VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 27, 2021 /CNW/ - East Africa Metals
Inc. (TSX-V: EAM) (FSE: EA1) ("East Africa" or the "Company") is
pleased to announce that further to its press release dated
October 22, 2020, it has received the
following update from its Tanzanian partner, PMM Mining Company
Limited ("PMM").
PMM Mining has informed EAM it has engaged development of a plan
to re-process existing tailings from artisanal mining activities
that took place between 2007 and 2016 at the Magambazi site, during
which time large, active artisanal mining operations extracted gold
from high-grade quartz veins within the Magambazi main zone. To
date, PMM has completed the construction of the tailings
re-processing plant and initiated start-up of the re-processing
operation. The tailing re-processing operation is expected to be in
full production prior to the end of the first quarter of
2021.
During 2018, Canaco Tanzania Limited ("CTL") surveyed the volume
of the tailings, which were mined from its licenses by a group of
illegal miners, who were exploiting the high-grade gold veins
intercepted during a drilling program conducted in its license
area.
Recent stockpiled tailings have not been sampled by CTL;
however, the gold assay from different piles of tailings taken in
November 2007 indicated a significant
amount of gold was unrecovered in the ore mined from Magambazi
deposit.
The gold tailings totalled an estimated 32,000 tonnes at
undetermined grade and metallurgical recoveries. The processing
flow-sheet will see the tailings re-milled to further expose
remaining free gold, followed by treatment through a gravity
circuit and finally through a CIP Plant. PMM is currently on site
working towards the final stages to commission the CIP Plant.
Mine and Site Development
The Handeni Property – the Magambazi Mine
The Magambazi Mine:
The Magambazi Mine is located in
the emerging Handeni gold district in eastern Tanzania, 180 kilometres northwest of Dar es
Salaam and 140 kilometres southwest of the port city of
Tanga. The Magambazi property consists of two mining licenses
(which cover 9.9 square kilometres) and two prospecting licenses,
for an aggregate total of approximately 93 square kilometres.
An initial mineral resource estimate for Magambazi was announced on
May 15, 2012 (see Canaco Resources
News Release dated May 15, 2012).
Using a cut-off grade of 0.5 grams per tonne gold, Magambazi is
estimated to contain an indicated mineral resource of 15.2 million
tonnes grading 1.48 grams per tonne gold and containing 721,300
ounces, as well as an inferred mineral resource estimate of 6.7
million tonnes grading 1.36 grams per tonne gold and containing
292,400 ounces.
The pit shells and cut-off grade of 0.50 grams per tonne gold
used to calculate the maiden resource at Magambazi applied a
2012 gold price forecast of US$1,250
per ounce.
The Magambazi Transaction:
The transaction
includes:
- During the lifetime of the mine respecting the Mining Assets,
PMM will sell 30% of the Gold produced to EAM at the price of
production cost plus 15% of production cost, pursuant to a Gold
Purchase Agreement. Gold production costs means actual mining and
milling costs as well as those associated with third party
smelting, refining, transportation and royalties minus byproduct
credits.
- PMM undertakes to produce at least 10,000 ounces in the first
year of commissioning of operations, 20,000 ounces in the second
year, 30,000 ounces in the third year and at least 40,000 ounces
per year thereafter.
- In the event PMM does not meet the minimum production in a
year, it will compensate EAM as follows: in the first year
minimum production is not met PMM will pay US$200,000; US$400,000 in the second year; US$600,000 in the third year; and, US$700,000 per year for any other years' where
the minimum production is not achieved.
Andrew Lee Smith, President &
CEO of East Africa, commented;
"With the conclusion of the Sale Purchase process and the beginning
of development EAM looks forward to the initial gold production
from the tailing re-processing operation during the last half of
2021."
Qualified Person
Technical
information included in this news release was approved by
Andrew Lee Smith, P.Geo., the
Company's President and CEO, is a Qualified Person as defined by
National Instrument 43-101.
About East Africa Metals
The Company's principal
assets include 30% Net Profits Interest in the Mato Bula and
Da Tambuk mines (collectively "Adyabo Property") and a 70%
project interest in the Harvest polymetallic VMS exploration
Project in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. In addition, the Company has a 30%
Net Streaming Interest ("SRI") in the Magambazi Mine in the Tanga
region of Tanzania.
