Robex Extends Life of Mine for Nampala Gold Mine With Updated
Technical Study
HIGHLIGHTS:
-
Increased Reserves Life of Mine (“LoM”): Nampala
mine life extended to December 2026 (from June 2026) with Mineral
Reserves at 121Koz ounces @ 0.93g/t;
-
Potential to grow Mineral Reserves: Indicated
Mineral Resources (inclusive of Mineral Reserves) of 243Koz
@ 0.94g/t Au;
-
Economics: Consensus Case (Gold Price:
US$2,490/oz):
-
Pre-tax Net Present Value at discount rate of 5%
(“NPV5%”) of US$106.1M, and
-
Post-tax NPV5% of US$71.1M.
-
Average annual gold production: Nampala is
expected to produce 52,000 ounces gold per year over LoM
-
Costs in line with budget: LoM All-In Sustaining
Costs (“AISC”) of US$1,106 /oz.
QUÉBEC CITY, Jan. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Robex Resources Inc. (“Robex” or the
“Company”) (TSXV: RBX) is pleased to announce the
results of an updated NI43-101 technical report (the
“Study” or the “Report”) for its
Nampala Mine (“Nampala”) in Mali.
Robex Managing Director Matthew
Wilcox commented: “Increasing the life of mine at
Nampala is an important step for Robex to define the future for
this asset. The team at Nampala has done a fantastic job
of continuing to produce gold at low costs in a challenging
environment.
Nampala is expected to continue to produce
free cash on a monthly basis and continue to support our
development of the Kiniero gold mine in Guinea, which we have
demonstrated can produce 139,000oz gold per year over its 9.5-year
mine life and is set to pour first gold later this year.”
The Report was prepared in accordance with
Canadian Securities Administrators’ National Instrument 43-101 -
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI
43-101”). The independent NI 43-101 technical report
supporting the Nampala Study will be published on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com within the next 45 days.
Napala’s updated economic model was run at two
gold prices;
- Scenario 1 with
gold price of US$1,800/oz used for the Mineral Reserve, and
- Scenario 2 with
the S&P consensus long-term gold price at end of October 2024,
ranging from US$2,490/oz to US$2,314/oz.
The Study extends Nampala Life of Mine (“LoM”)
to December 2026 (versus June 2026) with Mineral Reserves of 121Koz
at 0.93 g/t Au. The post-tax NPV5% at consensus gold
price is US$71.1m as shown in Table 1
Table 1: Summary of NPV Scenarios
(as of 1 September 2024)
Scenario
|
Unit
|
NPV 5% |
Pre-Tax |
Post-Tax |
Scenario 1: $1800/oz |
US$m |
48.2 |
28.8 |
Scenario 2: The S&P consensus gold price (at end October
2024) |
US$m |
106.1 |
71.1 |
TECHNICAL STUDY DETAILS
Overview
The Nampala Property is comprised of a
contiguous block of one mining permit (Nampala Mine) and three
adjoining exploration permits (Mininko, Gladie and Kamasso). The
Property is located in the Sikasso and Kolondieba Circles of the
Sikasso Region in southern Mali, and is approximately 255km
southeast of Bamako, the capital of Mali, and ~60km southwest of
Sikasso, the capital of the Sikasso Region as shown in Figure 1 .
The Nampala Gold Mine is approximately 40km northwest of Resolute
Mining’s 4.0Moz Syama Gold Mine.
Within the Property, the Nampala Gold Mine is a
Production Project that involves ongoing mining and processing
activities. The adjacent exploration permits are advanced
exploration projects with detailed exploration work, including
drilling and trenching.
Figure 1 Regional location of the Nampala
Gold Project
Geology
The Property is located within the
Kadiana-Madinana Domain of the Birimian Supergroup in southern Mali
(Figure 2). This Domain is located within the broader Baoulé-Mossi
Domain, a significant greenstone belt of West Africa renowned for
its gold mineralisation.
Figure 2 Simplified Regional Geology of the
Bagoe Greenstone Belt
Source: Micon (2024) modified from Ballo, et al.
(2015)
The Birimian Supergroup is a significant
component of the West African Craton, formed around 2.2 Ga to 2.0
Ga. It comprises a sequence of intensely deformed and metamorphosed
volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The Birimian is typically divided
into two parts: a lower volcanic group with basalts and andesites
and an upper sedimentary group with greywackes, sandstones, and
shales. These turbiditic sedimentary rocks are significant, as they
often host significant gold mineralisation.
The local geology of the Nampala Property and
its surrounding permits are primarily based on the studies
conducted by Baril et al. (2011), Boisse et al. (2020), the mapping
and studies completed by BRGM and the geological interpretations
made by Micon International Co Limited (Micon) who were responsible
for the geological and resource modelling for this Report, and
overall compilation thereof.
The Nampala Mine and the adjacent Mininko
permit exhibit geological characteristics like those observed
within the neighbouring Gladie and Kamasso permits. The primary
lithological units, include significant marker horizons such as
graphitic shales that extend southward from the Nampala Permit into
these areas, continuing beyond the southwestern boundary of
Kamasso.
