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ENERGY TRANSITION MINERALS LTD Capital/Financing Update 2019

Jul 8, 2019

64879_rns_2019-07-08_e1318791-11f9-4b48-b68e-69ee479e04aa.pdf

Capital/Financing Update

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ASX: GGG
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Company Announcement, July 9[th] , 2019

Kvanefjeld Optimised Feasibility Study: Substantial 40% Capital Cost Reduction

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Capital costs reduced by ~40% to US$505M, inclusive of refinery circuit

  • Rare earth production increased by 8%, inclusive of 5,692t NdPr, 270t Dy, 44t Tb oxides

  • Initial 37‐year mine life based on 108Mt ore reserve estimate

  • Industry leading capital intensity complements very low operating costs

Dr John Mair, Managing Director commented:

“With the completion of an outstanding optimisation program, we have a project with a smaller footprint producing more rare earths at lower operating costs, which requires significantly less capital for development.

The 40% reduction in the capital cost estimate together with the increased projected output over an initial 37‐year mine life results in the lowest capital intensity amongst our peers.

The optimised capital costs, when considered with operating costs after credits of below US$4/kg of rare earth oxide, creates a highly robust project and compelling development opportunity; a strong result for both Company shareholders and project stakeholders.”

Greenland Minerals Ltd (‘GML’ or ‘the Company’) is pleased to provide an updated capital cost estimate for the Kvanefjeld Project (the Project). The Project’s capital cost estimate has been reduced by 40% from US$832M (Company Announcement April 6[th] , 2016) to US$505M . The Kvanefjeld Project, 100% owned by GML, is underpinned by the largest code‐compliant (JORC or CIM) rare earth resource globally.

The reduction in the capital cost estimate is the result of optimisation studies covering all elements of the Project from the flowsheet to civil construction. The results of individual optimisation studies have been the subject of progressive updates to the market since 2016.

PERTH : Unit 7, 100 Railway Road, Subiaco Western Australia 6008 POSTAL : PO Box 2006, Subiaco WA 6904 Telephone: +61 8 9382 2322 Facsimile: +61 8 9382 2788 GREENLAND : PO Box 156, Narsaq, Greenland 3921 WEB : www.ggg.gl EMAIL : [email protected] ABN : 85 118 463 004

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Improvements to the flowsheet include a major enhancement to flotation performance (the production of smaller volumes of higher‐grade concentrate) and the development of a simpler, more efficient leaching circuit. These improvements have been developed in close collaboration with the Company’s major shareholder, leading rare earth company Shenghe Resources Holding Co Ltd (Shenghe). In combination, these developments significantly reduce the scale of the refinery circuit resulting in substantial cost reductions.

Civil engineering design and construction costs were also a major focus of optimisation studies. A multi‐disciplinary team of specialist engineering firms including Nuna Logistics, Tetra Tech, PND Engineers and China Communications Construction Co. has contributed to an updated civil design with constructions costs reduced substantially (Company announcement March 26, 2019).

The updated capital cost of US$505M is transformational for the Project which now has the lowest capital intensity of emerging ASX‐listed rare earth projects.

In August 2018, GML and Shenghe entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) addressing commercialisation of the Kvanefjeld Project. The MoU (non‐binding) addressed rare earth separation, off‐take and marketing, and project finance. Shenghe is an established producer of high‐purity rare earth oxides and metals with an international customer network (Company announcement August 21[st] , 2018).

Kvanefjeld’s standing as a world‐class rare earth project is bolstered by the new capital cost estimate, the recently announced revised operating costs, the Project’s potential multi‐decade duration and the globally significant production numbers.

Optimised Feasibility Summary

The Company released its Feasibility Study in 2016 (the Study). The Study was the last major Project study completed by the Company before Shenghe became a major shareholder. Since becoming a major shareholder, Shenghe has worked closely with the Company on the development and execution of the Company’s Study optimisation program.

A summary of the results of this optimisation program is set out below.

