TIDMWRES
RNS Number : 9828R
W Resources PLC
27 September 2017
27 September 2017
W Resources Plc
("W" or the "Company")
Half Year Results for the Six Months Ended 30 June 2017
Highlights for H1 2017
Tungsten prices have significantly recovered in 2017 with the
European Tungsten Ammonium Para Tungstate ("APT") price now up 50%
in 2017 at over US$310/mtu, with commentators (Source: Argus Media)
predicting it passing the US$350 mark before the end of 2017. The
continued emerging shortages of Tungsten concentrate bodes well for
prices for the balance of 2017.
La Parrilla, Spain
-- Completed a JORC Resource upgrade and announced its Maiden
JORC Reserves, further underpinning the strong fundamentals of La
Parrilla as a large, low cost, long life tungsten and tin
project.
-- Key contracts awarded for the Jig and Mill to allmineral
Aufbereitungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG of Germany and for the
Crusher Plant contract to Metso Minerals Portugal Lda., both of
which are expected to be delivered ahead of schedule.
-- Final grant application submitted to the Junta de Extremadura
Government in Spain for a percentage of the EUR19.5m plant and
facilities package.
-- Significant progress has been made on financing for the next
development phase, to achieve 2.0mtpa ROM and 2,700 tonnes of
tungsten concentrate production, with the updated target debt
financing increasing to US$30m, which is expected to allow W to
remove the equity financing component.
-- In August, the Financial Investment Decision (FID) Report was
released further reaffirming the project as a large, long life, low
cost tungsten and tin project.
Régua, Portugal
-- Detailed metallurgical test work program completed in Australia
-- Drilling campaign planned for the H2 2017 to further develop the trial mine design.
CAA / Portalegre, Portugal
-- Results from the drilling campaign proved up very promising
results with a thick intersection of over 55m of gold at 2.34g/t.
These results provide a solid base to drive extension drilling with
the potential for a materially larger resource.
-- Results of drilling campaign will form part of the update for
the upgrade to the JORC compliant mineral resource estimate which
will be completed following an infill RC programme expected to be
completed in Q4 2017.
Finance
-- Raised GBP1.5 million over three placings. Funds
predominately used to advance approvals, engineering procurement
and development and commence hard rock production for the La
Parrilla expansion, in addition to completion of the São Martinho
drilling campaign and general working capital.
-- Finance activity continues to be focused on the financing of
the development of La Parrilla. Specialist debt advisors have been
appointed as part of the process and financing is expected to be
completed during Q4 2017.
Michael Masterman, Chairman of W Resources, commented: "The
fundamentals of La Parrilla are ever more competitive with the
tungsten price increase of over 50% to more than US$310/mtu in the
past 9 months, and with the design and construction for the 2mtpa
plant advancing we well positioned to accelerate development on
completion of the planned debt financing, which expect to be
completed in Q4 2017."
"In Portugal, the drilling campaigns planned at Régua and at
Tarouca will further develop the trial mine design, and further
increase our overall tungsten resource and production base."
"We appreciate our shareholders' patience as we reach the next
major milestone with the debt financing and we are as keen as any
to conclude our negotiations in order to ramp up the La Parrilla
project development."
Enquiries:
W Resources Plc Grant Thornton UK LLP
Michael Masterman Colin Aaronson / Harrison
T: +44 (0) 20 7193 7463 Clarke
www.wresources.co.uk T: +44 (0) 20 7383 5100
Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Gable Communications
Ltd Justine James
Ben Turner / James Pope T: +44 (0) 20 7193 7463
T: +44 (0) 203 621 4120 M: +44 (0) 7525 324431
www.turnerpope.com
About W
In 2012, W Resources Plc (AIM:WRES) made the successful
transition into a tungsten production exploration and development
company with projects in Spain and Portugal, following two
acquisitions. Projects now include La Parrilla, a tungsten project
in Spain and Régua and Tarouca Tungsten projects and the Portalegre
copper-gold project in Portugal.
The Company's deposits and tungsten mine developments offer a
low cost, high margin resource development opportunity. Tungsten
and Tin prices have increased significantly over the last 12 months
and Tungsten is in the EUs top 5 critical metals list.
The Board is focused to explore further opportunities in the
region with a view to building a mid-tier minor metal producer.
The Company was incorporated in England and Wales in 2004.
W RESOURCES Plc
CHAIRMANS STATEMENT TO THE INTERIM RESULTS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 JUNE 2017
Dear Shareholders,
I am pleased to report on W Resources' H1 2017 activity as we
advance the development on our portfolio of tungsten, tin, copper
and gold assets.
