New Plan Indicates Reduced GHG Emissions, Improved Sustainability and Enhanced Expansion Potential
Move Supports Northern's Strategy to be a Competitive Supplier to Battery Anode Material ("BAM") Markets
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 28, 2023) - Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU: 0NG) (the "Company" or "Northern) is pleased to announce the results of a new preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") that evaluated moving the processing plant for its Namibian operations located at Okorusu to the Okanjande mine rather than rehabilitating the mill in its current location.
The PEA indicates that economics remain attractive under the new plan, with higher capital costs but lower operating costs. In addition, greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions are reduced, sustainability is improved, and the expansion potential of the project is substantially enhanced.
The PEA, issued July 31, 2023, was prepared by CREO Engineering Solutions and confirms the viability of moving milling operations directly to the Okanjande mine site, which eliminates the cost of trucking mineralized material 70km to Okorusu. This allows for a more sustainable operation that also includes the use of solar power and lower water consumption.
"Moving the mill also provides room for potential future expansion from the perspective of both processing and tailings capacity, which is something we do not have at the current location," said Northern Chief Operating Officer Kirsty Liddicoat. "The new approach also incorporates dry tailings into an integrated waste landform which means less water use and a more sustainable operation in support of the green transition," she added.
The Company is also looking at other ways to reduce its carbon footprint after the plant move, including the use of electric pit equipment and purchasing biofuel offsets on shipping concentrates from Namibia. The Okanjande/Okorusu operation is currently on care and maintenance and the goal remains to restart production in late 2024, subject to financing.
The Okanjande graphite mine is a key catalyst in Northern's strategy to become an integrated and sustainable mine-to-battery company, supplying markets in North America and Europe as they embrace the energy transition and widescale electrification. Graphite from Okanjande will also supply traditional markets, from refractory bricks for steelmaking, to heat management in consumer electronics, to friction and lubrication products for the global automobile industry.
"This PEA supports our strategy to develop Okanjande as a competitive asset that can be available to meet the demands of our customers in years to come," said Northern Chief Executive Officer Hugues Jacquemin. "Our new mining plan at Okanjande will allow us to move quickly to serve the fast-growing market for battery anode materials and increase our ability to expand the facilities over time."
The Okanjande deposit hosts a weathered resource of 5.9Mt containing 248kt of graphite in the measured and indicated category and 0.5Mt of inferred resources containing 17kt graphite, a transitional resource of 1.2Mt containing 53kt of graphite in the measured and indicated categories and 0.1Mt of inferred resources containing 2kt of graphite (@2.6% TCG cut-off grade and $1,250/t graphite price for weathered and transitional) and a fresh rock resource of 24.2Mt containing 1.3Mt of graphite in the measured and indicated categories and 7.2Mt of inferred resources with 0.4Mt of contained graphite (@3.1%TGC cut-off grade and $1,250/t graphite price). The PEA is based on only processing 6.1MT of measured and indicated resources (.34Mt of contained graphite), producing an average of 31,000 tonnes per year of concentrate over a 10-year mine life.
"The substantial measured and indicated hard rock resource at Okanjande, which is not yet closed off by drilling, presents a clear opportunity to substantially increase production in the future and the Company intends to complete additional work and prepare a new PEA with respect to an expansion scenario," said Ms. Liddicoat.
"The ability to add 31,000tpy of production at a very reasonable capital cost creates a compelling case for the development of Okanjande," said Mr. Jacquemin. "Okanjande has a very large resource located in one of the most politically stable countries in Africa, with easy access to a deep-water port which provides substantial competitive advantages over most other African projects."
| Unit Of Measure (UOM)
| Updated PEA |
Measured and Indicated Resource - Weathered |
|
|
and Transitional | Mt, %TGC | 2.54Mt @ 5.03% TGC |
Measured and Indicated Resource - Fresh | Mt, %TGC | 3.56Mt @ 5.44% TGC |
Total Measured and Indicated tonnes | Tonnes | 6,096,950 |
Before Tax / 8% discount rate |
|
|
NPV | USD | 120,396,195 |
IRR | % | 46.5% |
After Tax / 8% discount rate |
|
|
NPV | USD | 70,218,979 |
IRR | % | 36% |
Capital Expenditures (excl. Sustaining capital) | USD | 34,250,368 |
Average annual concentrate production | Tonnes | 31,315 |
C1 production costs | USD/tonne | 666 |
Average grade | % | 5.3% |
Average recovery | % | 92% |
Graphite Flake price | USD/t TCG | 1,550 |
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. While the PEA does not include inferred resources, the PEA is preliminary in nature and there is no certainty that the results of the PEA will be realized.
