Tanzanian Royalty Exploration Corporation (hereinafter, the
“Company”) (TSX:TNX)(NYSE MKT:TRX) is pleased to announce that it
has filed on SEDAR an amended National Instrument 43-101 “Standards
of Disclosure for Mineral Projects” (NI 43-101) pre-feasibility
study for the Buckreef Project entitled “Amended National
Instrument 43-101 Independent Technical Report Mining Reserve
Estimate and Pre-feasibility Study on the Buckreef Gold Mine
Project, Tanzania, East Africa” prepared by Virimai Projects
(Virimai) (the “New Technical Report” or “PFS”) as a replacement to
its technical report filed on May 4, 2017 (“Previous Technical
Report”). Virimai Projects was commissioned by the Company to carry
out an in-depth review of the Previous Technical Report with the
objective of amending and recompiling the Previous Technical Report
in compliance with NI 43-101 as a result of a review by staff of
the Ontario Securities Commission. The New Technical Report now
replaces and supersedes the Previous Technical Report and it has an
effective date of June 26, 2018.
The PFS indicates that the Buckreef Gold Project based on the
estimated Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves (Open Pit
quantities) of 19.0MT grading at 1.54g/t can support a 1.497Mtpa
mine for a period of 16 years. The ore material will be mined from
the four open pits and then sent for processing at a plant located
at Buckreef designed to achieve gold recovery of 92.3% and 85.0%
for the oxides and sulphides material respectively over the life of
the project. Over the estimated life of the mine of 16 years
approximately 822,000 ounces of gold are expected to be
produced.
The PFS outlines that the project’s estimated initial capital
outlay for the earthmoving equipment, processing plant and related
infrastructure will be US$76.5 million which includes a 15%
contingency with sustaining costs of US$22.95 million over the life
of the project. The life of mine average cash operating cost is
estimated at US$735/oz of gold.
The after-tax Project Net Present Value is estimated to be
US$130.96 M at a discount rate of 5% per annum and an Internal Rate
of Return (IRR) of 74%. The simple payback period of the Project is
estimated at 4 years.
The PFS does not address mineral resources at depth, so the
proven and probable ounces reported are only from the open pit
designs. The Company intends to employ additional drilling and
analysis to not only upgrade the inferred material into higher
categories, but to further define the prospects at depth.
“We are delighted with the results of this independent
pre-feasibility study. We have faithfully and continually
pursued our goals at Buckreef, and this study clearly indicates the
value of the Buckreef Project. We anticipate even more
reserves to become known after implementing the planned
close-spaced grade control drilling program. The plan will
enable us to determine the gold reserves which exist in excess of
what is known from the PFS at this time,” said Executive Chairman,
James E. Sinclair.
The PFS was prepared and completed by independent consultant,
Virimai Projects (Virimai), with an effective date of June 26,
2018. Prior studies referenced in the PFS were used for
historical reference. Virimai accepts full responsibility for
its use of any prior reports used in its analysis of the Buckreef
Project. The Buckreef Project is in the Geita District in
Lake Victoria Greenstone Belt in central Tanzania, East Africa, and
is itself a historical site with a long history and much
study. The Virimai PFS was undertaken in response to Ontario
Securities Commission queries. An in-depth review of the
Previous Technical Report was undertaken by Viramai. The
Company is pleased with the results of the PFS and the mineral
resources indicated therein. The intention of this PFS is to
serve as an update NI 43-101 Mining and Economic Analysis which
takes into account a number of refinements, optimizations and
alternatives that will form the basis for the Company to move to a
Feasibility Study and the development of the Buckreef Gold Project
as an open pit mine, which can be brought rapidly into
production.
“The mining and processing components are simple, straight
forward operations utilizing common earthmoving methods and
equipment. Our planned state-of-the-art plant design makes
use of standard Gravity / CIL plant technology used
worldwide,” said Acting Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey
Duval. “Shareholders should be extremely pleased with the
results of our PFS. We encourage shareholders to take the time to
review the PFS in its entirety. The PFS confirms everything
we have known about our Buckreef Project, and we are gratified by
the mineral reserves officially defined in this Pre-Feasibility
Study,” Mr. Duval concluded.
The highlights of the PFS after-tax financial analysis are
encapsulated in Table 22.4 below:
Item |
Description |
Units |
Amount |
1 |
Mining Profile |
|
|
1.1 |
Mineral Reserves (Prove +Probable) |
Mt |
19.202 |
1.3 |
In situ Grade |
g/t |
1.54 |
1.4 |
Waste in Pit Shell |
Mt |
181 |
1.5 |
Mine Dilution |
% |
5 |
2.4 |
Stripping Ratio in Area 1 |
waste/ore |
9.54 |
2 |
Processing |
|
|
2.1 |
Annual Ore Milling |
Mtpa |
1.497 |
2.1.1 |
Year 1-2 |
Mtpa |
0.486 |
2.1.2. |
Year 3-4 |
Mtpa |
0.972 |
2.1.3 |
Year 4-16 |
Mtpa |
1.497 |
2.2 |
Life of Mine in Years |
Years |
16 |
2.3 |
Gold Production |
|
|
2.3.1 |
Average Gold Production per year |
(oz) |
51,000 |
2.3.2 |
Total Gold Production (LoM) |
(oz) |
822,000 |
3 |
Capital Expenditure |
|
|
3.1 |
Start-up Capital Plant etc |
USD$ M |
76.5 |
3.2 |
Sustaining capital costs |
USD$ M |
22.95 |
3.3 |
Closure Costs (in Opex) |
USD$M |
4.500 |
4 |
Financial Modelling Result |
|
|
4.1 |
Average LoM Cash Costs |
USD$/oz |
735 |
4.2 |
After Tax NPV @ 5%pa |
USD$M |
130.96 |
4.3 |
IRR |
% |
74 |
For further information, see the PFS in its entirety on SEDAR,
EDGAR and www.tanzanianroyalty.com
The PFS is an in-depth independent study, which addresses the
continued refinement of pit-optimized mining reserves, mine
production schedule, process plant ore feed schedule and financial
projections and analysis based on comprehensive cost estimations
for constructing and operating the processing plant and mining and
processing equipment costs, among other things for the Buckreef
Project.
