving common shares, assessment of the useful life and evaluation
for impairment of intangible assets, valuation and impairment assessments on mineral properties, deferred contingent consideration, the
reclamation liability, valuation of stock-based compensation, valuation of available-for-sale securities and valuation of long-term debt,
HST and asset retirement obligations. Other areas requiring estimates include allocations of expenditures, depletion and amortization
of mineral rights and properties.
ITEM
7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.
ITEM
8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
This information appears following Item 17 of
this report and is included herein by reference.
ITEM
9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM
9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this report,
our principal executive officer and principal financial officer evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)).
Based on their evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2021, to ensure that information required
to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (a) recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (b) accumulated and communicated to management, including
our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
48
Description of Material Weakness
Management has concluded that the Company’s
disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2021, due to the lack of segregation of duties and the failure
to report disclosures on a timely basis.
Remediation of Material Weakness
Management has developed a plan and related timeline
for the Company to design a set of control procedures and the related required documentation thereof in order to address this material
weakness. However, its implementation was delayed as a decline in commodity prices caused the Company to pursue aggressive cost cutting
and de-staffing which has increasingly concentrated duties on the remaining staff. Until the Company has the proper staff in place, it
likely will not be able to remediate its material weaknesses.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal
Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and
maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. 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 (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) 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 (iii) 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.
This annual report does not include an attestation
report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report
was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to a provision under the Dodd-Frank Wall
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that grants a permanent exemption for non-accelerated filers from complying with Section 404(b)
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial
Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control
over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange
Act that occurred during the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially
affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
None.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS
THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.
None.
49
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The following table sets forth information regarding the members of
our board of directors (the “Board”) and our executive officers.
Name
Age
Position(s)
George
Glasier
78
President,
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Robert
Klein
56
Chief
Financial Officer
Bryan
Murphy
53
Director, Chairman
Andrew
Wilder
51
Director
Executive Officers
George Glasier, J.D ., founded Western Uranium & Vanadium
Corp. and has served as a Director and as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2014. He has over thirty years’ experience
in the uranium industry in the United States, with extensive experience in sales and marketing; project development and permitting uranium
processing facilities. He is the founder of Energy Fuels Inc. (Volcanic Metals Exploration Inc.) and served as its Chief Executive Officer
and President from January 2006 to March 2010. He was responsible for assembling a first-class management team, acquiring a portfolio
of uranium projects, and leading the successful permitting process that culminated in the licensing of the Piñon Ridge uranium
mill; planned for construction in Western Montrose County, Colorado. He began his career in the uranium industry in the late 1970’s
with Energy Fuels Nuclear, which built and operated the White Mesa Mill near Blanding, Utah, becoming the largest uranium producer in
the United States.
Robert Klein has served as Chief Financial Officer of
Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp since 2016. He is in charge of accounting and finance, and is closely involved in capital markets
activities, corporate transactions, investor relations, public relations, and legal, and compliance. Formerly, Mr. Klein served as Vice
President Finance and had leading roles in reporting, corporate transactions, and Western’s public listings on the CSE and OTCQX.
Mr. Klein was formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Cross River Group and began his association with Western on an Operating Partner
basis after the formation of Western’s predecessor company, Pinon Ridge Mining, LLC. Previously, Mr. Klein was a Managing Director at
Analytical Research, an alternative investments research firm. He has a broad financial background derived from senior operating and investment
roles with asset managers and through Exeter Analytics, a consulting firm he founded. Mr. Klein was formerly the CFO of Five Points Capital,
a hedge fund spin-out from Soros Fund Management. After having begun his career in public accounting, Mr. Klein worked for Lehman Brothers,
an investment bank, and William E. Simon & Sons, a merchant bank and private investment firm. Rob earned the Chartered Financial Analyst
designation, received an M.B.A. from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and a B.S. in Accounting from
George Mason University.
Non-Employee Directors
Andrew Wilder serves as
a Director and the Chairman of the Audit Committee for Western Uranium & Vanadium Corporation, positions he has held since 2014. He
is the Founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Cross River Infrastructure Partners, a platform designed to accelerate global sustainability
through the development and construction of infrastructure projects deploying transformative industrial technologies. Areas of focus include
capturing and sequestering carbon emissions, generating green hydrogen and ammonia, generating clean power with advanced small modular
nuclear reactors, and upcycling biowaste into renewable natural gas and alternative protein. Mr. Wilder is also currently a Board Member
for Bedford 2030, a community-based climate action non-profit organization for the Township of Bedford, New York. In 2011, prior to launching
Cross River Infrastructure Partners, Mr. Wilder founded and managed the Cross River Group, an advisory business providing capital and
business development services to alternative asset managers and institutions. In 2001, Mr. Wilder co-founded and served as Chief Operating
and Chief Financial Officer for North Sound Capital LLC, an equity hedge fund manager with $3 billion peak assets under management. Mr.
Wilder’s prior career included serving as a Manager in the audit group of Deloitte. Mr. Wilder received the Chartered Accountant
(Canada) designation, holds the CFA designation, and received an MBA from the University of Toronto and a BA from the University of Western
Ontario.
50
Bryan Murphy has served as a
Director of Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. since 2018. He is the founder of Magellan Limited, an advisory firm focusing on providing
strategic, M&A, and financial advisory services and currently serves as CFO and Head of Finance for Biome Renewables Inc., an early
stage renewable energy innovation and industrial design company. Formerly, Mr. Murphy was Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Quest Partners,
a boutique investment bank that focuses on the provision of M&A, corporate finance, and business strategy services. In these capacities,
Mr. Murphy has developed extensive international experience and relationships advising high-growth businesses across North America, Europe,
and the Middle East. In the prior dozen years, Mr. Murphy held senior management roles at Canadian Tire Corporation overseeing divisions
and business lines. Additionally, Mr. Murphy was formerly a board member of Covenant House Toronto, one of Canada’s largest homeless
youth agencies. Bryan has an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration majoring in Finance and an MBA with Distinction from
the University of Western Ontario Richard Ivey School of Business. Bryan earned the ICD.D designation from the Rotman School of Management
at the University of Toronto and the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Involvement of Officers
and Directors in Certain Legal Proceedings
During the past ten years, none of the persons
serving as our executive officers and/or directors have been the subject of any of the following legal proceedings that are required to
be disclosed pursuant to Item 401(f) of Regulation S-K, including: (a) any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which
such person was a general partner or executive officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time; (b)
any criminal convictions or any criminal proceedings in which the person is a named subject (excluding traffic violations and other minor
offenses); (c) any order, judgment, or decree permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement
in any type of business, securities or banking activities; (d) any finding by a court, the SEC or the CFTC to have violated a federal
or state securities or commodities law, any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies, or any law or
regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud in connection with any business entity; or (e) any sanction or order of any self-regulatory
organization, any registered entity, or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or other organization that has disciplinary authority
over its members or persons associated with a member. Further, no such legal proceedings are believed to be contemplated by governmental
authorities against any director or executive officer.
Family Relationships
There are no family
relationships among our directors and executive officers.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a code
of ethics that applies to our officers, directors, employees and consultants. A copy of the code of ethics will be sent, free of charge,
to any person who sends a written request for a copy to Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp., 330 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5H 2S8.
Audit Committee
Western has established a separately designated
audit committee of the board of directors (the “Board”) consisting of Andrew Wilder, George Glasier, and Bryan Murphy. Our
audit committee is responsible for oversight of audits, corporate governance, board nominations, and executive compensation. The Board
has determined that one of its members, Andrew Wilder, who has previously served as Western’s Chief Financial Officer, qualifies
as an “audit committee financial expert”. We have also determined that Mr. Wilder and Mr. Murphy are independent directors as defined in
Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2).
51
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information regarding
compensation earned by our named executive officers:
Name and Principal Position
Year
Salary
($)
Bonus
($)
Stock
Awards
($)
Option
Awards ($)
All Other
Compensation
($)
TOTAL($)
George
Glasier (1)
2021
$ 220,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 220,000
President and Chief Executive Officer
2020
$ 220,000
$ -
$ -
$ 53,839
$ -
$ 273,839
Robert
Klein (2)
2021
$ 150,000
$ 50,000
$ -
$ -
$ -
$ 200,000
Chief Financial Officer
2020
$ 127,500
$ 22,500
$ -
$ 53,839
$ -
$ 203,869
(1)
On
January 6, 2020, Mr. Glasier was granted an option to purchase 125,000 of our common shares at an exercise price of CAD $1.03 per
share which expires five years from the date of issuance. This option vested in three installments: one-third on the date of grant,
one-third on January 31, 2020 and one-third on June 30, 2020.
(2)
On January
6, 2020, Mr. Klein was granted an option to purchase 125,000 of our common shares at an exercise price of CAD $1.03 per share which
expires five years from the date of issuance. This option vested in three installments: one-third on the date of grant, one-third
on January 31, 2020 and one-third on June 30, 2020.
Employment Agreements
George Glasier
On February 8, 2017, the Company entered into
an employment agreement with George Glasier, its Chief Executive Officer. The employment agreement automatically renews each year unless
either party provides a 90-day advance written notice of their desire to not renew the agreement. The employment agreement provides for
a base salary of $180,000 per year, the amount of which is subject to review by the board of directors at least annually. The agreement
also provides for a discretionary annual cash bonus to be determined by the Board. On May 30, 2019, the Board approved an addendum to
Mr. Glasier’s employment agreement, increasing his annual base salary from $180,000 to $220,000. In December 2021, the Board approved
an increase to Mr. Glasier’s base salary from $220,000 to $250,000. Pursuant to the employment agreement, if the Company terminates
the employment agreement without cause, or if a change of control occurs, the Company is required to pay to Mr. Glasier a lump sum payment
equal to two and one-half times his annual base salary.
