Erin Ventures Inc. (TSX VENTURE: EV)(OTCBB: ERVFF)(BERLIN: EKV) is
pleased to report that it has entered in to a binding agreement
with the Serbian state-owned mining company, JP PEU, for the joint
development of the Piskanja boron deposit, located in Serbia.
This agreement is subject to the Serbian Mining Ministry
granting an exclusive exploration license for the Piskanja deposit
to Erin. This agreement has been officially endorsed by JP PEU,
Ibarski Mines (a wholly owned subsidiary of JP PEU, which currently
holds the rights to the Piskanja boron deposit), and the National
Serbian Miners' Union. It is estimated that the percentage
ownership in the joint venture will be approximately 90% Erin; 10%
JP PEU, based upon the relative values of the contributions made by
the parties.
Erin is currently preparing the documentation required for the
exploration license, for submission to the Serbian authorities. It
is anticipated that an exploration license may be granted within
the next 90 days.
The key terms in the agreement are as follows:
1. Erin's wholly-owned Serbian subsidiary, Balkan Gold d.o.o. ("Balkan")
will apply for an exclusive exploration license on the Piskanja
property, and conduct a geological study on the deposit. If results are
positive, Balkan will then compose a feasibility study for mine
development. Balkan is responsible for 100% of the costs related to
these studies, and retains 100% ownership at this stage.
2. When the feasibility study is complete, Balkan and JP PEU will form a
joint venture company that will apply for an exploitation license.
However, in the event that JP PEU's corporate structure does not allow
for it to enter into this joint venture (as is currently the case),
Balkan will retain the right to apply for the exploitation license on
its own, and retain 100% interest in the project.
3. Ownership in the joint venture company will be directly proportional to
the value of the assets contributed by each party.
-- Balkan will be responsible for providing all the funding required to
develop the mine and ore processing facilities.
-- JP PEU will contribute certain existing infrastructure assets in its
possession (such as a power substation, access roads, rail spur, office
and maintenance buildings in strategic proximity to the property) and
historical research data from previous exploration programs at Piskanja.
The determination of the assets to be contributed by JP PEU to the joint
venture shall be at the sole discretion of Balkan. These assets will be
contributed at their established fair market value.
4. An official determination of percentage ownership will occur at the
completion of the mine development, and be based upon the amount that
has been actually spent by Balkan on exploration and mine development,
and the fair market value of the assets contributed by JP PEU.
5. Balkan and JP PEU agree that the joint venture company will primarily
employ manpower from the Ibarski Mine, as qualified and required.
6. Each party will have representation on the board of directors of the
joint venture company on a basis that reflects their prorata ownership
of the joint venture company.
This joint venture agreement between Erin and JP PEU has no
direct bearing on Erin's ongoing US$15 million legal action against
EPS, the national power corporation of Serbia, regarding alleged
breaches by EPS in the former joint venture agreement it held with
Erin regarding the development of the Piskanja property (as
reported by Erin in its news release dated June 22, 2009).
Summary of the Piskanja boron property
Piskanja is located in a historical mining region that has good
infrastructure for mining including roads, rail, electric power,
experienced miners, etc., 250 km south of Belgrade by good paved
roads.
The Piskanja property has a historic resource (that is not NI
43-101 compliant and must be verified) of approximately seven
million tonnes of 39 per cent B2O3 (boron) as colemanite and
ulexite, based upon historic drill data (some of which, was
conducted by Erin previously). The deposit is open both to the
south and the east. Evaluation of the drill-hole data by Erin's
technical advisers indicate that the Piskanja deposit has the
potential of hosting additional significant borate reserves.
About boron
Borate minerals and refined borate products are used extensively
worldwide in the manufacture of vitreous products such as
fiberglass insulation, textile fiberglass, borosilicate glass (LCD
screens), ceramic glazes and porcelain enamels. These applications
account for approximately 60 per cent of borate consumption, with
detergents, fire retardants, metallurgy, agriculture, insecticides,
wood preservatives and specialty products accounting for the
remainder. Consumption of borates used in high- technical
applications is expected to increase by 10% in North America and
13% in Europe by 2012. China is the largest consumer of boron,
where consumption has rose by 15 percent per year from 2000 to
2010. Market prices reflect the relative scarcity of borates with
prices averaging: US$280/t for colemanite concentrate (40-42
percent B2O3); US$500/t for ulexite (40 percent B2O3); US$550/t for
boric acid; and US$50/kg for anhydrous borax.(i)
(i)Source: US Geological Survey, Report on Boron 2008.
About JP PEU and Ibarski Mine
In operation since 1853, JP PEU ("Public Company for Underground
Coal Exploitation, Resavica") currently operates 9 mines throughout
Serbia. It produces 500,000 tonnes of coal per year, and employs
4,000 workers. Ibar Mine, a wholly owned subsidiary of JP PEU, has
been producing coal for 100 years, with 500 employees experienced
in underground mining. The Piskanja deposit is located in the
mining region belonging to the Ibar mine.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
Blake Fallis, General Manager
Erin's Public Quotations:
Canada
TSX Venture: EV
USA
SEC 12G3-2(B) #82-4432
OTCBB: ERVFF
Europe
Berlin Stock Exchange: EKV
The technical information in this release was prepared by James
E Wallis, M.Sc. (Eng), P. Eng. a consultant to the Corporation, who
is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.
Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward looking statements. The words
"believe," "expect," "feel," "plan," "anticipate," "project,"
"could," "should" and other similar expressions generally identify
forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of their dates. These forward-looking statements are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, without
limitation, variations in estimated costs, the failure to discover
or recover economic grades of minerals, and the inability to raise
the funds necessary for the continued operations of the Company,
changes in external market factors including commodity prices, and
other risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ
materially from the results referred to in the forward-looking
statements.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release
Contacts: Erin Ventures Inc. Blake Fallis General Manager
1-250-384-1999 or 1-888-289-3746 www.erinventures.com
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