TIDMBKY
RNS Number : 5169V
Berkeley Energia Limited
31 January 2017
BERKELEY ENERGIA LIMITED
NEWS RELEASE | 31 January 2017 | AIM/ASX BKY
Quarterly Report December 2016
Berkeley Energia completes equity financing and orders equipment
for main construction
Berkeley Energia is pleased to announce highlights for the
quarter to 31 December 2016.
The highlights of the quarter include:
-- Off-take agreement concluded with Interalloys for double
initial volume and growing demand from US and Asian utilities
-- US$30 million raised from London institutions in oversubscribed fundraise
-- Main equipment for the crushing circuit ordered
-- Major land acquisitions completed ahead of commencement of Salamanca mine construction
-- Infrastructure development continues to progress
-- Appointment of Mr Paul Thomson as Chief Financial Officer
-- The Company has been shortlisted for the UK Stock Market
Awards 'Investor Relations Team of the Year Award', along with
Tesco, Sainsbury's and Next
Managing Director, Paul Atherley, commented:
"The last quarter of 2016 was one of the most significant for
Berkeley. We made progress on the first stages of construction,
signed an off-take agreement and raised US$30 million in an equity
raise."
"We continue to work very closely with the local community and
we are proud of the relationships we have created and the strong
ongoing local support we have received as we prepare for
construction."
"The Salamanca mine is being constructed just as uranium prices
have begun rising after multi-year lows. We are receiving growing
interest from US and Asian utilities who are looking to diversify
their off-take with a low cost producer in the heart of the
European Union."
For further information please contact:
+44 20 7478
Berkeley Energia Limited 3900
Paul Atherley, Managing Director info@berkeleyenergia.com
Hugo Schumann, Corporate Manager
WH Ireland Limited (Nominated Adviser +44 20 7220
and Joint Broker) 1666
Paul Shackleton
Nick Prowting
Jay Ashfield
+44 20 7418
Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker) 8900
Matthew Armitt
Ross Allister
Chris Burrows
+44 207 466
Buchanan 5000
Bobby Morse, Senior Partner BKY@buchanan.uk.com
Anna Michniewicz, Account Director
Overview
Following a decade of exploration and US$60 million of
investment, Berkeley Energia Limited (BKY: AIM/ASX) has placed
orders for major equipment for the crushing circuit at its 100%
owned Salamanca mine in Western Spain.
The low capital and operating costs place the mine at the very
bottom of the global cost curve for uranium production, enabling
the Company to proceed with construction, even as uranium prices
have fallen to 12 year lows.
Sentiment towards the uranium market began to turn towards the
end of last year. In mid-December the spot price jumped 10% with
UxC reporting that several utilities had entered the market.
Demand is expected to grow significantly as US and EU utilities
commence re-contracting for medium to long term supply and Chinese
demand for its US$570 billion new reactor fleet begins to
build.
With operating costs almost exclusively in Euros and a revenue
stream in US dollars the Salamanca mine is expected to continue to
benefit from the effects of deflationary pressures within the
European Union.
Following the successful and oversubscribed capital raising
completed in December, the Company is fully funded through the
development phase with US$31 million in cash and no debt as at 31
December 2016.
Off-take agreement concluded with Interalloys for double initial
volume and growing demand from US and Asian utilities
The Company signed a binding off-take agreement with Interalloys
Trading Limited for the sale of the first uranium production from
the Salamanca mine.
The parties converted the previously announced Letter of Intent
into a binding agreement that included a doubling of annual
contracted volumes to a total of two million pounds over a
five-year period. Potential exists to increase annual volumes
further as well as extend the contract to a total of three million
pounds.
A combination of fixed and market related pricing will apply in
order to secure positive margins in the early years of production
whilst ensuring the Company retains the ability to achieve
potentially higher prices in the future.
An average fixed price of US$43.78 per pound of contracted and
optional volumes was agreed between the parties. This compares with
a prevailing spot price, of approximately US$18 per pound at that
time.
The Company is in discussions with other potential off-takers in
relation to contracts with terms similar to those outlined in the
Interalloys Agreement with pricing at or around long term benchmark
levels for term contracts.
Contracts for sale will be entered into in the ordinary course
of business as the Company actively builds its off-take book with
high quality off-takers as the project advances towards commercial
production.
US$30 million raised from London institutions in oversubscribed
fundraise
During the quarter, the Company successfully raised US$30
million from London's generalist blue chip institutions who now
constitute a significant portion of the share register. The placing
was completed at a price of 45 pence per share, a slight discount
to the share price at the time.