Robert Klein
On November 12, 2020, the Company entered into a new employment agreement
with its Chief Financial Officer, Robert Klein. The agreement was effective as of October 1, 2020 and has an initial term that ends on
September 30, 2021. The agreement will automatically renew for successive annual terms unless either party provides a 90-day advance written
notice of their intention not to renew. The Agreement provides for a base salary of $150,000 per year, the amount of which is subject
to review by the board of directors at least annually. Under the agreement, Mr. Klein is eligible to receive bonuses after the end of
each calendar year or earlier in the discretion of the Board, and a bonus will also be considered upon the closing of a strategic transaction
by the Company. The agreement provides that Mr. Klein is eligible to participate generally in any employee benefit plan of the Company
or its affiliates and to receive annual stock option grants under the Company’s incentive stock option plan in amounts to be determined
and approved by the Board.
Outstanding Equity
Awards Table
The following table sets forth unexercised options,
unvested stock and equity incentive plan awards outstanding for our named executive officers as of December 31, 2021.
52
Outstanding Option Awards at Fiscal Year-End
for 2021
Name
Number of securities
underlying unexercised
options (#) exercisable
Number of securities
underlying unexercised
options (#) unexercisable
Option
exercise price
($CAD)
Option
expiration
date
George Glasier
50,000
-
$ 2.50
3/31/2022
200,000
-
$ 1.60
10/10/2022
125,000
-
$ 1.03
1/6/2025
Robert Klein
33,334
-
$ 2.50
3/31/2022
200,000
-
$ 1.60
10/10/2022
250,000
-
$ 2.15
9/24/2023
125,000
-
$ 1.03
1/6/2025
Outstanding Stock Awards at Fiscal Year-End for 2021
None.
Director Compensation
The following table sets forth a summary of the
compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021earned by each director who is not a named executive officer and who served on
the Board during the year.
Name
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
($)
Stock
Awards
($)
Option
Awards
($)
Total
($)
Andrew Wilder (1)
$ 19,147
$ -
$ -
$ 19,147
Bryan Murphy (2)
$ 47,868
$ -
$ -
$ 47,868
(1)
Mr. Wilder is paid a CAD
$2,000 monthly fee for his services as a Director. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company incurred $19,147 in director
fees for Mr. Wilder’s services.
(2)
Mr. Murphy is paid a CAD$5,000
monthly fee for his services as Chairman and Director. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company incurred $47,868 in director
fees for Mr. Murphy’s services.
ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth information with
respect to the beneficial ownership of our class of common shares as of April 13, 2022 by:
● each
person, or group of affiliated persons, known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of our
outstanding common shares;
● each
of our directors and executive officers; and
● all
of our directors and executive officers as a group.
The amounts and percentages of common shares
beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities.
The information relating to our 5% beneficial owners is based on information we received from such holders. Under the rules of the SEC,
a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the
power to vote or direct the voting of a security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition
of a security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial
ownership within 60 days. Securities that can be so acquired are deemed to be outstanding for purposes of computing such person’s
ownership percentage, but not for purposes of computing any other person’s percentage. Under these rules, more than one person
may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which
such person has no economic interest.
53
Except as otherwise set forth in the footnotes
to the table below, the address of persons listed below is c/o Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp., 330 Bay Street, Suite 1400, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada M5H 2S8. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, each of the beneficial owners listed has, to our knowledge, sole
voting and investment power with respect to the indicated common shares.
Name of Beneficial Owner
Number of
Common Shares
Percentage of
Outstanding
Common Shares (1)
5% or Greater Shareholders
George Glasier
5,269,203 (2)
12.1 %
Directors and Named Executive Officers
George Glasier
5,269,203 (2)
12.1 %
Andrew Wilder
726,662 (3)
1.7 %
Robert Klein
746,692 (4)
1.7 %
Bryan Murphy
670,834 (5)
1.5 %
All executive officers and directors as a group (4 persons)
7,413,391
16.3 %
(1)
Based on 42,921,644
common shares outstanding on April 13, 2022 and, with respect to each individual holder, rights to acquire our common shares exercisable
within 60 days of April 13, 2022.
(2)
Consists of 4,810,869 common
shares and 458,334 common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options held by Mr. Glasier.
(3)
Consists of 18,328 common
shares and 708,334 common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options held by Mr. Wilder.
(4)
Consists of 38,358 common shares and 708,334
common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options held by Mr. Klein.
(5)
Consists of 31,250 common shares and 31,250 common shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants
beneficially owned indirectly through Magellan Limited, and 608,334 common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options held by
Mr. Murphy.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The Company maintains an Incentive Stock
Option Plan (the “Plan”) that permits the granting of stock options as incentive compensation. Shareholders of the
Company approved the Plan on June 30, 2008 and amendments to the Plan on June 20, 2013, and the board of directors approved
additional changes to the Plan on September 12, 2015 and as of October 1, 2021. The Plan was amended on October 1, 2021 to allow for
the cashless exercise of stock options, among other things.
The purpose of the Plan is to attract, retain and motivate directors,
management, staff and consultants by providing them with the opportunity, through stock options, to acquire a proprietary interest in
the Company and benefit from its growth.
The Plan is to be administered by the Board in
accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, including the policies of any stock exchange, over-the-counter marketplace, or quotation/system
service upon which the Company’s securities are listed or traded. The Board is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Plan,
to adopt such rules and regulations as it deems consistent with the Plan’s provisions and, in its sole discretion, to designate options
to purchase shares of the Company pursuant to the Plan. The Board may delegate to a committee the authority to exercise any or all power
and authority of the Board under the Plan, including the authority with respect to option grants and/or exercises, all to the extent stipulated
by the Board when so delegated. The Board may authorize one or more individuals of the Company to execute, deliver and receive documents
on behalf of the Board.
At December 31, 2021, a total of 2,324,670 stock
options issued under the Plan were outstanding.
The Plan provides that the aggregate number
of common shares for which stock options may be granted will not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares at the time
stock options are granted. At December 31, 2021, a total of 39,073,122 common shares were outstanding, and at that date the maximum
number of stock options eligible for issue under the Plan was 3,907,312. A stock option exercise price shall not be less than the
most recent share issuance price. The maximum term is five years. There are no specific vesting provisions under the Plan. Options
are non-assignable and non-transferable.
The Plan provides that if an optionee’s employment
is terminated for any reason, or if the service of a director, senior executive or consultant of the Company who is an optionee is terminated,
any vested stock option of such optionee may be exercised during a period of ninety (90) days following the date of termination of such
employment or service, as the case may be. In the case of an optionee’s death, any vested stock option of such optionee at the time of
death may be exercised by his or her personal representative, heirs or legatees or their liquidator during a period of one year following
such optionee’s death.
54
The total number of common shares issuable to
any one person during a 12-month period may not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of common shares issued and outstanding.
Also, in any 12-month period, no options exercisable for more than 2% of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares may be awarded
to consultants. The Plan provides that where options are cancelled or lapse under the Plan, the associated common shares become available
again and new options may be granted in respect thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.
The Board may make any amendment to the Plan,
without shareholder approval, except an increase in the number of common shares reserved for issue under the Plan or a reduction of an
option exercise price. The terms of any existing option may not be altered, suspended or discontinued without the consent in writing
of the Optionee.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
As of December 31, 2021
Plan Category
Number of
securities to
be issued
upon
exercise
of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
Weighted-
average
exercise
price of
outstanding
options,
warrants
and rights
Number of
securities
remaining
available for
future
issuance
under equity
compensation
plans
(excluding
securities
reflected in
column (a))
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders
2,324,670
$ 1.35
1,582,642
Equity compensation plans not approved
by shareholders
-
n/a
-
Total
2,324,670
$ 1.35
1,582,642
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS
AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Transactions with Related Persons
Prior to the acquisition of Black Range, Mr.
George Glasier, the Company’s CEO, who is also a director (“Seller”), transferred his interest in a former joint venture
with Ablation Technologies, LLC to Black Range. In connection with the transfer, Black Range issued 25 million shares of Black Range
common stock to Seller and committed to pay AUD $500,000 (USD $362,794 as of December 31, 2021) to Seller within 60 days of the first
commercial application of the Kinetic Separation technology. Western assumed this contingent payment obligation in connection with the
acquisition of Black Range. At the date of the acquisition of Black Range, this contingent obligation was determined to be probable.
Since the deferred contingent consideration obligation is probable and the amount is estimable, the Company recorded the deferred contingent
consideration as an assumed liability in the amount of $362,794 and $392,086 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Director Independence
The board of directors facilitates its exercise
of independent supervision over management by ensuring representation on the Board by directors who are independent of management and
by promoting frequent interaction and feedback.
55
Directors are considered to be independent if
they have no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. A “material relationship” is a relationship which
could, in the view of the Board, be reasonably expected to interfere with the exercise of a director’s independent judgment.
The Company’s Board currently consists of three directors. Currently,
Andrew Wilder and Bryan Murphy are independent directors based upon the tests for independence set forth in National Instrument 52-110 Audit
Committees .
SEC rules require a separate determination of independence of the Company’s
directors based on the definition of independence of a U.S. national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system which has
requirements that a majority of the board of directors be independent. Because the Company’s common shares are not currently listed
on a national securities exchange, it currently uses the definition in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) for determining director independence.
Under that definition, Andrew Wilder and Bryan Murphy would be considered independent directors. Mr. Wilder and Mr. Murphy would also
be considered independent directors under Rule 5605(c)(2)’s provisions relating to audit committee composition.
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table sets forth the aggregate
fees billed by MNP LLP (“MNP”), our independent registered accounting firm for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and
December 31, 2020. These fees are categorized as audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees, and all other fees. The nature of the services
provided in each category is described in the table below.
2021
2020
Audit fees
$ 71,804
$ 75,069
Audit-related fees
15,158
-
Tax fees
12,446
22,319
All other fees
-
-
Total fees
$ 99,408
$ 97,388
Audit fees: Consist of fees billed for professional
services rendered for the audit of the consolidated financial statements and review of the quarterly interim consolidated financial statements.
These fees also include the review of registration statements and the delivery of consents in connection with registration statements.
Audit-related fees: In 2021, MNP billed
audit-related fees for preparation and review of an SEC Form S-1 filing and a comment letter. There were no fees billed by MNP for
professional services rendered for audit-related services for the years ended December 31, 2020.
Tax fees: Consists of fees incurred for the Company’s
U.S. and Canadian tax preparation fees and tax consulting fees.
