Appia’s New President Kurt Radtke Brings a Driller’s Focus to Rare Earths and Uranium

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Kurt Radtke has officially joined Appia Rare Earths and Uranium as its new president, bringing a wealth of experience from five years spent managing major drilling licenses in the Middle East. His decision to accept the role was driven by his deep fascination with the company's existing assets and the compelling narrative surrounding their land holdings. Kurt describes himself as an "operations live wire" who is eager to apply his extensive background in drilling across various continents to accelerate the company's projects. He views his primary task not just as a leader, but as someone who can get in front of stakeholders to tell the exciting story of Appia's discoveries and secure the necessary support to move forward. The company is currently advancing two significant projects: Ultra Rare Earths' exploration efforts in Brazil and a uranium exploration initiative in North Saskatchewan, Canada. In Brazil, the team has recently completed a resource report for the hard rock carbonatitic mineralization using six active drill rigs, with plans to soon release a similar report for the ionic clay rare earth component before moving into pre-feasibility studies. Meanwhile, the Canadian project in the Baskatong area is generating significant excitement based on geophysical data, though it will require substantial drilling to confirm its potential. Kurt expresses particular enthusiasm for the Alsace Lake project in Canada, noting that he has already reviewed upcoming announcements and believes both sites hold huge potential if the right locations are targeted with rigs. Looking ahead, the leadership team is focused on creating a clear roadmap for the next 12 to 18 months that will guide the company's strategy and communication efforts. Kurt plans to spend his first thirty days observing the technical team and understanding internal information flows before stepping up to promote the company's vision publicly. The management acknowledges the current geopolitical tensions between the United States and Canada, including issues like tariffs, but remains optimistic about the strong economic partnership between the two nations. They believe that by working together successfully, they can leverage their combined strengths in critical minerals, which are essential for both countries, to drive growth and innovation in the sector.

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[music] >> Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Tom and Kurt from Appia Rare Earths and Uranium. Kurt, you're the new president. Congratulations. What was the catalyst for you deciding to take this position? >> Well, one, they asked me. No, you know, honestly, I looked at when I was first approached by Appia and the the head hunter that reached out to me, I I looked at the company and I was just really enthralled with what they've done so far and the land that they're sitting on. You know, I've spent the last 5 years on some major licenses over in the Middle East trying to decide where we were going to put our money for for drill holes and you know, I think that Appia has just got an amazing story to tell and so that's what really drew me to it. >> Well, many people are following the Appia story. So, Tom, let's start with what's happening with Ultra Rare Earth with your Brazil project. >> Ultra is basically exploring the the Brazilian project with their drilling with six drills right now. The last few months um Ultra completed a SK 4 1300 report which is a resource report for for US companies or US listings. And that's for the hard rock, the the carbonatitic part of the mineralization on the property. Their plan is for the next on the next couple of months to come up with another resource on the ionic clay part of the the rare earth on the project on the project. And and then basically follow up with a PA and and then go into a pre-feasibility on that project. So, the project is moving very well. And uh very, you know, every everybody sort of working 24/7 there to get this project to to the next level. >> And Tom, of course, with your background as a real entrepreneurial project developer, you must be in heaven having Kurt with all of his drilling background. >> Uh Tracy, for the last year I was looking up I was looking to find resources a a good person for the president's position. And I you know, over the year or so, I've interviewed quite a few uh uh people. Uh what I liked about Kurt when when I came across Kurt is Kurt is a livewire, okay? And he's an operations guy. And and so, we do have all these projects and and we need, you know, we like to have somebody who can really help us moving those projects forward. And I think Kurt is is the guy and uh for example, uh Appia is is concentrating on this other side property, which is a uranium exploration project in North in North Saskatchewan, the area of Baskatong. And based on the geophysics, what we have there it's it's a very exciting we have a very exciting story developing and uh if things work out, we're going to need a lot of drilling there. So, Kurt has, you know, tons of experience in uh all continents with the drilling experience, but but he's he's the type of you know, an operations live wire guy and that's what I like. >> And Kurt, of course, you've only been the president for 3 days. So, have you had a chance to really look at the Elliot Lake or Alsace Lake projects and is there a favorite of the two yet? >> I really like Alsace. It's you know, I and I have I've been really fortunate before my appointment they actually let me play with some slides and and look at some announcements that are going to be coming out that are really exciting. So, um you know, I I think other side is just at a huge potential and so, you know, we need to make sure that we're putting our our rigs on the right spot, you know, getting the data that we need to have. >> So, Kurt, I was looking at your background and so, you have US military education, MBA, drilling, international travel and of course, I'm just going to draw everyone's attention to what I love is we have a Canadian listed company with uranium and rare earths that the United States needs and uh Critical Critical Minerals Institute has been a leader in saying why the US and Canada need need each other. So, I just love that you're becoming the president. I want to I want to know if you've received any backlash from any of your friends or associates with everything that's going on between the US and Canada right now. >> Yeah, no, I've been cut off with Putin. They haven't Yeah, but other than that, you know, I've had you know, right now it's really exciting. REE is exciting, you know, and and uranium's exciting cuz it's moving forward again. Um you know, and I think the relationship between Canada and the United States, you know, North America is an interesting uh beast anyway, but you know, we get these back and forth, the tariffs and everything else, but you know, end of day is these are two very strong economies that need to move forward. And you know, if we can do that in succession, you know, together then excellent. And and I we've always have. >> Well, Tom and Kurt, I don't know which of you want to answer this next question, but how do you plan on taking the company forward in the next quarter? You have a new president. A lot of people in the industry are very excited about how Ultra Rare Earth is taking your Brazilian project forward. What do you have planned? What is the focus? >> This is what we're working to figure out with Kurt here. We want to put a plan together where we can basically get the story out. We need to basically go out and and talk about Appia's projects and what's happening. And at the same time we're developing the program for the next year, 18 months. So we want to basically give out come out with a road map for what's going to what we see or what we're thinking that will happen to the company in the next 12 to 18 months. For the next for the rest of the year, I think you know, we need to basically go out and tell the story and and then you know, go from there. We're and at the same time we're going to we're going to advance the work on other site and the work in Brazil is is happening and so things will will evolve. >> And Kurt, I'm certain you have your own vision for the next quarter. Do you want to add anything? >> Yeah, I do. Yeah, so my first 30 days, you know, are sit back, observe, you know, see how the technical team works together, see how the information flow is. You know, and absolutely, you know, Tom's right on the money is it you know, we need to get the story out. You know, this it's an exciting story. It's an amazing story. You know, that the discoveries so far are amazing. The the land is amazing. The technical team I'm just super impressed with. You know, the the people that are sitting on the board and the and the technical team itself. And so, you know, my job I always say I have a base for radio but you know, my job is to get in front of people and and you know, tell that story and get them as excited as I am about moving this forward. >> Well, for those of you interested in finding out more about Appia Rare Earths and Uranium, please go to the following website. Thank you both. >> Thank you, Tracy. >> Thank you. Thanks. Thanks, Tracy.