The Nampala Mine and the Mininko permit are
situated within the pelitic shale and arenite units of the Bagoe
Formation, which belong to the Birimian Supergroup. This formation
trends north-northeast, spanning several hundred kilometres into
Côte d'Ivoire and dipping beneath the Taoudeni Basin to the
north.
Gold mineralisation of the Nampala Property is
like many other Palaeoproterozoic gold deposits in the Baoulé-Mossi
domain of the West African Craton that formed during a craton-wide
gold metallogenic event late in the Eburnean Orogeny (Lawrence,
Treloar, Rankin, Harbidge, & Holliday, 2013).
Gold mineralisation is primarily hosted within
competent, coarse-grained turbiditic units, specifically greywackes
and siliceous sandstones. These lithologies, characterised by their
brittle nature, facilitated the fracturing and subsequent vein
formation. Gold occurs predominantly within structurally controlled
tension quartz vein systems and stockworks that exploit these
fractures and associated zones of enhanced porosity.
The tonalite intrusion, enveloped by
lamprophyres, also contains mineralised quartz veins that share a
similar orientation with those observed in the metasediments,
suggesting a common structural control on mineralisation. Although
the lamprophyre intrusions exhibit limited mineralisation, confined
primarily to their margins, they appear to influence the spatial
distribution of gold significantly. This is evidenced by the
preferential concentration of gold mineralisation in the
metasediments proximal to the lamprophyre contacts, supported by
lithological competency contrasts and geochemical gradients.
Conversely, shear zones are predominantly
developed within the more ductile, often graphitic, shales. These
shear zones, however, are typically barren of significant gold
mineralisation.
Figure 3 Geology of the Nampala Gold
Mine
Source: Micon (2024) from the Robex Mapping Data
and Micon 2024 interpretation
Mineral Resources and
Reserves
The 2024 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) was
prepared by Micon and has an effective date of 30th September 2024.
It has been constrained by a topographic surface of the same date.
The 2024 Mineral Resource statement is presented in Table 2
Table 2: Nampala Mineral Resource Statement,
effective date 30th September
2024
Regolith |
Cut-Off
(g/t Au) |
Tonnage
(Mt) |
Gold Grade
(g/t Au) |
Contained Gold
(koz) |
INDICATED |
Oxide |
0.35 |
5.85 |
0.84 |
158.33 |
Transition |
0.43 |
2.09 |
1.13 |
76.03 |
Fresh |
1.89 |
0.10 |
3.00 |
9.36 |
TOTAL |
- |
8.04 |
0.94 |
243.72 |
INFERRED |
|
Oxide |
0.35 |
0.32 |
0.79 |
8.05 |
Transition |
0.43 |
0.23 |
1.62 |
8.50 |
Fresh |
1.89 |
0.01 |
2.53 |
0.41 |
TOTAL |
- |
0.56 |
0.95 |
16.97 |
Source: Micon (2024)
Notes:
- The Mineral
Resource Estimate has been prepared in accordance with National
Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects with an effective date of 30 September 2024. Dr Ryan
Langdon of Micon is the QP responsible for the MRE.
- The database
was closed on 10 September 2024 and the Mineral Resources were
constrained to a topographic survey dated 30 September
2024.
- To
demonstrate Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction
(RPEEE), open pit Mineral Resources were constrained by an
optimised pit shell. All blocks above the cut-off and within the
pit shell were included in the Mineral Resources. Robex created the
optimised pit shell.
- Cut-off
grades for Mineral Resource reporting were calculated using a gold
price of US$2,200 oz and are: oxide (laterite, mottled zone,
saprolite) 0.35 g/t Au; transition (upper saprock, lower saprock)
0.43 g/t Au; and fresh (fresh rock)1.89 g/t Au.
- Mineral
Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated
economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of
the estimated Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral
Reserves.
- Average
density values used are: laterite and mottled zone 1.56 t/m3 to
1.74 t/m3; saprolite 1.55 t/m3 to 1.68 t/m3; upper saprock 2.05
t/m3 to 2.24 t/m3; lower saprock 2.40 t/m3to 2.42 t/m3; and fresh
rock 2.63 t/m3to 2.74 t/m3.
- Grade
interpolation by ordinary kriging using a block model with a block
size of 10 m (X) by 20 m (Y) by 5 m (Z). Outlier management used
grade capping for extreme outliers and a restricted search
neighbourhood for outliers on a domain-by-domain basis.
- Mineral
Resources in volumes with a drill grid spacing of 40 m by 40 m were
classified as Indicated Mineral Resources. All other volumes were
classified as Inferred Mineral Resources. To limit extrapolation, a
wireframe was used to constrain the interpolated blocks to
approximately 10 m below the base of the drilling.
- Totals
presented in this table reported from the Mineral Resource models,
are subject to rounding, and may not total exactly.
