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KIBO MINING PLC - Preliminary Economic and Technical Evaluation of Rukwa Coal to Power Project Confirms Mining Viability

Release Date: 09/09/2014 09:00
Code(s): KBO     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Preliminary Economic and Technical Evaluation of Rukwa Coal to Power Project Confirms Mining Viability

Kibo Mining Plc
(Incorporated in Ireland) 
Registration Number: 451931
(External registration number: 2011/007371/10)
Share code on the JSE: KBO
Share code on the AIM: KIBO 
ISIN: IE00B61XQX41

09 September 2014

Preliminary Economic & Technical Evaluation of Rukwa Coal to Power Project 
Confirms Mining Viability

Highlights

* Early economic and technical evaluation of the Rukwa Coal Mine confirms robust project 
  fundamentals
* Rapid progress on Definitive Mining Feasibility Study (" DMFS") accelerates process to select 
  and engage suitable consultants for Feasibility Study on Rukwa Power Plant 
* Discussions in progress to finalize Heads of Terms (HOT) for power purchase, coal sale 
  and grid connection agreements
* Base case supports a 300MW coal fired power plant over an initial 20 year life and beyond
* Phase 1, Stage 1 of the DMFS slightly ahead of schedule 

Kibo Mining plc ("Kibo" or the "Company"), the mineral exploration and development company focused 
on gold, nickel, coal and uranium projects in Tanzania, is pleased to announce the results of  a preliminary 
economic and technical evaluation undertaken as part of the Definitive Mining Feasibility Study 
("DMFS") for the Rukwa Coal Mine. The early assessment of the technical and economic viability of the 
Rukwa Coal Mine as a suitable fuel source for a 300MW mine-mouth coal fired power station has been 
confirmed 

Work done to date delivered the following summary results:
* Mine modelling shows that the Rukwa deposit can be mined successfully and economically 
at a stripping ratio of approximately 4.0 (BCM/t) in an opencast operation, over a LOM of 
at least 27 years and at an indicative direct mining cost range of $1.00 - $2.00 p/t, and 
indicative plant cost of $1.00 - $1.50 p/t; and
* Initial pit optimisation indicates a pit 9,050m along strike, 490m wide, and 100m deep, 
with the development of Mine Design Criteria currently 60% complete.

Phase 1, Stage 1 of the Rukwa DMFS has thus far primarily focused on:
* Pit optimisation
* A conceptual base case for mining the Rukwa coal deposit
* Mine design criteria
* Conceptual mining schedule and infrastructure lay-out (inclusive of possible power plant 
locations)

The indicative Life of Plant for the Rukwa Power Station requires 28.8Mt of coal over 20 years, which 
amounts to only 48% of the currently mineable resource of 60Mt for the Rukwa Coal Mine.  The remaining 
52% of the currently mineable resource, combined with the remaining 35km strike length of the Rukwa Coal 
Deposit not included in the resource, suggests a potential minimum 40 year life of plant for the Rukwa Power 
Station, with enough fuel left to sustain an additional 600MW capacity for a further 30 to 40 years.
 
Louis Coetzee, C.E.O. of Kibo Mining, commented: "We are delighted with the latest results of the ongoing 
work at Rukwa and the rapid progress the Company is making at the moment. The progress made with 
Phase 1, Stage 1, of the Rukwa DMFS confirms the robust technical and economic fundamentals of the 
project and its suitability to support a 300MW power station for up to 40 years."  

Kibo Mining - Notes to editors 

Kibo was established in early 2008 to explore and develop mineral deposits in Tanzania. The Company was 
admitted to AIM in London on 27 April 2010 and the AltX in Johannesburg on 30 May 2011. The Company 
is developing the Rukwa mouth-of-mine thermal power station and controls one of Tanzania's largest 
mineral right portfolios, including the - Haneti (nickel, PGE and gold), Morogoro, Lake Victoria (Gold), 
and Pinewood (Coal & Uranium) projects.

Its projects are located both in the established and gold prolific Lake Victoria Goldfields, the emerging 
goldfields of eastern Tanzania and the Mtwara Corridor in southern Tanzania where the Government has 
prioritised infrastructural development attracting significant recent investment in coal and uranium.

Kibo's objective is to build shareholder value sustainably. This will be achieved primarily through 
exploration of its own projects and leveraging the Company's experience in Tanzania to acquire exploration 
and development assets on competitive terms. The focus is on assets that can be moved swiftly up the value 
curve whilst benefitting from strategic relationships with industry leaders with special skills and 
competencies within their chosen fields. 

Updates on the Company's activities are regularly posted on its website www.kibomining.com

Technical Data
RUKWA COAL RESOURCE SUMMARY- GEMECS (Pty) Ltd

                                                 SEAM               NI 43-101            IN SITU
SEAM                                           THICKNESS              CLASS           MILLION TONS
S4                                               1.14               Indicated              2.17
S3U                                              2.04               Indicated              6.92
S3L                                              2.3                Indicated             12.63
S2                                               3.45               Indicated             23.43
S1U                                              2.48               Indicated              7.34
S1L                                              2.92               Indicated              17.4
S0                                               1.08               Indicated              1.44

Total Indicated Resources                                                                 71.34


S4                                               1.31               Inferred               1.38
S3U                                              2.24               Inferred               2.94
S3L                                              2.27               Inferred               3.86
S2                                               3.42               Inferred               7.94
S1U                                              2.05               Inferred               6.5
S1L                                              3.15               Inferred              12.83
S0                                               1.06               Inferred               2.6

Total Inferred Resources                                                                   38.05


TOTAL RESOURCES                                                                           109.39


Review by Qualified Person

The information in this announcement that relates to the Rukwa coal resource is taken from  a report 
"Independent Technical Report for the Rukwa Coal Project, Mbeya Region, United Republic of 
Tanzania" dated 19th April 2012 by CD van Niekerk, Director and Principal Geologist with  the firm 
GEMECS (Pty) Ltd. Mr van Niekerk is a Professional Natural Scientist with the South African 
Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), Registration No. 400066/98 and a Fellow 
Member of the Geological Society of South Africa. He has relevant experience and technical 
qualifications to be a "Qualified Person" for reporting coal resources to the NI 43-101 Standard. The 
Company's Exploration Director, Noel O'Keeffe, has also reviewed the technical reports and the 
references to them in this announcement.

Contacts

Louis Coetzee
+27 (0) 83 2606126
Kibo Mining plc
Chief Executive Officer

Andreas Lianos
+27 (0) 83 4408365
River Group
Corporate Adviser and 
Designated Adviser on JSE

Jon Belliss
Abigail Wayne
+44 (0) 20 3693 1470

Hume Capital Securities Plc
Broker

Oliver Morse
Trinity McIntyre
+61 8 94802500
+61 8 94802500
RFC Ambrian Limited
Nominated Adviser on AIM

Daniel Thole
Lydia Eades
+44 (0) 203 772 2500
+44 (0) 203 772 2500
Bell Pottinger
Investor and Media Relations


Johannesburg
09 September 2014
Corporate and Designated Adviser
River Group



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