Loncor Gold Inc. ("
Loncor" or the
"
Company") (TSX: "LN"; OTCQX: "LONCF”; FSE:
"LO51") is pleased to announce the results of the Preliminary
Economic Assessment (“
PEA”) for its Adumbi gold
deposit within its 84.68%-owned Imbo Project in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo (the “
DRC”).
Project economics and financial analysis was
undertaken on two power options at Adumbi: a Hydroelectric Power
(“HEP”) Hybrid case and a Diesel Only case. The
table below summarises the PEA results for the HEP Hybrid and
Diesel Only cases:
|
|
HEP HYBRID CASE |
DIESEL ONLY CASE |
DESCRIPTION |
Units |
PRE-TAX |
AFTER TAX |
PRE-TAX |
AFTER TAX |
Life of Mine (“LOM”) Tonnage Ore Processed |
t (000) |
49,771 |
49,771 |
49,771 |
49,771 |
LOM Feed Grade Processed |
g/t |
2.172 |
2.172 |
2.172 |
2.172 |
Production Period |
yrs |
10.3 |
10.3 |
10.3 |
10.3 |
LOM Gold Recovery |
% |
89.8% |
89.8% |
89.8% |
89.8% |
LOM Gold Production |
oz (000) |
3,121 |
3,121 |
3,121 |
3,121 |
LOM Payable Gold After Refining Losses |
oz (000) |
3,119 |
3,119 |
3,119 |
3,119 |
Gold Price |
US$/oz |
1,600 |
1,600 |
1,600 |
1,600 |
Revenue |
US$ million |
4,990 |
4,990 |
4,990 |
4,990 |
Total Cash Costs |
US$/oz |
852 |
852 |
908 |
908 |
AISC |
US$/oz |
950 |
950 |
1,040 |
1,040 |
Preproduction Capital Costs |
US$ million |
530 |
530 |
392 |
392 |
Sustaining Capital Costs |
US$ million |
305 |
305 |
411 |
411 |
Net Present Value (“NPV”) (5% discount rate) |
US$ million |
895 |
624 |
843 |
600 |
IRR |
% |
25.2% |
20.7% |
30.3% |
25.2% |
Discount Rate |
% |
5% |
5% |
5% |
5% |
Payback Period-from start of production |
Years |
4.16 |
4.98 |
3.16 |
4.06 |
Project Net Cash |
US$ million |
1,495.2 |
1,087.0 |
1,352.8 |
992.5 |
Note: Total cash costs per
payable ounce, AISC (All-in Sustaining-Costs) per payable ounce and
project net cash are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see
“Cautionary Note Concerning Non-GAAP Measures”. Total cash costs
includes all on-site mining costs, processing costs, mine level
G&A, refining and royalties. AISC includes all mining costs,
processing costs, mine level G&A, royalties, refining,
sustaining capital and closure costs. Project net cash is cash
revenues less selling costs, less all mining costs, processing
costs, mine level G&A, and royalties.All financial figures in
this press release are in United States dollars, unless otherwise
noted.
The Adumbi PEA study was prepared for Loncor by
a number of independent mining and engineering consultants led by
New SENET (SENET), Johannesburg (Processing and Infrastructure) and
Minecon Resources and Services Limited (Minecon), Accra (Mineral
Resources, Mining and Environmental and Social) and Maelgwyn South
Africa (MMSA), Johannesburg (Metallurgical test work),
Knight Piésold and Senergy, Johannesburg (Power) and Epoch,
Johannesburg (Tailings and Water Storage). SENET undertook the
financial and economic evaluation.
Cautionary Statement:The Adumbi PEA is
preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources in
the open pit outlines that are considered too speculative
geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them
that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There
is no certainty that all the conclusions reached in the Adumbi PEA
will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves
do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Commenting on today’s Adumbi PEA study, Loncor’s
President Peter Cowley said: “The results from the Adumbi PEA
demonstrates a robust project with an average of +300,000 ounces of
gold per annum over 10 years with low total cash costs and AISC
costs of US$852 and US$950 per ounce respectively over the LOM for
the HEP Hybrid power case.”
“There also remains significant upside potential
at Adumbi and environs to increase mineral resources, gold
production, reduce operating costs and further improve the
economics of the project. Excellent exploration potential exists to
further increase mineral resources at Adumbi, within the Imbo
permit and other permits held by Loncor in the Ngayu greenstone
belt. At Adumbi, the mineralized BIF host sequence increases in
thickness below the open pit shell and wide spaced drilling has
already intersected grades and thicknesses amenable to underground
mining. Further drilling is required to initially outline a
significant underground mineral resource which can then be combined
with the open pit mineral resource so that studies can be
undertaken for a combined open pit and underground mining scenario
at Adumbi. Besides increasing the resource base, a combined open
pit/underground project could increase grade throughput and reduce
strip ratios with the higher grade, deeper mineral resources being
mined by underground which could increase annual gold production
and reduce operating costs.”
“Additional deposits and prospects occur close
by to Adumbi and have the potential to add mineral resources and
feed for the Adumbi mine operation. Along trend from Adumbi, the
Manzako and Kitenge deposits have Inferred Mineral Resources of
313,000 ounces (1.68 million tonnes grading 5.80 g/t Au) and remain
open along strike and at depth. Further along strike within the
Imbo permit area, four priority prospects have been identified with
similar host lithologies to Adumbi and will require drilling.
