Jubilee Platinum PLC
06 June 2007
Jubilee Platinum Plc
('Jubilee' or 'the Company')
Positive Scoping Study Completed For The Tjate Project
Jubilee is pleased to announce the completion of a scoping study ('the Scoping
Study') on Tjate Platinum Corporation Pty (Ltd)'s flagship platinum group metal
('PGM') Tjate property ('Tjate' or 'the Project'), located in South Africa's
western Bushveld.
The Scoping Study, which was carried out over approximately 15% of the total
Project area, demonstrates robust economics, showing a positive base case
internal rate of return of 22% for an initial investment of US$400 million. The
Scoping Study scenario outlined below, one of several considered, is for a
stand-alone underground mine, producing annually 262,000 ounces PGMs plus gold.
The mining scenario considered is for a single vertical shaft system to a depth
of 1100 metres and initially mining only Merensky reef.
The Scoping Study was developed in conjunction with independent consultants,
Snowden Mining Industry Consultants, a member of the Snowden Group of
international mining consultants.
Scoping Study Highlights:
• Tjate mine to produce annually 262,000 oz (PGMs + gold)
• Internal rate of return (IRR) of 22% after tax
• Net present value (NPV) of US$292 million after tax using a discount
rate of 10%
• US$400 million implementation capital investment (ZAR3 billion)
• Metal prices discounted over current prices
• Only 15% of Tjate project area studied
Key Scoping Study Assumptions:
Run of mine grade 5.2 grams per tonne (g/t) 4E (platinum, palladium, rhodium &
gold); 0.22% nickel; 0.13% copper
Resource 34 million tonnes
Milling rate 1.8 million tonnes per year
Life of mine 18 years (full production)
Operating cash cost US$45/tonne
Implementation capital U$400 million
Metal prices
4E basket US$893/oz (5% weighted average discount over current
prices)
Nickel US$20,000/t (40% discount)
Copper US$5,000/t (67% discount)
Colin Bird, CEO of Jubilee, commented, 'We are delighted to have completed a
positive Scoping Study for the Tjate Project, which indicates a very favourable
return for Tjate developed as a stand-alone mine. As we now move towards the
preparation of a bankable feasibility study, engineering optimisation should
continue to improve the Project's economic returns.
'It is also very positive to note that this Scoping Study is based upon a
resource of 34 million tonnes, representing only a small proportion (about 15%)
of the total Tjate Project area. Therefore, considerable scope exists downdip
of and laterally from the current resource area and we believe there to be
excellent potential for further significant production expansion.'
Notes to editors:
The Tjate project comprises three contiguous farms, totaling 5,143 hectares in
the eastern Bushveld: namely Dsjate, Fernkloof and Quartz Hill. The farms are
downdip of Impala Platinum's operating Marula platinum mine and of Anglo
Platinum's developing Twickenham platinum mine. Jubilee has recently completed
the first phase drilling of seven boreholes on the Dsjate farm. All the holes,
as previously reported, intersected at targeted depths the Merensky reef and,
where drilled deeper, the UG2 reef. These two reefs are the two main PGM-bearing
horizons in the Bushveld.
For further information please contact:
Colin Bird Cathy Malins / Annabel Leather
Jubilee Platinum plc Parkgreen Communications Ltd
Tel +44 (0) 20 7584 2155 Tel +44 (0) 20 7851 7480
Andrew Sarosi
Jubilee Platinum plc
Tel +44 (0) 1752 221937
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
*A Private Investor is a recipient of the information who meets all of the conditions set out below, the recipient:
Obtains access to the information in a personal capacity;
Is not required to be regulated or supervised by a body concerned with the regulation or supervision of investment or financial services;
Is not currently registered or qualified as a professional securities trader or investment adviser with any national or state exchange, regulatory authority, professional association or recognised professional body;
Does not currently act in any capacity as an investment adviser, whether or not they have at some time been qualified to do so;
Uses the information solely in relation to the management of their personal funds and not as a trader to the public or for the investment of corporate funds;
Does not distribute, republish or otherwise provide any information or derived works to any third party in any manner or use or process information or derived works for any commercial purposes.
Please note, this site uses cookies. Some of the cookies are essential for parts of the site to operate and have already been set. You may delete and block all cookies from this site, but if you do, parts of the site may not work. To find out more about the cookies used on Investegate and how you can manage them, see our Privacy and Cookie Policy
To continue using Investegate, please confirm that you are a private investor as well as agreeing to our Privacy and Cookie Policy & Terms.