The Mineral Reserves for Nampala were derived
from the Mineral Resources using the modifying factors outlined in
the Mining Plan. All Mineral Reserves are classified as Probable,
as they are based on Indicated Mineral Resources. Inferred and
Unclassified Mineral Resources were excluded from the
resource-to-reserve conversion, ensuring compliance with reporting
standards. The stockpiles are excluded from the Mineral Reserve
estimate, as it is not classified as a Mineral Resource and
therefore cannot be converted to Reserves. The Nampala Mineral
Reserves with effective date 30th September 2024 is presented
in Table 3.
Table 3: Nampala Mine Mineral
Reserves, effective date 30th
September 2024
Nampala Mine Mineral Reserves |
Ore Type
|
Proven |
Probable |
Ore
(Mt) |
Gold Grade
(g/t Au) |
Total Gold
(koz) |
Ore
(Mt) |
Gold Grade
(g/t Au) |
Total Gold
(koz) |
Oxide |
- |
- |
- |
3.268 |
0.90 |
94.61 |
Transition |
- |
- |
- |
0.776 |
1.06 |
26.35 |
Total |
- |
- |
- |
4.044 |
0.93 |
120.96 |
Source: Robex (2024)
Notes:
- The Mineral
Reserves have been depleted for mining up to the 30th September
2024.
- Figures have
been rounded to the appropriate level of precision for
reporting.
- Due to
rounding, some columns or rows may not compute exactly as
shown.
- Mineral
Reserves are stated as in-situ dmt (dry metric tonnes).
- Mining
recovery of 100% and waste dilution of 6% were applied to each
pit.
- Mineral
Reserves reporting were calculated at a cut-off grade of 0.4g/t for
oxide (laterite, mottled zone, saprolite and transition).
- Probable
Mineral Reserves were derived from Indicated Mineral
Resources.
- There are no
known legal, political, environmental, or other risks that could
materially affect the Mineral Reserves.
Exploration
Non-invasive exploration completed by Robex on
the Nampala Property has been extensive, and Property-wide. First
commenced in 2005, the Property-wide exploration has included:
- Remote
Sensing: a remote sensing assessment by GaiaPix in 2022 that
included a photogeological interpretation of satellite-borne remote
sensing data using Landsat 8 OLI, SPOT 7, Shuttle Radar Topography
Mission (SRTM) and regional airborne geophysical data. The
geological interpretation of the remote-sensing data used anaglyph
images to generate 3D topographic relief renditions. GaiaPix
concluded that the geological mapping delineated structural
elements that represented targets for gold exploration and that
surface soil geochemical sampling was the recommended follow-up
prospecting tool.
-
Geophysics: during the 2005 to 2008 exploration campaign, a 25
m-spaced IP survey was conducted over the Nampala geochemical
anomaly. In 2021, Robex engaged Eureka Consulting (Pty) Ltd
(Eureka) to merge two historical geophysical data sets comprising
magnetics and resistivity. Geophysical data has proven valuable in
correlating the known geology and structures against the
bulk-leach-extractable-gold (BLEG) Au-in-soil geochemical
fabric.
- Rock Chip
Sampling: during 2009, Robex conducted fieldwork across its
exploration permits. A total of 255 rock chip and grab samples were
collected.
- Soil
Sampling: In line with the recommendations from GaiaPix, Robex
commenced a Property-wide BLEG soil sampling geochemistry campaign
in December 2021. The BLEG sampling method was used to accurately
measure fine-grade gold and sampling heterogeneity, reducing the
inherent nugget effect in samples. There is a demonstrated strong
relationship between the BLEG Au-in-soil, magnetics, intrusives,
and structures.
Drilling
Since drilling first commenced at Nampala
pre-1992, >342,000 m of drilling has been completed on the
Property. This includes a combination of DD, RC, AC, Rotary Air
Blast (RAB) and auger drilling. Current drilling by Robex commenced
in 2005. Robex drilling accounts for >312,000 m of the drilling
completed on the Property. Drilling has primarily focussed on
drilling the Nampala deposit of the Nampala Mine, accounting for
~74% of all drilling. Drilling purposes has included exploration,
verification, sterilisation, resource, and reserve delineation,
mining geotechnical and water. Drilling completed on the Nampala
Property can be summarised as:
- Historical
drilling (pre-2005) accounts for 575 drill holes for 30,073 m –
almost exclusively AC and RAB drilling.
- Robex drilling
(2005 to present) accounts for 5,668 drill holes for 312,851 m (126
x DD drill holes for 21,640 m; 874 x RC drill holes for 88,044 m;
1,806 AC drill holes for 160,735 m; 352 RAB drill holes for 16,465
m; and 2,510 auger drill holes for 25,967 m).
