30 September 2024
Savannah Resources
Plc
(AIM: SAV, FWB: SAV and SWB:
SAV) ('Savannah', or the
'Company')
Interim Results for Six
Months Ended 30 June 2024
Savannah Resources Plc, the
developer of the Barroso Lithium Project (the 'Project') in
Portugal, Europe's largest spodumene lithium deposit, is pleased to
provide its interim results for the six months ended 30 June
2024.
First half 2024 and recent
highlights include:
Corporate:
·
First outcome
from the Strategic Partnering Process announced in June: Landmark agreement reached with AMG
Critical Materials, N.V. ('AMG'), which included a GBP16m equity
investment at a 35% premium to 30-day VWAP (AMG now holding a
15.77% stake), an offtake heads of terms agreement, a mutual option
for a 'full project financing solution' led by AMG, and a
Co-operation agreement on studies for a feldspar/spodumene pilot
plant in Portugal and for the construction of a
Spodumene-to-Lithium Carbonate refinery in Portugal or
Spain.
·
Chairman
appointment: Experienced lithium
sector executive, Rick Anthon, appointed as Chairman on the
retirement of former Chairman, Matthew King.
·
Other board
changes: Diogo de Silveira
appointed as Deputy Chairman and Mike Connor appointed as
Non-Executive Director as AMG's Board representative. Former
Non-Executive Directors, James Leahy and Mary Jo Jacobi, retired
from the Board.
·
Financials: Losses from
continued operations increased by 27% vs. H1 2023 to GBP 1.9m
(2023: 1.5m) due to increased activity on a number of fronts and a
larger workforce. Following AMG's GBP 16m investment, highest ever
cash balance of GBP 21.6m reported as at 30 June 2024 (30 June 2023
GBP 4.8m).
·
Savannah continues to have 100% ownership of the
Project and at least 50% of its future concentrate offtake
available to place with other partners.
Barroso Lithium Project (the 'Project'):
Definitive Feasibility Study ('DFS'):
·
Phase 1 of DFS drilling programme completed in
July with c.6,000m drilled.
o Confirmed extension to the Pinheiro,
Reservatório and NOA orebodies and identified a new mineralised
zone at Pinheiro with the highest lithium
assays reported at the Project to date.
o First of new JORC compliant Resource estimates made. NOA
orebody (0.66Mt at 1.03% Li2O) now with 93% of the
tonnage in the Indicated category, ready for subsequent conversion
into Reserves.
·
Work advanced on final designs for processing
plant and other key project infrastructure.
·
Phase 2 drilling (c.13,000m) expected to start in
Q4 2024.
Environmental Licencing:
·
Good progress was made with the monitoring and
study work required for the current compliance, 'RECAPE', phase of
the licencing process. All outstanding contractors required now
appointed.
Stakeholder Engagement:
·
Community Relations Manager appointed to lead on
local stakeholder engagement activities.
·
Social Impact Assessment being finalised by
Community Insights Group.
·
Regular meetings held with individuals, parishes
and local groups and community events hosted.
·
Delegation of local people taken to meet
community members living near Somincor's Neves Corvo mine in
southern Portugal to learn about the local socio-economics benefits
of that project.
·
Further relationship building with key members of
the new national government, relevant government agencies and the
Boticas municipality authority.
·
Greater awareness of Savannah and the Project
generated through regular in-country media coverage and
relationship building with other businesses, trade bodies,
universities and NGOs.
·
Significant growth reported in the Company's
in-country shareholder base with more than 12.5% of the Company's
total share capital now owned by Portuguese.
Land acquisition & access arrangements
·
Savannah passed the milestone of having purchased
100 properties from private landowners.
·
To keep Project workstreams on track, Savannah
started the legal process which grants it temporary access to land
it does not currently own on the Project's concession
area.
·
After a delay of more than half a year caused by
the change in government earlier in the year, Savannah expects the
legal process to conclude shortly.
·
Access to the land is expected from Q4 2024,
which will allow the completion of all fieldwork required to take
the Project to a Final Investment Decision ('FID')
point.
·
Friendly purchase programme remains open and
active, with more properties being acquired. Additional,
alternative routes for land acquisition remain
available.
Project timetable:
·
The delay of more than half a year experienced in
receiving approval for the temporary land access order has had an
impact on the Project's schedule.
·
As a result, Savannah now expects to be drilling
again in 4Q 2024 and to deliver its DFS in
the second half of 2025 with the environmental licencing process
expected to be completed in a similar timeframe.
·
Commissioning and first production from the
Project is now scheduled for 2027 with nameplate capacity still
expected to be reached later in that year.
Next steps/future news flow:
·
Restart of fieldwork from Q4 2024 following the
conclusion of the temporary land access legal process. Savannah is
committed to proactively upholding and fulfilling the mandate given
by the government to the Project's ongoing development while
maintaining open two-way engagement with all
stakeholders.
·
Continue to deepen relationships with local
stakeholders through multiple channels including additional local
job creation and further negotiations on land acquisition and
access.
·
Further in-country and international brand
building through engagement with media and investors.
·
Continue negotiations with additional potential
strategic partners and evaluation of government/EU funding
opportunities.
·
Complete DFS and environmental licencing work
towards FID funded by record cash reserves.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE
2024
I am pleased to be making my first
official communication with shareholders since my appointment as
the Company's Chairman in June and I am grateful for the
opportunity to be part of our Company's growing team, taking the
Barroso Lithium Project forward through development.
As the reporting period largely
predates my own arrival at Savannah, I will refer you to the
Operational Review section below for the more detailed reporting of
activities in the first six months of the year. My thanks again go
to my predecessor in the Chair, Matthew King, and former
Non-Executive Directors James Leahy and Mary Jo Jacobi, who all
retired from the Board in June. Their significant efforts on behalf
of Savannah, including their encouragement and support of the team,
have helped to progress our Company to the strong position it is in
today.
This is also another opportunity
for me to welcome Mike Conner to our Board as our newest
Non-Executive Director. As the representative of
AMG Critical Materials N.V.
('AMG'), our new strategic partner and
largest shareholder, we look forward to his input and building a
strong relationship with him and the rest of the AMG team as we
move forward together.
Without doubt, Savannah's new
strategic partnership with AMG was the most significant achievement
of the first half of the year. This partnership provides Savannah
with the financing it needs to take the Project forward towards
production, whilst also providing a clear pathway towards full
financing of the Project. Furthermore, it pairs us with an
established spodumene concentrate producer and the soon-to-be first
large-scale producer of lithium chemicals in Europe, capable of
providing valuable technical insight as we continue with our own
Project's development, backed by our replenished cash reserves
which, at the time of writing, stand at GBP 19.6m. With the lithium
market remaining subdued in the first half of the year, despite the
continuing growth in global EV sales (7m sold in H1 2024, +20% vs.
H1 2023, source: Rho Motion), the favourable timing and strategic
significance of this partnership, should not be
underestimated.
As the Operational Review
highlights, Savannah made solid progress in the first half of 2024
advancing its key workstreams including the Project's Definitive
Feasibility Study ('DFS') and environmental licencing process,
stakeholder engagement and recruitment. Notable highlights included
the identification of a new zone of mineralisation at the Pinheiro
orebody, which returned the highest lithium assays reported at the
Project to date, and the growing engagement of the local population
at our community social events.
The first half of 2024 was also
marked by a change of government in Portugal. Pleasingly, the
political consensus of the major parties around the importance of
economic development, participation in the opportunities offered by
technological transformation and development of the battery value
chain remains strong. Further confirmation that our industry is
well regarded was shown by the clear support it received during a
recent debate in the Portuguese Parliament with specific comments
relating to our Project showing that its importance to the region
and to the country is well understood.