Additional feed for the Adumbi processing plant could also come
from Loncor’s 100%-owned high grade Makapela deposit where
Indicated Mineral Resources of 2.20 million tonnes grading 8.66 g/t
Au (614,200 ounces of gold) and Inferred Mineral Resources of 3.22
million tonnes grading 5.30 g/t Au (549,600 ounces of gold) have
been outlined to date with the high grade material being able to be
transported to Adumbi.”
“Other opportunities are being pursued to
improve Adumbi’s economics. The Company is already in discussion
with potential power suppliers with experience in the DRC to
project finance and build a hydroelectric facility at Adumbi and
then have an offtake agreement with Loncor to supply power for the
operation. Any hydroelectric power scheme could also have the
potential to obtain carbon credits.”
Imbo Project Containing the Adumbi
Deposit
The Imbo Project which contains the Adumbi
deposit is situated at the eastern end of the Ngayu Archean
greenstone gold belt in the Ituri Province of northeastern DRC and
is approximately 220 kilometres from Africa’s largest gold mine of
Kibali, operated by Barrick Gold which in 2020 produced 808,134
ounces of gold.
This PEA was undertaken on the Adumbi deposit,
which is the main gold deposit on the Company’s 122 square
kilometre Imbo Project. Loncor has a 84.68% interest in the Imbo
Project through its subsidiary Adumbi Mining S.A., with the
minority shareholders holding 15.32% (including a 10% free carried
interest held by the government of the DRC). The Imbo exploitation
permit is valid until February 2039.
Drilling commenced on the Adumbi deposit in 2010
and to date 21,512 metres (74 core holes) have been drilled (see
Figure 1 below). Gold mineralization at Adumbi is hosted in banded
ironstone formation (BIF) and is similar to the gold mineralization
host lithologies of the major Kibali and Geita mines in the DRC and
Tanzania respectively. The main mineralized host lithologies at
Adumbi are BIF within which is a more altered, higher sulfide RP
(“replacement rock”) lithology. As at Kibali and Geita, significant
underground mineral resource potential exists below the Adumbi pit
shell where the gold mineralization is open at depth and where wide
spaced drilling has already intersected significant widths and
grades with the BIF sequence thickening at depth.
Figure 1: Adumbi Deposit Longitudinal
Section Looking Northeast with Drill Hole Grade (g/t) x True
Thickness (Metre) Product
Contourshttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74d970f8-01f4-41e1-bbfc-e3fec4637d25
Mineral Resources
The mineral resource assessment at Adumbi was
undertaken by the Company’s independent geological consultants
Minecon Resources and Services Limited
(“Minecon”).
Table I below summarises the Adumbi indicated
and inferred mineral resources based on in-situ block cut-off grade
at a 0.52 g/t Au for Oxide, 0.57 g/t Au for Transition and 0.63 g/t
Au for Fresh material and constrained within a US$1,600 per ounce
optimized pit shell. 84.68% of the Adumbi mineral resources are
attributable to Loncor via its 84.68% interest in the Imbo
Project.
Table I: Adumbi Deposit Indicated and
Inferred Mineral Resources(effective date:
November 17, 2021)
Mineral Resource Category |
Tonnage(Tonnes) |
Grade (g/t Au) |
Contained Gold (Ounces) |
Indicated |
28,185,000 |
2.08 |
1,883,000 |
Inferred |
20,828,000 |
2.65 |
1,777,000 |
Note: Numbers may not add up due to
rounding.
Tables II below summarise the indicated and
inferred category mineral resources in terms of material type.
Table II: Adumbi Mineral Resources by
Material Type(effective date: November 17,
2021)
|
INDICATED MINERAL RESOURCE |
INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCE |
Material Type |
Tonnage |
Grade |
Contained Gold |
Tonnage |
Grade |
Contained Gold |
(Tonnes) |
(g/t Au) |
(Ounces) |
(Tonnes) |
(g/t Au) |
(Ounces) |
Oxide |
3,169,000 |
2.05 |
208,000 |
458,000 |
3.39 |
49,000 |
Transitional |
3,401,000 |
2.51 |
274,000 |
280,000 |
2.74 |
24,000 |
Fresh (Sulphide) |
21,614,000 |
2.02 |
1,400,000 |
20,089,000 |
2.64 |
1,703,000 |
TOTAL |
28,185,000 |
2.08 |
1,883,000 |
20,828,000 |
2.65 |
1,777,000 |
Note: Numbers may not add up due to
rounding.
Geological Modelling and Grade
Estimation
The Adumbi 3-dimensional
(“3-D”) model was constructed by Minecon in
collaboration with on-site geologists using cross sectional and
horizontal flysch plans of the geology and mineralization and was
used to assist in the constraining of the 3-D geological model. The
mineralization model was constrained within a wireframe at 0.5 g/t
Au cut-off grade. Grade interpolation was undertaken using:
- 2 metre sample composites capped at
18 g/t Au to improve the reliability of the block grade
estimates.
- Ordinary Kriging to interpolate
grades into the block model.
- Relative densities of 2.45 for
oxide, 2.82 for transitional and 3.05 for fresh rock were applied
to the block model for tonnage estimation.
Pit Optimisation Parameters
To constrain the depth extent of the geological
model and any mineral resources, an open pit for the Adumbi deposit
was constructed based on the following pit optimisation
parameters:
- A gold price of US$1,600 per
ounce.