All other fees: There were no fees billed by
MNP for professional services rendered for other compliance purposes for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
The Company’s board of directors has
established pre-approval policies and procedures, pursuant to which the Board approved the foregoing audit and tax services provided
by MNP in 2021 and 2020 consistent with the Board’s responsibility for engaging Western’s independent auditors. The
Board also considered whether the non-audit services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm are compatible
with an auditor maintaining independence. The Board has determined that the rendering of such services is compatible with MNP
maintaining its independence.
56
PART IV – OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Documents Filed as Part of This Report.
(a) The following financial
statements are being filed as part of this Annual Report.
Consolidated Financial Statements
of Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. and Subsidiaries
Page No.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 1930)
F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020
F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations
and Other Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 2020
F-4
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December
31, 2021 and December 2020
F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021 and
December 2020
F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-7
(b) The following exhibits
are being provided as required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
Exhibit No.
Description
2.1 (1)
Share
Exchange Agreement between Pinon Ridge Mining LLC, Homeland Uranium Inc., Homeland Uranium (Utah), et al., dated November 6, 2014.
2.2 (1)
Merger
Implementation Agreement between Black Range Minerals Limited and Western Uranium Corporation, dated March 20, 2015.
2.3 (1)
Credit
Facility between Western Uranium Corporation and Black Range Minerals Limited, dated March 20, 2015.
2.4 (2)
Termination
and Liquidation Agreement between Ablation Technologies LLC, Black Range Minerals Ablation Holdings Inc. and Mineral Ablation, LLC
dated March 17, 2015
3.1 (1)
Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended.
3.2 (1)
Amended
and Restated By-laws.
4.1*
Description of Capital Stock
10.1 (3)
Call
Option Agreement
10.2 (2)
Technology
License Agreement between Ablation Technologies LLC and Black Range Mineral Ablation Holdings Inc. dated as of March 17, 2015
10.3*
Incentive Stock Option Plan (Rolling 10%), as amended
10.4 (4)
Employment
Agreement between George Glasier and Western Uranium & Vanadium Corporation dated February 8, 2017
10.5 (4)
Employment
Agreement between Robert Klein and Western Uranium & Vanadium Corporation dated May 12, 2017
57
10.6 (5)
Employment
Agreement between Robert Klein and Western Uranium & Vanadium Corporation dated November 13, 2017
10.7 (6)
Addendum
to Employment Agreement between George Glasier and Western Uranium & Vanadium Corporation dated May 30, 2019
10.8 (7)
Employment
Agreement, dated November 12, 2020, by and between Robert Klein and Western Uranium and Vanadium Corp.
21.1 (1)
List
of Subsidiaries
31.1*
Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
31.2*
Rule
13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer
32.1*
Section
1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
95*
Mine Safety Disclosure Exhibit
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document.*
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.*
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.*
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.*
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.*
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.*
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).*
+
Schedules and exhibits
omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish a copy of the omitted schedules and exhibits
to the SEC upon request.
*
Filed herewith
(1)
Previously filed as an
exhibit to the Company’s Form 10 filed on April 29, 2016
(2)
Previously filed as an
exhibit with Amendment No. 2 to the Company’s Form 10 filed on July 22, 2016
(3)
Previously filed as an
exhibit with Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s Form 10 filed on June 22, 2016
(4)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 15, 2017
(5)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on April 2, 2018
(6)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2019
(7)
Previously filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on November 16, 2020
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
None
58
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM
CORP.
Date: April 15, 2022
By:
/s/ George
Glasier
George Glasier
Chief Executive Officer and President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.
Dated: April 15, 2022
By:
/s/
George Glasier
George Glasier
Chief Executive Officer, President and
Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Dated: April 15, 2022
By:
/s/ Robert
Klein
Robert Klein
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Dated: April 15, 2022
By:
/s/ Bryan
Murphy
Bryan Murphy
Director
Dated: April 15, 2022
By:
/s/ Andrew
Wilder
Andrew Wilder
Director
59
Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. and Subsidiaries
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page No.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 1930 ) F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-7
F- 1
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Western Uranium & Vanadium
Corp.
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated
balance sheets of Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated
statements of operations and other comprehensive loss, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended,
and the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the
results of its consolidated operations and its consolidated cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.
Material Uncertainty Related to Going Concern
The accompanying consolidated financial statements
have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements,
the Company has incurred continuing losses and negative cash flows from operations and is dependent upon future sources of equity or debt
financing in order to fund its operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a
going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2. The consolidated financial statements
do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and
the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the
standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated
financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we
engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding
of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess
the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures
that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the
consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide
a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Chartered Professional Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.
Mississauga, Canada
April 15, 2022
F- 2
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Stated in USD)
As of December 31,
2021
2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash
$ 880,821
$ 565,250
Restricted cash, current portion
75,057
75,057
Prepaid uranium concentrate inventory
4,085,723
-
Prepaid expenses
153,701
136,883
Marketable securities
2,120
2,405
Other current assets
264,039
11,251
Total current assets
5,461,461
790,846
Restricted cash, net of current portion
665,389
831,754
Mineral properties and equipment, net
11,780,142
11,735,522
Kinetic separation intellectual property
9,488,051
9,488,051
Total assets
$ 27,395,043
$ 22,846,173
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$ 699,593
$ 488,794
Reclamation liability, current portion
75,057
75,057
Subscription payable
146,177
-
Deferred revenue, current portion
48,465
64,620
Total current liabilities
969,292
628,471
Reclamation liability, net of current portion
196,563
234,883
Deferred tax liability
2,708,887
2,708,887
Deferred contingent consideration
362,794
392,086
Deferred revenue, net of current portion
60,015
108,480
Total liabilities
4,297,551
4,072,807
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 7)
Shareholders’ Equity
Common shares, no par value, unlimited authorized shares, 39,073,428 and 30,084,053 shares issued as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and 39,073,122 and 30,083,747 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively
36,195,510
29,886,367
Treasury shares, 306 shares held in treasury as of December 31, 2021 and 2020
-
-
Accumulated deficit
( 13,161,496 )
( 11,087,459 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
63,478
( 25,542 )
Total shareholders’ equity
23,097,492
18,773,366
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$ 27,395,043
$ 22,846,173
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 3
WESTERN URANIUM
& VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(Stated in USD)
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2021
2020
Revenues
Lease and royalty revenue
$ 272,142
$ 54,620
Expenses
Mining expenditures
717,657
393,182
Professional fees
365,302
299,908
General and administrative
1,172,585
1,136,049
Consulting fees
29,543
39,137
Total operating expenses
2,285,087
1,868,276
Operating loss
( 2,012,945 )
( 1,813,656 )
Accretion and interest
( 16,960 )
13,338
Settlement expense
78,052
-
Warrant modification expense
-
639,012
Gain on forgiveness of debt
-
( 73,116 )
Net loss
( 2,074,037 )
( 2,392,890 )
Other comprehensive income (expense)
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
89,020
( 110,860 )
Comprehensive loss
$ ( 1,985,017 )
$ ( 2,503,750 )
Net loss per share - basic and diluted
$ ( 0.06 )
$ ( 0.08 )
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted
36,838,441
30,083,747
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 4
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM
CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’
EQUITY
(Stated in USD)
Accumulated
Other
Common Shares
Treasury Shares
Accumulated
Comprehensive
Shares
Amount
Shares
Amount
Deficit
Income (Loss)
Total
Balance as of January 1, 2020
30,083,747
$ 29,042,547
306
$ -
$ ( 8,694,569 )
$ 85,318
$ 20,433,296
Stock based compensation - stock options
-
204,808
-
-
-
-
204,808
Warrant modification expense
-
639,012
-
-
-
-
639,012
Foreign exchange loss
-
-
-
-
-
( 110,860 )
( 110,860 )
Net loss
-
-
-
-
( 2,392,890 )
-
( 2,392,890 )
Balance as of December 31, 2020
30,083,747
$ 29,886,367
306
$ -
$ ( 11,087,459 )
$ ( 25,542 )
$ 18,773,366
Private placement - February 16, 2021, net of offering costs
3,250,000
1,950,509
-
-
-
-
1,950,509
Private placement - March 1, 2021, net of offering costs
3,125,000
1,918,797
-
-
-
-
1,918,797
Private placement - December 17, 2021, net of offering costs
372,966
434,973
-
-
-
-
434,973
Proceeds from the exercise of warrants
2,066,693
2,004,864
-
-
-
-
2,004,864
Cashless exercise of stock options
174,716
-
-
-
-
-
-
Foreign exchange gain
-
-
-
-
-
89,020
89,020
Net loss
-
-
-
-
( 2,074,037 )
-
( 2,074,037 )
Balance as of December 31, 2021
39,073,122
$ 36,195,510
306
$ -
$ ( 13,161,496 )
$ 63,478
$ 23,097,492
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 5
WESTERN URANIUM & VANADIUM
CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Stated in USD)
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2021
2020
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net loss
$ ( 2,074,037 )
$ ( 2,392,890 )
Reconciliation of net loss to cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation
20,380
10,628
Accretion of reclamation liability
9,142
15,712
Gain on forgiveness of debt
-
( 73,116 )
Stock based compensation
-
204,808
Warrant modification expense
-
639,012
Change in marketable securities
285
354
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid uranium concentrate inventory
( 4,085,723 )
-
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
( 269,606 )
67,029
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
356,976
( 110,543 )
Reclamation liabilities
( 47,462 )
-
Deferred revenue
( 64,620 )
125,380
Net cash used in operating activities
( 6,154,665 )
( 1,513,626 )
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Purchase of property and equipment
( 65,000 )
-
Net cash used in investing activities
( 65,000 )
-
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Proceeds from notes payable
-
73,116
Proceeds from warrant exercises
2,004,864
-
Issuances of Common shares, net of offering costs
4,304,279
-
Net cash provided by financing activities
6,309,143
73,116
Effect of foreign exchange rate on cash
59,728
( 69,873 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and restricted cash
149,206
( 1,510,383 )
Cash and restricted cash - beginning
1,472,061
2,982,444
Cash and restricted cash - ending
$ 1,621,267
$ 1,472,061
Cash
$ 880,821
$ 565,250
Restricted cash, current portion
75,057
75,057
Restricted cash, noncurrent
665,389
831,754
Total
$ 1,621,267
$ 1,472,061
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest
$ -
$ -
Income taxes
$ -
$ -
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F- 6
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE
1 – BUSINESS
Nature
of operations
Western
Uranium & Vanadium Corp. (“Western” or the “Company”) was incorporated in December 2006 under the Ontario
Business Corporations Act. On November 20, 2014, the Company completed a listing process on the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”).
