Copper and cobalt production at KCC has been suspended since September 2015 pending the construction of the WOL project. A progressive ramp-up and commissioning of the remainder of the first train is expected to follow over the ensuing three months, with the objective of achieving full capacity on the first train by the end of Q1 2018.
Johnny Blizzard, Chief Executive Officer of Katanga, commented: "We are very pleased to have met our anticipated budget and timetable for commissioning the first train of our new plant and are optimistic that the tangible improvements from using a whole ore leach processing circuit will be seen in the near future. We look forward to ramping up to full production capacity of the first train. The construction of the second train of the WOL plant is also on schedule and budget and hot commissioning is still expected to commence in H2 2018."
Separately, the Company announces today that its board of directors ("Board") has approved capital expenditure budgets for the engineering and construction of an upgraded cobalt processing plant (the "Cobalt Debottlenecking Project") and a sulphuric acid production plant at KCC, as described below.
The Board approved US$15.8 million in capital expenditures to engineer and construct a facility designed to reduce throughput bottlenecks in its existing cobalt processing circuit at KCC to align with the life of mine cobalt production plan of 30,000 tonnes per annum average annual cobalt production. The Board also approved US$49 million for cobalt product dryers as part of the cobalt production circuit. The hot commissioning of the projects are expected to commence in Q4 2018.
Subject to the successful completion of the second train of the WOL plant and of the Cobalt Debottlenecking Project, both of which hot commissioning is expected to commence in H2 2018, the Company anticipates the following production forecast for the next three financial years, at the end of which period, it expects to have a first quartile cost position within the global copper industry cost curve:
| Commodity | Units | Production Guidance |
| | | FY 2018 | FY 2019 | FY 2020 |
| Copper | kt | 150 | 300 | 300 |
| Cobalt | kt | 11 | 34 | 32 |
The Board also approved US$237 million in capital expenditure spread over 2018 and 2019 to construct a Sulphuric Acid and Sulphur Dioxide production plant at KCC. This will improve the reliability of the supply of these reagents to the WOL processing circuit. The acid plant is designed to produce 1,900 tpd of of Sulphuric Acid, 200 tpd of Suphur Dioxide and 17MW co-generated power. This will reduce KCC's reliance on imported volumes of reagents brought to the mine through various international borders. The Internal Rate Of Return (IRR) for the Sulphuric Acid and Sulphur Dioxide production plant project is expected to be approximately 60%. The hot commissioning of this plant is expected to commence in H2 2019.
About Katanga Mining Limited
Katanga Mining Limited operates a major mine complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo producing refined copper and cobalt. The Company has the potential to become Africa's largest copper producer and the world's largest cobalt producer. Katanga is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol KAT.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.
All forward-looking statements reflect the Company's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made. Actual results or events may differ from those predicted in these forward-looking statements. All of the Company's forward-looking statements are qualified by the assumptions that are stated or inherent in such forward-looking statements, including the assumptions listed below. Although the Company believes that these assumptions are reasonable, this list is not exhaustive of factors that may affect any of the forward-looking statements. The key assumptions that have been made in connection with the forward-looking statements include the following: the recommencement of full operations of the Company remaining consistent with management's expectations, the anticipated performance of the whole ore leach plant, the construction of the cobalt debottlenecking plant and acid production plant remaining on schedule and within management's expectations, there being no significant disruptions affecting the operations of the Company whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, rollout of new equipment, damage to equipment or otherwise; permitting, development, operations, expansion and acquisitions at KCC being consistent with the Company's current expectations; continued recognition of the Company's mining concessions and other assets, rights, titles and interests in the DRC; political and legal developments in the DRC being consistent with its current expectations; the continued provision or procurement of additional funding from Glencore for operations, the completion of the T17 Underground Mine and the Power Project (as defined in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2016 dated March 31, 2017); new equipment performs to expectations; the exchange rate between the US dollar, South African rand, British pounds, Canadian dollar, Swiss franc, Congolese franc and Euro being approximately consistent with current levels; certain price assumptions for copper and cobalt; prices for diesel, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; production, operating expenses and cost of sales forecasts for the Company meeting expectations; the accuracy of the current ore reserve and mineral resource estimates of the Company (including but not limited to ore tonnage and ore grade estimates); and labour and material costs increasing on a basis consistent with the Company's current expectations.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the failure of the personnel changes or recommended remedial measures to have their intended effect; unforeseen action taken by the Ontario Securities Commission or other securities regulatory authorities; unforeseen delays or changes to the ramp up of production following the commissioning of the WOL Project; actual results of current exploration activities; actual results and interpretation of current reclamation activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of copper and cobalt; increase in capital requirements to construct the cobalt debottlenecking facility and acid production plant; possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, development or construction activities, delays due to strikes or other work stoppage, both internal and external to the Company as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's current annual information form and other publicly filed documents. Although Katanga has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
SOURCE Katanga Mining Limited