MCPP: Final Approval for ESIA Scoping Reports

RNS Number : 2188U

Kibo Mining Plc

16 January 2017

 

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:  IE00B97C031

("Kibo" or "the Company")

 

16 January 2017

Mbeya Coal to Power Project Receives Final Approval for ESIA Scoping Reports

Kibo Mining plc ("Kibo" or the "Company") (AIM: KIBO; AltX: KBO), the Tanzania focused mineral exploration and development Company, is pleased to announce that the Tanzania National Environmental Management Council ("NEMC") approved and accepted both the Mbeya Coal Mine and Mbeya Power Plant Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") scoping reports.

Approval and acceptance of the scoping reports concludes Stage 2 of the required three stage statutory ESIA approval process. Completion of Stage 2 now paves the way for final ESIA certification of both the Mbeya Coal Mine and the Mbeya Power Plant.

Louis Coetzee, CEO of Kibo Mining, said: "Approval and acceptance of the MCPP ESIA scoping reports represents a critical point in the overall ESIA approval process. At this stage the majority of the ESIA work, i.e. specific ESIA terms of reference, required specialist studies as well as consultation, have been completed, submitted and accepted by the NEMC as compliant for certification. We expect Stage 3, (i.e. certification process), to be completed in a shorter time frame than usual, given the fact that the preparation work for an accelerated conclusion of Stage 3 was done whilst awaiting approval of the scoping reports.

Receipt of the scoping report approvals from the NEMC, follows a week of broad and productive consultation with various Tanzanian Government departments regarding the further development of the MCPP. These discussions once again confirmed continued support for the MCPP as a strategic energy / development project and also that the recent and still ongoing policy changes and restructuring, will have significant long term benefits for projects like the MCPP.

Further updates in this regard as well as an update on the completion of the MCPP Integrated Bankable Feasibility Study will follow shortly"

Contacts

Louis Coetzee	[phone]	Kibo Mining plc	Chief Executive Officer
Andreas Lianos	[phone]	River Group	Corporate Adviser and Designated Adviser on JSE
Jon Belliss	[phone]	Beaufort Securities Limited	Broker
Oliver Morse	[phone]	RFC Ambrian Limited	Nominated Adviser on AIM
Liz Morley / Anna Legge	[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 Mbeya, which has a significant NI 43-101 compliant defined resource, and is developing a 250-350 MW mouth-of-mine thermal power station, the Mbeya Coal to Power Project ("MCPP"), previously called Rukwa Coal to Power Project ("RCPP"), with an established management team that includes ABSA / Barclays as Financial Advisor. Kibo is undertaking a Coal Mining Definitive Feasibility Study and a Power Pre- Feasibility Study for the Mbeya project with an Integrated Bankable Feasibility Study report for the MCPP to be released in the near term. On 25 August 2016, Kibo signed an Agreement with China based EPC contractor SEPCO III granting it the right to become the sole bidder for the EPC contract to build the power plant component of the MCPP in exchange for SEPCO III refunding 50% of the development costs incurred by Kibo to date on the project. Kibo has already received the first tranche of this funding in the amount of US$1.8 million on the 5th September 2016

The Company also has extensive gold focused interests including Lake Victoria Goldfields and Morogoro projects. At Lake Victoria, the Company has 100% owned projects with a 550,000 oz. JORC compliant gold Mineral Resource at the Imweru Project and a 168,000 oz. NI 43-101 compliant gold Mineral Resource at the Lubando Project. 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 entered into a 50/50 Exploration Joint Venture with Metal Tiger plc.

Finally, the Company also holds the Morogoro (gold) project where the company has also entered 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 prioritized 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 recognizes 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

Johannesburg

16 January 2017

Corporate and Designated Adviser

River Group

 

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