As part of that process, the Company acquired 100 % of the members’ interests of Pinon Ridge Mining LLC (“PRM”), a Delaware
limited liability company. The transaction constituted a reverse takeover (“RTO”) of Western by PRM. Subsequent to obtaining
appropriate shareholder approvals, the Company reconstituted its Board of Directors and senior management team. Effective September 16,
2015, Western completed its acquisition of Black Range Minerals Limited (“Black Range”).
The
Company’s registered office is located at 330 Bay Street, Suite 1400, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 2S8, and its common shares
are listed on the CSE under the symbol “WUC.” On April 22, 2016, the Company’s common shares began trading on the OTC
Pink Open Market, and on May 23, 2016, the Company’s common shares were approved for trading on the OTCQX Best Market. The Company’s
principal business activity is the acquisition and development of uranium and vanadium resource properties in the states of Utah and
Colorado in the United States of America (“United States”).
On
June 28, 2016, the Company’s registration statement became effective and Western became a United States reporting issuer. Thereafter,
the Company was approved for Depository Trust Company eligibility through the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, which facilitates
electronic book-entry delivery, settlement, and depository services for shares in the United States.
Note
2 – Liquidity and going concern
The Company has incurred continuing losses from
its operations and negative operating cash flows from operations. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had an accumulated deficit
of $ 13,161,496 and working capital of $ 4,492,169 .
Since inception, the Company has met its liquidity
requirements principally through the issuance of notes and the sale of its common shares. On February 16, 2021, the Company closed a non-brokered
private placement of 3,250,000 units at a price of CAD $ 0.80 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted
to CAD $ 2,600,000 (USD $ 1,950,509 in net proceeds). On March 1, 2021, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of 3,125,000
units at a price of CAD $ 0.80 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted to CAD $ 2,500,000 (USD $ 1,918,797
in net proceeds). On December 17, 2021, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of 372,966 units at a price of CAD $ 1.60 per
unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted to CAD $ 596,746 (USD $ 434,973 in net proceeds). During the
year ended December 31, 2021, the Company received $ 2,004,864 in proceeds from the exercise of warrants.
The
Company’s ability to continue its planned operations and to pay its obligations when they become due is contingent upon the
Company obtaining additional financing. Management’s plans include seeking to procure additional funds through debt and equity
financing, to secure regulatory approval to fully utilize its kinetic separation (“Kinetic Separation”) technology, and
to initiate the processing of ore to generate operating cash flows.
There
are no assurances that the Company will be able to raise capital on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, or that cash flows generated
from its operations will be sufficient to meet its current operating costs. If the Company is unable to obtain sufficient amounts of
additional capital, it may be required to reduce the scope of its planned product development, which could harm its financial condition
and operating results, or it may not be able to continue to fund its ongoing operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about
the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern to sustain operations for at least one year from the issuance of these consolidated
financial statements. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome
of these uncertainties.
F- 7
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE
3 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis
of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
These
consolidated financial statements are presented in United States dollars and have been prepared in accordance with United States Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”).
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Western and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Western Uranium Corp.
(Utah), PRM, Black Range, Black Range Copper Inc., Ranger Resources Inc., Black Range Minerals Inc., Black Range Minerals Colorado LLC,
Black Range Minerals Wyoming LLC, Haggerty Resources LLC, Ranger Alaska LLC, Black Range Minerals Utah LLC, Black Range Minerals Ablation
Holdings Inc., and Black Range Development Utah LLC. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
The
Company has established the existence of mineralized materials for certain uranium projects. The Company has not established proven or
probable reserves, as defined by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), through the completion
of a “final” or “bankable” feasibility study for any of its uranium projects.
Exploration Stage and Mineral Properties
In
accordance with U.S. GAAP, expenditures relating to the acquisition of mineral rights are initially capitalized as incurred while exploration
and pre-extraction expenditures are expensed as incurred until such time the Company exits the exploration stage by establishing proven
or probable reserves. Expenditures relating to exploration activities, such as drill programs to search for additional mineralized materials,
are expensed as incurred. Expenditures relating to pre-extraction activities, such as the construction of mine wellfields, ion exchange
facilities, disposal wells, and mine development, are expensed as incurred until such time proven or probable reserves are established
for that uranium project, after which subsequent expenditures relating to development activities for that particular project are capitalized
as incurred. Expenditures relating to mining and ore production while the Company is in the exploration stage and while the ore is stockpiled
underground are expensed as incurred.
Production
stage issuers, as defined in subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K, having engaged in material extraction of established mineral reserves on
at least one material property, typically capitalize expenditures relating to ongoing development activities, with corresponding depletion
calculated over proven and probable reserves using the units-of-production method and allocated to future reporting periods to inventory
and, as that inventory is sold, to cost of goods sold. The Company is an exploration stage issuer, which has resulted in the Company
reporting larger losses than if it had been in the production stage due to the expensing, instead of capitalizing, of expenditures relating
to ongoing mine development and extraction activities. Additionally, there would be no corresponding amortization allocated to future
reporting periods of the Company since those costs would have been expensed previously, resulting in both lower inventory costs and cost
of goods sold and results of operations with higher gross profits and lower losses than if the Company had been in the production stage.
Any capitalized costs, such as expenditures relating to the acquisition of mineral rights, are depleted over the estimated extraction
life using the straight-line method. As a result, the Company’s consolidated financial statements may not be directly comparable
to the financial statements of companies in the production stage.
F- 8
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
Note
3 – SUMMARY OF Significant Accounting Policies (CONTINUED )
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the
periods reported. By their nature, these estimates are subject to measurement uncertainty, and the effects on the consolidated financial
statements of changes in such estimates in future periods could be significant. Significant areas requiring management’s estimates
and assumptions include the determination of the fair value of transactions involving common shares, assessment of the useful life and
evaluation for impairment of Kinetic Separation intellectual property, valuation and impairment assessments of mineral properties and
equipment, valuation of deferred contingent consideration, valuation of the reclamation liability, valuation of stock-based compensation,
and valuation of available-for-sale securities. Other areas requiring estimates include allocations of expenditures, depletion, and amortization
of mineral rights and properties. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Foreign
Currency Translation
The reporting currency of the Company, including
its subsidiaries, is the United States dollar. The financial statements of subsidiaries located outside of the U.S. are measured in their
functional currency, which is the local currency. The functional currency of the parent (Western Uranium & Vanadium Corp. (Ontario))
is the Canadian dollar. Monetary assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated at the exchange rates at the balance sheet
date. Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are recorded based on the exchange rates at the time of
the transaction. Income and expense items are translated using average monthly exchange rates. Non-monetary assets are translated at their
historical exchange rates. Translation adjustments are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” in the
consolidated balance sheets.
Segment
Information
The Company determines its reporting units in
accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 280,
Segment Reporting . The Company evaluates a reporting unit by first identifying its operating segments under ASC 280. The Company
then evaluates each operating segment to determine if it includes one or more components that constitute a business. If there are components
within an operating segment that meet the definition of a business, the Company evaluates those components to determine if they must be
aggregated into one or more reporting units. If applicable, when determining if it is appropriate to aggregate different operating segments,
the Company determines if the segments are economically similar and, if so, the operating segments are aggregated. The Company has one
operating segment and reporting unit. The Company operates in one reportable business segment; the Company is in the business of exploring,
developing, mining, and the production of its uranium and vanadium resource properties, including the utilization of the Company’s
Kinetic Separation technology in its mining processes. The Company is organized and operated as one business. Management reviews its business
as a single operating segment, using financial and other information rendered meaningful only by the fact that such information is presented
and reviewed in the aggregate.
Cash
The
Company considers all highly-liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less at the time of issuance to be cash
equivalents. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no cash equivalents.
Marketable
Securities
The
Company classifies its marketable securities as available-for-sale securities, which are carried at their fair value based on the quoted
market prices of the securities with unrealized gains and losses reported as accumulated comprehensive income (loss), a separate component
of shareholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are included in net earnings in the period
earned or incurred.
Restricted
Cash
Certain
cash balances are restricted as they relate to deposits with banks that have been assigned to state reclamation authorities in the United
States to secure various reclamation guarantees with respect to mineral properties in Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. As these funds are
not available for general corporate purposes and secure the long term reclamation liability (see Note 4), they have been separately disclosed
and classified as long-term for the majority of the Company’s mines. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company has determined
that the Van 4 Mine is now considered to be in reclamation. The Company recognized the Van 4 Mine’s reclamation liability and its
restricted cash in full on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as current.
F- 9
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE 3 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED )
Property and equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.
Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method, based upon the following estimated useful lives:
Equipment
5 years
Computer and related equipment
3 years
Software
7 years
Vehicles
5 years
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020,
the Company recorded depreciation expense of $ 20,380 and $ 10,628 , respectively.
Revenue
Recognition
The Company leases certain of its mineral properties
for the exploration and production of oil and gas reserves. The Company accounts for lease revenue in accordance with the FASB ASC 842,
Leases . Lease payments received in advance are deferred and recognized on a straight-line basis over the related lease term associated
with the prepayment. Royalty payments are recognized as revenues based upon production.
Fair
Values of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of cash, restricted cash,
accounts payable, subscription payable, contingent consideration and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to the short-term
nature of these instruments. Marketable securities are adjusted to fair value at each balance sheet date based on quoted prices which
are considered level 1 inputs. The Company’s operating and financing activities are conducted primarily in United States dollars,
and as a result, the Company is not subject to significant exposure to market risks from changes in foreign currency rates. The Company
is exposed to credit risk through its cash and restricted cash but mitigates this risk by keeping these deposits at major financial institutions.
