ASX/AIM RELEASE
14
November 2024
MCB Project Granted Extension to
Meet Funding Condition with Maharlika Investment
Corporation
HIGHLIGHTS
ยท The
Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources/Mines
and Geosciences Bureau has granted Makilala Mining Company, Inc.
and its potential investor Maharlika Investment Corporation's
request for extension to comply with the additional proof of
financial capability as the remaining MPSA requirement.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Celsius Resources Limited
("CLA" or "Celsius") (ASX, AIM: CLA) is pleased to
announce that its Philippine affiliate, Makilala Mining Company,
Inc. ("MMCI" or the
"Company"), has been
granted an additional six-month extension to submit further proof
of financial capability for its flagship Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog
Copper-Gold Project ("MCB"
or the "Project").
The Philippine Department of
Environment and Natural Resources ("DENR") and the Mines and Geosciences
Bureau ("MGB") recognised
that MMCI had fulfilled the requirements of the National Commission
on Indigenous Peoples' Certification Precondition, which is one of
the two conditions to its Mineral Production Sharing Agreement
("MPSA") or Mining
Permit[1]. In July and August 2024, MMCI
and its potential investor, Maharlika Investment
Corporation[2] ("MIC"), submitted letters to the
DENR/MGB requesting an extension to comply with the other MPSA
requirement to show additional proof of financial
capability.
While MIC and MMCI have been working
closely and diligently to complete the due diligence and
documentation needed for MIC's investment in MMCI, MIC, as a
government-owned and controlled corporation, must adhere to
extensive legal procedures to secure the necessary regulatory
approvals for the investment agreements.
The details of the proposed
investment agreement will remain confidential and will be disclosed
to shareholders once the drafted contracts are finalised and become
binding.
In response to MMCI and MIC's
request, a one-time six-month extension, valid until March 13,
2025, was granted, subject to a third-party assessment commissioned
by MIC, being submitted to the DENR/MGB on or before March 13,
2025, once the investment agreements are executed and become
binding.
Celsius Executive Chairman Atty. Julito R. Sarmiento,
said:
"Since the issuance of the mining permit for the
Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog (MCB) Project, MMCI has sparked strong
interest from investors in the Philippines and abroad, underscoring
the significant economic potential of the project. We are advancing
discussions with MIC, whose potential investment as the
Philippines' sovereign fund, could be transformational for MMCI and
the Philippine mining industry. As MIC navigates the extensive
regulatory requirements and process, we have been granted a
one-time, six-month extension to complete the necessary
documentation to show additional proof of financial capability. The
respective Boards and Management teams of Celsius and MMCI are
working closely with MIC and relevant parties to complete the
necessary due diligence and finalise the investment agreements that
will deliver the best value for our shareholders and stakeholders.
We look forward to updating you as we progress towards securing a
strong partnership that supports our vision for long-term
success."
MCB COPPER-GOLD
PROJECT
The MCB Copper-Gold Project (MCB) is
located in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the Philippines,
approximately 320km north of Manila (Figure 1). It is the flagship
project within the Makilala portfolio which also contains other key
prospects in the pipeline for permit renewal/extension.
A maiden JORC Compliant Mineral
Resource Estimate was declared for the MCB Project in January 2021,
comprising 313.8 million tonnes @ 0.48% copper and 0.15g/t gold,
for 1.5 million tonnes of contained copper and 1.47 million ounces
of gold, of which 290.3 million tonnes @ 0.48% copper and 0.15 g/t
gold is classified as Indicated and 23.5 million tonnes @ 0.48%
copper and 0.10 g/t gold is classified as Inferred.
An updated JORC compliant Mineral
Resource Estimate was announced for the MCB Project on 12 December
2022, comprising 338 million tonnes @ 0.47% copper and 0.12 g/t
gold, for a total of 1.6 million tonnes of contained copper and 1.3
million ounces of gold, of which 249 million tonnes @ 0.44% copper
and 0.11 g/t gold is classified as Indicated, 42 million tonnes @
0.52% copper and 0.11 g/t gold is classified as Inferred, and 47
million tonnes @ 0.59% copper and 0.19 g/t gold is classified as
Measured.
A Study for the MCB Project was
announced by CLA on 1 December 2021, which identified the potential
for the development of a copper-gold operation with a 25-year mine
life. The Study was based on an underground mining operation and
processing facility to produce a saleable copper-gold
concentrate.
Highlights from the Study include a
Post tax NPV (8%) of US$464m and IRR of
31%, assuming a copper price of US$4.00/lb and gold price of
US$1,695/oz. Initial capital expenditure is estimated to be US$253m
with a payback period of approximately 2.7 years. The designed mine
production is matched to a 2.28Mtpa processing plant which will
treat ore with an estimated average grade of 1.14% copper and
0.54g/t gold for the first 10 years of planned production with a
C1[3] cash costs at
just US$0.73/lb copper, net of gold credits.
Figure 1.
Location of the
MCB Project in the province of Kalinga, Northern Luzon,
Philippines.
This announcement has been authorised by the Board of
Directors of Celsius Resources Limited.
The information contained within
this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside
information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU)
No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Listing Rule 5.23 Disclosure
The Company confirms that it is not
aware of any new information or data that relates to Exploration
Results and Mineral Resources at the MCB Project and that all
material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the
Mineral Resource continue to apply.
Forward Looking Statements
Some of the statements appearing in
this announcement may be in the nature of forward-looking
statements. You should be aware that such statements are only
predictions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties.
Those risks and uncertainties include factors and risks specific to
the industries in which the Company operates and proposes to
operate as well as general economic conditions, prevailing exchange
rates and interest rates and conditions in the financial markets,
among other things. Actual events or results may differ materially
from the events or results expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statement.
No forward-looking statement is a
guarantee or representation as to future performance or any other
future matters, which will be influenced by a number of factors and
subject to various uncertainties and contingencies, many of which
will be outside the Company's control.
The Company does not undertake any
obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after
today's date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to
the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the
information, opinions or conclusions contained in this
announcement. To the maximum extent permitted by law, none of the
Company's Directors, employees, advisors, or agents, nor any other
person, accepts any liability for any loss arising from the use of
the information contained in this announcement. You are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The
forward-looking statements in this announcement reflect views held
only as at the date of this announcement.
Celsius Resources Contact
Information
Level 5, 191 St. Georges
Terrace
Perth WA 6000
PO Box 7059
Cloisters Square PO
Perth WA 6850
P: +61 8 9324 4516
E: info@celsiusresources.com.au
W: www.celsiusresources.com
Celsius Resources Limited
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Mark van Kerkwijk
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P: +61 8 9324 4516
E: info@celsiusresources.com.au
W: www.celsiusresources.com
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Multiplier Media
(Australia Media
Contact)
Jon
Cuthbert
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M: +61 402 075 707
E: jon.cuthbert@multiplier.com.au
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Beaumont Cornish Limited
(Nominated Adviser)
Roland Cornish/Felicity Geidt/Andrew
Price
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P: +44 (0) 207 628 3396
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WH
Ireland (Broker)
Harry Ansell/James Joyce/Isaac
Hooper
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P: +44 (0) 20 7220 1666
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Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's
Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by FCA. Beaumont
Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser,
including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its
responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules
for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock
Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be
responsible to any persons for providing protections afforded to
customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to
the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any
matter referred to in it.