Moto Goldmines Limited ("Moto") (TSX:MGL)(AIM:MOE) is pleased to report the
completion of the Optimised Feasibility Study (the "OFS") for the Moto Gold
Project (the "Project") in the Democratic Republic of Congo ("DRC").
This study significantly enhances the December 2007 Feasibility Study with the
Project being reconfigured and optimised, resulting in reduced pre-production
capital expenditure, a significant increase in Mineral Reserves, higher annual
gold output and improved economics.
The OFS was principally completed by Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd ("Lycopodium"),
Cube Consulting Pty Ltd ("Cube") and SRK Consulting Pty Ltd ("SRK"). The revised
Project comprises a value driven open pit and high grade underground mining
operation and is based on Probable Mineral Reserves of 42.3 Mt @ 4.0 g/t Au for
5.5 Moz of gold.
The planned mine life at commencement of production is approximately 16 years
and is based on a nominal plant throughput rate of 2.8 Mt per annum. Gold
production over the first five years is expected to average 484,000 ounces per
annum.
Moto views the operational plan presented in the OFS as providing a sound
development position to further exploit the excellent geological prospectivity
of the Project. The successful infill drilling program at the KCD deposit
undertaken during the second half 2008 provides a clear and compelling direction
on which planning activities for the operation's expansion will focus.
OPTIMISED FEASIBILITY STUDY - KEY FINDINGS
In order to minimize the Payback Period and maximize the Project's return on
capital, Moto has optimised mining and plant feed schedules by accelerating
treatment of high net value per tonne feed material. Open pit mining is planned
to proceed at a higher rate than that required to maintain plant feed to allow
high grade material and value to be brought forward. Lower value material mined
will be treated later in the mine life, with emphasis in the earlier years being
on maintaining the highest value feed to the mill.
This open pit mining strategy is enhanced by the integration of a new large
scale underground mine. Decline development is planned to commence 18 months
prior to plant commissioning, to accelerate cash generation from this production
source.
The key findings of the OFS are as follows:
- Project economics are significantly enhanced by introducing a high grade
underground mine and adopting a value acceleration strategy for the open pit
mine scheduling;
- Probable Mineral Reserves of 42.3 Mt at 4.0 g/t Au for 5.5 Moz of gold;
- Life of mine gold production of 4.8 Moz with an average estimated Cash Cost of
US$318/oz produced;
- Average annual output of 484,000 oz of gold over the first 5 years at an
average unit Cash Cost of $US303/oz produced;
- Project Payback Period of 3.1 years at US$750/oz gold price;
- Pre-production capital and infrastructure cost estimates total US$438M,
including contingency (US$32M) and 18 months of underground development
activities (US$32M);
- Deferred and sustaining capital expenditure over the operation's 16 year life
is estimated to total US$180M; and
- Significant potential exists to further enhance the Project economics by
increasing plant throughput with incremental capital expenditure, underpinned by
potential increases to underground Mineral Reserves and accelerated treatment of
open pit ore stocks.
Key features of the planned underground mine are as follows:
- 12 year mine life, with a steady state production level of approximately 1.5 Mtpa;
- Mineral Reserves of 11.6 Mt at 6.2 g/t Au for 2.3 Moz of gold; and
- Life of mine Cash Costs of US$281/oz produced.
Key features of the planned open pits are as follows:
- 7 year mining period (excluding pre-strip period), followed by a stock
reclamation period of 9 years;
- Mineral Reserves of 30.7 Mt at 3.2 g/t Au for 3.2 Moz of gold; and
- Life of mine unit Cash Costs of US$343/oz produced.
EXPLOITATION OF RESOURCE BASE AND FUTURE DIRECTION
The OFS evaluated the Project's Indicated Mineral Resources of 112.4 Mt at 3.1
g/t Au for 11.3 Moz of gold and did not evaluate the Inferred Mineral Resource
base of 107.2 Mt at 3.3 g/t Au for 11.2 Moz of gold.
Since the completion of the Project's Pre-Feasibility Study in August 2006, the
conversion rate of Inferred to Indicated Mineral Resources has been close to
100% within the key deposits. Further to the underground concept study completed
by AMC Consultants Pty Ltd ("AMC") in February 2008, Moto has focused drilling
efforts in the Chauffeur area of the KCD deposit which is largely an Inferred
Mineral Resource. The main lodes in this area have an estimated Inferred Mineral
Resource of 20 Mt at 6.8 g/t Au for 4.4 Moz of gold and have been identified as
being amenable to exploitation by underground mining. Due to the high grade
nature of this system, Moto intends to undertake work to convert this
mineralization to Mineral Reserve status as a matter of course.
