Marula Mining
PLC
("Marula'' or the "Company")
27
August
2024
Assay Results Confirm High
Grade Manganese Ore Zone at Kilifi
Marula Mining PLC
(AQSE: MARU A2X: MARU) an African focused mining and development company, is
pleased to announce that it has received assay results from channel
samples taken from manganese ore within licensed areas that will
provide run-of mine material to the recently acquired Kilifi
Manganese Processing Plant (the "Kilifi Plant") located in the Tezo Area, Kilifi
County in Kenya.
The assay results have confirmed an
high-grade zone of manganese ore of up to 1.0 metres ("m") in
thickness and with assay results of between 44.13% and 71.01%
manganese ("Mn"). This high-grade zone is located at depths of
approx. 5m and below the base of the low to medium grade manganese
ore deposits that are located in the Ganze Region of Kilifi County
and which have been identified to extend along a 30 kilometre
("km") strike length.
Manganese ore from the Ganze Region
is anticipated to be supplied at monthly rates of 10,000 tonnes per
month ("tpm") to the Company's Kilifi Plant under the Manganese Ore
Supply Agreement ("Ore Agreement") signed with Kitmin Holdings
Limited ("Kitmin"), as announced on 1 August 2024.
The assays results confirm the
potential for the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Muchai Mining
Kenya Limited ("MMK"), to process this high-grade manganese ore at
the Kilifi Plant to either produce a dedicated high grade manganese
product or blend with the lower to medium grade manganese ore, and
produce a higher grade/higher value saleable final
product.
Highlights:
·
a total of six channel samples were taken from
exposed manganese ore within licensed areas
in the Ganze Region of Kilifi County
·
samples were from areas designated to supply
10,000 tpm of manganese ore to the Kilifi Plant under the Ore
Agreement signed with Kitmin in August 2024
·
assay results recorded high-grade manganese, with
an average grade of 61.95% Mn obtained and the lowest and highest
reported grades of 44.13% Mn and 71.01% Mn, respectively
·
the assay results for the six samples included
44.13% Mn, 51.69% Mn, 66.04% Mn, 68.41% Mn, 70.38% Mn and 71.01%
Mn
·
the samples were assayed by Kenya's State
Department for Mining at their laboratory facilities in
Nairobi
·
the samples were taken from the lower sections of
the manganese rich deposits found in the Ganze Region of Kilifi
County, more specifically from the base of the unit where larger
manganese-bearing rock fragments are found
·
under the terms of the existing Ore Supply
Agreement, manganese ore is anticipated to be delivered to the
Kilifi plant, which is located approx. 60km from the Port of
Mombasa, at monthly rates of 10,000tpm
·
the Company and MMK are currently negotiating
additional manganese ore supply agreements and looking at acquiring
a number of projects to allow the Kilifi Plant to operate on a
double shift basis with the potential to produce between 15,000tpm
and 20,000tpm
·
the Company is due to commence processing
operation at the Kilifi Plant in early September 2024 and continues
to target run of mine ore feed to the Kilifi Plant of +20% Mn which
will be upgraded to +30% manganese after processing through the
Kilifi Plant
·
under the Company's current budgets, cash flow
projections and contracted operating costs for the supply of
material, transportation and logistics for its export, the Kilifi
Plant is expected to generate approx. US$250,000 to US$400,000 of
monthly free cash flow commencing from mid Q4 2024 and that will be
utilised by the Company to further expand its operating activities
in Kenya and East Africa
Assay Results - August 2024
HIGH-GRADE MANGANESE ASSAY
RESULTS - GANZE REGION - AUGUST 2024
|
SAMPLE NUMBER
|
FE GRADE
|
MN GRADE
|
MARU 025
|
3.54%
|
51.69%
|
MARU 026
|
1.13%
|
44.13%
|
MARU 027
|
3.67%
|
66.04%
|
MARU 028
|
3.52%
|
68.41%
|
MARU 029
|
2.45%
|
70.37%
|
MARU 030
|
1.53%
|
71.01%
|
AVERAGE
|
2.64%
|
61.95%
|
Jason Brewer, Marula Mining PLC CEO
said:
"It's extremely encouraging to receive such high-grade assay
results of samples from one of the key areas of the manganese ore
supply that has been secured to feed the Kilifi
Plant.
"This high-grade zone of mineralisation that's been identified
beneath the main ore zone, has the potential to have a material
impact on the underlying project economics of this operation and
further demonstrates the potential that exists in Kilifi
County.
"As we look to commence processing operations at the Kilifi
Plant in September 2024, we also look forward to finalising the
terms of additional manganese ore supply agreements and possible
acquisitions, as well as finalising the logistics and sales
agreements.
"I
look forward to updating shareholders further on our activities at
the Kilifi Plant."
The
Directors of Marula are responsible for the contents of this
announcement. This announcement contains
inside information for the purposes of UK Market Abuse
Regulation.
About Marula Mining
Marula Mining (AQSE: MARU A2X: MARU)
is an African focused battery metals investment and exploration
company and has interests in several high value mining operations
and mine development projects in Africa: the Blesberg Lithium and
Tantalum Mine, Northern Cape Lithium and Tungsten Project, Korridor
Lithium Project and Kruisrivier Cobalt Mine, all in South Africa;
the Larisoro Manganese Mine and Kilifi Manganese Processing
Operation both in Kenya; 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 AQUIS Stock Exchange (AQSE) in London and A2X
Markets in South Africa. Marula is exploring opportunities to admit
its shares to trading on 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
|
A2X
Advisor
AcaciaCap Advisors Proprietary Limited
Michelle Krastanov
|
+27 (11)
480 8500
|
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.