Tango Provides Operational Update on Its Project Portfolio VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tango Mining Limited (“Tango” or the “Company”) (TSXV:TGV) is pleased to provide an operational update on its project portfolio located in the Republics of South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Liberia for the period of 1 September to 30 November 2018 (1st Quarter).
Coal – Metallurgical and Mining Projects, Republic of South Africa
Production: Three months run of mine and discard throughput for the three Exxaro Coal Central Propriety Limited (ECC) operations was in line with budget:
| Mine | Actual
(tonnes) | Budget
(tonnes) | Variance
(tonnes) | Comments |
| Dorstfontein East Coal Mine | 613 423 | 705 971 | (92 548) | Low coal supply from mine |
| Dorstfontein West Coal Mine | 276 060 | 267 264 | 8 796 | |
| Forzando Coal Mine | 875 868 | 826 980 | 48 888 | |
Employees: Number of full time employees: 231
Number of part time employees: 23
Health and Safety:
No reportable incidents reported for the three ECC operations for the 1st Quarter.
Recognition:
Mr. Miles Baltimore, Exarro Chief Engineering Manager, recently visited the Forzando operation and in a written letter of thanks to management commented “I’ve never visited a cleaner coal plant than the Forzando plant. In February 2019, I’m planning to bring all the engineering managers to see what a coal plant should look like”.
Diamond Production
Oena, Republic of South Africa
Tango – Mining and Processing Contractor
At the Oena Diamond Mine located in the Western Cape, appointed mining contractor, Bluedust 7 Proprietary Limited (“Bluedust”), processed a total of 103,590 tonnes of run of mine material from 16 August – mid November 2018 with a diamond grade of 0.278 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht).
During the most recent production period a total of 287.34 carats (123 diamonds) were produced, placed on tender in Kimberley and sold with an average price of US $1,348 per carat. This includes a 20.35 carat diamond which sold at US $3,353 per carat and a 4.96 carat diamond which sold at US $6,886 per carat.
Oena, Republic of South Africa
Tango – African Star Minerals (“ASM”)
During the course of the year, Tango through its local subsidiary, ASM, acquired an additional pan plant (the “Plant”) with a 120 tonne per hour (“tph”) capacity to be used to support its stand-alone mining operation and the processing of pan tailings and bantam material (“Tailings”) left on site from previous mining operations. As previously reported (see news release dated 13 September 2018) during the 1stQuarter, ASM purchased a screening unit, 50t Terex dump truck and a Volvo 966 front end loader, which have now been delivered to site. Start of production is scheduled for mid-January 2019 following the end of the holiday break.
Moquita Project, Republic of Angola
Tango has a Services Agreement for Mining and Marketing of Diamonds with Cooperativa Mineira Do Moquita, SCRL (“Moquita”) on a 147 km2 portion of a concession located 50 km north of Lucapa within the Lauchimo River basin, Province of Lunda Norte, Republic of Angola. During the course of the 1stQuarter, the Angolan government launched operation “Transparency” which aimed to reduce diamond smuggling and reform the diamond sector. Endiama, the national diamond company of Angola, requested that all Cooperativas halt operations whilst Transparency is in progress.
Tango, with its strategic funding partnership with CC Mining Limited (“CCML”), a member of Consolidated Contractors Company Group, used this opportunity to finalize a detailed mine plan and complete a thorough assessment of the camp site and its upgrade requirements. Simultaneously, additional plant parts were acquired including a 50t scrubber, grease table and a 150 kva generator. The rental of earth moving equipment, including a front-end loader, dump trucks and an excavator was negotiated with a vendor and finalized.
Endiama is expected to allow the restart of operations of a number of Cooperativas, including Moquita, by end of December 2018, at which time Tango will begin mobilization and commissioning of the Moquita Mine.
Diamond Exploration
Middlepits Project, Republic of Botswana
The Middlepits Project is located 470 kilometers (km) south west of Gaborone and 90 km south west of Tshabong in the Kgalagadi District, Botswana. Metswedi Mining (Pty) Limited (“Metswedi”) has now received the first renewal for both Prospecting License No. 101/2015 (430 km2) and No. 058/2015 (2.3 km2). Metswedi has applied for the licenses to be transferred to a newly formed joint venture company between Metswedi and Tango to be named Tango Metswedi. An exploration program is being developed with final plans and a program to commence during the period March to May 2019.
Mano River Project, Republic of Liberia
During the course of the 1st Quarter, the license is in the process of being transferred to a new company to be formed named Tango Mining Liberia. An exploration program is being developed and an update will be provided on timing when complete.
On behalf of the Tango Board of Directors