Uranium Joint Venture Commences

RNS Number : 9396F

Kibo Mining Plc

26 February 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: IE00B61XQX41

("Kibo" or "the Company")

 

Dated: 26 February 2015

Uranium Joint Venture Commences

On 21 November 2014, AIM listed exploration and development company Kibo Mining Plc ("Kibo" or the "Company")(AIM: KIBO; JSE AltX: KBO)announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Metal Tiger Plc ("Metal Tiger") regarding a 50/50 Joint Venture ("JV") on Kibo's uranium-prospective tenements in Tanzania ("Pinewood Portfolio") wholly owned by Kibo's 100% owned subsidiary company, Kibo Uranium Ltd ("KB Uranium").

Highlights:

·    Joint Venture Activities have commenced with first funds paid.

·    Metal Tiger holds 50% interest  in  the Pinewood Portfolio

·    Portfolio consists of 43 licences, offers, applications and tenders with a combined surface area of approximately 9,033 square kilometre in Tanzania

Kibo Mining is pleased to announce that it has now commenced activities under the JV with Metal Tiger. Metal Tiger has transferred the first tranche of funds to cater for the ongoing licence fees and maintenance costs and Metal Tiger has been issued with new ordinary shares in KB Uranium such that it now holds 50% of KB Uranium representing a 50% stake in the  joint venture on  the Pinewood Portfolio.

Kibo's CEO, Louis Coetzee, commented: "Kibo Mining is pleased to confirm the commencement of Joint Venture activities with Metal Tiger in respect of the Pinewood Uranium Portfolio.  Pinewood is highly prospective for Uranium and the key to unlocking the value in the project holds is to move it into active operational status. This announcement today confirms the first step in that process, with ongoing costs to be funded by Metal Tiger enabling Kibo to benefit from future upside without the cost of operational activities.

Recently there have been indicators of a potential recovery in the Uranium sector and the restoration of operational activities at Pinewood, if ultimately coinciding with a Uranium market recovery, could prove highly value generative for both Kibo Mining and Metal Tiger."

Uranium Prospective Joint Venture Areas - Pinewood Portfolio

Kibo Uranium Limited, now a 50% owned subsidiary of Kibo Mining Plc, and 50% owned subsidiary of Metal Tiger, owns a portfolio of Uranium prospective assets licences for exploration in Tanzania (collectively the "Pinewood Portfolio").

The Pinewood Portfolio of exploration licences is located in the southern western corner of Tanzania, between the regional capitals of Iranga, Mbeya and Songea. The portfolio consists of 43 licences, offers, applications and tenders with a combined surface area of approximately 9,033 square kilometres.

Key Terms of the Uranium Project Joint Venture

The parties have commenced under their JV agreement, operating under their MOU on the following terms:

·    Kibo Uranium Limited ("KB Uranium"), 50% owned by Kibo Mining Plc and 50% owned by Metal Tiger Plc, owns the Pinewood Portfolio.

·    Metal Tiger has commenced meeting the expenses in relation to the licence renewal fees and other maintenance costs of the Pinewood Portfolio for a minimum of 1 year (estimated to be approximately $100,000) and up to a maximum of 3 years.

·    Metal Tiger is to expend the first US$800,000 under the JV in expenses and exploration relating to the Pinewood Portfolio, at which point costs moving forward are shared 50/50 between the parties.

·    At any time following the first anniversary of the JV, on not less than 90 days notice to Kibo, Metal Tiger may elect to cease sole funding of the JV expenditure.

·    Should Metal Tiger elect to not continue with the JV after the minimum term of one year, or fail to expend US$100,000 by the first anniversary of the JV, or should Metal Tiger fail to expend the full expenditure by the third anniversary of the JV then:

o if less than US$300,000 of the agreed expenditure, the 50% interest in the JV owned by Metal Tiger shall revert back to KB Uranium subject to them exercising a claw-back option;

o if greater than $300,000 of agreed expenditure, KB Uranium shall have the right to exercise the claw-back option in respect of Metal Tiger's interest in KB Uranium however Metal Tiger shall retain a 10% free carry in the Pinewood Portfolio.  

Contacts

Louis Coetzee	[phone]	Kibo Mining plc	Chief Executive Officer
Andreas Lianos	[phone]	River Group	Corporate Adviser and Designated Adviser on JSE
Jon Belliss Abigail Wayne	[phone]	Hume Capital Securities Plc	Broker
Oliver Morse and Trinity McIntyre	[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 with initial findings to be released in the near term.

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 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, with Preliminary Economic Assessment study findings to be released in the near term. At the Morogoro gold project the company has an active 50/50 Exploration Joint Venture with Metal Tiger PLC.

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 an active 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 resource reports and the references to them in this announcement.

Johannesburg

26 February 2015

Corporate and Designated Adviser

River Group

 

 

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