The successful conversion of this material to Mineral Reserve would result in
lower grade open pit material being deferred as mill feed and position the mine
for anticipated future expansion.
The table below provides a summary of the Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources
for the Moto Gold Project and the net attributable interest for Moto (being
70%):
Table 1: Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Inventory (Mineral Resources
greater than 1.0 g/t Au)
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Gross Net Attributable to Moto
Category Tonnes Grade Metal Tonnes Grade Metal Operator
(Mt) (Au g/t) (koz) (Mt) (Au g/t) (koz)
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Mineral
Reserves
Proven - - - - - - Borgakim
Probable 42.3 4.0 5,470 29.6 4.0 3,829 Borgakim
Total Mineral
Reserves 42.3 4.0 5,470 29.6 4.0 3,829 Borgakim
Mineral
Resources
Measured - - - - - - Borgakim
Indicated 112.4 3.1 11,293 78.7 3.1 7,905 Borgakim
Inferred 107.2 3.3 11,226 75.0 3.3 7,858 Borgakim
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Source: Refer to Qualified Persons section for details of Qualified
Persons (NI 43-101)) or Competent Persons (AIM) with respect to the
quotation of Mineral Reserves and/or Mineral Resources.
Note: Mineral Reserves are INCLUDED within the Mineral Resources - they are
not additional.
OPTIMISED FEASIBILITY STUDY SUMMARY
The Moto Gold Project is located in the north-east of the DRC and is a joint
venture between L'Office des Mines d'Or de Kilo-Moto ("OKIMO")(30%) and Borgakim
sprl ("Borgakim", a Moto wholly-owned subsidiary)(70%). All figures referenced
represent the Moto Gold Project, being 100% of the project, unless otherwise
stated.
Following the completion of the Feasibility Study in December 2007 and the
delineation of an underground resource, Moto commissioned the OFS to reduce
pre-production capital expenditure, whilst maintaining similar levels of annual
gold output to improve project economics. Central to the OFS was the ability to
reconfigure the Project by exploiting a portion of the high grade underground
Mineral Resources of the KCD deposit.
Lycopodium was retained as the principal engineering consultant, with Cube as
the geological and open pit mining consultant. SRK was awarded the contract to
undertake the underground feasibility assessment. Contributors to key components
of the OFS are as follows:
Lycopodium - Metallurgical interpretation & process
plant design
- Infrastructure design
- Processing plant capital & operating
cost estimation
- Infrastructure capital & operating
cost estimation
- Project implementation planning
Cube - Geological database management
& validation
- Mineral Resource interpretation &
estimation
- Open pit mine design & scheduling
- Open pit mine Mineral Reserve
calculation
AMC - Open pit detailed scheduling & fleet
Resourcing
- Open pit mine capital & operating
cost estimation
SRK - Underground mine design & scheduling
- Underground mine capital & operating
cost estimation
- Underground mine Mineral Reserve
calculation
AMMTEC Ltd - Metallurgical testwork
Knight Piesold Pty Ltd - Hydro-electric power assessment
and design
- Tails storage facility design
- Geochemical assessment of waste rock
and tails
- Site geotechnical & hydrogeological
assessment
- Site civil design - roads, water
management
Synergy Global Consulting Ltd, - Social impact assessment
and Resettlement & Development - Resettlement planning
Solutions Pty Ltd
NewFields LLC - Health impact and health risk
assessment
SGS Ghana Ltd - Environmental impact assessment
Geological Interpretation and Mineral Resource Estimation
Following the closure of the December 2007 Feasibility Study drilling database,
an extensive infill drill program focussed on the Sessenge Deeps area of the KCD
deposit. This program successfully upgraded a large portion of this high grade
Mineral Resource from Inferred to Indicated classification which underpins the
underground mining feasibility assessment.
Geological logging, sample preparation, assaying, resource modelling and
estimation works associated with the OFS were conducted in accordance with
Moto's QA/QC systems. Interpretation and geostatistical analysis of data formed
the basis of Mineral Resource estimates using Uniform Conditioning ("UC") and
Ordinary Kriging ("OK") methods for open pit and underground mining areas
respectively. Classification and reporting of all Mineral Resources is in
accordance with the JORC Code reporting guidelines which are equivalent to the
guidelines adopted for the Canadian National Instrument 43-101.