Proceeds from the raise are being used to accelerate the
development of the Salamanca mine in Spain, including construction
of the crushing circuit, the centralised processing facility and
land acquisition. In addition, the funding will allow for the
completion of the Front End Engineering Design activities, the
commencement of construction and provide working capital.
This strong institutional support for this successful financing
was a positive endorsement of the Salamanca mine.
Main equipment for the crushing circuit ordered
The Company announced that full construction of the Salamanca
mine will commence in early 2017 following the order of the first
major items for the crushing circuit.
Proceeds from the US$30 million equity raise were used to order
primary jaw crusher and a secondary cone crusher from the Sandvik
Group, one of the world's leading suppliers of crushers and related
equipment, in a move that accelerates development of the Salamanca
mine.
The final cost of the equipment ordered was more than 20% below
estimates from the definitive feasibility study. The Company, which
already sits at the bottom of the cost curve in terms of capital
and operating costs, will continue to pursue cost optimisation
opportunities as it proceeds towards full construction.
Major land acquisitions completed ahead of commencement of
Salamanca mine construction
Following the US$30 million equity raise, the Company completed
key land acquisitions which will accelerate the development of its
Salamanca mine.
The successful acquisition and lease of over five hundred
hectares of land will allow for the completion of the initial
infrastructure currently underway and the commencement of
construction of the processing plant in the first quarter of 2017
together with construction of a medium voltage substation, reagent
storage facilities and buildings.
Infrastructure development continues to progress
Initial infrastructure development of the Salamanca mine
commenced in August 2016 with the re-routing of the existing
electrical power line to service the mine and a five kilometre
realignment of an existing road.
The infrastructure development continues to progress as planned
with the five kilometre road deviation, which will be completed in
the summer, development of pedestrian footpaths, secure cattle
paths and the installation of a Wifi network for the local
villagers as part of the Company's commitment to improve
infrastructure for the local community.
Berkeley Energia shortlisted for 'IR Team of the Year' award
Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company was
shortlisted for the UK Stock Market Awards 'Investor Relations Team
of the Year Award'. Other companies nominated include Tesco,
Sainsbury's and Next.
The award recognises companies that have most effectively
disseminated information to existing and potential shareholders
across the full range of media, as well as creating, and continuing
to create, shareholder value.
Exploration targeting further Zona 7 style deposits to resume
this quarter
The exploration programme targeting further Zona 7 style
deposits will resume during the coming quarter.
The programme will be aimed at making new discoveries similar to
Zona 7 where no radiometric anomaly was present. Drill targets will
be identified using a combination of techniques including ionic
leach, ground geochemistry, radon emission and detailed structural
mapping.
Last year, the Company reported high grade intersections
extending to a maximum depth of 271 metres at grades consistent
with, or higher than, the average grade of the Zona 7 resource. The
discovery of further deposits of this quality has the potential to
maintain annual production at over 4 million pounds a year on an
ongoing basis.
Strong interest from financiers and strategic partners
The Company is currently in a strong financial position and is
considering a range of financing options whilst remaining focused
on its aim of minimising dilution in order to protect the equity
value of its shareholders.
The Company continues to progress discussions with various
potential strategic partners and financiers interested in taking a
minority stake in the Salamanca mine, all of whom are currently
undertaking detailed legal, financial and technical due
diligence.
Appointment of Chief Financial Officer
Subsequent to the end of the quarter, Mr Paul Thomson was
appointed as CFO of the Company. Mr Thomson joins Berkeley with
many years of experience in the mining industry.
Mr Thomson was CFO of Aureus Mining Inc., a gold producer in
West Africa, from 2011 to 2016 during which time the company
evolved from an explorer, to a developer and then a gold producer.
Prior to Aureus, he was in Business Development at Kazakhmys Plc.
Mr Thomson is a chartered accountant and worked with Ernst &
Young.
Mr Thomson's appointment has bolstered the financing department
of the Company and his experience in his previous roles will be
highly relevant as the Company prepares for construction.
Commitment to the community and the environment
The Company continues to be committed to the revitalisation of
the local community and being a good neighbour and community
business partner.
The Company has been by far the biggest investor in a rural
community suffering from decades of under investment and will high
levels of unemployment, especially amongst its youth.
The Company has to date received over 21,000 applications for
the first 200 direct jobs it will create. It has estimated that for
this type of business there will be a multiplier of 5.1 indirect
jobs for every direct job created, resulting in over 2,750 direct
and indirect jobs forecast when the mine is in full production.
