Marula Mining PLC
(“Marula’’ or the “Company”)
6 March
2024
Appointment of Community Relations and Development Manager
and Commencement of Community Engagement in Samburu County,
Kenya
Marula Mining (AQSE: MARU), an African focused mining and
development company, is delighted to announce the appointment of
Mr. James Mugambi as the Community
Relations and Development Manager at the Larisoro Manganese Mine
(“Larisoro” or the “Mine”) and the commencement of community
engagement programs and activities in Samburu County, Kenya.
This follows the recently signed binding terms sheet (“Term Sheet”)
with Kenyan manganese mine operator Gems and Industrial Minerals
Limited (“GIM”), under which the Company will secure a 60%
commercial interest in Larisoro, located in Samburu County in
Northern Kenya.
Highlights:
-
Mr James Mugambi joins Marula
Mining’s wholly owned subsidiary Muchai Mining Kenya Limited
(“MMK”) as the Community Relations and Development
Manager
-
Mr Mugambi holds a degree in Political Economics from Concordia
University of Alberta (Canada) and is
currently pursuing a Master's in Community Development through the
University of Kwazulu Natal in South
Africa
-
Mr Mugambi brings extensive experience in community engagement and
development, having first been involved at the Larisoro Mine when
it first commenced operations in 2012 and also through his former
role with GIM as the site manager where he has managed daily
operations and community relations since 2022
-
The appointment of Mr Mugambi affirms the Company's commitment to
community engagement and sustainable development
-
Marula to now commence broad community engagement programs in
Samburu County with GIM and with all key stakeholders and
communities as it looks to support the plans to increase monthly
manganese ore production through
its investment in new mining and processing equipment
-
Marula to also commence refurbishment work at the Nakwamor Primary
School, located close to the Larisoro Mine and partner with the
Mayflower Children’s Foundation on its health and education
activities there
Appointment of Mr. James
Mugambi
Mr. James Mugambi has been appointed
as Community Relations and Development Manager at the Larisoro
Mine. Mr. Mugambi brings extensive experience in community
engagement and development, honed through years of direct
involvement via his former role with GIM as the site manager at the
Larisoro mine, where he has managed daily operations since 2022. In
this role, he engaged with the community by holding meetings and
implementing Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, becoming
a trusted member of the community.
In this new role, Mr. Mugambi will oversee engagement with local
communities, aiming to enhance well-being and implement impactful
development activities. Mr. Mugambi is well-prepared and qualified
to lead Marula’s initiatives aimed at fostering positive
relationships and sustainable development within the communities
surrounding our operations.
Mr. Mugambi will work closely with Ms. Eunice Wairima, the
Company’s Social
Corporate Responsibility and ESG Manager
based in Nairobi and through to
Independent Non-Executive Director Ms. Hannah Wang'Ombe, in her role as Chair of the
Company’s Environment and Social Responsibility
Committee.
Commencement of Community Engagement
Programs
In conjunction with Mr. Mugambi’s appointment, Marula is also
pleased to announce that with GIM, it is to now commence broad
community engagement programs in Samburu County, Kenya.
The Company is looking to engage effectively with all key
stakeholders and immediate communities at the Larisoro Mine and is
implementing programs that are centred around trust, communication
and collaboration and effective community participation and
collaboration.
Given the Company’s planned investment to increase monthly
manganese ore production at
the Larisoro Mine through the purchase of new mining and processing
equipment, the Company will be looking to foster local employment,
implement skill development programs, prioritise procurement from
local suppliers, and support local businesses in the mining value
and value addition chain at the Larisoro Mine.
These programs will mark another significant milestone in the
Company’s commitment to social responsibility and sustainable
development across all of its operating activities.
The Company is also proposing to now work with the Mayflower
Children’s Foundation and GIM, in refurnishing the Nakwamor Primary
School, which is located close to the Larisoro Mine. This work will
include upgrades to the school’s facilities, the provision of
books, stationary and other school materials, as well as new desks
and supply of playground and sporting equipment.
