Approval of ESIA for Dougou licence area

28 August 2018

 

Kore Potash plc

("Kore Potash" or the "Company")

Approval of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for Dougou licence area

 

Kore Potash plc, the potash development company whose flagship asset is the 97%-owned Sintoukola Potash Project ("Project"), is pleased to announce that the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") for its Dougou Mining Licence has been approved.

A copy of this announcement including diagrams is available on the Company's website at http://www.korepotash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Approval-of-Environmental-and-Social-Impact-Assessment-for-Dougou-licence-area-Digrams.pdf

Highlights

·     The ESIA for the Dougou Mining Licence was approved by the Minister of Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Congo on 13 July 2018.

·     Approval of an ESIA is a prerequisite to commence construction of a mining project in the Republic of Congo.

·     The ESIA authorises the development of the potential mining project at the Dougou carnallite Deposit and could be extended in future to include the Dougou Extension sylvinite Deposit.

·     Permitting for the development of the Dougou Deposits creates potential to utilise potash from these deposits to increase the production rate or extend the project life at the nearby Kola Project, currently the subject of a Definitive Feasibility Study.

·     The ESIA approval is granted for a 12-month period and is renewable annually until construction of a project commences.

 

Brad Sampson, CEO of Kore, commented:

"Kore Potash's mining licences in the Republic of Congo have the potential produce potash for the global market at very low cost for generations, and it is pleasing to have achieved another important milestone with ESIA approval for the Dougou Mining Licence.

"The Company's key strategic ambition is to bring the flagship Kola Project into production, and it is important to keep the potential scale of the potash basin in mind.

"Following completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study for the Kola Project, the Company intends further assess the strategic options to unlock the value of the Dougou Deposits."

 

 

 

Approval of the ESIA

The ESIA for the Dougou Mining Licence was approved by the Minister of Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Congo on 13 July 2018. The ESIA is valid for one year and renewable annually until construction of a mine on the licence begins.

Approval of an ESIA is a prerequisite for beginning construction of a mining project in the Republic of Congo.

The application for the ESIA was submitted on 26 August 2016 to the Minister following approval of the Dougou ESIA terms of reference on 9 June 2016.

The ESIA approval covers the potential mining and processing of the Dougou carnallite Deposit, and application may be made in future to include mining and processing of the Dougou Extension sylvinite Deposit with the approval of the Regulator.

 

The Dougou Mining Licence

The Dougou Mining Licence is adjacent to the Company's flagship Kola Mining Licence and to the Company Sintoukola 2 Exploration License (Figure 1). Together the two Mining Licenses and the Exploration License comprise the Sintoukola Potash Project which cover 955 km² of this emerging globally important potash basin.

Within the Dougou Mining Licence are two potash deposits, the Dougou Carnallite Deposit, and the Dougou Extension sylvinite Deposit. A Mining Permit for the Dougou Licence was granted on 9 May 2017. The Mineral Resources of these deposits are shown in Table 1.

Sylvinite is a rock comprised predominantly of the mineral sylvite (KCl) and halite (NaCl). Carnallite is a potash mineral with formula KMgCl 3·6(H2O).

Sylvinite is usually found in horizontal seams and mined via conventional continuous mining at depths below 1000m - and in the case of Kore's Kola Project much shallower depths of around 350m.

Carnallite is also usually found in horizontal seams and commonly extracted via solution mining - a process which involves water being pumped into the deposit to dissolve the carnallite before being pumped to surface for processing.

Permitting for the development of the Dougou Deposits creates potential to utilise potash from these deposits to increase the production rate or extend the project life at the nearby Kola Project, currently the subject of a Definitive Feasibility Study.

The approval of the ESIA by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment is indicative of the Company and the Government of the Republic of Congo alignment to realise the potential of the Congo potash basin for the benefit of all stakeholders.

The Company remains focused on the development of the nearby Kola sylvinite deposit and currently has not formalised a development plan for Dougou.  The Company intends to further consider the strategic opportunities created by the Dougou Deposits after completion of the Kola Definitive Feasibility Study.

Figure 1. Map showing Kore's Projects in the RoC and license and ESIA status (see http://www.korepotash.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Approval-of-Environmental-and-Social-Impact-Assessment-for-Dougou-licence-area-Digrams.pdf)

 

- ENDS -

 

Contacts:
Brad Sampson	Jos Simson / Edward Lee
Chief Executive Officer	Tavistock (UK media enquiries)
Tel: +27 11 469 9144	Tel: +44 (0) 207 920 3150
[email protected]	[email protected]

www.korepotash.com

 

 

About Kore Potash's Projects

Kore Potash is an advanced stage mineral exploration and development company whose primary asset is 97%-owned interest in the Sintoukola project, a potash project located in the Republic of Congo. The Sintoukola project comprises the Kola sylvinite Deposit, Dougou Extension sylvinite Deposit and the Dougou carnallite Deposit. These deposits are within the Kola and Dougou Mining Licenses. The Sintoukola project also includes the Sintoukola 2 Exploration Licence.

Sintoukola is located approximately 80 km to the north of the city of Pointe Noire which has a major port facility, and within 30 km of the Atlantic coast. Sintoukola has the potential to be among the world's lowest-cost potash producers and its location near the coast offers a transport cost advantage to global fertilizer markets.

