RCPP - Operational Update

RNS Number : 1781J

Kibo Mining Plc

01 April 2015

 

Kibo Mining Plc (Incorporated in Ireland)

(Registration Number: 451931)

(External registration number: 2011/007371/10)

Share code on the JSE Limited:KBO

Share code on the AIM: KIBO

ISIN: IE00B97C0C31

("Kibo" or "the Company")

Dated: 01 April 2015

RCPP  - Operational Update

Kibo Mining Plc ("Kibo" or the "Company") (AIM:KIBO; JSE AltX: KBO), the Tanzania focused mineral exploration and development company, is pleased to update the market with regard to the latest operational developments at the Company's flagship project, the Rukwa Coal to Power Project ("RCPP").

Highlights

·    Commencement of Phase 2, Stage 1, Definitive Mining Feasibility Study, (Mining Pre - Feasibility Study) of the RCPP;

·    Site visit by Qualified Persons ("QP") to the Rukwa Coal mine site confirms conclusions and assumptions published in Phase 1, Stage 1, Definitive Mining Feasibility Study results;

·    Continuing rapid progress in the commercialisation of the RCPP through Feasibility Study progress and development partner negotiations.

Louis Coetzee, Chief Executive Officer of Kibo Mining plc, commented: "It is pleasing to confirm to market the continuation of Feasibility Study work at the RCPP, particularly as successful completion of this work is a vital step prior to mine construction and power generation. 

The Kibo team is keen to maintain the rapid progress we have achieved recently, and this proactive approach to completion of the Feasibility work is welcomed by all the current and prospective RCPP stakeholders. This includes the Tanzanian government, who has been of great assistance in achieving the progress to date, and also the potential development partners with whom we are finalising negotiations.

On the development partner front, the intensity of discussions and negotiations has continued since our last update and the company has secured a number of final proposals from potential partners. We hope to have a further detailed update for the market shortly."

Summary of RCPP work to date

Kibo Mining is working progressively through the Feasibility Study required to enable the RCPP to move into the construction phase leading to first power generation targeted for 2018.  To date Kibo has undertaken the following feasibility work:

·    Mining Concept Study (This concept study is in reality closer to a standard PFS than a conventional concept study) on the coal resource;

·    Pre-Feasibility Study on the 300 MW mine-mouth power plant; 

·    Pre-feasibility level environmental assessment of the RCPP;

·    Pre-feasibility level financial model for the integrated RCPP, coordinated by Kibo, but developed by Standard Bank of South Africa, and

·    Feasibility level integrated report for the RCPP.

Next Steps for the RCPP Feasibility Studies

The next stage of project development work will involve completion of definitive feasibility studies on both the coal mine as well as the power plant, inclusive of the associated environmental assessments and advanced financial modelling for the integrated RCPP. The definitive feasibility work will also include agreement on a Power Purchase Agreement and Grid Connection Agreement as well as securing all related permits and / or rights with TANESCO and other government departments and agencies. Completion of the DFS' will advance the RCPP to financial close.

To date, all the required planning and preparation for Phase 2, Stage 1 of the Definitive Mining Feasibility Study, i.e. the Mining Pre - Feasibility Study ("MPFS"), has been completed, and the first scheduled work activities of the MPFS, comprising primarily of a site visit to the Rukwa coal project site was completed. The site visit conducted by technical experts from Minxcon Projects occurred over the period 27 - 31 March 2105 and the visit confirmed conclusions and assumptions published in Phase 1, Stage 1, of the Definitive Mining Feasibility Study.

The Rukwa MPFS is defined as a comprehensive study of the viability of a range of options that has advanced to a stage at which the preferred pit configuration has been established and an effective method of mineral processing has been determined.

The range of options to be investigated during the MPFS, consist of the following:

·    Owner-operated Mining Option

·    Contractor-operated Mining Option

·    Surface Miner Mining Option (Continuous Mining) versus Conventional Mining Option (Drill & Blast)

The MPFS also includes a financial analysis based on realistic assumptions of technical, engineering, operating and economic factors and the evaluation of other relevant factors that are sufficient for a Competent Person, acting reasonably, to determine if all or part of the Mineral Resource may be classified as a Mineral Reserve. The overall confidence level of the coal mine part of the RCPP will be advanced to ± 70 - 85% from the current ± 50% - 60%.   

Contacts

Louis Coetzee	[phone]	Kibo Mining plc	Chief Executive Officer
Andreas Lianos	[phone]	River Group	Corporate Adviser and Designated Adviser on JSE
Elliot Hance	[phone]	Beaufort Securities Limited	Broker
Oliver Morse	[phone]	RFC Ambrian Limited	Nominated Adviser on AIM
Daniel Thöle Lucinda Alderson	[phone]	Bell Pottinger	Investor and Media Relations

Kibo Mining - Notes to editors

Kibo Mining is listed on the AIM market in London and the AltX in Johannesburg. The Company is focused on exploration and development of mineral projects in Tanzania, and controls one of Tanzania's largest mineral right portfolios. Tanzania provides a secure and stable operating environment for the mineral resource industry and Kibo Mining therein.

