How ASP Isotopes is Revolutionizing the Global Isotope Supply Chain

Summary

In this interview, Paul Mann, CEO of ASP Isotopes, discusses the company's significant milestones, including the establishment of two isotope enrichment facilities in South Africa. ASP Isotopes aims to address global supply chain issues, particularly as 85% of isotopes are produced by Russia and 15% by Europe, with no domestic US production. The company has signed contracts to supply isotopes for various industries, including quantum computing, advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and nuclear medicine. With a strong financial position, ASP Isotopes is poised to accelerate growth, focusing on projects like the production of Uranium-176 for cancer treatment and the development of a Quantum enrichment facility. The company has also signed major agreements, including contracts with SMR companies and a US semiconductor company, positioning ASP Isotopes as a potential leader in the isotope supply market.

Takeaways

• 🌟 ASP Isotopes is a company incorporated in the United States with operations in South Africa, focusing on isotope enrichment.
• 🏗️ The company has built two isotope enrichment facilities in South Africa, expected to start producing free cash flow in the middle of the year.
• 🤝 ASP Isotopes has signed multiple contracts with customers, aiming to address global supply chain issues in isotopes, which are predominantly produced by Russia and Europe.
• 🔬 Isotopes are critical for various industries, including quantum computing, advanced semiconductors, and artificial intelligence, where highly enriched silicon-28 is essential.
• 📈 ASP Isotopes has a strong financial position with a robust cash balance and successful capital raises, enabling the acceleration of projects.
• 💼 The company has signed contracts to supply silicon-28 to a US semiconductor company, which is crucial for developing faster and cooler semiconductors.
• 💡 ASP Isotopes is constructing its first quantum enrichment facility, which will use a laser technique to produce isotopes like uranium-176 for cancer treatment.
• 🔋 The company has signed agreements with SMR companies for the supply of halo, a high-specific-activity enriched uranium, which could be worth over $30 billion.
• 💼 ASP Isotopes is working towards becoming a leader in the production of next-generation nuclear reactors' fuel, such as halo and high assay low enriched uranium.
• 🌐 The company is engaging with well-capitalized companies and governments to secure funding and permissions for building enrichment plants.
• 📈 Investors are showing interest in ASP Isotopes due to its potential to generate significant returns on capital and the upcoming production of new isotopes.

Q & A

What is ASP Isotopes and where are their main operations located?

ASP Isotopes is a company incorporated in the United States with most of its operations in South Africa. They have built two isotope enrichment facilities and are set to produce free cash flow around the middle of the year.

What are the global supply chain issues that ASP Isotopes aims to solve?

ASP Isotopes is looking to address the supply chain issues in isotopes, which are among the most challenged supply chains globally. Currently, 85% of isotopes are produced by Russia, 15% by Europe, with no domestic production in the US, and ASP Isotopes aims to become the first US enricher of isotopes.

How does ASP Isotopes plan to stabilize or enhance the isotope supply chain?

ASP Isotopes plans to stabilize the isotope supply chain by producing both heavy and light isotopes, which are critical for industries such as quantum computing, advanced semiconductors, and artificial intelligence. They have also signed contracts with customers and are in talks with others for similar products.

What is the significance of the recent financial achievements highlighted in ASP Isotopes' annual report?

The recent financial achievements of ASP Isotopes, including a strong cash balance and successful capital raises, position the company to accelerate growth in the current fiscal year. They have attracted investors who are eager to invest in the company, which is unusual and indicates strong investor confidence.

What is the role of Thulium-176 in ASP Isotopes' growth strategy?

Thulium-176 is an isotope used for the treatment of cancer, specifically prostate cancer. ASP Isotopes aims to accelerate the production of Thulium-176 to reduce the waiting time for patients and potentially save lives, with a goal to have it available by 2025 or possibly later this year.

Can you provide details on ASP Isotopes' first Quantum enrichment facility?

ASP Isotopes is constructing its first Quantum enrichment facility, which will use a laser technique developed in South Africa during the 80s and 90s. The facility will be used to produce Thulium-176 and is expected to bring significant financial rewards, as well as pave the way for other laser projects.

What are the major agreements that ASP Isotopes has signed recently?

In the second half of the previous year, ASP Isotopes signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with large SMR companies in the US for metric ton quantities of HALO, high assay low enriched uranium, potentially worth over $30 billion. They also signed a contract to supply Silicon-28 to a US Semiconductor Company.

Why is Silicon-28 important for the semiconductor industry?

Silicon-28 is crucial for making faster semiconductors. By removing the isotope Silicon-29, the heat conductivity increases significantly, and the transfer of information increases by thousands of folds, resulting in faster and cooler semiconductors.

