Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:DMNXF) ("Sayona" or the "Company") is pleased to provide shareholders an update of activities planned for 2018.

In 2017, the Company made substantial progress advancing Authier to the Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") stage. This included completing two resource and reserve upgrades, optimisation of the process flow sheet, completion of environmental field studies, advancing mining lease permitting, and completion of an Optimised Pre- Feasibility Study ("PFS"). The PFS demonstrated the opportunity to create substantial long-term sustainable shareholder value at a low capital cost - a pre-tax NPV8 of C$221m (AUD$227m) based on a capital expenditure of C$65 million.

In Western Australia, the Company has built a substantial portfolio of lithium prospective tenements totalling 2,000 km2, in the spodumene-rich, Pilgangoora district. A new pegmatite field containing spodumene was discovered at Mallina and will be the primary focus of exploration activities during 2018.

The lithium market ended 2017 very strongly, with demand driving robust spot and contract pricing. Galaxy Lithium announced extensions to contracts with Chinese buyers for the next five years at pricing for 2018 at similar pricing to the 2017 contracts (between US$840 to US$905/t for 6% Li20 concentrate).

Authier lithium project, Canada

The Company's primary objective in early 2018 is to complete the studies required to commence the development of the project. Authier is a near-term development project and cash-flow generation opportunity. The Company believes it will create significant share value-uplift potential for shareholders as the project is advanced towards development.

The Phase 3 drilling program will re-commence in the second week of January. The objective of the drilling is to expand and optimise, the resource and reserve position for incorporation into the DFS. The program will target extending Authier mineralisation in the east and west at shallow levels, and at Authier North where a small JORC Mineral Resources was defined as part of the Optimised Pre-Feasibility Study.

A pilot metallurgy program will commence in January utilising more than five tonnes of diamond drill core. Data from the pilot program will be incorporated into the engineering and design of the process plant, and concentrate produced will be used for marketing and downstream testing purposes.

BBA is making excellent progress on the DFS which is expected to be completed in the second quarter 2018. BBA have extensive experience in the Canadian mining industry and have been actively involved in Feasibility Studies for Quebec lithium projects including, Nemaska and the North American Lithium project.

All of the base-line environmental field studies have been completed. Permitting activities including social and first nation consultation are underway. On completion of the DFS, the Company will lodge the final documentation required to secure a Mining Lease. Subject to the outcomes of the permitting and financing, the Company envisages commencing construction in the second half of 2018 and first production late in 2019.

The Company is actively engaged with a number of potential off-takers and financiers whilst also receiving strong interest from Chinese concentrate converters interested in purchasing Authier concentrates or value-adding in country. The Company recently announced a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Huan Changuan Lico Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Fortune 500 Company, Minmetals Group. The MOU paves the way for advancing discussions to facilitate a development alliance exploring marketing, technical and financial opportunities for the Authier project, including, purchasing up to 100,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per annum. In addition, the Company is focused on financing Authier in way that minimises dilution to shareholders.

Western Australian Lithium

The Company has built a large portfolio of lithium tenements in Western Australia and is excited by the prospectivity of the Mallina project where new spodumene bearing pegmatites have been recently identified. Further exploration and drilling is required to better understand the mineralisation within the complex rare metal pegmatites. Mallina is a very prospective province in close proximity to other major spodumene deposits including Pilgangoora and Wodgina.

Growth Opportunities

The Company is examining a number of new growth opportunities in the lithium sector which it believes have the potential to enhance the value of the Company. These include new projects and value-adding of existing projects including the Authier downstream project which has demonstrated very robust economics.

We believe 2018 will be a transformative year for Sayona as is evolves from the exploration-stage to the development-stage at Authier. The Company will also continue to develop a pipeline of new opportunities by leveraging its lithium exploration and development experience, and expertise.


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).

   

Contact

Corey Nolan
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: +61-7-3369-7058
Email: info@sayonamining.com.au
www.sayonamining.com.au



Link: Shareholder Update


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