- Block size: 16 metres x 16 metres x
8 metres.
- A thirty-two metres minimum mining
width and a maximum of four metres of internal waste was
applied.
- Mining dilution of 100% of the
tonnes at 95% of the grade.
- Ultimate slope angle of minus 45
degrees.
- Average mining cost of
US$3.29/tonne mined.
- Metallurgical recoveries of 91% for
oxide, 88% for transitional and 90% for fresh.
- Average general and administration
cost of US$4.20/tonne.
- Mineral
resources were estimated at a block cut-off grade of 0.52 g/t Au
for oxide, 0.57 g/t Au for transition materials and 0.63 g/t Au for
fresh material constrained by a US$1,600 per ounce optimized pit
shell.
- Transport of gold and refining
costs equivalent to 4.5% of the gold price.
- No additional studies on depletion
by artisanal activity was undertaken since the RPA study of 2014
and the same total amount of material was used by Minecon.
Tonnage/Grade Curve
Grade/tonnage curves for the Adumbi mineral
resources at various gold cut-offs are summarised in Table III and
the graph below:
Table III:
Block Cut-off |
Tonnage |
Grade |
Contained Au |
g/t Au |
million tonnes |
g/t Au |
million ounces |
0.0 |
51.60 |
2.23 |
3.70 |
0.5 |
50.10 |
2.29 |
3.68 |
1.0 |
41.15 |
2.61 |
3.45 |
1.5 |
29.07 |
3.17 |
2.97 |
2.0 |
21.76 |
3.66 |
2.56 |
2.5 |
16.06 |
4.17 |
2.15 |
3.0 |
12.12 |
4.63 |
1.80 |
|
|
|
|
A graph accompanying this announcement is
available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e102869e-00d7-4db7-baa9-25bbfb0c1149
Mining
The Adumbi deposit is planned to be mined by
conventional, contract, open pit mining using truck and shovel
mining fleet with drill and blasting for all material types. Mining
costs were broken down into reference and incremental mining costs
and were estimated from first principles using knowledge of recent
mining contracts operating in similar gold mining operations in
Africa. For the PEA, both Inferred and Indicated Mineral Resources
were included in the material to be mined. Mining is planned to be
carried out by a contractor on a cost per tonne basis utilising a
mining fleet consisting of 140 tonne rigid haul trucks with 8 cubic
meter excavators.
Figure II: Adumbi Open Pit
Designhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a1b785a5-3c30-46ec-acd5-f154a07228a1
Table IV below summarises the mining, processing
and gold production schedules over Adumbi’s LOM.
Table IV: Mining,
Processing and Gold Production Schedules over Adumbi’s
LOMhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9c394b09-1b2c-4dfe-ab55-e45e3f1d5865
Processing
Metallurgical Testwork
Preliminary Economic Assessment level
metallurgical testwork (comminution and gold recovery) was
performed by Maelgwyn Mineral Services Laboratory on the Adumbi ore
to evaluate the process route required to treat the ore and to
obtain gold recoveries that can be achieved.
Table V below shows a summary of the PEA Adumbi
metallurgical testwork results.
Table V: Adumbi
Metallurgical Testwork Results
Parameters |
Units |
Oxides |
Transition |
Fresh |
Bond Rod Work Index |
kWh/t |
12.7 |
|
13.6 |
|
14.6 |
|
Bond Ball Work Index |
kWh/t |
11.8 |
|
13.7 |
|
14.2 |
|
Abrasion Index |
|
0.19 |
|
0.25 |
|
0.34 |
|
Diagnostic Leach CIL Recovery |
% |
90.76% |
|
87.53% |
|
89.9% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average diagnostic leach recovery for the fresh
sulfide material was the weighted mean of RP and BIF lithologies
relative to their volume occurrence (20% RP: 80% BIF) in the fresh
material. Diagnostic leach recoveries of 80.10% for RP and 92.37%
for BIF were realized for the fresh sulfide.
Comminution results indicated that both oxides
and transition are medium-hard while fresh material indicated that
it is slightly hard. These results were taken into account in the
design of the comminution flowsheet.
In order to optimize gold recovery further
testwork was conducted on fresh and transitional material whereby
gravity was followed by flotation on gravity tails. The results
showed that most of the gold can be floated into float concentrates
as summarized in Table VI below.
Table VI: Flotation Results
Sample ID |
Rougher Concentrate |
Gold |
Sulphur |
Grade ( g/t) |
Rec.(%) |
Grade (%) |
Rec. (%) |
Fresh - RP |
9.57 |
95.06% |
|
25.07 |
93.03% |
|
Fresh - BIF |
8.30 |
87.16% |
|
17.90 |
85.13% |
|
Transition |
11.82 |
81.31% |
|
15.80 |
95.52% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The concentrate samples generated were not
sufficient to enable further processing routes such as:
- Fine milling followed by leaching
with oxygen addition
- Fine milling followed by partial
oxidation using high shear reactors and leaching
- Albion process
- Pressure oxidation
- Bio leaching
- Roasting
These recovery processes will be investigated
during the next phase of the project to optimize the gold recovery
in the transitional and fresh ore types.
Process Plant
Based on the above metallurgical testwork
results, the Adumbi process plant design was configured utilising
well-known proven and established gravity and carbon-in-leach (CIL)
technologies to recover gold from blends of oxide, transition and
fresh ores that will be processed at a rate of 5.0 million tonnes
per annum.