TUNGSTEN and TIN
La Parrilla - Spain
La Parrilla is a large scale, low cost tungsten and tin project,
located 300km south of Madrid. Australasian Joint Ore Reserves
Committee ("JORC") compliant resources total 49 million tonnes
("mt") at a grade of 998 parts per million ("ppm") tungsten
trioxide ("WO(3) ") and JORC compliant reserves of 29.8mt at a
diluted grade of 931ppm WO(3) .
The mine is expected to be developed and expanded over the next
12 months to mine 2 million tonnes per annum ("mtpa") of Run of
Mine ("ROM") and produce approximately 2,700 tonnes ("t") of
tungsten concentrate and 500t of tin (Sn) concentrate per
annum.
The development towards production in 2018 at La Parrilla
remains a key objective, highlighted by the negotiations on both
finance and contract awards.
To date:
-- W completed a JORC Resource upgrade and announced its Maiden
JORC Reserves, further underpinning the strong fundamentals of La
Parrilla as a large, low cost, long life tungsten and tin mine.
-- With regard to development progress, key contracts have now
been awarded for the Jig, Mill and Crusher, which are expected to
be delivered ahead of schedule.
-- Significant progress has been made on financing for the next
development phase (T2) at the La Parrilla Mine to achieve 2.0mtpa
ROM and 2,700 tonnes of tungsten concentrate production, with the
updated target debt financing increasing to US$30m, which is
expected to allow the Company to remove the equity financing
component, together with key contract awards and the grant
application submission to the Junta de Extremadura Government in
Spain.
In August, the La Parrilla Financial Investment Decision ("FID")
Report was released further reaffirming the project as a large,
long life, low cost tungsten and tin mine:
FID Summary
Project Phases Phase 1: T2 2mtpa ROM producing 2,700tpa of WO(3) concentrate Capex US$25.5m (2017-2018 debt)
US$1.9m (2019 internal)
============= ================================================= ====================================
Phase 2: T3.5 3.5mtpa ROM producing 4,000tpa of WO(3) Capex US$19.9m (2020-2022)
concentrate
============= ================================================= ====================================
Operating Costs ($ / mtu) Operating Area Avg. Opex
2018-2022
=============== ==========
Mining 44
================================================ ==========
Processing 60
================================================ ==========
Royalty 4
================================================ ==========
Tin Credits (15)
================================================ ==========
Total 94
================================================ ==========
Financial Evaluation Initial 6 Years of Production Real 2017 US Dollars (Millions)
============================================= ===============================
Project NPV (After-tax at 10% discount rate) 59
=================================================================== ===============================
IRR (After-tax) % 64
=================================================================== ===============================
Average EBITDA p.a. 32.6
=================================================================== ===============================
Average EBITDA Margin % 57
=================================================================== ===============================
Payback Years 2
=================================================================== ===============================
Resource Upgrade
In May, W confirmed an increase in the grades and upgrade in
resource categorisation of its JORC (2012) Resource for La
Parrilla, with an upgraded Resource Report completed by Golder
Associates Ltd, following a successful programme of infill drilling
in 2016.
Indicated Resources at La Parrilla have increased in grade and
upgraded in resource categorisation with part of the resource being
upgraded to the measured category of resource:
Classification Tonnage (Mt) WO(3) (ppm) Sn (ppm)
================ ============= ============ =========
Measured 1 1,115 278
Indicated 35 1,004 110
Inferred 13 974 97
================ ============= ============ =========
Total 49 998 110
================ ============= ============ =========
In June, W announced its Maiden Ore Reserves for the La Parrilla
mine, prepared in accordance with the JORC Code 2012:
La Parrilla Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves
- JORC 2012
Tonnes Grade Metal Grade Metal
Content Content
'000 WO(3) WO(3) Sn (ppm) Sn (t)
(ppm) (t)
============ ========= ========= ========== ========== =========
Proven 1,177 995 1,171 251 295
Probable 28,577 928 26,511 111 3,156
============ ========= ========= ========== ========== =========
Total 29,754 931 27,683 116 3,451
============ ========= ========= ========== ========== =========
Note: Estimate for La Parrilla Deposit using a 330 ppm WO(3)
Cut-Off Grade and 5% dilution. All tonnes quoted are dry tonnes.
Differences in the addition of tonnes to the total displayed is due
to rounding.
