TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug 20, 2014) - Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:MON) has entered into an agreement with Ovation Capital to fund development of Montero's phosphate properties in South Africa. Ovation Capital is a South African based investment firm that is currently developing a portfolio of mineral beneficiation projects focusing on a targeted set of industrial minerals.
Ovation shall earn a 30% interest in Montero's phosphate properties by completing a Pre-Feasibility Study and a Feasibility Study for an integrated phosphate rock and phosphoric acid operation at Saldanha Bay, South Africa. Ovation has mandate agreements with Outotec and Sebata Group to complete these studies within a 2 year period. A definitive agreement is currently being finalized and is subject to legal and technical due diligence, as well as regulatory approvals.
Dr. Tony Harwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Montero commented, "Our partnership with Ovation provides Montero with a strong foundation to develop and advance our South African phosphate assets in order to produce phosphate rock and then further beneficiate these to produce phosphoric acid. Ovation and its partners have a wealth of expertise in the mining, beneficiation and environment studies with mandates with Outotec and Sebata Group to conduct pre-feasibility and feasibility studies."
In 2012 Montero completed a compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") of the Duyker Eiland project (see news release dated 28/02/2012 and filing of PEA on Sedar on 13/04/2012). Duyker Eiland is the first of Montero's phosphate assets set to be advanced to feasibility.
Qualified Person's Statement
Turgis Consulting, now Royal Haskoning DHV - Mining, is a Johannesburg based engineering consultancy. The PEA team was headed by Sten Johansson (MSAIMM), a Process Engineer and Andrew Pooley (FSAIMM) is a Mining Engineer who covered the mining aspects of the PEA, both are qualified persons for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101. The technical information contained in the PEA and in this press release was reviewed by Mr. Mike Evans, M.Sc. Pr.Sci.Nat., who is a qualified person for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101 and a Consulting Geologist to Montero.
About Montero Mining & Exploration Ltd.
Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. is a mineral exploration and development company engaged in the identification, acquisition, evaluation and exploration of mineral properties. These include rare earth elements (REE) in Tanzania and phosphates in South Africa. Montero remains focused on bringing in a strategic investor for the further development of the Wigu Hill Rare Earth Element Project in Tanzania, which is a high-grade, undeveloped Light Rare Earth Element deposit. Montero has entered into an agreement to develop its portfolio of phosphate properties in South Africa with Ovation Capital. Montero trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol MON.
Signed. Dr. Tony Harwood - President and CEO
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT: Neither 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. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements, which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan" . These statements are based on information currently available to Montero and Montero provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements with respect to Montero's future plans, objectives or goals, to the effect that Montero or management expects a stated condition or result to occur, including Montero's estimates with respect to mineral resource quantities, grades and economic potential. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Montero's mineral properties, and Montero's financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: the ability to negotiate an investment with a strategic investor on acceptable terms; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Montero's activities; the ability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision; delays in the development of projects; capital and operating costs vary significantly from estimates; and other matters discussed in this News Release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Montero's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on Montero's forward-looking statements. Montero does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by Montero or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.