AZUMAH MINING LEASES GRANTED

Transcription

1 AZUMAH MINING LEASES GRANTED WA GOLD PROJECT, GHANA ASX & Media Release ASX Code AZM 28 th July 2014 Perth-based gold explorer and developer Azumah Resources Limited (ASX:AZM) (Azumah or the Company) is pleased to report that the Ghanaian Minister of Lands and Natural Resources has granted two Mining Leases for the Company s Wa Gold Project ( the Project )(Figure 1) in north west Ghana, West Africa. The mining leases are for a term of 15 years and encompass the Kunche and Bepkong deposits, where Azumah s proposed 1.2 million tonne per year gold plant will be sited, and the Julie deposit, 80km to the east. Investment Highlights: Wa Gold Project: 2.2Moz including 1.4Moz Measured & Indicated at 1.8g/t Au (JORC compliant) Feasibility Study and Ore Reserves revision underway following substantial Mineral Resource increases 100% of 2,800km 2 licences hosting more than 150km of prospective Birimian greenstone belt. 15% strategic investment in neighbour, Castle Minerals Limited Board and management team of successful explorers, mining and corporate professionals Issued Capital: 356.2M ordinary shares 3.0M unlisted options 4.325M performance rights 2.0M $1.00 Converting Notes Directors & Management: Chairman: Michael Atkins Managing Director: Non-Executive Directors: Geoff M Jones Bill LeClair Company Secretary: Dennis Wilkins Contact: Mb: +61 (0) The granting of the Mining Leases represents another major milestone in de-risking and advancing Azumah s Wa Gold Project to developmentready status and planned production in 2016, Azumah s Managing Director said. Combined with the provision of new grid power infrastructure and the issue of water extraction licences, the grant of the Mining Leases underscores the Ghana Government s strong support for the Project. Importantly, the grant of the Mining Leases (Ghana government will hold a 10% free-carried interest) paves the way for Azumah to formally commence its application to the Ghana Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for an environmental permit. As part of this process, Azumah is updating a previously lodged draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to reflect: The expansion of plant throughput to 1.2Mtpa of primary ore and 1.8Mtpa for softer oxide material to produce ~100,000 ounces gold per year; An increase in the overall scale of operations at the Julie deposit given the exploration success and expansion of Mineral Resources there; Increased metallurgical recoveries for Julie primary and transition ore by incorporating a flotation and regrind circuit prior to the carbon-in-leach (CIL) process; and Social and environmental monitoring programmes in the Julie area. There has been no negative feedback on the existing EIS, which was widely circulated to all stakeholders to ensure that all necessary consents are provided on a free, prior and informed basis. Perth-based GR Engineering Services Limited is managing a Feasibility Study ( Study ) for the Project that is on-track for completion in 2H Azumah s in-house study team has already completed extensive geological, mining, metallurgical, infrastructure and logistical contributions with a strong focus on minimising establishment and operating costs through detailed analysis of all key inputs. In this regard Azumah continues to work closely with mining contractor and recent Azumah investor, Ausdrill Limited, on optimising the mining components of the Project. ENDS Page 1 of 5

2 For further information on Azumah Resources Limited and its projects please visit its website at Managing Director Tel: +61 (0) Robert Gundelach Australia NWR Communications +61 (0) Joanna Longo North America Terre Partners About Azumah Azumah Resources Limited is a Perth-based, ASX-listed (ASX: AZM) company focused on exploring and developing its 100%-owned Wa Gold Project in the Upper West Region of Ghana, West Africa. Three main deposits have been discovered and extensively drilled out at Kunche and Bepkong, adjacent to the Black Volta River and Ghana s border with Burkina Faso, and at Julie 80km to the east. Several satellite deposits to these have also been delineated. The Company has so far defined a JORC resource of 2.2Moz of gold at a grade of 1.7g/t gold (>60% Measured and Indicated) with these evenly distributed between Kunche-Bepkong and Julie. Mineral Resources have been steadily grown through systematic exploration of the Company s 2,800km 2 licence holdings that encompass large tracts of prospective Birimian terrain, the rocks that host the majority of West Africa s gold mines. Azumah has been one of the most prolific explorers and drillers in West Africa in recent years and anticipates Mineral Resources will continue to grow underpinned by the testing of its pipeline of specific targets, prospects and many areas of interest. Azumah is currently completing a Feasibility Study for a mining operation based on an initial six-year life and producing ~100,000oz Au per year from the open pit mining and treatment of ore through a nominal 1.2 million tonnes per year carbon-in-leach (CIL) processing plant (1.8Mtpa treating softer oxide material). The plant will be located adjacent to the Kunche deposit and incorporate a flotation and regrind circuit to treat Julie primary and transitional ore which will be hauled by road to the processing plant. Head grades will average more than 2.0g/t gold and cash costs are expected to be in the lower quartile for gold miners. Extensive metallurgical test work has been undertaken to confirm a high average overall gold recovery of ~92%. Azumah has had two Mining Leases granted over its key deposits (Ghana government holds a 10% free carried interest in their rights and obligations and is also entitled to a 5% gold royalty) and is now moving to obtain environmental operating permits necessary to allow development to proceed. No technical, social or environmental impediments to development have been identified and there is strong support from stakeholders for the Project to be established. Whilst the region has no other industry, the Project benefits from excellent regional infrastructure including grid power to site, good quality bituminised and non-bituminised roads, good access to water, a sealed airstrip at the regional centre of Wa and good communications. Key shareholders in Azumah include Macquarie Bank (Metals & Energy Capital Division), mining services group Ausdrill Limited and Caitlyn Limited which is associated with Emirates based gold refiner Fujairah Gold FZE, a wholly owned subsidiary of global mining group, Vedanta Resources plc. Azumah itself holds a 15.5% interest in its neighbour and junior Ghana explorer, Castle Minerals NL. Page 2 of 5