The FASB ASC
820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures , provides the framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair
value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest
priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest
priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements).
Fair
value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received upon the sale of an asset or payment to transfer a
liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on
assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. A three-tier fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize
the inputs in measuring fair value as follows:
Level
1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level
2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in
markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level
3 - Significant unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by market data and inputs that are derived principally from or
corroborated by observable market data or correlation by other means.
F- 10
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
Note
3 – SUMMARY OF Significant Accounting Policies (continued )
Fair
Values of Financial Instruments (continued)
The
fair value of the Company’s financial instruments are as follows:
Quoted
Prices in
Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets or
Liabilities
(Level 1)
Quoted Prices for Similar
Assets or Liabilities in
Active Markets
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Marketable securities as of December 31, 2021
$ 2,120
$ -
$ -
Marketable securities as of December 31, 2020
$ 2,405
$ -
$ -
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews and evaluates its
long-lived assets and Kinetic Separation technology for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related
carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Impairment is considered to exist if the total estimated future cash flows on an
undiscounted basis are less than the carrying amount of the assets. An impairment loss is measured and recorded based on discounted
estimated future cash flows or upon an estimate of fair value that may be received in an exchange transaction. Future cash flows are
estimated based on estimated quantities of recoverable minerals, expected uranium prices (considering current and historical prices,
trends, and related factors), production levels, operating costs of production, and capital, restoration and reclamation costs,
based upon the projected remaining future uranium production from each project. The Company’s long-lived assets (which include
its mineral assets and Kinetic Separation intellectual property) were acquired during the end of 2014 and in 2015 in arms-length
transactions. As of December 31, 2021, the Company evaluated the total estimated future cash flows on an undiscounted basis for its
mineral properties and Kinetic Separation intellectual property and determined that no impairment was deemed to exist. Estimates and
assumptions used to assess recoverability of the Company’s long-lived assets and to measure fair value of our uranium
properties are subject to risk uncertainty. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could result in the impairment of the
Company’s long-lived assets. In estimating future cash flows, assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are
identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of future cash flows from other asset groups.
Income
Taxes
The
Company utilizes an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. The provision for income taxes
is based upon income or loss after adjustment for those permanent items that are not considered in the determination of taxable income.
Deferred income taxes represent the tax effects of differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of the Company’s assets
and liabilities at the enacted tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse.
The Company evaluates the recoverability of deferred
tax assets and establishes a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will
not be realized. Management makes judgments as to the interpretation of the tax laws that might be challenged in an audit and cause changes
to previous estimates of tax liability. In management’s opinion, adequate provisions for income taxes have been made. If actual
taxable income by tax jurisdiction varies from estimates, additional allowances or reversals of reserves may be necessary.
Tax benefits are recognized only for tax positions
that are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount
of benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon settlement. A liability for unrecognized tax benefits is recorded
for any tax benefits claimed in the Company’s tax returns that do not meet these recognition and measurement standards. As of December
31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, no liability for unrecognized tax benefits was required to be reported.
The
Company’s policy for recording interest and penalties associated with tax audits is to record such items as a component of general
and administrative expense. There were no amounts accrued for penalties and interest for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
The Company does not expect its uncertain tax position to change during the next twelve months. Management is currently unaware of any
issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals, or material deviations from its position.
The Company has identified its federal Canadian
and United States tax jurisdictions and its state tax jurisdictions in Colorado and Utah as its “major” tax jurisdictions,
and such returns for the years 2017 through 2021 remain subject to examination.
F- 11
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
Note
3 – SUMMARY OF Significant Accounting Policies (continued )
Restoration
and Remediation Costs (Asset Retirement Obligations)
Various
federal and state mining laws and regulations require the Company to reclaim the surface areas and restore underground water quality
for its mine projects to the pre-existing mine area average quality after the completion of mining.
Future
reclamation and remediation costs, which include extraction equipment removal and environmental remediation, are accrued at the end of
each period based on management’s best estimate of the costs expected to be incurred for each project. Such estimates are determined
by the Company’s engineering studies which consider the costs of future surface and groundwater activities, current regulations,
actual expenses incurred, and technology and industry standards.
In accordance with the FASB ASC 410, Asset
Retirement and Environmental Obligations , the Company capitalizes the measured fair value of asset retirement obligations to mineral
properties. The asset retirement obligations are accreted to an undiscounted value until the time at which they are expected to be settled.
The accretion expense is charged to earnings and the actual retirement costs are recorded against the asset retirement obligations when
incurred. Any difference between the recorded asset retirement obligations and the actual retirement costs incurred will be recorded as
a gain or loss in the period of settlement.
At
each reporting period, the Company reviews the assumptions used to estimate the expected cash flows required to settle the asset retirement
obligations, including changes in estimated probabilities, amounts and timing of the settlement of the asset retirement obligations,
as well as changes in the legal obligation requirements at each of its mineral properties. Changes in any one or more of these assumptions
may cause revision of asset retirement obligations for the corresponding assets.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The Company follows the FASB ASC 718, Compensation
- Stock Compensation , which addresses the accounting for stock-based payment transactions, requiring such transactions to be accounted
for using the fair value method. Awards of shares for property or services are recorded at the fair value of the stock or the fair value
of the service, whichever is more readily measureable. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the grant
date fair value of stock-based awards under ASC 718. The fair value is charged to earnings depending on the terms and conditions of the
award, and the nature of the relationship of the recipient of the award to the Company. The Company records the grant date fair value
in line with the period over which it was earned. For employees and consultants, this is typically considered to be the vesting period
of the award. The Company estimates the expected forfeitures and updates the valuation accordingly.
Warrant Modification Expense
In accordance with ASC 718, a modification of the terms or conditions
of an equity award shall be treated as an exchange of the original award for a new award. The incremental cost is measured as the excess
of the fair value of the modified award determined in accordance with ASC 718 over the fair value of the original award immediately before
its terms are modified, measured based on the share price and other pertinent factors. The resulting difference is recorded as a warrant
modification expense.
F- 12
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
Note
3 – SUMMARY OF Significant Accounting Policies (continued )
Loss
per Share
Basic
net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted
earnings per share are computed using the weighted average number of common shares and, if dilutive, potential common shares outstanding
during the period. Potential common shares consist of the incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants
(using the treasury stock method). The computation of diluted net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 excludes
potentially dilutive securities. The computations of net loss per share for each year presented is the same for both basic and fully
diluted.
Potentially
dilutive securities outlined in the table below have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share because the effect
of their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.
For
the Years
Ended December 31,
2021
2020
Warrants
to purchase common shares
9,735,948
8,533,582
Options
to purchase common shares
2,324,670
2,808,000
Total
potentially dilutive securities
12,060,618
11,341,582
Recent
Accounting Standards
Management
does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective accounting standards, when adopted, will have a material effect on the
accompanying consolidated financial statements. The Company has adopted the recent accounting standards that are disclosed below.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13,
Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. ASU 2016-13 replaces
the incurred loss model with an expected loss model, which is referred to as the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model.
The CECL model is applicable to the measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loan receivables,
held-to-maturity debt securities, and reinsurance receivables. It also applies to off-balance sheet credit exposures not accounted for
as insurance (such as loan commitments, standby letters of credit, financial guarantees, and other similar instruments) and net investments
in leases recognized by a lessor. For public business entities that meet the definition of an SEC filer, the standard was effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods in those fiscal years. For debt securities with other-than-temporary
impairment, the guidance will be applied prospectively. Existing purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) assets will be grandfathered
and classified as purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”) assets at the date of adoption. The asset will be grossed up for the
allowance for expected credit losses for all PCD assets at the date of adoption and will continue to recognize the non-credit discount
in interest income based on the yield of such assets as of the adoption date. Subsequent changes in expected credit losses will be recorded
through the allowance. For all other assets within the scope of CECL, a cumulative-effect adjustment will be recognized in retained earnings
as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The standard became effective for the Company beginning
January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial
condition, cash flows, and financial statement disclosure.
In
December 2019, FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes . ASU 2019-12
eliminated certain exceptions and changed guidance on other matters. The exceptions relate to the allocation of income taxes in separate
company financial statements, tax accounting for equity method investments, and accounting for income taxes when the interim period year-to-date
loss exceeds the anticipated full year loss. Changes relate to the accounting for franchise taxes that are income-based and non-income-based,
determining if a step-up in tax basis is part of a business combination or if it is a separate transaction, when enacted tax law changes
should be included in the annual effective tax rate computation, and the allocation of taxes in separate company financial statements
to a legal entity that is not subject to income tax. The new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those
fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this standard, and it did not result
in a material impact on its results of operations, financial position, cash flows, and related disclosures.
F- 13
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE
4 - MINERAL ASSETS equipment, Kinetic separation INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AND OTHER PROPERTY
The
Company’s mining properties acquired on August 18, 2014 that the Company retains as of December 31, 2021 include: The San Rafael
Uranium Project located in Emery County, Utah; The Sunday Mine Complex located in western San Miguel County, Colorado; The Van 4 Mine
located in western Montrose County, Colorado; The Sage Mine located in San Juan County, Utah, and San Miguel County, Colorado. These
mining properties include leased land in the states of Colorado and Utah. None of these mining properties were operational at the date
of acquisition.
The
Company’s mining properties acquired on September 16, 2015 that the Company retains as of December 31, 2021 include Hansen, North
Hansen and Hansen Picnic Tree located in Fremont and Teller Counties, Colorado. The Company also acquired the Keota project located in
Weld County, Colorado and the Ferris Haggerty project located in Carbon County Wyoming. These mining assets include both owned and leased
land in the states of Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. All of the mining assets represent properties which have previously been mined, to
different degrees, for uranium.
As
the Company has not formally established proven or probable reserves on any of its properties, there is inherent uncertainty as to whether
or not any mineralized material can be economically extracted as originally planned and anticipated.