The Mato Bula and Da Tambuk mines are four kilometres apart and
will be developed simultaneously. The development of the mining
operations is scheduled to begin during the first quarter of
2021.
East Africa retains exploration
rights on areas of the properties outside the Mato Bula, Da Tambuk
and Terakimti mining licenses in all Ethiopian projects and
anticipates the commencement of exploration drilling to test
priority targets during the first quarter of calendar 2021.
EAM has invested USD$66.8M in
African exploration since 2005 and identified a total of 2.8
million ounces of gold and gold-equivalent resources
representing an average discovery cost per ounce of US$24.
The current Global Project Resources discovered by EAM
include:
Project Resources
(Au + Aueqv Metal ounces)
|
Project
|
Category
|
Au
+Aueqvounces
|
Adyabo Project,
Ethiopia
(EAM 30% Net
Profit Interest)
|
Indicated
|
446,000
|
Inferred
|
551,000
|
Harvest Project,
Ethiopia
(EAM = 70% Project
Interest)
|
Indicated
|
469,000
|
Inferred
|
426,000
|
Handeni Project,
Tanzania
(EAM = 30%
Streaming Royalty Interest)
|
Indicated
|
721,000
|
Inferred
|
292,000
|
*See East Africa
Metals Project Resource Table attached for additional
detail
|
Andrew Lee Smith, P.Geo., C.E.O.,
a Qualified Person under the definitions of National Instrument
43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this
news release.
More information on the Company can be viewed at the Company's
website: www.eastafricametals.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information"
within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.
Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use
of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believe",
"plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "project",
"budget", "schedule", "may", "will", "could", "might", "should",
"indicate", "confident" or variations of such words or similar
words or expressions. Forward-looking information is based on
reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company as at the
date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results,
level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be
materially different from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking information, including but not limited to: the
negotiation of a definitive agreement reflecting the anticipated
structure and timing outlined herein; delays with respect to
required payments and regulatory approvals; results of the due
diligence review; the ability of Tibet Huayu to develop and operate
the Ethiopia Adyabo Project within the required laws and agreements
recoverability of the Ethiopian and Tanzanian VAT receivable; early
exploration; the ability of East
Africa to identify any other corporate opportunities for the
Company; the possibility that the Company may not be able to
generate sufficient cash to service its planned operations and may
be force to take other options; the risk the Company may not be
able to continue as a going concern; the possibility the Company
will require additional financing to develop the Ethiopian Projects
into a mining operation; the risks associated with obtaining
necessary licenses or permits including and not limited to
Ethiopian Government approval of EAM Mineral Resources extensions
for the Company's Ethiopian Properties and Projects; risks
associated with mineral exploration and development; metal and
mineral prices; the demand for precious and base metals;
availability of capital; accuracy of the Company's Projections and
estimates, including the initial and any updates to the mineral
resource for the Adyabo, Harvest and Handeni Projects; realization
of mineral resource estimates; interest and exchange rates;
competition; stock price fluctuations; the ability to carry on
exploration and development activities; actual results of
exploration activities; availability of drilling equipment and
access; the ability to obtain qualified personnel, equipment and
services in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the regulatory
framework including and not limited to license approvals, social
and environmental matters; the ability to operate in a safe,
efficient and effective manner government regulation; political or
economic developments; foreign taxation risks; environmental risks;
insurance risks; capital expenditures; operating or technical
difficulties in connection with development activities; personnel
relations; the speculative nature of strategic metal exploration
and development including the risks of contests over title to
properties; and changes in project parameters as plans continue to
be refined, as well as those risk factors set out in the Company's
filings with securities regulators. Mineral Resources, which
are not Mineral Reserves, do not have demonstrated economic
viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially
affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation,
sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. The
quantity and grade of reported inferred mineral resources as the
estimation is uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient
exploration to define any inferred mineral resources as an
indicated or measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if
further exploration will result in upgrading inferred mineral
resources to an indicated or measured mineral resource category.
The contained gold, copper and silver figures shown are in situ. No
assurance can be given that the estimated quantities will be
produced. Although the Company has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in forward-looking information,
there may be other factors that cause results not to be as
anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such information. The Company does not update or revise forward
looking information even if new information becomes available
unless legislation requires the Company to do so. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
information contained herein, except in accordance with applicable
securities laws.
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.
SOURCE East Africa Metals Inc.