The Company has formalized its "good neighbour and good
community business partner" commitment via a cooperation agreement
with the highly supportive local municipalities.
The policy of preferentially hiring and training local residents
has been very well received with the training programmes continuing
to be heavily oversubscribed, to date over 100 potential employees
have attended courses organised by the Company.
Training programmes will continue to run throughout 2017 to
ensure that sufficient people from the local communities are
qualified for jobs created during the construction and mining
phases. The Company is currently receiving applications for a
training programme for security guards.
The Company's commitment to the environment remains a priority
and, as outlined in the Environmental License and the Environmental
Measures Plan, it will plant trees over some 75 to 100 hectares of
land in the region.
Commitment to raising the number of women employees
The Company remains committed to gender diversity, as evidenced
by the high number of women employed throughout the various levels
of the Company. Currently over 37% of the team in Spain are women
and we are committed to raising this number over the coming
years.
Competent Persons Statement
The information in this announcement that relates to the
Definitive Feasibility Study, Mineral Resources for Zona 7, Ore
Reserve Estimates, Mining, Uranium Preparation, Infrastructure,
Production Targets and Cost Estimation is extracted from the
announcement entitled 'Study confirms the Salamanca project as one
of the world's lowest cost uranium producers' dated 14 July 2016,
which is available to view on Berkeley's Energia Limited (Berkeley)
website at www.berkeleyenergia.com.
Berkeley confirms that: a) it is not aware of any new
information or data that materially affects the information
included in the original announcement; b) all material assumptions
and technical parameters underpinning the Mineral Resources, Ore
Reserve Estimate, Production Target, and related forecast financial
information derived from the Production Target included in the
original announcement continue to apply and have not materially
changed; and c) the form and context in which the relevant
Competent Persons' findings are presented in this announcement have
not been materially modified from the original announcements.
The information in the original announcement that relates to the
Definitive Feasibility Study is based on, and fairly represents,
information compiled or reviewed by Mr. Mr Jeffrey Peter Stevens, a
Competent Person who is a Member of The Southern African Institute
of Mining & Metallurgy, a 'Recognised Professional
Organisation' (RPO) included in a list posted on the ASX website
from time to time. Mr. Stevens is employed by MDM Engineering (part
of the Amec Foster Wheeler Group). Mr. Stevens has sufficient
experience that is relevant to the style of mineralization and type
of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken
to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of
the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results,
Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'.
The information in the original announcement that relates to the
Ore Reserve Estimates, Mining, Uranium Preparation, Infrastructure,
Production Targets and Cost Estimation is based on, and fairly
represents, information compiled or reviewed by Mr. Andrew David
Pooley, a Competent Person who is a Member of The Southern African
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy', a Recognised Professional
Organisation' (RPO) included in a list posted on the ASX website
from time to time. Mr. Pooley is employed by Bara Consulting (Pty)
Ltd. Mr. Pooley has sufficient experience that is relevant to the
style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and
to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person
as defined in the 2012 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for
Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore
Reserves'.
The information in the original announcement that relates to the
Mineral Resources for Zona 7 is based on, and fairly represents,
information compiled or reviewed by Mr Malcolm Titley, a Competent
Person who is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy. Mr Titley is employed by Maja Mining Limited, an
independent consulting company. Mr Titley has sufficient experience
which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of
deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is
undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012
Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration
Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'.
Forward Looking Statement
Statements regarding plans with respect to Berkeley's mineral
properties are forward-looking statements. There can be no
assurance that Berkeley's plans for development of its mineral
properties will proceed as currently expected. There can also be no
assurance that Berkeley will be able to confirm the presence of
additional mineral deposits, that any mineralisation will prove to
be economic or that a mine will successfully be developed on any of
Berkeley's mineral properties.