The
Company’s mineral properties and equipment and kinetic separation intellectual property are:
As
of December 31,
2021
2020
Mineral
properties and equipment
$ 11,780,142
$ 11,735,522
Kinetic
separation intellectual property
$ 9,488,051
$ 9,488,051
Oil
and Gas Lease and Easement
The
Company entered into an oil and gas lease that became effective with respect to minerals and mineral rights owned by the Company of approximately
160 surface acres of the Company’s property in Colorado. As consideration for entering into the lease, the lessee has agreed to
pay the Company a royalty from the lessee’s revenue attributed to oil and gas produced, saved, and sold attributable to the net
mineral interest. The Company has also received cash payments from the lessee related to the easement that the Company is recognizing
incrementally over the eight year term of the easement.
On June 23, 2020, the same entity, as discussed
above, elected to extend the oil and gas lease easement for three additional years , commencing on the date the lease would have previously
expired. During 2021, the operator completed all well development stages, and each of the eight (8) Blue Teal Fed wells commenced oil
and gas production by mid-August 2021.
During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020
the Company recognized aggregate revenue of $ 272,142 and $ 54,620 , respectively, under these oil and gas lease arrangements (See Note 14).
F- 14
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE
4 - MINERAL ASSETS equipment, Kinetic separation INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AND OTHER PROPERTY (CONTINUED )
Reclamation
Liabilities
The
Company’s mines are subject to certain asset retirement obligations, which the Company has recorded as reclamation liabilities.
The reclamation liabilities of the United States mines are subject to legal and regulatory requirements, and estimates of the costs of
reclamation are reviewed periodically by the applicable regulatory authorities. The reclamation liability represents the Company’s
best estimate of the present value of future reclamation costs in connection with the mineral properties. The Company determined the
gross reclamation liabilities of the mineral properties as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, to be approximately $ 740,446 and $ 906,811 ,
respectively. On March 2, 2020, the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board (“MLRB”) issued an order vacating the Van 4 Temporary
Cessation, terminating mining operations and ordering commencement of final reclamation. The Company has begun the reclamation of the
Van 4 Mine. The reclamation cost is fully covered by the reclamation bonds posted upon acquisition of the property. The Company adjusted
the fair value of its reclamation obligation for the Van 4 Mine. The portion of the reclamation liability related to the Van 4 Mine and
its related restricted cash are included in current liabilities and current assets, respectively, at a value of $ 75,057 . The Company
expects to begin incurring the reclamation liability after 2054 for all mines that are not in reclamation and accordingly, has discounted
the gross liabilities over their remaining lives using a discount rate of 5.4%. The net discounted aggregated values as of December 31,
2021 and 2020 were $271,620 and $309,940, respectively. The gross reclamation liabilities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are secured
by financial warranties in the amount of $ 740,446 and $ 906,811 , respectively.
Reclamation
liability activity for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 consists of:
For
the Years Ended
December 31,
2021
2020
Beginning
balance
$ 309,940
$ 294,228
Accretion
9,142
15,712
Discontinuation
of reclamation liability
( 47,462 )
-
Ending
Balance
$ 271,620
$ 309,940
During
the first quarter of 2021, the Company received notice that its Ferris Haggerty property was no longer considered to be subject to reclamation
treatment. The Company recorded a discontinuation of the Ferris Haggerty property’s present value of $ 2,669 during the first quarter
2021. On April 29, 2021, the Company moved the Ferris Haggerty $ 10,000 restricted cash deposit into its cash after receiving payment
from the state of Wyoming. During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company received notice from the State of Colorado that its surety
release request on the Hansen Picnic Tree property had been approved, and as such, this property is no longer subject to reclamation
treatment. As the property was not a current development priority, Western completed reclamation on the property. The Company recorded
a discontinuation of the Hansen Picnic Tree property’s present value of $ 44,793 during the fourth quarter of 2021. On December
29, 2021, the Company moved the $ 154,936 restricted cash deposit into its cash after receiving payment from the state of Colorado.
F- 15
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE
4 - MINERAL ASSETS equipment, Kinetic separation INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AND OTHER PROPERTY (CONTINUED )
Van
4 Mine Permitting Status
A prior owner of the Company’s Van 4 Mine
had been granted a first Temporary Cessation from reclamation of the mine by the MLRB which was set to expire June 23, 2017. Prior to
its expiration, PRM formally requested an extension through a second Temporary Cessation. PRM subsequently participated in a public process
which culminated in a hearing on July 26, 2017. Prior to the hearing, three non-profit organizations who pursue environmental and conservation
objectives filed a brief objecting to the extension. The MLRB board members voted to grant a second, five-year Temporary Cessation for
the Van 4 Mine. Thereafter, the three objecting parties filed a lawsuit on September 18, 2017. The MLRB was named as the defendant and
PRM was named as a party to the case due to the Colorado law requirement that any lawsuit filed after a hearing must include all of the
parties in the proceeding. The plaintiff organizations are seeking for the court to set aside the board order granting a second five-year
Temporary Cessation period to PRM for the Van 4 Mine. The Colorado state Attorney General was defending this action in the Denver Colorado
District Court. On May 8, 2018, the Denver Colorado District Court ruled in favor, whereby the additional five-year Temporary Cessation
period was granted. The Plaintiffs appealed this ruling to the Colorado Court of Appeals, and on July 25, 2019 the ruling was reversed,
ruling that the additional five-year Temporary Cessation period should not have been granted.
The MLRB and the Colorado Attorney General advised
Western that it will not make an additional appeal of the ruling. Further, the time period for an appeal has passed. The Judge has subsequently
issued an instruction for the MLRB to issue an order revoking the permit and putting the Van 4 Mine into reclamation. On January 22,
2020, the MLRB held a hearing, and on March 2, 2020, the MLRB issued an order vacating the Van 4 Temporary Cessation, revoking the permit
and ordering commencement of final reclamation, which must be completed within five years. The Company commenced reclamation of the Van
4 Mine, but progress has been delayed both by the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) restrictions and countywide fire and open
flame restrictions. The reclamation cost is fully covered by the reclamation bonds posted upon acquisition of the property. Our mining
operations team has made significant progress on the reclamation as all surface structures have been disassembled and removed with the
exception of the head frame.
Sunday
Mine Complex Permitting Status
On February 4, 2020, the Colorado DRMS sent a
Notice of Hearing to Declare Termination of Mining Operations related to the status of the mining permits issued by the state of Colorado
for the Sunday Mine Complex. At issue was the application of an unchallenged Colorado Court of Appeals Opinion for a separate mine (Van
4) with very different facts that are retroactively modifying DRMS rules and regulations. The Company maintains that it was timely in
meeting existing rules and regulations. The hearing was scheduled to be held during several monthly MLRB Board meetings, but this matter
was delayed several times. The permit hearing was held during the MLRB Board monthly meeting on July 22, 2020. At issue was the status
of the five existing permits which comprise the Sunday Mine Complex. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the hearing took place utilizing a
virtual-only format. The Company prevailed in a 3 to 1 decision which acknowledged that the work completed at the Sunday Mine Complex
under DRMS oversight was timely and sufficient for Western to maintain these permits. In a subsequent July 30, 2020 letter, the DRMS
notified the Company that the status of the five permits (Sunday, West Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz) had been changed to “Active”
status effective June 10, 2019, the original date on which the change of the status was approved. On August 23, 2020, the Company initiated
a request for Temporary Cessation status for the Sunday Mine Complex as the mines had not been restarted within a 180-day window due
to the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, a permit hearing was scheduled for October 21, 2020 to determine
Temporary Cessation status. In a unanimous vote, the MLRB approved Temporary Cessation status for each of the five Sunday Mine Complex
permits (Sunday, West Sunday, St. Jude, Carnation, and Topaz). On October 9, 2020, the MLRB issued a board order which finalized the
findings of the July 22, 2020 permit hearing. On November 10, 2020, the MLRB issued a board order which finalized the findings of the
October 21, 2020 permit hearing. On November 6, 2020, the MLRB signed an order placing the five Sunday Mine Complex mine permits into
Temporary Cessation. On November 12, 2020, a coalition of environmental groups (the “Plaintiffs”) filed a complaint against
the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the July 22, 2020 decision by requesting termination of the Topaz Mine permit. On December 15, 2020,
the same coalition of environmental groups amended their complaint against the MLRB seeking a partial appeal of the October 21, 2020
decision requesting termination of the Topaz Mine permit. The Company has joined with the MLRB in defense of their July 22, 2020 and
October 21, 2020 decisions. On May 5, 2021, the Plaintiffs in the Topaz Appeal filed an opening brief with the Denver District Court
seeking to overturn the July 22, 2020 and October 21, 2020 MLRB permit hearing decisions on the Topaz Mine permit. The MLRB and the Company
were to respond with an answer brief within 35 days on or before June 9, 2021, but instead sought a settlement. The judicial review process
was delayed as extensions were put in place until August 20, 2021. A settlement was not reached, and the MLRB and the Company submitted
answer briefs on August 20, 2021. The Plaintiff submitted a reply brief on September 10, 2021. On March 1, 2022, the Denver District
Court reversed the MLRB’s orders regarding the Topaz Mine and remanded the case back to MLRB for further proceedings consistent
with its order. The Company and the MRLB have until April 19, 2022 to appeal the Denver District Court’s ruling. The Company is
also working toward the completion of an updated Topaz mine Plan of Operations which is a separate federal requirement of the BLM for
the conduct of mining activities on federal land.
F- 16
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE
4 - MINERAL ASSETS equipment, Kinetic separation INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AND OTHER PROPERTY (CONTINUED )
Kinetic
Separation Intellectual Property
The Kinetic Separation intellectual property was
acquired in Western’s acquisition of Black Range on September 16, 2015. Previously Black Range acquired its Kinetic Separation assets
in the dissolution of a joint venture on March 17, 2015, through the acquisition of all the assets of the joint venture and received a
25-year license to utilize all of the patented and unpatented technology owned by the joint venture. The technology license agreement
for patents and unpatented technology became effective as of March 17, 2015, for a period of 25 years, until March 16, 2040. There are
no remaining license fee obligations, and there are no future royalties due under the agreement. The Company has the right to sub-license
the technology to third parties. The Company may not sell or assign the Kinetic Separation license; however, the license could be transferred
in the case of a sale of the Company. The Company has developed improvements to Kinetic Separation during the term of the license agreement
and retains ownership of, and may obtain patent protection on, any such improvements developed by the Company.