Snowden Mining Industry Consultants Pty Ltd ("Snowden") was commissioned in 2008
to independently audit Moto's geological QA/QC systems and Cube's estimation of
Mineral Resources for the Project. Snowden concluded that the QA/QC systems are
in line with industry standard and also found Cube's estimates to be an
appropriate reflection of the Project's Mineral Resources.
Project Mineral Resources for open pit mining assessment in the OFS are listed
below:
Table 2: Mineral Resources greater than 1.0 g/t Au (UC Estimation)
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Indicated Mineral Resources Inferred Mineral Resources
Deposit Tonnes Grade Metal Tonnes Grade Metal
(Mt) (g/t Au) (koz Au) (Mt) (g/t Au) (koz Au)
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Pakaka 16.9 2.5 1,379 - - -
Gorumbwa - - - 8.3 5.2 1,374
Kibali - - - 17.1 2.2 1,206
Mengu Hill 8.8 3.0 847 - - -
Mengu Village 1.2 1.9 69 0.1 1.4 4
KCD (incl.
Sessenge Deeps) 66.7 3.6 7,705 73.8 3.4 8,127
Megi - - - 4.1 2.1 277
Marakeke - - - 2.4 1.7 134
Kombokolo 2.3 2.4 176 - - -
Sessenge 8.6 2.3 637 - - -
Ndala - - - 0.3 4.0 34
Pamao 7.9 1.9 480 1.2 1.9 71
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Global Resource 112.4 3.1 11,293 107.2 3.3 11,226
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Mineral Resource modelling and estimation for underground mining assessment in
the OFS focused on areas identified to exhibit strong geological continuity and
consistent, high grade distribution. The Sessenge Deeps lodes of KCD were the
primary area of interest with geological interpretation refined to include
modelling of high grade 'core' and low grade 'halo' mineralization based on
geological and grade criteria.
Several other discrete lodes within the KCD deposit were modelled for the
purposes of underground mining assessment, the majority of which were located in
the pit / underground mine interface area and are collectively known as the
'Upper Lodes'.
Mineral Resources associated with this refined interpretation are listed below:
Table 3: Mineral Resources Assessed for Underground Mining greater than
1.0 g/t Au (OK Estimation)
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Indicated Mineral Resources Inferred Mineral Resources
Lodes Tonnes Grade Metal Tonnes Grade Metal
(Mt) (g/t Au) (koz) (Mt) (g/t Au) (koz)
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Sessenge Deeps
HG Core 9.9 6.7 2,149 2.1 3.4 233
Sessenge Deeps
LG Halo 6.0 1.9 362 4.5 1.9 275
Minor Lodes 5.7 5.5 1,016 6.4 7.0 1,428
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Total UG
Assessment 21.7 5.1 3,527 13.0 4.6 1,937
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Note: These Mineral Resources are INCLUDED in the relevant category global
listing for the KCD deposit in Table 2. They are not additional.
Underground Mine Planning, Scheduling and Costing
A full geotechnical assessment of expected underground mining conditions was
undertaken for the OFS which included an oriented drill core program, laboratory
based rock property testing, 3D extraction sequence modelling and a
hydrogeological assessment. Results indicate manageable groundwater inflow and
generally good ground conditions for mining.
The results of these findings, combined with the massive nature and geometry of
the mineralisation, has allowed underground design work to focus on a high
productivity, low cost bulk mining concept. The principal mining method will be
longhole open stoping using cemented paste fill to maximise recovery of high
grade Mineral Resources. Designs have focused on simplicity and repeatability to
reduce production risk. Ore hoist will be via decline utilising conventional
underground diesel mining equipment. To allow early access to higher grade
underground ore, decline development is planned to commence 18 months prior to
process plant commissioning with underground ore production anticipated to reach
a steady state of approximately 1.5 Mtpa after the second year of processing
operations.
Mining productivities and capital and operating costs were generated from first
principles assuming an 'owner operator' approach (with mobile fleet maintenance
by original equipment manufacturers on a maintenance and repair contract
("MARC") basis) and compared to similar operations to ensure estimation
integrity. Detailed studies will be undertaken in the value engineering stage of
project implementation to assess the benefits of using mining contractors to
develop and establish the underground mine. Moto recognises the potential
benefits of using contractors in the early stages of project development to
defer capital expenditure, and reduce operating performance risk.