However, the change of government
has led to a delay of more than half a year in the development of
the Project. This relates to the time taken to receive approval for
the temporary land access order we require to proceed with our
fieldwork on land situated on the Project's concession area. With
the new government now settled in, I'm pleased to report that we
have seen procedures speed up and normalise in the state entities
concerned. This is good news, not only for Savannah, but also for
Portugal in its continuing efforts to reap the benefits of its
natural endowments for the greater prosperity of its people, be it
our spodumene or other resources in other industries.
We now expect to deliver our
DFS in the second half of 2025 with the
environmental licencing confirmation completed in a similar
timeframe. The commissioning and first
production from the Project could then take place in 2027
with nameplate capacity still expected to
be reached later in that year.
The Savannah team will look to
make up on the schedule wherever possible of course. Furthermore,
the Project's schedule continues to fit well with the general
forecast of much tighter lithium market conditions and higher
prices from 2027 and beyond.
While the global market context
has been more challenging recently, Savannah will continue to push
ahead -because of both the quality and low-cost nature of its
Project and also as we believe the longer-term outlook is now even
stronger from a fundamental perspective than before. Having worked
in the lithium sector for well over 15 years, I have experienced
numerous challenges with projects I have been involved with, a
number of highly volatile market cycles, and endless 'market noise'
in relation to factors such as the speed of EV adoption, competing
battery technologies and interpretation of geopolitical risks.
However, it is my observation that the relevant mega trends such as
the energy transition away from fossil fuels, increasing electric
mobility and the desire of western governments to create strategic
autonomy in new critical industries, while often varying in
intensity, have not, and will not, stop.
With this broad long-term view
firmly in sight, it is the job of all of us on the Savannah team to
progress and develop our project so that our Company can fully
leverage the positive situation that exists today and that will
deepen in the years ahead. Crucially, we have the mandate, skills
and finance to do so, and we know that this will benefit all
stakeholders, from shareholders to business partners, our team in
the region and the broader population in Portugal and
Europe.
My thanks go to our shareholders
and stakeholders for their ongoing support as we move forward
together.
Rick Anthon
Chairman
Date: 27 September 2024
OPERATIONAL REVIEW FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE
2024
Operational Review
Definitive Feasibility study
To date, Savannah has completed
the first of the two stages of the DFS drilling programme. This
programme was completed in July and included over 6,000m of
resource, geotechnical and hydrogeological related drilling. From a
resource perspective, the programme has been primarily designed to
support the upgrade of existing Indicated and Inferred Resources in
order to convert as much of the Project's ore into Reserves which
will form the basis for the future mining operation. Evidence that
this goal is being achieved was provided by the new resource
estimate for the NOA orebody which was made in May and featured 93%
of the tonnage in the Indicated category, ready for subsequent
conversion into Reserves. With the drills set to start turning
again soon, further updated resource estimates will follow in due
course.
The drilling campaign has also
allowed Savannah to confirm extensions to the Pinheiro,
Reservatório and NOA orebodies and has identified new zones of
mineralisation. This includes a new zone at NOA and in the eastern
Pinheiro orebody, which returned the highest lithium assays
recorded to date at the Project including three 1m interval
sections all assaying at over 3.5% Li2O.
Planning for the second phase of
the programme (an estimated 13,000m) is all but complete and we
expect to start this phase in Q4 2024.
In parallel with the drilling,
good progress was made on final designs for the processing plant,
overall project layout, and a detailed assessment of the Project's
topography through a LiDAR (light detection and ranging) survey
which has provided a detailed 3D terrain model to aid final
infrastructure planning.
As highlighted in the Chairman's
Statement, we now expect to complete the DFS in the second half of 2025.
Environmental licencing
Savannah is currently undertaking
the compliance, or RECAPE, phase of the licencing process. During
this phase Savannah must show that the Project's final design
satisfies the conditions which accompanied the positive 'DIA'
decision given by the environmental regulator in May
2023.
During the first half of 2024,
Savannah concluded the selection and appointment of the remaining
RECAPE contractors required to support our in-house team with the
preparation of the submission. Contractors were also selected to
work on the layout (now finalised) and licencing process for the
Project's new access road. This is being managed as a separate
workstream to the main Project with Savannah and its contractors
collaborating with the relevant government agency, Infrastructure
Portugal.
Savannah is also required to
continue with its seasonal monitoring of numerous environmental
parameters, data from which will form the baseline against which
the Project's environmental performance will be measured during
development and production. These include noise, vibrations, air
and water quality, ground and surface water levels as well
ecological parameters, such as the flora and fauna found in the
local area. This includes the Iberian wolf population in the region
with the latest survey again concluding that there are no wolf
packs living in the project area.
Community Insights Group ('CIG')
has also been continuing with its work on the Social Impact
Assessment, which will be included as part of the RECAPE
submission. CIG has undertaken a detailed and comprehensive
assessment of the Project's potential impact on local communities,
which has included receiving significant feedback from community
members. The report is currently being finalised and will form part
of our planning for ongoing stakeholder engagement.
As previously flagged, much of the
input regarding final project design which is required for the
RECAPE submission will come from the DFS. Hence its timeline is
intrinsically linked to that of the DFS. However, following a
recent review of the RECAPE requirements, Savannah has concluded
that we can make the submission before completing the whole DFS. As
a result, Savannah now expects to submit the RECAPE in the summer
of 2025. If the regulator's decision is positive the Project will
be awarded a 'DCAPE', which will allow Savannah to complete the
licencing process and receive the Project's final environmental
licence in the second half of 2025.
Strategic Partnerships and financing
On 20 June, Savannah was delighted
to announce a landmark agreement with AMG Critical Materials, N.V.
the Amsterdam-listed, global critical materials business. This was
the first outcome from Savannah's Strategic Partnering
Process.
AMG's wholly owned German
subsidiary, AMG Lithium B.V., an established spodumene concentrate
producer and, soon to be, first major European lithium chemical
producer (with the first module of its plant being commissioned
earlier this month), invested GBP 16m in Savannah through a share
subscription at a price of 4.67p (representing a 35% premium to the
30-day VWAP), and became the Company's largest shareholder in the
process with a 15.77% stake.
The partnership also includes an
offtake heads of terms agreement through which, subject to binding
agreements being negotiated and signed, AMG can purchase 45ktpa of
spodumene concentrate from the Project (approximately 25% of total)
for 5 years based on prevailing market prices at the time. In
addition, AMG will take a lead role in the partnership in securing
a 'full project financing solution' for the Project's development.
If such financing is successful, the Offtake heads of terms
anticipate the increase and extension of the offtake arrangements
to 90ktpa for 10 years.
The Partnership also features a
co-operation agreement, whereby the parties have agreed to work
together on a number of mutually beneficial opportunities including
a study for joint construction of a feldspar/spodumene pilot plant
in Portugal and a study for the construction of a
Spodumene-to-Lithium Carbonate refinery in Portugal or Spain. AMG
also received the right to nominate one director to sit on
Savannah's Board, and as a result, Mike Connor has been
appointed.
Importantly, the agreement with
AMG leaves Savannah with 100% ownership of the Project and at least
50% of its future concentrate offtake available to place with other
partners. Since the announcement of the agreement with AMG, the
Company has received fresh interest in the Project from other
parties who participated in our Strategic Partnering Process.
However, the Company's short-term focus remains firmly on
completing the workstreams required to reach a Final Investment
Decision point. Hence, while Savannah will be maintaining and
growing relationships with other potential partners, it does not
expect to secure additional partnerships or agreements until much
closer to that point.
