CORNISH METALS REPORTS
POSITIVE PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT RESULTS FOR SOUTH CROFTY
TIN PROJECT
Vancouver, April 30, 2024
Cornish Metals Inc. (AIM/TSX-V: CUSN)
("Cornish Metals" or the "Company"), is pleased to report a
positive independent Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for
its 100% owned and permitted South Crofty tin project ("South
Crofty" or the "Project") located in Cornwall, United
Kingdom.
The PEA validates South Crofty's
economic viability, producing a base case after-tax Net Present
Value ("NPV") of US$201 million and Internal Rate of Return ("IRR")
of 29.8%, and confirms the Project's potential to be a low-cost and
long-life tin mining operation with a current 14-year life of mine
("LOM"). South Crofty is expected to produce a clean, high-grade
tin concentrate and to be an important tin producer in
Europe, supplying into the growing demand for this critical metal
that is essential for the energy transition.
Highlights
Ø Attractive project economics and
financial metrics
· US$201 million
after-tax NPV8% and 29.8% IRR at base case tin price of
US$31,000 /tonne
· US$235 million
after-tax NPV8% and 32.8% IRR at the current US$32,625
/tonne LME tin price
· Capital payback
period of 3 years after-tax
· Total after-tax
cash flow of approximately US$626 million from start of production,
peaking at US$82 million in the second year of
production
· Average annual
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation
("EBITDA") of US$83 million and 62.1% EBITDA margin in years 2
through 6
Ø Considerable tin production with upside
opportunities
· 49,310 tonnes
of tin metal in concentrate produced over a 14-year LOM
· Average annual
tin production of over 4,700 tonnes for years 2 through 6 (~1.6% of
global mined tin production)
· Peak tin
production of over 5,000 tonnes in year 4
· Average LOM
processed head grade of 1.83% tin, upgraded from an average mined
grade of 0.94% tin through use of X-Ray Transmission ("XRT") ore
sorting and Dynamic Dense Media Separation ("DMS")
· Growth
opportunities from additional in-mine and near-mine exploration
with the potential to materially extend the mine life and increase
production
Ø Permitted Project with low capital
intensity and unit costs
· Pre-production
capital requirement of US$177 million
· Fully permitted
project with existing mine infrastructure, mining permission
through 2071 and full planning permission to construct a processing
plant to recover tin concentrate
· LOM average
all-in sustaining cash cost ("AISC") of US$13,661 /tonne of payable
tin, positioning South Crofty as a low cost tin producer
· Average AISC of
US$12,375 /tonne of payable tin for years 2 through 6
Ø Sustainable mining operation with strong
ESG credentials
· Operations will
use modern, trackless, mechanised underground mining methods and
latest tin processing technologies
· Low impact
underground operation with paste backfilling of process tailings
into existing, historic mine workings
· Use of 100%
renewable electricity supply and exploring options for renewable
power generation
· Preference for
using local supply chains supporting the local economy and building
on the existing capability and knowledge still present in
Cornwall
· Potential to
directly employ up to 320 people with permanent high-skilled and
well-paid jobs and create up to 1,000 indirect jobs
Ø Cornish Metals will
host a PEA presentation on 1 May 2024 at 3:00pm London time. Please
register at:
https://www.investormeetcompany.com/cornish-metals-inc/register-investor.
Ø A technical report
prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 will be filed on SEDAR+
within 45 days of this announcement.
Ken
Armstrong, Interim CEO and Director of Cornish Metals,
stated: "Congratulations to Cornish
Metals' technical team on completion of this Preliminary Economic
Assessment of the South Crofty tin project. This PEA is an
important milestone for Cornish Metals and our goal of bringing
responsible tin mining back to Cornwall and the United Kingdom.
South Crofty is a strategic asset as tin is recognised as a
critical metal by the United Kingdom and other national
governments, while there is currently no primary tin production in
Europe or North America.
Most often PEAs are completed prior
to entering the mine permitting process. South Crofty has the
advantage of having already cleared these hurdles and benefits from
an existing mine permit and process plant construction permissions
as well as existing mining, transportation and renewable energy
infrastructure."
Owen Mihalop, COO of Cornish Metals, stated:
"The PEA results are compelling with a post-tax
NPV8% of $201 million and IRR of about 30% at a tin
price of US$31,000. This represents a strong foundation for further
evaluation of the Project, enabling the Company to move forward
with additional preparation work and progress towards a
construction decision, with planned first tin production in
2027.