Sample Preparation, Analysis and Security
The Robex procedures for geological sample
preparation, analysis, and security are well documented and
publicly available. They adhere to best practice procedures and
protocols. Robex has utilised two independent commercial
laboratories to analyse drilling samples - Bamako SGS Mineral
Laboratory in Mali (SGS Bamako) with accreditation number T0652,
and SGS Robex-Nampala laboratory at the Nampala mine site, which
does not hold formal accreditation. The sample preparation
methodology is standard comprising crushing and pulverising of
samples to collect a subsample for fire assay using a lead
collection fire assay technique with an Atomic Absorption
Spectroscopy (AAS) finish. The Robex QA/QC protocol includes the
insertion of standards, blanks and field duplicates. One standard,
one blank and one field duplicate are inserted into every batch of
samples, for 20 samples per batch.
Mining Methods
Mining at Nampala is conducted using a
conventional open-pit method, involving contractor operated
hydraulic excavators for loading and dump trucks for hauling. In
areas of transitional lithology and laterites, drilling and
blasting are employed, although most of the material is mined
through free digging.
The mining sequence at Nampala is primarily
influenced by the plant requirements and the tropical climate’s dry
and wet seasons. Oxide and transitional materials differ in
processing throughput, with transitional ore typically having a
higher grade than oxide ore.
Ore from the Nampala and East Pits will be
partially transported to the ROM pad near the crusher, while the
remainder will be stockpiled at various locations around the pits
to ensure a steady feed to the plant during the wet season. The ore
will be segregated into stockpiles based on grade to facilitate
optimal blending.
Processing Operations
Since 2017, the Nampala Mine has been in
continuous operation, processing primarily oxide material
(saprolite). The current processing flowsheet (Figure 4) for the
Nampala Mine employs a design consisting of a scrubber, ball mill
circuit, and cyclone classification. Gold recovery is achieved
through a combination of gravity concentration followed by a
carbon-in-leach (“CIL”) process and Zadra elution. Since the
initial implementation of the flowsheet), enhancements have been
made to improve processing efficiency. A mineral sizer was added to
manage large ore blocks, ensuring smoother material handling, and a
cone crusher was integrated into the grinding circuit to address
critical-size particles, optimising overall grinding
performance.
Continuous efforts have been made to reduce
reagent consumption, while lime consumption remains high, as is
typical for saprolite, cyanide consumption is notably low, with a
set point of less than 140 NaCN ppm in the first leach tank and no
further additions required.
The requirements associated with the current
process are the following:
- Ore: 5,800 t/d of
oxidised material with a minimal feed grade of 0.50 g/t Au.
- Water: 1
m3 of water per tonne of processed ore which 2/3 is
recirculated.
- Energy: 8 kWh/t to
12 kWh/t for the mill including operation support
infrastructures.
- Plant availability
of 90%.
Figure 4 Nampala Mine Process Plant
Flowsheet
The total gold produced since January 2017 is
approximately 370 koz Au. Mill throughput has shown an increasing
trend and attributable gold production has averaged 123.7 kg/month.
The mine has achieved consistent increases in throughput since
2020. Table 4 shows the production performance from 2020 to 2023.
However, in 2024, the introduction of harder transitional ore led
to a slight reduction in throughput.
The gold recovery shows an increasing trend to
early 2022, resulting from continuous plant optimisation. From
early 2022, the gold recovery averaged 88.8% which matches that
predicted by metallurgical testwork by Soutex in 2020 (88.8% to
88.9%). Plant availability has shown a constant trend and has
averaged 90.3% which matches industry norms. Compared to the 2020
predictions made by Soutex, during the period 2020 to 2023 the mill
throughputs were higher than predicted and mill feed gold grades
were higher by more than 10%. Target gold recoveries were met,
resulting overall in the total gold production being more than 25%
higher than predicted.
Table 4: Comparison of Predicted and
Actual Production and Recovery Data
Period |
Predicted
Plant
Feed
(t) |
Actual
Plant
Feed
(t) |
Predicted
Feed
Grade
(g/t Au) |
Actual
Feed Grade
(g/t Au) |
Predicted
Gold Rec.
(Au %) |
Actual
Gold Rec.
(Au%) |
Predicted
Gold Rec.
(Au oz) |
Actual
Gold Rec.
(Au oz) |
2020 |
1,905,000 |
1,886,317 |
0.83 |
0.94 |
88.8 |
88.6 |
45,400 |
50,348 |
2021 |
1,905,000 |
1,948,284 |
0.69 |
0.81 |
88.9 |
91.4 |
37,400 |
46,555 |
2022 |
1,905,000 |
2,025,463 |
0.67 |
0.81 |
88.8 |
88.6 |
36,300 |
46,650 |
2023 |
1,911,000 |
2,224,888 |
0.65 |
0.81 |
88.8 |
89.6 |
35,600 |
51,826 |
|
+6% |
+19% |
+1%
|
+26% |
Source: Micon (2024) from Soutex (2024) and
Robex (2024)
Infrastructure
The current Nampala mine boundary fence has a
total length of 12,900 m, enclosing an area of 803 ha. This
expansion ensures that the entire mining operation is within a
secured boundary, enhancing operational safety and site
management.