Technical Report and Qualified Persons
Northern has filed a technical report relating to the PEA. The technical report, entitled "Okanjande Graphite Project - Preliminary Economic Assessment Study Update Report" - is effective June 30, 2023, issued July 31, 2023, and has been prepared for Northern in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") by CREO Engineering Solutions (Namibia) with contributions from The MSA Group (South Africa) and certain other independent consultants, and is available on SEDAR () under Northern's issuer profile as well as the Company's website.
CREO Engineering Solutions (Namibia) was responsible for the compilation of information and preparation of the overall PEA and the following Qualified Persons (as defined under NI 43-101), all of whom are independent of the Company, prepared or reviewed the preparation of the scientific and technical information in this press release regarding the Company's Okanjande Project with respect to their respective disciplines:
Etienne Roux, B.Eng (Chem), SME Registered Member, Lead Consultant, CREO Engineering Solutions was responsible for the technical information pertaining to the Okanjande Report
Ipelo Golang Rebecca Gasela, Pr. Sci. Nat., MGSSA, Senior Mineral Resource Consultant, The MSA Group was responsible for the Okanjande Resource Estimate
Mark Mohring, PrEng MSAIMM, Consultant Mining Engineer, The MSA Group was responsible for the mining methods
Robert Barnett, Pr. Sci. Nat., FGSSA Consulting Geologist, Independent Consultant was responsible for the technical information and co-responsible for the mineral resource.
About Northern Graphite
Northern is a Canadian, TSX Venture Exchange listed company that is focused on becoming a world leader in producing natural graphite and upgrading it into high value products critical to the green economy including anode material for lithium-ion batteries/EVs, fuel cells and graphene, as well as advanced industrial technologies.
Northern is the only significant graphite producing company in North America and will become the third largest producer outside of China when its Namibian operations come back online. The Company also has two large scale development projects, Bissett Creek in Ontario, and Okanjande in Namibia, that will be a source of continued production growth in the future. All projects have "battery quality" graphite and are located close to infrastructure in politically stable jurisdictions.
For media inquiries contact
Pav Jordan, VP of Communications
Email: pjordan@northerngraphite.com
For other inquiries contact
Guillaume Jacq, CFO
Telephone: (613) 271-2124
Email: info@northerngraphite.com
For additional information
Please visit the Company's website at , the Company's profile on , our Social Channels listed below or contact the Company at (613) 271-2124.
安大略省渥太華--(Newsfile Corp.,2023 年 8 月 28 日)-Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) (FSE: 0NG) (XSTU: 0NG) (那個”公司“或”Northern) 很高興地宣佈新的初步經濟評估的結果 ("PEA")它評估了將位於奧科魯蘇的納米比亞業務的加工廠遷至奧坎詹德礦,而不是將工廠修復到現在的位置。