The low all-in sustaining cost of
about US$13,700 per tonne of payable tin is an important metric and
potentially positions the project within the lowest quartile of the
global tin industry cost curve. We believe the opportunities for
mineral resource expansion at South Crofty, and beyond, are
significant and this will come into focus when the current mine
dewatering and shaft refurbishment project is complete by Q3 2025,
and new mineral resource definition and exploration drilling can be
undertaken in parallel with a potential construction decision for
the Project."
PEA Summary
Outcomes
|
|
Operations
|
Mine throughput
|
500
ktpa
|
|
Processed throughput
|
250
ktpa
|
|
LOM
|
14
years
|
|
Total LOM tonnes mined
|
5,955
kt
|
|
Average mined tin grade
|
0.94%
|
|
Contained tin
|
56,133
t
|
|
Total LOM tonnes
processed
|
2,988
kt
|
|
Average processed tin
grade
|
1.83%
|
|
Average tin recovery
|
87.8%
|
|
Total LOM tin produced
|
49,310
t
|
|
Total LOM copper produced
|
3,844
t
|
|
Total LOM zinc produced
|
3,225
t
|
|
Years 2-6 average annual tin
production
|
4,728
t
|
Capital costs
|
Pre-production
|
US$177
million
|
|
Post-production
|
US$54
million
|
Operating costs
|
Average LOM net cash cost
|
US$12,705
/tonne tin payable
|
|
Average LOM AISC
|
US$13,661
/tonne tin payable
|
Economic assumptions
|
Tin price
|
US$31,000
/tonne
|
GB£:US$
|
1.25
|
UK corporate tax rate
|
25%
|
Financials
|
NPV (8%) - Pre-tax /
After-tax
|
US$264
million / US$201 million
|
|
IRR - Pre-tax / After-tax
|
33.4% /
29.8%
|
|
Capital payback period
After-tax
|
3.0
years
|
|
Total LOM Revenue
|
US$1,563
million
|
|
Total LOM EBITDA
|
US$806
million
|
|
After-tax Free Cash Flow (from start
of production)
|
US$626
million
|
|
Years 2-6 average annual
EBITDA
|
US$83
million
|
|
Years 2-6 average annual after-tax
Free Cash Flow
|
US$65
million
|
Table 1: South
Crofty PEA operating and economic summary
Notes:
- NPV effective as at 1 January 2025;
- Pre-production capex excludes currently committed
items;
- Project modelled in GB£, values converted to US$ using a flat
GB£:US$ rate of 1.25.
- Financial modelling includes Inferred Resources.
The evaluation at a PEA level of
study includes Indicated and Inferred blocks and consequently
it is not possible to define a Mineral Reserve. The PEA is
preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that
are considered too speculative geologically to have economic
considerations applied that would enable them to be categorised as
Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that the PEA will be
realised.
Sensitivity Analysis
A sensitivity analysis was performed
on the base case pre-tax NPV to examine project sensitivity to
metal prices, capital and operating costs, grades and process
recoveries.
Figure 1: Pre-tax
NPV8% sensitivity analysis to various project
parameters
South Crofty Project economics are
well supported at a range of tin price assumptions and discount
rates. The PEA base-case tin price of US$31,000 /tonne provided by
Project Blue, a global consultancy that provides market
intelligence on critical materials for the energy transition,
reflects anticipated supply shortfalls that will drive the market
into a deficit from later this decade.
After-tax NPV
(US$M)
|
Commodity
Price
|
-20%
|
-10%
|
0%
|
+10%
|
+20%
|
Discount
Rate
|
5%
|
120
|
196
|
272
|
348
|
424
|
6%
|
105
|
175
|
246
|
317
|
387
|
8%
|
78
|
139
|
201
|
263
|
325
|
10%
|
55
|
110
|
164
|
218
|
272
|
12%
|
37
|
85
|
133
|
181
|
229
|
Table 2: Metal price
and discount rate sensitivity analysis
Note: Base case prices used - tin:
US$31,000/t, copper: US$8,500/t, zinc: US$2,500/t
Project Description
South Crofty is a former producing
tin mine located in the historic central tin mining district of
Cornwall, United Kingdom. The current Project comprises the former
producing South Crofty and Dolcoath mines, which were two of the
most significant mines in the Cornish tin mining district. South
Crofty has over 400 years of operational history until its closure
in March 1998. The Project is wholly owned by Cornish
Metals.
