Western Resources Board Approves Milestone Potash Project Three-Phase Development Plan & Phase I Early Works
April 20 2018 - 5:03PM
Western Resources Corp. (TSX:WRX) (FSE:WR0)
(“Western” or “the Company”) is pleased to
announce that the Board of Directors approved a three-phase
development plan (the “Plan”) for the Milestone Potash Project and
the Phase I early works, at a meeting held on April 19, 2018.
Through an assessment of the overall global potash market
situation and the progress the project has achieved to date, the
Management presented to the Board a three-phase development plan
for the full-scale 2.8 million tonnes per annum capacity Milestone
Potash Project (for which a Feasibility Study was completed in 2012
and Environmental Approval was obtained in 2013). The Plan includes
the Phase I Project at an annual capacity of 146,000 tonnes of
granular potash by applying a “horizontal cavern development +
selective solution mining + crystal pond recovery” technique. Then,
Phase II & III, each at annual capacity of 1.4 million tonnes
of potash, will continue to utilise the same innovative mining
methodology to provide improved economics based on the proven
mining experience gained from Phase I.
Management believes the progress achieved to
date fully supports initiation of the Phase I Project early works
this year. The progress includes a Letter of Intent that the
Company has signed with a Chinese policy bank for a $60 million
credit facility to finance the Milestone Phase I Project with
certain conditions. The Company has also entered into a non-binding
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a senior North American
agriculture industry player to transport and offtake 100% of the
Phase I Project potash production to the North American market.
In addition, the Phase I Project has received
updated Environmental Approval under Saskatchewan’s Environmental
Assessment Act in June 2017, and has completed an amended
“Development Agreement” with the Rural Municipality of Lajord (“RM
of Lajord”) in August 2017. The project continues to receive strong
support from the local community, businesses and governments. The
innovative mining technique of horizontal drilling with selective
solution mining has been further optimized with the help of the
world leader in selective horizontal dissolution, Agapito
Associates.
The first stage of the Phase I Project, to be
completed in 2018, includes hauling aggregates to the site, site
preparation, development of a groundwater source well for the Phase
I Project, utility works and haul road designs, etc. The Board has
approved a budget of $13.58 million for the early works in the
meeting. Since Phase I requires an addition of a compaction system
to meet with the new market requirements, the final engineering of
Phase I will be completed by early 2019, together with CAPEX and
OPEX updates. Given the successful result of the groundwater source
well and early works, the Company anticipates formal sanction of
the Phase I Project in Quarter 2 of 2019.
Management also presented the Board with updates
on the real estate projects investments, the combined budget actual
to variances for the first six months of the 2018 fiscal year, as
well as the Company’s overall Stock Option plans.
Hon. James Moore, Chairman of Western Resources
commented: “The Board is very pleased with the progress achieved on
the Milestone Project since the Plan of Arrangement completed last
year. Western would like to thank all management and staff who,
over the past decade, have helped the project reach this stage.
Phase I will witness more progress in 2018, and with further
confirmation of financing, marketing and technical design, I
believe the project will advance to formal construction by May
2019.”
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
“James Moore”
James Moore Chairman
Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
Except for statements of historical fact
relating to the Company, certain information contained herein
constitutes “forward-looking information” under Canadian securities
legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not
limited to, statements with respect to the filing and results of
the Technical Report. Forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements
are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results
of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking
information. Although management of the Company has attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in forward-looking
information, there may be other factors that cause results not to
be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not
undertake to update any forward-looking information that is set out
herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
For more information on the contents of this
release please contact Jerry Zhang, Corporate Secretary, at
778-945-2957.
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