Development & Financing MoU with Sinohydro

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ("MAR")

Kodal Minerals Plc / Index: AIM / Epic: KOD / Sector: Mining

1 September 2020

Kodal Minerals plc ("Kodal Minerals" or the "Company")

Kodal Minerals Signs MoU with Sinohydro to Review Engineering, Development and Financing of Bougouni Lithium Project

Kodal Minerals, the mineral exploration and development company focused on its Bougouni Lithium Project (the "Bougouni Project" or the "Project") in southern Mali, is pleased to announce it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (the "MoU") with Sinohydro Corporation Limited ("Sinohydro"), a specialist engineering, infrastructure, power developer and construction contractor, to work together to develop the Bougouni Project.

Sinohydro is a subsidiary of PowerChina, a Chinese state-owned enterprise and a Fortune Global 500 Company with a US$67bn turnover, which is a leading international engineering and construction company providing integrated services across a range of renewable energy and infrastructure areas.

Sinohydro has undertaken a number of large and high-profile engineering and construction projects in Mali and continues to be active in large Government infrastructure projects and private commercial developments.  Further details of Sinohydro's developments are provided below.  Importantly for the Company's Bougouni Project, Sinohydro is currently active in the Bougouni region. It has undertaken a site visit to the Bougouni Project with a number of its technical team, looking at the geology, engineering, logistics and corporate aspects of the Bougouni Project, in addition to having access to the feasibility study dataroom, and has provided initial feedback on the high quality of the work undertaken to date, and the development potential.

The focus of the MoU is for Kodal Minerals and Sinohydro to work together to develop the Bougouni Project. The key objectives are:

·    Sinohydro will conduct at its own expense a review of the development proposed for the Bougouni Project and provide input in particular on procurement and civil engineering aspects of the feasibility study;

·    Sinohydro will review the financing requirements for the Project and, subject to satisfactory review, assist in sourcing financing for the Project. Sinohydro acknowledges the experience of, and will work with, the Company's largest shareholder, Suay Chin International Pte Ltd, and in turn Shandong Ruifu Lithium Industry Co Ltd, which operates a lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide production plant in Tai'An, China and is expected to be an end user of the spodumene product produced by the Bougouni Project;

·    Following completion of the feasibility review and development plan and demonstration of project financing, Kodal Minerals and Sinohydro will use reasonable endeavours to negotiate a mutually acceptable EPC contract; and

·    Kodal Minerals has granted Sinohydro an initial six-month exclusivity period to review and advise on financing for the Bougouni Project and develop an EPC contract proposal.

Bernard Aylward, CEO of Kodal Minerals, commented: "We are very pleased to announce the finalisation of the MoU with Sinohydro and believe it reflects the underlying value of the Bougouni Project.  We have had ongoing discussions with Sinohydro for a period of time during which we have been pleased to host their technical team at the Project site. We look forward to a strong and productive collaboration between our respective technical teams to maximise the benefit of the MoU which we see as delivering a third party assessment of our feasibility study, a review of our development schedule and most importantly a review and advancement of the financing opportunities for the Bougouni Project.

"Sinohydro has a strong track record of developing and working on engineering projects in Mali and elsewhere in Africa which gives us great confidence that we have teamed up with a group that will bring many positive benefits to the Bougouni Project and will help Kodal Minerals to finalise the design, financing and construction process efficiently and cost effectively.

"Kodal Minerals notes the continued uncertainty in the political situation in Mali, and as announced by Kodal Minerals on 19 August 2020, continues to review the situation.   Current news reports indicate that the situation in Mali is calm and that the Government agencies have recommenced office activities.  Negotiations between the military leaders and civilian leaders are continuing with the aim of returning to civilian Government as quickly as possible."

