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BREAKTHROUGH MINERALS LIMITED — Interim / Quarterly Report 2021
Jul 29, 2021
64579_rns_2021-07-29_18ca20b0-6e00-468e-93df-56e47117ff81.pdf
Interim / Quarterly Report
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QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT June 2021
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➢ IEC applies for ELA6305, Talowla Project at Louth, north of Cobar NSW
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➢ IEC commences joint venture discussions for potential Ni-Cu-PGE exploration in WA
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➢ Mozambique gold testing by SGS show high recovery, drill sites being surveyed
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➢ Interest in participation in coal operations from African parties
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➢ Mining Licence renewed in Tanzania
AUSTRALIAN MINERAL EXPLORATION
The Board of IEC has over the last two years decided to remove itself from fossil fuels and instead focus on gold development in Mozambique and gold/copper exploration in Australia.
There has been increased interest in the coal operations by African parties and IEC is discussing approaches for participation by interested parties.
An application has been lodged for a highly prospective lease on land at Louth, north of Cobar, NSW with drill ready targets. The lease will be 100% owned by IEC. The Talowla Project has potential for high-grade copper under shallow cover. According to Mr Kim Stanton-Cook, IEC’s consulting geologist, Talowla exhibits interesting magnetics and electromagnetics with priority drilling targets established. Mr StantonCook was involved in drilling in the area in the 70’s.
Discussions are underway with a WA exploration company for IEC to acquire a share in the exploration of a very interesting Ni-Cu-PGE project in WA which application is currently pending.
Further concessions are being reviewed in Australia. For the last two years IEC has been evaluating prime opportunities in exploration properties in Australia to supplement its interests in the Mozambique gold project. The focus is on gold, copper and nickel minerals.
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Quarterly Report to Shareholders – June 2021
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MOZAMBIQUE GOLD
Intrafrican Resources Limited (“Intrafrican”), a fully owned subsidiary of Intra Energy Corporation Limited ("IEC" or "the Company") registered in Mauritius has invested in Intra Minerals Limited (“IML“), a company registered in Mauritius. Intrafrican currently owns 15% of IML which is the 95% owner of the Lurio Gold Project in Mozambique. Intrafrican is looking to increase its equity in IML by private placement and to also enable IML to continue the exploration programme in the Minas do Lurio Gold Project in Mozambique with a targeted drilling campaign.
Page | 2 Corporate Head Office:Level 40, 2 Park Street, Sydney 2000 AUSTRALIA Quarterly Report to Shareholders – June 2021
www.intraenergycorp.com.au
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Considerable work has been completed to define the drilling campaign with substantial cost reduction. Due to the focussed nature of the drilling, costs have been reduced from US$1.3 Million to US$400,000. An additional US$200,000 will be necessary for the purchase of small dredges to enable commencement of trial mining activities in 2022.
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Photo of the potential 'Muteger' gold trap in the Lurio River subject to exploration and dredging
An independent expert, Benedikt Steiner (CGeol EurGeol) retained by IML to advise on the project has completed a non-JORC technical report. Mr Steiner comments that the project represents a significant first-mover opportunity into a previously unrecognised gold mineralisation trend along the Neoproterozoic Lúrio Belt. Prospecting and early stage exploration campaigns during 2017-2020 have confirmed a shallow exploration target at the Savane locality. Multiple alluvial and eluvial occurrences of free and refractory gold, as well as structurally-controlled bedrock mineralisation are hosted in quartz veins and occur in deformed granulites and granulitic gneisses. The stacked, 2-7 cm wide quartz veins are generally shallowly (10-20°) dipping and predominantly occur along open East-West trending structural corridors, defined by the intersection of regional shear and thrust faults.
Corporate Head Office:Level 40, 2 Park Street, Sydney 2000 AUSTRALIA
Page | 3 Quarterly Report to Shareholders – June 2021
www.intraenergycorp.com.au
Summary
High Conviction, De-Risked Gold Investment Opportunity in Mozambique
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Significant first mover opportunity in Mozambique into a previously
unrecognised gold mineralisation trend along the Neoproterozoic Lúrio Belt
Prospecting and exploration activities confirmed the presence of significant
gold occurrences in at least 6 alluvial and hard rock target areas, with
additional targets defined by airborne geophysics and artisanal activity
Shallowly dipping quartz-gold veins represent a possible low cost, low
stripping ratio, open pit mining target in addition to an alluvial operation
Existing mobile mineral processing plant and equipment support the sampling,
crushing and screening of gold bearing materials for early exploration results
Solid project fundamentals, including geology, grades, infrastructure and
committed management team support a consequent progression of the
project through the mining development curve
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FROM FOSSIL FUEL TO MINERALS
Over the last two years, the Board of IEC has proceeded to remove the company from coal mining and instead develop gold and other minerals in Mozambique and gold/copper/nickel exploration and development in Australia.
