15 November
2024
Bezant Resources PLC
("Bezant" or the
"Company")
Hope & Gorob Mine Planning
Update
Bezant is pleased to announce that it has
commissioned Sound Mining International Limited, an independent
consultancy firm delivering integrated solutions to the minerals
industry ("Sound Mining"), to generate a technical report focusing
on the near-term development of the Hope Deposit where mining and
processing are expected to commence (the "Report").
The Report, which can be accessed from here
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/4529M_1-2024-11-15.pdf,
does not include a detailed assessment of other deposits and
targets comprising the wider Mineral Resource estimate within the
Hope & Gorob Project area.
Highlights of
the Report
·
Latest Hope pit optimisation suggests a potential 2.4Mt of
run of mine ("RoM") plant feed at a copper grade of 1.25% Cu and a
gold grade of 0.25g/t Au.
·
This represents approximately 5-year open pit operation at a
production rate of 480ktpa.
· An
operating cost estimate of US$50.80 per tonne RoM is equivalent to
an indicative cost per tonne of contained copper in concentrate of
US$5,020.
· The
Hope Deposit Underground Mineral Resource estimate of 0.9Mt RoM at
a copper grade of 2.04% Cu and a gold grade of 0.48g/t Au providing
a further 4-year life of mine potential at a production rate of
220ktpa.
·
Preliminary mine design and production scheduling at the
Gorob and Vendome Deposits indicates a further 1.01Mt RoM potential
at a copper grade of 1.28% Cu and an additional 2 years of planned
production at 480ktpa.
·
Sound Mining is currently busy producing an updated mine
design and production schedule to assist preferred contractors with
detailed planning and scheduling.
Notes:
*The grade and tonnage figures used in the Report are based on
the Hope & Gorob Updated Mineral Resource Estimate which
includes Indicated and Inferred Resources - refer to RNS dated 27
October 2023.
**Project-specific risks are outlined in the
Report.
Colin Bird,
Executive Chairman of Bezant,
commented "We would like to thank Sound Mining for their
excellent work on Hope & Gorob, bringing together the technical
aspects of the Project. Sound Mining is currently generating an
updated mine design and production schedule required by our
preferred mining contractor for detailed scheduling purposes. This
published study largely focuses on the Hope Deposit, and we are
encouraged by the projected life of mine for the open pit and
underground resource which provides ample time to undertake further
infill drilling to test the many deposits and prospects making up
the known extension to the current Hope Mineral
Resource".
On 16 October 2024 the Company announced that
it has received the notice of preparedness of the granting of
Mining Licence 246 for the Hope & Gorob copper - gold mining
project (the "Mining Licence"). The Company has now
submitted the written acceptance and is awaiting the formal
statutory approval. The Mining Licence is subject to standard terms
and conditions under the Minerals Act. In particular undertaking an
Environmental Impact Assessment, formulating for the Ministry of
Environment and Tourism approval an Environmental Management Plan
Report within six months from the date of the issue of the Mining
Licence, and ensuring representation of historically disadvantaged
Namibians. Bezant is working actively to meet these
requirements.
For further information, please
contact:
Bezant Resources Plc
Colin Bird Executive Chairman
|
|
Beaumont Cornish (Nominated Adviser)
Roland Cornish / Asia Szusciak
|
+44 (0) 20 7628 3396
|
Novum Securities Limited (Joint
Broker)
Jon Belliss
|
+44 (0) 20
7399 9400
|
Shard Capital Partners LLP (Joint
Broker)
Damon Heath
|
+44 (0) 20
7186 9952
|
or visit http://www.bezantresources.com
The information contained within this
announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside
information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU)
No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law pursuant to
the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) regulations (SI
2019/310).
Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish")
is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated
by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's
Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide
the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for
Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to
the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and
will not be responsible to any other persons for providing
protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for
advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in
this announcement or any matter referred to in it.
Qualified
Person:
Technical information in this announcement has
been reviewed by Edward (Ed) Slowey, BSc, PGeo, technical director
of Bezant Resources Plc. Mr Slowey is a graduate geologist with
more than 40 years' relevant experience in mineral exploration and
mining, a founder member of the Institute of Geologists of Ireland
and is a Qualified Person under the AIM rules. Mr Slowey has
reviewed and approved this announcement.
Ktpa = Thousands of tonnes per annum
Mt = Million tonnes
g/t = grams per tonne