3 Figure 1: Wa Gold Project Key Deposits and Prospects Page 3 of 5

4 Table 1: Mineral Resource Estimate (CSA Global Pty Ltd June 2013) Cut-off Measured and Indicated Inferred Total 0.5 g/t Au Tonnes Grade Gold Tonnes Grade Gold Tonnes Grade Gold (Mt) (g/t Au) (oz) (Mt) (g/t Au) (oz) (Mt) (g/t Au) (oz) Kunche , , ,000 Bepkong , , ,000 Aduane , ,000 Julie , , ,045,000 Collette , ,000 Total ,406, , ,203,000 Values have been rounded Table 2: Summary of Wa Gold Project Mineral Reserves (Coffey Mining Pty Ltd August 2012) Bepkong Kunche Julie (As of 21st Aug 2012) Values have been rounded Update to Reserves in process Mineral Reserve Summary Proved Probable Contained Gold Tonnes (Mt) Grade (g/t Au) Tonnes (Mt) Grade (g/t Au) (oz) Au , ,000 74,000 Total ,000 Competent Persons Statement The scientific and technical information in this report that relates to the in-situ Mineral Resource estimates for the Kunche, Aduane and Julie deposits is based on information compiled by Mr Dmitry Pertel, who a full-time employee (Manager - Resources) of CSA Global Pty Ltd. Mr Pertel is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists 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 2004 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves and to qualify as a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ( NI ) of the Canadian Securities Administrators. Mr Pertel has reviewed and approved the disclosure of the relevant scientific or technical information contained in this announcement that relates to the Kunche, Aduane and Julie Mineral Resource estimates. The scientific and technical information in this report that relates to the in-situ Mineral Resource estimates for the Bepkong deposit is based on information compiled by Mr David Williams, who is a geological consultant employed by CSA Global Pty Ltd. Mr Williams is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 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 2004 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves and to qualify as a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ( NI ) of the Canadian Securities Administrators. Mr Williams has reviewed and approved the disclosure of all scientific or technical information contained in this announcement that relates to the Bepkong Mineral Resource estimate. The scientific and technical information in this report that relates to the geology of the deposits and exploration results is based on information compiled by Mr, who is a full-time employee (Managing Director) of Azumah Resources Ltd. Mr Stone is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 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 2004 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Stone is the Qualified Person overseeing Azumah s exploration projects and has reviewed and approved the disclosure of all scientific or technical information contained in this announcement. For further information, including a description of Azumah s standard data verification processes, quality assurance and quality control measures, and details of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves set out in this report and the extent to which the estimate of previously declared Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves set out herein may be materially affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or relevant issues, readers are directed to the technical report titled Wa Gold Project, Ghana Technical Report, effective as of 27 August, Page 4 of 5

5 The reported Mineral Reserves have been compiled by Mr Harry Warries. Mr Warries is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and an employee of Coffey Mining Pty Ltd. He has sufficient experience, relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity he is undertaking, to qualify as a Qualified Person as defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards of November 2010, as well as a Competent Person as defined in the Australasian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves of December 2004 ( JORC Code ) as prepared by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and the Minerals Council of Australia. Mr Warries gives Azumah Resources Limited consent to use this reserve estimate in reports. Forward-Looking Statement This release contains forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as seek, anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, expect and intend, and statements that an event or result may, will, should, could, or might occur or be achieved, and other similar expressions. In providing the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions regarding: (i) the accuracy of exploration results received to date; (ii) anticipated costs and expenses; (iii) that the results of the feasibility study continue to be positive; and (iv) that future exploration results are as anticipated. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Some of these risks, uncertainties and other factors are described under the heading Risks Factors in the Company s annual information form available on Forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Azumah does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking information even if circumstances or management s estimates or opinions should change. Readers should not place reliance on forward-looking information and readers are advised to consider such forward-looking statements in light of the risks set forth in the Company s continuous disclosure filings. Page 5 of 5