Robex Resources Inc. (TSXV: RBX) (“
Robex” or the
“
Company”) is providing a corporate strategy
update for Guinea and Mali.
Revised timeline for Kiniero and
development update
Timeline:
Following the updated resource estimate at
Mansounia published on December 22nd 2023, the Management and the
Board of Directors have decided to revise and update the
development schedule. This will allow us to work on an NI43-101
Updated Feasibility Study (“UFS”) to tentatively
improve project economics and derisk the metallurgy with a higher
oxide mix. The revised timeline will be:
-
March – May 2024: Definition drilling at Mansounia with a target to
bring additional Reserves into the mine plan;
-
March – September 2024: Earthworks, plant equipment and key
infrastructure investments;
-
September 2024: Updated Feasibility Study with increased production
and higher oxides mix;
-
October 2024: Formal construction decision for the revised plant
layout;
-
December 2025: First gold pour;
The new timeline has been sent to the government
of Guinea for approval.
Construction progress
Our construction sub-contractor (Wacom) will
remain mobilised on site to advance development and take advantage
of the additional time to prepare the site and improve access.
Formal construction decision will be taken after the Updated
Feasibility Study. Detailed engineering has been finalized with the
new throughput and this will feed the UFS.
Construction timeline:
-
Plant workshop concrete foundation is being poured;
-
Tower crane foundation ongoing and will be ready for structural,
mechanical, and piping installations;
-
CIL bottom plates are prefabricated, starting of shell plates
rolling;
-
CIL concrete foundation in preparation;
-
ROM pad preparation started;
-
Completion of the management and workers camp refurbishment with a
total capacity of c. 120 beds;
-
Access road and site road upgraded and completed;
-
LTI is currently at 1.1 million free hours (4.3 million hours group
wide);
Long lead items:
-
All long lead items have been ordered (25% of total plant capex has
been spent) the SAG mill is constructed and ready to be
shipped;
-
Remaining equipment will be stored, ready to be shipped later in
the year;
Mali update
The Board of directors and the Management of
Robex have re-assessed assumptions underpinning the current
operation in Mali considering challenging operating conditions and
rising energy costs. These assumptions have deteriorated Nampala’s
viability, and we anticipate the current end of operation in June
2026.
Considering these significant changes, we will
test the Nampala mine for impairment and are currently working with
our experts to perform the impairment test as of December 31, 2023,
to reflect the impact in our audited annual financial statements
which will be published on April 29, 2024. With the information to
date this test will likely result in a material non-cash asset
impairment. Considering the new parameters as of today, the
valuation for the Nampala mine is estimated between CAD 30 million
and CAD 55 million against a net book value of CAD 115 million as
of September 30th, 2023.The current discussions with fiscal
authorities in Mali may further negatively impact our operations
and our financial outlook may result in an earlier responsible
closing of the mine.
The Board of Directors and the Management of
Robex remain committed to finding the best possible outcome for
this asset going forward. The Company continues to have
constructive discussions with the Malian government to find a
sustainable solution for Nampala by allowing further investment in
exploration.
Financing and cash position
Unaudited cash position as of February 29th,
2024, is CAD 12.7 million and Robex has liquidity to meet all the
cash and short-term ratios. Robex also has CAD 10 million of
undrawn credit line facilities subject to financial covenants.
As a reminder, the Company has an up-to-date
short form base shelf prospectus, authorizing it to issue
securities for an aggregate offering amount of up to CAD 250
million. This prospectus will be used to fund the equity portion of
the construction capital expenditure.
Corporate advisory
With elevated gold prices and current market
conditions being very favourable for transactions the Board of
Directors and Management have engaged SCP Resource Finance
(“SCP”) to advise on corporate or assets
transactions to maximize shareholder value.
Updated corporate
presentation
An updated presentation will be made available
on our website alongside this press release with more information
about the current process and a detailed revised project
timeline.
Aurelien Bonneviot, CEO commented: “Kiniero has
delivered outstanding results to date and the resources are growing
fast. We now need to adjust engineering to match the scale of the
deposit. This Updated Feasibility Study will show updated project
while keeping all the capital invested to date for swift full-scale
development and construction restart. Despite a rising gold price,
persistent inflationary concerns and the high interest rate
environment has made it challenging for smaller companies to
finance self-developments in an accretive manner for existing
shareholders. SCP will support us to explore our options to
maximise value”.