The Kola sylvinite Deposit has a Measured and Indicated sylvinite Mineral Resource Estimate of 508 Mt grading 35.4 % KCl. A Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") is being conducted by a consortium of French engineering and construction companies.).

The Dougou Carnallite Deposit has a Measured and Indicated Potash Mineral Resource of 1.1 billion tonnes grading 20.6% KCl (at a depth of between 400 and 600 metres) hosted by 35-40 metres of carnallitite within 4 flat-lying seams. A Scoping Study was completed in February 2015. This Study indicated that a Life of Mine operating cost of US$68 per tonne MoP was achievable.

The Dougou Extension sylvinite Deposit contains a total sylvinite Mineral Resource Estimate of 232 Mt grading 38.1% KCl, hosted by two seams. The resource includes 67 Mt grading 60.1 % KCl. Dougou Extension is located 15 km southwest of Kola. A large zone that is prospective for sylvinite extends a further 25 km northwards, within the Dougou Mining License and onto the 'Sintoukola 2' Exploration License.

 

 

Table 1. Kore's Potash Mineral Resources provided as Gross and Net Attributable (to Kore's 97% holding)

KOLA SYLVINITE DEPOSIT
	Gross			Net Attributable
Mineral Resource Category	Million Tonnes	Grade KCl %	Contained KCl million tonnes	Million Tonnes	Grade KCl %	Contained KCl million tonnes
Measured	216	34.9	75	209	34.9	73
Indicated	292	35.7	104	283	35.7	101
Sub-Total Measured + Indicated	508	35.4	180	492	35.4	174
Inferred	340	34.0	116	330	34.0	112
TOTAL	848	34.8	295	822	34.8	286
DOUGOU EXTENSION SYLVINITE DEPOSIT
	Gross			Net Attributable
Mineral Resource Category	Million Tonnes	Grade KCl %	Contained KCl million tonnes	Million Tonnes	Grade KCl %	Contained KCl million tonnes
Measured	-	-	-	-	-	-
Indicated	111	37.2	41	108	37.2	40
Sub-Total Measured + Indicated	111	37.2	41	108	37.2	40
Inferred	121	38.9	47	117	38.9	46
TOTAL	232	38.1	88	225	38.1	85
TOTAL SYLVINITE, KOLA & DOUGOU EXTENSION DEPOSITS COMBINED
Measured + Indicated + Inferred	1,080	35.5	384	1,048	35.5	372
DOUGOU CARNALLITE DEPOSIT
	Gross			Net Attributable
Mineral Resource Category	Million Tonnes	Grade KCl %	Contained KCl million tonnes	Million Tonnes	Grade KCl %	Contained KCl million tonnes
Measured	148	20.1	30	144	20.1	29
Indicated	920	20.7	190	892	20.7	185
Sub-Total Measured + Indicated	1,068	20.6	220	1,036	20.6	214
Inferred	1,988	20.8	414	1,928	20.8	401
TOTAL	3,056	20.7	634	2,964	20.7	615
KOLA CARNALLITE DEPOSIT
	Gross			Net Attributable
Mineral Resource Category	Million Tonnes	Grade KCl %	Contained KCl million tonnes	Million Tonnes	Grade KCl %	Contained KCl million tonnes
Measured	341	17.4	59	331	17.4	58
Indicated	441	18.7	83	428	18.7	80
Sub-Total Measured + Indicated	783	18.1	142	760	18.1	138
Inferred	1,266	18.7	236	1,228	18.7	229
TOTAL	2,049	18.5	378	1,988	18.5	367

 

 

Table 1 Notes:

·      The Mineral Resource Estimates are reported in accordance with the JORC code 2012 edition. 

·      Table entries are rounded to the appropriate significant figure.

·      The Kola Mineral Resource Estimate was reported on the 6 July 2017. The Competent Person (CP) is Garth Kirkham of Met-Chem division of DRA Americas Inc., a subsidiary of the DRA Group. It was reported using a cut-off grade (CoG) of 10% KCl.

·      The Dougou Extension Mineral Resource Estimate was reported on the 20 of August 2018; the CP is Mr. Andrew Pedley of Kore Potash. The Dougou Extension MRE is reported using a CoG of 15% KCl.

·      The Dougou Mineral Resource Estimate was reported on the 9 February 2015; the Competent Persons are Dr. Sebastiaan van der Klauw and Ms. Jana Neubert of ERCOSPLAN Ingenieurgesellschaft Geotechnik und Bergbau mbH ("ERCOSPLAN").

·      The form and context of the Competent Person's findings as presented in this document have not materially changed since the resource was first reported.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that are "forward-looking". Generally, the words "expect," "potential", "intend," "estimate," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. By their very nature and whilst there is a reasonable basis for making such statements regarding the proposed placement described herein; forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any of our forward-looking statements, which are not guarantees of future performance. Statements in this release regarding the Company's business or proposed business, which are not historical facts, are "forward looking" statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as Mineral Resource estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.

 

Competent Person Statement

 

The information relating to Exploration Targets, Exploration Results, Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves, and the results of economic studies, is extracted from previous reports, as referred to in the footnotes of Table 1 herein, and available to view on the Company's website. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcements and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.