In doing this the Board has acknowledged that global warming and climate change are very real and definable threats to the future of human society and that a reduction in carbon emissions are essential. However, it also acknowledges that the major players in the release of carbon are the wealthy industrialised nations and that less-developed economies should not be penalised in the utilisation of fossil fuels, particularly in support of industrialisation and consequent poverty alleviation. The operations of the Tancoal Energy coal mine in Tanzania remains important to East African progress and IEC will endeavour to work with parties prepared to support the continued operation of the mining operations, while proceeding to develop mineral mining operations and reducing its carbon footprint.
Corporate Head Office:Level 40, 2 Park Street, Sydney 2000 AUSTRALIA
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Quarterly Report to Shareholders – June 2021
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TANCOAL ENERGY
The Tancoal min in Tanzania, 70% owned by Intra Energy (Tanzania) Limited (IETL), ), a wholly owned subsidiary of IEC, and 30% by the National Development Corporation of Tanzania (NDC) has traditionally been the largest operational coal mine in Tanzania and East Africa and is exclusively manned by Tanzanians
It has suffered a decline in production and sales volume due to competition from other regional mines and the effect of the pandemic.
Tancoal Production and Sales
| Quarter Ended | Quarter Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun-21 | Jun-20 | Var (%) |
|
| Overburden Stripped (bcm) | 181,999 | 370,518 | -50.88% |
| Coal mined (tonnes) | 56,981 | 75,619 | -24.65% |
| Sold (tonnes) | 52,617 | 82,471 | -36.20% |
Production and sales have been solely from the Tancoal Mine.
IEC Group quarterly sales volumes (as a percentage) by country
| Quarter Ended | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun-21 | Jun-20 | ||
| Tanzania | 79.81% | 69.60% | |
| Kenya | - | 14.92% | |
| Rwanda | 10.03% | 9.76% | |
| Uganda | 10.16% | 5.72% |
Covid-19 has restricted supplies into Kenya.
IEC Group quarterly sales volumes (as a percentage) by industry
| Quarter Ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun-21 | Jun-20 | |||
| Cement | 85.01% | 51.48% | ||
| Ceramics | - | 35.70% | ||
| Textiles | 6.60% | 2.30% | ||
| Other | 8.39% | 10.52% |
The major Tancoal Mining Lease was approved and issued by the Mining Commission in July 2021 for a period of 10 years.
Corporate Head Office:Level 40, 2 Park Street, Sydney 2000 AUSTRALIA
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EXPLORATION
Emphasis on exploration in Australia has been to establish Exploration Rights over properties considered to be attractive prospects and to define an overall development plan. A ground survey and historical research of the Talowla Project in NSW will be undertaken in August and negotiations with the proposed joint venture in WA for potential Ni-Cu-AU-PGE resources should be completed shortly. Further properties are under discussion with the aim of having an interesting group of exceptional targets by end 2021.
Coal exploration is concentrated on tenements being maintained in good standing and supporting mine development work.
CORPORATE
During April Mr Benjamin Dunn acquired 10,000,000 shares from a private placement in IEC and has joined the Board of Directors (announced on 22[nd] April, 2021). Mr Dunn has a legal background and has extensive experience in fund raising. He is primarily interested in developing Australian activities for IEC in the exploration and development of mineral resources.
During April, IEC granted the exclusive right to a credible firm interested in doing due diligence on IETL to determine areas of mutual interest. USD100,000 was paid to secure provision of the exclusive right as well as total and complete confidentiality. The work has taken longer than expected and, in the meantime, other parties have expressed interest in discussing opportunities with Tancoal. The Board has determined to continue discussions to reach a confirmed and tangible outcome within a defined time frame.
| Cashflow | Year to Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Current Quarter | (12 months) | |
| A$ ‘000 | A$ ‘000 | |
| Cash at beginning of the Quarter | (377) | (965) |
| Operating | (16) | 1,834 |
| Investing | 447 | 396 |
| Financing | (264) | (1,551) |
| Exchange Rate Adjustments | (10) | 66 |
| Cash at end of Quarter | (220) | (220) |
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The appeal of the TRA assessment of VAT to Tancoal, from the commencement of mining to June 2015 of approx. 3 million US dollars of which approx. 50% is interest and penalties, is ongoing.
