Marula Mining PLC
(“Marula’’ or the “Company”)
6
March 2024
Expansion of Geological and Exploration Team in
Kenya
Marula Mining (AQSE: MARU), an African-focused mining and
development company, is pleased to announce the expansion of its
geological and exploration team in Kenya with the appointments of Mr
Gilbert
Kibet as Project Geologist and Ms Joy Chebet as Graduate Geologist.
Their immediate focus will be to begin exploration work at
the
Larisoro
Manganese Mine located in Samburu County in Northern Kenya, with which Marula recently
signed a binding terms sheet ("Term Sheet") with Kenyan manganese
mine operator Gems and Industrial Minerals Limited ("GIM") for a
60% commercial interest as announced on 1
March 2024.
Both Mr. Kibet and Ms. Chebet will work under the guidance of Mr.
Collins Aseto, the Head of Exploration, East Africa. They will work together to
execute planned exploration program at the Larisoro Manganese Mine,
which is proposed to include mapping, trenching ground magnetics,
and reverse circulation drilling programs.
Mr. Aseto oversees the management and implementation of the
Company's exploration programs throughout East Africa and is responsible for identifying
additional exploration and mining opportunities in Kenya and Tanzania that align with the Company's
strategic goals.
In addition to the immediate focus at the Larisoro Manganese Mine,
the team will also be tasked with ongoing activities in
Kenya and in assisting in ongoing
exploration work at the Company’s copper and graphite projects in
Tanzania throughout
2024.
These appointments are part of the Company’s commitment to ensure
the realisation of its strategy and growth potential across all its
mining activities and operations in East and Southern Africa through the recruitment of
skilled local technical professionals.
Mr. Gilbert Kibet, Project
Geologist
Mr. Kibet, a project geologist with over six years of experience in
mining and mineral exploration in Kenya, brings both local and international
expertise to the Company from hands-on experience in his previous
roles.
He has previously worked at Nubian Shield Exploration and Mining in
Juba, South Sudan, as an
Exploration Geologist in the gold sector in Kenya with Acacia Mining Ltd, where he served
as Project Geologist. Mr. Kibet holds a Bachelor of Science degree
in Geology from the University of Nairobi.
Their role will include:
-
Responsible
for overseeing the technical, administrative, and financial aspects
of mineral research projects, ensuring adherence to Marula's
Environmental, Social, and Governance protocols, and its Safety,
Health, and Environment protocols.
-
Collaborate
with the regional manager to plan technical work programs and lead
geological mapping, geophysics, geochemical sampling, and
exploration drilling teams from grassroots to
brownfield.
-
Compile and present comprehensive administrative and technical
reports on work progress to the regional manager, head office, and
geological survey on a weekly, monthly, biannual, and annual
basis.
-
Manage
Marula's internal exploration and discovery database using
Geographical Information Systems (“GIS”) software such as ArcGIS,
MapInfo Professional, Leapfrog, and Micro Mine. Deliver
high-quality map layouts and interpret spatial data to facilitate
target evaluation and exploration planning.
-
Oversee exploration drilling teams, drill hole logging, and sample
collection and preparation. Ensure research targets are met within
designated timeframes by optimising available
resources.
-
Organising and participating in public relations exercises at
government and local administrative levels. Fulfil any additional
duties assigned by the regional manager with written agreement from
Senior Management, including the CEO and Chairman.
Ms. Joy Chebet, Graduate Geologist
Ms. Joy Chebet, a graduate geologist, holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in Geology from the University of Nairobi and has over two years of experience
in mining and mineral exploration in Kenya. She brings local expertise from her
previous roles at Shanta Gold, where she served as a graduate
exploration geologist.
Their role will include:
-
Responsible
for the technical, administrative, and financial (bookkeeping)
management of designated mineral research field projects, ensuring
adherence to Marula's Environmental, Social, and Governance
protocols as well as Safety, Health, and Environment
protocols.
-
Mobilising
and overseeing sampling and geological mapping teams, as well as
managing four-wheel drive vehicles and necessary sampling equipment
in remote locations.
-
Responsible
for preparing sample dispatches, overseeing drilling projects
(Rotary Air Blast (“RAB”), Reverse Circulation (“RC”), and
Diamond Drilling (“DD”)) in
collaboration with the driller in charge.
-
Managing
Marula’s internal exploration and discovery database and presenting
high-quality layouts/interpretations of spatial data using
GIS.
-
Hosting
and outlining strategies with visiting consultants and senior
management, organising and attending public relations exercises,
and compiling comprehensive administrative and technical weekly
reports for the project geologist.
Collins Aseto, Marula Mining Head of Exploration East
Africa said:
“I
am delighted to announce the appointment of Gilbert Kibet as Project Geologist
and
Joy Chebet as Graduate Geologist
effective immediately. Gilbert brings more than six years of
hands-on experience in mining and mineral exploration in
Kenya, Tanzania, and South
Sudan. Mr. Kibet will oversee technical, administrative and
strategic planning of Exploration and Mining Projects in
Kenya and provide support in
Tanzania.
“I look forward to working closely with him across the various
projects. Specifically, both Gilbert and Joy will support the
upcoming mapping, trenching ground magnetics and reverse
circulation drilling exploration programs at the Larisoro Manganese
Mine in Samburu County Kenya as well as the copper and graphite
projects in Tanzania during the
second quarter
of 2024.
“I look forward to working with both and to seeing them build
successful careers here at Marula.”
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,
the
Nkombwa Hill Project in Zambia and
the Larisoro Manganese Mine located in Kenya. 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.