Figure 2: South
Crofty Project location
South Crofty was granted surface and
underground development planning permissions by Cornwall Council,
the Local Planning Authority, in 2011 and 2013. The underground
mining permissions are valid until 2071 and cover a project area of
1,490 hectares with a working depth of 1,500 metres below surface.
Cornish Metals also has approximately 7.65 ha (18.9 acres) of
surface ownership that include the area covered by surface planning
permission to construct a processing plant facility.
Current infrastructure at South
Crofty will help support any future development of the Project and
includes office and warehouse buildings, the partially refurbished
New Cooks Kitchen ("NCK") shaft, a recently built and commissioned
water treatment plant and a modern decline that extends to a depth
of 120 metres. NCK shaft is one of the five usable main shafts
serving the mine workings, and historically was the main service
and hoisting shaft. More recent infrastructure advancements,
including the ongoing refurbishment and servicing of shafts and
construction and operation of the mine water treatment plant, have
been implemented to support access into the historical mine.
Refurbishment of NCK shaft will significantly improve functionality
of the shaft, enable larger equipment to access the mine at an
earlier stage in its re-development and ensure continued safe
operations as access to underground mine workings is
regained.
The Project site has excellent
transportation and power infrastructure, including the A30 trunk
road located less than 1 km to the north and the national railway
line that borders the site to the south. There are modern active
port facilities at Falmouth approximately 17 km to the south-east.
The Project is located within an industrial area with highly
developed power supply and regional distribution, with two 33 kV
overhead power lines which cross the Project area, and a dedicated
11 kV power supply to NCK shaft.
Economic Benefits to the UK and Local
Communities
Cornwall has a strong history of
mining with significant mining capability and knowledge still
present in the local workforce. With a local urban population of
approximately 59,000, there are sufficient local human resources to
staff many skilled, unskilled, or partially skilled jobs at a
mine.
The PEA indicates that development
of South Crofty could provide substantial economic benefits at the
local and national levels, including:
·
During the pre-production mine development period, the
Project is anticipated to generate approximately 175 direct jobs,
and additional employment through contracted construction of
surface and underground facilities;
·
During operations, the mine is expected to directly employ up
to 320 people with permanent high-skilled and well-paid
jobs;
· The
Project has potential to generate up to 1,000 indirect jobs with
local and national contractors and suppliers of products and
services;
·
Using a base case tin price of US$31,000 per tonne, the
Project is estimated to pay total UK corporation taxes of £102
million (approximately US$127 million) over the LOM. Additional
government revenue will be generated by employee income tax and
national insurance contributions;
· The
Company will provide full training and skills development where
necessary in order to maximise employment of local residents at the
Project;
·
Environmental benefits through the ongoing treatment of the
South Crofty mine water being discharged into the Red River, having
a positive effect on the quality of the river downstream of the
discharge point.
Mineral Resource & Mineralised Material
Mined
The Mineral Resource at South Crofty
is divided into two areas: the Upper Mine Mineral Resource, which
is predominantly polymetallic tin-copper-zinc mineralisation hosted
in metasedimentary country rock, and the much more substantial
Lower Mine Mineral Resource which is tin-only and hosted
predominantly in granite.
Figure 3: Plan view
of South Crofty Resource
Note: Lower Mine (orange), Upper
Mine (turquoise), mine development (purple), and the surface
decline (green)
The PEA indicates that approximately
6 million tonnes of mineralised material, at an average grade of
0.97% SnEq, is amenable to mining, and is based on the NI 43-101
& JORC (2012) compliant Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE")
published by Cornish Metals in October 2023 as detailed
below:
South Crofty Summary (JORC
2012) Mineral Resource Estimate
|
Area
|
Classification
|
Mass
(kt)
|
Grade
|
Contained Tin
/
Tin
Equivalent
(kt)
|
Lower
Mine
|
Indicated
|
2,896
|
1.50%
Sn
|
43.6
|
Inferred
|
2,626
|
1.42%
Sn
|
37.4
|
Upper
Mine
|
Indicated
|
260
|
0.99%
SnEq
|
2.6
|
Inferred
|
465
|
0.91%
SnEq
|
4.2
|
Table 3: South
Crofty Mineral Resource summary
Notes:
1. The Mineral
Resource estimate is reported in accordance with the requirements
of the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of the Australian Institute of
Mining and Metallurgy, the JORC Code (2012).