The OFS also included an assessment of the economic interface between the KCD
open pit and the underground mine. The assessment was conducted over a range of
gold revenue prices and concluded that the optimum economic depth for the KCD
open pit is approximately 170m. The reduction in pit size from the previous 340m
depth has delivered tangible benefits for the Project including a significant
reduction in KCD pit waste movements and accelerated processing of high grade
ore from the interface area. Stope designs were based on a gold price of
US$600/oz.
SRK calculated underground Probable Mineral Reserves to be 11.6 Mt at 6.2 g/t Au
for 2.3 Moz of gold (these Mineral Reserves are INCLUDED within the Mineral
Resources of Table 3 - they are not additional).
The underground mine plan for the OFS considered only Indicated Mineral
Resources in the Sessenge Deeps deposit, however the design process has made
allowance for the presence of significant high grade Inferred Mineral Resources
located in the Karagba-Chauffeur region of the KCD deposit. The major lodes in
this area are estimated to contain Inferred Mineral Resources totalling 20 Mt at
6.8 g/t Au for 4.4 Moz of gold which Moto considers to be an attractive target.
Options include expansion of underground operations at incremental capital cost,
or acceleration of underground steady state feed given the shallower depth of
the Inferred Mineral Resources compared to the bulk of the current underground
Mineral Reserves.
Open Pit Mine Planning, Scheduling and Costing
The December 2007 Feasibility Study's open pit mine plan was revised as a result
of re-estimated Mineral Resources, collection of additional geotechnical data,
revised unit processing and mining costs and a reduction in mill feed
requirements driven by the inclusion of the underground mine.
Whittle open pit optimisations were undertaken on each deposit based on
Indicated Mineral Resources only. Ultimate pit designs used Whittle shells
selected using a value focus and pits have been staged where practical to
enhance value. All ultimate pit designs are within the nominal US$600/oz Whittle
shell generated for each deposit.
Mining costs were calculated from first principles, assuming an 'owner operator'
approach with the maintenance of the mobile fleet conducted by original
equipment manufacturers under a MARC arrangement. Consideration was given to
similar operations with comparative equipment to ensure integrity of cost
estimates.
In line with Moto's objective to enhance economics in the early years of the
Project, the schedule for the open pit mine has been constructed to maximise the
value of feed material on a period by period basis. Total annual ex-pit material
movements average 19 Mt over the 8 years of planned open pit life (including
pre-strip period) followed by an average of 2.2 Mtpa of stockpile reclamation
over the remaining 9 years of the Project's life. This strategy uses grade
differentiated stockpiling and creates material value for the Project by
promoting high grade plant feed. The strategy also reduces the life of open pit
mining operations and the related fixed costs associated with mine general and
administration charges.
Cube calculated total Probable Mineral Reserves from the 6 open pits to be 30.7
Mt at 3.2 g/t Au for 3.2 Moz of gold.
The Probable Mineral Reserves are based on the Indicated Mineral Resource base
only. It follows that significant upside exists for the Project with the
potential for conversion of the 11.2 Moz Inferred Mineral Resource base as a
result of additional drilling. The breakdown per project area is listed below:
Table 4: Moto Gold Project - Open Pit Probable Mineral Reserves by Deposit
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
Deposit Ore Tonnage Grade Metal
(Mt) (g/t Au) (koz Au)
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
KCD Pit 14.2 3.6 1,642
Kombokolo Pit 0.5 3.0 47
Mengu Hill Pit 5.4 3.4 592
Pakaka Pit 6.1 2.7 539
Pamao Pit 1.5 2.1 104
Sessenge Pit 2.9 2.5 239
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
Total 30.7 3.2 3,163
-------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
Note: Mineral Reserves are INCLUDED within in the Mineral Resources
of Table 2. They are not additional.
Metallurgical Assessment, Process Design & Gold Output
Metallurgical testwork, performed by AMMTEC Ltd under the direction of
Lycopodium, indicates that a simple flowsheet, incorporating primary crushing,
SAG milling to a product size of 80% passing 106 microns followed by a carbon in
leach circuit will yield optimum recovery for oxide ores.
Transition and fresh ores will utilise the same comminution circuit followed by
flotation to produce a concentrate that will be reground to 12 microns and then
leached in a dedicated CIL circuit. The float tail will be leached separately
through the CIL circuit. No preg-robbing issues are expected and tested
composites yielded approximately 20% gravity recoverable gold.