Kibo Mining holds a thermal coal deposit at Rukwa, which has a significant JORC compliant defined resource (See Table 1 below), and is developing a 250-350MW mouth-of-mine thermal power station with an established management team that includes Standard Bank as Financial Advisor.  Kibo is undertaking a Coal Mining Definitive Feasibility Study and a Power Pre-Feasibility Study for Rukwa.

The Company also has extensive gold focused interests including Lake Victoria Goldfields and Morogoro projects. At Lake Victoria, the Company has projects with a 550,000oz JORC compliant gold Mineral Resource at Imweru Project (See Table 2 below) and a 168,000oz NI 43-101 compliant gold Mineral Resource at the Lubando Project (See Table 3 below) in which the Company holds a 90% attributable interest. The Company is currently undertaking a Definitive Feasibility Study on its Imweru Project.

Kibo also holds the Haneti Project on which the latest technical report confirms prospectivity for nickel, PGMs, gold and strategic metals including Lithium. 

Kibo Mining further holds the Pinewood (coal & uranium) project where the company has signed a MOU to enter into a 50/50 Exploration Joint Venture with Metal Tiger plc.

Finally the Company also holds the Morogoro (gold) project where the company has signed a MOU to enter into a 50/50 Exploration joint Venture with Metal Tiger plc.

The Company's projects are located in the established and gold prolific Lake Victoria Goldfields, the emerging goldfields of eastern Tanzania and the Mtwara Corridor in southern Tanzania where the Government has prioritised infrastructural development attracting significant recent investment in coal and uranium. The Company has a positive working relationship with the Tanzanian government at local, regional and national levels and works hard to maintain positive relationships with all communities where company interests are held.  The Company recognises the potential to enhance the quality of life and opportunity for Tanzanian citizens through careful development of its projects.

Updates on the Company's activities are regularly posted on its website www.kibomining.com   

Technical data

Rukwa Mineral Resource

Table 1 below presents a table showing the Mineral Resource estimate for the Rukwa Coal Project. The table is taken from an NI 43 101-Compliant Report by GEMECS (Pty) Ltd dated April 2012.

Table 1

RUKWA COAL RESOURCE SUMMARY- GEMECS (Pty) Ltd
	SEAM	NI 43-101	IN SITU
SEAM	THICKNESS	CLASS	MILLION TONS
S4	1.14	Indicated	2.17
S3U	2.04	Indicated	6.92
S3L	2.3	Indicated	12.63
S2	3.45	Indicated	23.43
S1U	2.48	Indicated	7.34
S1L	2.92	Indicated	17.4
S0	1.08	Indicated	1.44
Total Indicated Resources			71.34
S4	1.31	Inferred	1.38
S3U	2.24	Inferred	2.94
S3L	2.27	Inferred	3.86
S2	3.42	Inferred	7.94
S1U	2.05	Inferred	6.5
S1L	3.15	Inferred	12.83
S0	1.06	Inferred	2.6
Total Inferred Resources			38.05
TOTAL RESOURCES			*109.39

*Kibo holds 100% of the Rukwa Mineral Resource

Imweru Mineral Resource

Table 2 below presents a table showing the Mineral Resource estimate for the Imweru Project  at  a base case economic cut-off grade for the reporting of the resource  of  0.4 g/t. The table is taken from a JORC-Compliant Report by Tetra Tech EBA dated February 2014.

Table 2

Area	Material Type	Classification	Cut- off (g/t)	Specific Gravity	Metric Tonnes (t)	Short Tons	Gold Grade (g/t)	Contained Gold Ounces (troy)
Central	Laterite	Indicated	0.40	2.50	131,000	144,000	1.785	8,000
	Saprolite	Indicated	0.40	2.50	706,000	778,000	1.387	32,000
	Bedrock	Indicated	0.40	2.89	1,895,000	2,089,000	1.043	64,000
	Total	Indicated	0.40	2.77	2,732,000	3,012,000	1.168	103,000
Central
	Laterite	Inferred	0.40	2.50	685,000	755,000	1.317	29,000
	Saprolite	Inferred	0.40	2.50	1,047,000	1,154,000	1.040	35,000
	Bedrock	Inferred	0.40	2.89	7,838,000	8,640,000	1.029	259,000
	Total	Inferred	0.40	2.82	9,569,000	10,548,000	1.051	323,000
East	Total	Inferred	0.40	2.70	2,653,000	2,925,000	1.449	124,000
Imweru Property Total		Indicated	0.4	2.77	2,732,000	3,012,000	1.168	103,000
		Inferred	0.4	2.79	12,222,000	13,473,000	1.137	447,000
		Combined (inf+ind)	0.4	2.79	14,954,000	16,485,000	1.143	550,000

*Kibo holds 90% of the Imweru Mineral Resource

*   Total estimates are rounded, based on composites capped at 26 g/t gold at Imweru Centraland 25 g/t at Imweru East, the cut-off grade isbased on a gold price of US$1,200 and a 90%  metallurgical recovery is assumed in calculation of cut-offgrade. A base case of  0.40  g/t has been selected.
 