In parallel with the Strategic
Partnering Process, Savannah has continued to evaluate and prepare
for public funding opportunities which may become available from
the Portuguese Government through various funding mechanisms and
from the European Commission via the recently initiated Critical
Raw Materials Act. While the Company's current funding plans for
the Project do not assume any contribution from these sources, it
seems reasonable to expect that Savannah and its Project could
qualify for any such funding given the strategic and critical raw
material being targeted, the Company's commitment to responsible
production and supply to the European battery chain, and the long
term economic growth and jobs that will be created in an area in
need of such catalysts.
Building our team
Good progress was made on building
out the team during the first half of the year. This follows the
significant growth already seen in Savannah's technical team during
2023 with the ramp up in fieldwork and the arrival of Emanuel
Proença, as our new CEO. During the period, the senior team in
Portugal was strengthened in areas including Community Relations,
Communications and Business Development as Savannah consolidates
its position both locally in the Boticas municipality but also
within wider Portuguese society. This is all part of our gearing up
for the Project's future development and operation, which was also
reflected in the changes made to the profile of the
Board.
With the Project progressing, the
recruitment drive has continued into the second half of the year as
the Company looks to add staff at all levels. These will mostly be
positions located in Portugal and, as always, Savannah will look to
recruit locally where possible. Future senior hires in the short
term are expected to include a Project Development Manager and an
HR Manager. Additional geologists and technical personnel will also
be required as fieldwork activities accelerate again in the
remainder of the year and into 2025.
Stakeholder engagement
Having a larger team, which now
includes an in-country CEO, a Community Liaison Manager and a
larger Communications department, has allowed Savannah to make a
much greater commitment to engagement with Portuguese stakeholders.
Importantly, Savannah staff are simply more present in the local
area than in the past with more fieldwork being undertaken,
increasing numbers of employees drawn from the local community and
more colleagues living near the Project. This allows for more
regular informal contact and for relationships with local
stakeholders to grow more organically.
The Company has also been more
comprehensive and structured in its engagement with local
communities and other local stakeholder groups. This has included
creating a stakeholder engagement framework and contact tracking
tool, holding regular meetings with individuals, parishes and local
groups and hosting a series of open community social events, which
have grown significantly in popularity over recent
months.
Uncertainty and concerns amongst
local people have decreased, but this is just the start of a
vitally important and never-ending process of transparently
presenting, explaining, engaging and listening to everyone in the
region. Savannah's team continues to find ways to address these
concerns and provide accurate information on the Project. This
included taking over 50 local people to meet community members
living near Somincor's (Lundin Mining) Neves Corvo polymetallic
mine in the Castro Verde municipality in southern Portugal. While
this long-established underground mining operation differs from
Savannah's in terms of commodity and mining style, it is similar to
our Project in having neighbouring villages and provides an
excellent in-country example of how a mining operation can become a
very significantly beneficial socio-economic anchor for a
community.
In addition, Savannah staff have
undergone training to ensure optimised interaction with local
people, and previous initiatives such as, publishing a further
update factsheet relating to the Social Impact Assessment being
conducted by CIG and another edition of our community newspaper,
have been maintained. Support of local groups and individuals
through sponsorships and the provision of equipment and resources
has also been continued.
While building ties with local
people is a priority, it is just one part of Savannah's overall
stakeholder engagement strategy. During the period, staff continued
to build relationships with key members of the new national
government, relevant government agencies and the Boticas
municipality authority. The Company was also delighted to welcome
to site both the British and Australian Ambassadors to Portugal and
a representative from the German Embassy in Portugal during the
first half of the year.
Significant effort has also been
made to build Savannah's brand within wider Portuguese society
through the media. As a result CEO, Emanuel Proença, and other
members of the team have featured regularly across multiple
platforms and formats of the local and national media. Further work
remains to be done, but reporting on the Project is becoming more
balanced and more fact based as a result.
Savannah has also been reaching
out directly to build relationships with other businesses, trade
associations, NGOs and universities to demonstrate and highlight
the Company's commitment to being a long-term player in an exciting
new industry for the country.
Perhaps the most tangible success
in terms of the Company's perception in Portugal has been in the
growth of the in-country shareholding in Savannah. Now standing at
above 12.5% of the Company's total share capital, Portugal has
rapidly become one of most significant shareholding centres for the
Company as well as home to its flagship asset. Overseas investors
should take note of the speed and scale of the growth of this
shareholding, as well as the individuals involved, as it
demonstrates a strong growth in confidence in the ultimate
development of the Project and resulting creation of value. In the
meantime, Savannah continues to try to grow its investor base in
country and, to this end, was pleased that CaixaBI, one of
Portugal's leading investment banks, initiated research coverage on
the Company in July with a Buy recommendation.
Land acquisition & access arrangements
Land in and around the area of our
Project in the Boticas municipality is either owned privately,
owned publicly by the local parish or is community land managed by
local community 'Baldios' management groups. The landscape is
dominated by managed pine forests and scrubland with an additional
small section of agricultural land.
The 30-year Mining Lease granted
in 2006 safeguards Savannah's right to access land which it does
not already own for the development of the Project. However, to
obtain access to the areas required, Savannah must either acquire,
rent, or agree access terms with the relevant owner (land managed
by Baldios groups cannot be acquired under law). If suitable
agreements cannot be reached in a reasonable timeframe, the legal
right is established under Portuguese law to use established legal
processes for both temporary land access and outright compulsory
purchase.
Contrary to other structural
projects that were developed in recent times in the region, such as
dams and highways, Savannah has chosen not to pursue these rights
outright, allowing as much time as possible for commercially
negotiated acquisitions, even when that allowed some of those
opposing the Project to take advantage of this goodwill. The
positive effect was that many landowners were given the extra time
they needed to get paperwork in place, become comfortable with the
Project, appreciate the value offered and ultimately, sell their
land.
As announced during the period,
Savannah reached the milestone of having purchased 100 properties
from private landowners. Ownership now stands at 106 properties
with a further 13 properties under promissory contracts. Savannah
has spent approximately EUR 2.1m on private land purchases to
date.
With respect to areas managed by
Baldios groups, long term lease proposals have been made to the two
largest Baldios groups, which feature compelling financial and
non-financial compensation to the groups, their individual members,
and the wider communities.
In an effort to keep current and
future Project workstreams on track, Savannah started the legal
process which grants it temporary access to land not currently
owned. After some delays caused by the change in national
government earlier in the year, Savannah expects the process to
formally conclude shortly. Once concluded, the Company expects to
have access to the land from Q4 2024 which will allow the
completion of all fieldwork required to take the Project to a Final
Investment Decision point.
Savannah remains hopeful that
discussions with all relevant stakeholders can still take place and
amicable sale or access agreements can be reached for the
development and operating phases. However, if the Company is unable
to conclude agreements for the land required, Savannah will need to
initiate the legal process for compulsory purchase or access. While
this would not be the Company's chosen course of action, the
support given by the Portuguese Government for the temporary access
order gives reason to believe any such application would be
successful should Savannah need to take this step. Furthermore, as
a legal process through which purchase prices or access fees for
land would be set by the Portuguese courts, all stakeholders would
still be assured of an alternative and equally transparent and fair
process as that proposed by Savannah.
Legal matters
Operation Influencer
The Company has had no relevant
contact with the investigating authorities during the first half of
the year and has continued with all its workstreams unencumbered.
