Marula Mining
PLC
("Marula'' or the "Company")
4
March 2025
Landmark Agency Framework
Contract for the Purchase and Sale of Kilifi Manganese
Product
Marula Mining PLC
(AQSE: MARU A2X: MAR) an African focused mining and development company, is
pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary Muchai Mining
Kenya Limited ("MMK"), has signed an agency framework contract (the
"Contract") for the purchase and sale of manganese product from the
Kilifi Manganese Processing Plant (the "Kilifi Plant") located in
the Tezo Area, Kilifi County in Kenya.
MMK has entered into the Contract
with Baosteel Resources South Africa (Pty) Ltd ("Baosteel
Resources"), a wholly owned subsidiary of state-owned China Baowu
Steel Group Co., Ltd., ("Baowu"), the world's largest steel
producer.
Baowu is ranked by Fortune as one of
the top 50 largest companies in the world and in 2024
reported total assets of US$192 billion,
revenue of US$157 billion and profits of US$2.5 billion. Through
its operating subsidiaries, it is also currently China's largest
iron ore producer, and also a major shareholder in the Simandou
Iron Ore Project in Guinea, the world's largest iron ore project,
with an estimated investment of US$20 billion planned to develop
that operation. Its international subsidiaries are responsible for
all the overseas procurement and trade of Baowu's steel raw
materials, overseas mine investment, domestic mine management, and
logistics transportation.
Baosteel Resources is positioned as
an independently operated African regional supply chain company for
China Baowu and is mainly engaged in the trading of mineral
resources such as iron ore, coal, chrome ore, manganese ore, nickel
ore, copper concentrate, zinc concentrate, bauxite, and lithium
ore.
Under the terms of the Contract,
Baosteel Resources will act as an agent to exclusively sell MMK's
manganese ore from the Kilifi Plant.
Highlights:
·
The Contract commenced on 1 March 2025
·
The Contract term is for an initial period of 60
months (5 years)
·
Initial delivery of a minimum 5,000 tonnes of manganese ore of grades between 35% and
40% manganese ("Mn") and which are required to be delivered by 30 April
2025
·
From May 2025, MMK will deliver a minimum of
10,000 tonnes per month for twelve months.
·
In April 2026, monthly deliveries will increase to
15,000 wet metric tons ±5%
·
From May 2026, for a period of twelve months, MMK
will deliver 20,000 wet metric tons ±5% a month, for twelve
months
·
For the duration of the Contract, each monthly
delivery shall be subject to a separate sale and purchase
contract
·
MMK will complete mining, loading process and
transportation to the designated handover destination while
Baosteel Resources will handle export and sales logistics on a
China Ferroalloy Online index ('CIF')/CFR basis
·
Pricing will be based on CIF China rates with
provisional and final settlement mechanisms, incorporating product
quality, moisture, grade adjustments, and market-based revisions
including standard agency fees and costs
·
A contractual performance bond mechanism
representing a percentage of manganese under the Agreement and
provided by the Company, ensures secure transactions, with
adjustments in case of price fluctuations
·
Under the terms of the Contract, a provisional
payment of 90% of each monthly shipment will be made to MMK upon
delivery to the handover destination, conditional on the
performance bond mechanism being in place between the parties. The
remaining 10% payment will be paid after final quality and quantity
certificates are issued.
Jason Brewer, CEO of Marula Mining, said:
"This is a landmark agreement for Marula and the Kilifi
Manganese Processing Plant.
"It marks a significant milestone for the Company as we look
to establish broad and long-term international partnerships, expand
our mining and processing operations and enhance our profile with
key industry players.
"We continue to work with key stakeholders here in Kenya and
overseas to continue developing and growing Marula's battery and
critical metals portfolio to production and with sales targeting
the international markets.
"We are excited at the opportunities this relationship with
Baosteel Resource provides and I believe it will strengthen our
position in the manganese and other key sectors such as lithium and
copper too."
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: MAR)
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 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 and the NyoriGreen Graphite Project all in Tanzania.
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
|
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.