** Classification of MineralResources incorporates the terms and definitions from the Australian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code) published bythe Joint Ore Reserve Committee (JORC)

Lubando Mineral Resource

Table 3 below presents a table showing the Mineral Resource estimate for the Lubando Project at a base case economic cut-off grade for the reporting of the resource of 0.5 g/t Au. The table is taken from an NI 43 101-Compliant Report by EBA Engineering Consultants Limited (now part Tetra Tech EBA) dated August 2009.

TABLE3: LUBANDO MINERALRESOURCE SUMMARY - BASECASE*
Category	West Zone	East Zone South	East Zone Mid	East Zone North	Total
Measured Resource
Measured Resource(t)	107,900	4,880	16,900	54,440	184,150
Grade(g/t)	1.69	2.52	1.72	2.48	1.95
Total Gold(oz)	5,900	400	950	4,340	11,500
Indicated Resource
Indicated Resource(t)	280,710	18,330	61,000	149,350	509,420
Grade(g/t)	1.61	2.23	1.89	2.73	1.99
Total Gold(oz)	14,500	1,300	3,700	13,120	32,600
Inferred Resource
Total Resource(t)	1,090,000	65,470	209,340	535,330	1,900,140
Grade(g/t)	1.27	1.56	3.34	3.13	2.03
Total Gold(oz)	44,550	3,300	22,500	53,900	124,200

*Kibo holds 90% of the Lubando Mineral Resource

* Numbers are rounded. Composites capped at 10.85g/t gold. Cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t gold based on a gold price of US$850/oz and assumed 100% metallurgical recovery.CIM definitions were followed for Mineral Resources.

Pursuant to the terms of an inherited agreement with Barrick East Africa Exploration LTD (BEAL), Kibo currently has an effective 90% interest in the Imweru and Lubando Project (and thus a 90% attributable interest in the Imweru and Lubando Mineral Resources shown in Table 2 and 3 above), with Barrick having a 10% carried interest up to a decision to mine at which point they have to contribute or be diluted to a 2% net smelter royalty. BEAL also has a first right of refusal pursuant to which they can buy the 90% interest in the project at an agreed market related value after completion of a Bankable Feasibility Study.  Kibo remains the operator of the project.

Review by Qualified Persons

The information in this announcement that relates to the Rukwa Coal Mineral Resource is taken from a report titled "Independent Technical Report for the Rukwa Coal Project, Mbeya Region, United Republic of Tanzania" dated 19^th April 2012 by CD van Niekerk Director and Principal Geologist with the firm GEMECS (Pty) Ltd. Mr van Niekerk is a Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), Registration No. 400066/98 and a Fellow Member of the Geological Society of South Africa. He has relevant experience and technical qualifications to be a "Qualified Person" for reporting coal resources to the NI 43-101 Standard.

Information in this announcement that relates to the Imweru Mineral Resource is taken from the report titled "Resource Update for the Imweru Property Geita Region Northern, Tanzania, JORC Competent Persons Report" dated February 17^th 2014 (the "Report"). The Report states a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource estimate and was prepared for Kibo Mining plc by James Barr P.Geo. and Darryn Hitchcock P.Geo. Senior Geologist and Geologist respectively with TetraTech EBA Ltd. Both Mr. Barr and Mr. Hitchcock are registered as Certified Professional Geologists with Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia a recognised professional organisation. Mr Barr as principal author responsible for the Report has experience in the evaluation and reporting of Archaean Gold projects and is a "Qualified Person" for reporting gold resources to the JORC Standard. He consents to the inclusion in this document of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which they appears. 

The information in this announcement that relates to the Lubando Mineral Resources is taken from a report titled  "Technical Report on the Lubando property, Mwanza, Tanzania" dated 31^st  August 2009" (the "Report") The  Report is NI 43-101 compliant and was prepared for Great Basin Gold Rusaf Gold Limited by Nathan Eric Fier C.P.G., P.Eng. Market Director for EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd and a Senior Mining Consultant. Mr. Fieris registered as a Certified Professional Geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists, Registration No 10062, and a professional Engineer in British Columbia, Canada Registration No. 135165. He has extensive experience in the evaluation and reporting of Archaean Gold projects.

The Company's Exploration Director, Noel O'Keeffe has reviewed the content of this announcement including resource reports and the references to them.

Johannesburg

01 April 2015

Corporate and Designated Adviser

River Group

 

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