2. The Qualified
Person for this Mineral Resource Estimate is: Mr Nicholas Szebor,
MCSM, MSc, BSc, CGeol, EurGeol, FGS, of AMC Consultants (UK)
Ltd.
3. Mineral Resources
for the Lower Mine are estimated by conventional block modelling
based on wireframing at 0.4% Sn threshold whilst honouring lode
continuity and by ordinary kriging or inverse distance to the power
of 3 grade interpolation.
4. Mineral Resources
for the Upper Mine are estimated by conventional 3D block modelling
based on wireframing at 0.5% SnEq cut-off grade and a minimum width
of 1.2m and estimated by inverse distance to the power of 3 grade
interpolation.
5. SnEq is
calculated using the formula: SnEq% = Sn% + (Cu% x 0.314) + (Zn% x
0.087). Cornish Metals has used metal prices of US$24,500/Tonne Sn,
US$8,000/Tonne Cu, and US$2,700/Tonne Zn. Assumptions for process
recovery are 88.5% for Sn, 85% for Cu and 70% for Zn.
6. Cut-off grade was
calculated assuming a 24,500 $/t tin price and an assumed metal
recovery of 88.5%
7. For the purpose
of this Mineral Resource Estimate, assays were capped by lode for
the "Lower Mine" between 1.5% Sn and 23% Sn and for the "Upper
Mine" at 6% for Sn, 4% for Cu, and 20% for Zn.
8. Bulk densities of
2.77 t/m3 and 3.00 t/m3 have been applied for volume to tonnes
conversion for the granite hosted and metasediment (Killas) hosted
Mineral Resources respectively.
9. Mineral Resources
for the Lower Mine have had a minimum mining width of 1.2m applied
using 0% Sn dilution. A 1.2m mining width
was applied to the Upper Mine during wireframing.
10. Mineral
Resources are for the Upper Mine are estimated from near surface to
a depth of approximately 350m and for the Lower Mine from a depth
of approximately 350m to a depth of approximately 870m.
11. Mineral
Resources are classified as Indicated and Inferred based on
drillhole and channel sample distribution and density, interpreted
geological continuity and quality of data.
12. The
Mineral Resources have been depleted for past mining, however, they
contain portions that may not be recoverable pending further
engineering studies.
13. Mineral
Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated
economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be
materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title,
taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant
issues.
14.
Effective date 6th September 2023.
15. Numbers may
not compute exactly due to rounding.
Mining Methods
The South Crofty mine will be
accessed via the NCK shaft, which will provide initial access to
the existing mine levels and new stoping areas. NCK shaft will
serve as primary access to the mine for personnel and materials as
well as hoisting of material for transfer to the processing plant,
which will be located adjacent to the decline.
The mine design will utilise
existing development where possible, which will be rehabilitated or
slashed for larger equipment, to access production areas. New
internal ramps will be developed providing mechanised access to
other levels. The ramps are driven at -15% grade and 4.0 metres
wide by 4.0 metres high to allow for truck access, ventilation and
services. Sections of levels to be used for services distribution
and ventilation will only require rehabilitation. Lateral access
drives will be mined from slashed levels, haulage ramps and access
ramps to stopes and stope access development. Areas that are being
utilised for ventilation, services or limited access will be
rehabilitated only.
Annual mined material of up to
approximately 500,000 tonnes (~1,370 tonnes per day) is planned
with longhole stoping mining methods selected. Sub-level
longhole stoping is the main mining method and is well suited given
the excellent ground conditions, average stope dip of 70 degrees,
continuity along strike and vertically for at least 20 metres. The
method also allows for selectivity of mining where
required.
The mine generally consists of
blocks of stopes separated by regions of lower grade material
and/or historical workings. Mining direction is generally extracted
in a top-down sequence, retreating along access.
Figure 4: Mining
design (isometric long section looking west)
Process Plant
The historic Wheal Jane
Concentrator, incorporating key metallurgical improvements made
between 1991 and 1998 as well as results from the Company's 2023
metallurgical test programme, was utilised as the basis for
developing the process plant flowsheet including incorporation of a
pre-concentration plant. The pre-concentration plant consists of
XRT ore sorting and DMS for all +0.85mm material, with fines
reporting downstream without pre-concentration. Pre-concentration
reduces the size and cost of the downstream concentrator
considerably and draws on the strengths of both pre-concentration
technologies, XRT being more effective on coarser size fractions
and DMS on the finer size fractions.