What steps is ASP Isotopes taking to become a leader in the production of HALO for next-generation nuclear reactors?

ASP Isotopes is engaging with well-capitalized companies in the US to help finance the production of HALO. They have also started a research program funded by a US SMR company for plant designs and are in discussions with governments for the necessary permits to build enrichment plants.

What is the essential value proposition of ASP Isotopes for investors?

ASP Isotopes offers a unique value proposition as a new supplier of isotopes that are not available from any other producer. Their technology allows for significant returns on capital investment, and with the imminent production of new isotopes and generation of free cash flow, they expect a significantly higher share price, making it an exciting investment opportunity.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 ASP Isotopes' Growth and Global Supply Chain Impact

Paul Mann, CEO of ASP Isotopes, discusses the company's significant milestones, including the establishment of two isotope enrichment facilities in South Africa. These facilities are set to produce free cash flow imminently and have already secured contracts to address global supply chain challenges in isotopes, a market currently dominated by Russia and Europe with no domestic US production. ASP Isotopes aims to be the first US enricher of isotopes, supplying these critical chemicals to various industries, including quantum computing, advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and nuclear medicine. The company's financial achievements, highlighted by a robust cash balance and successful capital raises, position it to accelerate growth in the current fiscal year.

05:01

💼 ASP Isotopes' Strategic Initiatives and Contract Signings

ASP Isotopes is undertaking several strategic initiatives to stabilize and enhance the isotope supply chain, especially in light of geopolitical tensions. The company is focusing on producing isotopes for quantum computing, advanced semiconductors, and artificial intelligence, including highly enriched silicon-28, which is crucial for faster semiconductors. They have signed contracts to supply silicon-28 to a US semiconductor company and are in talks with others for similar products. Additionally, ASP Isotopes is addressing the need for new isotopes in nuclear medicine, with markets approaching them for supply. The company is also constructing its first quantum enrichment facility, which will use a laser technique to produce isotopes like uranium-176, which is vital for cancer treatment. ASP Isotopes has signed major agreements, including two with large SMR companies in the US, requiring significant quantities of HALO, high assay low enriched uranium, with potential values exceeding $30 billion.

Keywords

💡Isotopes

Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element which differ in neutron number. In the context of the video, isotopes are critical for various industries and are the core of ASP Isotopes' business. The company aims to solve global supply chain issues for isotopes, which are predominantly produced by Russia and Europe, with no domestic production in the US. The script mentions the company's plan to become the first US enricher of isotopes.

💡Supply Chain

A supply chain refers to the network of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in producing and delivering a product or service. The video discusses the challenges in the isotope supply chain, with 85% of isotopes produced by Russia and 15% by Europe, creating a reliance that ASP Isotopes is looking to address by establishing domestic production in the US.

💡Enrichment Facilities

Enrichment facilities are industrial plants designed to increase the concentration of a particular isotope in a sample. The script mentions that ASP Isotopes has built two such facilities in South Africa, which are expected to start producing free cash flow in the near future, indicating the company's expansion and capability to produce isotopes.

💡Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow represents the cash a company generates after accounting for cash outflows to support operations and maintain its capital assets. In the script, Paul mentions that ASP Isotopes' new enrichment facilities will start producing free cash flow around the middle of the year, signifying the company's financial health and potential for growth.

💡Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is a form of computing that uses quantum bits or qubits to perform operations on data. The script mentions that ASP Isotopes is involved in supplying highly enriched silicon-28, which is crucial for making faster semiconductors used in quantum computing and other advanced technologies.

💡Semiconductors

Semiconductors are materials, typically silicon, used in electronics to form the basis of transistors and other electronic components. The video discusses how ASP Isotopes plans to supply silicon-28, which is essential for creating advanced semiconductors with improved heat conductivity and information transfer capabilities.

💡Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine that uses small amounts of radioactive materials, or radiopharmaceuticals, to diagnose or treat diseases. The script highlights ASP Isotopes' role in supplying isotopes for nuclear medicine, an area where there is a lack of Western or domestic producers.

💡Uranium-176

Uranium-176 is a radioactive isotope used in the treatment of cancer, specifically prostate cancer, as mentioned in the script. ASP Isotopes aims to accelerate the production of this isotope to reduce the waiting time for patients and improve treatment outcomes.

💡Quantum Enrichment

Quantum enrichment refers to a laser-based technique used to separate isotopes, developed in the 1980s and 1990s. The script discusses ASP Isotopes' construction of a quantum enrichment facility in South Africa, which will be used to produce Uranium-176 and potentially other isotopes in the future.