Table 5: Predicted Metallurgical Recoveries by Source
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Feed Source Au Predicted Recovery(%) Feed Proportion
Oxide Transition Fresh (tonnage basis)
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KCD Pit 85.5 90.1 83.9 34%
KCD Underground - - 91.3 27%
Kombokolo 95.6 95.9 74.6 1%
Mengu Hill - 89.3 71.6 13%
Pakaka 88.7 81.7 81.7 14%
Pamao 90.9 85.0 85.0 4%
Sessenge 90.3 75.9 80.6 7%
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Comminution test data shows the ore is of low to medium competency with a
Specific Grinding Energy of 9.1 -14.1 kWh/t for fresh rock feed depending on
source deposit. Feed throughputs vary between 2.5 Mtpa to 2.9 Mtpa during steady
state operation, however the majority of the treatment is expected to proceed at
an average nameplate rate of 2.8 Mtpa.
The optimised mill feed schedule yields significant metal production in the
early years of the operation as listed below:
Table 6: Project Gold Production Profile
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Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Gold
Output
(oz) 397,955 432,338 525,812 513,060 552,474 430,700 391,673 325,362
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Year 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Gold
Output
(oz) 284,629 217,896 175,948 135,643 117,144 92,370 81,159 94,474
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Infrastructure, Facilities and Community Relations
Project infrastructure development includes roads, staff housing and messing
facilities, workshops, airstrip refurbishment, power generation facilities
(hydro-electric scheme and a supplementary diesel fired facility) and
infrastructure items for environmental management.
The planned run-of-river hydro-electric power scheme has been configured to
match plant and mine demand and it is planned to be built in two stages, with
stage one comprising two turbines producing 13.4 MW of electric power and stage
two adding a third turbine to increase power output to 20.1 MW. The
hydro-electric scheme is expected to provide approximately 85% of the annual
power consumption. Diesel generated power will supplement the hydro-electric
scheme during the dry season and will assist during peak load periods. The OFS
assumes that the necessary approvals and permits for the hydro-electric scheme
will be obtained.
A high density polyethylene lined tailings storage facility has been designed
for a staged construction throughout the Project's life. A material amount of
tailings will be used in the underground paste fill and should additional
storage capacity be required, it will be possible to undertake further lifts of
the facility.
Moto intends to conduct all development activities in conformity with
internationally accepted standards with project development focusing on
sustainability including the empowerment of local communities and business.
Community baseline studies have been undertaken along with impact assessment and
mitigation planning in line with IFC guidelines. These studies involved
significant field work including household asset surveys, community profiling
and the establishment of community stakeholder forums. A Resettlement Policy
Framework has been developed as part of the OFS which will form the basis of
detailed village relocation planning and execution.
Principal and district access roads have been, and will continue to be, upgraded
to support the local communities and future operating activities. These upgrades
will greatly benefit and promote the development of regional and local
industries and communities.
Costs Estimates and Financial Evaluation
Cost estimates for capital and operating expenditure have been estimated from
first principles using basic engineering and/or working designs and industry
benchmarking for confirmation of productivity calculations. Supplier quotations
generally form the basis of consumables and equipment cost estimates. Nominal
allowances have been made where appropriate in the context of cost estimation
accuracy.
All costs are expressed in United States Dollars and are of Q3/Q4 2008 basis and
can be considered to have an estimation confidence level of +/- 15%. Cost
estimates include provisions for DRC government royalties, taxes, charges,
levies and duties applicable under the DRC Taxation Code (1969) and/or DRC
Mining Code (2002).
Pre-production Project development costs are estimated at US$438M as detailed in
the following table. This includes open pit mining fleet (US$47M), open pit
pre-stripping (US$19M), underground mining fleet and establishment (US$12M) and
18 months of underground development activity (US$21M), treatment plant,
tailings storage facility and water dams, services, infrastructure, a
hydro-electric power scheme (US$61M), pre-production general and administration,
working capital and contingency.
Underground mine establishment capital costs (defined as capital expenditure
until full production levels are reached) is estimated to be US$89M. The
majority of this cost is incurred after process plant commissioning and will be
funded by the Project's cashflow.
Working capital and 'first-fill' consumables stock values have not been returned
at end of mine life. Salvage values of equipment, plant and other high value
items have not been included. Site closure costs are excluded, although
progressive rehabilitation costs for mining areas have been included in
operating cost estimates. This is consistent with the findings of the OFS
indicating that the Project has significant potential to extend past the
evaluated mine life.