PEA表明,在新計劃下,經濟仍然具有吸引力,資本成本更高,但運營成本更低。此外,溫室氣體 (”GHG“) 減少了排放,提高了可持續性,並大大增強了該項目的擴張潛力。
2023年7月31日發佈的PEA由CREO Engineering Solutions編寫,證實了將銑削作業直接轉移到奧坎詹德礦場的可行性,這消除了將礦化材料運往奧科魯蘇70公里的成本。這樣可以實現更可持續的運營,還包括使用太陽能和降低用水量。
Northern首席運營官Kirsty Liddicoat表示:“從加工和尾礦產能的角度來看,搬遷工廠也爲未來的潛在擴張提供了空間,而這是我們目前所在地所沒有的。”她補充說:“新方法還將幹尾礦納入綜合廢棄地貌中,這意味着更少的用水量和更可持續的運營,以支持綠色過渡。”
該公司還在考慮其他方法來減少工廠搬遷後的碳足跡,包括使用電坑設備和購買來自納米比亞的精礦的生物燃料補償。Okanjande/Okorusu的業務目前正在維護和維護中,目標仍然是在2024年底重啓生產,但須視融資情況而定。
Okanjande石墨礦是Northern成爲一家綜合且可持續的礦山到電池公司的戰略的關鍵催化劑,爲北美和歐洲的市場提供能源轉型和大規模電氣化。Okanjande的石墨還將供應傳統市場,從鍊鋼用耐火磚到消費電子產品的熱管理,再到全球汽車行業的摩擦和潤滑產品。
Northern首席執行官Hugues Jacquemin表示:“該PEA支持了我們的戰略,即將Okanjande發展成爲一種具有競爭力的資產,可以在未來幾年內滿足客戶的需求。”“我們在Okanjande的新採礦計劃將使我們能夠迅速採取行動,爲快速增長的電池陽極材料市場提供服務,並隨着時間的推移提高我們擴建設施的能力。”
Okanjande礦牀擁有590萬噸的風化資源,其中包含測量和指示類別中的24.8萬噸石墨和0.5萬噸的推斷資源,含有17kt石墨的120萬噸過渡資源,含有53kt測量和指示類別的石墨,以及含有2kt石墨的0.1萬噸推斷資源(@2 .6% 的TCG臨界品位和1250美元/噸的風化石墨和過渡石墨價格)和新鮮的岩石資源爲2420萬噸,其中含有130萬噸的測定和指示類別的石墨和720萬噸的推斷資源含有40萬噸的石墨(@3 .1% 的TGC臨界品位和1,250美元/噸的石墨價格)。PEA基於僅處理610萬噸測量和指示資源(含石墨.34萬噸),在10年的開採壽命內,平均每年生產31,000噸精礦。
Liddicoat女士說:“Okanjande的大量已測量和顯示的硬巖資源尚未通過鑽探而關閉,這爲將來大幅提高產量提供了明顯的機會,該公司打算完成更多工作,爲擴張情景準備新的PEA。”
雅克明說:“能夠以非常合理的資本成本增加每年31,000噸的產量,這爲Okanjande的發展提供了令人信服的理由。”“Okanjande擁有非常龐大的資源,位於非洲政治最穩定的國家之一,可以輕鬆進入深水港,與大多數其他非洲項目相比,這提供了巨大的競爭優勢。”
| 單位 測量 (單位)
| 已更新 PEA |
測量和指示的資源-風化 |
|
|
和過渡 | Mt,%TGC | 254 萬噸 @ 5.03% TGC |
測量和指示的資源-新鮮 | Mt,%TGC | 356 萬噸 @ 5.44% TGC |
測量和指示的總噸數 | 噸 | 6,096,950 |
稅前/ 8% 的折扣率 |
|
|
NPV | 美元 | 120,396,195 |
IRR | % | 46.5% |
稅後/ 8% 的折扣率 |
|
|
NPV | 美元 | 70,218,979 |
IRR | % | 36% |
資本支出(不包括維持資本) | 美元 | 34,250,368 |
精礦年平均產量 | 噸 | 31,315 |
C1 生產成本 | 美元/噸 | 666 |
平均成績 | % | 5.3% |
平均恢復率 | % | 92% |
石墨片價格 | 美元/噸 TCG | 1,550 |
非礦產儲備的礦產資源不具有經濟可行性。雖然PEA不包括推斷的資源,但PEA本質上是初步的,無法確定PEA的結果能否實現。
技術報告和合格人員
Northern已提交了一份與PEA有關的技術報告。這份名爲 “Okanjande Graphite Project——初步經濟評估研究更新報告” 的技術報告於2023年6月30日生效,於2023年7月31日發佈,是根據43-101號國家文書爲北方編寫的- 礦產項目披露標準 (”在 43-101“) 由CREO Engineering Solutions(納米比亞)撰寫,由MSA集團(南非)和某些其他獨立顧問提供,可在SEDAR()的Northern發行人資料下以及公司網站上查閱。
CREO Engineering Solutions(納米比亞)負責彙編信息並編制總體PEA,以下合格人員(定義見NI 43-101),他們均獨立於公司,他們編制或審查了本新聞稿中有關公司Okanjande項目各自學科的科學和技術信息的準備工作:
Etienne Roux,工程學士(化學),中小企業註冊會員,首席顧問,CREO 工程解決方案 負責提供與《奧坎詹德報告》相關的技術信息
Ipelo Golang Rebecca Gasela,Pr.Sci。Nat.,MGSSA,MSA 集團高級礦產資源顧問 負責 Okanjande 資源估算
Mark Mohring,PrenG MSAIMM,採礦工程師顧問,MSA 集團 負責採礦方法
Robert Barnett,Pr.Sci。Nat.,FGSSA 諮詢地質學家,獨立顧問 負責技術信息並共同負責礦產資源.
關於Northern Graphite Corporation
Northern是一家加拿大多倫多證券交易所風險投資交易所上市公司,專注於成爲天然石墨生產領域的全球領導者,並將其升級爲對綠色經濟至關重要的高價值產品,包括鋰離子電池/電動汽車的陽極材料、燃料電池和石墨烯以及先進的工業技術。
Northern是北美唯一一家重要的石墨生產公司,當其納米比亞業務恢復生產後,它將成爲中國以外的第三大石墨生產商。該公司還有兩個大型開發項目,安大略省的Bissett Creek和納米比亞的Okanjande,這將是未來產量持續增長的源泉。所有項目都採用 “電池質量” 石墨,並且位於政治穩定的司法管轄區的基礎設施附近。
媒體垂詢,請聯繫
Pav Jordan,傳播副總裁
電子郵件:pjordan@northerngraphite.com
如有其他疑問,請聯繫
Guillaume Jacq,首席財務官
電話:(613) 271-2124
電子郵件:info@northerngraphite.com
欲了解更多信息
請訪問公司的網站,在我們的公司簡介上 社交渠道 下面列出或 請致電 (613) 271-2124 與公司聯繫。