Southern Hemisphere Announces Positive Pre-Feasibility Study Results for Its Los Pumas Manganese Project
15 Ottobre 2010 - 5:06PM
Marketwired Canada
THIS RELEASE IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE
SERVICES AND NOT AUTHORISED FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
(All dollars in US currency except where noted)
Southern Hemisphere Mining Limited (TSX VENTURE:SH)(ASX:SUH) is pleased to
announce the positive Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") results of its 100% owned
Los Pumas Manganese Project in Chile ("Project"). The PFS was managed by
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. ("SNC-Lavalin"), with participation and contribution from
industry consultants.
The PFS has evaluated the development of an open pit mine at Los Pumas and
on-site processing facilities. The mine is expected to produce an average of
300,000 tonnes of manganese product per annum over a 7 year mine life, at an
average cash cost (life of mine) of approximately US$3.50 per dry metric tonne
unit ("dmtu"). The project economics are extremely robust with an after tax
internal rate of return ("IRR") of over 40% on an initial capital investment of
US$74.3 million.
Final Project approvals and the results of a Feasibility Study ("FS") are
expected in the first quarter of 2011.
Highlights of the PFS include:
-- Long life mine: Increased JORC resource of 18.3Mt @ 7.6% Mn will support
average annual production of 300,000 tonnes over an initial 7 year mine
life. Coffey Mining, who are the independent resource estimators, are
reviewing the model and a reinterpreted resource estimate that includes
further sample data will be completed within a month. This reinterpreted
data will be incorporated by the Company into the FS.
-- Excellent logistics and near mine infrastructure: The Project is located
170km from Arica Port which has undercover stockpile facilities and bulk
loading capabilities for Handymax ships. Manganese product will be
trucked from Los Pumas to a stockpile 10km from Arica Port, with 140km
on a sealed highway and the remainder a provincial gravel road.
-- High quality 38% Mn product: Metallurgical test work supports the
production of a high quality manganese product with a high manganese to
iron ratio. The metal recovery yield of 60% used in the PFS is expected
to be improved following further testwork and incorporated into the FS
by the Company.
-- Low operating costs: Average cash cost (life of mine) of approximately
US$3.50/dmtu forecast to generate strong operating margins.
-- Capital costs: Pre-production capital costs of US$74.3 million are
expected to be paid back within two years of commencing production.
-- Robust Project economics: Estimated Project net present value ("NPV") of
US$90 million and an IRR of 43% using a long term manganese price of
US$7.40/dmtu (FOB Port of Arica).
-- Permitting: Final environmental approval is expected by January 2011.
-- Significant potential upside remains:
The Company is conducting a supplementary study to the PFS focusing on the
identified enhancements available to the economics and mine life of the Project.
The FS will incorporate the reinterpretation of the resource by Coffey Mining,
and further metallurgical testwork being undertaken to confirm the Project's
metal recovery assumptions.
The FS is expected to deliver:
-- Further metallurgical testwork to enhance product yield assumptions that
have the potential for increasing production and lowering operating
costs.
-- A review of the ore resource statement being conducted by Coffey Mining
that includes further analysis data to increase the ore resource
inventory.
-- Reduction in product lost to waste through flowsheet optimisation.
-- Identification of optimal product mix for the Los Pumas ore.
-- Regional exploration potential.
The Company expects to deliver the FS by first quarter 2011.
Trevor Tennant, Managing Director and CEO of Southern Hemisphere stated: "The
first drill hole into the Los Pumas Project was sunk on the 16 December 2008 and
work has progressed on the Project to the current state where a pre-feasibility
has been completed that supports findings that the Project is viable and will be
a producer of a quality of product that will be well accepted in the Chinese
market. The Project site is in the north of Chile that is relatively undeveloped
and the opportunity for employment and provision of services will be
appreciated. The mine will have a Company work force of 66 and contractors will
directly employ 150 persons."
LOS PUMAS PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY
Contributors
The PFS is based on technical information generated by a number of independent
consulting firms, with specific technical expertise and Southern Hemisphere
personnel. Table 1 lists the responsible contributors to the various parts of
the PFS:
Table 1 PFS Contributors
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Component Responsibility
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resource definition Coffey Mining
Initial metallurgical testwork Mintek (Peer review by Mineral
Processors)
Process engineering Mineral Processors
Preliminary civil, structural, mechanical
and electrical engineering SNC-Lavalin
Mine design and scheduling Southern Hemisphere
Estimation of capital and operating costs SNC-Lavalin
Determination of Project execution plan Southern Hemisphere
Project execution scheduling SNC-Lavalin/Southern Hemisphere
Financial analysis Southern Hemisphere
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mineral Resource
This PFS is based on a mineral resource estimate developed by Coffey Mining as
summarized in Table 2 below:
Table 2 Resource Estimate Summary
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources Tonnes (Mt) Mn (%) SiO2 (%) Fe2O3 (%) Al (%) P (%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Measured & Indicated 14.3 7.9 57 3 6 0.05
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inferred 4.0 6.8 58 3 6 0.06
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Mineral resources reported at a cut-off grade of 4% Mn
Mining
Mining at Los Pumas will be carried out through conventional open pit mining to
be performed by a local contract miner. The mine plan for Los Pumas contemplates
a mine life of 7 years, averaging 7,100 tonnes per day with a strip ratio of
1.5:1. Mining costs (life of mine) are expected to average approximately
US$1.20/dmtu of product.
