TIDMDNK
RNS Number : 1807I
Danakali Limited
31 March 2020
Announcement Tuesday, 31 March 2020
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Danakali provides update on COVID-19 and financing
-- COVID-19 update for Danakali and the Colluli project
-- Tranche 2 of the AFC Subscription Agreement deferred in light
of COVID-19 and market uncertainty
-- Danakali is well funded to complete current planned
activities and to withstand the impact during this volatile
period
Danakali Limited (ASX: DNK, LSE: DNK, Danakali or the Company),
provides today an update on business measures related to the
COVID-19 crisis and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) strategic
equity investment.
COVID-19
With the status of Coronavirus (COVID-19) evolving rapidly, it
provides a highly dynamic and challenging scenario for global
markets to operate within. To address this, Danakali is monitoring
the potential impact on its operations and has rolled out a
business continuity plan and has mobilised all resources to
continue to work on various workstreams according to the EPCM plan.
At this stage, the Company has made significant progress with the
delivery of Phase 1 and has commenced Phase 2.
Danakali has increased precautionary measures including working
from home and suspending all non-essential projects. Given the
nature of the current situation and the fact that our ongoing work
programmes are desk-based, our project team is working remotely, to
ensure that safety remains a top priority. Danakali is regularly
assessing its operating structure, schedule and cost base and will
continue to do so during this period of uncertainty presented by
COVID-19.
AFC investment
In light of the rapid spread of COVID-19 and its significant
impact on global financial markets, Tranche 2 of AFC's equity
funding(1) (Tranche 2) will be deferred to allow for the
stabilisation of market and global conditions.
AFC remains fully supportive of Danakali and the Colluli
Sulphate of Potash Project (Colluli or the Project), and advancing
Tranche 2. AFC's confidence of the ultimate success of Colluli is
evidenced by the Board appointments of two nominees that it is
entitled to appoint under the US$50m Subscription Agreement between
Danakali and AFC.
Danakali considers AFC to be a key strategic investor and
partner in the Project and accordingly, given the requirement for
financing in addition to AFC's investment, Tranche 2 will not be
advanced whilst the critical market conditions are unfavourable and
uncertain. The deferment of Tranche 2 will:
-- allow the parties to work through satisfying many of the
remaining conditions precedent to Danakali's debt financing,
and
-- give Danakali additional time to reassess its overall funding
strategy in view of the changed market environment and review a
range of options appropriate to the Project's funding requirements
beyond the completion of EPCM Phases 1 and 2.
With the receipt of Tranche 1 of AFC's investment of US$21.5m
(A$31.8m)(2) , Danakali is well funded to complete the current
activities and close out the balance of the funding.
AFC has confirmed that prior to the advance of Tranche 2 it
requires satisfaction of certain conditions precedent relating to
CMSC's debt financing and execution of certain of the documents
ancillary to that debt financing, in addition to the senior debt
agreements already executed.
Danakali and AFC are working in good faith to agree the extent
of AFC's requirements, which of these documents require execution
before Tranche 2 can be advanced and a realistic timeframe for
satisfaction of these requirements if that is beyond the existing
deadline for satisfaction of the Tranche 2 conditions which is 2
June 2020. A further announcement will be made in due course.
Approval of Danakali's shareholders remains a further condition
precedent, as previously announced.
For more information, please contact:
Danakali
Niels Wage Todd Romaine
Chief Executive Officer Chief Sustainability Officer
+61 8 6189 8635 +1 604 365 5999
Corporate Broker - Numis Securities UK IR/PR - Instinctif Partners
John Prior / James Black / Paul Mark Garraway / Dinara Shikhametova
Gillam / Sarah Hourahane
+44 (0)20 7260 1000 danakali@instinctif.com
+44 (0)207 457 2020
Visit the Company's website: www.danakali.com
Follow Danakali on LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/company/danakali-limited
Subscribe to Danakali on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/channel/UChGKN4-M4lOvPKxs9b-IJvw
Announcement authorised for release by the Board of
Danakali.
About Danakali
Danakali Limited (ASX: DNK, LSE: DNK) (Danakali, or the Company)
is an ASX- and LSE-listed potash company focused on the development
of the Colluli Sulphate of Potash Project (Colluli or the Project).
The Project is 100% owned by the Colluli Mining Share Company
(CMSC), a 50:50 joint venture between Danakali and the Eritrean
National Mining Corporation (ENAMCO).