Background on Sinohydro and PowerChina

Sinohydro is a subsidiary of PowerChina, a Fortune Global 500 constituent, and a company with three main areas of business:

1.    Energy and Power 

·    Including hydropower, thermal power, nuclear power, water and solar power, biomass energy and transmission

2.    Infrastructure

·    Including integrated transportation corridors with roads, bridges, rail facilities, airports, ports and channels

·    Rural and urban infrastructure including urban space and mineral resources development

3.    Water Resources and Environment

·    Including the development and utilisation of water resources, ecological restoration, environmental management, water supply, water treatment and desalination.

Sinohydro has completed major infrastructure developments in Mali and continues to operate on large Government and private developments.  These developments include the construction of a new passenger terminal building and associated infrastructures at Bamako-Senou International Airport, which was completed in December 2018 on behalf of the Ministry of Transport of Mali.  Sinohydro is also the ongoing EPC contractor for the development at Gouina Hydropower Station in Mali of 140MW including building a concrete gravity dam, installing a power transmission line of 225KV, constructing a 16km access road, and installing the water diversion and power generation system on behalf of Senegal River Basin Development Authority, with the project due for completion in Q2 2021.  Sinohydro is providing general contracting work for the SOMAPEP-SA (The Malian Drinking Water Heritage Corporation) to provide water supplies to five cities in Mali, where work includes laying HDPE pipes, building water supply factories and stations in Nioro, Kita, Selingue, Bougouni and Markala, due for completion in Q4 2020.  Finally, for the Minister of Energy and Water, Sinohydro is providing general contracting services for the Sotuba II hydroelectric project in Mali, due to be completed in Q4 2021.

This extensive experience in operating in Mali and general civil, power supply, hydrological expertise and infrastructure development will provide strong support for the finalisation of Kodal Mineral's development plans for the Bougouni Project.

PowerChina's operational reach is extensive, with the company undertaking operations in 101 countries globally and with 113 countries worldwide hosting branch offices in 2019.  PowerChina operates various subsidiary companies including HydroChina, SepCo, SecoIII, Hypec International, SEPC, STECOL and Sinohydro.  PowerChina recorded turnover of US$67bn in 2019.

Kodal Minerals background information

As reported previously, the Company has continued with the fast tracking of the Bougouni Project.  Following the approval of the Company's Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ("ESIA") in November 2019 and receipt of an Environmental Permit for the Bougouni Project, the Company completed a Feasibility Study and lodged a Mining Licence application in January 2020.  Once approval of the Mining Licence application has been received, the Company will have a fully permitted project ready to move into development and subsequently, production.  

The Feasibility Study for the Project proposes a contract mining operation and conventional "Milling and Flotation" processing facility, capable of treating 2Mtpa of ore, complete with associated infrastructure, to mine and process approximately 16Mt of pegmatite ore over an initial 8.5 year Life of Mine ("LOM").

**ENDS**

For further information, please visit www.kodalminerals.com or contact the following:

About Kodal Minerals

Kodal Minerals' primary focus is on the rapid advancement towards production of its flagship Bougouni Lithium Project in Southern Mali.  The JORC Resource Estimate places the Bougouni Project in the top 15 hard rock lithium projects globally and was calculated using only three of the eight currently recognised prospects demonstrating the significant exploration upside potential remaining across the 450km² project area.  The Mineral Resource estimate for the Ngoualana, Sogola-Baoule and Boumou prospects are tabulated below.  These mineral resources are reported in accordance with the JORC Code:

Notes:  Mineral resources are reported using a 0.5%Li₂O cut-off.  Figures may not sum due to rounding.  The contained metal is determined by the estimated tonnage and grade.

The Bougouni Project and recently acquired 200km² Bougouni West project are located in an emerging lithium province that is already attracting the attention of investors and off-take partners interested in securing a long-term supply of lithium.  With the support of its strategic investor and off-take partner Suay Chin International Pte, a Singapore-based lithium and chemical trader, Kodal Minerals is well positioned to continue its ambitious development programme at Bougouni.

Further to this, Kodal Minerals is the manager of additional lithium and gold projects that are undergoing low cost exploration programmes in addition to JV funded gold properties in Cote d'Ivoire that offer potentially significant long-term value.