Pan African completes Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) on the Soweto Talings Retreatment (STR) Project

Summary by AI BETAClose X

Pan African Resources PLC has completed its Definitive Feasibility Study for the Soweto Tailings Retreatment (STR) project, which holds approximately 0.98 million ounces of gold within 108 million tonnes of reserves. The project, designed to process 600,000 tonnes per month and leverage existing Mogale Tailings Retreatment infrastructure, is projected to yield 35,000 to 40,000 ounces of gold annually over a 15-year life of mine, with an all-in sustaining cost of US$1,750-1,800/oz. The estimated capital expenditure is ZAR3.68 billion (US$216 million), and at a gold price of US$3,550/oz, the project shows a post-tax NPV13 of ZAR1.85 billion (US$109 million) and an IRR of 29.55%, with a payback period of approximately three years. A Final Investment Decision is anticipated in December 2026, subject to board approval, financing, and regulatory authorisations.

Disclaimer*

Pan African Resources PLC

(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985 with registered number 3937466 on 25 February 2000)

Share code on LSE: PAF

Share code on JSE: PAN

Share code on ASX: PAF

ISIN: GB0004300496

ADR ticker code: PAFRY

(`Pan African Resources' or the `Group' or the `Company')

 

Pan African Resources Funding Company Limited

Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa with limited liability

Registration number: 2012/021237/06

Alpha code: PARI

 

PAN AFRICAN COMPLETES DEFINITIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY (DFS) ON THE SOWETO TAILINGS RETREATMENT (STR) PROJECT, DELIVERING A ROBUST LONG TERM GROWTH PATHWAY FOR THE MOGALE TAILINGS RETREATMENT (MTR) COMPLEX

 

Further to the announcement published on 27 November 2025, Pan African is pleased to advise shareholders and noteholders that the Company has successfully completed the DFS for the STR project, located adjacent to the Group's MTR operations on the West Rand of Gauteng, South Africa.

 

The STR project encompasses the retreatment of the Soweto Cluster tailings storage facilities (TSFs), acquired as part of the Mintails transaction, and comprises Mineral Reserves of approximately 108Mt at 0.28g/t containing approximately 0.98Moz of gold.

 

The DFS evaluated the construction of a 600,000 tonnes per month (600ktpm) tailings retreatment operation adjacent to the existing MTR processing facility. The project has been designed to leverage the existing MTR elution, carbon regeneration, electrowinning and smelting infrastructure, significantly reducing capital intensity and improving project economics relative to a standalone development.

 

DFS HIGHLIGHTS

 

·          Annual gold production of 35,000oz to 40,000oz from STR, with Life of Mine (LOM) production of approximately 561,000oz over a project life of approximately 15 years

·          LOM all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of approximately US$1,750-1,800/oz, excluding cost savings from renewable energy supply

·          Value-engineered project capital estimate of approximately ZAR3.68 billion (US$216 million at ZAR:US$=17.00), which now takes into account the dedicated new TSF and associated remining infrastructure

·          Using a gold price of US$3,550/oz the project returns

  • Post-tax NPV13 of approximately ZAR1.85 billion (US$109 million)
  • Real ungeared internal rate of return (IRR) of approximately 29.55%
  • Payback period of approximately three years, post-commissioning

·          Construction period of approximately 28 months from Final Investment Decision (FID)

·          Dedicated new TSF incorporated into the project design

·          Synergies with existing MTR infrastructure for elution, carbon regeneration, electrowinning and gold smelting

 

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The STR project will comprise a dedicated 600ktpm tailings retreatment circuit, together with associated hydraulic mining infrastructure, pumping stations, overland slurry and water pipelines of approximately 18km, process water infrastructure and a new modern GISTM compliant tailings deposition facility.

The project has been designed to operate in conjunction with the existing MTR operation and will materially increase gold production from the MTR complex to approximately 100,000oz/year at peak production, while accelerating the rehabilitation of historical tailings facilities and surrounding areas on the West Rand.

