Bacanora Sonora & Lithium Market Update

RNS Number : 2300O

Cadence Minerals PLC

28 May 2020

 

Cadence Minerals Plc

("Cadence Minerals", "Cadence" or "the Company")

Bacanora Lithium (BCN) - Sonora Lithium Project, Lithium Market & Covid-19 Update.

Cadence Minerals (AIM/NEX: KDNC; OTC: KDNCY) notes the update published today by Bacanora Lithium (AIM:BCN) ("Bacanora"), both on the Lithium market, and on its activities at the Sonora Lithium Project in Mexico ('Sonora' or the 'Project') in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Cadence Minerals - Holdings in Mexalit and Megalit:

Bacanora is a lithium exploration and development company. Cadence holds 30% of Mexalit and Megalit joint venture companies. Mexalit is the owner of the El Sauz, El Sauz 1, El Sauz 2, Fleur and Fleur 1 mineral concessions, which form part of the 20-year mine plan of the Sonora Lithium Project in Northern Mexico.

Lithium Market and Project Development

Whilst demand for internal combustion vehicles has been significantly impacted by the spread of Covid-19 and a general economic slowdown, electric vehicle ("EV") demand in Europe increased over 50% during first quarter 2020*. In addition, automotive companies have recently outlined plans to spend more than US$140** billion on EV production. This is an industry shift that will require producers of specialist materials and metals for lithium batteries to dramatically lift output. As a result, lithium demand is anticipated to grow 800% by 2030. Bacanora continues to prioritise its development schedule for Sonora despite Covid-19 limitations, with a goal of being able to complete financing for the Project and initiate site works in H1 2021.  This timetable will enable Bacanora to commence lithium deliveries to its offtake partners, Ganfeng Lithium ("Ganfeng") and Hanwa Corporation, in 2023. Ganfeng remains fully committed to the advancement of Sonora's development and continues to progress its investment schedule at the Sonora project level.

Sonora Operations

In Mexico, the Sonora government continues to maintain measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 which includes, amongst other measures, the closing of schools and all non-essential business operations as well as cancelling events of more than 10 people. Accordingly, Bacanora's Hermosillo pilot plant ("pilot plant") was placed in care and maintenance in late March 2020 after shipping samples to its engineering partners in the USA and China in order to maintain the Front End Engineering Design ("FEED") schedule. The pilot plant will remain closed until conditions are considered safe and the Government lifts its restrictions.  It is currently anticipated that the pilot plant will re-open in June 2020.

Bacanora CEO Peter Secker commented: "The entire team at Bacanora and our partners continue to work as best as we can during this pandemic. We remain fully focussed on progressing the final parts of the detailed design work for our flagship Sonora Lithium Project, located in Mexico. Bacanora also boasts a strong cash position and benefits from the support of its cornerstone shareholders, who are globally significant players in the electric vehicle industry.  The Company's strategy remains the same and with the goal to deliver first product to its off-take partners in early 2023, importantly coinciding with the expected significant growth in EV demand."

Cadence CEO Kiran Morzaria commented: "Our thoughts are with the Bacanora team as they work through the Covid-19 pandemic. We note Bacanora's update on the Sonora development timetable, and in particular the Lithium market in general, detailing the forecast increase in demand to meet the ramp-up in EV production."

(* www.euractiv.com/section/electric-cars/news/electric-car-sales-in-europe-jumped-57-in-q1-2020/

**www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-05-11/to-avoid-battery-metal-pinch-carmakers-urged-to-invest-in-mines )

The full Bacanora release can be found at: https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/BCN/14555542.html

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.

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For further information: Cadence Minerals plc   [phone] Andrew Suckling Kiran Morzaria WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker)   [phone] James Joyce James Sinclair-Ford Novum Securities Limited (Joint Broker)   [phone] Jon Belliss

Qualified Person

Kiran Morzaria B.Eng. (ACSM), MBA, has reviewed and approved the information contained in this announcement. Kiran holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Industrial Geology) from the Camborne School of Mines and an MBA (Finance) from CASS Business School.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this announcement are or may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''believe'' ''could'' "should" ''envisage'' ''estimate'' ''intend'' ''may'' ''plan'' ''will'' or the negative of those variations or comparable expressions including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth results of operations performance future capital and other expenditures (including the amount. nature and sources of funding thereof) competitive advantages business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.  Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements including risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions competition environmental and other regulatory changes actions by governmental authorities the availability of capital markets reliance on key personnel uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions. The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements.

 

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