The process plant consists of the following
sections:
- Crushing
- Milling
- Gravity and concentrate leach
- Trash removal and pre-leach
thickener
- CIL
- Cyanide detoxification
- Arsenic precipitation
- Tails storage and return water
- Acid wash
- Elution
- Electrowinning
- Gold room
- Carbon regeneration
- Reagents
- Air services
- Water services
Table VII below summarises the key process
design criteria for the process plant.
Table VII: Summary of key process design
criteria
ITEM |
UNIT |
OXIDE |
TRANSITION |
FRESH |
Plant Throughput |
Mt/a |
5.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
Gold Head Grade |
g Au/t |
2.25 |
3.2 |
4.00 |
Design Gold Recovery |
% |
91.82 |
90.38 |
80.1 to 89.83 |
Crushing Plant Utilisation |
% |
65.0 |
65.0 |
65.0 |
Plant Availability |
% |
91.32 |
91.32 |
91.32 |
Comminution Circuit |
|
1° Crush & SAB |
1° Crush & SABC |
1° Crush & SABC |
Crush Size, P80 |
mm |
180 |
180 |
180 |
Grind Size, P80 |
µm |
75 |
75 |
75 |
Leach/CIL Residence Time |
hrs |
24 |
24 |
24 |
Leach Slurry Density |
% w/w |
40 |
40 |
50 |
Number of Pre-leach Tanks |
# |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Number of CIL Tanks/Stages |
# |
11 |
11 |
11 |
Cyanide Consumption |
kg/t |
0.99 |
1.32 |
1.31 |
Lime Consumption |
kg/t |
3.64 |
5.40 |
3.61 |
Elution Circuit Type |
|
Pressure Zadra |
Pressure Zadra |
Pressure Zadra |
Elution Circuit Size |
t |
12 |
12 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
Figure III below shows the proposed process
plant flowsheet.
Figure III: Proposed Process Plant
Flowsheethttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e9ac826-81d8-4585-83af-a9683c39744f
Project Infrastructure
A team of engineers from SENET and Knight
Piesold carried out a site investigation and, in conjunction with
the Loncor team, assessed the optimal positions for key
infrastructure components of the mine site. Preliminary designs and
layouts were done and positioned utilising the detailed LIDAR
survey which was previously commissioned by Loncor.
Figure IV below highlights the positions of key
infrastructure for Adumbi.
Figure IV: Adumbi Key Infrastructure and
Site
layouthttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/71ffa8ab-b84a-443d-a3fd-182ec3339985
Power
A desktop study was undertaken by DRA Energy,
South Africa assessing potential hydroelectric, diesel and
photovoltaic power sources for Adumbi. Knight Piésold Ltd. from
South Africa also undertook a desktop study on a number of
potential hydroelectric sites in and around the Adumbi area and was
part of the team of engineers from South Africa who visited
potential sites on the ground. The total installed power required
for Adumbi is estimated at 32 Megawatts (MW)
Table VIII below indicates the different
priority power generation options that were investigated.
Table VIII: Priority Power Options for
Adumbi
Option |
Power Option |
Capex- Power Plant |
Power Cost |
Approximate Distance from plant site (km) |
USD |
USD/kWh |
1 |
Diesel Only 32 MW |
15,708,000 |
0.2768 |
0 |
2 |
Hybrid, 32 MW Diesel, 20MW PV, 2.5MW/3.7MWh BESS |
36,845,015 |
0.2459 |
0 |
3 |
Imbo Upper Site 3, 3.7MW HEP, 32 MW Diesel, 20 MW PV, 12.4
MW/18.4MWh BESS |
73,593,075 |
0.2133 |
5 |
4 |
Ngayu Confluence, 16.3 MW HEP, 32 MW Diesel, 20 MW PV,
12.4MW/18.4MWh BESS |
138,593,075 |
0.1201 |
23 |
For the Adumbi PEA study, two financial model
cases were examined: the diesel only case of generating power for
essential processing plant equipment and infrastructure; and the
HEP Hybrid case option (Option 4) which is a hybrid system
consisting of HEP supplemented by diesel and solar photovoltaic
(PV) power generation with battery energy storage. Although capital
costs are higher for the HEP Hybrid case, operating costs,
especially processing power costs are significantly reduced and
subsequent project economics are enhanced compared to the diesel
only powered generation case.
For the HEP Hybrid case, it was assumed the
capital cost for the HEP option would be funded by Loncor. However,
the Company is already in discussion with potential power suppliers
with experience in the DRC to project finance and build a
hydroelectric facility at Adumbi and then have an offtake agreement
with Loncor to supply power for the operation. Any hydroelectric
power scheme could also have the potential to obtain carbon
credits.
Tailings Management Facility
(TMF)
EPOCH undertook a site selection exercise to
design a tailings management system to cater for 50 million tonnes
over the life of mine.
The following were considered for the design of
the TMF:
- A new (tailings storage facility)
TSF
- A new return water dam (RWD)
associated with the TSF
- The storm water management and
associated infrastructure for the TSF comprising slurry deposition
pipeline, drainage, perimeter access road, and boundary
fencing.
- The following legislation,
regulations and design standards were considered during the PEA
design of the TMF:
- International Cyanide Code Standard
of Practice
- Global Industry Standard for
Tailings Management (GISTM)
The site selection process was based on a multi
criteria analyses and qualitative risk analysis, which aimed to
determine the most favourable location for the TSF footprint.