💡Halo (High Assay Low Enriched Uranium)

Halo, or High Assay Low Enriched Uranium, is a form of nuclear fuel used in next-generation nuclear reactors. The script mentions that ASP Isotopes is taking steps to become a leader in supplying Halo, addressing the urgent global need for a new supplier of this critical material.

💡SMR Companies

SMR stands for Small Modular Reactor, which is a type of nuclear fission reactor with a small output, typically used for remote locations or to supplement power grids. The video script indicates that ASP Isotopes has signed major agreements with two large SMR companies in the US, highlighting the company's growing presence in the nuclear energy sector.

Highlights

ASP Isotopes, incorporated in the United States with operations in South Africa, is set to start producing free cash flow mid-year with two new isotope enrichment facilities.

The company has signed contracts to address global supply chain issues in isotopes, which are predominantly produced by Russia and Europe with no domestic US production.

ASP Isotopes plans to stabilize the isotope supply chain by producing both light and heavy isotopes, including silicon-28 for advanced semiconductors and quantum computing.

A recent contract with a US semiconductor company will see ASP Isotopes supplying highly enriched silicon-28, crucial for faster and cooler semiconductors.

ASP Isotopes is addressing the lack of Western or domestic producers for isotopes needed in nuclear medicine.

The company reported strong financial achievements, including a robust cash balance and successful capital raises, positioning it to accelerate growth.

ASP Isotopes aims to bring uronium-176 to market by 2025 to treat prostate cancer, potentially saving lives by reducing the drug's production time.

Construction of ASP Isotopes' first quantum enrichment facility has begun, using a laser technique developed in South Africa.

The financial rewards from quantum enrichment are expected to be substantial, with plans to expand to other laser projects in the future.

ASP Isotopes signed two major agreements with SMR companies in the US for metric ton quantities of HALO, high assay low enriched uranium, potentially worth over $30 billion.

The company is also in talks to supply silicon-28 for faster semiconductors, which can be used in data centers requiring significant heat management.

ASP Isotopes is taking steps to become a leader in HALO production, engaging with well-capitalized companies and governments for support.

Investment from a US SMR company has funded research for plant designs, marking a significant involvement in enrichment by a nuclear company.

ASP Isotopes is in discussions with governments for permits to build enrichment plants, aiming to establish its first plant in the near future.

The essential value proposition of ASP Isotopes lies in its ability to provide a new supply of critical isotopes, leveraging its technology for significant returns on capital investment.

With the imminent production of new isotopes and generation of free cash flow, ASP Isotopes is poised for a potentially significant increase in share price.

Transcripts

[Music]