Table 8: Cost Breakdown - CAPEX to Plant Commissioning
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Description US$M
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Construction Indirects (mobilisation, preliminaries
and generals, plant freight) 26.5
Treatment Plant Costs 83.1
Reagents & Plant Services 17.3
Infrastructure 105.4
Mining - UG (incl. fleet and capital development) 32.3
Mining - OP (incl. fleet and pre-stripping, maintenance &
administration facilities) 72.1
Management Costs 48.6
Owners Project Costs 51.1
Owners Operations Costs 1.6
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Grand Total 438.0
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Contingency amount included in above items 32.2
Energy costs were calculated using a US$60/barrel oil price regime.
Details of key estimated unit costs (averaged over life of mine) are
included below:
Table 7: Activity Cost Listing
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Cost Item Unit Cost
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Underground mining operating cost US$29.33 / ore tonne
Underground mining capital development cost US$4.29 / ore tonne
Open pit mining activity cost
(incl. stock reclaim) US$2.52 / pit tonne excavated
Processing + general & admin.
cost - oxide feed US$15.45 / ore tonne processed
Processing + general & admin. cost
- fresh & transition feed US$18.77 / ore tonne processed
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Note: Costs exclude capital ownership charges for mobile fleet.
Financial analysis for the OFS has been undertaken on the basis of the Project
being a stand-alone entity. Standard evaluation formats are followed with the
inclusion of costs for initial capital and pre-production costs, operating costs
and sustaining capital.
Project sunk costs of US$90.8M to the end of December 2008 have been included in
the financial analysis for the calculation of taxation. As the financial
analysis models future project related cash expenditure and returns, sunk costs
are excluded from the calculation of total capital expenditure for the Project
and Payback Period.
Accelerated depreciation provisions allowed under DRC legislation have been
incorporated where applicable.
Evaluation of the OFS was undertaken on a project basis and excludes non-project
costs related to agreements between Moto and OKIMO.
No forward sales of product are assumed and a gold sale price of US$750/oz was
used for base case financial evaluations.
Net project cashflows are listed below for various gold price environments.
These cashflows include sustaining and deferred capital expenditure.
Table 9: Project After-Tax Cashflow Profile
@ US$750/oz Gold Price BASE CASE
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Year 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
US$M -438 135 127 161 159 188 122 120 113
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Year 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
US$M 94 61 52 43 35 18 14 32
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Table 10: Project After-Tax Cashflow
Profile @ US$900/oz Gold Price
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Year 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
US$M -438 193 156 213 212 245 166 160 146
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Year 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
US$M 123 83 70 57 47 27 23 42
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Table 11: Project After Tax Cashflow
Profile @ US$600/oz Gold Price
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Year 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
US$M -438 76 64 126 124 132 78 80 79
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Year 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
US$M 65 38 34 29 23 8 5 23
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Table 12: Project Payback Period Sensitivity
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Base Case US$750/oz 3.1 years
US$900/oz 2.4 years
US$600/oz 4.4 years
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Conclusion
Moto wishes to thank the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and
OKIMO for their ongoing support and looks forward to working with all
stakeholders to successfully develop the Moto Gold Project. The successful
development of the Project will result in significant benefits to all the
stakeholders, including the state and the local community, and will add to the
reputation of the Democratic Republic of Congo as a major participant in the
international resources sector.
With the conclusion of the contract review process and the signing and approval
of Consolidated Lease and related agreements, the Board looks forward to the
development phase of the Moto Gold Project once the joint venture agreement with
OKIMO has been finalised and approved.
Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Statements regarding Moto's plans with respect to developing the Moto Gold
Project are forward-looking. There can be no assurance that any mineralisation
will be proven to be economic, that anticipated metallurgical recoveries will be
achieved, that future evaluation work will confirm the viability of deposits
identified within the Project or that future required regulatory approvals will
be obtained.
Risk Factors
Significant expenditure is required to develop the Project and the
infrastructure required. Moto has no revenues and is wholly reliant upon
external financing to fund all of its capital requirements. There can be no
assurance that such financing will be available to Moto or, if it is, that it
will be offered on acceptable terms.
In addition, there can be no assurance that the Moto Gold Project will be fully
developed in accordance with the Moto's current plans or completed on time or to
budget.
Feasibility studies derive estimates of cash operating costs based on
anticipated tonnage and grades of ore to be mined and processed, the
configuration of the orebody, expected recovery rates, comparable facility and
equipment operating costs, anticipated climatic conditions and other factors. No
assurance can be given that such estimates are correct or that the Moto will be
able to extract minerals in sufficient quantities or of a sufficient grade to
justify the estimates in such studies or Moto's commercial operations. As a
result, it is possible that the Moto's actual operating costs and economic
returns may differ from those currently estimated.