The Kinetic Separation patent was filed on September 13, 2012 and granted
on February 14, 2014 by the United States Patent Office. The patent is effective for a period of 20 years until September 13, 2032. This
patent is supported by two provisional patent applications. The provisional patent applications expired after one year but were incorporated
in the U.S. Patent by reference and claimed benefit prior to their expirations. The status of the patent and two provisional patent applications
has not changed subsequent to the 2014 patent grant. The Company has the continued right to use any patented portion of the Kinetic Separation
technology that enters the public domain subsequent to the patent expiration.
The Company anticipates Kinetic Separation will improve the efficiency
of the mining and processing of the sandstone-hosted ore from Western’s conventional mines through the separation of waste from
mineral bearing-ore, potentially reducing transportation, mill processing, and mill tailings costs. Kinetic Separation is not currently
in use or being applied at any Company mines. The Company views Kinetic Separation as a cost saving technology, which it will seek to
incorporate into ore production subsequent to commencing scaled production levels. There are also alternative applications, which the
Company has explored.
NOTE
5 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities consisted of:
As
of December 31,
2021
2020
Trade
accounts payable
$ 510,831
$ 347,017
Accrued
liabilities
188,762
141,777
Total
accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$ 699,593
$ 488,794
Note 6 – Loan Payable
Paycheck Protection Program Loan
On May 6, 2020, the Company obtained the PPP Loan
of $ 73,116 . The loan had a fixed interest rate of 1 %, required the Company to make seventeen (17) monthly payments , after a seven months
deferral period, and had a maturity date of May 6, 2022. The entirety of the loan principal was eligible for forgiveness to the extent
that the proceeds are utilized toward permissible expenditures within the initial period. On December 2, 2020, the Company received notice
from the U.S. Small Business Association that the entire PPP Loan balance and accrued interest was forgiven in full on such date. The
Company recorded the loan forgiveness as other income in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations and other comprehensive
loss.
F- 17
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE
7– COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Supply
Contract
In December 2015, the Company signed a uranium
concentrates supply agreement with a major United States utility company for delivery commencing in 2018 and continuing for a five-year
period through 2022. The Company and the major United States utility customer mutually agreed to cancel the Year 3 delivery, rather than
pursue a partial assignment. There was no delivery during 2020. On March 8, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with a third party
to complete the Year 4 (2021) uranium concentrate delivery. The Company paid $ 78,000 in April 2021 to the assignee for which the assignee
made the delivery in May 2021. This amount is included in settlement expense on the Company’s consolidated statement of operations
and comprehensive loss. On April 13, 2022, in satisfaction of its Year 5 (2022) delivery obligation, the Company delivered 125,000 pounds
of uranium concentrate (See Note 14).
Strategic
Acquisition of Physical Uranium
On May 28, 2021, the Company executed a binding
agreement to purchase 125,000 pounds of natural uranium concentrate at the market price. In December 2021, the Company paid $4,020,000
or $32.16 per pound, in connection with its full prepayment of the purchase price for 125,000 pounds of natural uranium concentrate. This
uranium concentrate was delivered to the purchaser on April 13, 2022 , pursuant to the terms of the aforementioned uranium concentrates
supply agreement.
NOTE
8 - SHARE CAPITAL AND OTHER EQUITY INSTRUMENTS
Authorized
Capital
The holders of the Company’s common shares
are entitled to one vote per share. Holders of common shares are entitled to ratably receive such dividends, if any, as may be declared
by the board of directors, out of legally available funds. Upon the liquidation, dissolution, or winding down of the Company, holders
of common shares are entitled to share ratably in all assets of the Company that are legally available for distribution. As of December
31, 2021 and 2020, an unlimited number of common shares were authorized for issuance.
Private
Placements
On
February 16, 2021, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of 3,250,000 units at a price of CAD $ 0.80 per unit. The aggregate
gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted to CAD $ 2,600,000 (USD $ 1,950,509 in net proceeds). Each unit consisted of one
common share of Western (a “Share”) plus one common share purchase warrant of Western (a “Warrant”). Each warrant
entitled the holder to purchase one Share at a price of CAD $ 1.20 per Share for a period of three years following the closing date of
the private placement. A total of 3,250,000 Shares and 3,250,000 Warrants were issued in the private placement.
On March 1, 2021, the Company closed a non-brokered
private placement of 3,125,000 units at a price of CAD $ 0.80 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted
to CAD $ 2,500,000 (USD $ 1,918,797 in net proceeds). Each unit consisted of one Share plus one Warrant. Each Warrant entitled the holder
to purchase one Share at a price of CAD $ 1.20 per Share for a period of three years following the closing date of the private placement.
A total of 3,125,000 Shares and 3,125,000 Warrants were issued in the private placement.
On December 17, 2021, the Company closed a non-brokered
private placement of 372,966 units at a price of CAD $ 1.60 per unit. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted
to CAD $ 596,746 (USD $ 434,973 in net proceeds). Each unit consisted of one Share plus one Warrant. Each Warrant entitled the holder to
purchase one Share at a price of CAD $ 2.50 per Share for a period of three years following the closing date of the private placement.
A total of 372,966 Shares and 372,966 Warrants were issued in the private placement.
Warrant
Exercises
During the year ended December 31, 2021, an aggregate
of 2,066,693 warrants were exercised for total gross proceeds of $ 2,004,864 .
F- 18
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE 8 - SHARE CAPITAL AND OTHER EQUITY INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)
Incentive
Stock Option Plan
The Company maintains an Incentive Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”)
that permits the granting of stock options as incentive compensation. Shareholders of the Company approved the Plan on June 30, 2008
and amendments to the Plan on June 20, 2013. The board of directors approved additional changes to the Plan on September 12, 2015 and
as of October 1, 2021.
The
purpose of the Plan is to attract, retain, and motivate directors, management, staff, and consultants by providing them with the opportunity,
through stock options, to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company and benefit from its growth.
The
Plan provides that the aggregate number of common shares for which stock options may be granted will not exceed 10 % of the issued and
outstanding common shares at the time stock options are granted. As of December 31, 2021, a total of 39,073,122 common shares were outstanding,
and at that date the maximum number of stock options eligible for issue under the Plan was 3,907,312 .
On October 1, 2021, the Company amended the Plan
to allow for the cashless exercise of stock options, among other things.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company
issued 174,716 shares of common stock pursuant to the cashless exercise of 483,330 stock options.
Stock
Options
Number
of Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted
Average
Contractual
Life (Years)
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding
– January 1, 2021
2,808,000
$ 1.42
2.43
$ 0.37
$ 33,782
Exercised
( 483,330 )
1.72
-
0.30
-
Outstanding
– December 31, 2021
2,324,670
$ 1.35
1.67
$ 0.39
$ 528,714
Exercisable
– December 31, 2021
2,324,670
$ 1.35
1.67
$ 0.39
$ 528,714
Number of Shares
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Weighted Average Contractual Life (Years)
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Intrinsic Value
Outstanding - January 1, 2020
2,208,000
$ 1.56
3.01
$ 0.41
-
Granted
600,000
0.76
4.52
0.76
-
Expired, forfeited, or cancelled
-
-
-
-
Outstanding – December 31, 2020
2,808,000
$ 1.42
2.43
$ 0.37
$ 33,782
Exercisable – December 31, 2020
2,808,000
$ 1.42
2.43
$ 0.37
$ 33,782
The
Company’s stock-based compensation expense related to stock options for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $ 0 and $204,808,
respectively, which is included in general and administrative expenses on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and
comprehensive loss. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $ 0 in unamortized stock option expense.
F- 19
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE 8 - SHARE CAPITAL AND OTHER EQUITY INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)
Stock Options, continued
The Company utilized the Black-Scholes option pricing
model to determine the fair value of these stock options, using the assumptions as outlined below.
January 6,
2020
Stock Price
CAD $ 1.03
Exercise Price
CAD $ 1.03
Number of Options Granted
600,000
Dividend Yield
0 %
Expected Volatility
90.5 %
Weighted Average Risk-Free Interest Rate
1.61 %
Expected life (in years)
2.6
Warrants
Number of
Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
Weighted
Average
Contractual
Life (Years)
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding
- January 1, 2020
8,602,913
$ 1.51
-
-
Issued
-
-
-
-
Expired
( 69,331 )
0.86
-
-
Outstanding
– December 31, 2020
8,533,582
$ 1.54
0.82
$ -
Exercisable
– December 31, 2020
8,533,582
$ 1.54
0.82
$ -
Outstanding
–January 1, 2021
8,533,582
$ 1.54
0.82
-
Issued
6,916,206
0.88
-
-
Expired
( 3,647,147 )
1.84
-
-
Exercised
( 2,066,693 )
0.95
-
-
Outstanding
–December 31, 2021
9,735,948
$ 1.09
1.49
$ 3,799,606
Exercisable
–December 31, 2021
9,735,948
$ 1.09
1.49
$ 3,799,606
F- 20
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE 8 - SHARE CAPITAL AND OTHER EQUITY INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)
Warrant Extension
On April 20, 2020, the Company announced the extension
by nine months of the common share purchase warrants (the “Warrants”) issued to investors in non-brokered private placements
that closed on May 4, June 30, and August 9, 2018 (the “2018 Private Placements”) and the amendment of the trigger price
in the acceleration clause of each Warrant. A total of 2,671,116 Warrants were amended. The warrant modification expense amounted to
$ 639,012 .
The Company performed a Black-Scholes valuation on the warrants both
pre-modification and post-modification, using the assumptions below.