Site pictures
Figure 1 - Kiniero site
Figure 2 - Casting ground beam for plant workshop
at Kiniero
Figure 3 - Management and workers camps
About Robex Resources Inc.
Robex is a multi-jurisdictional West African
gold production and development company with near-term exploration
potential. The Company is dedicated to safe, diverse and
responsible operations in the countries in which it operates with a
goal to foster sustainable growth. The Company has been operating
the Nampala mine in Mali since 2017 and is advancing the long-life
low-AISC Kiniero Project in Guinea.
Robex is supported by two strategic shareholders
and has the ambition to become a mid-tier gold producer in West
Africa.
More Information
ROBEX RESOURCES
INC. |
Aurélien BonneviotChief Executive OfficerStanislas PrunierInvestor
Relations and Corporate Development+1 581 741-7421E-mail:
investor@robexgold.comwww.robexgold.com |
Forward-Looking Statement
Certain information set forth in this press
release contains “forward‐looking statements” and “forward‐looking
information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation (referred to herein as
“forward‐looking
statements”). Forward-looking statements are included to
provide information about Management’s current expectations and
plans that allows investors and others to have a better
understanding of the Company’s business plans and financial
performance and condition.
Statements made in this press release that
describe the Company’s or Management’s estimates, expectations,
forecasts, objectives, predictions, projections of the future or
strategies may be “forward-looking statements”, and can be
identified by the use of the conditional or forward-looking
terminology such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “assume”, “believe”,
“can”, “contemplate”, “continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”,
“forecast”, “future”, “guidance”, “guide”, “indication”, “intend”,
“intention”, “likely”, “may”, “might”, “objective”, “opportunity”,
“outlook”, “plan”, “potential”, “should”, “strategy”, “target”,
“will” or “would” or the negative thereof or other variations
thereon. Forward-looking statements also include any other
statements that do not refer to historical facts. Such statements
may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the
perceived merit and further potential of the Company’s properties;
the Company’s estimate of mineral Resources and mineral Reserves;
capital expenditures and requirements; the Company’s access to
financing; preliminary economic assessment and other development
study results; exploration results at the Company’s properties;
budgets; strategic plans; market price of precious metals; the
Company’s ability to successfully advance the Kiniero Gold Project
on the basis of the results of the feasibility study with respect
thereto, as the same may be updated, the whole in accordance with
the revised timeline disclosed in this press release; the potential
development and exploitation of the Kiniero Gold Project and the
Company’s existing mineral properties and business plan, including
the completion of feasibility studies or the making of production
decisions in respect thereof; work programs; permitting or other
timelines; government regulations and relations; optimization of
the Company’s mine plan; the future financial or operating
performance of the Company and the Kiniero Gold Project;
exploration potential and opportunities at the Company’s existing
properties; costs and timing of future exploration and development
of new deposits; the Company’s ability to enter into definitive
documentation in respect of the USD115 million project finance
facility for the Kiniero Gold Project (including a USD15 million
cost overrun facility, the “Facilities”),
including the Company’s ability to restructure the Taurus
USD35 million bridge loan and adjust the mandate to
accommodate for the revised timeline of the enlarged project;
timing of entering into definitive documentation for the
Facilities; if final documentation is entered into in respect of
the Facilities, the drawdown of the proceeds of the Facilities,
including the timing thereof; and the Company’s ability to reach an
agreement with the Malian authorities with respect to the
sustainable continuation of the Company's activities and further
exploration investments at Nampala.
Forward-looking statements and forward-looking
information are made based upon certain assumptions and other
important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially
different from future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such statements or information. There can
be no assurance that such statements or information will prove to
be accurate. Such statements and information are based on numerous
assumptions, including: the ability to execute the Company’s plans
relating to the Kiniero Gold Project as set out in the feasibility
study with respect thereto, as the same may be updated, the whole
in accordance with the revised timeline disclosed in this press
release; the Company’s ability to reach an agreement with the
Malian authorities with respect to the sustainable continuation of
the Company's activities and further exploration investments at
Nampala; the Company’s ability to complete its planned exploration
and development programs; the absence of adverse conditions at the
Kiniero Gold Project; the absence of unforeseen operational delays;
the absence of material delays in obtaining necessary permits; the
price of gold remaining at levels that render the Kiniero Gold
Project profitable; the Company’s ability to continue raising
necessary capital to finance its operations; the Company’s ability
to restructure the Taurus USD35 million bridge loan and adjust
the mandate to accommodate for the revised timeline of the enlarged
project the Company’s ability to enter into definitive
documentation for the Facilities on acceptable terms or at all, and
to satisfy the conditions precedent to closing and advances
thereunder (including satisfaction of remaining customary due
diligence and other conditions and approvals); the ability to
realize on the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; and
assumptions regarding present and future business strategies, local
and global geopolitical and economic conditions and the environment
in which the Company operates and will operate in the future.
