IsoEnergy (TSX:ISO) Production Advancement with Exploration Upside Commencing Winter Drill Program

Interview with Philip Williams, Director & CEO of IsoEnergy Ltd.

Our previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/isoenergy-tsxiso-multi-jurisdictional-uranium-portfolio-8580

Recording date: 15th January 2026

IsoEnergy Ltd. (TSX:ISO) differentiates within the uranium sector through near-term production advancement at the Tony M project in Utah while maintaining exposure to ultra-high-grade exploration upside at the Hurricane deposit in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin. The company has commenced bulk sampling operations at Tony M, extracting approximately 2,000 tons of material for processing at the White Mesa Mill. This program validates three critical decision criteria for full-scale production restart: current operating costs for mining, trucking, and processing; updated capital requirements; and scalability of beneficiation techniques tested on smaller samples that could substantially reduce waste material sent to mill. 

The strategic toll milling arrangement with Energy Fuels' White Mesa Mill—the only operational conventional uranium mill in the United States—eliminates processing infrastructure capital while providing established metallurgical pathway, as the mill historically processed ore from Tony M during previous 2007-2008 production period. Tony M's existing surface and underground infrastructure substantially reduces restart capital intensity compared to greenfield mine development, positioning the project as IsoEnergy's primary near-term production opportunity. 

CEO Philip Williams emphasized the competitive advantage: "In our market cap range, there's not so many of them so we want to be one of those producers and be able to deliver material into a rapidly rising uranium price environment which we think is coming in the United States." 

Concurrently, IsoEnergy has mobilized two drill rigs to Hurricane for a winter campaign exceeding 5,000 meters. The program tests expansion potential within and adjacent to known ultra-high-grade mineralization, extending up to 3 kilometers along structural trend. Hurricane ranks among the world's highest-grade uranium deposits, with exceptional grade concentration reflected in small physical footprint relative to contained uranium. The exploration strategy follows the Athabasca Basin geological model where high-grade deposits form as multiple lenses along structural corridors, suggesting discovery potential for additional proximate ore zones.

Portfolio diversification spans multiple development stages and top-tier jurisdictions. Beyond Tony M and Hurricane, IsoEnergy maintains the Coles Hill project in Virginia—a large-scale development opportunity potentially benefiting from federal policy support for domestic production—plus a 50% joint venture with Purepoint Energy exploring additional Athabasca Basin targets. The pending acquisition of Toro Energy, expected to close April 2026, adds Western Australian exposure and development-stage assets.

IsoEnergy operates within a bifurcated uranium market where large-cap producers trade at premiums to net asset value while smaller companies trade at substantial discounts, creating consolidation conditions. The company's mid-tier market capitalization provides optionality as both potential acquirer of discounted junior assets and potential target for larger producers seeking high-grade Athabasca Basin exposure. NextGen Energy's 30% ownership provides strategic shareholder stability, while IsoEnergy maintains approximately $60 million in equity positions in smaller uranium companies.

Management reports accelerating institutional investor engagement as the production timeline clarifies and uranium market fundamentals strengthen. The recent addition of commercial and marketing expertise signals preparation for uranium sales as production approaches. Near-term catalysts include the Tony M production restart decision following bulk sampling results, Hurricane drilling outcomes, Toro acquisition closure, and potential uranium import policy changes under the Section 232 investigation.

Williams acknowledged uranium equity performance ultimately depends on physical price movement despite strong fundamentals: "The space can get ahead of the price for some period of time, but the price has to also move." However, when utility contracting accelerates—whether driven by policy changes, supply disruptions, or other factors—price movements can occur rapidly given concentrated uranium market structure.

View IsoEnergy's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/isoenergy

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