UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM
6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
CIK # 865492
As at June 8, 2009
GREAT
BASIN GOLD LTD.
Ste.
1108-1030 West Georgia Street
Vancouver
, British Columbia
Canada
V6E 2Y3
(address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F....... Form 40-F...X.....
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of
a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security
holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____
Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in
this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes ..... No .....
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
By: /s/ Ferdi Dippenaar
President and CEO
Date: June 11, 2009
Print the name and title of the signing officer under his signature.
|
1108-1030 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6E 2Y3
Toll Free: 1 888-633-9332
South Africa: 27 (0) 11 301 1800
www.grtbasin.com
|
ESKOM'S POWER SUPPLY TO GREAT BASIN GOLD'S BURNSTONE PROJECT
FINALIZED
June 8, 2009, Vancouver, BC -
Great Basin Gold Ltd,
("Great Basin Gold" or the "Company"), (TSX: GBG; NYSE Amex:
GBG; JSE: GBG) today announced that ESKOM, South Africa's National Electricity
Utility has undertaken to supply power to its Burnstone Mine project. The
two companies acknowledged the strategic importance of the project to the
development of the Dipalaseng Municipality in Mpumalanga. Great Basin Gold
is developing a shallow, long-life mine at a cost of South African Rand ("ZAR")
2 billion (US$247 million) over the 19 year life of mine for the project [1].
The Company has accepted a ZAR119 million (US$14.6 million) official Budget
Quotation for a new supply of power to the Burnstone Mine. This quotation
outlines the project for the supply of power to Burnstone which is planned
to be completed in time for the commissioning of the metallurgical process
plant that is currently under construction.
The ESKOM 2008 announcement, outlining a backlog in keeping up with the national
power demand, and its subsequent drastic power conservation scheme came at
the time when the Burnstone project had entered mid - stage construction.
ESKOM pledged support to the project after Great Basin Gold engaged with the
utility on the matter as part of its risk mitigation strategy. ESKOM committed
to Burnstone's phased power demand requirements, subject to the terms
of the Budget Quotation, which involve the refurbishment of an existing line,
and construction of a new section of a power line to Burnstone. This process
is jointly managed by the two companies to coincide with project completion.
ESKOM's support to Burnstone is of strategic importance to allow the project
to be developed to its planned production levels. In combination with the
approval of the Burnstone Mining Right and environmental management program
in October 2008, the project now has the key elements in place for project
development.
Ferdi Dippenaar commented, "We are pleased by ESKOM's support and
welcome their positive attitude towards a project that will see the first
new gold mine in South Africa in many years. Securing sufficient permanent
power supply to the Burnstone Mine has been an ongoing concern to the Company
and its investors. In addition to the supply to the mine, ESKOM has planned
to upgrade the regional infrastructure which will bring economic development
and wealth to a community with high levels of poverty and unemployment. We
look forward to working with them to improve the living conditions of the
communities in that region."
Johan Oelofse, PrEng, FSAIMM, Chief Operating Officer for Great Basin Gold
and a qualified person, has reviewed this release.
Ferdi Dippenaar
President and CEO
For additional details on Great Basin Gold Ltd. and its gold properties, please
visit the Company's website at www.grtbasin.com or contact Investor Services:
Tsholo Serunye in South Africa +27 (0)11 301 1800
Michael Curlook in North America +1 888 633 9332
Barbara Cano at Breakstone Group in the USA +1 646 452-2334
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained
in this news release.
This release includes certain
statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements
in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address possible
future commercial production, reserve potential, exploration drilling results,
development, feasibility or exploitation activities and events or developments
that Great Basin Gold expects to occur are forward-looking statements. Although
the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking 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 the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include
market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization,
uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses
and title and delays due to third party opposition, geopolitical uncertainty,
changes in government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration
and exploitation, and continued availability of capital and financing, and
general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that
any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and those actual
results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements. For more information on the Company, Investors
should review the Company's annual Form 40-F filing with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission and its home jurisdiction filings that
are available at www.sedar.com.