4th quarter results - Part I

Centamin Egypt Limited 31 July 2003 CENTAMIN EGYPT LIMITED ABN 86 007 700 352 AUSTRALIA: 57 Kishorn Road, MOUNT PLEASANT WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6153 EGYPT: 356 El-Horreya Road, Sedi Gaber, ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT. QUARTERLY REPORT FOR PERIOD ENDING 30 JUNE 2003 CORPORATE. As previously advised, the company has been in ongoing discussions with the Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority (EGSMA) and the Minister for Industry in order to obtain the renewal of security passes for its staff and contractors, so that the work programme at the Sukari project site can recommence. As the renewal of these passes is still awaited, the company has taken the decision to instigate Arbitration proceedings in the Regional Centre for Commercial Arbitration, and an action in the Administrative Court of Cairo to ensure a timely return to work. The company has at all times fulfilled its obligations under the terms of the Concession Agreement which was granted by an Act of the Egyptian Parliament under the terms of Law 222 of 1994 and has not, during the course of its discussions with EGSMA and the Minister, been advised formally of any reasons for the continued delay in obtaining the security passes. The company is confident that the approvals will be forthcoming and that it is important to resolve all such procedural issues to the company's satisfaction prior to the decision to commence development of the Sukari gold project. SUKARI GOLD PROJECT BANKABLE FEASIBILITY STUDY (BFS) The company has continued to progress the upgrading of the current 2 million tonne per year feasibility study. Utilising the increased resource base at Sukari and as part of the ongoing review, a scoping study was completed by Ausenco Limited to determine which throughput capacity, process design flow sheet and degree of mining selectivity would best optimise project economics. The Scoping Study was conducted on 3, 4, and 5 million tonne per year scenarios. The results of the study indicate that the higher process capacities, flotation followed by regrinding and leaching of concentrate (subject to confirmatory metallurgical testwork) and a bulk mining method provide the most attractive economics. These results will be used to focus the upgraded BFS now in progress. DEVELOPMENT A local and regional hydrogeology study commenced to assess the availability and quality of water needed for the operation. Water for gold recovery and domestic requirements may be contained in local underground sources, however it is considered unlikely that enough water could be located for use in the process plant and as such, it is still planned to source this water from the Red Sea. The study will also look at water inflow during mining. An onsite study of existing geotechnical data and assessment of parameters for mining was initiated. The results of this study will assist in planning further geotechnical drilling and logging requirements in order to determine slope stability and the design of pit wall angles. The majority of the planned holes will test the footwall shear zones that will influence pit wall slope angles. The company's policy of ongoing training for site personnel has, through the generosity of Geita Goldmines (Ashanti and Anglogold JV) allowed for the secondment of two geologists to the Geita open pit gold mine in Tanzania. After a period of three months, another two of Centamin's Egyptian geologists will replace these geologists. As no gold mining has been carried out in Egypt for many years these secondments are invaluable in the preparation of staff for the forthcoming operation. Additionally a consultant has been engaged to instruct the site geologists in the requirements of logging and data collection on a typical minesite. METALLURGY Additional metallurgical samples have been collected and are awaiting shipment to an Australian laboratory for comminution testwork and for optimising the flotation and leaching of whole ore. SURVEY A survey pickup of the old underground workings (shafts and stoping) has been carried out along with random checks on drill hole positions. The check survey validated the existing data and methods. GEOLOGY Geological surface mapping continues. The data is being edited and compiled for computer map generation. Most of the accessible, outcropping mineralized (auriferous) quartz veins over the Sukari hill have been mapped. The outcropping Sukari porphyry with auriferous quartz veining and stockworks is shown in Fig 1. It must be highlighted that the current resource of 3 million ounces of gold is defined only in the southern end of the hill, as drilling is yet to test any further north than 11000N. Drilling to date in the southern section has encountered mineralised porphyry in all holes drilled into the hill, and the density of the quartz veining along with intense alteration in the northern section indicates that this trend will continue. The north west of the hill is still to be mapped comprehensively. The company is confident that drilling in the middle and northern sections of the hill will bring about a large increase in the existing resource. The southern section still remains open at depth. ASX Listing Rule 5.10 Information in this report which relates to exploration, geology, sampling and drilling is based on information compiled by economic geologist Mr M Kriewaldt who is a employee of the Company, and is a corporate member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy with more than five years experience in the fields of activity being reported on, and is a 'Competent Person' for this purpose. His written consent has been received by the Company for this information to be included in this report in the form and context which it appears. Mr Kriewaldt declares an interest in shares of the Company. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange GDXGGXB
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