FORTE ENERGY NL
ACN 009 087 852
ASX/AIM CODE: FTE
Telephone: +618 9322 4071, Fax: +618 9322 4073
ASX, AIM and Media Release
25 May 2010
Positive Metallurgical Results for Firawa Uranium Project, Guinea
* Latest results from acid-leach testing confirm potential for heap-leach operation at Firawa Uranium Project in
Guinea
* Initial results indicate uranium recovery rates of 67% from 8-hour acid leach testing
* Further pre-feasibility optimisation testing to be undertaken aimed at reducing acid consumption and further
improving uranium recovery rates
* Additional drilling program being planned on the remaining 50% undrilled anomaly. Drilling to commence at the
end of Q3 after the wet season to extend the current JORC resource
International uranium exploration company Forte Energy NL (ASX / AIM: FTE) ("Forte Energy" or "the Company") is
pleased to report encouraging preliminary results from metallurgical investigations being undertaken of samples
from its 100% owned Firawa Uranium Project in Guinea, West Africa.
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In July 2009, Forte Energy announced an initial JORC-code compliant Inferred uranium resource of 17.7Mt grading
296ppm U3O8 for 11.6 million pounds of contained U3O8 for the Firawa Project (using a cut-off grade of 100ppm U3O8).
There is potential for the resource to be increased as the deposit remains open along strike and down dip.
The Company has engaged Mineral Engineering Technical Services Pty Ltd ("METS") in Perth, Australia, to
undertake metallurgical testing to assess the deposit for potential heap leach recovery.
This process route would involve percolating an acid or alkaline solution through heaps of the mineralised material
to dissolve the uranium. The uranium in solution would then be selectively extracted using an ion exchange
process and precipitated and roasted into a uranium oxide (U3O8) concentrate. Key parameters for this process
therefore include the mineralogy of the deposit and the leaching recoveries, dynamics and acid (or alkali)
consumption.
Preliminary QEMSCAN (Quantitative Evaluation of Minerals by Scanning Electron Microscope) analysis of composite
samples from Firawa was initially conducted by METS to assess the mineralogy. This analysis showed that 99.99%
of the contained uranium is hosted in the mineral crandallite, a calcium aluminium phosphate which made up 27%
of the composite samples tested. Goethite (41%) and hematite (15%) were the other major components identified.
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Carbonates were not detected so the ore is not expected to show excessive acid consumption in a moderately acidic
leach and may also be amenable to alkaline leaching. The QEMSCAN analysis also suggested that reducing the iron
content with gravity separation before leaching will also be a likely avenue for improving leach recoveries.
Following the encouraging mineralogical analysis and some initial leach testing on raw samples, Forte Energy
forwarded additional Firawa samples to METS to carry out further leach testing as a precursor to prefeasibility
studies. This testing is investigating the effects of acid concentration, temperature and grind size and potential
for upgrading the ore with gravity separation, to optimise the uranium extraction from the crandallite.
The preliminary test plan examined samples crushed to 1mm then undergoing gravity separation via tabling.
Resulting samples were then split and underwent both pug roast leach testing and direct acid leach testing with
sulphuric acid.
For the pug roast leach testing, sulphuric acid was added at the rate of 500kg/tonne then baked at 250°C for 1 hour.
The pug roast leach testing resulted in the recovery of around 55% of the uranium and 49% of the iron content.
Samples for the direct acid leach tests were 30% solids treated with a 6Molar solution of sulphuric acid at 90°C for
24 hours with solid and residue samples taken at several intervals for assaying. The maximum uranium extraction of
67.2% was achieved after 8 hours of leaching. This represents a considerable improvement from the 35% recovery
achieved from the initial leach test on raw samples.
The acid consumption was higher than optimal due to a high percentage of iron oxides/hydroxides that were dissolved
in the process. To lower the acid consumption more iron oxides would need to be rejected prior to the leach step.
Further investigation aims to optimise the leaching to improve uranium recovery and reduce acid consumption.