Process Plant

The Project’s main rare earth bearing mineral is steenstrupine which contains 25‐30% REO. In the 2016 Study the concentrator produced a mineral concentrate containing 14% rare earth oxide (REO). A key focus of the optimisation programme was to produce a smaller volume of a higher‐grade concentrate. With the guidance of Shenghe, metallurgical flotation specialist groups in China were engaged and these groups have developed an optimised flotation circuit producing rare earth mineral concentrates with grades in the range of 22 ‐ 25% REO. For the purposes of engineering design a concentrate grade of 22% was used.

PERTH : Unit 7, 100 Railway Road, Subiaco Western Australia 6008 POSTAL : PO Box 2006, Subiaco WA 6904 Telephone: +61 8 9382 2322 Facsimile: +61 8 9382 2788 GREENLAND : PO Box 156, Narsaq, Greenland 3921 WEB : www.ggg.gl EMAIL : [email protected] ABN : 85 118 463 004

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In addition, the method of concentrate refining has been simplified. The refinery now includes a single stage circuit and fewer solid‐liquid separation steps. The higher concentrate grade and the simplification of the refinery circuit has resulted in a reduction of the scale of the refinery circuit and the size of processing equipment in the refinery.

Technical developments arising out of the optimisation program have been summarised in a series of Company Announcements, inclusive of JORC Table 1 details (December 20, 2017; January 15, 2018; July 11, 2018; January 10, 2019).

Engineering design work for the optimised concentrator and refinery circuits has been completed and operating and capital costs have been updated.

Contributing Groups:

  • Shenghe Resources Holding Co Ltd

  • Baotou Meng Rong Fine Materials Co Ltd (BTMR)

  • Institute of Multipurpose Use of Mineral Resources (IMUMR)

  • SGS Minerals Metallurgy (Perth)

  • ALS Global (Perth)

  • ANSTO (Sydney)

Civil Construction

In the 2016 Study, civil construction costs represented a large proportion of overall capital costs. Another key focus of the Company’s optimisation programme was the reduction of construction costs in the civil design and project layout.

Nuna Logistics, cold climate civil construction specialists, have developed an updated estimate of civil construction costs based upon updated designs by Tetra Tech, PND Engineers and China‐CCC. Representatives from all four engineering firms visited the Project site in 2018 to gather site specific information to assess the project (Company announcement ‐ September 18[th] , 2018).

Cost reductions were primarily achieved through substantial reductions in civil earth works for site preparation (Company announcement October 22[nd] , 2018) updated port design by specialist groups, and greater use of local materials. The revised civil costs were reduced to US$175M including indirect costs and contingency. This is a reduction of US$138M (‐44%) of the civil construction cost estimate in the 2016 Feasibility Study (Company announcement March 26[th] , 2019).

The Company elected to use Nuna in the optimisation studies because of their cold climate experience, their excellent track record of involving the local community and their record of creating a positive legacy with all stakeholders.

PERTH : Unit 7, 100 Railway Road, Subiaco Western Australia 6008 POSTAL : PO Box 2006, Subiaco WA 6904 Telephone: +61 8 9382 2322 Facsimile: +61 8 9382 2788 GREENLAND : PO Box 156, Narsaq, Greenland 3921 WEB : www.ggg.gl EMAIL : [email protected] ABN : 85 118 463 004

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Port

Direct shipping access is a key advantage for the Kvanefjeld Project, and efficient port facilities are important for year‐round materials handling and transfer. PND Engineers and China‐CCC have developed a new capital cost estimate for Project’s dedicated port facility. PND Engineers, specialists in cold climate port design, developed the design for the off‐shore aspects of the port facility. C‐CCC, that bring global port design expertise, provided the on‐shore elements of the port design.

Production Profile

The optimisation programmes in the process plant have increased rare earth production by approximately 8% to approximately 32,000 tpa of REO. The Project will be a major producer of rare earths, particularly the “magnet metals” ‐ Neodymium, Praseodymium, Terbium, and Dysprosium – which are critical to clean energy generation and efficient energy use. Of the increased production approximately 6,000t will be “magnet metals”.

Table 1 shows details of estimated annual “magnet metal” production after optimisation.