Water
Raw water for the project will be abstracted
from the rivers in the area, which have significant flow throughout
the year.
Accessibility and
Transport
A number of potential access routes have been
assessed from the major port of Mombasa in Kenya via Uganda to the
Imbo Project in the Ituri province of northeastern DRC. In
comparison to the tarred roads in Kenya and Uganda, the roads in
northeastern DRC are lateritic in nature and can become difficult
during the rainy season.
Of the three transport DRC border options from
Mombasa to Adumbi, the preferred route via Kenya and Uganda is Aru
– Durba (location of the Kibali gold mine) - Mungbere - Isiro -
Wamba -Adumbi based on the following considerations:
- It is the shortest itinerary in
terms of distance and time.
- The traffic is less dense, which
determines a lower rate of deterioration of the roads.
- The security along the roads is
good, Kibali mine having used this route up to Durba for several
years without any incidents.
- The 1,512 km long road from Mombasa
to Araba is a good, tarred road and is maintained by the Kenyan and
Ugandan government authorities.
- From Arua to Durba (Kibali mine), a
distance of 189 km, the road is well maintained with the support of
Barrick/AngloGold Ashanti.
- The section of the route from Durba
to Wamba (451 km) is now being maintained by the provincial
authorities of Haut-Uele
- Only the remaining stretch of road
from Wamba to Adumbi (64 km) will need to be rehabilitated and
maintained by Loncor.
- Estimates for initial
rehabilitation/refurbishment of the route and ongoing maintenance
where required has been included in initial pre-production capital
costs and in annual maintenance costs.
The new airstrip at Adumbi is expected to be
commissioned in January 2022 and can accommodate propeller aircraft
with up to 8.1 tonne payloads.
Environmental and Social
Considerations
Minecon is implementing pre-feasibility level
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), in compliance
with the DRC mining code, as part of the ESIA/ESMP, including but
not limited to ecological, hydrological, geochemical monitoring and
socio-economic assessment. The study will include village-level
socio-economic survey, which will generate data on demography,
lifestyles and household livelihoods. This will provide the needed
guidance for the formulation of a Resettlement Policy Framework,
that will form the basis for taking the resettlement planning
process to the level of a Resettlement Action Plan. The social
assessment, including public consultation, will also serve to help
generate a Community Development Plan and a Stakeholder Engagement
Plan which will be detailed and refined during the study. An amount
has been included in pre-production capital costs for environmental
and social considerations under Owner’s Costs.
Initial Pre-Production and Sustaining
Capital Cost Estimate Summaries
The following Tables IX to XII summarise the
initial Adumbi pre-production and sustaining capital costs for the
two power case options: Diesel Only and HEP Hybrid.
Table IX: Adumbi Pre-Production Capital
Cost Estimate for Diesel Only Power Case
Description |
Capital Cost |
Contingency |
Total Capital Cost |
US$(000) |
US$(000) |
US$(000) |
Mining |
49,988 |
9,998 |
59,986 |
Process Plant |
143,655 |
27,714 |
171,369 |
Power Plant |
12,004 |
2,401 |
14,405 |
Initial TSF |
54,900 |
10,980 |
65,880 |
Infrastructure |
22,675 |
4,785 |
27,461 |
Access Transport Road |
6,500 |
1,300 |
7,800 |
Owner's Costs |
39,323 |
5,787 |
45,110 |
Total Initial Capex |
329,045 |
62,965 |
392,010 |
|
|
|
|
Table X: Adumbi Sustaining Capital
Estimate for Diesel Only Power Case
Description |
|
Total Capital Cost |
|
|
US$(000) |
Mining Capitalized Waste |
|
328,215 |
Power Plant |
|
14,122 |
TSF |
|
66,329 |
Rehabilitation & Closure Costs |
|
30,678 |
Equipment Salvage Value |
|
-28,789 |
|
|
|
Total Sustaining Capital |
|
410,556 |
|
|
|
Table XI: Adumbi Pre-Production Capital
Cost Estimate for HEP Hybrid Power Case
Description |
Capital Cost |
Contingency |
Total Capital Cost |
|
US$(000) |
US$(000) |
US$(000) |
Mining |
49,988 |
9,998 |
59,986 |
Process Plant |
143,655 |
27,714 |
171,369 |
HEP Hybrid Power Plant |
138,593 |
13,859 |
152,452 |
Initial TSF |
54,900 |
10,980 |
65,880 |
Infrastructure |
22,675 |
4,785 |
27,461 |
Access Transport Road |
6,500 |
1,300 |
7,800 |
Owner's Costs |
39,323 |
5,787 |
45,110 |
Total Initial Capex |
455,634 |
74,423 |
530,058 |
|
|
|
|
Table XII: Adumbi Sustaining Capital
Estimate for HEP Hybrid Power
Case
Description |
|
Total Capital Cost |
|
|
US$(000) |
Mining Capitalized Waste |
|
328,215 |
Power Plant |
|
0 |
TSF |
|
66,329 |
Rehab & Closure Costs |
|
30,678 |
Equipment Salvage Value (Process Plant &HEP) |
|
-120,260 |
|
|
|
Total Sustaining Capital |
|
304,962 |
|
|
|
Adumbi Operating Costs
Summaries
The following Tables XIII to XIV summarise LOM
operating costs for the Diesel Only and HEP Hybrid cases:
Table XIII: Adumbi LOM Operating Costs
for the Diesel Only Case
Description |
LOM |
US$/t processed |
US$/oz |
Mining |
31.33 |
499.56 |
Processing |
17.95 |
286.21 |
TSF |
0.55 |
8.75 |
G & A |
3.40 |
54.19 |
Refining & Transport |
0.22 |
3.50 |
Royalties |
3.51 |
55.96 |
Total Cash Costs |
57.0 |
908 |
|
|
|
A diesel price of US$0.90/litre was used based
on supplier quotes.
Table XIV: Adumbi LOM Operating Costs
for the HEP Hybrid Case
Description |
LOM |
US$/t processed |
US$/oz |
Mining |
31.33 |
499.56 |
Processing |
14.44 |
230.22 |
TSF |
0.55 |
8.75 |
G & A |
3.40 |
54.19 |
Refining & Transport |
0.22 |
3.50 |
Royalties |
3.51 |
55.96 |
Total Cash Costs |
53.4 |
852 |
|
|
|
Project Economics and Financial
Analysis
SENET has produced a cash flow valuation model
for the Adumbi deposit for the HEP Hybrid and Diesel Only cases
taking into account annual processed tonnages, grades and
recoveries, metal prices, site operating and total cash costs
including royalties and refining charges and initial pre-production
and sustaining capital expenditure estimates. The financial
assessment of Adumbi has been carried out on a “100% equity” basis
for both pre-tax and after-tax considerations. The financial
analysis assumed a base gold price of US$1,600 per ounce of
gold.
Table XV below summarises the pre-tax and
after-tax financial analysis for the HEP Hybrid and Diesel Only
cases:
Table XV: Comparison of HEP
Hybrid vs Diesel power generation
Financial Models
|
|
HEP HYBRID CASE |
DIESEL ONLY CASE |
DESCRIPTION |
Units |
PRE-TAX |
AFTER TAX |
PRE-TAX |
AFTER TAX |
LOM Tonnage Ore Processed |
t (000) |
49,771 |
49,771 |
49,771 |
49,771 |
LOM Feed Grade Processed |
g/t |
2.172 |
2.172 |
2.172 |
2.172 |
Production Period |
yrs |
10.3 |
10.3 |
10.3 |
10.3 |
LOM Gold Recovery |
% |
89.8% |
89.8% |
89.8% |
89.8% |
LOM Gold Production |
oz (000) |
3,121 |
3,121 |
3,121 |
3,121 |
LOM Payable Gold After Refining Losses |
oz (000) |
3,119 |
3,119 |
3,119 |
3,119 |
Gold Price |
US$/oz |
1,600 |
1,600 |
1,600 |
1,600 |
Revenue |
US$ million |
4,990 |
4,990 |
4,990 |
4,990 |
Site Operating Costs |
US$/oz |
793 |
793 |
849 |
849 |
Total Cash Costs |
US$/oz |
852 |
852 |
908 |
908 |
AISC |
US$/oz |
950 |
950 |
1,040 |
1,040 |
Preproduction Capital Costs |
US$ million |
530 |
530 |
392 |
392 |
Sustaining Capital Costs |
US$ million |
305 |
305 |
411 |
411 |
NPV (5% discount rate) |
US$ million |
895 |
624 |
843 |
600 |
IRR |
% |
25.2% |
20.7% |
30.3% |
25.2% |
Discount Rate |
% |
5% |
5% |
5% |
5% |
Payback Period-from start of production |
Years |
4.16 |
4.98 |
3.16 |
4.06 |
Project Net Cash |
US$ million |
1,495.2 |
1,087.0 |
1,352.8 |
992.5 |
Note: Total cash costs per
payable ounce, AISC (All-in Sustaining-Costs) per payable ounce and
project net cash are non-GAAP financial measures. Please see
“Cautionary Note Concerning Non-GAAP Measures”. Total cash costs
includes all on-site mining costs, processing costs, mine level
G&A, refining and royalties. AISC includes all mining costs,
processing costs, mine level G&A, royalties, refining,
sustaining capital and closure costs. Project net cash is cash
revenues less selling costs, less all mining costs, processing
costs, mine level G&A, and royalties.
