VANCOUVER, Sept. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSX:
NDM; NYSE MKT: NAK) ("Northern Dynasty" or the "Company") reports that
Anglo American (US) Pebble LLC ("AA Pebble"), a wholly owned US
subsidiary of Anglo American plc ("Anglo American"), has given notice
under the Pebble limited partnership agreement that it is withdrawing
from the Pebble copper project in Alaska.
Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo American, said: "Despite our
belief that Pebble is a deposit of rare magnitude and quality, we have
taken the decision to withdraw following a thorough assessment of Anglo
American's extensive pipeline of long-dated project options. Our focus
has been to prioritise capital to projects with the highest value and
lowest risks within our portfolio, and reduce the capital required to
sustain such projects during the pre-approval phases of development as
part of a more effective, value-driven capital allocation model."
As of June 30, 2013, AA Pebble has funded US$541 million of expenditure
on the Pebble Project. Following the AA Pebble withdrawal, PLP will
proceed under the sole ownership of Northern Dynasty.
In light of the parties' shared desire to ensure an orderly exit, the
detailed aspects of AA Pebble's withdrawal from the Pebble project are
being developed and implemented.
Northern Dynasty CEO Ron Thiessen commented "Northern Dynasty will again own 100% of one of the world's most
important copper & gold resources and will have the benefit of $541
million worth of expenditures, which opens the door to a number of
exciting possibilities for Northern Dynasty and its shareholders and
the Pebble Project and its stakeholders. Northern Dynasty and the Pebble Partnership have both the expertise and
resources necessary to advance the Pebble Project."
About the Pebble Project
The Pebble Project is an initiative of the Pebble Partnership to
responsibly develop a globally significant copper, gold and molybdenum
deposit in southwest Alaska into a modern, long-life mine, which will
benefit not only the owner, but the people, culture and industries of
the State of Alaska, as well as suppliers, consultants and industries
in the Lower 48 United States of America. A recent study authored by
IHS Global Insight, entitled The Economic and Employment Contributions of a Conceptual Pebble Mine to
the Alaska and United States Economies found the Pebble Project has the potential to support 15,000 American
jobs and contribute more than $2.5 billion annually to US GDP over
decades of production. A copy the study is available at www.northerndynasty.com.
The project is located 200 miles southwest of Anchorage on state land
designated for mineral exploration and development. It is situated in a
region of rolling tundra approximately 1,000 feet above sea-level, 65
miles from tidewater on Cook Inlet and presents favourable conditions
for successful mine site and infrastructure development.
About Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.
Northern Dynasty is a mineral exploration and development company based
in Vancouver, Canada, which holds indirect interests in over 600 sq.
miles of mineral claims in southwest Alaska, USA. Northern Dynasty's
principal asset is the Pebble Project, an advanced-stage initiative to
develop one of the world's most important mineral resources.
Ronald W. Thiessen
President & CEO
Sole Responsibility
No regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release. Northern Dynasty is solely and entirely
responsible for the contents of this news release. No other party,
including any parties which have an interest in the project, are in any
way responsible for the contents hereof.
Forward Looking Information and other Cautionary Factors
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed
"forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other
than statements of historical facts, especially those that address
potential mine feasibility, economic effects, estimated resource
quantities, grades and contained metals, are forward-looking statements
because they are generally made on the basis of estimation and
extrapolation from a limited number of drill holes and metallurgical
studies. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in
its forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions,
such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of the
ultimate size, quality or commercial feasibility of the Pebble Project
or of the Company's future performance. The likelihood of future mining
at the Pebble Project is subject to a large number of risks and will
require achievement of a number of technical, economic and legal
objectives, including obtaining necessary mining and construction
permits, completion of pre-feasibility and final feasibility studies,
preparation of all necessary engineering for an open pit and/or
underground workings and processing facilities as well as receipt of
significant additional financing to fund these objectives as well as
funding mine construction. Such funding may not be available to the
Company on acceptable terms or on any terms at all. The mineralization
at the Pebble Project has not yet been classified as ore and there is
no assurance that it will ever be classified as ore. The need for
compliance with extensive environmental and socio-economic rules and
practices and the requirement for the Company to obtain government
permitting can cause a delay or even abandonment of a mineral project.
The Company is also subject to the specific risks inherent in the
mining business as well as general economic and business conditions.
For more information on the Company, Investors should review the
Company's annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission and its home jurisdiction filings that are
available at www.sedar.com.
SOURCE Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.