The 2023 metallurgical test
programme tested the suitability of XRT pre-concentration and DMS
and provided representative material to verify historic production
records, operating data and flowsheet. The process plant will
include:
·
Underground primary single stage
crushing;
·
Two stage secondary crushing and XRT / DMS
separation;
·
Tertiary crushing of XRT products to produce
nominal -15mm material for grinding;
·
Open circuit rod mill followed by closed circuit
ball mill with screens;
·
Provision for a flotation section to process
polymetallic material from year 4 onwards;
·
Classification and primary gravity concentration
using a combination of shaking tables and Multi Gravity Separation
("MGS");
·
Regrinding of primary gravity tailings followed by
secondary gravity concentration using a combination of shaking
tables and MGS;
·
Tertiary ultrafine gravity separation using a
combination of Falcon "Continuous" Concentrators and MGS,
and;
·
Tin Dressing to remove sulphides from gravity
concentrates and filter the final product for shipment for
smelting.
Figure 5: South
Crofty conceptual process plant layout and external
design
Mine Backfill
South Crofty will be a low impact
underground mining operation with no surface tailings storage.
Process tailings will be backfilled as a paste into existing void
spaces left by historic mining.
The South Crofty tailings material
is a typical gravity/floatation processing product. The proportion
of fines and material size range means that the whole tailings
stream is suitable for paste backfill with samples achieving
suitable strength and target densities for reticulation.
The backfill plant has been designed
and sized to meet the requirements of the mine with the intent of
filling existing void space from previous mining prior to filling
new mining voids created by current operations. In-cycle backfill
is not required, and there is no requirement to undercut paste
backfilled areas in the current mine plan.
The mine production is estimated to
produce approximately 2.2 million cubic metres of paste backfill
over the LOM.
The backfill plant will be located
adjacent to the water treatment plant and the process plant to
allow for shared services and simplified operations. The backfill
plant consists of four main sections: an external thickened
tailings receiving tank; filtration equipment; the cement handling
system; and the mixing system.
Figure 6: South
Crofty conceptual backfill plant design.
Production Profile
The production profile at South
Crofty is based on annual throughput of approximately 500,000
tonnes and annual processing of approximately 250,000 tonnes at an
average tin grade of 1.83% (1.88% tin-equivalent). LOM tin
production is expected to total 49,310 tonnes (50,320 tonnes of
tin-equivalent), averaging over 4,700 tonnes of tin per year in the
first five years post ramp-up (years 2 to 6) and peaking at over
5,000 tonnes in year 4.
Figure 7: South
Crofty indicative production profile
The use of pre-concentration through
XRT and DMS at the front end of the processing plant materially
reduces the volume of material processed and required for
backfilling to approximately half of the material mined. The impact
to grades is also significant, with LOM processed tin grades
averaging 1.83%, almost double the average mined grade of 0.94%
tin. Processed tin grades in years two through six average above
2%.
Figure 8: South
Crofty mined and processed tin grades
Capital and Operating Costs
The pre-production capital cost of
the South Crofty project is estimated to be US$177 million. The LOM
sustaining capital is estimated to be a further US$54 million,
comprising mine capital development, a process plant upgrade for
polymetallic material in the fourth year from start of production
and processing plant sustaining capex.
|
(US$M)
|
Mine development, equipment and
pre-production
|
9.2
|
Mine capitalised operating costs
|
40.5
|
Process plant
|
59.7
|
NCK
Shaft refurbishment (east side) and underground
infrastructure
|
12.3
|
Phase 2 winders purchase and installation
|
3.9
|
Other surface infrastructure
|
6.9
|
Paste backfill plant
|
13.2
|
Owners G&A cost
|
5.8
|
Contingency @ 15% (20% for process plant)
|
25.7
|
Total
|
177.2
|
Table 4: South
Crofty pre-production capital costs
The South Crofty underground mining
operation is estimated to have a low total unit operating cost,
averaging US$103 per tonne of mineralised material, totalling
US$611 million over the 14-year LOM.
|
Unit Cost
(US$$/t)
|
Total LOM Cost
(US$M)
|
Mining
|
64.7
|
385.1
|
Mine pumping and water treatment
|
2.9
|
17.6
|
Processing
|
24.8
|
147.9
|
G&A
|
9.3
|
55.1
|
Closure cost
|
0.9
|
5.6
|
|
|
60
|
Total
|
102.6
|
611.3
|
Table 5: South
Crofty operating costs
Average LOM net unit cash costs,
inclusive of treatment charges and by-product credits from copper
and zinc are estimated to be US$12,705 per tonne of payable tin
sold. The AISC is estimated at US$13,661 per tonne, potentially
positioning South Crofty within the first quartile of the global
tin industry cost curve.