The Nampala Mine is supplied by two water
sources: fresh water and potable water. Potable water is currently
sourced from one of three available wells (Well No. 17). For fresh
water, 23 wells have been constructed, with 15 currently in
operation. These sources ensure a reliable water supply to support
operational and domestic needs at the site. Additional water
storage is maintained with a buffer water pond with a capacity of
32,734 m3 and a retention pond with a capacity of 32,474
m3.
The Nampala Mine relies on a hybrid power system
consisting of two energy sources: a solar plant and a thermal
(diesel) power plant. The solar plant includes 7,280 photovoltaic
panels with a total installed capacity of 3.39 MW, of which 96%
(3.25 MW) is utilised. The thermal power plant provides an
additional 10 MW of installed capacity. The system is further
supported by a 2.6 MWh battery storage unit, ensuring stability and
optimising energy use.
There are two waste dumps near the pits: Waste
Dump North, located north of both the East and West Pits, and Waste
Dump East, situated east of the East Pit. Waste Dump North had an
initial capacity of 3.8 Mm3 of waste, with a planned
expansion to accommodate an additional 21.3 Mt. As of October 2023,
the Waste Dump North is nearly full, and further expansion is not
feasible. Consequently, a new waste dump area was designated east
of the East Pit in November 2023 (East Waste Dump). An additional
area south of the East Pit has been identified and sterilised for
future expansions as a potential waste dump.
Construction of Tailings Pond Cell No. 5
commenced in October 2023. At its current level (340), the cell has
a capacity of 591,419 m3, equating to approximately 4 to
5 months of storage at a consolidated density of 1.4
t/m3. Plans are underway to extend Cell No. 5 to Level
345, a process expected to take approximately two months. Once
completed, the capacity will increase to 3.2 Mm3,
equivalent to 4.48 Mt, providing more than two years of storage
capacity. The expansion is permitted.
The principal stockpiles are located north of
the pits, near the processing plant. The principal stockpiles have
capacity of approximately 250 kt, categorised into high-grade,
medium-grade, and low-grade materials.
The Nampala Mine is equipped with a four-bed
medical clinic staffed by four nurses and a part-time medical
doctor. The facility also includes a pharmacy and a laboratory, the
latter currently under construction, to enhance on-site medical
services.
There are offices for administration, plant,
medical services, training, exploration, mining, geology, and
contractors. Other infrastructure on site includes a rubbish
treatment plant, warehouse, hangar and airstrip, plant nursery, and
communications systems.
The accommodation and welfare facilities at
Nampala include a lodging area for security personnel and a camp
equipped with a gym, mini shop, and canteen. The total lodging
capacity is 119 people. A kitchen dedicated to mill employees
provides up to 480 meals per day.
Figure 5 shows layout of the Nampala mine
infrastructure
Figure 5 Nampala Mine Infrastructure Layout
Capital and Operating Costs
The mine is currently in production so there is
no development capital cost required.
The total capital and closure costs from 1st
September 2024 until the end of the LOM are US$37.8m. This includes
sustaining capital at US$2.2M and capitalised stripping costs at
US$31.5 million and US$4.06M in Closure and contract termination
costs. Sustaining Capex was calculated with the latest operating
data updated as of December 2024.
The operating costs used in the economic
analysis are summarised in Table 5.
Table 5 Operating Costs Summary
Across the LOM, starting September 2024
|
Total |
Unit Cost |
Costs |
(US$ million) |
(US$/t ore milled) |
(per oz US$/oz) |
Mining |
47,902 |
11.8 |
414 |
Processing |
50,237 |
11.2 |
434 |
General and
Administration |
21,221 |
4.7 |
184 |
Transport, Insurance and
Refining |
224 |
0 |
2 |
Royalty and Statutory
Cost |
36,078 |
8 |
312 |
C1 Costs |
119,584 |
27.8 |
1,034 |
C2 Costs |
125,885 |
29.2 |
1,089 |
C3 Costs |
163,095 |
29.4 |
1,410 |
AISC |
161,963 |
37.2 |
1,401 |
Revenue |
230,846 |
66 |
2,308 |
Source: Robex December (2024)
Economic Analysis
An updated economic assessment of the Nampala
Mine has been conducted, incorporating actual operational data and
the new technical inputs outlined in this Report. The economic
model was prepared by Australian based Infinity Corporate Finance
Pty Ltd., with input data sourced from a variety of contributors,
including consultants, current suppliers and contractors, and
Robex’s internal technical and financial teams. Key financial
parameters, such as the Project’s taxation regime and exchange
rates, were also provided by Robex.
The economic model was run at two gold prices;
Scenario 1 with gold price of US$1,800/oz used for the Mineral
Reserve and Scenario 2 with the S&P consensus long term gold
price at end of October 2024 as shown in Table 6.
