Appointment of Elandsfontein MD

RNS Number : 9524P

Kropz PLC

14 February 2019

 

14 February 2019

Kropz Plc

("Kropz" or the "Company")

Appointment of Jan Steenkamp as Managing Director of Elandsfontein

Kropz Plc (AIM: KRPZ), an emerging African producer of plant nutrient feed minerals, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Jan Steenkamp as Managing Director of the Company's 74% owned Elandsfontein phosphate development project in South Africa's Western Cape Province.

Mr Steenkamp is a well-known South African mining industry veteran and has successfully managed mining operations across a number of commodities. He is currently a non-executive director on the board of African Rainbow Minerals ("ARM"), a leading South African diversified mining and minerals company with long-life, low unit cost operations.

He was first appointed as Managing Director of ARM group company Avgold Limited in 2002 and also served on the board of Assmang Limited. In May 2003, Mr Steenkamp was appointed to the Avmin board and later appointed Chief Executive Officer. Following his tenure as an executive of ARM in June 2017, he served as the Chief Executive of ARM Ferrous and the Chief Executive of ARM Exploration and Strategic Services.

Elandsfontein is Kropz's most developed asset which will exploit the country's largest sedimentary phosphate deposit. Approximately US$120M has been invested in exploration, bulk sampling, feasibility studies and subsequent construction of a mine, mineral processing facility and associated infrastructure. Off-take agreements for its production of more than 1Mtpa at >31% phosphate (P₂O₅) rock concentrate have already been secured.

Following the successful AIM Admission of Kropz plc in November 2018, Jan has been tasked with developing the operational team and driving the Elandsfontein project through to commercial production. Results of the metallurgical test work currently being carried out at Elandsfontein are on track to be released during the first half of 2019.

Ian Harebottle, Chief Executive of Kropz plc commented:

"I am pleased to welcome such a high calibre individual onto the Kropz leadership team. It is no coincidence that Jan has been a long-time asset to the success of the African Rainbow Minerals story, associated with our largest shareholder, Africa Rainbow Capital. Once again, it shows the immense support Kropz continues to receive from ARC, not only as a provider of investment for the project and the company, but also as a source of further technical expertise and assistance required to bring our exciting projects on stream."

Jan Steenkamp, Managing Director of Kropz Elandsfontein commented:

"I am very excited to be a part of the Elandsfontein opportunity. This project has been built to a high standard, has received significant capital investment to date, and is now nearing the final stages of completion. I am pleased to be managing the team that is set to form the foundation for a company with the grand ambition to become an African fertilizer champion."

For further information visit www.kropz.com or contact:

Kropz Plc
Ian Harebottle (CEO)	[phone]
Nominated Adviser
Grant Thornton UK LLP
Richard Tonthat Samantha Harrison Ben Roberts	[phone]
Joint Broker
Hannam & Partners
Andrew Chubb Ernest Bell	[phone]
Joint Broker
Mirabaud Securities Ltd
Rory Scott Edward Haig-Thomas	[phone]
Financial Public Relations & Investor Relations (UK)
Tavistock
Emily Fenton Gareth Tredway Jos Simson	[phone] [e-mail]
Public Relations (South Africa)
Russell & Associates
Charmane Russell James Duncan	[phone] [e-mail]

About Kropz Plc

Kropz is an emerging plant nutrient producer with an advanced stage phosphate mining project in South Africa, a phosphate project in the Republic of Congo and an exploration asset in Ghana. The vision of the Group is to become a leading independent phosphate rock producer and to develop into an integrated, mine-to-market plant nutrient company focusing on sub-Saharan Africa.

Kropz's Elandsfontein Phosphate Project is a near-term producing asset in South Africa's Western Cape Province, close to export infrastructure and primed to take advantage of a recovery in phosphate prices.

The Company's medium-term development asset is the Hinda Phosphate Project in the RoC.

The Company has also secured a prospecting right in Ghana, to undertake further exploration work on the Aflao Project, the potential extension of the well-known, high grade and historically exploited Hahotoe-Kpogame-Kpeme deposit in Togo.

 

END

 

 

BOATJMLTMBIBBLL