Update - Yangibana - Hastings Technology Metals

RNS Number : 1989U

Cadence Minerals PLC

27 March 2019

 

Cadence Minerals Plc

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

Hastings Technology Metals (ASX: HAS) says NAIF is reviewing Yangibana Rare Earth Project, Australia for Possible Funding.

Cadence Minerals (AIM/NEX: KDNC; OTC: KDNCY) is pleased to announce that Hastings Technology Metals (ASX: HAS) ("Hastings"), the 70% owner and operator of the Yangibana Rare Earth Project ("Yangibana") in which Cadence is a joint venture partner with 30%, has announced that the Australian Government's Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility ("NAIF") has indicated it will further investigate the potential for NAIF to provide debt finance for Yangibana.

Highlights from Hastings News Release:

·      The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) is further investigating the potential to provide debt financing to the Yangibana Rare Earths Project.

·      NAIF's funding has potential to finance the majority of the Yangibana Project's infrastructure and related costs.

·      Hastings has commenced work in preparing the required formal Investment Proposal required as part of the next steps to progress due diligence by NAIF.

The Yangibana Project involves the development of Rare Earth's deposits rich in neodymium and praseodymium, elements vital to permanent magnets that provide many critical components of wide-ranging high-tech products, including electric vehicles, renewable energy wind turbines, robotics, medical applications and others. The development of this project is expected to bring benefits to the Gascoyne, Carnarvon and Meekatharra regions of northern Australia including through employment and business opportunities.  The Yangibana Project aims to be the next significant producer of neodymium and praseodymium outside of China.

Hastings has commenced the process of preparing its Investment Proposal for NAIF's consideration and this represents a major milestone in Hastings engagement with NAIF and in potentially securing debt finance for the project. NAIF has not yet made any decision to offer debt finance and there is no certainty that an agreement will be reached between the parties.

NAIF is a major initiative of the Australian Government. NAIF has access to a A$5 billion lending facility which can provide a range of loan concessions, to support infrastructure development that generates public benefit for Northern Australia. It also encourages and complements private sector investment to further that objective.

NAIF's due diligence is under way and Hastings will continue to assist NAIF with further specific requirements to facilitate the process for seeking approval for providing debt finance to the Yangibana Project.

Full Hastings ASX announcement here:

https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20190327/pdf/443svmmmwfzvsn.pdf

Details of Ownership

On 1 December 2011, Cadence announced that it had acquired a 30% free carried interest to Bankable Feasibility Study of the Yangibana North Rare Earth Deposit. The exploration costs until the commencement of the BFS are therefore borne solely by Hastings (70% owners and operator). The same terms agreed and announced on 1 December 2012 also apply to Gossan, Hook, Kanes Gossan, Lions Ear and Bald Hill North.

Probable Ore Reserves of some 2.1 million tonnes at 1.66% total rare earth elements are contained within 30% owned joint venture tenements. Further details of these reserves and pre-feasibility study can be found at http://irservices.netbuilder.com/ir/cadence/newsArticle.php?ST=REM&id=2688632.

Cadence Minerals CEO Kiran Morzaria commented: 

"Cadence is encouraged that the Yangibana Project and our joint venture owner operator partner could potentially benefit from NAIF debt financing, particularly if as stated by Hastings Chairman Charles Lew that if approved, Hastings can push ahead with its stated goal of construction commencement in H2 2019."

- Ends -

For further information:

Cadence Minerals plc	[phone]
Andrew Suckling
Kiran Morzaria
WH Ireland Limited (NOMAD & Broker)	[phone]
James Joyce
James Sinclair-Ford
Hannam & Partners LLP (Joint Broker)	[phone]
Neil Passmore
Giles Fitzpatrick
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.

 

END

 

 

MSCGMGZFZNKGLZM