May 2018 –
Prior to
Modification
May 2018 –
Post
Modification
July 2018 –
Prior to
Modification
July 2018 –
Post
Modification
August 2018 –
Prior to
Modification
August 2018 –
Post
Modification
Stock Price
CAD $ 0.80
CAD $ 0.80
CAD $ 0.80
CAD $ 0.80
CAD $ 0.80
CAD $ 0.80
Exercise Price
CAD $ 1.15
CAD $ 1.15
CAD $ 1.15
CAD $ 1.15
CAD $ 1.15
CAD $ 1.15
Number of Warrants Modified
454,811
454,811
1,262,763
1,262,763
953,544
953,544
Dividend Yield
0 %
0 %
0 %
0 %
0 %
0 %
Expected Volatility
106.8 %
106.8 %
106.8 %
106.8 %
106.8 %
106.8 %
Weighted Average Risk-Free Interest Rate
0.15 %
0.15 %
0.15 %
0.15 %
0.15 %
0.15 %
Expected life (in years)
0.04
0.79
0.27
1.02
0.30
1.05
Each Warrant initially entitled the holder to purchase
one common share in the capital of the Company at a price of $1.15 CAD at any time prior to May 4, July 30, and August 9, 2020, respectively.
Each of these dates has been extended by nine months from their respective expiration dates such that the Warrants will now expire on
February 4, April 30, and May 9, 2021, respectively. Additionally, each Warrant originally contained an acceleration clause that allowed
the Company to accelerate the expiration date of the Warrant if the closing price of the Company’s common shares was equal to or
greater than $2.50 CAD for a period of five consecutive trading days. The Company amended this clause by lowering the trigger price from
$2.50 CAD to $1.83 CAD.
Note
9 - Mining Expenditures
For
the Years Ended
December 31,
2021
2020
Permits
$ 134,261
$ 112,730
Mining
costs
578,034
275,331
Royalties
5,362
5,121
$ 717,657
$ 393,182
F- 21
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE
10 - Related Party Transactions AND BALANCES
The
Company has transacted with related parties pursuant to service arrangements in the ordinary course of business, as follows:
Prior
to the acquisition of Black Range, Mr. George Glasier, the Company’s CEO, who is also a director (“Seller”), transferred
his interest in a former joint venture with Ablation Technologies, LLC to Black Range. In connection with the transfer, Black Range issued
25 million shares of Black Range common stock to Seller and committed to pay AUD $500,000 (USD $362,794 as of December 31, 2021) to Seller
within 60 days of the first commercial application of the kinetic separation technology. Western assumed this contingent payment obligation
in connection with the acquisition of Black Range. At the date of the acquisition of Black Range, this contingent obligation was determined
to be probable. Since the deferred contingent consideration obligation is probable and the amount is estimable, the Company recorded
the deferred contingent consideration as an assumed liability in the amount of $ 362,794 and $ 392,086 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020,
respectively.
The Company also owes Mr. Glasier reimbursable
expenses in the amount of $ 65,753 as of December 31, 2021.
Note
11 – Income Taxes
The
tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are
as follows:
As
of December 31,
Deferred
tax assets:
2021
2020
Net
operating loss carryovers
$ 5,815,866
$ 5,228,266
Marketable
securities
15,720
15,650
Accrued
expenses
46,604
78,600
Deferred
tax assets, gross
5,878,190
5,322,516
Less:
valuation allowance
( 3,488,821 )
( 2,997,084 )
Deferred
tax assets, net
2,389,369
2,325,432
Deferred
tax liabilities:
Property
and equipment
( 5,098,256 )
( 5,034,319 )
Deferred
tax liabilities, net
$ ( 2,708,887 )
$ ( 2,708,887 )
The
change in the Company’s valuation allowance is as follows:
For
the Years Ended
December 31,
2021
2020
Beginning
of year
$ 2,997,084
$ 2,427,665
Increase
in valuation allowance
491,737
569,419
End
of year
$ 3,488,821
$ 2,997,084
F- 22
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
Note
11 – Income Taxes (CONTINUED )
A
reconciliation of the provision for income taxes with the amounts computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income
from operations before the provision for income taxes is as follows:
For
the Years Ended
December 31,
2021
2020
U.S.
federal statutory rate
( 21.0 )%
( 21.0 )%
State
and foreign taxes
( 3.8 )%
( 3.8 )%
Permanent
differences
Non-deductible
expenses
0 %
2.0 %
Valuation
allowance
24.8 %
22.8 %
Effective
income tax rate
0 %
0 %
The
Company has net operating loss carryovers of approximately $ 23,451,072 for federal and state income tax purposes and net operating loss
carryovers of $ 12,104,429 for Canadian provincial tax purposes which begin to expire in 2026. The ultimate realization of the net operating
loss is dependent upon future taxable income, if any, of the Company.
Based
on losses from inception, the Company determined that as of December 31, 2021 it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize
benefits from the deferred tax assets. The Company will not record income tax benefits in the consolidated financial statements until
it is determined that it is more likely than not that the Company will generate sufficient taxable income to realize the deferred income
tax assets. As a result of the analysis, the Company determined that a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets was required
of $ 3,488,821 and $ 2,997,084 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section
382 imposes limitations on the use of net operating loss carryovers when the share ownership of one or more 5% shareholders (shareholders
owning 5% or more of the Company’s outstanding capital stock) has increased on a cumulative basis over a period of three years by
more than 50 percentage points. Management cannot control any ownership changes that occur. Accordingly, there is a risk of an ownership
change beyond the control of the Company that could trigger a limitation of the use of the loss carryover. The Company has analyzed the
issuances of common shares during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 and does not believe such change of control occurred. If
such ownership change under IRC section 382 had occurred, such change would substantially limit the Company’s ability to utilize
its net operating loss carryforwards in the future.
NOTE
12 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Fair
Values
The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash, restricted
cash, accounts payable, contingent consideration and accrued liabilities. The fair values of these financial instruments approximate
their carrying values due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. The Company’s financial instruments also incorporate
marketable securities that are adjusted to fair value at each balance sheet date based on quoted prices which are considered level 1
inputs. The reclamation deposits, which are reflected in restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheets, are deposits mainly invested
in certificates of deposit at major financial institutions, and their fair values are estimated to approximate their carrying values.
There were no transfers of financial instruments between Levels 1, 2, and 3 during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Foreign
Currency Risk
Foreign currency risk is the risk that changes in the rates of exchange
on foreign currencies will impact the financial position or cash flows of the Company. The Company’s reporting currency is the
United States dollar. The functional currency for Western standalone entity is the Canadian dollar. The Company is exposed to foreign
currency risks in relation to certain activity that is to be settled in Canadian funds. Management monitors its foreign currency
exposure regularly to minimize the risk of an adverse impact on its cash flows.
Concentration
of Credit Risk
Concentration
of credit risk is the risk of loss in the event that certain counterparties are unable to fulfil their obligations to the Company. The
Company limits its exposure to credit loss on its cash and restricted cash by placing its cash with high credit quality financial institutions.
F- 23
WESTERN
URANIUM & VANADIUM CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Stated
in USD)
NOTE
12 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED )
Liquidity
Risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company’s
consolidated cash flows from operations will not be sufficient for the Company to continue operating and discharge is liabilities. The
Company is exposed to liquidity risk as its continued operation is dependent upon its ability to obtain financing, either in the form
of debt or equity, or achieve profitable operations in order to satisfy its liabilities as they come due. As of December 31, 2021, the
Company had a working capital of $ 4,492,169 and cash on hand of $ 880,821 .
Market
Risk
Market
risk is the risk that fluctuations in the market prices of minerals will impact the Company’s future cash flows. The Company is
exposed to market risk on the price of uranium and vanadium, which will determine its ability to build and achieve profitable operations,
the amount of exploration and development work that the Company will be able to perform, and the number of financing opportunities that
will be available. Management believes that it would be premature at this point to enter into any hedging or forward contracts to mitigate
its exposure to specific market price risks.
Note
13 – COVID-19
The world has been, and continues to be, impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19, and measures to prevent its spread, impacted our business in a number of ways. The impact of these disruptions and the extent
of their adverse impact on the Company’s financial and operating results will be dictated by the length of time that such disruptions
continue, which will, in turn, depend on the currently unpredictable duration and severity of the impacts of COVID-19, and among other
things, the impact of governmental actions imposed in response to COVID-19 and individuals’ and companies’ risk tolerance
regarding health matters going forward and developing strain mutations. To date, COVID-19 has primarily caused Western delays in reporting,
regulatory matters, and operations. Most notably, the Company initiated a request for Temporary Cessation status for the Sunday Mine Complex
in August 2020 as the mines had not been restarted within the 180-day window due to the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Van 4 Mine reclamation process was delayed because of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. The need to observe quarantine periods also caused
a limited loss of manpower and delay to the 2021/2022 Sunday Mine Complex project. The COVID-19 pandemic has also limited Western’s
participation in industry and investor conference events during 2020 and 2021. The Company is continuing to monitor COVID-19 and its subvariants
and the potential impact of the pandemic on the Company’s operations.
NOTE
14 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Private
Placement
On
January 20, 2022, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement of 2,495,575 units at a price of CAD $ 1.60 per unit. The aggregate
gross proceeds raised in the private placement amounted to CAD $ 3,992,920 . Each unit consisted of one Share plus one Warrant. Each Warrant
entitled the holder to purchase one Share at a price of CAD $2.50 per Share for a period of three years following the closing date of
the private placement. A total of 2,495,575 Shares and 2,495,575 Warrants were issued in the private placement.
Oil and Gas Royalty
On January 31, 2022, the operator of the Weld
County Colorado oil and gas pooled trust issued the first cumulative royalty payment check in the amount of $ 207,552 for August 2021 through
December 2021 sales. Royalty checks will subsequently be received monthly. For the year ended December 31, 2021, this revenue was recognized
within lease and royalty revenue on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. As of December 31, 2021, this amount
was included within other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Uranium Supply Agreement Delivery
On April 13, 2022, in satisfaction of the Year 5 delivery
under its supply contract, the Company delivered 125,000 lbs of uranium concentrate from its prepaid uranium concentrate inventory. This
delivery of uranium concentrate resulted in a sale of $ 7,130,000 , at a price of approximately $ 57 per pound. The Company expects to receive
the cash from this sale in May 2022.
Exercise of Warrants
Subsequent to December 31, 2021 through April 13, 2022,
the Company received CAD $ 2,272,610 and issued 1,352,947 shares of common stock pursuant to the exercise of warrants.
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