Pilot Plant Construction Complete, Mutamba Project

RNS Number : 8787W

Savannah Resources PLC

20 November 2017

 

Savannah Resources Plc / Index: AIM / Epic: SAV / Sector: Mining

20 November 2017

Savannah Resources Plc

Pilot Plant Construction Complete and Commissioning Underway,

Mutamba Mineral Sands Project, Mozambique

Savannah Resources plc (AIM: SAV) ('Savannah' or 'the Company'), the AIM quoted resource development company, is pleased to announce that construction of the pilot plant for its bulk metallurgical test work programme at the Mutamba Mineral Sands Project in Mozambique, ('Mutamba' or the 'Project') is now complete (Figures 1-3).  To view the press release with the illustrative maps and diagrams please use the following link:

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8787W_-2017-11-17.pdf 

HIGHLIGHTS:

·    Construction of the Project's 20 tonne per hour pilot plant is complete and commissioning is now underway

·    Pilot plant will produce bulk samples of concentrate for metallurgical and product test work

·    Test work to act as proof-of-concept for future development model - currently targeting first production in 2020 with estimated average annual production of 456,000t of ilmenite and 118,000t of non-magnetic concentrate over a 30-year life of mine

·    Commissioning is expected to be completed by the end of 2017

Savannah's CEO, David Archer said: "We are delighted to announce that the pilot plant construction is now complete, and commissioning is well underway in anticipation of an official opening in December.  The pilot plant construction work has been completed on time and on budget and maintains the Consortium's fast-paced approach towards the Project including the delivery of a Scoping Study earlier this year.

"Upon completion of commissioning, the plant will provide concentrate bulk samples for analysis and the preparation of final products for test marketing.  The completion of the plant is another key milestone for the Mutamba Consortium as we move the Project towards a development decision.

"In the meantime, the overall market setting for TiO₂ feedstocks continues to improve and new supply of TiO₂ feedstocks will be required to meet forecast demand and to ease anticipated market tightness."

Pilot Plant Commissioning

The commissioning process is expected to take around four weeks to complete and includes three stages:

·    Water commissioning

·    Sand commissioning

·    Ore commissioning

Figure 1. Aerial photograph of the plant area - November 2017 (company photo)

Figure 2. Grizzly, conveyor and ore feed system (company photo)

Figure 3. Pilot plant and water storage (company photo)

Competent Person and Regulatory Information

The information in this announcement that relates to exploration results is based upon information compiled by Mr Dale Ferguson, Technical Director of Savannah Resources Limited. Mr Ferguson is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the December 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" (JORC Code). Mr Ferguson consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based upon the information in the form and context in which it appears.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014.

**ENDS**

For further information please visit www.savannahresources.com or contact:

David Archer	Savannah Resources plc	Tel: [phone]
David Hignell / Gerry Beaney (Nominated Adviser)	Northland Capital Partners Ltd	Tel: [phone]
Christopher Raggett / Emily Morris (Joint Broker)	finnCap Ltd	Tel: [phone]
Jon Belliss (Joint Broker)	Beaufort Securities Ltd	Tel: [phone]
Charlotte Page / Lottie Wadham	St Brides Partners Ltd	Tel: [phone]

About Savannah

We are a diversified resources group (AIM: SAV) with a portfolio of energy metals projects - lithium in Portugal and copper in Oman - together with the world-class Mutamba Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Mozambique, which is being developed in a consortium with the global major Rio Tinto. We are committed to serving the interests of our shareholders and to delivering outcomes that will improve the lives of our staff and the communities we work with.

 

END

 

 

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