To achieve the planned mine life it is expected that there will be a 93%
conversion of resources to reserves and that additional tonnages will be
identified during the re-interpretation of the resources and by further local
exploration activities.
Processing and Metallurgy
A 410tph three stage crushing plant, 1,750t crushed ore silo and 353tph coarse
and fine media separation plants will be located at the Project.
Metallurgical testwork indicates that recovery of metal to concentrate for the
bulk of the deposit will be better than 60%. The recovery assigned to the
volcanic sediments, the base lithological unit, is lower at 55%. To enhance
possible recoveries from this material, further metallurgical testing is
planned. The expected recovery used in the PFS is 60%.
Infrastructure
The Project is located approximately 170km from Arica Port. Manganese product
will be trucked from Los Pumas to a stockpile 10km from Arica Port, with 140km
on a sealed highway and the remainder a provincial gravel road. The Arica Port
has bulk loading capabilities for Handymax ships and undercover pre-loading
facilities. Southern Hemisphere is acquiring an additional offsite lay down
area.
The work force at Los Pumas will be accommodated at a 150 man mine camp which is
under option to Southern Hemisphere. The price will be US$1.3 million.
Capital Costs
Initial capital costs for the PFS are estimated to be US$74.3 million that
includes US$8 million in contingency:
Table 3 Capital Costs
-----------------------------------------------------
US$ million
-----------------------------------------------------
Mine establishment 1.2
Mine facilities 0.6
Process Plant 31.6
Infrastructure 18.7
General 0.4
Total direct cost 52.4
Indirect costs 8.4
Owners costs 5.3
Subtotal 66.1
Contingency 8.2
Total 74.3
-----------------------------------------------------
Approvals
A Declaration of Environmental Impact ("DIA") was submitted by Southern
Hemisphere under the System of Environmental Impact Assessment ("SEIA") on 27
July 2010. Southern Hemisphere is required to respond to clarification requests
by 3 November 2010.
The Company anticipates final environmental approval to be granted by January 2011.
Project Economics
The Project has been evaluated using a discounted cash flow analysis on a 100%
equity basis and constant US dollar basis. Cash inflows consist of annual
revenue projections for the remaining mine life. Cash outflows such as capital,
operating costs and taxes are subtracted from the inflows to arrive at the
annual cash flow projections. Annual net cash flow ("NCF") projections are then
discounted for time and risk and then summed to arrive at a NPV.
After tax NPV results for various discount rates and the Project IRR are
presented in Table 4 below:
Table 4 Project Economics (after tax basis)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Base Case - Manganese price (FOB Arica)
US$7.40/dmtu
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NPV (0% discount rate) 207 million
NPV (5% discount rate) 136 million
NPV (10% discount rate) 90 million
IRR 43%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Feasibility Study and Financing
Southern Hemisphere expects to release its FS by first quarter 2011, following
the anticipated receipt of final environmental approvals, resource
reinterpretation by Coffey Mining and further metallurgical test work.
Southern Hemisphere is currently assessing a range of financing alternatives to
fund the further development of the Project.
The full NI 43-101 Technical Report for the PFS will be filed on SEDAR within 45
days and posted to Southern Hemisphere's website at www.shmining.com.au.
Competent Persons Statement
Information of a scientific or technical nature in this report was prepared
under the supervision of Trevor Tennant, Managing Director of Southern
Hemisphere, a "qualified person" under National Instrument 43-101 - "Standards
of Disclosure for Mineral Projects", and is a member of the Australasian
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr. Tennant has sufficient experience, which
is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under
consideration, and to the activity he is undertaking, to qualify as a "competent
person" as defined in the 2004 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting
of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves".
Mr. Tennant has reviewed and approved the information contained in this report.
For further information regarding the Project, including a description of
Southern Hemisphere's quality assurance program, quality control measures, the
geology, samples collected and testing procedures in respect of the Project
please refer to the technical report which are available under the Company's
profile at sedar.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements". All
statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities,
events or developments that Southern Hemisphere Limited, including its
subsidiaries and affiliated entities (collectively, "Southern Hemisphere" or the
"Company"), believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not
always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe",
"plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend" and statements that an event or
result "may", "will", "can", "should", "could", or "might" occur or be achieved
and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the
current internal projections, expectations or beliefs of Southern Hemisphere
based on information currently available to Southern Hemisphere. Forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those
detailed from time to time in filings made by Southern Hemisphere with
securities regulatory authorities, that may cause the actual results of Southern
Hemisphere to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking
statements, and even if such actual results are realised or substantially
realised, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected
consequences to, or effects on Southern Hemisphere. Southern Hemisphere
expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking
statements.
The securities discussed herein have not been and will not be registered under
the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or
the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United
States or to United States persons (as defined in Regulation S of the Securities
Act) unless an exemption from registration is available.
Grafico Azioni Margaret Lake Diamonds (TSXV:DIA)
Storico
Da Dic 2024 a Gen 2025
Grafico Azioni Margaret Lake Diamonds (TSXV:DIA)
Storico
Da Gen 2024 a Gen 2025