“We are excited that our expectations have been confirmed by the
Virimai PFS. Our corporate team, together with our
consultants worked tirelessly, with much credit due to Ulrich Rath,
B.Sc.(Hon.) M.Sc. Geology, a member of our board of directors who
has a wide range of experience in the mining industry. We are
enormously grateful for his input and guidance in the updating and
review process. The dedication of our team is the foundation
of our impending success with the Buckreef Project,” stated
Mr. Duval.
Executive Chairman Sinclair concluded, “We wish to thank our
shareholders, investors and the United Republic of Tanzania, who
will ultimately be rewarded by our success at the Buckreef
Project. We are very pleased with our current PFS which
confirms the minable gold reserves at our Buckreef Project. We are
eager and enthusiastic about future underground development at our
Buckreef Project as we move forward.”
The technical content of this press release has been reviewed by
Wenceslaus Kutekwatekwa of Virimai, an independent Qualified Person
("QP") as defined by the NI 43-101. Peter Manojlovic, VP
Exploration, is the Company’s designated QP and has also reviewed
and approved this press release. All scientific and technical
information in this press release is based on information prepared
by or under the supervision of those individuals.
James E. Sinclair Executive ChairmanTanzanian Royalty
Exploration Corporation
For further information, please contact Michael Martin, Investor
Relations at 1-860-249-0999.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking
Statements Certain of the statements made herein may
contain forward-looking statements or information within the
meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, but not
always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information
can be identified using words such as "plans", "expects", "is
expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts",
"intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negatives thereof or
variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or
"will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements
or information herein include, but are not limited to the
Pre-Feasibility Study on Buckreef.
Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by
their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of the Company to be
materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements or information. We have made certain assumptions
about the forward-looking statements and information and even
though our management believes that the assumptions made and the
expectations represented by such statements or information are
reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking
statement or information will prove to be accurate.
Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or
other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described
in forward-looking statements or information. These risks,
uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the
following: gold price volatility; discrepancies between
actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and
metallurgical recoveries; mining operational and development risk;
litigation risks; regulatory restrictions, including environmental
regulatory restrictions and liability; risks of sovereign
investment; currency fluctuations; speculative nature of gold
exploration; global economic climate; dilution; share price
volatility; competition; loss of key employees; additional funding
requirements; and defective title to mineral claims or property, as
well as those factors discussed in the sections entitled
"Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company’s
Annual Information Form, Form 20-F dated March 16, 2018.
There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or
information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance
on the forward-looking statements or information contained
herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update
forward-looking statements and information continually as
conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of
the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed
with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the
U.S.
Cautionary Note Regarding Mineral Reserves and Mineral
Resources
The terms "Mineral Reserve", "Proven Mineral Reserve" and
"Probable Mineral Reserve" used in this release are Canadian mining
terms as defined in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 –
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects under the guidelines
set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and
Petroleum (the "CIM") Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral
Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council on August 20, 2000 as may be
amended from time to time by the CIM. These definitions
differ from the definitions in the United States Securities
Exchange Commission ("SEC") Guide 7. In the United States, a
mineral reserve is defined as a part of a mineral deposit which
could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time
the mineral reserve determination is made.
The terms "Mineral Resource", "Measured Mineral Resource",
"Indicated Mineral Resource", "Inferred Mineral Resource" used in
this release are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance
with National Instruction 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects under the guidelines set out in the CIM Standards.
Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability.
For a detailed discussion of Buckreef resource and reserve
estimates and related matters see the Company's reports, including
the Annual Information Form, Form 20-F dated March 16, 2018 and
technical reports filed under the Company's name at our website at:
www.tanzanianroyalty.com.
Cautionary Note to US Investors Concerning Estimates of
Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources
Note to U.S. Investors. While the terms "mineral
resource", "measured mineral resource," "indicated mineral
resource", and "inferred mineral resource" are recognized and
required by Canadian regulations, they are not defined terms under
standards in the United States and normally are not permitted to be
used in reports and registration statements filed with the
SEC. As such, information contained in this report concerning
descriptions of mineralization and resources under Canadian
standards may not be comparable to similar information made public
by U.S companies in SEC filings. With respect to "indicated
mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" there is a great
amount of uncertainty as to their existence and a great uncertainty
as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be
assumed that all or any part of an "indicated mineral resource" or
"inferred mineral resource" will ever be upgraded to a higher
category. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part
or all mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted
into reserves.
There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or
information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance
on the forward-looking statements or information contained
herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update
forward-looking statements and information continually as
conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of
the Company's business contained in the Company's reports filed
with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the
U.S.
TRX Gold (TSX:TNX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
TRX Gold (TSX:TNX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024