Certain important factors could cause the
Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements including,
but not limited to: geopolitical risks and security challenges
associated with its operations in West Africa, including the
Company’s inability to assert its rights and the possibility of
civil unrest and civil disobedience; fluctuations in the price of
gold; limitations as to the Company’s estimates of mineral reserves
and mineral resources; the speculative nature of mineral
exploration and development; the replacement of the Company’s
depleted mineral reserves; the Company’s limited number of
projects; the risk that the Kiniero Gold Project will never reach
the production stage (including due to a lack of financing); the
Company’s capital requirements and access to funding; changes in
legislation, regulations and accounting standards to which the
Company is subject, including environmental, health and safety
standards, and the impact of such legislation, regulations and
standards on the Company’s activities; equity interests and royalty
payments payable to third parties; price volatility and
availability of commodities; instability in the global financial
system; the effects of high inflation, such as higher commodity
prices; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; the risk of any
pending or future litigation against the Company; limitations on
transactions between the Company and its foreign subsidiaries; the
risk that the share consolidation of the Company’s shares fails to
increase the liquidity of the Company’s common shares; volatility
in the market price of the Company’s shares; tax risks, including
changes in taxation laws or assessments on the Company; the Company
obtaining and maintaining titles to property as well as the permits
and licenses required for the Company’s ongoing operations; changes
in project parameters and/or economic assessments as plans continue
to be refined; the risk that actual costs may exceed estimated
costs; geological, mining and exploration technical problems;
failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated;
accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry;
delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; the
effects of public health crises, such as the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic, on the Company’s activities; the Company’s relations with
its employees and other stakeholders, including local governments
and communities in the countries in which it operates; the risk of
any violations of applicable anticorruption laws, export control
regulations, economic sanction programs and related laws by the
Company or its agents; the risk that the Company encounters
conflicts with small-scale miners; competition with other mining
companies; the Company’s dependence on third-party contractors; the
Company’s reliance on key executives and highly skilled personnel;
the Company’s access to adequate infrastructure; the risks
associated with the Company’s potential liabilities regarding its
tailings storage facilities; supply chain disruptions; hazards and
risks normally associated with mineral exploration and gold mining
development and production operations; problems related to weather
and climate; the risk of information technology system failures and
cybersecurity threats; and the risk that the Company may not be
able to insure against all the potential risks associated with its
operations.
Although the Company believes its expectations
are based upon reasonable assumptions and has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual actions, events or
results to differ materially from those described in
forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause
actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. These factors are not intended to represent a complete
and exhaustive list of the factors that could affect the Company;
however, they should be considered carefully. There can be no
assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such information.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking information if circumstances or Management’s
estimates, assumptions or opinions should change, except as
required by applicable law. The reader is cautioned not to place
undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking
information contained herein is presented for the purpose of
assisting investors in understanding the Company’s expected
financial and operational performance and results as at and for the
periods ended on the dates presented in the Company’s plans and
objectives, and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Please refer to the “Risk Factors” section
of the Company’s annual information form for the year ended
December 31, 2022, dated April 28, 2023, and to the “Risks and
Uncertainties” section of each of the Company’s Management’s
discussion and analysis dated April 28, 2023 for the years ended
December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and the Company’s
Management’s discussion and analysis dated November 28, 2023 for
the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2023 and
September 30, 2022, all of which are available electronically on
SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. All forward-looking statements
contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this
cautionary statement.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available
athttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/000ca261-b3e2-47a6-8f64-6d2115b363cahttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7afca617-afb6-4ba5-9630-70ad7db7fba7https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/090696e9-d308-4a18-aff2-31334150d3be
Grafico Azioni Robex Resources (TSXV:RBX)
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