 

A comprehensive value engineering programme was undertaken by the Group following completion of the base case DFS. This review identified potential capital savings of approximately ZAR718 million, reducing estimated project capital from approximately ZAR4.40 billion to ZAR3.68 billion while maintaining project throughput, production and operational performance.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL AND PERMITTING

The Environmental Impact Assessment and permitting process is well advanced, including approvals for pipeline servitudes, while the Water Use Licence application has been submitted and is in progress. The Group currently anticipates receipt of the principal environmental authorisations during FY27, supporting the targeted project development schedule.

 

FINAL INVESTMENT DECISION

The Group intends to complete the remaining permitting, optimisation and financing workstreams during FY27.

 

Subject to board approval, project financing and receipt of the required statutory authorisations, a FID is anticipated in December 2026.

 

Pan African Resources CEO Cobus Loots commented:

"The completion of the STR DFS marks another important milestone in the evolution of the MTR complex. By leveraging the substantial infrastructure already established at MTR and Pan African's track record of optimally delivering tailings retreatment projects, we have been able to define a project that delivers attractive returns, meaningful production growth and accelerated environmental rehabilitation.

 

The STR project has the potential to increase annual gold production from the MTR complex to approximately 100,000 ounces per annum at peak production, while simultaneously addressing historical environmental liabilities on the West Rand. We look forward to advancing the remaining permitting and financing workstreams ahead of a targeted Final Investment Decision during December 2026."

 

COMPETENT PERSON

The competent person for Pan African, Hendrik Pretorius, the executive for technical services and new business, signs off the Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves for the Group. He is a member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP 400051/11 - Management Enterprise Building, Mark Shuttleworth Street, Innovation Hub, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa), as well as a fellow in good standing of the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA - CSIR Mining Precinct, Corner Rustenburg and Carlow Roads, Melville, Gauteng Province, South Africa). Hendrik has 23 years' experience in economic geology, mineral resource management (MRM) and mining (surface mining and shallow to ultra-deep underground mining). He is based at The Firs Office Building, 2nd Floor, Office 204, Corner Cradock and Biermann Avenues, Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Geology from the University of Johannesburg as well as a Graduate Diploma in Mining Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand. Hendrik has reviewed, and approved, in writing the information contained in this announcement as it pertains to Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves.

 

The information contained in this announcement is the responsibility of the board and has not been reviewed or reported on by the Group's external auditors.

 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via the Regulatory Information Service in the UK, the stock exchange news service of the JSE and the Australian Stock Exchange, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

 

Johannesburg

 

11 September 2026

 

For further information on Pan African, please visit the Company's website at

www.panafricanresources.com

Corporate information

Corporate Office

The Firs Building

2nd Floor, Office 204

Corner Cradock and Biermann Avenues

Rosebank, Johannesburg

South Africa

Office: + 27 (0)11 243 2900

info@paf.co.za

Registered Office

107 Cheapside, 2nd Floor

London, EC2V 6DN

United Kingdom

Office: + 44 (0)20 3869 0706

Chief Executive Officer 

Cobus Loots     

Office: + 27 (0)11 243 2900                                         

Financial Director and debt officer

Marileen Kok

Office: + 27 (0)11 243 2900

Head: Investor Relations

Hethen Hira
Tel: + 27 (0)11 243 2900
E-mail: hhira@paf.co.za

Website: www.panafricanresources.com

Company Secretary

Jane Kirton

St James's Corporate Services Limited

Office: + 44 (0)20 3869 0706

Joint Broker

Ross Allister/Georgia Langoulant

Peel Hunt LLP

Office: +44 (0)20 7418 8900

JSE Sponsor & JSE Debt Sponsor

Ciska Kloppers

Questco Corporate Advisory Proprietary Limited

Office: + 27 (0) 78 286 9556

Joint Broker

Thomas Rider/Nick Macann

BMO Capital Markets Limited

Office: +44 (0)20 7236 1010

 

Joint Broker

Matthew Armitt/Jennifer Lee

Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co KG (Berenberg)

Office: +44 (0)20 3207 7800

 




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