Table 1

Rare Earth Annual Production ‐t
Praseodymium ~1,400
Neodymium ~4,300
Terbium ~45
Dysprosium ~270

Capital Cost Estimate

Table 2 summarises the capital cost estimate after the incorporation of the results of the various optimisation studies. The costs are as of Q2 2019.

Table 2

Cost Classification **US$M **
Direct Capital Costs 380
Indirect Costs for Construction 61
Contingency (AccuracyProvision) 64
Total Investment Cost 505

Direct capital costs include the costs of equipment, installation labour, mobilisation and demobilisation of construction crews and commissioning. Table 3 presents a breakdown of direct costs by major project area

PERTH : Unit 7, 100 Railway Road, Subiaco Western Australia 6008 POSTAL : PO Box 2006, Subiaco WA 6904 Telephone: +61 8 9382 2322 Facsimile: +61 8 9382 2788 GREENLAND : PO Box 156, Narsaq, Greenland 3921 WEB : www.ggg.gl EMAIL : [email protected] ABN : 85 118 463 004

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Table 3

Direct Cost Area **US$M **
MiningArea 54.3
Concentrator Process Plant 142.4
RefineryProcess Plant 62.7
Tailings Facilities 27.7
Infrastructure 46.3
Utilities 4.2
Miscellaneous 42.2

Indirect costs have been estimated for temporary construction facilities and for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) management.

A contingency of 15% was applied to both direct and indirect costs.

Using current spot prices for REO’s as of July 4[th] 2019, the basket price for project intermediate product is $15.32/kg REO . This basket price has been calculated using REE data from ACREI – the Association of China Rare Earth Industry. ACREI post daily prices in RMB for all REE which have been converted to USD at the daily prevailing exchange rate. The basket price has increased by 16%, since the Company announcement updating the project operating costs, released on May 15[th] , 2019.

Using GML’s forecast REE prices , the basket price for project intermediate product is $19.55/kg REO. This basket price has been calculated using REE data from ACREI and independent industry consultant Adamas Intelligence. Forecast prices for the “magnet metals” – Nd, Pr, Tb and Dy – have been taken from the latest industry report prepared by Adamas Intelligence and, for all other REE, the current spot prices have been used in the calculation.

‐ENDS‐

PERTH : Unit 7, 100 Railway Road, Subiaco Western Australia 6008 POSTAL : PO Box 2006, Subiaco WA 6904 Telephone: +61 8 9382 2322 Facsimile: +61 8 9382 2788 GREENLAND : PO Box 156, Narsaq, Greenland 3921 WEB : www.ggg.gl EMAIL : [email protected] ABN : 85 118 463 004

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ABOUT GREENLAND MINERALS LTD.

Greenland Minerals Ltd (ASX: GGG) is an exploration and development company focused on developing high‐quality mineral projects in Greenland. The Company’s flagship project is the Kvanefjeld Rare Earth Project (rare earth elements, uranium, zinc). A pre‐feasibility study was finalised in 2012, and a comprehensive feasibility study was completed in 2015 and updated following pilot plant operations in 2016. The studies highlight the potential to develop Kvanefjeld as a long‐life, low cost, and large‐scale producer of rare earth elements; key enablers to the electrification of transport systems.

GML is working closely with major shareholder and strategic partner Shenghe Resources Holding Co Ltd to develop Kvanefjeld as a cornerstone of future rare earth supply. An exploitation (mining) license application for the initial development strategy was reviewed by the Greenland Government through 2016 ‐17 and was updated in 2018 following addition supporting studies.

In 2017‐19, GML undertook technical work programs with Shenghe Resources Holding Co Ltd that improved the metallurgical performance and simplified the development strategy and infrastructure footprint in Greenland. This will enhance the project cost‐structure and ensure that Kvanefjeld is aligned with downstream processing. In addition, the Company continues its focus on working closely with Greenland’s regulatory bodies on the processing of the mining license application and maintaining regular stakeholder updates.

Dr John Mair Christian Olesen
Managing Director Rostra Communication
+61 8 9382 2322 +45 3336 0429

Greenland Minerals Ltd will continue to advance the Kvanefjeld project in a manner that is in accord with both Greenlandic Government and local community expectations and looks forward to being part of continued stakeholder discussions on the social and economic benefits associated with the development of the Kvanefjeld Project.

