TSX: TVI OTCQX: TVIPF
CALGARY, Feb. 11, 2013 /CNW/ - TVI Pacific Inc. (News - Market indicators) (OTCQX:TVIPF) ("TVI" or the "Company") and its Philippine operating affiliate, TVI Resource Development (Phils.), Inc. ("TVIRD") are pleased to provide an update on the joint venture projects with Mindoro Resources Ltd. ("Mindoro"). TVI and Mindoro have signed four joint venture agreements, previously announced on October 1, 2012, relating to the Agata and Pan de Azucar mining projects located in the Philippines on the Islands of Mindanao and Panay, respectively. The joint ventures present TVI and Mindoro with multiple growth opportunities for near-term and medium-term cash flow generating potential. Under the agreements TVIRD has the ability to earn up to a 60% interest and will act as operator of the projects. A management committee composed of senior management members of both TVIRD and Mindoro will oversee each of the projects.
- Growth opportunities include:
- a near-term high iron (Fe) laterite direct shipping ore (DSO) operation
- a near-term limestone DSO operation
- a medium-term pyrite material DSO operation
- a medium-term lime production facility
- a medium-term nickel (Ni) processing plant
- Development planning/permits are well-advanced for the high Fe and limestone DSO operations, both with potential to generate near-term cash flow.
- Project Execution/Technology Development team fast-tracking Ni processing plant using low-capex leaching technology.
- Ni processing plant capex is expected to be less than US$100 million; estimated opex approximately US$4 per lb Ni, assuming use of imported sulphuric acid.
- Pan de Azucar pyrite deposit being evaluated for both DSO of pyrite material and production of sulphuric acid for the Agata Ni processing plant to further reduce opex.
Mr. Clifford M. James, Chairman and CEO of TVI states, "These projects comprise a pipeline of potentially long-life assets, capable of substantial, growing and continuous cash flow generation, which are expected to propel the company into a strong mid-sized, diversified miner. These are exciting opportunities and represent a major step forward for TVI."
TVIRD, as the operator of the projects, brings to the table a proven management team capable of project execution (the Project Execution/Technology Development team), on time and on budget. The Project Execution/Technology Development team for the Mindoro joint venture projects is composed of highly skilled technical experts who are familiar with the assets and the type of processing plant technology expected to be used.
Prior extensive pre-feasibility and engineering works have been conducted on the Mindoro properties. These reports can be accessed on Mindoro's website at www.mindoro.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. These reports include:
- Pan De Azucar Project - Second Stage Drilling Program by Edsel Abrasaldo & Anthony Climie (Jan 20, 2003, not 43-101 standard)
- Independent Report on the Nickel Laterite Resource - Agata North, Philippines by Mark Gifford (Nov 10, 2010, 43-101 report)
- Technical Report on the Agata Nickel Project Scoping Study by Ausenco Vector (Nov 19, 2010, 43-101 report)
- Metallurgical Test Program for Extraction of Nickel and Cobalt for Agata Laterite Deposit in the Philippines by SGS Canada (Nov 3, 2011, not 43-101 standard)
- Independent Report on the Laterite Nickel Resource - Agata South, Philippines by Mark Gifford (Nov 4, 2011, 43-101 report)
- Independent Report on the Nickel Laterite Resource - Bolobolo & Karihatag, Philippines by Mark Gifford (Nov 4, 2011, 43-101 report)
- Preliminary Economic Assessment Agata Nickel Project, Mindanao, Philippines by Golder Associates (May 2011, 43-101 report)
- Technical Report for the Agata Nickel Laterite Project, Mindanao, Philippines by Ausenco (Dec 20, 2011, 43-101 report)
The above reports were compiled by Mindoro and most completed to 43-101 standards. The above reports were not compiled under TVI's direction; however, the work and its results are considered relevant to the current project planning process.
AGATA MINING PROJECT
The Agata mining project, located on the Island of Mindanao, includes the following opportunities:
- a near-term high Fe laterite DSO operation
- a near-term limestone DSO operation
- a medium-term lime production facility
- a medium-term nickel processing plant project
Historical estimates of mineral resources and mineral reserves at Agata are set out in the technical report entitled "Technical Report for the Agata Nickel Laterite Project, Mindanao, Philippines" dated 20 December 2011 prepared by Ausenco for Mindoro (the "Agata Report"). Key assumptions, parameters and methods used to prepare the historical estimates are set out in the Agata Report, which uses the categories required by NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The historical estimates in the Agata Report and referred to in this news release are believed by the Company to be relevant and reliable for the preparation and execution of development plans but the qualified person named at the end of this news release has not verified or done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves and is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. To upgrade or verify the historical estimates as current mineral resources or mineral reserves would require the completion of a new technical report.
The historical drilling by Mindoro referenced in the Agata Report was 682 drill holes for 12,252 metres in the main Agata North resource and 199 holes for 2,605 metres in Agata South resource.
