AMR Launches Strategic Review for Ban Phuc Nickel Mine in Vietnam
19 Octubre 2017 - 12:23PM
Asian Mineral Resources Limited (“
AMR” or the
“
Company”) (TSXV:ASN) today announces that its
Board of Directors (the “
Board”) has initiated a
strategic review process to explore its options with regard to the
Ban Phuc Nickel Mine in Vietnam with the goal of enhancing
shareholder value.
Through its 90%-owned Ban Phuc Nickel Mines
(“BPNM”) subsidiary in Vietnam, AMR holds an
attractive tenement package of 150km2, including 49.7km2 of
exploration licenses, which contains the Ban Phuc nickel, copper,
and cobalt sulphide deposit, mine, and processing centre. The Ban
Phuc deposit generated annual production of up to 10,000 tonnes of
nickel in concentrate and was mined from 2013 until late 2016, when
operations were placed into a care and maintenance status due to
low nickel prices.
Since then, AMR has been focused on near and
mid-term growth opportunities to increase shareholder value.
A number of initiatives are ongoing and under consideration,
but highlights include:
- Review of exploration potential on large tonnage, lower grade
bulk disseminated sulphide resource (see the Company’s
technical report entitled “ NI 43-101 Technical Report – Ta Khoa
Concession’’ dated March 3, 2017 which is available on SEDAR and
the AMR website).
- Review of exploration potential for massive sulphide vein
expansion with twenty-five mapped nickel sulphide prospects,
including several less than 3km from existing processing
centre.
- Supporting infrastructure at BPNM is still in place and well
maintained including an internationally-designed 450 ktpa
processing plant (high historical recoveries of up to 87% Ni, 95%
Cu, 90% Co), a fully-permitted tailings facility (with expansion
options), workshops, fabrication, and maintenance facilities, and a
modern 250-person camp, all supported by circa 98% local workforce,
ready to restart operations.
- Detailed engineering study complete for an in-country nickel
smelter, which would benefit from greatly reduced export tariffs on
nickel matte.
- Execution of Net Smelter Royalty Agreement with Cobalt 27
Capital Corp. (TSXV:KBLT), and discussions with interested offtake
partners and strategic investors, both local and
international.
AMR’s Board notes that the nickel price has been
reinvigorated by the improving outlook for electric vehicle
(“EV”) penetration due to its use in several types
of lithium-ion batteries, in addition to the ongoing reduction in
regional southeast Asian output caused by environmental
regulations, making high-grade sulphide material a premium product
amongst other lower-grade sources of nickel, and its cobalt
byproduct is likely to be of significant strategic interest in the
EV revolution. AMR’s Board is actively considering a number
of strategic opportunities, which would further leverage the
Company to the EV and battery metal theme.
This strategic review process is expected to be
concluded by the end of 2017. It may result in a variety of
outcomes or no outcome at all, and there can be no assurance that
the Company will pursue or execute any specific action or
transaction during this period. Except as required by
applicable securities laws, the Company does not currently intend
to disclose further developments with respect to this process
unless and until the Board reviews and approves the outcome of this
review together with recommendations.
Parties interested in engaging with the Company
regarding any potential transaction involving the Company should
contact Duncan T. Blount, Chief Executive Officer at
D.Blount@asianmineralres.com or by phone at +1 (305) 890-6516.
ABOUT AMR
AMR owns and operates a nickel mine with
historical nickel sulphide production, and is exploring for
additional high-grade nickel assets in Vietnam. AMR commenced
commercial production from its 90%-owned Ban Phuc Nickel Mine in
Vietnam in mid-2013. As of 30 June 2016, the Ban Phuc Nickel Mine
has produced a total of c. 20,000 tonnes of nickel and c. 10,000
tonnes of copper contained in concentrate, plus a cobalt by-product
since the beginning of its mine life. Mining and processing
operations at Ban Phuc were suspended in September 2016 and
operations were transitioned to a care and maintenance scenario. In
addition to in and near-mine expansion projects, Ban Phuc provides
a platform from which AMR can continue to focus on developing a new
nickel camp within its 150km2 of concessions located throughout the
highly-prolific Song Da rift zone, where AMR has a number of
advanced-stage nickel exploration targets.
For further details on AMR, please refer to the
technical report entitled “NI 43-101 Technical Report – Ban Phuc
Nickel Project” dated February 15, 2013 and the technical report
entitled “NI 43-101 Technical Report – Ta Khoa Concession’’ dated
March 3, 2017, both available on SEDAR or the AMR website
www.asianmineralres.com.
For further information:
Paula
KemberChief Financial OfficerTelephone: +1 (416) 360-3412 |
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain
“Forward-Looking Statements.” All statements, other than statements
of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation,
statements regarding the future exploration and development of
AMR’s projects, potential mineralization, exploration results and
future plans and objectives of AMR are forward-looking statements.
As noted, there can be no assurance that the strategic review
process that is the subject of this release will result in any
transaction. Except as required by applicable securities law, the
Company does not currently intend to disclose further developments
with respect to this process, unless and until its Board of
Directors approves a specific transaction or otherwise concludes
the review of strategic alternatives. Forward-looking statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
AMR to be materially different from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from AMR’s expectations are disclosed under the
heading “Risk Factors” in AMR’s Annual Information Form, and
elsewhere in AMR’s documents filed from time-to-time with the TSX
Venture Exchange and other regulatory authorities. Such
forward-looking statements are based on a number of material
factors and assumptions, including: that contracted parties provide
goods and/or services on the agreed timeframes; that on-going
contractual negotiations will be successful and progress and/or be
completed in a timely manner; that application for permits and
licences will be granted/obtained in a timely manner; that no
unusual geological or technical problems occur; that plant and
equipment work as anticipated and that there is no material adverse
change in the price of nickel. Although AMR has attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events
or results to differ materially from those described in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated,
estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein
are made as of the date of this press release. AMR disclaims any
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as required by law. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the
inherent uncertainty therein.
The scientific and technical information in this press release
has been compiled and approved by Darryl Mapleson (BSc (Hons),
FAusIMM) who is a Geologist retained by Asian Mineral Resources
Limited and a Competent Person as defined by JORC guidelines and a
Qualified Person for NI 43-101. He has been engaged by Asian
Mineral Resources Limited as an independent consultant.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies
of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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