To view the PDF file, sign up for a MySharenet subscription.

TAWANA RESOURCES NL - Lithium Concentrate Offtake Signed for Bald Hill Lithium and Tantalum Project

Release Date: 26/04/2017 09:09
Code(s): TAW     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Lithium Concentrate Offtake Signed for Bald Hill Lithium and Tantalum Project

Tawana Resources NL
(Incorporated in Australia)
(Registration number ACN 085 166 721)
Share code on the JSE Limited: TAW
JSE ISIN: AU0000TAWDA9
Share code on the Australian Securities Exchange Limited: TAW
ASX ISIN: AU000000TAW7
(“the Company” or “Tawana”)


Lithium Concentrate Offtake Signed for Bald Hill Lithium and Tantalum
Project
Tawana Resources NL (ASX: TAW “Tawana”) is pleased to announce it has signed a binding long-term
exclusive lithium concentrate offtake agreement (Agreement) with a 100% owned subsidiary of Burwill
Holdings Ltd (Burwill), a company listed on the main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited
(stock code 0024).
The Agreement is for the supply of lithium concentrate from the Bald Hill Project in Western Australia over
an approximate initial five year term.
Highlights
-   A fixed price for all production from no later than 15 March 2018 up to 31 December 2019 of US$880/t
    (FOB Esperance) for 6% Li2O. The offtake agreement provides for an attractive fixed price in US dollars
    per dry metric tonne for the first 2 years of the Agreement, subject to adjustments for grade.
-   A$12,500,000 prepayment, of which A$3,750,000 has been received with the final two instalments to be
    received on 15 July 2017 and 15 September 2017 respectively.
       o     Funds to be used towards the capital and operational costs of the Bald Hill Project.
       o     Prepayment is interest free and to be repaid from 20% of each lithium concentrate shipment until
             the prepayment has been repaid.
       o     Joint Venture Partner Alliance Mineral Assets Limited (AMA) has executed a separate offtake
             agreement with Burwill on the same terms making the total prepayment A$25,000,000.
-   First deliveries targeted for first quarter of 2018.
-   Year’s three to five sales price will be by agreement based upon prevailing market conditions at the
    time.
-   Tantalum concentrates are excluded and separate discussions are underway with potential off take
    parties. Bald Hill has a proven track record of producing high grade non Class 7 tantalum concentrates
    with low levels of impurities.

Tawana’s Managing Director Mark Calderwood said the offtake agreement with Burwill delivered multiple
benefits for all parties: “We are extremely pleased to have Burwill partner us at the Bald Hill Project. We
have received a strong long-term price for our Offtake Agreement and a significant amount of funds required
to build the spodumene lithium concentrator. This early funding and price certainty allows us to push
forward with developing the Bald Hill Mine for commencement of commissioning in late 2017.”
Terms of the Offtake Agreement

Tawana and AMA has sold its 2018 and 2019 lithium ore concentrate that comes from the planned Bald Hill
Lithium and Tantalum Project which is located 50km south of Kambalda in Western Australia. The key
terms of the offtake are as follows:
   -   A fixed price for all production for 2018 and 2019 of US$880/t (FOB Esperance) for 6% Li2O with
       price adjustment increment/decrement of US$/15t based on grade variation of 0.1%. The
       minimum accepted grade is 5.5%.
   -   From 2020 to 2023, the sales price and volumes are to be negotiated and will be by agreed based
       upon prevailing market conditions at the time.
   -   The parties may extend the agreement beyond 31 December 2022 each year provided a price and
       quantity can be agreed by both parties.
A condition precedent of the prepayment is that by 31 July 2017, Tawana and/or AMA completing a JORC
compliant mineral resource of not less than 12,000,000 tonnes at not less than 1.1% Li2O (for the Project
on a 100% basis). This condition precedent is for the benefit of both Tawana and Burwill.
In addition, Tawana must have earned its 50% interest in the Bald Hill Project as outlined in the Farm-in
Agreement between Lithco No 2 Pty Ltd and AMA.

Terms of the Prepayment

Burwill has agreed to advance Tawana and AMA a combined amount of A$25,000,000 in total (“Advance
Payment Amount”) in the amounts and on the dates set below:
   -   A$3,750,000 (to each Tawana and AMA) was received on signing the Agreement;
   -   On 15 July 2017, A$4,375,000 to each of Tawana and AMA; and
   -   On 15 September 2017, A$4,375,000 to each of Tawana and AMA.

The Advance Payments shall be used for the development and operational costs of the Bald Hill Project.

Repayment and Interest

No interest is payable in respect of the Advance Payment Amount. The Parties shall repay the outstanding
Advance Payment Amount through 20% of the value of each shipment of lithium concentrate until such
time as Burwill has been reimbursed in full for the aggregate amount of the Advance Payments.