Table 6: LoM Gold Price
LOM Gold Price |
Years |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
Scenario 1 Mineral Reserve |
US$/oz |
1,800 |
1,800 |
1,800 |
Scenario 2 S&P consensus gold price (end of October 2024) |
US$/oz |
2,490 |
2,431 |
2,320 |
The cashflow analysis excludes inflation and presents all financial
data in real US dollars as of 30th September 2024.
Only cashflows post 30th September 2024 are
considered.
The mine has an expected LOM of 27 months
(inclusive of stockpiles) from 30th September 2024. As
of 30th September 2024, based on consensus forward
gold prices and a 5% discount rate, the Project's estimated NPV is
US$71 million post-tax as show in in Table 7.
Table 7: Summary of NPV Scenario’s
(as of 1 September 2024)
Scenario
|
Unit
|
NPV 5% |
Pre-Tax |
Post-Tax |
Scenario 1: $1800/oz |
US$m |
48.2 |
28.8 |
Scenario 2: The S&P consensus gold price (at end October
2024) |
US$m |
106.1 |
71.1 |
Source: Robex December (2024)
Post-tax annual cash flows are show in Table
8.
Table 8: Post-tax cashflow at
consensus forward gold prices
Production Summary |
Unit |
Total / Average |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
Ore & Waste Mined |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ore |
kt |
4,044 |
554 |
1,934 |
1,556 |
- |
Waste |
kt |
11,935 |
1,599 |
6,969 |
3,367 |
- |
Grade |
g/t /Au |
0.93 |
0.85 |
0.88 |
1.02 |
- |
|
Ore Processed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oxide |
kt |
3,723 |
564 |
1,899 |
1,260 |
- |
Transitional |
kt |
776 |
4 |
208 |
564 |
- |
Oxide |
g/t Au |
0.90 |
0.81 |
0.84 |
0.93 |
- |
Transitional |
g/t Au |
1.06 |
0.99 |
0.92 |
1.11 |
- |
|
Contained Metal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Processed |
koz |
130 |
14.80 |
57.20 |
57.90 |
- |
Recovered |
koz |
115.4 |
13.14 |
50.81 |
51.69 |
- |
Recovery |
% |
- |
89% |
89% |
89% |
- |
|
Project Cashflows After Tax |
|
|
|
|
|
Net Revenue |
US$ million |
230 |
24 |
100 |
106 |
- |
Opex |
US$ million |
(120) |
(15) |
(60) |
(45) |
- |
Tax |
US$ million |
(30) |
- |
(11) |
(16) |
(3) |
Change in Working Capital |
US$ million |
- |
7 |
- |
(3) |
(4) |
Capex |
US$ million |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Sustaining Capex |
US$ million |
(6) |
(.5) |
(2) |
(4) |
- |
Annual
Cash Flow |
US$ million |
75 |
16 |
28 |
38 |
(7) |
Note: the figures have been rounded
Source: Infinity and Robex (2024)
The Project value was evaluated through
sensitivity (Figure 6) analyses examining the impact of changes in
gold price and operating costs. The analysis indicates that the
Project is most sensitive to fluctuations in the gold price,
followed by changes in operating costs.
Figure 6 Post-tax
NPV5% Sensitivity
Qualified Person
Scientific or technical information in this
press release that relates to the geology and exploration history
of the Nampala Property was prepared or supervised by Andrew de
Klerk, B.Sc.(Hons.), Pr.Sci.Nat. (400030/11), SAIMM, GSSA Principal
Geologist and Project Manager, is a full-time employee for Micon
International Co Limited. Mr de Klerk is a professional
Geoscientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific
Professions (Membership No. 400030/11). He is a member of the South
African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) and a Fellow of
the Geological Society of Africa and has sufficient experience that
is relevant to the project under consideration which he is
undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person
(“QP”) under NI 43-101.
Scientific or technical information in this
press release that relates to the geology and exploration history
of the Nampala Property was prepared or supervised by André
Bezuidenhout, a full-time employee for Micon International Co. Mr
Bezuidenhout is a Fellow of The Geological Society of London (No.
1044812) and a registered Professional Natural Scientist
(Pr.Sci.Nat. No. 008765) and has sufficient experience that is
relevant to the project under consideration which he is undertaking
to qualify as a QP under NI 43-101.
Scientific or technical information in this
press release that relates to the geological modelling and Mineral
Resources was prepared or supervised by Ryan Langdon, a full-time
employee for Micon International Co Ltd. Dr Langdon is a Fellow of
The Geological Society of London and a registered Chartered
Geologist (No. 1022491) and has sufficient experience that is
relevant to the project under consideration which he is undertaking
to qualify as a QP under NI 43-101.
Scientific or technical information in this
press release that relates to the Mineral Reserves was reviewed and
prepared by Michiel Frederik Breed, an associate of for Micon
International Co Ltd. Mr Breed is a fellow of the South African
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM), Member No. 702556 and a
Professional Engineer with Engineering Council of South Africa,
Registration No. 20130531) and has sufficient experience that is
relevant to the project under consideration which he is undertaking
to qualify as a QP under NI 43-101.
