TIDMZIOC
RNS Number : 1087R
Zanaga Iron Ore Company Ltd
31 October 2011
31 October 2011
ZANAGA IRON ORE COMPANY LIMITED
("ZIOC" or the "Company")
Zanaga Project Update
Zanaga Iron Ore Company Limited (AIM:ZIOC) is pleased to
announce the following update on the Zanaga Iron Ore Project (the
"Zanaga Project") in the Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville)
Highlights
-- Value Engineering Exercise ("VEE") completed
o results confirm the economic viability of the Zanaga
Project
o post VEE the projected cost of the 45 Mtpa railway option
remains in line with IPO estimates
o an alternative 30Mtpa slurry pipeline transportation option
identified with potential to further enhance project economics
-- Xstrata intends to commit to a Pipeline Study shortly to
refine the pipeline option and its economics
-- Feasibility Study ("FS") drilling and Environmental and
Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) work continues on schedule
o FS expected to conclude in Q1 2014
-- Joint search initiated with Xstrata for a strategic partner for the Zanaga Project
Clifford Elphick, Non-Executive Chairman of ZIOC, commented:
"Following the completion of the Value Engineering Exercise,
ZIOC is pleased to provide an update on the Zanaga Project. It is
extremely pleasing that the PFS and VEE work streams have confirmed
the economic viability of the 45 Mtpa railway option. In addition,
significant potential incremental value has been identified based
on modifying the mode of transport to a slurry pipeline, producing
a high grade pellet feed product. Xstrata intends to commit to a
Pipeline Study shortly to refine this option and its costing, which
will assist in determining which option to take through to final
Feasibility Study. ZIOC and Xstrata have in addition begun to
investigate strategic partner options"
Value Engineering Exercise
The VEE represents an important initial stage of the FS.
Following ZIOC's announcement on 8 February 2011 a team of internal
and external experts was assembled to conduct the VEE, based on the
capital and operating cost reduction opportunities recognised in
the draft PFS report. With Xstrata managing the Zanaga Project, the
VEE focused on investigating a broad range of development
opportunities for the Project to identify the most attractive final
development option. During the VEE phase, the project team
continued its resource, geotechnical and hydro-geological drilling,
metallurgical test work and all other associated port and mine site
engineering and ESIA FS work programs.
As part of the VEE the pipeline option was revisited to
investigate several capex and opex optimisation possibilities as
well as the fit with changing global iron ore market dynamics. The
outcome of this review confirmed two viable transport options for
the development of the Zanaga Project:
1) Railway Option:
The original railway option assumes that on average 118 Mtpa of
ore will be treated through two processing plants to produce 30
Mtpa of magnetite concentrate and 15 Mtpa of Hematite sinter feed
which will be transported to the port at Pointe Noire via a 350 km
railway and exported from a new port facility 9 km north of Pointe
Noire. Life of Mine (LOM) will be in the region of 30 years,
although the resource base and its upside potential will support
either increased production or a longer LOM. The design,
development plan and costs for the railway option have not changed
materially since IPO.
45 Mtpa Railway Option - Capital Cost Estimate (US$m)
Area IPO Pre VEE VEE savings Post VEE
(Nov 2010) (Feb 2011) (Mar-Sep (Oct 2011)
2011)
---------------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Minesite 2,644 3,170 -406 2,764
Transport Corridor 2,074 2,472 -462 2,010
Port 896 681 -108 573
Power 214 500 50 550
Total Direct 5,828 6,822 -926 5,896
Indirect costs(1) 634 915 0 915
Contingency(2) 986 734 0 734
TOTAL 7,448 8,471 -926 7,545
---------------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Notes: The Post VEE figures above include potential savings
identified by the Xstrata managed VEE and have not been the subject
of a formal capital re-estimate. . Figures exclude FS costs (funded
by Xstrata) of an estimated US$249m and are in 2011 US$.
(1) Indirect costs include Head Office costs, EPCM & other
indirect costs
(2) Contingency provision of US$734m (10% of total direct plus
indirect costs) for the 45 Mtpa railway option was the result of a
thorough quantitative risk analysis (QRA) performed by the project
team on the pre VEE case
FOB operating cost for the 45 Mtpa rail option as estimated by
the PFS workstreams is US$25 per dry metric tonne including a
US$2/tonne contingency. In addition, approximately US$3/tonne of
potential savings were then identified by the VEE. This represents
a significant saving compared with the blended FOB operating cost
presented at IPO of US$27/tonne.
2) Pipeline Option:
The pipeline option assumes that initially 30 Mtpa of pellet
feed will be produced from an average 75 Mtpa of combined
hematite/magnetite ore. Treatment of ore will be through a single
integrated processing plant. The pellet feed product will be
transported via a slurry pipeline to the port site to the north of
Pointe Noire. LOM will be in excess of 30 years and significant
potential exists to expand production.
The Pipeline Option has the potential to enhance the Zanaga
Project's value by significantly reducing both capital expenditure
and operating costs.
30 Mtpa Pipeline Option - Capital Cost Estimate (US$m)
Area 30 Mtpa Pipeline
Option
-------------------------------- -----------------
Mine 1,203
Beneficiation plant 1,071
Transport Corridor 1,096
Port 484
Power 564
Total Direct 4,418
Head Office 273
Indirects 441
On-costs (EPCM) 502
Contingency 1,627
Total per Xstrata managed
VEE 7,260
FS costs (funded by Xstrata) (249)
ZIOC identified savings:
Indirects(1) (322)
Contingency(2) (629)
TOTAL- ZIOC guidance 6,060
-------------------------------- -----------------
Notes: ZIOC's technical team has identified potential savings to
certain indirect costs and contingency provisions outlined below.
Figures shown in 2011 US$.
(1) Comprises additional indirect costs included by Xstrata in
the pipeline option but not included in the railway option
(2) Comprises additional contingency included by Xstrata
consisting primarily of engineering rework and full costs
associated with an assumed one year project delay
FOB operating cost for the 30 Mtpa slurry pipeline as estimated
by the VEE is US$21 per dry metric tonne including a US$5/tonne
contingency.
Pipeline Study
Xstrata intends to commit to a Pipeline Study shortly to refine
this option and its costing, which will assist in determining which
option to take through to final Feasibility Study.
Strategic Partner Process
Xstrata and ZIOC wish to explore whether there is a suitable
strategic partner who can further enhance the long-term value of
the Zanaga Project, including off-take on commercial terms, access
to construction financing and construction expertise. Accordingly
Xstrata and ZIOC have embarked on a joint process, which is at an
early stage, to identify a party to become a strategic partner in
the development of this world class project. Xstrata intends to
fully retain its interest in the Zanaga Project. There can be no
certainty that this process will result in any transaction being
completed.
For further information please contact:
Zanaga UK Services Limited
Corporate Development and Andrew Trahar Investor Relations
Manager +44 20 7399 1105
Liberum Capital Limited
Nominated Adviser, Financial Chris Bowman, Christopher Britton
Adviser and Joint Corporate Broker and Christopher Kololian
+44 20 3100 2000
Citigroup Global Markets Limited
Joint Corporate Broker Alex Carter
+44 20 7986 4000
Pelham Bell Pottinger
Financial PR James MacFarlane
and Philippe Polman
+44 20 7861 3232
About us:
Zanaga Iron Ore Company Limited (AIM:ZIOC) is a BVI registered
Company and the owner of 50% less one share interest in the Zanaga
Iron Ore Project based in the Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville)
through its joint venture partnership with Xstrata. The Zanaga
Project is focused on the management, development and construction
of a world-class iron ore mine and related, processing,
transportationand port infrastructure
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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