Delivery of higher grades increases the projected revenues and
cash flows in the early years of production and the Life of Mine is
11 years, based on these reserves and the progressive expansion of
La Parrilla to 2 mtpa in 2018 increasing to 3.5mtpa in 2020.
Contract awards
In April 2017, W announced the award of the Design and Construct
Contract for the La Parrilla Jig and Mill to allmineral
Aufbereitungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG of Germany at a contract
price of EUR4.98m. allmineral is providing vendor finance for just
under 50% of the contract price on very competitive terms.
In August 2017, W awarded the Crusher Plant contract to Metso
Minerals Portugal, Lda, a subsidiary of Metso Corporation, one of
the world's leading suppliers of crusher equipment, for
EUR1.2m.
Grants
W formally submitted the final Grant Application to the Junta de
Extremadura Government for the La Parrilla tungsten and tin project
in May 2017. The Grant Application is for a percentage of the
EUR19.5m plant and facilities package for the La Parrilla Fast
Track Mine development, which includes the Crusher, Jig / Mill
Plant and the Concentrator.
The Government will evaluate the full application and, if
approved, determine the percentage of the EUR19.5m package that
they will fund, which could be up to 30% of that amount.
Finance
High level term sheets have been received and negotiations are
advancing well and to ensure the right outcome. The development
timeline from financing to completion of the plant is 12 months,
therefore the anticipated Q4 2017 financing completion would pave
the way for production in Q4 2018. The timing in concluding the
financing is aided by further strengthening of the European
Tungsten Ammonium Para Tungstate ("APT") price to over US$310 per
metric ton unit ("mtu") in the past month.
Following the finalisation of the FID Report, the Board elected
to increase the size of the target debt financing from US$25m to
US$30m, which is expected to allow the Company to remove the equity
financing component previously outlined. Capital and operating
costs estimates remain at the previously indicated highly
competitive levels.
Development
Significant progress has been made on the engineering and
procurement of key plant, machinery and services to expand and
develop to mine at a rate of 2mtpa resulting in forecast production
of 2,700tpa of tungsten concentrate and 500tpa of tin concentrate.
Design and engineering of the T2 has also incorporated steps to
allow a timely expansion of La Parrilla to mine at a rate of up to
3.5mtpa (the T3.5 Expansion) which has the ability to further
increase production and lower operating costs.
Régua - Portugal
Régua has a current JORC compliant mineral resource of 5.46mt at
a grade of 0.28% WO(3) , with an indicated resource of 3.76mt at a
grade of 0.304% WO(3) . In July, the Portuguese Secretary of State
for Energy under the Ministry for the Economy granted a further one
year extension to the Régua Trial Mine Licence to 19 June 2020. A
drilling campaign is planned for Q4 2017 to further develop the
trial mine design.
The detailed metallurgical testwork program performed in
Australia has generated some promising results which support plant
design and equipment selection for the first trial mine stage.
The Régua deposit remains open at depth and on all sides, with
significant potential to boost the resource growth to the northeast
including a 10m thick tungsten intersection.
Tarouca - Portugal
In September, the Portuguese Secretary of State for Energy under
the Ministry for the Economy approved W's application to extend the
Tarouca licence for another two-year period. The extended Tarouca
licence will expire on 23 March 2019.
During the two-year extension period the Company will
consolidate prior exploration programmes completed to date by
carrying out a 15 hole / 1,500m reverse circulation drilling
campaign.
In 2015, trench sampling at the Tarouca project showed
high-grade tungsten results with 15 out of 126 samples exceeding
0.5% WO(3) , including 0.8m at 11.4% WO(3) (TTR063). Together with
the 15 holes drilled in 2014, this confirms an outstanding
exploration target in the north-eastern area of the licence.
Whilst the development focus is on La Parrilla in Spain and
Régua in Portugal, the drilling campaign at Tarouca will help us to
further delineate the resource with a view to increasing our
overall tungsten resource and production base. Tarouca is 20km from
Régua and has the potential to enhance and expand the Régua
development.
Copper Gold Resources
With continued strengthening of both copper and gold prices, the
fundamentals of the Copper and Gold projects look increasingly
compelling.
In March 2017, following the full strategic review, W concluded
that there is a significant opportunity to accelerate the
development of its copper and gold projects by focusing dedicated
funding in this area which will increase the value of these assets.
The Board is continuing to evaluate various options to separate
these projects, including the option of separately listing on the
London Stock Exchange or working with a Joint Venture partner.
