Corporate Update
Brisbane, Feb 27, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Sayona Mining Limited (
ASX:SYA) (DMNXF:OTCMKTS) ("Sayona" or the "Company") is pleased provide shareholders with a progress update on exploration and development activities.
Authier Lithium Project
The Company recently announced its maiden Ore Reserve and Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") summary for the Authier project. Key findings of the PFS, include:
- Pre-tax NPV of C$140 million and pre-tax IRR 39% (real terms at 8% discount rate);
- Annual average concentrate production of 99,000 tonnes at 5.75% Li20;
- Average annual revenue of C$67 million and EBITDA of C$31 million;
- Life of mine strip ratio of 6:1 (waste to ore) and cash costs of C$367 (US $280) FOB Montreal Port;
- Development capital expenditure of C$66 million; and
- Maiden Ore Reserve of 10.2 Mt @ 1.02% Li20 (Proven Reserve 4.9Mt @ 0.97% Li20 and Probable Reserve 5.3Mt @ 1.06% Li20) delivers a mine life of 13 years.
The Company is now looking at a number of options to significantly enhance the value of the project, including drilling to expand the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserves, further metallurgical and geotechnical test-work, and other downstream value-adding opportunities.
The 4,000 metre resource expansion drilling program is progressing well with 1,857 metres in 7 holes completed. The drilling is demonstrating the extensions of the mineralisation at depth in the western sector. The first drill cores were sent to the laboratory this week for analysis. On-going drilling is planned in the eastern sector, the new pegmatite area in the north, and infill within the existing Inferred Resource areas.
Western Australian Lithium
Recent mapping and sampling programs at the Mallina project has identified five new pegmatite areas with rock chips up to 3.47% Li20. Planning is underway for another phase of exploration including, mapping, rock sampling, and auger drilling. This work will be complemented by systematic soil geochemistry, to be carried out with the aim of identifying targets for RC drilling under shallow cover. The primary focus is the area of newly discovered spodumene pegmatites as well as traversing the unexplored remainder of the tenement area. Whilst the area remains wet from recent rain, a geophysics program is being planned to assist with identifying structures under cover that may be blind on surface.
Future Funding Options
The Company currently has cash resources of $1.3 million which will fund its development activities in the short term. The Company has commenced some preliminary discussions with prospective financiers about options for funding future exploration and development activities with minimal dilution to shareholders. The Company is encouraged by the response regarding the level and types of funding that could be available.
Lithium Industry Pricing Update
The pricing of lithium concentrates being sold from Australia to China continue to surprise on the upside. Two new Australian producers have recently announced settlements for 2017 contract pricing, including:
- Neometals has entered into contracts for 6% Li20 concentrates at US$750 per tonne CFR China for shipments departing Australia before 30 June 2017. Pricing of subsequent shipments is to be set on a 6-month basis by a formula based on a weighted average price of Chinese imports of Lithium Carbonate and Lithium Hydroxide plus a floor price consistent with the original off-take agreement; and
- Galaxy has entered into contracts for all of 2017 production of 120,000 tonnes at a base price of US$830 per tonne FOB for 5.5% Li20 concentrate. The contract terms provided a payment bonus of US$15 per tonne for every 0.1% improvement in the concentrate grade above the 5.5% Li20 base rate or US$905 per tonne FOB for a 6% Li20 concentrate.
The new pricing regime reflects the much tighter market for concentrates as new projects commission slower than forecast and financing constraints slow the planned development timetables for other advanced projects.
The Company notes that its benchmark pricing assumptions for the recently completed PFS of US$515/tonne FOB (5.75% Li20 concentrate) are well below the current prices of lithium concentrate contracts for 2017.
Strategic Intent
The Company remains focused on rapidly developing its spodumene projects and capitalising on the strong pricing window available for new project entrants in the short to medium term. Authier is an advanced development project and cash flow generation opportunity with positive attributes, including:
- Extensively drilled and well understood geology;
- Well studied with the completion of a Pre-Feasibility study (February 2017);
- Maiden JORC Ore Reserves - 10.2 Mt @ 1.02% Li20 (Proven Reserve 4.9Mt @ 0.97% Li20 and Probable Reserve 5.3Mt @ 1.06% Li20);
- Simple open-cut, truck and shovel mining operation;
- Proven process for recovery of spodumene into a saleable concentrate - low technology risk;
- World-class infrastructure and Quebec Government support;
- Low capital hurdle and attractive operating costs; and
- Potential to expand the size of the Mineral Resource through further optimisation and enhance the value of the project through further optimisation studies.
Despite the solid progress achieved at Authier since the acquisition in August 2016, the Company still trades on one of the lowest enterprise value per tonne of Measured and Indicated Resource multiples in the global sector - $176 per tonne. This is more in line with lithium explorers than an advanced project.
The Company believes it will create significant share value-uplift for shareholders as the project resource base is expanded, optimisation activities are completed, and it's advanced towards development.
To view tables and figures, please visit:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/09BIEJ26
About Sayona Mining Limited
Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is a North American lithium producer with projects in Quebec, Canada and Western Australia. In Quebec, Sayona's assets comprise North American Lithium together with the Authier Lithium Project and its emerging Tansim Lithium Project, supported by a strategic partnership with American lithium developer Piedmont Lithium Inc. (ASX:PLL). Sayona also holds a 60% stake in the Moblan Lithium Project in northern Quebec.
In Western Australia, the Company holds a large tenement portfolio in the Pilbara region
prospective for gold and lithium. Sayona is exploring for Hemi-style gold targets in the world-class Pilbara region, while its lithium projects include Company-owned leases and those subject to a joint venture with Morella Corporation (ASX:1MC).
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