The Project is located in the Danakil Depression region of
Eritrea, East Africa, and is 75km from the Red Sea coast, making it
one of the most accessible potash deposits globally. Mineralisation
within the Colluli resource commences at just 16m, making it the
world's shallowest known potash deposit. The resource is amenable
to open cut mining, which allows higher overall resource recovery
to be achieved, is generally safer than underground mining, and is
highly advantageous for modular growth.
The Company has completed a Front End Engineering Design (FEED)
for the production of potassium sulphate, otherwise known as
Sulphate of Potash or SOP. SOP is a chloride free, specialty
fertiliser which carries a substantial price premium relative to
the more common potash type; potassium chloride (or MOP). Economic
resources for production of SOP are geologically scarce. The unique
composition of the Colluli resource favours low energy input, high
potassium yield conversion to SOP using commercially proven
technology. One of the key advantages of the resource is that the
salts are present in solid form (in contrast with production of SOP
from brines) which reduces infrastructure costs and substantially
reduces the time required to achieve full production capacity.
The resource is favourably positioned to supply the world's
fastest growing markets. A binding take-or-pay offtake agreement
has been confirmed with EuroChem Trading GmbH (EuroChem) for up to
100% (minimum 87%) of Colluli Module I SOP production.
Development Finance Institutions, Africa Finance Corporation
(AFC) and African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank), have obtained
formal credit approval to provide CMSC with US$200M in senior debt
finance. The credit documentation was executed in December 2019,
allowing drawdown of CMSC senior debt on satisfaction of customary
conditions precedent. This represents the majority of funding
required for the development and construction of the Colluli. AFC
has also executed a Subscription Agreement to make a US$50M
strategic equity investment in Danakali. The receipt of the first
tranche of US$21.5M (A$31.8M) allowed commencement of the
development.
Project execution has commenced and SOP production is expected
during 2022. The Company's vision is to bring Colluli into
production using the principles of risk management, resource
utilisation and modularity, using the starting module (Module I) as
a growth platform to develop the resource to its full
potential.
Competent Persons Statement (Sulphate of Potash and Kieserite
Mineral Resource)
Colluli has a JORC-2012 compliant Measured, Indicated and
Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 1,289Mt @11% K (2) 0 Equiv.
and 7% Kieserite. The Mineral Resource contains 303Mt @ 11% K (2) 0
Equiv. and 6% Kieserite of Measured Resource, 951Mt @ 11% K (2) 0
Equiv. and 7% Kieserite of Indicated Resource and 35Mt @ 10% K (2)
0 Equiv. and 9% Kieserite of Inferred Resource.
The information relating to the Colluli Mineral Resource
estimate is extracted from the report entitled " Colluli Review
Delivers Mineral Resource Estimate of 1.289Bt " disclosed on 25
February 2015 and the report entitled "In excess of 85 million
tonnes of Kieserite defined within Colluli Project Resource adds to
multi agri-commodity potential" disclosed on 15 August 2016, which
are available to view at www.danakali.com.au . The Company confirms
that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially
affects the information included in the original market
announcement and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources or
Ore Reserves, that all material assumptions and technical
parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market
announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The
Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent
Person ' s findings are presented have not been materially modified
from the original market announcement.
Competent Persons Statement (Sulphate of Potash Ore Reserve)
Colluli Proved and Probable Ore Reserve is reported according to
the JORC Code and estimated at 1,100Mt @ 10.5% K (2) O Equiv. The
Ore Reserve is classified as 285Mt @ 11.3% K (2) O Equiv. Proved
and 815Mt @ 10.3% K (2) O Equiv. Probable. The Colluli SOP Mineral
Resource includes those Mineral Resources modified to produce the
Colluli SOP Ore Reserves.
The information relating to the January 2018 Colluli Ore Reserve
is extracted from the report entitled "Colluli Ore Reserve update"
disclosed on 19 February 2018 and is available to view at
www.danakali.com.au . The Company confirms that it is not aware of
any new information or data that materially affects the information
included in the original market announcement and, in the case of
estimates of Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves, that all material
assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in
the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not
materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context
in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not
been materially modified from the original market announcement.
Competent Persons Statement (Rock Salt Mineral Resource)
Colluli has a JORC-2012 compliant Measured, Indicated and
Inferred Mineral Resource estimate of 347Mt @ 96.9% NaCl. The
Mineral Resource estimate contains 28Mt @ 97.2% NaCl of Measured
Resource, 180Mt @ 96.6% NaCl of Indicated Resource and 139Mt @
97.2% NaCl of Inferred Resource.