CAA Portalegre - Gold
São Martinho currently has a JORC gold resource of over
110,000oz. Results from the drilling campaign earlier in the year
proved up very promising results with a thick intersection of over
55m of gold at 2.34g/t. These results provide a solid base to drive
extension drilling with the potential for a materially larger
resource.
The overall results of the drilling campaign will form part of
the update for the upgrade to the JORC compliant mineral resource
estimate which will be completed following an infill RC programme
to be completed in Q4 2017.
Monforte-Tinoca - Copper
The Monforte-Tinoca Copper exploration licence, which contains
the Tinoca and Azeiteiros former copper mines, was granted to W in
July 2016 and development work is progressing well on these two
projects.
Commodity Pricing
Tungsten prices have significantly recovered in 2017 with the
APT now up 50% in 2017 at over US$310/mtu, with commentators
predicting it passing the US$350 mark before the end of 2017. The
continued emerging shortages of Tungsten concentrate bodes well for
prices for the balance of 2017.
Tin prices have surged from $13,500 per tonne at the beginning
of 2016 reaching around $20,800 per tonne in the past quarter. The
prospect of higher tin content and continued strengthening in the
tin price provides potential for higher revenues and lower costs
after by-product credits in the early years of production at La
Parrilla.
Copper has jumped 20% since the end of the May helped by
positive economic data from China, the world's biggest consumer of
commodities, and a weak US dollar. Copper for delivery in three
months on the London Metal Exchange is currently trading $6,460 a
tonne.
Gold has continued to increase, achieving its highest price in
more than a year at the start of September 2017, hitting
US$1,326/oz.
Finance
W raised GBP1.5 million over three placings in H1 2017. The
funds raised were predominately used to advance approvals,
engineering procurement and development for the 2mtpa ROM /
2,700tpa concentrate La Parrilla expansion, commence hard rock
production at the La Parrilla mine, complete the highly successful
São Martinho drilling campaign and to provide general working
capital.
Finance activity continues to be focused on the financing of the
development of La Parrilla. Specialist debt advisors have been
appointed as part of the process and financing is expected to be
completed in Q4 2017.
The Company recorded an after tax loss of GBP381,000 in the
first half of 2017, compared to a loss of GBP332,000 in the first
half of 2016.
Outlook
The fundamentals of La Parrilla are ever more competitive with
the tungsten price increase of over 50% to more than EUR310 in the
past 9 months, and with the design and construction for the 2mtpa
plant advancing we well positioned to accelerate development on
completion of the planned debt financing, which expect to be
completed in Q4 2017.
In Portugal, the drilling campaigns planned at Régua and at
Tarouca are expected to further develop the trial mine design, and
further increase our overall tungsten resource and production
base.
We appreciate our shareholders' patience as we reach the next
major milestone with the debt financing and we are as keen as any
to conclude our negotiations in order to ramp up the La Parrilla
project development.
Mr M Masterman
Chairman
W Resources Plc
27 September 2017
W RESOURCES Plc
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE SIX MONTHSED 30 JUNE 2017
Unaudited
Six
Months Unaudited
to 30 Six Months Year to
June to 30 31 December
2017 June 2016 2016
GBP(000's) GBP(000's) GBP(000's)
Continuing Operations
Revenue - - 140
Cost of Sales - - (141)
------------------
Gross Loss - - (1)
Administrative Expenses (371) (332) (680)
Exceptional Items - - (149)
------------------
Operating Loss (371) (332) (830)
Finance Costs (10) - (24)
Finance Income - - -
------------------
Loss before Income Tax (381) (332) (854)
Income Tax - - ____________-
------------------
Loss for the Period (381) (332) (854)
------------------
Other Comprehensive Income
Share Based Payment - 77 (77)
Unrealised Foreign Exchange
(Loss) / Gain 333 1,373 1,639
Share Options issued
/ related - - 60
------------------
Total Comprehensive (Loss)
/ Profit for the period (48) 1,118 768
------------------
Basic and Diluted Loss
per Share (0.008p) (0.009p) (0.02p)
W RESOURCES Plc
GROUP FINANCIAL POSITION