Appendix 1: Summary of Mining Tenements
As at 31 December 2016, the Company had an interest in the
following tenements:
Location Tenement Name Percentage Status
Interest
------------- ------------------------- ----------- --------
Spain
Salamanca D.S.R Salamanca 100% Granted
28 (Alameda)
D.S.R Salamanca 100% Granted
29 (Villar)
E.C. Retortillo-Santidad 100% Granted
E.C. Lucero 100% Pending
I.P. Abedules 100% Granted
I.P. Abetos 100% Granted
I.P. Alcornoques 100% Granted
I.P. Alisos 100% Granted
I.P. Bardal 100% Granted
I.P. Barquilla 100% Granted
I.P. Berzosa 100% Granted
I.P. Campillo 100% Granted
I.P. Castaños 100% Granted
2
I.P. Ciervo 100% Granted
I.P. Dehesa 100% Granted
I.P. El Águlia 100% Granted
I.P. Espinera 100% Granted
I.P.Halcón 100% Granted
I.P. Horcajada 100% Granted
I.P. Mailleras 100% Granted
I.P. Mimbre 100% Granted
I.P. Oñoro 100% Granted
I.P. Pedreras 100% Granted
I.P. El Vaqueril 100% Pending
I.P. Calixto 100% Pending
I.P. Melibea 100% Pending
I.P. Clerecía 100% Pending
I.P. Clavero 100% Pending
I.P. Conchas 100% Pending
I.P. Lis 100% Pending
E.P. Herradura 100% Pending
------------- ------------------------- ----------- --------
Cáceres I.P. Almendro 100% Granted
I.P. Ibor 100% Granted
I.P. Olmos 100% Granted
Badajoz I.P. Don Benito 100% Granted
Este
I.P. Don Benito 100% Granted
Oeste
Ciudad Real I.P. Damkina 100% Granted
Fraccion 1
I.P. Damkina 100% Granted
Fraccion 2
I.P. Damkina 100% Granted
Fraccion 3
No tenements were acquired or disposed of during the quarter
ended 31 December 2016. There were no changes to beneficial
interest in any mining tenements due to Farm-in or Farm-out
agreements. No beneficial interest in Farm-in or Farm-out
agreements were acquired or disposed during the quarter.
+Rule 5.5
Appendix 5B
Mining exploration entity and oil and gas exploration entity
quarterly report
Introduced 01/07/96 Origin Appendix 8 Amended 01/07/97,
01/07/98, 30/09/01, 01/06/10, 17/12/10, 01/05/13, 01/09/16
Name of entity
-------------------------------------------
Berkeley Energia Limited
-------------------------------------------
ABN Quarter ended ("current
quarter")
--------------- ------------------------
40 052 468 569 31 December 2016
--------------- ------------------------
Consolidated statement Current quarter Year to date
of cash flows $A'000
(6 months)
$A'000
--------------------------------------- ---------------- -------------
1. Cash flows from operating
activities
1.1 Receipts from customers - -
1.2 Payments for
(a) exploration & evaluation (2,668) (4,847)
(b) development - -
(c) production - -
(d) staff costs (941) (2,054)
(e) administration
and corporate costs (557) (1,015)
1.3 Dividends received - -
(see note 3)
1.4 Interest received 74 128
1.5 Interest and other - -
costs of finance paid
1.6 Income taxes paid - -
1.7 Research and development - -
refunds
1.8 Other (provide details
if material): - -
---------------- -------------
Net cash from / (used
1.9 in) operating activities (4,092) (7,788)
----- -------------------------------- ---------------- -------------
2. Cash flows from investing
activities
2.1 Payments to acquire:
(a) property, plant
and equipment - -
(b) tenements (see - -
item 10)
(c) investments - -
(d) other non-current
assets (3,770) (4,328)
2.2 Proceeds from the disposal
of:
(a) property, plant
and equipment - -
(b) tenements (see - -
item 10)
(c) investments - -
(d) other non-current - -
assets
2.3 Cash flows from loans - -
to other entities
2.4 Dividends received - -
(see note 3)
2.5 Other (provide details - -
if material):
---------------- -------------
Net cash from / (used
2.6 in) investing activities (3,770) (4,328)
------- ------------------------------ ---------------- -------------
3. Cash flows from financing
activities
Proceeds from issues
3.1 of shares 39,698 39,698
3.2 Proceeds from issue - -
of convertible notes
3.3 Proceeds from exercise - -
of share options
Transaction costs related
to issues of shares,
convertible notes or
3.4 options (2,133) (2,149)
3.5 Proceeds from borrowings - -
3.6 Repayment of borrowings - -
3.7 Transaction costs related
to loans and borrowings - -
3.8 Dividends paid - -
Other (provide details
3.9 if material)
(a) Proceeds from sale
of royalty - 6,531
(b) Costs in relation
to sale of royalty - (167)
---------------- -------------
Net cash from / (used
3.10 in) financing activities 37,565 43,913
------- ------------------------------ ---------------- -------------
4. Net increase / (decrease)
in cash and cash equivalents
for the period
Cash and cash equivalents
4.1 at beginning of period 13,439 11,346
Net cash from / (used
in) operating activities
4.2 (item 1.9 above) (4,092) (7,788)
Net cash from / (used
in) investing activities
4.3 (item 2.6 above) (3,770) (4,328)
Net cash from / (used
in) financing activities
4.4 (item 3.10 above) 37,565 43,913
Effect of movement
in exchange rates on
4.5 cash held 35 34
---------------- -------------
Cash and cash equivalents
4.6 at end of period 43,177 43,177
