Panthera Resources PLC Bhukia Property Rights Protection Granted (2526C)
September 28 2018 - 2:02AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMPAT
RNS Number : 2526C
Panthera Resources PLC
28 September 2018
28 September 2018
Panthera Resources Plc
("Panthera" or "the Company")
Bhukia Property Rights Protection Granted by the High Court of
Rajasthan
Panthera Resources plc (AIM: PAT), the gold exploration and
development company with assets in India and West Africa, is
pleased to announce that the High Court of Rajasthan, Jodhpur
(Court) has granted Stay Order protection over the entire 25km(2)
Prospecting Licence Application (PLA) area of the Bhukia Joint
Venture (JV).
Highlights
-- The Court has admitted the Writ Petition filed by the
Company's JV partner Metal Mines India Pvt Ltd.
-- Stay Order protection has been granted over the entire 25km(2) , PLA area.
-- The Government of Rajasthan has been given 4 weeks to respond
to the Writ Petition before subsequent hearings will determine the
matter.
Background and Implications:
The Company was recently advised by the Government of Rajasthan
(GoR) that the PLA made on behalf of the Bhukia JV, by its joint
venture partner Metal Mines India Pvt Ltd., had been rejected. The
notification was in response to an Order issued by the Court dated
22 January 2018, where the Court directed the GoR to take a final
decision on the pending PLA, preferably within 3 months from the
date of the Order and gave the Bhukia JV liberty to file with fresh
cause of action, in case it was aggrieved by the decision of the
GoR.
The Company immediately moved to exercise the legal recourse
available to it by filing a Writ Petition, before the Court,
challenging the order of the GoR, rejecting its main PLA.
At a hearing on 26 September 2018, the Court admitted the Writ
Petition, issued notice to the GoR and asked for a response within
4 weeks.
The Court also gave interim protection to the Bhukia JV by
ordering the Government to restrain from dealing with the area
comprised in the PLA, until further orders. This was the predicted
outcome for the Company and it provides excellent protection of
Panthera's rights and allows the Company several good options to
advance the permit to its rightful grant.
The Court heard the matter in detail and found the grounds for
rejection to be without merit as they questioned the validity of
the sanctioned Reconnaissance Permit in favour of the Bhukia JV and
the preferential rights accrued in favour of the company after it
successfully completed reconnaissance work under the permit. The
interim order was passed ex party, at the first effective hearing
and reflects the strong case the company has to protect its legal
rights and to have the rejection order reversed.
Geoff Stanley, Managing Director of Panthera Resources,
commented:
"We are very pleased that the Courts of India have again proved
to be effective in protecting the Company's rights to the Bhukia
project. This strong protection offers additional paths to resolve
the permitting process with the GoR, puts us in a strong
negotiating position, and validates our rights. The Bhukia project
may represent one of the most significant undeveloped gold and
copper deposits currently known, and despite these ongoing delays,
we are confident of our rights and believe opportunity to advance
such a high-quality project is within reach. I look forward to
updating the market as further progress is achieved toward the goal
of being able to grow the existing JORC (2012) resource of 1.74
million ounces by drill defining the larger exploration target,
which currently stands at over 6.0 million ounces."
Enquiries
Panthera Resources PLC
Geoff Stanley (CEO) +1 (917) 941 7704
Nominated Advisor and Broker
RFC Ambrian +44 (0) 20 3440 6800
Rob Adamson
Bhavesh Patel
Charlie Cryer
Financial Public Relations
Blytheweigh +44 (0) 20 7138 3204
Camilla Horsfall
Julia Tilley
Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure
The information communicated in this announcement includes
inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation
596/2014.
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END
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