On 30 January 2024, Savannah announced the conclusions from an
independent legal review (the 'Independent Review') and legal
opinions (the 'Legal Opinions') which it commissioned following the
announcement of the Operation Influencer investigation in November
2023. In summary, the Independent Review found no evidence which
would give rise to the liability of the Company in connection with
any irregular financial transactions by the Company. It also found
no evidence of improper offers, improper payments, or other forms
of wrongdoing by the Company regarding the suspicions set out in
the Investigation associated with: past relations with a potential
partner, discussions on the by‐pass (access) road, royalties, or in
relation to interactions with national entities in the EIA process
under Article 16. No material legal risk was identified related to
the alleged facts and circumstances outlined in the
Investigation.
Separate Legal Opinions also
confirmed that, based on the findings of the Independent Review,
but also on the functioning of the Portuguese permitting process,
past legal experience, and constitutional protections, under no
realistic circumstance would the Project's execution and its
expected future cash flows be at risk from the Investigation's
findings. Hence, the conclusions of the Independent Review and the
Legal Opinions demonstrated Savannah's solid legal position in
relation to the alleged facts and circumstances contained in
Operation Influencer. Based on past similar cases, the timeline for
next steps remains uncertain and likely to be long, and a formal
clearing or accusation is not expected in the near term.
Other legal matters
In the three other legal cases
(Further details can be found in the 2023 Annual Report) brought
against various parties in relation to the Project there were no
material developments or final judgements made during the period.
These ongoing cases have had no impact on the good standing of the
Project's Mining Lease or its 2023 DIA. Nor have they stopped
Savannah carrying on its work at the Project. Savannah's lawyers
continue to advise that the cases relating to licensing and
permitting are without foundation. In respect of the disputed land
borders case, Savannah continues to be
allowed to work on the land in question which it has purchased, and
has the right under Portuguese law to use established legal
processes for outright compulsory purchase if required.
Financials
Savannah's first half results
include the GBP 16m equity investment made in late June by the
Company's Strategic Partner, and now largest shareholder, AMG. This
investment, made at the same price of 4.67p/share as the July 2023
GBP 6.5m (gross) raise (and a 35% premium to the 30-day VWAP), took
the Company's cash position to its highest ever level at GBP 21.6m
(30 June 2023 GBP 4.8m), putting Savannah in a strong financial
position to continue with its development of the Project. With
increased activity on a number of fronts, as well as a larger
workforce, losses from continued operations increased by 27% versus
first half 2023 to GBP 1.9m (2023: GBP 1.5m). Alongside the
increased cash position on the balance sheet, ongoing technical
work led to a GBP 1.5m increase in Intangible assets from year end
2023 to GBP 19.9m, while a small increase in Property, Plant and
Equipment to GBP 1.7m was also recorded, reflecting Savannah's
ongoing land purchase programme. Overall, total equity increased by
50% from year end 2023 to GBP 41.8m.
Outlook
Savannah is in the strongest
position it has been in to date in relation to the Barroso Lithium
Project.
It has a sizeable cash balance
with which to progress the Project towards a Final Investment
Decision. It has AMG, an established industry player, as a highly
supportive strategic partner and largest shareholder which is
offering a pathway to potential full financing for the Project. Yet
Savannah has also been able to maintain 100% ownership of the asset
and has at least 50% of its future concentrate production to trade
and leverage. The Company is also attracting influential Portuguese
investors and succeeding in growing its brand and levels of support
in country, to complement its long-term support bases in the UK,
northern Europe, Oman and Australia. The team is growing through
the recruitment of good quality staff, and while the Project's
timetable has been extended, its commissioning remains on track to
coincide with an expected improvement in market
conditions.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE SIX
MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2024
|
|
Unaudited
Six months to 30 June
2024
|
Unaudited
Six
months to 30 June 2023
|
Audited
Year
ended 31 December 2023
|
|
Notes
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONTINUING OPERATIONS
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Administrative Expenses
|
|
(1,855,896)
|
(1,383,467)
|
(3,477,405)
|
Foreign Exchange Loss
|
|
(104,444)
|
(148,008)
|
(81,116)
|
OPERATING LOSS
|
|
(1,960,340)
|
(1,531,475)
|
(3,558,521)
|
Finance Income
|
|
68,362
|
32,588
|
108,286
|
Finance Costs
|
|
-
|
-
|
(555)
|
LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAX
|
|
(1,891,978)
|
(1,498,887)
|
(3,450,790)
|
Tax Expense
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS AFTER TAX
|
|
(1,891,978)
|
(1,498,887)
|
(3,450,790)
|
LOSS ON DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS NET OF TAX
|
3
|
(24,393)
|
(48,060)
|
(167,304)
|
LOSS AFTER TAX ATTRIBUTABLE
TO
EQUITY OWNERS OF THE PARENT
|
|
(1,916,371)
|
(1,546,947)
|
(3,618,094)
|
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
|
|
|
|
Items that will not be reclassified to Profit or
Loss:
|
|
|
|
|
Net Change in Fair Value through
Other Comprehensive Income of Equity Investments
|
|
(2,736)
|
(4,111)
|
(5,289)
|
Items that will or may be reclassified to Profit or
Loss:
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange Loss arising on translation
of foreign operations
|
|
(354,792)
|
(414,958)
|
(237,364)
|
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE PERIOD
|
|
(357,528)
|
(419,069)
|
(242,653)
|
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE LOSS FOR THE PERIOD ATTRIBUTABLE TO
EQUITY OWNERS OF THE PARENT
|
|
(2,273,899)
|
(1,966,016)
|
(3,860,747)
|
Loss per Share attributable to Equity Owners of the parent
expressed in pence per share:
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and Diluted
|
|
|
|
|
From Operations
|
3
|
(0.10)
|
(0.09)
|
(0.20)
|
From Continued Operations
|
3
|
(0.10)
|
(0.09)
|
(0.20)
|
From Discontinued
Operations
|
3
|
(0.00)
|
(0.00)
|
(0.00)
|
The notes form part of this Interim
Financial Report.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30 JUNE
2024
|
|
Unaudited
30 June
|
Unaudited
30
June
|
Audited
31
December
|
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
2023
|
|
Notes
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible Assets
|
4
|
19,860,606
|
16,660,692
|
18,391,089
|
Right-of-Use Assets
|
|
70,964
|
14,515
|
56,378
|
Property, Plant and
Equipment
|
5
|
1,735,879
|
1,598,389
|
1,660,135
|
Other Receivables
|
6
|
434,924
|
434,350
|
432,003
|
Other Non-Current Assets
|
7
|
79,988
|
92,398
|
92,869
|
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS
|
|
22,182,361
|
18,800,344
|
20,632,474
|
CURRENT ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Instruments at
FVTOCI
|
|
3,952
|
7,866
|
6,688
|
Trade and Other
Receivables
|
6
|
547,799
|
408,502
|
426,065
|
Other Current Assets
|
|
-
|
395
|
166
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
8
|
21,560,741
|
4,839,155
|
9,721,281
|
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
|
|
22,112,492
|
5,255,918
|
10,154,200
|
TOTAL ASSETS
|
|
44,294,853
|
24,056,262
|
30,786,674
|
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
Share Capital
|
10
|
21,727,742
|
16,889,598
|
18,281,499
|
Share Premium
|
|
59,215,369
|
41,693,178
|
46,598,337
|
Shares to be Issued
|
|
-
|
-
|
43,423
|
Merger Reserve
|
|
6,683,000
|
6,683,000
|
6,683,000
|
Foreign Currency Reserve
|
|
34,774
|
211,972
|
389,566
|
Share Based Payment
Reserve
|
|
610,731
|
495,612
|
600,709
|
FVTOCI Reserve
|
|
(49,060)
|
(45,146)
|
(46,324)
|
Retained Earnings
|
|
(46,392,785)
|
(42,546,826)
|
(44,606,003)
|
TOTAL EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE
PARENT
|
|
41,829,771
|
23,381,388
|
27,944,207
|
LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
Lease Liabilities
|
|
47,658
|
9,306
|
39,033
|
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
|
47,658
|
9,306
|
39,033
|
CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
Lease Liabilities
|
|
23,306
|
5,210
|
17,346
|
Trade and Other Payables
|
9
|
1,595,728
|
660,358
|
1,993,060
|
Tax Provisions
|
11
|
798,390
|
-
|
793,028
|
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
|
|
2,417,424
|
665,568
|
2,803,434
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES
|
|
2,465,082
|
674,874
|
2,842,467
|
TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
|
|
44,294,853
|
24,056,262
|
30,786,674
|
The Interim Financial Report was
approved by the Board of Directors on 27 September 2024
and was signed on its behalf by:
………………………………………………..