------- ------------------------------ ---------------- -------------
5. Reconciliation of cash Current quarter Previous
and cash equivalents $A'000 quarter
at the end of the quarter $A'000
(as shown in the consolidated
statement of cash flows)
to the related items
in the accounts
---- ------------------------------- ---------------- ---------
5.1 Bank balances 18,177 13,439
5.2 Call deposits 25,000 -
5.3 Bank overdrafts - -
5.4 Other (provide details) - -
---------------- ---------
Cash and cash equivalents
at end of quarter (should
5.5 equal item 4.6 above) 43,177 13,439
---- ------------------------------- ---------------- ---------
6. Payments to directors of the entity Current quarter
and their associates $A'000
----------------
Aggregate amount of payments to
these parties included in item
6.1 1.2 (142)
----------------
6.2 Aggregate amount of cash flow
from loans to these parties included
in item 2.3 -
----------------
6.3 Include below any explanation necessary
to understand the transactions included
in items 6.1 and 6.2
---- --------------------------------------------------------
Payments include directors' fees, superannuation,
bonuses and consulting fees.
--------------------------------------------------------------
7. Payments to related entities of Current quarter
the entity and their associates $A'000
----------------
7.1 Aggregate amount of payments to -
these parties included in item
1.2
----------------
7.2 Aggregate amount of cash flow
from loans to these parties included
in item 2.3 -
----------------
7.3 Include below any explanation necessary
to understand the transactions included
in items 7.1 and 7.2
---- --------------------------------------------------------
Not applicable.
--------------------------------------------------------------
8. Financing facilities Total facility Amount drawn
available amount at at quarter
Add notes as necessary quarter end end
for an understanding $A'000 $A'000
of the position
--------------- -------------
8.1 Loan facilities - -
--------------- -------------
8.2 Credit standby arrangements - -
--------------- -------------
8.3 Other (please specify) - -
--------------- -------------
8.4 Include below a description of each facility
above, including the lender, interest rate
and whether it is secured or unsecured.
If any additional facilities have been entered
into or are proposed to be entered into
after quarter end, include details of those
facilities as well.
---- ------------------------------------------------------------
Not applicable.
------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Estimated cash outflows $A'000
for next quarter
---- ------------------------------ --------
9.1 Exploration and evaluation (3,000)
9.2 Development -
9.3 Production -
9.4 Staff costs (500)
Administration and corporate
9.5 costs (500)
9.6 Other (provide details if -
material)
--------
9.7 Total estimated cash outflows (4,000)
---- ------------------------------ --------
10. Changes in Tenement Nature Interest Interest
tenements reference of interest at beginning at end
(items 2.1(b) and location of quarter of quarter
and 2.2(b)
above)
----- ---------------------- -------------- ------------- -------------- ------------
10.1 Interests - - - -
in mining
tenements
and petroleum
tenements
lapsed, relinquished
or reduced
----- ---------------------- -------------- ------------- -------------- ------------
10.2 Interests - - - -
in mining
tenements
and petroleum
tenements
acquired
or increased
----- ---------------------- -------------- ------------- -------------- ------------
Compliance statement
1 This statement has been prepared in accordance with accounting
standards and policies which comply with Listing Rule 19.11A.
2 This statement gives a true and fair view of the matters disclosed.
Sign here:
............................................................ Date:
31 January 2017
(Director/Company secretary)
Print name: Dylan Browne
Notes
1. The quarterly report provides a basis for informing the
market how the entity's activities have been financed for the past
quarter and the effect on its cash position. An entity that wishes
to disclose additional information is encouraged to do so, in a
note or notes included in or attached to this report.
2. If this quarterly report has been prepared in accordance with
Australian Accounting Standards, the definitions in, and provisions
of, AASB 6: Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources and
AASB 107: Statement of Cash Flows apply to this report. If this
quarterly report has been prepared in accordance with other
accounting standards agreed by ASX pursuant to Listing Rule 19.11A,
the corresponding equivalent standards apply to this report.
3. Dividends received may be classified either as cash flows
from operating activities or cash flows from investing activities,
depending on the accounting policy of the entity.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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