Competent Person Statement – Mineral Resources Ore Reserves and Metallurgy

The information in this report that relates to Mineral Resources is based on information compiled by Mr Robin Simpson, a Competent Person who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Simpson is employed by SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd (“SRK”) and was engaged by Greenland Minerals Ltd on the basis of SRK’s normal professional daily rates. SRK has no beneficial interest in the outcome of the technical assessment being capable of affecting its independence. Mr Simpson has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’. Robin Simpson consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in the statement that relates to the Ore Reserves Estimate is based on work completed or accepted by Mr Damien Krebs of Greenland Minerals Ltd and Mr Scott McEwing of SRK Consulting (Australasia) Pty Ltd. The information in this report that relates to metallurgy is based on information compiled by Damien Krebs.

Damien Krebs is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the type of metallurgy and scale of project under consideration, and to the activity he is undertaking, to qualify as Competent Persons in terms of The Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code, 2012 edition). The Competent Persons consent to the inclusion of such information in this report in the form and context in which it appears.

Scott McEwing is a Fellow and Chartered Professional of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activity he is undertaking, to qualify as Competent Persons in terms of The Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code, 2012 edition). The Competent Persons consent to the inclusion of such information in this report in the form and context in which it appears.

The mineral resource estimate for the Kvanefjeld Project was updated and released in a Company Announcement on February 12[th] , 2015. The ore reserve estimate was released in a Company Announcement on June 3[rd] , 2015. There have been no material changes to the resource estimate, or ore reserve since the release of these announcements.

PERTH : Unit 7, 100 Railway Road, Subiaco Western Australia 6008 POSTAL : PO Box 2006, Subiaco WA 6904 Telephone: +61 8 9382 2322 Facsimile: +61 8 9382 2788 GREENLAND : PO Box 156, Narsaq, Greenland 3921 WEB : www.ggg.gl EMAIL : [email protected] ABN : 85 118 463 004

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Statement of Identified Mineral Resources, Kvanefjeld Project, Independently Prepared by SRK Consulting (February, 2015)

Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Contained Metal Contained Metal Contained Metal
Cut‐off Classification M tonnes TREO2 U3O8 LREO HREO REO Y2O3 Zn TREO HREO Y2O3 U3O8 Zn
(U3O8ppm)1 Mt ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm Mt Mt Mt M lbs Mt
Kvanefjeld ‐ February 2015
150 Measured 143 12,100 303 10,700 432 11,100 978 2,370 1.72 0.06 0.14 95.21 0.34
150 Indicated 308 11,100 253 9,800 411 10,200 899 2,290 3.42 0.13 0.28 171.97 0.71
150 Inferred 222 10,000 205 8,800 365 9,200 793 2,180 2.22 0.08 0.18 100.45 0.48
150 Total 673 10,900 248 9,600 400 10,000 881 2,270 7.34 0.27 0.59 368.02 1.53
200 Measured 111 12,900 341 11,400 454 11,800 1,048 2,460 1.43 0.05 0.12 83.19 0.27
200 Indicated 172 12,300 318 10,900 416 11,300 970 2,510 2.11 0.07 0.17 120.44 0.43
200 Inferred 86 10,900 256 9,700 339 10,000 804 2,500 0.94 0.03 0.07 48.55 0.22
200 Total 368 12,100 310 10,700 409 11,200 955 2,490 4.46 0.15 0.35 251.83 0.92
250 Measured 93 13,300 363 11,800 474 12,200 1,105 2,480 1.24 0.04 0.10 74.56 0.23
250 Indicated 134 12,800 345 11,300 437 11,700 1,027 2,520 1.72 0.06 0.14 101.92 0.34
250 Inferred 34 12,000 306 10,800 356 11,100 869 2,650 0.41 0.01 0.03 22.91 0.09
250 Total 261 12,900 346 11,400 440 11,800 1,034 2,520 3.37 0.11 0.27 199.18 0.66
300 Measured 78 13,700 379 12,000 493 12,500 1,153 2,500 1.07 0.04 0.09 65.39 0.20
300 Indicated 100 13,300 368 11,700 465 12,200 1,095 2,540 1.34 0.05 0.11 81.52 0.26
300 Inferred 15 13,200 353 11,800 391 12,200 955 2,620 0.20 0.01 0.01 11.96 0.04
300 Total 194 13,400 371 11,900 471 12,300 1,107 2,530 2.60 0.09 0.21 158.77 0.49
350 Measured 54 14,100 403 12,400 518 12,900 1,219 2,550 0.76 0.03 0.07 47.59 0.14
350 Indicated 63 13,900 394 12,200 505 12,700 1,191 2,580 0.87 0.03 0.07 54.30 0.16
350 Inferred 6 13,900 392 12,500 424 12,900 1,037 2,650 0.09 0.00 0.01 5.51 0.02
350 Total 122 14,000 398 12,300 506 12,800 1,195 2,570 1.71 0.06 0.15 107.45 0.31