Scientific or technical information in this
press release that relates to the metallurgy and mineral processing
of the Nampala Mine was prepared or supervised by Nigel Smalley, a
full-time employee for Micon International Co Ltd. Mr Smalley is a
Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining, MIMMM
(No. 459181) and an Associate Member of the Australasian Institute
of Mining and Metallurgy (AAusIMM (No. 322114) and has sufficient
experience that is relevant to the project under consideration
which he is undertaking to qualify as a QP under NI 43-101.
Scientific or technical information in this
press release that relates to Environmental Studies, Permitting and
Social or Community Impacts was prepared or supervised by Becky
Humphrey, an associate of for Micon International Co Ltd. Ms
Humphrey is a Full Member of the Chartered Institute of
Environmental Management and Assessment (MIEMA), a Professional
Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (MIMMM)
and a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) registered with the Society
for the Environment (Registration No. 10664) and has sufficient
experience that is relevant to the project under consideration
which she is undertaking to qualify as a QP under NI 43-101.
Further details on the scientific and technical
information relating to Nampala will be provided in the technical
report for the Independent Technical Report on the Nampala,
Mininko, Gladie and Kamasso Permits and a Mineral Resource and
Reserve Estimate of the Nampala Gold Mine, Mali, West Africa which
will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com within the next 45
days.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies
of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
About Robex Resources Inc.
Robex is a multi-jurisdictional West African
gold production and development company with near-term exploration
potential. The Company is dedicated to safe, diverse and
responsible operations in the countries in which it operates with a
goal to foster sustainable growth. The Company has been operating
the Nampala mine in Mali since 2017 and is advancing the Kiniero
Gold Project in Guinea.
Robex is supported by two strategic shareholders
and has the ambition to become one of the most important mid-tier
gold producers in West Africa.
For more information
ROBEX RESOURCES INC.
Matthew Wilcox, Chief Executive Officer
Alain William, Chief Financial Officer
+1 581 741-7421
Email: investor@robexgold.com
www.robexgold.com
Forward-looking information and forward-looking
statements
This press release contains “forward-looking
information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities legislation
(“forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking
statements are included to provide information about Management’s
current expectations and plans that allows investors and others to
have a better understanding of the Company’s business plans and
financial performance and condition.
Statements made in this press release that
describe the Company’s or Management’s estimates, expectations,
forecasts, objectives, predictions, projections of the future or
strategies may be “forward-looking statements”, and can be
identified by the use of the conditional or forward-looking
terminology such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “assume”, “believe”,
“can”, “contemplate”, “continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”,
“forecast”, “future”, “guidance”, “guide”, “indication”, “intend”,
“intention”, “likely”, “may”, “might”, “objective”, “opportunity”,
“outlook”, “plan”, “potential”, “should”, “strategy”, “target”,
“will” or “would” or the negative thereof or other variations
thereon. Forward-looking statements also include any other
statements that do not refer to historical facts. Such statements
may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the
perceived merit and further potential of the Company’s properties;
the Company’s estimate of mineral resources and mineral reserves
(within the meaning ascribed to such expressions in the Definition
Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by the
Canadian Institute of Mining Metallurgy and Petroleum (“CIM
Definition Standards”) and incorporated into NI 43-101;
capital expenditures and requirements; the Company’s access to
financing (including any project finance facility); preliminary
economic assessments (within the meaning ascribed to such
expressions in NI 43-101) and other development study results;
exploration results at the Company’s properties; budgets; strategic
plans; market price of precious metals; the Company’s ability to
successfully advance the Kiniero Gold project on the basis of, and
achieve, the results projected in the feasibility study (within the
meaning ascribed to such expression in the CIM Definition Standards
incorporated into NI 43-101) with respect thereto (including
economic and production results), as the same may be updated from
time to time by the Company; the potential development and
exploitation of the Kiniero Gold Project and the Company’s existing
mineral properties and business plan, including the completion of
feasibility studies or the making of production decisions in
respect thereof; work programs; permitting or other timelines;
government regulations and relations; optimization of the Company’s
mine plan; the future financial or operating performance of the
Company and the Kiniero Gold Project; exploration potential and
opportunities at the Company’s existing properties; costs and
timing of future exploration and development of new deposits;.