The mineral resources data included in this document are estimates only and no
assurance can be given that the estimated quantities or grades of minerals will
be available to extract, or that any particular level of recovery of minerals
will in fact be realised.
Moto has been formed specifically to implement the Moto Gold Project and has no
prior operating history of mining production or history of putting into
production development-stage mining projects and as a consequence presently has
currently no free cash flow from operations. The Moto Group's ultimate success
will depend on its ability to generate cashflow from its properties in the
future and employ and retain an appropriately experienced workforce.
Moto is presently finalizing the negotiations of the joint venture agreement
with OKIMO following the successful conclusion of negotiations with OKIMO of
amendment agreements regarding the Moto Gold Project entered into following the
report of the commission set up to review the agreements entered into by
para-statal companies of the DRC Government. There can be no assurance that the
negotiations will result in a joint venture agreement on terms that are
acceptable to the parties or that any required approvals of any such agreement
will be obtained or that the results of such negotiations will not impair Moto's
ability to secure additional financing in the future. This could have a material
adverse effect on the Moto's business, operating results and financial position.
For further discussion of risk factors related to Moto and the Moto Gold
Project, please refer to Moto's filed documents.
Qualified Persons
Scientific or technical information in this report that relates to geological
data collection (drilling, assaying and database management) is based on
information gathered under the supervision of Jean-Michel Graindorge who is a
member of the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and is a qualified
person under National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). Jean-Michel Graindorge is
an employee of Moto Goldmines Ltd. and has sufficient experience which is
relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration
and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as
defined in the December 2004 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of
Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" (the JORC Code).
Jean-Michel Graindorge consents to the inclusion in this report of the
Information, in the form and context in which it appears.
The Information in this report that relates to Mineral Resources is based on
information compiled by Rick Adams and Ted Hansen who are members of the
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and are qualified
persons under NI 43-101. Rick Adams and Ted Hansen are directors of Cube
Consulting Pty Ltd. and each has sufficient experience which is relevant to the
style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the
activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in
the JORC Code. Rick Adams and Ted Hansen consent to the inclusion in this report
of the Information, in the form and context in which it appears.
The Information in this report that relates to the technical aspects of the open
pit mine engineering discipline (including calculation of open pit Mineral
Reserves) is based on information compiled by Cube Consulting Pty Ltd under the
direction of Quinton de Klerk who is a member of the Australasian Institute of
Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and a qualified person under NI 43-101. Quinton
de Klerk is a director of Cube Consulting Pty Ltd and has sufficient experience
which is relevant to the type of deposit and open pit mining methods under
consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a
Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code. Quinton de Klerk consents to the
inclusion in this report of the Information, in the form and context in which it
appears.
The Information in this report that relates to the technical aspects of the
underground mine engineering discipline (including calculation of underground
Mineral Reserves) is based on information compiled by SRK Consulting Pty Ltd
under the direction of Paul Kerr who is a member of the Australasian Institute
of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and a qualified person under NI 43-101. Paul
Kerr is an employee of SRK Consulting Pty Ltd. and has sufficient experience
which is relevant to the type of deposit and underground mining methods under
consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a
Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code. Paul Kerr consents to the
inclusion in this report of the Information, in the form and context in which it
appears.
APPENDIX 1
Measurement Abbreviations
Mtpa millions of tonnes per annum
g/t grams per tonne
Moz millions of ounces
Mt millions of tonnes
US$ United States of America Dollars
oz ounce(s)
koz thousands of ounces
m metre(s)
M Million
MW Megawatt
kWh/t thousands of watt hours / tonne
Glossary of Terms
"Au" The Periodic Table abbreviation for the element
of gold.
"Cash Costs" As per the Gold Institute Standard, cash costs include
all direct mining expenses, processing and general
and administration costs, third party refining and
product transportation costs, adjustments for
stripping and mine development, credits for by
products, royalties payable and production taxes
payable. Unit cash costs are expressed as costs per
ounce of gold sold or produced.
"Diamond Drilling" This technique involves a pipe encrusted in industrial
diamonds being used to drill through rock layers,
with a "core" of rock being left in the centre of the
pipe. The "core" of rock can be retrieved for logging
and sampling.
