TIDMBKY
RNS Number : 4861M
Berkeley Energia Limited
30 April 2018
BERKELEY ENERGIA LIMITED
NEWS RELEASE | 30 April 2018 | AIM/ASX: BKY
Quarterly Report March 2018
Berkeley Energia targets further cost reductions at the
Salamanca Mine
During the quarter steady progress has been achieved in bringing
the project ready to the point where full construction can
commence. The main focus has been on carrying out a detailed
project review, aimed at ensuring that the optimal capital and
operating costs are achieved.
The tone of the uranium market appears to be "cautiously more
optimistic". Production cuts continue to be announced at uranium
mines across the world following the announcement of production
cuts from Cameco and Kazatomprom; the spot price of uranium
currently sits at $21 per pound.
However, against this backdrop of a weakening uranium price
forcing production cuts, demand still continues to grow.
Japanese reactor restarts are well underway, the Chinese new
build programme has new impetus and with a record 57 reactors under
construction around the world there is a growing recognition
amongst policymakers that the combination of renewables and nuclear
energy is the pathway to a clean energy future.
The National Energy Administration announced last month that
China is making good progress with its nuclear build program and is
currently constructing six to eight new reactors with five of them
coming online this year.
The Salamanca mine is scheduled to reach production as the
market enters the long awaited supply/demand deficit that industry
experts have called both fundamental and unavoidable.
The project continues to receive strong support among key
stakeholders in Spain, reflecting the growing awareness of the
benefits the investment will bring to a community that is
experiencing some of the highest levels of unemployment in the
European Union.
Highlights:
-- Detailed review aimed at cost savings:
o The Company has been carrying out an extensive review of the
Salamanca mine to determine whether a further reduction of capital
costs can be achieved;
o The Company has identified a number of areas where there is
potential to reduce the upfront cost required during the
construction phase and will update the market once the review has
been finalised; and
o The Company is now focused on awarding major contracts ahead
of commencing full construction later this year.
-- Strong support from key stakeholders:
o AENOR, the Spanish Association for Standardisation and
Certification, recently re awarded certificates to the Company in
Sustainable Mining and Environmental Excellence; and
o As part of its commitment to reduce unemployment in the
region, the majority of new staff required at the project will be
recruited from the local villages of Retortillo and Villavieja.
-- Uranium market:
o Production cuts from Cameco and Kazatomprom are expected to
remove 17Mlb U(3) O(8) from the market this year (12Mlb
attributable to Cameco alone), representing 12% of primary mine
supply;
o Demand continues to grow across the world as NGOs and think
tanks advocate for the inclusion of nuclear in the clean energy
mix;
o The Company has 2.75 million pounds of U(3) O(8) under
contract for the first six years, with a further 1.25 million
pounds of optional volume, at an average price above US$42,
compared with a spot price of $21 per pound; and
o The Company will continue to progressively build its offtake
book and has granted the Oman sovereign wealth fund the right to
match any future long term offtake transactions.
-- Exploration:
o Exploration focused on identifying additional targets with
similar characteristics to Zona 7 continued during the quarter;
and
o Some further 1,600 soil samples were collected during the
second phase of the geochemical sampling programme which are now
being analysed using Ionic Leach(TM) analysis and other
methods.
The Company is in a strong financial position with US$100
million in cash.
Managing Director, Paul Atherley, commented:
"Having completed the financing, we are finalising the selection
of contractors and are undertaking detailed final reviews to ensure
that we have the most optimal capital and operating costs.
There is a huge amount of support for the Salamanca mine, which
is located in a region experiencing some of the highest levels of
unemployment in the European Union.
Recently the Minister of Economy and Finance for Castilla y
Leon, Pilar del Olmo, heralded the investment that the Company is
making in the region, commenting that the Salamanca mine will bring
'a generation of direct employment.'
But our investment goes beyond just employment - it will boost
local businesses, improve schools that haven't been refurbished for
decades and see other key services such as petrol stations return
to the area.
We work closely with the surrounding communities and through
cooperation agreements have provided Wifi networks for local
villages, built play areas for children, repaired sewage water
plants, upgraded sports facilities, and sponsored various sporting
events and local festivals."
