TIDMKEFI
RNS Number : 2811Y
KEFI Minerals plc
16 May 2016
16 May 2016
KEFI Minerals plc
("KEFI" or the "Company")
GOVERNMENT OF ETHIOPIA TO INVEST US$20M IN TULU KAPI GOLD
PROJECT
KEFI Minerals (AIM: KEFI), the gold exploration and development
company with projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is pleased to report that,
further to the Company's announcement of 11 November 2015, it has
received formal confirmation from the Government of Ethiopia of its
commitment to invest US$20 million for equity in the Tulu Kapi Gold
Project (the "Project"). This investment will provide the
Government of Ethiopia with an equity interest in KEFI Minerals
(Ethiopia) Ltd ("KME"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of KEFI Minerals
plc that owns and operates the Project, of approximately 20% based
on the projected enlarged paid-up share capital of KME (c. 25%
including the Government's pre-existing 5% free
carried-interest).
Monies invested by the Government will be used to fund the
roads, power and certain other associated infrastructure required
by the Project.
The investment commitment by the Government implies a Project
value of approximately US$100 million at its current stage of
development and reflects the estimated aggregate of equity capital
which will have been invested into KME. As reported on 8 March
2016, at a typical consensus gold price of US$1,250/oz, Project NPV
for the open-pit project and anticipated underground project is c.
US$200 million, once fully funded and based on the unleveraged
after tax cash flows discounted at 8%.
Mr Harry Anagnostaras-Adams, Executive Chairman, said: "KEFI is
delighted to have received this confirmation from the Government of
Ethiopia of its commitment to invest US$20 million in the Tulu Kapi
Gold Project. This represents an important step towards formalising
the finance syndicate, which remains on track for settlement in
Q3-16, and we are honoured that the Government is choosing to
partner with KEFI. We look forward to reporting further progress as
we continue to advance towards commencing construction of the
processing plant in Q4-16 and production commissioning from
Q4-17."
ENQUIRIES
KEFI Minerals plc
Harry Anagnostaras-Adams (Executive
Chairman) +357 99457843
John Leach (Finance Director) +357 99208130
SP Angel Corporate Finance
LLP (Nominated Adviser)
Ewan Leggat, Jeff Keating +44 20 3470 0470
Brandon Hill Capital Ltd (Joint
Broker)
Oliver Stansfield, Alex Walker,
Jonathan Evans +44 20 7936 5200
Beaufort Securities Ltd (Joint
Broker)
Elliot Hance +44 20 7382 8300
Luther Pendragon Ltd (Financial
PR)
Harry Chathli, Claire Norbury,
Ana Ribeiro +44 20 7618 9100
Further information can be viewed on KEFI's website at
www.kefi-minerals.com
NOTES TO EDITOR
KEFI Minerals plc
KEFI is the operator of two advanced gold development projects
within the highly prospective Arabian-Nubian Shield, with an
attributable 1.93Moz (100% of Tulu Kapi's 1.72Moz and 40% of Jibal
Qutman's 0.73Moz) gold Mineral Resources (JORC 2012) plus
significant resource growth potential. KEFI targets that production
at these projects generates cash flows for further exploration and
expansion as warranted, recoupment of development costs and, when
appropriate, dividends to shareholders.
Milestones planned for H1-2016 include:
-- Formal appointment of development funding syndicate for Tulu Kapi gold project
-- Shareholder approval of finance plan for Tulu Kapi gold project
-- Mining Licence Application for Jibal Qutman gold project in Saudi Arabia
KEFI Minerals in Ethiopia
The Tulu Kapi gold project in Western Ethiopia is being rapidly
progressed towards development, with the Mining Licence granted in
April 2015.
KEFI's Definitive Feasibility Study was then completed and the
Company is now refining contractual terms for project construction
and operation. Latest estimates for annual gold production are c.
100,000oz pa for a 10-year period and All-in Sustaining Costs
(including operating, sustaining capital and closure) of
approximately US$724/oz to US$752/oz at a gold price range of
US$1,000/oz to US$1,400/oz. Tulu Kapi's Ore Reserve estimate totals
15.4Mt at 2.12g/t gold, containing 1.05Moz. The eight core
production years of the open pit are estimated to yield an average
of 115,000oz pa.
All aspects of the Tulu Kapi (open pit) gold project have been
reported in compliance with the JORC Code (2012) and subjected to
reviews by appropriate independent experts. These plans now also
reflect the agreed construction and operating terms with project
contractors, and have been independently reviewed by experts
appointed for the project finance syndicate.
A Preliminary Economic Assessment has been published that
indicates the economic attractiveness of mining the underground
deposit adjacent to the Tulu Kapi open pit, after the start-up of
the open pit and after positive cash flows have begun to repay
project debts.
At a gold price of US$1,250/oz, the projected cash flows
indicate a cash build-up in the first three production years of
US$135 million, which would be sufficient to repay all project
debts, fund the development of the underground mine and commence
paying dividends to shareholders.
KEFI Minerals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
In 2009, KEFI formed G&M in Saudi Arabia with local Saudi
partner, Abdul Rahman Saad Al-Rashid & Sons Company Limited
("ARTAR"), to explore for gold and associated metals in the
Arabian-Nubian Shield. KEFI has a 40% interest in G&M and is
the operating partner. To date, G&M has conducted preliminary
regional reconnaissance and has had five exploration licences
("ELs") granted, including Jibal Qutman and the more recently
granted Hawiah EL that contains over 6km strike length of
outcropping gossans developed on altered and mineralised rocks with
all the hallmarks of a copper-gold-zinc VHMS deposit.
At Jibal Qutman, G&M's flagship project, Mineral Resources
are estimated to total 28.4Mt at 0.80g/t gold for 733,045 contained
ounces. The shallow oxide portion of this resource is being
evaluated as a low capital expenditure heap-leach mine
development.
ARTAR, on behalf of G&M, holds 24 EL applications that cover
an area of approximately 1,484km(2) . ELs are renewable for up to
three years and bestow the exclusive right to explore and to obtain
a 30-year exploitation (mining) lease within the area.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has instituted policies to encourage
minerals exploration and development, and KEFI Minerals supports
this priority by serving as the technical partner within G&M.
ARTAR also serves this government policy as the major partner in
G&M, which is one of the early movers in the modern resurgence
of the Kingdom's minerals sector.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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