Emanuel Proença
CEO and Director
Company number: 07307107
The notes form part of this Interim
Financial Report.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE SIX
MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2024
|
Share
Capital
£
|
Share
Premium
£
|
Shares to be
Issued
£
|
Merger
Reserve
£
|
Foreign Currency
Reserve
£
|
Share Based Payment
Reserve
£
|
FVTOCI Reserve
£
|
Retained
Earnings
£
|
Total
Equity
£
|
At 1 January 2023
|
16,889,598
|
41,693,178
|
-
|
6,683,000
|
626,930
|
403,749
|
(41,035)
|
(40,999,879)
|
25,255,541
|
Loss for the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,546,947)
|
(1,546,947)
|
Other Comprehensive Income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(414,958)
|
-
|
(4,111)
|
-
|
(419,069)
|
Total Comprehensive Income for the
period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(414,958)
|
-
|
(4,111)
|
(1,546,947)
|
(1,966,016)
|
Share Based Payment
charges
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
91,863
|
-
|
-
|
91,863
|
At 30 June 2023
|
16,889,598
|
41,693,178
|
-
|
6,683,000
|
211,972
|
495,612
|
(45,146)
|
(42,546,826)
|
23,381,388
|
Loss for the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(2,071,147)
|
(2,071,147)
|
Other Comprehensive Income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
177,594
|
-
|
(1,178)
|
-
|
176,416
|
Total Comprehensive Income for the
period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
177,594
|
-
|
(1,178)
|
(2,071,147)
|
(1,894,731)
|
Issue of Share Capital (net of
expenses)
|
1,391,901
|
4,905,159
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6,297,060
|
Share Based Payment
charges
|
-
|
-
|
43,423
|
-
|
-
|
117,067
|
-
|
-
|
160,490
|
Lapse of Options
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(11,970)
|
-
|
11,970
|
-
|
At
31 December 2023
|
18,281,499
|
46,598,337
|
43,423
|
6,683,000
|
389,566
|
600,709
|
(46,324)
|
(44,606,003)
|
27,944,207
|
Loss
for the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,916,371)
|
(1,916,371)
|
Other Comprehensive Income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(354,792)
|
-
|
(2,736)
|
-
|
(357,528)
|
Total Comprehensive Income for the period
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(354,792)
|
-
|
(2,736)
|
(1,916,371)
|
(2,273,899)
|
Issue of Share Capital (net of expenses)
|
3,426,124
|
12,562,712
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
15,988,836
|
Share Based Payment charges
|
-
|
-
|
31,016
|
-
|
-
|
139,611
|
-
|
-
|
170,627
|
Issue / Exercise Share Based Payments
|
20,119
|
54,320
|
(74,439)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Lapse of Options
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(129,589)
|
-
|
129,589
|
-
|
At
30 June 2024
|
21,727,742
|
59,215,369
|
-
|
6,683,000
|
34,774
|
610,731
|
(49,060)
|
(46,392,785)
|
41,829,771
|
The notes form part of this Interim
Financial Report.
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30
JUNE 2023
|
Notes
|
Unaudited Six months to June
2024
£
|
Unaudited Six months to June 2023
£
|
Audited
Year
ended December
2023
£
|
Cash Flows used in Operating Activities
|
|
|
|
|
Loss for the period
|
|
(1,916,371)
|
(1,546,947)
|
(3,618,094)
|
Depreciation and Amortisation
charges
|
|
14,856
|
5,472
|
22,095
|
Share based payment charge - Share
Options
|
|
139,611
|
91,863
|
208,930
|
Shares based payment charge - Shares
to be issue in lieu of bonus
|
|
31,016
|
-
|
43,423
|
Finance Income
|
|
(68,362)
|
(32,588)
|
(108,286)
|
Finance Expense
|
|
-
|
-
|
555
|
Reverse impairment other
assets
|
|
-
|
-
|
(710,467)
|
Exchange Losses
|
|
106,854
|
166,683
|
131,325
|
Cash Flow from Operating Activities before changes in Working
Capital
|
|
(1,692,396)
|
(1,315,517)
|
(4,030,519)
|
(Increase) / Decrease in Trade and
Other Receivables
|
|
(100,961)
|
137,471
|
140,148
|
Increase / (Decrease) in Trade and
Other Payables
|
|
94,248
|
(396,205)
|
982,457
|
Net Cash used in Operating
Activities
|
|
(1,699,109)
|
(1,574,251)
|
(2,907,914)
|
Cash flow used in Investing Activities
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of Intangible Exploration
Assets
|
4
|
(2,279,953)
|
(607,380)
|
(1,456,075)
|
Purchase of Tangible Fixed
Assets
|
5
|
(119,663)
|
(63,940)
|
(120,573)
|
Interest received
|
|
60,632
|
32,589
|
96,367
|
Net Cash used in Investing
Activities
|
|
(2,338,984)
|
(638,731)
|
(1,480,281)
|
Cash Flow used in Financing Activities
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issues of ordinary
shares (net of expenses)
|
|
15,988,836
|
-
|
6,297,060
|
Principal paid on Lease
Liabilities
|
|
(9,552)
|
(2,605)
|
(9,252)
|
Interest paid
|
|
-
|
-
|
(555)
|
Net Cash from / (used in)
Financing Activities
|
|
15,979,284
|
(2,605)
|
6,287,253
|
Increase / (Decrease) in Cash and Cash
Equivalents
|
|
11,941,191
|
(2,215,587)
|
1,899,058
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents at beginning of
period
|
|
9,721,281
|
7,202,334
|
7,202,334
|
Increase Restricted Cash
|
|
-
|
-
|
701,903
|
Exchange Losses on Cash and Cash
Equivalents
|
|
(101,731)
|
(147,592)
|
(82,014)
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents at end of period
|
|
21,560,741
|
4,839,155
|
9,721,281
|
The notes form part of this Interim
Financial Report.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE
SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2023
1. BASIS OF PREPARATION
The financial information set out
in this report is based on the Consolidated Financial Statements of
Savannah Resources Plc (the 'Company') and its subsidiary companies
(together referred to as the 'Group'). The Interim Financial Report
of the Group for the six months ended 30 June 2024, which is
unaudited, was approved by the Board on 27 September 2024. The
financial information contained in this interim report does not
constitute statutory accounts as defined by s434 of the Companies
Act 2006. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December
2023 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The Auditors'
Report on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain a
statement under section 498 (2) or 498 (3) of the Companies Act
2006.