Cash Flow Generation
South Crofty's estimated low
operating costs and high margin tin sales are expected to support
strong after-tax free cash flow generation totalling approximately
US$447 million across the Project (US$626 million from start of
production) and peaking at US$82 million in the second year of
production.
Figure 9: South
Crofty after-tax free cash flow profile
Opportunities and Upside Options
The PEA is based on the latest South
Crofty MRE updated in late-2023 that produced a significant
increase in contained tin in the Indicated category of the lower
mine (see 30th October 2023 news
release). Additional in-mine
exploration provides the opportunity to extend South Crofty's mine
life beyond the current 14-year LOM. In addition, near-mine
exploration at targets such as the Wide Formation provide further
potential to add to the existing mineral resource base and the
scope to increase production rates.
Next Steps
During the remainder of 2024, the
Company intends to continue with its published work programme,
including, as a top priority, the simultaneous dewatering of the
mine and refurbishment of New Cooks Kitchen Shaft.
Further technical work is also
underway to advance the Project towards a Feasibility Study,
including detailed engineering of the processing plant. This work
will inform discussions with qualified local contractors and
identify suppliers for long lead time items, in order to enable
timely execution of the project construction schedule once a
construction decision is taken.
Qualified Persons
The Qualified Persons for the PEA
are Mr Dominic Claridge, FAusIMM, Principal Mining Engineer (AMC);
Mr Nick Szebor, MCSM, CGeol, EurGeol, FGS, General Manager
(Maidenhead, UK) and Principal Geologist (AMC); Mr Mike Hallewell,
FIMMM, FSAIMM, FMES, CEng (Independent Consultant); Mr Barry
Balding, PGeo, EurGeol, Technical Director - Mining Advisory Europe
(SLR); Ms Angela Collins, Dip BA MRTPI, Principal Planner (SLR); Mr
Steve Wilson, ACSM, CEng, FIMMM, Managing Director: Europe
(P&C); and Dr Barrie O'Connell, ACSM, FIMMM, CEng (Independent
Consultant). Qualified Persons under National Instrument 43-101 (NI
43-101) and Competent Persons as defined under the JORC Code
(2012).
All QPs have reviewed the technical
content of this news release for the South Crofty deposit and have
approved its dissemination.
A Technical Report disclosing the
PEA in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101 will be
prepared by AMC on behalf of Cornish Metals and filed on SEDAR
within 45 days of this news release. Messrs Claridge, Szebor,
Hallewell, Balding, Wilson and O'Connell, and Ms Collins consent to
the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on their
information in the form and context in which it appears.
This news release has been reviewed
and approved by Mr Owen Mihalop, MCSM, BSc (Hons), MSc, FGS, MIMMM,
CEng, Chief Operating Officer for Cornish Metals Inc, who is the
designated QP for the Company.
ABOUT CORNISH METALS
Cornish Metals is a dual-listed
mineral exploration and development company (AIM and TSX-V: CUSN)
focused on advancing the South Crofty high-grade, underground tin
project through to a construction decision, as well as exploring
its additional mineral rights, located in Cornwall, United
Kingdom.
·
South Crofty is a historical, high-grade, underground tin
mine that started production in 1592 and continued operating until
1998 following over 400 years of continuous production;
· The
Project possesses Planning Permission for underground mining (valid
to 2071), to construct new processing facilities and all necessary
site infrastructure, and an Environmental Permit to dewater the
mine;
·
South Crofty has one of the highest grade tin Mineral
Resource globally and benefits from existing mine infrastructure
including multiple shafts that can be used for future
operations;
· Tin
is a Critical Mineral as defined by the UK, American, and Canadian
governments;
·
Approximately two-thirds of the tin mined today comes from
China, Myanmar and Indonesia;
·
There is no primary tin production in Europe or North
America;
· Tin
connects almost all electronic and electrical infrastructure,
making it critical to the energy transition - responsible sourcing
of critical minerals and security of supply are key factors in the
energy transition and technology growth;
·
South Crofty benefits from strong local community, regional
and national government support.