For further information please contact:
Berkeley Energia Limited +44 20 3903 1930
Paul Atherley, Managing Director and CEO info@berkeleyenergia.com
Berenberg (Joint Broker) +44 20 3207 7800
Matthew Armitt
James Brooks
Tamesis Partners (Joint Broker) +44 203 882 2868
Charles Bendon
Richard Greenfield
WH Ireland Limited (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker) +44 20 7220 1683
Tim Feather, Director
Jessica Cave, Assistant Director
Alex Bond, Executive
Detailed development review aimed at reducing capital costs
continues
The Company has been focused on conducting detailed engineering
and scheduling reviews to ensure that the optimal capital and
operating costs are achieved prior to full construction
commencing.
The Company has identified a number of key areas where further
cost savings could be achieved and will look to finalise this
review in the coming months.
The Company is continuing to award major contracts ahead of
commencing full construction. As part of its commitment to develop
the project in partnership with Spanish engineering excellence,
Sanchez y Lago, one of Spain's major construction companies and
contract mining firms was selected as the preferred mining
contractor.
Employment and training
The project is located in an area that has suffered badly from
intergenerational unemployment and rural desertification.
To date, the Company has received over 7,000 job applications
just from residents of the Salamanca region alone; with 400 of
those come from villages surrounding the project and of those, over
110 from Villavieja alone.
The University of Salamanca has estimated that for this type of
business there will be a multiplier factor of 5.1 indirect jobs for
every direct job created, resulting in over 2,500 direct and
indirect jobs being created as a consequence of the Company's
investment in the area.
To date, over 120 locals have attended courses organised by the
Company and over 25% of residents from the local area have applied
for jobs. The Company currently has a work force of nearly 70
people and over a quarter of these have been recruited from towns
in the immediate vicinity.
Training programmes, which have been historically well attended
and oversubscribed, will continue to run throughout the year
ensuring that sufficient people from the local communities are
qualified for jobs created during the construction and mining
phases.
Commitment to the community
The Company has invested more than EUR70 million developing the
project over the past decade and plans to invest an additional
EUR250 million over the life of the project.
The Company has signed Cooperation Agreements with the highly
supportive local municipalities, demonstrating its commitment to
fostering positive relationships with these communities.
To date, through these agreements, the Company has provided Wifi
networks for local villages, built play areas for children,
repaired sewage water plants, upgraded sports facilities, and
sponsored various sporting events and local festivals.
Following consultations with the residents of the local
community a number of infrastructure improvements to neighbouring
villages have been identified, which the Company is looking to
progress in the coming months.
The Company has worked tirelessly over the past decade to
develop positive and mutually beneficial relationships with the
local communities and will continue to do so as construction ramps
up.
Committed to the highest environmental standards
The Salamanca mine is being developed to the highest
international standards and the Company's commitment to the
environment remains a priority. It holds certificates in
Sustainable Mining and Environmental Excellence which were awarded
by AENOR, an independent Spanish government agency. The Company was
re-awarded both certificates following a consultation process with
the agency.
The mine has been designed according to the very latest thinking
on sustainable mining. The extraction and treatment areas will be
continuously rehabilitated as operations progress and with minimum
disturbance during operations. Once operations are complete, all
areas utilised by the Company will be fully restored to an improved
agricultural state.
As part of the Environmental Licence and the Environmental
Measures Plan over 30,000 young oak trees will be planted over an
area of 75 to 100 hectares. The first 20,000 of these will be
planted in the nearby municipality of Vitigudino over an area of
more than 500 hectares currently used by cattle farmers.
Uranium Market - "Cautiously More Optimistic"
Representatives of the Company recently attended the World
Nuclear Fuel Conference in Madrid and were encouraged by the
cautiously more optimistic tone in the uranium market.
The demand outlook continues to improve. Japanese reactor
restarts are well underway and the Chinese new build programme has
new impetus. Around the world policymakers are increasingly
recognizing the combination of renewables and nuclear generated
electricity as the pathway to a low carbon future with a record 57
reactors now under construction across the world.
With the ongoing supply curtailments, most notably closure of
Cameco's flagship McArthur River mine and the Kazatomprom
production cuts, uranium prices at near record lows and with higher
priced historical offtake sales contracts running off, more
closures could be in the pipeline heralding a period of growing
primary supply deficit.
Cameco, the world's largest listed producer, has announced that
2018 production will fall to 18 million pounds and in order to meet
its delivery commitment of 33 million pounds it will need to draw
down inventory and make "opportunist purchases" - widely
interpreted as purchases of uranium in the spot market during the
year.
At the same time the US and EU utilities which represent around
half world's uranium demand, have a growing re-contracting
requirement estimated at 665 million pounds over the next few
years.