The financial information set out
in this report has been prepared in accordance with the accounting
policies set out in the Annual Report and Financial Statements of
Savannah Resources Plc for the year ended 31 December 2023. New
standards and amendments to IFRS effective as of 1 January 2024
have been reviewed by the Group and there has been no material
impact on the financial information set out in this report as a
result of these standards and amendments.
The Group Interim Financial Report
is presented in Pound Sterling.
Going Concern
The Group had cash balance of GBP
21.6m at 30 June 2024. The Directors have reviewed the cash-flow
projection for the Group and concluded that it has sufficient
finance in place to meet its financial commitments for at least 12
months from the date of approval of the Interim Financial Report.
However, with the level of activity and related expenditure
accelerating the Company will require further funding to get to the
ultimate goal of having a producing spodumene mine. The Directors
believe that following the grant of the DIA, and the strategic
partnership investment by the Company's new largest shareholder,
AMG, the Group's Barroso Lithium Project will be attractive to
investors and other offtake partners. Furthermore, with AMG
incentivised to deliver a full funding solution for the Project,
the Directors are confident that funding required to move the
Project forwards will be available. However, whilst the Group and
Company have been successful in raising equity finance in the past,
and while the Directors are confident of raising additional funding
when required, their ability to do this is not completely within
their control and the lack of a binding agreement means there can
be no certainty that the additional funding required by the Group
and the Company will be secured.
In forming their view, the
Directors have considered the impacts that future delays on the
work schedule could have on the Group's available cash resources.
Having factored in reasonably plausible scenarios and reasonable
mitigating actions (for example, the ability to reduce its
uncommitted future expenditure), the Directors consider sufficient
cash balance is maintained under each scenario and that the Group
will be able to meet its obligations as they fall due for at least
12 months from the date of approval of the Interim Financial
Report.
Accordingly, the Directors have
concluded that these circumstances form a reasonable expectation
that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational
existence, for the foreseeable future. For these reasons, the
Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing
the Interim Financial Report.
2. SEGMENTAL REPORTING
The Group complies with IFRS 8
Operating Segments, which requires operating segments to be
identified on the basis of internal reports about components of the
Group that are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision
maker, which the Company considers to be the Board of Directors. In
the opinion of the Directors, the operations of the Group are
comprised of exploration and development in Portugal, and
headquarter, corporate and other costs.
Based on the Group's current stage
of development there are no external revenues associated to the
segments detailed below. For exploration and development in
Portugal the segments are calculated by the summation of the
balances in the legal entities which are readily identifiable to
each of the segmental activities. Recharges between segments are at
cost (although tax related transfer pricing markup is required) and
included in each segment below. Intercompany loans are eliminated
to zero and not included in each segment below.
|
Portugal
Lithium
|
HQ, corporate and other
3
|
Elimination
|
Total
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
Period 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2024
|
Revenue 1
|
576,4682
|
360,100
|
(936,568)
|
-
|
Interest Income
|
-
|
68,362
|
-
|
68,362
|
Share Based Payments
|
-
|
170,627
|
-
|
170,627
|
Loss for the period
|
(868,040)
|
(1,048,331)
|
-
|
(1,916,371)
|
Total Assets
|
22,734,944
|
21,559,909
|
-
|
44,294,853
|
Total Non-Current
Assets
|
21,747,436
|
434,925
|
-
|
22,182,361
|
Additions to Non-Current
Assets
|
2,062,175
|
-
|
-
|
2,062,175
|
Total Current Assets
|
987,508
|
21,124,984
|
-
|
22,112,492
|
Total Liabilities
|
(1,044,652)
|
(1,420,430)
|
-
|
(2,465,082)
|
|
Portugal
Lithium
|
HQ,
corporate and other 3
|
Elimination
|
Total
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
Period 1 July 2023 to 31 December
2023
|
Revenue 1
|
1,121,0472
|
536,918
|
(1,657,965)
|
-
|
Finance Costs
|
(555)
|
-
|
-
|
(555)
|
Interest Income
|
-
|
75,698
|
-
|
75,698
|
Share Based Payments
|
-
|
344,216
|
-
|
344,216
|
Loss for the period
|
(1,500,584)
|
(570,563)
|
-
|
(2,071,147)
|
Total Assets
|
20,709,860
|
10,076,814
|
-
|
30,786,674
|
Total Non-Current
Assets
|
20,200,471
|
432,003
|
-
|
20,632,474
|
Additions to Non-Current
Assets
|
1,693,577
|
-
|
-
|
1,693,577
|
Total Current Assets
|
509,389
|
9,644,811
|
-
|
10,154,200
|
Total Liabilities
|
(1,039,684)
|
(1,802,782)
|
-
|
(2,842,466)
|
|
Portugal
Lithium
|
HQ,
corporate and other 3
|
Elimination
|
Total
|
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
|
Period 1 January 2023 to 30 June
2023
|
Revenue 1
|
429,3582
|
321,171
|
(750,529)
|
-
|
|
Interest Income
|
-
|
32,588
|
-
|
32,588
|
|
Share Based Payments
|
-
|
(91,863)
|
-
|
(91,863)
|
|
Loss for the period
|
(571,419)
|
(975,528)
|
|
(1,546,947)
|
|
Total Assets
|
18,694,198
|
5,362,064
|
|
24,056,262
|
|
Total Non-Current
Assets
|
18,365,994
|
434,350
|
|
18,800,344
|
|
Additions to Non-Current
Assets
|
638,991
|
0
|
|
638,991
|
|
Total Current Assets
|
328,204
|
4,927,714
|
|
5,255,918
|
|
Total Liabilities
|
(237,496)
|
(437,378)
|
-
|
(674,874)
|
|
1 Revenues included the intercompany recharges within the Group
which are eliminated.
2 Included in the Portugal Lithium segment is GBP 576,468 (31
December 2023: GBP 1,121,047; 30 June 2023: GBP 429,358) relating
to intercompany recharges within this segment and therefore
eliminated in Elimination column.
3 Following the divestment of its Oman operations and the
discontinued operations in Mozambique, the Group is effectively a
single project group and it is appropriate to adjust its segmental
reporting accordingly. Therefore the 2023 segment note disclosures
have been re-stated accordingly, combining the following categories
'Discontinued Operation Mozambique Mineral Sands' and 'HQ and
corporate' into 'HQ, corporate, and other'.
3. EARNINGS PER
SHARE
Basic earnings per share is
calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to the ordinary
shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares
outstanding during the period.
In accordance with IAS 33 as the Group is reporting a loss for both
this and the preceding period the share options are not considered
dilutive because the exercise of share options and warrants would
have the effect of reducing the loss per share.
Reconciliations are set out
below:
|
Unaudited Six months to 30
June 2024
|
Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2023
|
Audited
Year ended 31 December 2023
|
Basic and Diluted Loss per Share:
|
|
|
|
Losses attributable to Ordinary
Shareholders (£):
|
|
|
|
Total Loss for the period
(£)
|
(1,916,371)
|
(1,546,947)
|
(3,618,094)
|
Total Loss for the period from
Continuing Operations (£)
|
(1,891,978)
|
(1,498,887)
|
(3,450,790)
|
Total Loss for the period from
Discontinued Operations (£) 1
|
(24,393)
|
(48,060)
|
(167,304)
|
Weighted average number of shares
(number)
|
1,845,932,402
|
1,688,959,820
|
1,751,881,365
|
Loss per Share - Total Loss for the
period from Operations (£)
|
(0.00104)
|
(0.00092)
|
(0.00207)
|
Loss per Share - Total Loss for
the period from Continuing Operations (£)
|
(0.00103)
|
(0.00089)
|
(0.00197)
|
Loss per Share - Total Loss for the
period from Discontinued Operations (£)
|
(0.00001)
|
(0.00003)
|
(0.00010)
|
1 Savannah is
in the process of exiting its residual interest
in Mozambique which includes Mining Concession 9735C and finalising
administrative work related to the termination of the Consortium
Agreement as required by the Mozambique laws. The costs incurred
during 2024 and 2023 are related to these activities and are
registered under Discontinued Operations.