·
Cornish Metals has a growing team of skilled people, local to
Cornwall, and the Project could generate up to 320 direct
jobs.
ON
BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
"Kenneth A. Armstrong"
Kenneth A. Armstrong
P.Geo.
Engage with us directly at our
investor hub. Sign up at: https://investors.cornishmetals.com/link/5PmYnP
For additional information please
contact:
Cornish Metals
|
Fawzi Hanano
Irene Dorsman
|
investors@cornishmetals.com
info@cornishmetals.com
|
|
|
Tel: +1
(604) 200 6664
|
SP
Angel Corporate Finance LLP
(Nominated Adviser & Joint
Broker)
|
Richard Morrison
Charlie Bouverat
Grant Barker
|
Tel: +44 203 470 0470
|
|
|
|
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited
(Joint
Broker)
|
Derrick Lee
Neil McDonald
Leif Powis
|
Tel: +44 131 220 6939
Tel: +44 207 220 0500
|
|
|
|
Hannam & Partners
(Financial
Adviser)
|
Matthew Hasson
Andrew Chubb
Jay Ashfield
|
cornish@hannam.partners
Tel: +44 207 907 8500
|
|
|
|
BlytheRay
(Financial PR)
|
Tim Blythe
Megan Ray
|
tim.blythe@blytheray.com
megan.ray@blytheray.com
Tel: +44 207 138 3204
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Caution regarding forward
looking statements
This news release contains certain "forward-looking
information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively,
"forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include
predictions, projections, outlook, guidance, estimates and
forecasts and other statements regarding future plans, the
realisation, cost, timing and extent of mineral resource or mineral
reserve estimates, estimation of commodity prices, currency
exchange rate fluctuations, estimated future exploration
expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits,
success of exploration activities, permitting time lines,
requirements for additional capital and the Company's ability to
obtain financing when required and on terms acceptable to the
Company, future or estimated mine life and other activities or
achievements of Cornish Metals, including but not limited to:
mineralisation at South Crofty, mine dewatering and NCK Shaft
refurbishment expectations, timing of completion of a technical
report summarising the results of the PEA; the development,
operational and economic results of the PEA, including cash flows,
capital expenditures, development costs, extraction rates, recovery
rates, mining cost estimates; estimation of mineral resources;
statements about the estimate of mineral resources; magnitude or
quality of mineral deposits; anticipated advancement of the South
Crofty project mine plan; future operations; the completion and
timing of future development studies; anticipated advancement of
mineral properties or programmes; Cornish Metals' exploration
drilling programme, exploration potential and project growth
opportunities for the South Crofty tin project and other Cornwall
mineral properties and the timing thereof, timing and results of
Cornish Metals' feasibility study, the Company's ability to
evaluate and develop the South Crofty tin project and other
Cornwall mineral properties, strategic vision of Cornish Metals and
expectations regarding the South Crofty mine, timing and results of
projects mentioned. Forward-looking statements are often, but not
always, identified by the use of words such as "seek",
"anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect",
"potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend"
and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should",
"could", "would" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar
expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements
other than statements of historical fact included in this news
release, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks
and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that such
statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to: risks related to receipt
of regulatory approvals, risks related to general economic and
market conditions; risks related to the availability of financing;
the timing and content of upcoming work programmes; actual results
of proposed exploration activities; possible variations in Mineral
Resources or grade; outcome of the current Feasibility Study;
projected dates to commence mining operations; failure of plant,
equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour
disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance
coverage and other risks of the mining industry; changes in
national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax
rules and regulations. The list is not exhaustive of the factors
that may affect Cornish's forward-looking
statements.
Cornish Metals' forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current
expectations regarding future events and operating performance and
speak only as of the date such statements are made. Although the
Company has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those
described in forward- looking statements, there may be other
factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ
materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and
accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place
undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Cornish Metals does
not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if
circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions
should change other than as required by applicable
law.
Market Abuse Regulation (MAR)
Disclosure
The information contained within this announcement is deemed
by the Company to constitute inside information pursuant to Article
7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by
virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 as
amended.