Wetar Copper Project-Progress Report
11 Julio 2008 - 2:40AM
UK Regulatory
Wetar Copper Project-Progress Report
FINDERS RESOURCES LIMITED
Wetar Copper Project-Progress Report
Initial pilot plant production now expected late September
Feasibility study remains on track for year's end
Finders Resources (FND) reports that as a result of delays
experienced in the supply of several key components, initial copper
cathode production from the Wetar Copper Project pilot plant under
construction is expected to be delayed until late September, compared
to the initial target of early August. Despite this delay, Finders
still expects to complete the overall Wetar Copper feasibility study
by December 2008.
As part of Finders Resources' definitive feasibility study to assess
20-25,000t per year copper cathode production at the Wetar Copper
Project, Finders is currently constructing a semi-commercial scale
demonstration plant, comprising a 100,000 tonne bacterial heap leach
feeding a SXEW plant rated to produce 5 tonnes per day of copper
cathodes. Key elements in the project development are summarised
below, and a more extensive review of the project will be included in
the forthcoming June quarter quarterly report.
* Apart from several key electrical components, all major
plant and equipment are manufactured, and either on site, or in
transit. Construction and earthworks are well advanced.
* Fabrication delays and extended transit times for key
electrical components for the SXEW plant- Trunk Busbars from South
Africa, and a Rectiformer ex Vermont USA, will result in delay of
initial copper cathode production until late September, compared to
initial target of early August.
* Increased fuel costs (85c/litre to 120c/litre), additional
ship charters and an extra 2 months operating costs will increase
the estimated capital cost of the demonstration plant from US$6.25
million to approximately US$7.2 million
* In addition to the original planned capital items, Finders
has purchased and refurbished a second hand 100t/hour crushing
plant, and a new stacking plant capable of servicing the planned
full scale operation, at a cost of $1.4 million, which represents a
major saving from the purchase of an all new system.
* Ausenco Services Pty Ltd have been retained to review full
scale project feasibility study and development schedule, and in
particularly, to identify long lead time items which will impact
the planned December 2009 commencement of commercial copper
production.
Managing Director, Chris Farmer said: "The delay in production from
our demonstration plant, which has largely resulted from supplier
issues beyond our control, while disappointing, should not
significantly affect the overall schedule to full scale production.
The Wetar copper project with its high grade, simple mining and low
projected capital costs remains very well positioned to become a
highly competitive low cost producer and to benefit from continuing
high copper prices."
For further information please contact
Finders Resources Ltd:
Russell Fountain, Executive Chairman, +61 2 9211 8299
Chris Farmer, Managing Director, info@findersresources.com
Financial PR:
Doug Macdonald, +61 424 255 959, Capital Group (in Australia)
Paddy Blewer or Nick Elwes, +44 20 7457 2020, College Hill (in the
UK)
RFC Corporate Finance Ltd - Nomad and Corporate Adviser:
Rob Adamson, +61 2 9250 0000 or Stuart Laing, + 61 8 9480 2500
Background
Finders, listed on AIM and ASX, is the operator of the Wetar Copper
(~73% and earning), and Ojolali Gold-Silver Projects (72% with
option) in Indonesia, and holds an investment in Geopacific Resources
NL, an ASX-listed company with active exploration programs for gold
and copper in Fiji.
At the Wetar Copper Project, Finders has previously announced the
following resource estimates for the Kali Kuning and Lerokis
deposits:
Attributable (72.4%)
Category Tonnes (M) Cu% Cont. Cu Tonnes (M) Cont. Cu
(KT) (KT)
Kali Kuning Measured 3.3 2.7 89 2.4 64.6
0.5% Cu Indicated 2.6 2.4 63 1.9 45.3
Cut-off Inferred 0.6 1.8 11 0.4 7.7
grade
Total 6.6 2.5 165 4.8 119.1
Lerokis Indicated 2.9 2.5 71 2.1 51.6
0.5% Cu Inferred 0.4 1.7 7 0.3 4.9
Cut-off Total 3.2 2.4 76 2.3 55.1
grade
As part of a definitive feasibility study, a demonstration SX-EW
plant with 5t per day copper cathode capacity is being installed with
planned cathode production from mid-2008.
The Company is targeting commercial production of 20-25,000 tonnes
per year cathode by the end of 2009.
At the Ojolali Project, Finders controls what it considers to be a
major new epithermal gold district, and has been undertaking an
extensive exploration program since late 2005, comprising detailed
drilling to establish and initial mining resource, supported by
extensive surface geophysical and geochemical surveys aimed at
unlocking the larger potential of the district. Finders' believes
that the Ojolali project has strong potential to generate short-term
cash flow through open pit CIL/CIP development of the gold resource
at the Jambi Oxide gold deposit. Other prospects have outstanding
potential for the discovery of additional resources using modern
geophysical techniques to optimize drill targeting.
For further information on results previously reported and a full
resource statement please visit our website www.findersresources.com.
Competent Person Signoff
The Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves (the 'JORC Code') sets out minimum
standards, recommendations and guidelines for Public Reporting in
Australasia of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore
Reserves. The information contained in this announcement has been
presented in accordance with the JORC Code and references to
"Indicated" and "Inferred Resources" are to those terms as defined in
the JORC Code.
The geological and Mineral Resource information in this announcement
has been reviewed by and is based on information compiled by Dr R
Fountain who is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of
Geoscientists and a Director of Finders. Dr Fountain has sufficient
experience that is relevant to the styles of mineralisation and types
of deposits under consideration and to the activity that he is
undertaking to qualify as Competent Person as defined in the JORC
Code. He consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the
matters based on his information in the form and context in which
they appear.
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