The information relating to the Colluli Rock Salt Mineral
Resource estimate is extracted from the report entitled " +300M
Tonne Rock Salt Mineral Resource Estimate Completed for Colluli "
disclosed on 23 September 2015 and is available to view at
www.danakali.com.au . The Company confirms that it is not aware of
any new information or data that materially affects the information
included in the original market announcement and, in the case of
estimates of Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves, that all material
assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in
the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not
materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context
in which the Competent Person ' s findings are presented have not
been materially modified from the original market announcement.
AMC Consultants Pty Ltd (AMC) independence
In reporting the Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves referred to
in this public release, AMC acted as an independent party, has no
interest in the outcomes of Colluli and has no business
relationship with Danakali other than undertaking those individual
technical consulting assignments as engaged, and being paid
according to standard per diem rates with reimbursement for
out-of-pocket expenses. Therefore, AMC and the Competent Persons
believe that there is no conflict of interest in undertaking the
assignments which are the subject of the statements.
Quality control and quality assurance
Danakali exploration programs follow standard operating and
quality assurance procedures to ensure that all sampling techniques
and sample results meet international reporting standards. Drill
holes are located using GPS coordinates using WGS84 Datum, all
mineralisation intervals are downhole and are true width
intervals.
The samples are derived from HQ diamond drill core, which in the
case of carnallite ores, are sealed in heat-sealed plastic tubing
immediately as it is drilled to preserve the sample. Significant
sample intervals are dry quarter cut using a diamond saw and then
resealed and double bagged for transport to the laboratory.
Halite blanks and duplicate samples are submitted with each
hole. Chemical analyses were conducted by Kali-Umwelttechnik GmBH,
Sondershausen, Germany, utilising flame emission spectrometry,
atomic absorption spectroscopy and ion chromatography.
Kali-Umwelttechnik (KUTEC) has extensive experience in analysis of
salt rock and brine samples and is certified according by DIN EN
ISO/IEC 17025 by the Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAR). The
laboratory follows standard procedures for the analysis of potash
salt rocks chemical analysis (K (+) , Na(+) , Mg(2+) , Ca(2+) ,
Cl(-) , SO(4) (2-) , H(2) O) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis
of the same samples as for chemical analysis to determine a
qualitative mineral composition, which combined with the chemical
analysis gives a quantitative mineral composition.
Forward looking statements and disclaimer
The information in this document is published to inform you
about Danakali and its activities. Danakali has endeavoured to
ensure that the information enclosed is accurate at the time of
release, and that it accurately reflects the Company ' s
intentions. All statements in this document, other than statements
of historical facts, that address future production, project
development, reserve or resource potential, exploration drilling,
exploitation activities, corporate transactions and events or
developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward looking
statements. Although the Company believes the expectations
expressed in such statements are based on reasonable assumptions,
such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual
results or developments may differ materially from those in
forward-looking statements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those in forward-looking statements include market prices of
potash and, exploitation and exploration successes, capital and
operating costs, changes in project parameters as plans continue to
be evaluated, continued availability of capital and financing and
general economic, market or business conditions, as well as those
factors disclosed in the Company ' s filed documents.
There can be no assurance that the development of Colluli will
proceed as planned. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward looking information. Mineral Resources and Ore
Reserves have been reported according to the JORC Code, 2012
Edition. To the extent permitted by law, the Company accepts no
responsibility or liability for any losses or damages of any kind
arising out of the use of any information contained in this
document. Recipients should make their own enquiries in relation to
any investment decisions.
Mineral Resource, Ore Reserve, production target, forecast
financial information and financial assumptions made in this
announcement are consistent with assumptions detailed in the
Company ' s ASX announcements dated 25 February 2015, 23 September
2015, 15 August 2016, 1 February 2017, 29 January 2018, and 19
February 2018 which continue to apply and have not materially
changed. The Company is not aware of any new information or data
that materially affects assumptions made.
No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be
made by or on behalf of the Company, and no responsibility or
liability is or will be accepted by the Company or its affiliates,
as to the accuracy, completeness or verification of the information
set out in this announcement, and nothing contained in this
announcement is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or
representation in this respect, whether as to the past or the
future. The Company and each of its affiliates accordingly
disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all and any
liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise which it
might otherwise have in respect of this announcement or any such
statement.
The distribution of this announcement outside the United Kingdom
may be restricted by law and therefore any persons outside the
United Kingdom into whose possession this announcement comes should
inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions in
connection with the distribution of this announcement. Any failure
to comply with such restrictions may constitute a violation of the
securities laws of any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom.
(1) Tranche 2 of AFC's equity funding consists of approximately
70 million new Danakali shares at an issue price of A$0.60 per
share to raise A$42.0 million (US$28.5 million) as announced on 3
December 2019
(2) Danakali's announcement on 10 December 2019
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
END
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