About Burwill Holdings Ltd

Burwill Holdings Limited ("Burwill"), incorporated in 1949, has been publicly listed company on the main
board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (stock code: 0024) since 1983.

Based in China, Burwill and its subsidiaries (“Burwill Group”) have businesses spanning across various
segments of the infrastructure and logistics industries. The Group has been involved in international
commodity trading, Iron ore mining, steel refining and steel processing businesses for over sixty years.
Commodities and in particular, metals, have been the main area of interest and focus for the Group.

As an example of its involvement in the mining business, in 2005 Burwill made a USD30 million pre-payment
to Australian iron ore company, Fortescue Metals Group Limited (FMG), for a five-year contract, valued at
USD500 million to supply iron ore, this contract has been completed. They have also made export pre-finance
arrangements for large steel plants in China, to enhance their steel sourcing and iron ore sales.

Burwill has well-developed and long-standing business relationships with various large and medium
corporations both in China and internationally. Burwill also boasts an extensive sales network within China
and internationally, with representatives and subsidiaries in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Burwill announced on 20 April 2017 its intention to invest in a lithium carbonate plant and engage in lithium
carbonate processing and sales.

Bald Hill Project (AMA 100%, TAW Earning 50%)

The Bald Hill project (Project) area is located 50km south east of Kambalda in the Eastern Goldfields of
Western Australia. It is located approximately 75km south east of the Mt Marion Lithium project and is
adjacent to Tawana’s Cowan Lithium project. The Project, owned by Alliance Mineral Assets Limited (AMA),
includes a permitted tantalum (pegmatite) mine, processing facility and associated infrastructure.

Through Tawana’s 100% owned subsidiary Lithco No. 2 Pty Ltd (Lithco), Tawana entered into a Farm-In
Agreement on 23 February 2017 with Alliance Mineral Assets Limited with respect to AMA’s Bald Hill project
in Western Australia for the purpose of joint exploration and exploitation of lithium and other minerals.
The commercial terms require Tawana:

    i. to spend, by 31 December 2017 (or such later date as may be agreed between the parties), a
       minimum of $7.5 million on exploration, evaluation and feasibility (“Expenditure Commitment”);
       and at its election

    ii. to spend, $12.5 million in capital expenditure required for upgrading and converting the plant for
        processing ore derived from the Project, infrastructure costs, pre-stripping activities and other
        expenditures including operating costs (“Capital Expenditure”) by 31 December 2019.

Upon completion of the Expenditure Commitment, Tawana shall be entitled to 50% of all rights to lithium
minerals from the tenements comprising the Project (“Tenements”). AMA and Lithco had on 10 April 2017
entered into a lithium rights joint venture agreement.

Upon completion of the Expenditure Commitment and Capital Expenditure, Tawana will be entitled to a
50% interest in the Project (being all minerals from the tenements and the processing plant and
infrastructure at Bald Hill). The portfolio of mineral tenements, comprising mining leases, exploration
licences, prospecting licences, miscellaneous licences, a general-purpose lease, and a retention lease are
in good standing. AMA and Lithco had on 18 April 2017 entered into a Bald Hill Joint Venture Agreement.

Forward Looking Statement

This report may contain certain forward looking statements and projections regarding estimated, resources and reserves; planned
production and operating costs profiles; planned capital requirements; and planned strategies and corporate objectives. Such forward
looking statements/projections are estimates for discussion purposes only and should not be relied upon as representation or warranty,
express or implied, of Tawana Resources NL. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors many of which are beyond the control of Tawana Resources NL. The forward looking
statements/projections are inherently uncertain and may therefore differ materially from results ultimately achieved.

Tawana Resources NL does not make any representations and provides no warranties concerning the accuracy of the projections, and
disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements/projects based on new information, future events or
otherwise except to the extent required by applicable laws. While the information contained in this report has been prepared in good
faith, Tawana Resources or any of their directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors give any representation or warranty, express
or implied, as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information, opinions and conclusions contained in this
presentation. Accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted by law, none of Tawana Resources NL, their directors, employees or agents,
advisers, nor any other person accepts any liability whether direct or indirect, express or limited, contractual, tortuous, statutory or
otherwise, in respect of, the accuracy or completeness of the information or for any of the opinions contained in this announcement or
for any errors, omissions or misstatements or for any loss, howsoever arising, from the use of this announcement.


26 April 2017

Sponsor
PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance (Pty) Limited

Date: 26/04/2017 09:09:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). 
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
 the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, 
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
 information disseminated through SENS.

Share This Story