4. INTANGIBLE
ASSETS
|
|
|
Exploration and Evaluation
Assets
£
|
Cost
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2023
|
|
|
16,459,599
|
Additions
|
|
|
557,175
|
Exchange differences
|
|
|
(356,082)
|
At 30 June 2023
|
|
|
16,660,692
|
Additions
|
|
|
1,605,022
|
Exchange difference
|
|
|
125,375
|
At 31 December 2023
|
|
|
18,391,089
|
Additions
|
|
|
1,800,791
|
Exchange differences
|
|
|
(331,274)
|
At 30 June 2024
|
|
|
19,860,606
|
|
|
|
Exploration and Evaluation
Assets
£
|
Amortisation and Impairment
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2023
|
|
|
-
|
At 30
June 2023
|
|
|
-
|
At 31 December 2023
|
|
|
-
|
At 30 June 2024
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
Net Book Value
|
|
|
|
At 30
June 2023
|
|
|
16,660,692
|
At 31 December 2023
|
|
|
18,391,089
|
At 30 June 2024
|
|
|
19,860,606
|
The Exploration and Evaluation Assets referred to in the table
above comprise expenditure in relation to exploration licences in
Portugal. The Directors consider that for the purposes of assessing
impairment, the above exploration and evaluation expenditure is
allocated to the Portugal Lithium licences area, representing the
Group's Cash Generating Units ('CGUs').
The Directors have reviewed the
carrying value of the CGU and have not identified any indicators of
impairment for the assets allocated to the licences in Portugal,
and therefore there is no impairment charge in 2024 or 2023 for
Portugal operations.
5. PROPERTY, PLANT AND
EQUIPMENT
|
Motor
Vehicles
£
|
Office
Equipment
£
|
Land
£
|
Total
£
|
Cost
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2023
|
57,355
|
49,208
|
1,559,816
|
1,666,379
|
Additions
|
-
|
1,521
|
62,419
|
63,940
|
Exchange differences
|
(1,648)
|
(4,197)
|
(46,010)
|
(51,855)
|
At 30 June 2023
|
55,707
|
46,532
|
1,576,225
|
1,678,464
|
Additions
|
-
|
14,079
|
42,554
|
56,633
|
Exchange difference
|
485
|
514
|
14,997
|
15,996
|
At 31 December 2023
|
56,192
|
61,125
|
1,633,776
|
1,751,093
|
Additions
|
-
|
4,737
|
114,926
|
119,663
|
Exchange differences
|
(1,277)
|
(5,573)
|
(38,101)
|
(44,951)
|
At 30 June 2024
|
54,915
|
60,289
|
1,710,601
|
1,825,805
|
|
Motor
Vehicles
£
|
Office
Equipment
£
|
Land
£
|
Total
£
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 January 2023
|
57,355
|
25,080
|
-
|
82,435
|
Charge for the period
|
-
|
2,817
|
-
|
2,817
|
Exchange differences
|
(1,648)
|
(3,529)
|
-
|
(5,177)
|
At 30 June 2023
|
55,707
|
24,368
|
-
|
80,075
|
Charge for the period
|
-
|
10,080
|
-
|
10,080
|
Exchange difference
|
485
|
318
|
-
|
803
|
At 31 December 2023
|
56,192
|
34,766
|
-
|
90,958
|
Charge for the period
|
-
|
5,223
|
-
|
5,223
|
Exchange differences
|
(1,277)
|
(4,978)
|
-
|
(6,255)
|
At 30 June 2024
|
54,915
|
35,011
|
-
|
89,926
|
Net
Book Value
|
|
|
|
|
At 30 June 2023
|
-
|
22,164
|
1,576,225
|
1,598,389
|
At 31 December 2023
|
-
|
26,359
|
1,633,776
|
1,660,135
|
At 30 June 2024
|
-
|
25,278
|
1,710,601
|
1,735,879
|
The additions in land reflect the
land acquisition program that Savannah has in place in Portugal to
acquire the land required for the future development of the Barroso
Lithium project.
The above Property, Plant and
Equipment is allocated to the Portugal Lithium operations,
representing the Group's CGUs.
Management has evaluated the
existence of impairment indicators of the Property, Plant and
Equipment allocated to the licences area together with the
impairment review performed for the Exploration and Evaluation
Assets, and it has concluded that there are no indicators of
impairment, and therefore there is no impairment charge in 2024 or
2023.
6. TRADE AND OTHER
RECEIVABLES
|
|
Unaudited
30 June
2024
|
Unaudited
30 June
2023
|
Audited
31
December 2023
|
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
Non-Current
|
|
|
|
|
Other Receivables
|
|
434,924
|
434,350
|
432,003
|
Total Non-Current Trade and Other
Receivables
|
|
434,924
|
434,350
|
432,003
|
|
|
Unaudited
30 June
2024
|
Unaudited
30 June
2023
|
Audited
31
December 2023
|
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
VAT Recoverable
|
|
181,879
|
125,078
|
253,790
|
Other Receivables
|
|
365,920
|
283,424
|
172,275
|
Total Current Trade and Other
Receivables
|
|
547,799
|
408,502
|
426,065
|
7. OTHER CURRENT AND
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
|
|
Unaudited
30 June
2024
|
Unaudited
30 June
2023
|
Audited
31
December 2023
|
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
Non-Current
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantees
|
|
61,862
|
62,755
|
63,301
|
Other
|
|
18,126
|
29,643
|
29,568
|
Total Other Non-Current
Assets
|
|
79,988
|
92,398
|
92,869
|
8. CASH AND CASH
EQUIVALENTS
|
|
Unaudited
30 June
2024
|
Unaudited
30 June
2023
|
Audited
31
December 2023
|
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
|
|
|
|
Cash at Bank and in
Hand
|
|
20,854,093
|
4,839,155
|
9,019,375
|
Restricted Cash
|
|
706,648
|
-
|
701,906
|
Total Cash and Cash
Equivalents
|
|
21,560,741
|
4,839,155
|
9,721,281
|
The balance of Cash and Cash
Equivalents approximates fair value.
The Group's cash balance in Mozambique is restricted for use in
Mozambique until the Group and the Mozambican Tax Authority resolve
the potential tax treatment or otherwise of the Deed of Termination
from 2021 (see Note 11).