High Fe and Limestone DSO Operations/Lime Production Facility
Both the high Fe DSO and the limestone DSO operations are near-term opportunities that have the potential to generate strong cash flows beginning in late 2013 (contingent on, among other things, receipt of permits in a timely manner). The high Fe laterite and limestone deposits occur up to one (1) kilometre from the coast, which is expected to positively impact transportation costs due to the close proximity of the mine pit to the port.
The upper portions of the laterite profile comprise the ferruginous zone and limonite zone, both rich in iron. It is estimated that there are approximately seven (7) million wet metric tonnes (wmt) of high Fe material with Fe grades ranging between 45% and 52%. These historical estimates are set out in the Agata Report referred to above. The deposit is expected to be developed as a surface mining operation with the high Fe material most probably sold to the Chinese iron ore market.
Beneath the ferruginous and limonite zone is the higher nickel grade saprolite zone, which will be the dominant feed for a new nickel processing facility currently under consideration by the Project Execution/Technology Development team. The high Fe DSO operation would be expected to generate early cash flow until the nickel processing plant is built and becomes operational, but shipments are expected to continue after this until the high Fe material is exhausted. The high Fe DSO operation already has an existing Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC); however, other permits such as a port permit and a Declaration of Mining Feasibility are also required.
The limestone occurring at the coast is a massive recrystallized limestone of very high purity levels with CaCO3 of greater than 95% according to the Agata Report. Five (5) holes were drilled into the limestone horizon by Mindoro but the number of holes drilled is not considered sufficient to classify a mineral resource. The limestone is estimated in the Agata Report to be up to 50 metres thick. The potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, because there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. The initial plan is to develop a resource, and mine and ship limestone DSO utilizing the infrastructure developed initially for the high Fe DSO operation. Currently no permits are in place for mining the limestone.
Since the quality of limestone quarried at Agata is expected to be high, the Project Execution/Technology Development team also plans to construct a lime production facility at the Agata project site. The lime produced would be used in the nickel processing plant, offsetting the costs of imported lime while also creating potential for some to be sold. The lime processing facility is a medium-term project currently expected to come online at the beginning of 2015 pending the receipt of all required permits, among other things.
The development plans and initial pre-development activities for the two DSO operations are underway and include:
a) For the high Fe DSO operation:
- the preparation of compliance reports to regulators
- land acquisition for the port facilities and roads
- planning and design for port construction
- road/infrastructure design and construction plans
- initial pre-development activities, including initial road construction and camp development
- confirming markets for products
- mine development planning
- community relations
b) For the Limestone DSO operation:
- further drilling on the limestone deposits to delineate resource to NI 43-101 standards
- preliminary concepts and mining plans for the limestone
- confirming markets for limestone and lime products
- metallurgical test works
An update to the NI 43-101 report prepared originally for Mindoro, together with a scoping study on both the Hi Fe and Limestone operations, are also initially planned and are to be followed by feasibility studies.
Agata Nickel (Ni) Processing Plant
The Agata Ni processing plant is a medium-term growth opportunity, which the Company expects could come into production in mid 2015, dependent on such things as a successful metallurgical testing program and pending receipt of the required permits. The plant would initially be designed to have a 20-year life, and would be built in modules with the ability to add capacity over time by adding further modules to increase throughput and Ni production. The Project Execution/Technology Development team is proposing the use of innovative, low cost leaching and downstream Ni recovery and purification technology rather than the traditional high cost HPAL processes used in the laterite nickel industry. TVIRD's team of technical staff engaged to deal with the Mindoro joint venture projects are the developers of this leaching and downstream Ni recovery and purification technology and their expertise will be used to fast-track the processing plant.
The laterite feed to the processing plant comprising limonite material and saprolite material would be mixed with sulphuric acid and undergo numerous steps to ultimately produce a nickel hydroxide product. This intermediate nickel product could either be sold as is or further processed to produce metallic nickel. The estimated capital cost for the nickel processing plant plus associated infrastructure (port, water, power, etc.) is expected to be less than US$100 million. The cash operating costs are estimated to be approximately US$4 per lb Ni (approximately US$9,000/t Ni), assuming the use of imported sulphuric acid. If the Pan de Azucar pyrite project can be successfully commercialized (refer below), then the opportunity exists to self-produce sulphuric acid at the nickel plant site, thereby further reducing operating costs, and with the added benefits of by-product electricity and steam.
Site infrastructure is excellent with local sources of labour, fresh water and power (supplemented by back-up generators). The processing plant will be located within two kilometres of the port, thereby simplifying acid transport and other logistics, as well as keeping operating costs down. Deep water for ships up to 50,000 tonne capacity occurs within 250 metres of the coastline.
