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www.geovic.net/projects_cam_cobalt_nickel.htmlTSXV.GMC
Cameroon Cobalt Nickel
Geovic Cameroon (GeoCam) was formed in 1995 to explore a prospective area in Cameroon identified by a UN Development Program. GeoCam subsequently acquired exclusive rights and ownership to develop its cobalt-nickel deposits through a Mining Convention issued in 2002. A Mining Permit was decreed in favor of GeoCam in 2003 that covers the entire cobalt mineral province in southeastern Cameroon, perhaps the largest primary cobalt resource in the world. Geovic Mining Corp (GMC) owns 60.0% of GeoCam and controls operations. The National Investment Company of Cameroon,
www.sni.cm, controls 39.5%, owning 20%, and 0.5% is held by GMC President William A. Buckovic.
Based on a 2006 Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) and a Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report that includes proven and probable ore reserve estimates totaling 53 million tonnes, GeoCam plans to produce 4,000 tonnes per year (tpy) cobalt and 3,000 tpy nickel from 525,000 tpy of physically upgraded concentrates for 21 years from its Nkamouna deposit, the first of seven deposits to be developed. The Nkamouna mine reserve has been well defined by over 1,300 test pits and drill holes. Extensive physical upgrading, leach and solvent extraction tests, process flowsheets with equipment specifications and estimated capital and operating costs for the process plant were completed and incorporated into the 2006 study. High-grade cobalt and nickel oxides will be produced mainly to supply the fast-growing demand for hybrid electric vehicle batteries.
Mining will be relatively inexpensive as the deposits average less than 16 meters deep, and blasting is not required. The Nkamouna ore-body is large, predictable and open for further expansion. Since these specific ores are amenable to simple pre-concentration and leaching at atmospheric pressure with a low acid consumption, project capital costs may well be the lowest in the industry and operating costs will be highly competitive with global cobalt producers.
By mid-2006 GeoCam had submitted the environmental and social permitting documents to the government of Cameroon and had completed the required public hearing processes in Cameroon. Issuance of all permits necessary to construct and operate the Nkamouna project is expected by mid-2007.
GeoCam is completing a Final Feasibility Study (FFS) to advance the engineering and design of the project and to obtain debt financing. This study is scheduled for completion in June 2007 and will be based on a 30% increase to the PFS production rates.
Subject to receiving appropriate government approvals, it is planned in 2007 to install housing and office facilities and a small airstrip in the Nkamouna area to allow major construction to efficiently begin in early 2008, and thereby expedite commencement of production in mid-2009.
As capacities of many initial plant circuits are designed for twice the production rate while incurring slightly higher initial capital costs, only $57 million additional capital was estimated in the PFS to expand cobalt production to 8,000 tonnes/year. The Nkamouna project development and construction schedule is summarized below.
The Republic of Cameroon is politically and economically stable and continues to pro-actively institute economic reforms and governmental improvements through privatization and diversification. The Government strongly encourages foreign investment, including development of its natural resources, and has designated GeoCam as a Strategic Enterprise thereby qualifying the company to 50% reductions in taxes and business incentives.
Nkamouna Project Ecomnomics
Pre-Tax ($ millions) (1) (2) (3)
Cash Flow 2,344 2,321 2,407
NPV @ 10% 754 752 973
IRR 95.7% 151.4% 95.9%
After-Tax ($ millions) (1) (2) (3)
Cash Flow 1,595 1,585 1,760
NPV @ 10% 529 535 702
IRR 77.5% 126.0% 78.8%
Cash Oper. Cost,$/lb Co(4) $0.96 $0.96 $0.32
Payback (years) 1.2 1.3 1.2
(1) Base Case: 100% equity, 3-year average metal prices and 21-year life
(2) Leveraged Case: 60% debt, 40% equity, 3-year average metal prices and 21-year life
(3) Doubling production to 8,000 tpy cobalt, increase in capital of $57 million,
3-year average metal prices and 12-year life
(4) Net of nickel by-product credit and including production taxes
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