The pace of this re-contracting is expected to be a major driver
in the uranium price. The last time the US and EU utilities allowed
contractual coverage to fall to historically low levels they
collectively entered the market to cover their positions resulting
in an increase in the uranium price.
In discussion with utilities there appears to be a growing
awareness of potential security of supply issues particularly at a
time when both the US and Russia are openly discussing trade
sanctions in the nuclear industry.
Nuclear accounts for more than a quarter of the EU's electricity
generation and for the first time in its history the community has
no domestic uranium mine supply and is heavily reliant on imports
from Russia, Kazakhstan and Niger.
The Company remains of the view that development of the
Salamanca mine as a reliable, low cost supplier from the heart of
the European Union provides an attractive security of supply
diversification opportunity for both EU and US utilities.
Offtake programme and notable increase in public tender
activity
The Company currently has 2.75 million pounds of U(3) O(8)
concentrate under long term contracts over the first six years of
production. Potential exists to increase annual contracted volumes
further as well as extend the contracts by a total of 1.25 million
pounds.
The Company has maintained its preference to combine fixed and
market related pricing across its contracts in order to secure
positive margins in the early years of production whilst ensuring
the Company remains exposed to potentially higher prices in the
future.
Across the portfolio, the average fixed price per pound of
contracted and optional volumes is above US$42 per pound. This
compares favourably with the current spot price of around US$21 per
pound.
The investment agreement signed with the Oman sovereign wealth
fund grants the fund the right to match future long term uranium
offtake transactions. This right to match is subject to an annual
cap (on a rolling 12-month basis) which cannot exceed the greater
of 1 million pounds of U(3) O(8) concentrate per annum or 20% of
annual production.
The Company intends to increase its offtaking activity this year
once full construction of the mine is underway and will participate
in public and private offtake opportunities with global utilities,
reporting regularly on progress.
The Company was selected to present at the World Nuclear Fuel
Cycle Conference in Madrid in April 2018. Following the conference,
which was attended by utility companies from across the world, the
Company hosted several major utilities on site to provide an update
on progress made at the project.
The Salamanca mine is scheduled to reach production as the
market enters a supply/demand deficit that industry experts have
called both fundamental and unavoidable. US utilities looking to
re-contract will be competing with Chinese and Japanese reactor
demand, which may lead to higher spot and term contract prices.
In addition, organisations such as Imperial College and Energy
for Humanity have spoken publicly on the importance of including
nuclear power in the clean energy mix along with renewables.
Exploration programme expanded targeting Zona 7 style
deposits
The soil sampling programme continued throughout the quarter,
focusing on identifying additional targets with similar
characteristics to the Zona 7 and Retortillo deposits.
The process involves developing a fingerprint of the Zona 7
discovery (where a low radiometric anomaly existed) and the
Retortillo deposit and looking for repetitions of these unique
signatures in other areas of interest and then matching these with
co-incident radon and geochemical anomalies and finally placed in a
geological and structural setting.
During this second phase, following on from the December 2017
work programme, a further 1,600 soil samples were collected across
the Salamanca I and Salamanca II areas and are being analysed using
Ionic Leach(TM), which allows for very high levels of detection of
uranium and other economic minerals.
The programme is supported by radiometric surveying and radon
ground concentration measures which, when combined with the soil
samples, will enable the Company to plan a targeted drilling
programme based on the wealth of geological data it has
collected.
Permitting update
To date, the Company has received more than 120 favourable
reports and permits for the development of the mine.
The Urbanism Commission of Salamanca gave an Express Resolution
for the granting of the Authorisation of Exceptional Land Use.
With the Mining Licence, Environmental Licence and the
Authorization of Exceptional Land Use the next major approvals are
the Urbanism Licence by the municipal authority and the
Construction Authorization by the Ministry of Energy, Tourism and
Digital Agenda for the treatment plant as a radioactive
facility.
Approvals for the Zona 7 deposit are progressing well, the
Exploitation Plan, the Reclamation and Closure Plan, the
Environmental Impact Assessment and the Initial Authorization are
complete and have all now been submitted to the relevant
authorities. The final approval is expected during 2019 as
previously announced.
To view this announcement in full, including all illustrations,
please refer to
https://www.berkeleyenergia.com/investor-relations/company-reports/.
Forward Looking Statements
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 mineral properties. These forward-looking statements are
based on Berkeley's expectations and beliefs concerning future
events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to
risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside
the control of Berkeley, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from such statements. Berkeley makes no undertaking to
subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made
in this announcement, to reflect the circumstances or events after
the date of that announcement.