"Feasibility Study" A 'Feasibility Study' is a comprehensive study of a
deposit in which all geological, engineering,
operating, economic and other relevant factors
are considered in sufficient detail that it could
reasonably serve as the basis for a final decision by
a financial institution to finance the development of
the deposit for mineral production (NI 43-101, Section
1.2 Definitions).
"Indicated Mineral An 'Indicated Mineral Resource' is that part of a
Resource" Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade
or quality, densities, shape and physical
characteristics can be estimated with a level of
confidence sufficient to allow the appropriate
application of technical and economic parameters,
to support mine planning and evaluation of the
economic viability of the deposit. The estimate is
based on detailed and reliable exploration and
testing information gathered through appropriate
techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches,
pits, workings and drill holes that are spaced
closely enough for geological and grade continuity
to be reasonably assumed.
"Inferred Mineral An 'Inferred Mineral Resource' is that part of a
Resource" Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or
quality can be estimated on the basis of
geological evidence and limited sampling and
reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and
grade continuity. The estimate is based on
limited information and sampling gathered through
appropriate techniques from locations such as
outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes.
"JORC Code" The Australasian Code for Reporting of Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves, prepared by the Joint Ore
Reserves Committee of the Australasian Institute of
Mining and Metallurgy, Australian Institute of
Geoscientists and Minerals Council of Australia.
"Mineral Resource" A 'Mineral Resource' is a concentration or occurrence
or "Resource" of diamonds, natural solid inorganic material, or
natural solid fossilized organic material
including base and precious metals, coal, and
industrial minerals in or on the Earth's crust in
such form and quantity and of such a grade or quality
that it has reasonable prospects for economic
extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological
characteristics and continuity of a Mineral
Resource are known, estimated or interpreted from
specific geological evidence and knowledge.
"Ordinary Kriging" A mathematical method that uses linear weighted
combinations of the available data to estimate
unbiased block grades with the aim of minimizing the
variance of the error.
"Payback Period" The period of time taken, commencing at plant
commissioning time, for a project's undiscounted
cumulative after tax cashflows to fully recover the
project's total capital expenditure incurred during
the project development period which concludes at the
time of plant commissioning.
"Pre-Feasibility 'Pre-Feasibility Study' and 'Preliminary Feasibility
Study" or Study' mean a comprehensive study of the viability of
"Preliminary a mineral project that has advanced to a stage
Feasibility where the mining method, in the case of underground
Study" mining, or the pit configuration, in the case of an
open pit, has been established, and which, if an
effective method of mineral processing has been
determined, includes a financial analysis based on
reasonable assumptions of technical, engineering,
operating, economic factors and the assessment of
other relevant factors which are sufficient for a
Qualified Person, acting reasonably, to determine if
all or part of the Mineral Resource may be classified
as a Mineral Reserve (adapted from NI 43-101, Section
1.2 Definitions). A Pre-Feasibility Study is at a
lower confidence level than a Feasibility Study.
"Probable Mineral A 'Probable Mineral Reserve' is the economically
Reserve" mineable part of an Indicated and, in some
circumstances, a Measured Mineral Resource
demonstrated by at least a Preliminary Feasibility
Study. This Study must include adequate information on
mining, processing, metallurgical, economic, and other
relevant factors that demonstrate, at the time of
reporting, that economic extraction can be justified.
"Qualified Person" A 'Qualified Person' means an individual who is an
engineer or geoscientist with at least five years of
experience in mineral exploration, mine development or
operation or mineral project assessment, or any
combination of these; has experience relevant to the
subject matter of the mineral project and the
technical report; and is a member or licensee in good
standing of a professional association.
"RC Drilling" This technique employs a dual walled string of drill
rods, with a compressed air driven percussion hammer
at the end of the drill string. The type of hammer
used at Moto is known as a "Center Sample Hammer"
with a hollow center that allows the sample to pass
into the dual wall drill pipe right at the face of the
drill bit. The rock fragments will be taken up and
will pass through hollow tubing, until the chippings
and fluids reach a "cyclone." The cyclone separates
out the rock fragments from the drill medium and
presents them to a sampling device.
"Resource Domains" Individual concentrations of mineralization separated
geographically or statistically from each other.
"Uniform A mathematical method that allows the discrimination
Conditioning" of ore and waste at a selective mining unit size
within an estimated panel of significantly
larger size. In theory, this provides a more
accurate prediction of estimated resource grade
above a cut off.
ARBN 113 274 874
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