A number of activities relating to the Agata Ni Processing Plant are underway and include:
- internal project feasibility scoping including previous relevant Mindoro scoping work
- external laboratory testing at BGRIMM of a representative bulk ore sample taken from the Agata Ni deposit, including:
- crushing and grinding tests
- pre-leach thickener settling tests
- primary and secondary leaching tests
- leach residue preliminary settling and filtration tests
- establishment of laboratory and pilot testing facility (in the Philippines)
- bench-scale laboratory equipment has been installed and testwork will commence at this facility before mid-February 2013
- pilot plant equipment has been identified and specified
- the process flowsheet has been identified and confirmed by laboratory tests
- process flow diagrams are near completion
- mass and energy balance have been developed in METSIM, using laboratory test data to calibrate the model
- environmental and leached ore storage facilities designs are well advanced
- preliminary infrastructure design is underway, including:
- port/jetty design, including reagent storage facilities
- water source identification
- road design
- process plant location and preliminary layout
An update to the NI 43-101 report prepared originally for Mindoro, together with a scoping study, are initially planned, to be followed by delivery of a full feasibility study. The feasibility study is underway and expected to be completed by the end of 2013. Pending a positive feasibility study and a decision to proceed, plant construction is expected to commence in 2014 with the commissioning/commercial production of nickel hydroxide product in Q2 of 2015, dependent on obtaining permits in a timely manner, among other things.
Pan de Azucar Pyrite Project
As described in Mindoro's news release of February 8, 2012, the Pan de Azucar pyrite project located on the Island of Panay is a drill-defined exploration target, which comprises a pyrite-rich mineralized horizon of between 10 and 40 metres in thickness and dipping at a shallow 10 to 15 degrees. The mineralized horizon is exposed at the surface. Mindoro reported it has drilled 30 holes into the mineralized horizon, showing a potential quantity of 8 million to 12.7 million dry metric tonnes with a grade range of 35% to 40% sulphur (70% to 90% pyrite). The potential quantity and grade has been determined by averaging the intercepts from the drill assays. The potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, because there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource (including number of holes drilled) and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource.
The Company expects that commercializing the project may involve both the DSO export of pyrite material to China for the production of sulphuric acid and/or the self-production of sulphuric acid at the Agata Ni processing plant site. Currently there are no permits in place for the mining of the pyrite material.
Activities planned or underway for the Pan de Azucar Pyrite Project include:
- laboratory testing of the pyrite samples as a suitable feed for a sulphuric acid plant
- additional Diamond drilling to delineate resource to NI 43-101 standards
- preliminary concepts and mining plans
- confirming markets for products
- metallurgical test works
- community relations
Qualified Person
Yulo Perez, Chief Operations Officer of TVI Resource Development (Phils.), Inc. (TVIRD), Fellow AusIMM, is the qualified person under NI 43-101 who has approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.
This news release contains certain forward-looking information (referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "intend", "estimate", "scheduled", "expect", "may", "will", "should", or similar words suggesting future activities or outcomes. The forward-looking statements set out in this news release include information relating to interests that may be earned by TVIRD in the Agata and Pan de Azucar joint ventures; opportunities for exploration, development and commercialization of the Agata Mining Project (including the High Fe and Limestone DSO/Lime Production Facility and the Agata Nickel Processing Plant), and the Pan de Azucar Pyrite Project.
Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (A) results of further work in pursuing the conceptual planning described in this news release not supporting current expectations as to the opportunities outlined; (B) TVIRD not funding the necessary expenditures at Agata or Pan de Azucar to advance the projects or earn an interest under the joint venture agreements due to, among other things (i) changes in TVIRD's strategic priorities, due diligence findings, changes in laws or regulations affecting mining operations in the Philippines (including the profitability of such operations), and other factors, (ii) changes in TVIRD budgets and (iii) limited availability of funds; (C) a determination on the part of TVIRD not to pursue projects contemplated by one or more of the joint venture agreements noted above for technical, economic, legal or other reasons (including, without limitation, a failure to obtain required permits or other governmental or regulatory approvals); and (D) certain other risks identified elsewhere in TVI's public filings, including, without limitation, those risk factors set forth at pp. 46-52 of TVI's Annual Information Form dated March 20, 2012. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance upon the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and such forward-looking statements should not be interpreted or regarded as guarantees of future outcomes.
The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and TVI does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable Canadian securities law. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
About TVI Pacific Inc. (TSX: TVI) (OTCQX: TVIPF)
TVI Pacific Inc. is a publicly-traded Canadian company that is focused on the production, development, exploration and acquisition of resource projects in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. TVI produces copper and zinc concentrates from its Canatuan mine. TVI is a partner/operate in several joint venture projects in the Philippines and Papua New Guinea and also has an interest in an offshore Philippine oil property.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.
Image with caption: "Map 1: Philippines: Agata (Island of Mindanao) and Pan de Azucar Mining (Island of Panay) Project Locations (CNW Group/TVI Pacific Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130211_C4469_PHOTO_EN_23504.jpg
Image with caption: "Map 2: Agata Mining Project - Site Layout (CNW Group/TVI Pacific Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130211_C4469_PHOTO_EN_23505.jpg
SOURCE: TVI Pacific Inc.
Map 2: Agata Mining Project - Site Layout (CNW Group/TVI Pacific Inc.)
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