Appendix 1: Summary of Mining Tenements
As at 31 March 2018, the Company had an interest in the
following tenements:
Location Tenement Name Percentage Status
Interest
------------- ------------------------- ----------- --------
Spain
Salamanca D.S.R Salamanca 28 100% Granted
(Alameda)
D.S.R Salamanca 29 100% Granted
(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 Este 100% Granted
I.P. Don Benito Oeste 100% Granted
Investigation permits, Damkina Fraccion 1, 2 and 3, were
relinquished during the quarter ended 31 March 2018. There were no
other 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 March 2018
----------------------------------
Consolidated statement of cash Current quarter Year to date
flows $A'000
(9 months)
$A'000
1. Cash flows from operating
activities
1.1 Receipts from customers - -
1.2 Payments for
(a) exploration & evaluation (4,824) (9,629)
(b) development - -
(c) production - -
(d) staff costs (1,234) (4,781)
(e) administration and corporate
costs (328) (1,144)
1.3 Dividends received (see note - -
3)
1.4 Interest received 114 260
1.5 Interest and other costs of - -
finance paid
1.6 Income taxes paid - -
1.7 Research and development refunds - -
Other (provide details if
1.8 material):
- Business Development (193) (636)
- Prepaid Deposits - (101)
---------------- ----------------
Net cash from / (used in)
1.9 operating activities (6,465) (16,031)
----- ------------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------
2. Cash flows from investing
activities
2.1 Payments to acquire:
(a) property, plant and equipment (981) (2,247)
(b) tenements (see item 10) - -
(c) investments - -
(d) other non-current assets - -
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 in)
2.6 investing activities (981) (2,247)
------- ----------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------
3. Cash flows from financing
activities
3.1 Proceeds from issues of shares - -
Proceeds from issue of convertible
3.2 notes - 85,824
3.3 Proceeds from exercise of - -
share options
Transaction costs related
to issues of shares, convertible
3.4 notes or options (1) (2,526)
3.5 Proceeds from borrowings - -
3.6 Repayment of borrowings - -
3.7 Transaction costs related
to loans and borrowings - -
3.8 Dividends paid - -
3.9 Other (provide details if - -
material)
---------------- ----------------
Net cash from / (used in)
3.10 financing activities (1) 83,298
------- ----------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------
4. Net increase / (decrease)
in cash and cash equivalents
for the period
Cash and cash equivalents
4.1 at beginning of period 105,367 34,814
Net cash from / (used in)
operating activities (item
4.2 1.9 above) (6,465) (16,031)
Net cash from / (used in)
investing activities (item
4.3 2.6 above) (981) (2,247)
Net cash from / (used in)
financing activities (item
4.4 3.10 above) (1) 83,298
Effect of movement in exchange
4.5 rates on cash held 1,881 (33)
---------------- ----------------
Cash and cash equivalents
4.6 at end of period 99,801 99,801
------- ----------------------------------- ---------------- ----------------
5. Reconciliation of cash and Current quarter Previous quarter
cash equivalents $A'000 $A'000
at the end of the quarter
(as shown in the consolidated
statement of cash flows) to
the related items in the accounts
5.1 Bank balances 17,520 24,429
5.2 Call deposits 82,281 80,938
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) 99,801 105,367
---- ----------------------------------- ---------------- -----------------
6. Payments to directors of the entity and Current quarter
their associates $A'000
Aggregate amount of payments to these parties
6.1 included in item 1.2 (172)
----------------
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 the entity Current quarter
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 available Total facility Amount drawn
Add notes as necessary for amount at quarter at quarter end
an understanding of the position end $A'000
$A'000
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 for next $A'000
quarter
9.1 Exploration and evaluation (3,000)
9.2 Development -
9.3 Production -
9.4 Staff costs (1,000)
9.5 Administration and corporate costs (200)
9.6 Other (provide details if material) -
--------
9.7 Total estimated cash outflows (4,200)
---- ------------------------------------ --------
10. Changes in tenements Tenement Nature of Interest Interest
(items 2.1(b) reference interest at beginning at end of
and 2.2(b) above) and location of quarter quarter
I.P. Damkina
Fraccion
1 Direct 100% -
Interests in I.P. Damkina
mining tenements Fraccion
and petroleum 2 Direct 100% -
tenements lapsed, I.P. Damkina
relinquished Fraccion
10.1 or reduced 3 Direct 100% -
----- --------------------- -------------- ---------- -------------- -----------
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.
[lodged electronically without signature]
Sign here:
............................................................ Date:
30 April 2018
(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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