Sensitivity Financial
Analysis
Calculated sensitivities to the Adumbi base case
gold price of US$1,600/ounce show significant upside leverage to
the gold price and the robust nature of the projected economics to
the capital and operating assumptions. Project
sensitivities for the NPV, IRR, cash cost, AISC and payback period
have been undertaken for varying gold price percentages from the
US$1,600/ounce base case and are summarised in Table XVI and XVII
below for the HEP Hybrid and Diesel Only cases:
Table XVI: Gold Price Sensitivities for
the HEP Hybrid Case
Average Gold Price (US$/oz) |
Change in Gold Price |
% |
-15% |
-10% |
0% |
10% |
15% |
Average Gold Price |
US$/oz |
1,360 |
1,440 |
1,600 |
1,760 |
1,840 |
NPV @ 5% -Pre-Tax |
US$M |
373 |
547 |
895 |
1,243 |
1,417 |
NPV @ 5% -Post-Tax |
US$M |
238 |
368 |
624 |
879 |
1,006 |
IRR- Pre-Tax |
% |
14.1% |
18.0% |
25.2% |
31.9% |
35.1% |
IRR- Post -Tax |
% |
11.4% |
14.7% |
20.7% |
26.4% |
29.1% |
Total Cash Costs |
US$/oz |
844 |
847 |
852 |
858 |
861 |
AISC |
US$/oz |
941 |
944 |
950 |
955 |
958 |
Payback Period– Pre-Tax |
Years |
7.88 |
6.26 |
4.16 |
3.00 |
2.64 |
Payback Period- Post-Tax |
Years |
8.28 |
7.10 |
4.98 |
3.76 |
3.30 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table XVII: Gold Price Sensitivities for
the Diesel Only Case
Average Gold Price (US$/oz) |
Change in Gold Price |
% |
-15% |
-10% |
0% |
10% |
15% |
Average Gold Price |
US$/oz |
1,360 |
1,440 |
1,600 |
1,760 |
1,840 |
NPV @ 5% -Pre-Tax |
US$M |
321 |
495 |
843 |
1,191 |
1,365 |
NPV @ 5% -Post-Tax |
US$M |
211 |
345 |
600 |
855 |
983 |
IRR- Pre-Tax |
% |
15.6% |
20.8% |
30.3% |
39.0% |
43.1% |
IRR- Post-Tax |
% |
12.7% |
17.2% |
25.2% |
32.6% |
36.1% |
Total Cash Costs |
US$/oz |
900 |
903 |
908 |
914 |
917 |
AISC |
US$/oz |
1,031 |
1,034 |
1,040 |
1,045 |
1,048 |
Payback Period - Pre-Tax |
Years |
7.53 |
5.46 |
3.16 |
2.18 |
1.93 |
Payback Period – Post-Tax |
Years |
8.02 |
6.28 |
4.06 |
2.77 |
2.39 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Project Opportunities
Loncor has identified and will be pursuing a
number of opportunities for enhancing and increasing the economics
and financial returns relating to the Adumbi project. These
include the following:
- Increasing Mineral
ResourcesThere is excellent exploration potential to
increase mineral resources at Adumbi, within the Imbo Project and
other permit areas held by Loncor in the Ngayu greenstone belt. At
Adumbi, the mineralized BIF host sequence increases in thickness
below the open pit shell and wide spaced drilling has already
intersected grades and thicknesses amenable to underground mining.
Further drilling is required to initially outline a significant
underground mineral resource which can then be combined with the
open pit mineral resource so that studies can be undertaken for a
combined open pit and underground mining scenario at Adumbi.
Besides increasing the resource base, a combined open
pit/underground project could increase grade throughput and reduce
strip ratios with the higher grade, deeper mineral resources being
mined by underground which could increase annual gold production
and reduce operating costs.Additional deposits and prospects occur
close by to Adumbi and have the potential to add mineral resources
and feed to the Adumbi mine operation. Along trend from Adumbi, the
Manzako and Kitenge deposits have Inferred Mineral Resources of
313,000 ounces of gold (1.68 million tonnes grading 5.80 g/t Au)
and remain open along strike and at depth. Further along strike
within the Imbo Project, four priority prospects have been
identified with similar host lithologies to Adumbi and will require
drilling.Additional feed for the Adumbi processing plant could also
come from Loncor’s 100%-owned high grade Makapela deposit where
Indicated Mineral Resources of 2.20 million tonnes grading 8.66 g/t
Au (614,200 ounces of gold) and Inferred Mineral Resources of 3.22
million tonnes grading 5.30 g/t Au (549,600 ounces of gold) have
been outlined to date with the high grade material being able to be
transported to Adumbi.
- Additional geotechnical
investigations including drilling has the potential to optimize and
steepen pit slopes especially for the competent fresh BIF host rock
and thus reducing the strip ratio and thereby lowering mining
costs.
- Further metallurgical testwork to
confirm recoveries, reagent consumptions and optimize flowsheet
design should be undertaken as the project advances into
pre-feasibility and full feasibility stages.
- As mentioned previously,
hydroelectric sites have already been identified close to Adumbi
and further studies are required to optimize the power set for the
operation.
Qualified Persons
Mr. Philemon Bundo, Senior Vice President of
Process at New SENET (Pty) Ltd, and Mr. Daniel Bansah, Chairman and
Managing Director of Minecon, are the "qualified persons" (as such
term is defined in National Instrument 43-101) who are responsible
for the technical information disclosed in this press release. Mr.
Bansah and Mr. Bundo have reviewed and approved the contents of
this press release.
A technical report relating to the Adumbi PEA
reported in this press release will be prepared in accordance with
National Instrument 43- 101 and will be filed on SEDAR and EDGAR
within the period required by National Instrument 43-101.