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The tax investigation unit of the TRA has commenced an audit from the incorporation of the company to the current period, the investigation is ongoing.
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In January 2020, the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (“PCCB“) commenced an investigation into Tancoal covering the period from the start of the company. Tancoal has not been advised of the reason for the investigation and has provided all documents as requested, the investigation is ongoing.
Corporate Head Office:Level 40, 2 Park Street, Sydney 2000 AUSTRALIA
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- The High Court of Tanzania (Commercial Division) in the NBC Bank case ruled in favour of Tancoal (refer ASX announcement 8 April 2019). NBC referred an appeal to the Court of Appeal of Tanzania and all the preliminary steps and processes have been done. The case now awaits a Summons for the date the hearing of the appeal will commence.
Community
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The Mbalawala Women’s Organisation (“MWO”) in Tanzania that has been supported by the company for many years continues to go from strength to strength as their operations expand with the growth of the mine.
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Tancoal’s Corporate Social Responsibility (“CSR”) plan for 2021 has been submitted.
OUTLOOK
In the Quarter under review, and in accordance with IEC policy, substantial progress was made in developing a portfolio of attractive exploration properties for mineral development in Australia. Application was lodged for the Talowla Project near Louth, north of Cobar, based on very attractive data demonstrating similar structure to the Cobar region. Discussions were also held with several organisations with exploration properties and evaluations developed to be able to process the most inviting for further negotiations.
Further survey work to define drilling targets in the Minas do Lurio concession in Mozambique and meetings to refine drilling costs to a minimum for initial resource definition were undertaken during the period. Coal production in Tanzania unfortunately continued to decline from a combination of cement kiln shutdowns for maintenance, Covid restrictions at border crossings and increased price competition domestically. It is expected that this situation will continue for a period. In July IEC was very pleased to have the Tancoal Mining Licence renewed for the next ten years. Several parties have expressed interest in participating with Tancoal in its mining operations and these discussions are continuing.
For further information please contact:
Shareholder Enquiries
Ben Dunn Managing Director Intra Energy Corporation Limited [email protected] www.intraenergycorp.com.au
Corporate Head Office:Level 40, 2 Park Street, Sydney 2000 AUSTRALIA
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IEC - SCHEDULE OF MINING AND PROSPECTING TENEMENTS
| IEC - SCHEDULE OF MINING AND PROSPECTING TENEMENTS | IEC - SCHEDULE OF MINING AND PROSPECTING TENEMENTS | IEC - SCHEDULE OF MINING AND PROSPECTING TENEMENTS | IEC - SCHEDULE OF MINING AND PROSPECTING TENEMENTS | IEC - SCHEDULE OF MINING AND PROSPECTING TENEMENTS | IEC - SCHEDULE OF MINING AND PROSPECTING TENEMENTS | IEC - SCHEDULE OF MINING AND PROSPECTING TENEMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenement ID | Country | Company | % Ownership |
Locality | Minerals | Status |
| PL 7620/2012 | Tanzania | Tancoal | 100 | Mbuyura/Mkapa | coal | 2ndRenewal pending |
| PL 7713/2012 | Tanzania | Tancoal | 100 | Mhukuru | coal | Active |
| PL 8999/2013 | Tanzania | Tancoal | 100 | Mbalawala East | coal | Active |
| ML 439/2011 | Tanzania | Tancoal | 100 | Tancoal | coal | Active |
| PL 7391/2011 | Tanzania | Tancoal | 100 | Mbalawala | coal | 2ndRenewal pending |
| ML610/20 | Tanzania | Tancoal | 100 | Mbalawala | coal | Active |
| PL 11156/2017 | Tanzania | Tancoal | 100 | Mbinga/Ruvuma | coal | Pending Renewal |
| PL 11086/2016 | Tanzania | Tancoal | 100 | Mbinga/Ruvuma | coal | Application recommended |
| PL 13996/2019 | Tanzania | Tancoal | 100 | Mbinga/Ruvuma | coal | Application recommended |
| PL 10116/14 | Tanzania | Tanzacoal | 100 | Songwe/Kiwira | coal | Active |
| Australia | IEC | 100 | Louth/NSW | Gold | Application pending |
Tancoal is owned 70% by IEC
Corporate Head Office:Level 40, 2 Park Street, Sydney 2000 AUSTRALIA
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