Forward-looking statements and forward-looking
information are made based upon certain assumptions and other
important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially
different from future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such statements or information. There can
be no assurance that such statements or information will prove to
be accurate. Such statements and information are based on numerous
assumptions, including: the ability to execute the Company’s plans
relating to the Kiniero Gold Project as set out in the feasibility
study with respect thereto, as the same may be updated from time to
time by the Company ; the Company’s ability to reach an agreement
with the Malian authorities to establish a sustainable new tax
framework for the Company, and for the sustainable continuation of
the Company's activities and further exploration investments at
Nampala; the Company’s ability to complete its planned exploration
and development programs; the absence of adverse conditions at the
Kiniero Gold Project; the absence of unforeseen operational delays;
the absence of material delays in obtaining necessary permits; the
price of gold remaining at levels that render the Kiniero Gold
Project profitable; the Company’s ability to continue raising
necessary capital to finance its operations; the Company’s ability
to restructure the Taurus USD35 million bridge loan and adjust the
mandate to accommodate for the revised timeline of the enlarged
project; the Company’s ability to enter into definitive
documentation for the USD115 million project finance facility for
the Kiniero Gold Project (including a USD15 million cost overrun
facility) on acceptable terms or at all, and to satisfy the
conditions precedent to closing and advances thereunder (including
satisfaction of remaining customary due diligence and other
conditions and approvals); the ability to realize on the mineral
resource and mineral reserve estimates; and assumptions regarding
present and future business strategies, local and global
geopolitical and economic conditions and the environment in which
the Company operates and will operate in the future.
Certain important factors could cause the
Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements and
forward-looking information including, but not limited to:
geopolitical risks and security challenges associated with its
operations in West Africa, including the Company’s inability to
assert its rights and the possibility of civil unrest and civil
disobedience; fluctuations in the price of gold; limitations as to
the Company’s estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources;
the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; the
replacement of the Company’s depleted mineral reserves; the
Company’s limited number of projects; the risk that the Kiniero
Gold Project will never reach the production stage (including due
to a lack of financing); the Company’s capital requirements and
access to funding; changes in legislation, regulations and
accounting standards to which the Company is subject, including
environmental, health and safety standards, and the impact of such
legislation, regulations and standards on the Company’s activities;
equity interests and royalty payments payable to third parties;
price volatility and availability of commodities; instability in
the global financial system; the effects of high inflation, such as
higher commodity prices; fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
the risk of any pending or future litigation against the Company;
limitations on transactions between the Company and its foreign
subsidiaries; the risk that the listing of the Company’s shares on
the ASX is not approved and/or otherwise implemented, and even if
it is, that is fails to support the long-term growth of the
Company; volatility in the market price of the Company’s shares;
tax risks, including changes in taxation laws or assessments on the
Company; the Company’s inability to successfully defend its
positions in negotiations with the Malian authorities to establish
a new tax framework for the Company, including with respect to the
current tax contingencies in Mali; the Company obtaining and
maintaining titles to property as well as the permits and licenses
required for the Company’s ongoing operations; changes in project
parameters and/or economic assessments as plans continue to be
refined; the risk that actual costs may exceed estimated costs;
geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of
plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents,
labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in
obtaining governmental approvals or financing; the effects of
public health crises, on the Company’s activities; the Company’s
relations with its employees and other stakeholders, including
local governments and communities in the countries in which it
operates; the risk of any violations of applicable anti-corruption
laws, export control regulations, economic sanction programs and
related laws by the Company or its agents; the risk that the
Company encounters conflicts with small-scale miners; competition
with other mining companies; the Company’s dependence on
third-party contractors; the Company’s reliance on key executives
and highly skilled personnel; the Company’s access to adequate
infrastructure; the risks associated with the Company’s potential
liabilities regarding its tailings storage facilities; supply chain
disruptions; hazards and risks normally associated with mineral
exploration and gold mining development and production operations;
problems related to weather and climate; the risk of information
technology system failures and cybersecurity threats; and the risk
that the Company may not be able to insure against all the
potential risks associated with its operations.
Although the Company believes its expectations
are based upon reasonable assumptions and has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual actions, events or
results to differ materially from those described in
forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause
actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. These factors are not intended to represent a complete
and exhaustive list of the factors that could affect the Company;
however, they should be considered carefully. There can be no
assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such information.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking information if circumstances or Management’s
estimates, assumptions or opinions should change, except as
required by applicable law. The reader is cautioned not to place
undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking
information contained herein is presented for the purpose of
assisting investors in understanding the Company’s expected
financial and operational performance and results as at and for the
periods ended on the dates presented in the Company’s plans and
objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Please refer to the “Risk Factors” section of
the Company’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December
31, 2023, dated April 29, 2024, and to the “Risks and
Uncertainties” section of each of the Company’s Management’s
Discussion and Analysis dated April 29, 2024 for the years ended
December 31, 2023, and the Company’s Management’s Discussion and
Analysis dated November 29, 2024 for the three-month periods ended
September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, all of which are
available electronically on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or on the
Company’s website at www.robexgold.com All forward-looking
statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified
by this cautionary statement.
Figures accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/372b8372-904c-4afb-b149-370a7aa1bebe
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67522c9b-4ff2-4ef9-9dfa-54732e9185d5
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f4bf0bf0-c02b-449e-8a45-cbb5716dc8da
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1553f18-d685-4721-bfac-514c7b6cec79
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7469abd0-9d2d-41d7-b369-e2e62a9ee300
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7e72fcb9-d8c9-4545-89db-ef55d34eddcd
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