Technical ReportsAdditional
information with respect to the Company’s Imbo Project (which
includes the Adumbi deposit) is contained in the technical report
of Minecon Resources and Services Limited dated April 27, 2021 and
entitled "Updated Resource Statement and Independent National
Instrument 43-101 Technical Report, Imbo Project, Ituri Province,
Democratic Republic of the Congo". A copy of the said report can be
obtained from SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Information with respect to the Company’s
Makapela Project, and certain other properties of the Company in
the Ngayu gold belt, is contained in the technical report of Venmyn
Rand (Pty) Ltd dated May 29, 2012 and entitled "Updated National
Instrument 43-101 Independent Technical Report on the Ngayu Gold
Project, Orientale Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo". A
copy of the said report can be obtained from SEDAR at www.sedar.com
and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
About Loncor Gold Inc. Loncor
is a Canadian gold exploration company focussed on the Ngayu
Greenstone Gold Belt in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (the "DRC"). The Loncor team has over
two decades of experience of operating in the DRC. Loncor’s growing
resource base in the Ngayu Belt currently comprises the Imbo and
Makapela Projects. At the Imbo Project, the Adumbi deposit holds an
indicated mineral resource of 1.88 million ounces of gold (28.185
million tonnes grading 2.08 g/t gold), and the Adumbi deposit and
two neighbouring deposits hold an inferred mineral resource of
2.090 million ounces of gold (22.508 million tonnes grading 2.89
g/t Au), with 84.68% of these resources being attributable to
Loncor. Loncor has been carrying out a drilling program
at the Adumbi deposit with the objective of outlining additional
mineral resources. The Makapela Project (which is 100%-owned by
Loncor and is located approximately 50 kilometres from the Imbo
Project) has an indicated mineral resource of 614,200 ounces of
gold (2.20 million tonnes grading 8.66 g/t Au) and an inferred
mineral resource of 549,600 ounces of gold (3.22 million tonnes
grading 5.30 g/t Au).
Additional information with respect to Loncor
and its projects can be found on Loncor's website at
www.loncor.com
Cautionary Note to U.S.
InvestorsNational Instrument 43-101 - Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") is a
rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes
standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific
and technical information concerning mineral projects. Unless
otherwise indicated, all resource estimates contained in this press
release have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
Classification System. These standards differ from the requirements
of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and resource
information contained in this press release may not be comparable
to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies.
Cautionary Note Concerning
Forward-Looking InformationThis press release contains
forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements
of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments
that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur
in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding
estimates and/or assumptions in respect of production, revenue,
cash flow and costs, estimated project economics, Adumbi project
opportunities, mineral resource estimates, potential underground
mineral resources, potential mineralization, potential gold
discoveries, drill targets, potential mineral resource increases,
exploration results, and future exploration and development plans)
are forward-looking information. This forward-looking information
reflects the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based
on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking
information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that
may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially
from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even
if such actual results are realized or substantially realized,
there can be no assurance that they will have the expected
consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could
cause actual results or events to differ materially from current
expectations include, among other things, uncertainty of estimates
of capital and operating costs, production estimates and estimated
economic return, the possibility that actual circumstances will
differ from the estimates and assumptions used in the Adumbi PEA,
the possibility that future exploration (including drilling) or
development results will not be consistent with the Company's
expectations, the possibility that drilling or development programs
will be delayed, activities of the Company may be adversely
impacted by the continued spread of the widespread outbreak of
respiratory illness caused by a novel strain of the coronavirus
(“COVID-19”), including the ability of the Company to secure
additional financing, risks related to the exploration stage of the
Company's properties, uncertainties relating to the availability
and costs of financing needed in the future, failure to establish
estimated mineral resources (the Company’s mineral resource figures
are estimates and no assurances can be given that the indicated
levels of gold will be produced), changes in world gold markets or
equity markets, political developments in the DRC, gold recoveries
being less than those indicated by the metallurgical testwork
carried out to date (there can be no assurance that gold recoveries
in small scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in large tests
under on-site conditions or during production), fluctuations in
currency exchange rates, inflation, changes to regulations
affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failure
to obtain required project approvals, the uncertainties involved in
interpreting drilling results and other geological data and the
other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and
elsewhere in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F dated March
31, 2021 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it
is provided and, except as may be required by applicable securities
laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the
Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the
forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking
information is not a guarantee of future performance and
accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information
due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
Cautionary Note Concerning Mineral
Resource Estimates The mineral resource figures referred
to in this press release are estimates and no assurances can be
given that the indicated levels of gold will be produced. Such
estimates are expressions of judgment based on knowledge, mining
experience, analysis of drilling results and industry practices.
Valid estimates made at a given time may significantly change when
new information becomes available. While the Company believes that
the mineral resource estimates included in this press release are
well established, by their nature mineral resource estimates are
imprecise and depend, to a certain extent, upon statistical
inferences which may ultimately prove unreliable. If such estimates
are inaccurate or are reduced in the future, this could have a
material adverse impact on the Company.
Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and
do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty
that mineral resources can be upgraded to mineral reserves through
continued exploration.
Due to the uncertainty that may be attached to
inferred mineral resources, it cannot be assumed that all or any
part of an inferred mineral resource will be upgraded to an
indicated or measured mineral resource as a result of continued
exploration. Confidence in the estimate is insufficient to allow
meaningful application of the technical and economic parameters to
enable an evaluation of economic viability worthy of public
disclosure (except in certain limited circumstances). Inferred
mineral resources are excluded from estimates forming the basis of
a feasibility study.
Cautionary Note Concerning Non-GAAP
Measures This press release includes certain terms or
performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are
not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards
(“IFRS”), including cash costs and AISC per payable ounce of gold
sold. Non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning
prescribed under IFRS and, therefore, they may not be comparable to
similar measures employed by other companies. The Company believes
that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance
with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate
performance. The data presented is intended to provide additional
information and should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with
IFRS.
For further information, please visit our
website at www.loncor.com or contact:
John Barker, CEO, +44 7547 159 521Peter Cowley,
President, +44 7904 540 856Arnold Kondrat, Executive Chairman, +1
416 366 7300
Loncor Gold (TSX:LN)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2024 to Jan 2025
Loncor Gold (TSX:LN)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2024 to Jan 2025