24 June 2024
Kore Potash Plc
("Kore Potash" or the
"Company")
EPC update
Kore Potash plc, the potash development company with
97% ownership of the Kola and DX Potash Projects in the Sintoukola
Basin, located in the Republic of Congo, further advises on the
state of negotiations of the Engineering,
Procurement and Construction ("EPC") proposal and draft EPC
contract with PowerChina International Group Limited
("PowerChina").
Kola
Construction Contract
The Company lodged its Quarterly Activities
Report on 29 April 2024 reaffirming that PowerChina delivered their
EPC proposal and draft EPC contract on 6 February 2024 (refer
Announcement dated 9 February 2024). The Company also advised
that Kore Potash and PowerChina had commenced further detailed
negotiation on the EPC proposal and draft EPC contract, and that
the parties remained on track for the signing of full EPC
documentation in Q2 2024 with the Company meeting PowerChina senior
officials in Beijing in early May 2024.
That meeting took place as planned and
progressed on many points. However, due to the high complexity of
the Kola project which involves underground mining, processing and
offshore transhipment, the discussions involved many specialist
engineers, financiers and lawyers with the objective of devising a
fixed price contract which allows only minimal possibilities for
variation. As a result, further important issues have been raised
recently around completion and performance guarantee tests
which now need to be further discussed and agreed on with
PowerChina.
A further session with PowerChina in either
Beijing or Dubai is now planned for early July 2024. Furthermore,
PowerChina has expressed interest in operating the mine after
construction and the Company now also expects to receive a draft
Operating proposal from the Chinese company in July
2024.
The Company will further update the market on
the progress of negotiations and results of the next meeting with
PowerChina in due course.
As previously announced on 28 March 2024 the
Company will be required to raise further funds for the working
capital requirements for the period up to signing full EPC
documentation and the financing proposal for the complete
construction of Kola from the Summit Consortium.
This announcement has been approved for release by
the Board.
Market Abuse Regulation
This announcement contains inside
information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse
Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by
virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR"), and is
disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under
Article 17 of MAR.
For further information, please visit www.korepotash.com or
contact: