Quarterly Operations Update & Tjate Share Issue

RNS Number : 0987L
Jubilee Metals Group PLC
17 April 2018
 

 

 

Jubilee Metals Group PLC

 ("Registration number: 4459850")

AIM share code: JLP  

AltX share code: JBL

ISIN: GB0031852162 

 ("Jubilee" or "the Company")

 

 

 

 

Quarterly Operations Update

Tjate Project - issue of shares

 

Jubilee is pleased to announce an operations update for its metals recovery division, Jubilee Processing Proprietary Limited ("JPL") for Q1 2018.

 

Highlights

·    Hernic sets new high for March 2018 producing 1 858 PGM ounces

·    Hernic PGM1 production for Q1 2018 up 30 % to 4 897  ounces

·    Hernic unit cost per PGM ounce produced USD 434

·    Hernic operational earnings increased 18 %  to GBP 1.14 million (ZAR 18.91 million)

·    Hernic project revenue up 30 % to GBP 2.65 million (ZAR 44.01 million)

·    JPL operations  revenue up 18 % to GBP 3.90 million (ZAR 64.64 million)

·    JPL operations earnings up 4 % to GBP 1.26 million (ZAR 20.95 million)

1 = Platinum Group Metals (6E platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium, and gold)

 

Leon Coetzer, Chief Executive commented:

"I am very pleased with the continued operational improvements at our Hernic operations.  March 2018 has set a new operational high producing 1 858 ounces while our unit cost to produce a PGM ounce was at a low USD 434.

I expect Q2 2018 to deliver even better operational numbers as the Hernic operation continues to improve. 

Our DCM operation is going through a transitional phase as we gear up to execute the PGM project.  We have temporarily suspended the processing of 3rd party ore at DCM due to continued variation in feed quality causing operational difficulties negatively impacting our production of chrome from the on-site tailings and surface waste material.

It is an exciting period for Jubilee as we expand our operational reach.  Our projects team has a busy time ahead as we look to execute the PlatCro PGM project, DCM PGM project and the Kabwe project."

 

HERNIC OVERVIEW

 

The Hernic operation continues to deliver improved results quarter on quarter.   The unit cost per PGM ounce produced of USD 434 sets the standard for the industry and illustrates the robustness of the project. March 2018 delivered 1 858 PGM ounces which is the highest ounces delivered to the refinery in any month to date.

The table below presents the comparative quarterly performance of the Hernic operation:


Tailings processed tonnes

PGM ounces delivered

Project revenue 1 (GBP'000)

Project revenue2  (ZAR'000)

Project earnings3 (GBP'000)

Project earnings (ZAR'000)

Jubilee attributable earnings (GBP'000)

Jubilee attributable earnings (ZAR'000)

Unit cost / PGM oz (USD)4

Total Q2 2017

80 828

808

459

7.604

 (110)

(1.928)

(110)

(1.928)

901

Total Q3 2017

105 673

2 874

1.539

26.581

496

8.592

496

8.592

476

Total Q4

2017

121 644

3 755

2.047

37.011

965

17.466

965

17.466

382

Total Q1 2018

110 409

4 897

2.651

44.013

1.141

18.908

1.141

18.908

434

Project to date

418 554

12 333

6.697

115.209

2.492

43.038

2.492

43.038

458

 

1= Revenue from the current project phase - 100% attributable to Jubilee until full capital recovery. Revenue is projected based on latest    average PGM market prices and USD exchange rates and results are only final once final Quotational Period has passed

2= Average monthly conversion rates used

3= Project Earnings include all incurred operational costs including management services and mineral royalties

4= Unit cost includes provision for utility overhead.

 

 

 

DCM overview

 

The DCM project is gearing up to commence construction of the PGM recovery plant. The plant design target is set at 25 000 tonnes per month of feed material to the chrome and PGM recovery plant. Processing of 3rd party ore at DCM has been suspended temporarily during this time due to significantly varying feed quality resulting in plant operational constraints which also negatively impacts the processing of on-site tailings and surface waste material as reflected in the project numbers.  

Phase 1 of the fine chrome recovery circuit has been completed with the design and construction underway of an enlarged fine chrome recovery circuit to enhance the recovery of chrome prior to the recovery of the PGMs.

The table below presents the operational quarterly performance of the DCM operation:

 


Chromite concentrate produced

tonnes

Project revenue (GBP'000)

Project revenue 1 (ZAR'000)

Project earnings2 (GBP'000)

Project earnings (ZAR'000)

Jubilee attributable earnings (GBP'000)

Jubilee attributable earnings (ZAR'000)

Total Q4 2017

11 788

1.254

22.858

508

9.307

254

4.654

Total Q1 2018

 9 810

 1.240

 20.628

 245

 4.080

 123

 2.040

Project to date

 130 460

 14.175

 245.090

 7.891

 134.405

 2.819

 48.560

 

1= Average monthly conversion rates used

2 = Project earnings include project expenditure on plant and equipment

 

Tjate Project - issue of shares

Further to the announcement on 2 March 2017 and pursuant to a Deferred Share agreement ("Agreement") with the historically disadvantaged shareholders ("Beneficiaries") of black economic empowered New Plats (Tjate) Proprietary Limited, a shareholder in Tjate Platinum Corporation Proprietary Limited ("Tjate"), a total of 4 464 880 new Jubilee Ordinary shares of 1 pence ("Shares") will be issued to the Beneficiaries.

Tjate has executed a mining right with the Department of Mineral Resources in respect of the Project comprising the Farms Dsjate 249 KT, Fernkloof 539KS and Quartzhill 542 KS, situated in the Magisterial District of Sekhukhune in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. This achieves the third of four hurdles set out in the Agreement, the details of which were previously announced on 6 May 2009.

The Shares will be issued as fully paid and rank pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared on or after the date on which they are issued. 

Application will be made for the Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM and to be listed on the AltX of the JSE Limited, which is expected to take place on or about 20 April 2018 ("Admission").

Following Admission, the Company's total issued share capital will comprise 1 310 992 791 Ordinary Shares. As the Company does not hold any Ordinary Shares in treasury, this figure may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company following Admission.

 

17 April 2018

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.

 

The financial information in this announcement is unaudited.

 

Contacts

Jubilee Metals Group PLC

Colin Bird/Leon Coetzer
Tel +44 (0) 20 7584 2155 / Tel +27 (0) 11 465 1913
Andrew Sarosi
Tel +44 (0)1752 221937

JSE Sponsor

Sasfin Capital, (a member of the Sasfin group)

Sharon Owens
Tel +27 (0) 11 809 7500

Nominated Adviser

SPARK Advisory Partners Limited
Mark Brady/Andrew Emmott
Tel: +44 (0) 203 368 3555

Broker

Shard Capital Partners LLP
Damon Heath/Erik Woolgar
Tel +44 (0) 20 7 186 9900

 

 

 

 

 


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
MSCKMGMDGVZGRZZ
UK 100

Latest directors dealings