ASX/AIM RELEASE
4
SEPTEMBER 2024
MCB Project receives Certification
for compliance with FPIC
Process
HIGHLIGHTS
· The
Philippine National Commission on Indigenous Peoples has issued a
Certification Precondition confirming that Free, Prior, and
Informed Consent was obtained from the Balatoc Indigenous Cultural
Community for the MCB Project.
· It is the
first Certification Precondition for a Copper Gold project to be
issued in the Philippines in the last 5 years.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Celsius Resources Limited
("CLA" or "Celsius") (ASX, AIM: CLA) is
pleased to announce that its Philippine affiliate, Makilala Mining
Company, Inc. ("MMCI
or the "Company"), has been issued a
Certification Precondition ("CP") from the
Philippine National Commission on Indigenous Peoples ("NCIP") for its
flagship Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog Copper-Gold Project
("MCB" or the
"Project").
As the government agency mandated to
protect the rights of indigenous peoples, the NCIP ascertains that
the collective decision of the Balatoc Indigenous Cultural
Community ("ICC") has been
obtained with respect to their right to self-determination over
their ancestral lands. The NCIP En Banc also reviewed and evaluated
the Free, Prior and Informed Consent ("FPIC") process to ensure that it was
observed in accordance with Republic Act No. 8371, or the
Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act ("IPRA") of 1997[1].
The Certification Precondition
(CP-CAR-2024-504, issued on 4 September 2024), is the culmination
of a ~3-year process which entailed extensive stakeholder
engagement resulting in a Memorandum of Agreement signed by and
between MMCI, the Balatoc ICC, and NCIP stipulating the
benefits, commitments, and obligations of all parties during the
life of the MCB mine.[2]
Celsius Executive Chairman Atty.
Julito R. Sarmiento, said:
"This is arguably one of the most stringent approval
milestones for a new project to achieve. It has always been the
Company's commitment to observance and respect for the customary
laws and practices of the Balatoc ICC throughout the FPIC process
as an integral part of obtaining and strengthening our social
license. We are grateful that the NCIP En Banc recognised the value
and contribution of the MCB Project to improve the lives of the
Balatoc ICC. The issuance of the Certification Precondition is not
only an achievement for the Company, it is also a milestone for the
Balatoc ICC as our partner in the development and operation of the
MCB Project."
Next Steps
The Certification Precondition is
one of the compliance requirements under the Mineral Production
Sharing Agreement with the Philippine Government as prescribed
under Republic Act 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of
1995[3] and one of the outstanding commitments
under the MPSA[4].
With the issuance of the Certificate
Precondition, the only remaining requirement is to submit
additional proof of financial capability to carry out the necessary
work programs. The CP now allows management to finalise
arrangements with interested Philippine and international investors
for funding the MCB Project. These discussions had been delayed,
awaiting the issuance of the Certification Precondition.
MCB
COPPER-GOLD PROJECT
The MCB Copper-Gold Project (MCB) is
located in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the Philippines,
approximately 320km north of Manila (Figure 1). It is the flagship
project within the Makilala portfolio which also contains other key
prospects in the pipeline for permit renewal/extension.
A maiden JORC Compliant Mineral
Resource Estimate was declared for the MCB Project in January 2021,
comprising 313.8 million tonnes @ 0.48% copper and 0.15g/t gold,
for 1.5 million tonnes of contained copper and 1.47 million ounces
of gold, of which 290.3 million tonnes @ 0.48% copper and 0.15 g/t
gold is classified as Indicated and 23.5 million tonnes @ 0.48%
copper and 0.10 g/t gold is classified as Inferred.
An updated JORC compliant Mineral
Resource Estimate was announced for the MCB Project on 12 December
2022, comprising 338 million tonnes @ 0.47% copper and 0.12 g/t
gold, for a total of 1.6 million tonnes of contained copper and 1.3
million ounces of gold, of which 249 million tonnes @ 0.44% copper
and 0.11 g/t gold is classified as Indicated, 42 million tonnes @
0.52% copper and 0.11 g/t gold is classified as Inferred, and 47
million tonnes @ 0.59% copper and 0.19 g/t gold is classified as
Measured.
A Study for the MCB Project was
announced by CLA on 1 December 2021, which identified the potential
for the development of a copper-gold operation with a 25-year mine
life. The Study was based on an underground mining operation and
processing facility to produce a saleable copper-gold
concentrate.
Highlights from the Study include a
Post tax NPV (8%) of US$464m and IRR of
31%, assuming a copper price of US$4.00/lb and gold price of
US$1,695/oz. Initial capital expenditure is estimated to be US$253m
with a payback period of approximately 2.7 years. The designed mine
production is matched to a 2.28Mtpa processing plant which will
treat ore with an estimated average grade of 1.14% copper and
0.54g/t gold for the first 10 years of planned production with a
C1[5] cash costs at
just US$0.73/lb copper, net of gold credits.
Figure 1.
Location of the
MCB Project in the province of Kalinga, Northern Luzon,
Philippines.
This announcement has been authorised by the Board of
Directors of Celsius Resources Limited.
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 by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Listing Rule 5.19 and 5.23 Disclosure
The Mineral Resource Estimate for
the MCB Project was disclosed in the Company's ASX announcement
dated 12 December 2022 titled "Updated Mineral Resource for
Celsius' MCB Copper-Gold Project". The Company confirms that it is
not aware of any new information or data that relates to
Exploration Results and Mineral Resources at the MCB Project and
that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning
the Mineral Resource continue to apply.
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements appearing in
this announcement may be in the nature of forward-looking
statements. You should be aware that such statements are only
predictions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties.
Those risks and uncertainties include factors and risks specific to
the industries in which the Company operates and proposes to
operate as well as general economic conditions, prevailing exchange
rates and interest rates and conditions in the financial markets,
among other things. Actual events or results may differ materially
from the events or results expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statement.
No forward-looking statement is a
guarantee or representation as to future performance or any other
future matters, which will be influenced by a number of factors and
subject to various uncertainties and contingencies, many of which
will be outside the Company's control.
The Company does not undertake any
obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after
today's date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to
the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the
information, opinions or conclusions contained in this
announcement. To the maximum extent permitted by law, none of the
Company's Directors, employees, advisors, or agents, nor any other
person, accepts any liability for any loss arising from the use of
the information contained in this announcement. You are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The
forward-looking statements in this announcement reflect views held
only as at the date of this announcement.
Celsius Resources Contact
Information
Level 5, 191 St. Georges
Terrace
Perth WA 6000
PO Box 7059
Cloisters Square PO
Perth WA 6850
P: +61 8 9324 4516
E: info@celsiusresources.com.au
W: www.celsiusresources.com
Celsius Resources Limited
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Mark van Kerkwijk
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P: +61 419 273 456
E: info@celsiusresources.com.au
W: www.celsiusresources.com
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Multiplier Media
(Australia Media
Contact)
Jon
Cuthbert
|
M: +61 402 075 707
E: jon.cuthbert@multiplier.com.au
|
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Beaumont Cornish Limited
(Nominated Adviser)
Roland Cornish/Felicity Geidt/Andrew
Price
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P: +44 (0) 207 628 3396
|
Zeus Capital
(Broker)
Harry Ansell/James Joyce/Isaac
Hooper
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P:+44 (0) 20 7220 1666
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Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's
Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by 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 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.