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Statement of Identified Mineral Resources, Kvanefjeld Project, Independently Prepared by SRK Consulting (February, 2015)

Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Multi‐Element Resources Classification, Tonnage and Grade Contained Metal Contained Metal Contained Metal
Cut‐off Classification
M tonnes

TREO2
U3O8 LREO HREO REO Y2O3 Zn TREO HREO Y2O3 U3O8 Zn
(U3O8ppm)1 Mt ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm
Mt
Mt Mt M lbs Mt
Sørensen ‐ March 2012
150 Inferred 242 11,000
304
9,700
398
10,100
895
2,602
2.67
0.10 0.22 162.18 0.63
200 Inferred 186 11,600
344
10,200
399
10,600
932
2,802
2.15
0.07 0.17 141.28 0.52
250 Inferred 148 11,800
375
10,500
407
10,900
961
2,932
1.75
0.06 0.14 122.55 0.43
300 Inferred 119 12,100
400
10,700
414
11,100
983
3,023
1.44
0.05 0.12 105.23 0.36
350 Inferred 92 12,400
422
11,000
422
11,400
1,004
3,080
1.14
0.04 0.09 85.48 0.28
Zone 3 ‐ May 2012
150 Inferred 95 11,600
300
10,200
396
10,600
971
2,768
1.11
0.04 0.09 63.00 0.26
200 Inferred 89 11,700
310
10,300
400
10,700
989
2,806
1.03
0.04 0.09 60.00 0.25
250 Inferred 71 11,900
330
10,500
410
10,900
1,026
2,902
0.84
0.03 0.07 51.00 0.20
300 Inferred 47 12,400
358
10,900
433
11,300
1,087
3,008
0.58
0.02 0.05 37.00 0.14
350 Inferred 24 13,000
392
11,400
471
11,900
1,184
3,043
0.31
0.01 0.03 21.00 0.07
All Deposits – Grand Total
150 Measured 143 12,100
303
10,700
432
11,100
978
2,370
1.72
0.06 0.14 95.21 0.34
150 Indicated 308 11,100
253
9,800
411
10,200
899
2,290
3.42
0.13 0.28 171.97 0.71
150 Inferred 559 10,700
264
9,400
384
9,800
867
2,463
6.00
0.22 0.49 325.66 1.38
150 Grand Total 1010 11,000
266
9,700
399
10,100
893
2,397
11.14
0.40 0.90 592.84 2.42

1 There is greater coverage of assays for uranium than other elements owing to historic spectral assays. U3O8 has therefore been used to define the cutoff grades to maximise the confidence in the resource calculations. 2Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) refers to the rare earth elements in the lanthanide series plus yttrium.

Note: Figures quoted may not sum due to rounding.

Kvanefjeld Ore Reserves Estimate – April 2015

Class Inventory (Mt) TREO (ppm) LREO (ppm) HREO (ppm) Y2O3 (ppm) U3O8 (ppm) Zn (ppm)
Proven 43 14,700 13,000 500 1,113 352 2,700
Probable 64 14,000 12,500 490 1,122 368 2,500
Total 108 14,300 12,700 495 1,118 362 2,600