The expected mine life of the Bigrlyi joint venture, a Northern Territory uranium and vanadium project, has been increased from eight to twelve years, following the completion of an in-house scoping study.

Apart from the increase in mine life, with improved plant utilisation, uranium production on the site will increase from 8.4 million pounds to 16.2 million pounds, up 93 per cent.

Vanadium production on the site also increased from 7 million tonnes to 14.5 million tonnes, an increase of 107 per cent, according to the study by Paladin Energy mining engineer Andrew Hutson.

Paladin Energy subsidiary Valhalla Uranium owns 42.1 per cent of the project, with the majority stake of 53.7 per cent owned by Energy Metals, which is based in West Perth.

Energy said in an announcement that it believed there would be excellent scope in future to delineate additional resources, which would further enhance the value of the project.

The next drilling campaign at the project will commence in August.

Shares in Energy Metals were up 4.5¢ to $1 at 8.37am, while Paladin was down 1¢ to $5.36.