Jason Brewer, CEO of Marula
Mining, commented:
“We are thrilled to have James
Mugambi join our team and to become an integral part of our
community engagement programs. His appointment reflects our
commitment to the communities we operate within and our recognition
of the need for his experience in this area. James brings a wealth
of experience and a deep understanding of the local community
dynamics, which will be crucial as we move forward with our
community engagement initiatives.
“I
look forward to working alongside James and in setting a benchmark
in our Company’s local community engagement, and responsibly
intertwining and balancing our growth plans at the Larisoro Mine
with balancing the expectations and desires of community and
environmental stewardship and sustainable
development.
“Our partnership with the Mayflower Children’s Foundation and
the initiatives at Nakwamor Primary School epitomises our belief in
the power of education and community development. We look forward
to the positive impacts these efforts will have and to expanding
our initiatives to further support our
communities.”
James Mugambi, Marula’s
Community Relations and Development Manager at Larisoro,
commented:
“I
am delighted to be joining the team at Marula, as the Company marks
its first investment in Kenya’s mining sector. During my time spent
as site manager at the Larisoro Mine, I cultivated strong
relationships with the local community by carrying out various
initiatives, conducting meetings, and providing employment
opportunities, which has led to me establishing fantastic
relationships with the community.
“I
look forward to supporting the team in any way that I can,
especially through further solidifying the already strong ties
built with the community in Samburu.”
The Directors of Marula are responsible for the contents of
this announcement.
About Marula Mining
Marula Mining (AQSE: MARU) is an African focused battery metals
investment and exploration company and has interests in several
high value mine projects in Africa; the Blesberg Lithium and Tantalum Mine
and Korridor Lithium Project in South
Africa, the Kinusi Copper Mine, the Nyorinyori Graphite
Project, the NyoriGreen Graphite Project and the Bagamoyo Graphite
Project all in Tanzania and the
Nkombwa Hill Project in Zambia. As
we advance operations at these battery metals focused projects,
Marula will continue to build and expand its interests in other
high-quality projects in Africa.
Marula’s strategy is to identify and invest in advanced and
high-value mining projects throughout East, Central and
Southern Africa that the Directors
believe would deliver returns for its shareholders. The Board and
management team aims to establish Marula as a socially and
environmentally responsible, sustainable, and profitable producer
of critical metals and commodities that are of increasingly
strategic importance to modern technologies and the global economy.
Marula’s shares are traded on the AQUIS Stock Exchange (AQSE),
Marula is exploring opportunities to admit its shares to trading on
the London Stock Exchange plc’s Standard List, Kenya’s Nairobi
Securities Exchange and South Africa’s Johannesburg Stock
Exchange.
For enquiries contact:
Marula Mining PLC
Jason Brewer,
Chief Executive Officer
Faith Kinyanjui Mumbi
Investor Relations
|
Email : jason@marulamining.com
Email : info@marulamining.com
|
AQSE Corporate Adviser
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP,
Liam Murray / Ludovico Lazzaretti
|
+44 (0)20 7213 0880
|
Broker
Peterhouse Capital Limited,
Charles Goodfellow / Duncan Vasey
|
+44
(0)20 7469 0930
|
Financial PR and IR
BlytheRay
Tim Blythe / Megan Ray / Said Izagaren
|
+44
(0)20 7138 3204
|
Caution:
Certain statements in this announcement, are, or may be deemed to
be, forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are
identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''believe'',
''could'', "should" ''envisage'', ''estimate'', ''intend'',
''may'', ''plan'', ''potentially'', "expect", ''will'' or the
negative of those, variations or comparable expressions, including
references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not
based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current
expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth,
results of operations, performance, future capital and other
expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding
thereof), competitive advantages, business prospects and
opportunities. Such forward looking statements reflect the
Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on
information currently available to the Directors.