30 JUNE 2017
Unaudited Unaudited
30 June 30 June 31 December
2017 2016 2016
GBP(000's) GBP(000's) GBP(000's)
ASSETS
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Intangible Fixed Assets 12,810 10,161 11,718
Tangible Fixed Assets 2,171 1,985 1,983
14,981 12,146 13,701
CURRENT ASSETS
Trade and Other Receivables 851 763 892
Cash and Cash Equivalents 813 389 357
1,664 1,152 1,249
TOTAL ASSETS 16,645 13,298 14,950
EQUITY
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Called up share capital 4,843 3,997 4,360
Share premium account 23,336 21,202 22,381
Retained earnings (14,572) (13,592) (14,191)
Merger Reserve 909 909 909
Translation Reserve 680 81 347
Share based Payment Reserve 60 - 60
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY 15,256 12,597 13,866
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Trade and other payables 1,191 532 895
Financial Liabilities
- borrowing interest
bearing loans 198 169 189
TOTAL LIABILITIES 1,389 701 1,084
TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 16,645 13,298 14,950
W RESOURCES Plc
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE SIX MONTHSED 30 JUNE 2017
Profit Share
Called and Based
Up Share Loss Share Merger Translation Payment Total
Capital Account Premium Reserve Reserves Reserve Equity
GBP(000's) GBP(000's) GBP(000's) GBP(000's) GBP(000's) GBP(000's) GBP(000's)
Balance at
1 January
2017 4,360 (14,191) 22,381 909 347 60 13,866
Issue of Share
Capital 483 955 1,438
Total Loss
for the Period (381) (381)
Unrealised
Foreign Exchange
Gain _______ _______ _______ _______ 333 _______ 333
Total Comprehensive
Income _______ (381) ________ ________ 333 _______ (48)
Balance at
30 June 2017
(unaudited) 4,843 (14,572) 23,336 909 680 60 15,256
Year to 31
December 2016
Balance at
1 January
2016 3,694 (13,337) 20,316 909 (1,292) 77 10,367
Issue of Share
Capital 666 2,065 2,731
Total Comprehensive
Income (854) (17) (871)
Unrealised
Foreign Exchange
Loss _______ _______ ________ ________ 1,639 _______ 1,639
Balance at
31 December
2016 4,360 (14,191) 22,381 909 347 60 13,866
6 Months to
30 June 2016
Balance at
1 January
2016 3,694 (13,337) 20,316 909 (1,292) 77 10,367
Issue of Share
Capital 303 886 1,189
Total Loss
for the Period (332) (332)
Share Based
Payment 77 (77) -
Unrealised
Foreign Exchange
Gain _______ _______ _______ _______ 1,373 _______ 1,373
Total Comprehensive
Income _______ (255) _______ _______ 1,373 _______ 1,118
Balance at
30 June 2016
(unaudited) 3,997 (13,592) 21,202 909 81 - 12,597
W RESOURCES Plc
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2017
Unaudited Unaudited
Six Months Six Months
to to Year to
30 June 30 June 31 December
2017 2016 2016
GBP(000's) GBP(000's) GBP(000's)
Cash Flows from Operating
Activities
Cash Absorbed by Operations 77 (831) (714)
Interest Paid - - (15)
Finance Costs paid (10) - -
67 (831) (729)
Cash Flows from Investing
Activities
Purchase of intangible
fixed assets (864) (857) (2,233)
Purchase of tangible
fixed assets (220) (1) (31)
___________ ___________ ___________
(1,084) (858) (2,264)
___________ ___________ ___________
Cash Flows from Financing
Activities
Loans Received / (Repaid) - - (144)
Loans Received 35 - 15
Share Issue 483 303 637
Share Premium 1,018 918 2,067
Share Issue Costs (63) (32) (89)
Interest Bearing Loans - 25 -
___________ ___________ ____________
Net Cash for Financing
Activities 1,473 1,214 2,486
___________ ___________ ____________
Increase / (Decrease)
in Cash and Cash Equivalents 456 (475) (507)
Cash and Cash Equivalent
at Beginning of Period 357 864 864
Cash and Cash Equivalent
at end of Period 813 389 357
Reconciliation of Cash
Flows from Operations
Loss before Tax (381) (255) (854)
Depreciation 105 99 205
Exchange Difference
on Translation (3) 45 73
Share Based Payment - (77) 99
Loss on Disposal of
Fixed Assets - - 8
Finance Costs ___________10 - 24
(269) (188) (445)
(Increase) / Decrease
in Trade and Other Receivables 41 (189) (318)
(Decrease) in Trade
and Other Payables 305 (454) 49
(Increase) / Decrease
in Stock - - -
____________ ____________ ____________
Cash Absorbed by Operations 77 (831) (714)
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
IR FDLFLDKFBBBB
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 27, 2017 07:25 ET (11:25 GMT)
W Resources (LSE:WRES)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
W Resources (LSE:WRES)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024