hello today we have Paul man CEO of ASP

Isotopes trading on the NASDAQ under the

ticker

aspi Paul welcome back thanks for having

me Craig great to be back great to have

you as always Paul now could you start

by telling us about ASP Isotopes and the

significant Milestones the company has

achieved over the past year yeah thanks

yes so we're an Isotopes Company

Incorporated in the United States most

of our operations are in South Africa

and over the last two years we've built

two isotope enrichment facilities here

they'll start producing free cash flow

around the middle of this year so you

know any month now and we've signed a

lot of contracts of customers and uh

we're really looking forward to solving

some of the global supply chain issues

in Isotopes Isotopes are one of the most

challenged Supply chains of any chemical

in the world 85% are produced by Russia

near 15% by Europe and there's no

domestic production so we're excited to

become the first US en richer of

Isotopes and supplying us customers with

these very special chemicals you know

Paul it is remarkable for how many

Industries Isotopes are critical now how

does ASP Isotopes plan to stabilize or

even enhance the isotope supply chain

especially considering these current

geopol political tensions yeah as I said

earlier most isotopes are supplied by

Russia and you know Russia and and

Europe can only produce heavy Isotopes

we can have light Isotopes as well and

so you know take for example Quantum

Computing Advanced semiconductors and

artificial intelligence you know to make

the to make faster semiconductors the

world's going to need highly enriched

silicon 28 and that's exactly in our

wheelhouse that's the perfect isotope

for us to enrich and so you know last

month or so we've signed a a contract

with a a us uh Semiconductor Company

suppli them with highly enriched silene

and we're talking to three other

customers right now for similar other

products and uh you know things like

that you nuclear medicine the world look

for new new uh new Isotopes and nuclear

medicine there's no western or domestic

producer of many of these Isotopes and

we're here ready to help them so

actually you know rather than us having

to find a market for Isotopes the

markets actually come to us and ask us

can we Supply these isotopes

Paul with the recent Financial

achievements highlighted in your annual

report including a strong cash balance

and successful Capital raises how is ASP

Isotopes position to accelerate growth

in the current fiscal year thanks yes so

you know what's been interesting is that

you know we've had many investors come

to us asking to invest in our company

and and you know that's very unusual you

compared to most companies where you

have to go and look for investors and so

with the with the financial resources we

have available now we can accelerate

many projects you know one of those for

example is urbium 176 so urbium 176 is

isotope used for treatment of cancer

prostate cancer neatus has a drug uh the

plor it's called Uh that treats prostate

cancer and during the clinical trial 5%

of patients died because they couldn't

make the drug in time for them even

today I'm told patients are waiting two

months to get onto the drug and you know

two months may not seem like much but

when you're median survival is 12 months

two months is a long time so our goal is

to get utan 176 to to the world you know

as soon as possible maybe 2025 or maybe

later this year and and that'll you know

that'll really really really change the

lives for a number of patients and

that's one of the projects you've

accelerated because of the uh because of

the assistance of investors over the

last 12 months now Paul you recently

started constructing your first Quantum

enrichment facility What can you tell

our viewers about this initiative yeah

thank you yes so you know that's one of

the projects we accelerated because of

the recent financings and you know

Urbian 176 as I mentioned earlier is the

first product that will use quantum

enrichment which is a laser technique

developed by scientists during the 80s

and 90s here in South Africa so we've

accelerated that project by a couple of

years and and the the the financial

rewards of that program will be huge

it's also the first step of other laser

projects such as Hal or high say low

Rich uranium lithium 6 lithium 7 nickel

64 many many ice types the world is

desperate for and there's no Western

producer of and so Urban 176 is the

first of of many similar plants we

expect to build over the next several

years ASP Isotopes signing several major

agreements recently Paul talk to us

about the significance of these

contracts yeah so during the second half

of last year we signed two M us with two

large SMR companies in the US that

require metric ton quantities of Halo

highest AAR Rich uranium you they you

know the value of those could be could

exceed $30 billion dollar obviously

they're they're they they're kind of

Blue Sky numbers but more recent and

near-term events you know we've signed a

contract recently to supply silicon 28

to a US Semiconductor Company and this

silicon 28 is going to be required to

make faster semic conductors when you

remove the 29 isotope from Silicon you

know the heat conductivity increases by

by multiple folds and the conductivity

the transfer of information increases by

thousands of fold and that's how we get

faster semiconductors cooler

semiconductors and the world's facing a

real challenge right now to make uh

faster semiconductors and semiconductors

can be used in in data centers that

require huge amounts of Heating And so

there's a lot of excitement in silicon

28 for those purposes if your kids want

faster computer games and need silicon

28 you've been talking about Halo Paul

it's very important for those Next

Generation nuclear reactors projected

demand probably going to be great what

steps is ASP Isotopes taking to become a

leader in the space yeah so so Halo is

one of theps I'm more excited about

actually highs say low enrich uranium

that's a new form of nuclear fuel there

is no Western producer of Halo today um

you know the world world is in desperate

need of a new supplier of Halo and um

and hopefully we'll come and supply and

find find a solution to this to this

problem um so what are we doing to solve

the problem well first of all we're

talking to very well capitalized uh

companies in the US with large balance

sheets who want to use their balance

sheets to help us bring them halo so

rather than requiring free money from

governments or government grants we've

gone straight to the people that need it

who are better capitalized quite frankly

than governments so they're prepared to

put millions of dollars if not billions

of dollars into building plants secondly

we started the research program which

has been funded by one of the US SMR

companies to start doing the plant

designs for this project and by the way

I would add that's probably I can't

think of any other SMR company or

nuclear company that's ever invested in

a research project for enrichment before

most most nuclear companies try try and

avoid enrichment but here they are

getting involved because of the

desperation and the need to get there

finally we're talking to free

governments we need a government permit

to to build a plant or government

government permission to build a plant

enriching uranium plant building a

uranium plant is not like building a

plastic pellet plant takes a bit more

government processes to start of those

discussions with free governments and

hopefully during the next sort of

several months we will get clarity where

our first plant's going to go and I'm

really excited about bringing that news

to the market when we're able to bring

it now Paul tell us as economically as

you can what is the essential value

proposition and why should an investor

take an interest in ASP Isotopes right

now yeah so the world's an inflection

point where these new Isotopes aren't

available from any other producer and

the Isotopes that's been supplied have

come from Russia or rest of the world

and we're coming along as a new supplyer

of Isotopes our technology allows us to

to generate a significant return on

Capital in any plant we built and we're

right at the verge of starting to

produce new isps and generate free cash

flow for our shareholders and hopefully

that should result in a significally

higher share price that's a very

exciting story Paul thank you for

sharing it with us today thank you Craig