9. TRADE AND OTHER
PAYABLES
|
|
Unaudited
30 June
2024
|
Unaudited
30 June
2023
|
Audited
31
December 2023
|
|
|
£
|
£
|
£
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
Trade Payables
|
|
761,287
|
392,612
|
820,487
|
Other Payables
|
|
2,478
|
16,385
|
7,825
|
Accruals
|
|
650,070
|
190,829
|
1,050,694
|
Deferred Income
|
|
115,393
|
21,969
|
43,005
|
Taxes
|
|
66,500
|
38,563
|
71,049
|
Total Current Trade and Other
Payables
|
|
1,595,728
|
660,358
|
1,993,060
|
10. SHARE CAPITAL
|
Six months
to
30 June
2024
|
Six
months to
30 June
2023
|
Six
months to
31
December 2023
|
|
£0.01 ordinary shares
number
|
£
|
£0.01
ordinary shares number
|
£
|
£0.01
ordinary shares number
|
£
|
Allotted, issued and fully paid
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At beginning of period
|
1,828,149,904
|
18,281,499
|
1,688,959,820
|
16,889,598
|
1,688,959,820
|
16,889,598
|
Issued during the period:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share placement
|
342,612,4201
|
3,426,124
|
-
|
-
|
139,190,084
|
1,391,901
|
Shares issued in lieu
|
2,011,8802
|
20,119
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
At end of period
|
2,172,774,204
|
21,727,742
|
1,688,959,820
|
16,889,598
|
1,828,149,904
|
18,281,499
|
1 In respect of the Share placements in 2024 the net proceeds
were GBP 15,988,836 (2023: GBP 6,297,060) of which GBP 12,562,712
(2023: GBP 4,905,159) has been recorded in Share Premium. The gross
proceeds were GBP 16,000,000 (2023: GBP 6,500,177) and the costs of
the Share placement GBP 11,164 (2023: GBP 203,117).
2 In respect of the issue of shares to the CEO (at his election
of receiving shares rather than cash) in lieu of payment of the
2023 bonus. This is considered a share based payment and a charge
of GBP 43,423.08 was recognised in 2023 and GBP 31,016.48 has been
recognised in 2024.
The par value of the Company's
shares is GBP 0.01.
11. GROUP CONTINGENT
LIABILITIES
Contingent Liabilities:
Details of contingent liabilities
where the probability of future payments is not considered remote
are set out below, as well as details of contingent liabilities,
which although considered remote, the Directors consider should be
disclosed. The Directors are of the opinion that provisions are not
required in respect of these matters, because at the reporting date
it is not probable that a future sacrifice of economic benefits
will be required and the amount is not capable of reliable
measurement.
Consideration payable in relation to the
acquisition of Mining Lease Application for lithium, feldspar and
quartz (Portugal lithium project)
In June 2019
the Company purchased the right to acquire a Mining Lease
Application for lithium, feldspar and quartz from private
Portuguese company, Aldeia & Irmão, S.A., once the Mining Lease
has been granted. The terms of the agreement were modified in June
2024, primarily to extend the date, by which the Mining Licence can
be issued (until September 2026) to ensure that the Company's right
to acquire it is continued. The total purchase price for the
acquisition is EUR 3,550,000 (~GBP 3,008,000) if the transfer of
the Mining Lease to an entity within the Group takes place before
30 April 2025, whereas if the transfer of the Mining Lease takes
place after that date the purchase price will be EUR 3,250,000
(~GBP 2,754,000). In both cases this will only become due once the
Mining Lease Application has been granted and the Mining Lease
transferred to an entity within the Group, at which point the
agreed payment schedule will consist of an initial EUR 55,000 (~GBP
47,000) payment with the balance due in 71 monthly instalments.
Upon delivery of the request for transfer of the Mining Lease to an
entity within the Group to Aldeia to submit the request to the DGEG
(Portuguese mining licencing authority), the Group shall provide
Aldeia with a bank guarantee of EUR 3,495,000 (~GBP 2,961,000) or
EUR 3,195,000 (~GBP 2,707,000) that will be reduced in accordance
with the 71 monthly instalments. Additionally, once the Mining
Lease is issued, Savannah has the option to defer the timing of
issuing the Bank Guarantee by up to 12 months by making payments of
EUR 150,000 for 6 months or a further EUR 150,000 for 12 months
(these payments of EUR 150,000 will be deducted from the total
purchase price and adjusted in the future monthly payment
schedule).
Provisions:
In October 2016 the Group and Rio
Tinto entered into a Consortium Agreement to develop their
respective projects in Mozambique through an unincorporated
consortium. On 1 December 2021 Savannah signed a Deed of
Termination relating to the Consortium Agreement. Under the Deed of
Termination, compensation of USD 9.5m (GBP 7.0m) was agreed to be
paid by Rio Tinto to the Group. In 2023 the Company was indirectly
notified that the Mozambican Tax Authority ('MTA') considers the
transaction in scope for capital gains tax and that a tax amount of
MZN 134,261,677 (~GBP 1,650,000) should be paid. Savannah has not
received any formal notification from the MTA and it does not agree
with the MTA's position in relation to this matter. However, the
fact that the Group and the MTA have different opinions in this
matter represents the existence of an uncertainty in the tax
treatment relating to the Deed of Termination and therefore the
Group is required to apply IFRIC 23. The Company has applied
estimations to determine the probability of different scenarios
occurring and has made a provision of GBP 798,390 (31 December
2023: GBP 793,028; 30 June 2023: GBP nil) based on the sum of the
probability-weighted outcomes, but that does not indicate the Group
will be liable to pay this amount. Although the Company is seeking
a resolution of the matter with the MTA the timing thereof is not
certain, in the event that any tax is paid it could be settled from
restricted cash held in Mozambique (see Note 8) or non-current
other receivables (see Note 6).
12. EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING
DATE
On 20 August 2024 the Company
appointed a new Non-Executive Director. Following the investment
from the Company's new largest shareholder and strategic partner,
AMG Critical Materials N.V. ('AMG'), Mike Connor was appointed as
Non-Executive Director, as the Board representative of AMG and as
per the terms of the subscription agreement.
Regulatory Information
This Announcement contains inside
information for the purposes of the UK version of the market abuse
regulation (EU No. 596/2014) as it forms part of United Kingdom
domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
("UK MAR").
Savannah - Enabling Europe's energy
transition.
**ENDS**
Follow
@SavannahRes on X (Formerly known as Twitter)
Follow
Savannah Resources on LinkedIn
For further information please
visit www.savannahresources.com or
contact:
Savannah Resources PLC
Emanuel Proença, CEO
|
Tel: +44 20 7117 2489
|
SP
Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Nominated Advisor & Joint
Broker)
David Hignell/ Charlie Bouverat
(Corporate Finance)
Grant Barker/Abigail Wayne (Sales
& Broking)
|
Tel: +44 20 3470 0470
|
SCP Resource Finance (Joint Broker)
Filipe Martins/Chris
Tonkin
|
Tel: +44 204 548 1765
|
Camarco (Financial PR)
Gordon Poole/ Emily Hall / Nuthara
Bandara
|
Tel: +44 20 3757 4980
|
LPM ( Portugal Media Relations)
Herminio Santos/ Jorge Coelho/
Margarida Pinheiro
|
Tel: +351 218 508 110
|
About Savannah
Savannah Resources is a mineral
resource development company and the sole owner of the Barroso
Lithium Project (the 'Project') in northern Portugal, the largest
battery grade spodumene lithium resource outlined to date in
Europe.
Through the Project, Savannah will
help Portugal to play an important role in providing a long-term,
locally sourced, lithium raw material supply for Europe's lithium
battery value chain. Once in operation the Project will produce
enough lithium (contained in c.190,000tpa of spodumene concentrate)
for approximately half a million vehicle battery packs per year,
and hence make a significant contribution towards the European
Commission's Critical Raw Material Act goal of a minimum 10% of
European endogenous lithium production from 2030. Savannah is being
supported in its development goals by its strategic partner and
largest shareholder AMG Critical Materials N.V., the global
critical materials business.
Savannah is focused on the
responsible development and operation of the Barroso Lithium
Project so that its impact on the environment is minimised and the
socio-economic benefits that it can bring to all its stakeholders
are maximised.
The Company is listed and regulated
on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM)
and the Company's ordinary shares are also available on the
Quotation Board of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FWB) under the
symbol FWB: SAV, and the Börse Stuttgart (SWB) under the ticker
"SAV".