Uranium Recovery - Direct Acid Leach Tests
Uranium Recovery
1 hr 59.9%
4 hr 60.2%
8 hr 67.2%
16 hr 63.5%
24 hr 63.0%
Head Grade 0.072%
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Forte Energy is pleased with the results of the preliminary testing and looks forward to receiving the
complete metallurgical test-work summary report from METS, along with their recommendations for further optimisation
testing.
Based on the positive results so far, the Company is preparing plans for further drilling at Firawa to commence at
the end of Q3 in 2010, after the rainy season ends. The drilling is likely to include both extension and infill
drilling and would be aimed at extending the current JORC code compliant resource, which remains open along strike
and down dip, as well as moving some of the resource form inferred to indicated status. The Company also
expects to commence the permitting process as part of prefeasibility studies for a potential heap leach operation.
The Firawa uranium anomaly is 5 km log and only half of it has been investigated by drilling. The second phase
drilling, the core drilling program completed in January 2009, confirmed continuity and encountered
mineralisation where not expected. The Company believes there is capacity to considerably increase the tonnage.
Bir En Nar uranium prospect, Mauritania
As previously announced, the Company is awaiting the final chemical assay results from the +5,800m diamond
core resource drilling program at the key Bir En Nar Uranium Project in Mauritania. Once these results are
received they will be incorporated with existing results to enable calculation of an initial JORC Code compliant
Mineral Resource estimate. Forte Energy is also awaiting assay results from its recent 5,000m RC drilling program
across nine other uranium anomalies within its Mauritanian licences.
Mark Reilly
Managing Director
For further information contact:
Mark Reilly, Managing Director
Forte Energy N.L. Tel: +44 (0) 203 300 0187
Alastair Stratton/Tim Graham
Matrix Corporate Capital LLP Tel: +44 (0) 203 206 7000
Conduit PR
Jos Simson/Emily Fenton Tel: +44 (0) 207 429 6603
Stuart Laing
RFC Corporate Finance Ltd Tel: +618 9480 2506
(AIM Nominated Adviser to the Company)
Note:
The information in this report that relates to exploration results in West Africa is based on information compiled
by Mr. Bosse Gustafsson of Forte Energy NL and Mr. Doug Corley of Coffey Mining Ltd. Mr. Gustafsson and Mr. Corley
have sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration
and to the activity which they have undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004
Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Reserves". Mr. Gustafsson is a
member of the European Federation of Geologists a Recognised Overseas Professional Organisation ("ROPO"). Mr Bosse
Gustafsson is a full time Technical Director of Forte Energy NL and is responsible for exploration activities in
Mauritania and Guinea. Mr. Gustafsson and Mr. Corley consent to the inclusion in this report of the matters based
on their information in the form and context in which it appears.
About Forte Energy
Forte Energy is an emerging international uranium company focused on the exploration and development of a high-
quality portfolio of uranium assets in the Republics of Mauritania and Guinea, West Africa. These assets have the
potential to develop as long-life uranium production projects, representing a significant new strategic source of
uranium supply for world markets.
Forte Energy is progressing its Mauritanian assets through a Strategic Alliance and Cooperation Agreement with
the French-based multinational industrial and nuclear energy giant, Areva NC, a global expert in nuclear energy.
Areva also holds a strategic 11.1% equity interest in Forte Energy.
Under this agreement, Forte Energy has access to Areva's extensive uranium exploration database in Mauritania as well
as technical cooperation and on-ground support from Areva in advancing the exploration and evaluation, in particular
of the rapidly emerging Bir En Nar Uranium Project, located in the Zednes region of northern Mauritania.
Forte Energy and Areva have agreed to establish a joint venture to develop the Company's Mauritanian assets if a
minimum 60-80 million pounds of JORC Code compliant inferred uranium resources are established within the next two
years.
Forte Energy's growth strategy in the international uranium industry is being driven by an accomplished Board
and management team focused on maximising shareholder value and returns.
Forte Energy NL