KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, March 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN) (OTCQX:IVPAF) announced
today that a formal proposal outlining recommended changes to the 2018 national mining code has been submitted to the Democratic
Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Mines by a group of international mining companies, which includes Ivanhoe Mines.
A joint statement issued today by the group of international companies active in these discussions in the DRC said their
proposed changes would address the DRC government’s expectation of increased public revenues from the mining of mineral resources
and also address concerns within the industry about the impacts of some provisions in the new mining code that was implemented
earlier this month.
This week’s submission to the Mines Ministry by the mining companies, in part, proposes linking a sliding scale of royalty rates
to the prices of key DRC mineral commodities, which the companies believe would be a more effective mechanism than the windfall tax
introduced in the new code and, at current prices, would provide the government immediately with a larger share of revenues than it
would receive under the new code. The submission by the companies also addresses stability arrangements, state guarantees and
mining conventions.
The international mining companies have stated that they accept 76% of the articles in the 2018 code and are proposing changes
to the remainder only to ensure the effectiveness and legality of the code.
Robert Friedland, Executive Chairman of Ivanhoe Mines, said, “Ivanhoe encourages caution in reviewing reports and statements
made before these discussions are concluded and the mining regulations are brought into effect.”
“We already have seen media reports and statements made by persons inside and outside of the Congo about the financial and
commercial effects of the changes to the mining code. Some of it just reflects partisan opinions, some of it has been ill-informed
and purely speculative, while some of it has been plainly false. Until the formal discussions are completed and the new regulations
are written, such views should be taken with a large grain of salt,” Mr. Friedland added.
Mr. Friedland said that Ivanhoe and representatives of the international mining industry will continue to seek assurances from
the DRC government that it will honour the clear guarantee of stability contained in Article 276 of the DRC’s 2002 mining code.
“The stability guarantee states as a matter of law that holders of current DRC exploration and exploitation permits will
continue to benefit from rights granted under the 2002 mining code “for a period of 10 years” after the implementation of
any legislated amendment, which includes the newly enacted 2018 mining code.”
Lars-Eric Johansson, Ivanhoe’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “All of the foreign investors with a stake in the DRC mining
industry are participating in these discussions in a positive environment. We believe that the result will be an equitable
resolution for the DRC government, local communities and the international mining industry invested in the DRC.”
About Ivanhoe Mines
Ivanhoe Mines is advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa: 1) Mine development at the Platreef
platinum-palladium-gold-nickel-copper discovery on the Northern Limb of South Africa’s Bushveld Complex; 2) mine development and
exploration at the Tier One Kamoa-Kakula copper discovery on the Central African Copperbelt in the DRC; and 3) upgrading at the
historic, high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-silver-germanium mine, also on the DRC’s Copperbelt. For details, visit
www.ivanhoemines.com.
Information contacts
Investors
Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834
Media
North America: Bob Williamson
+1.604.512.4856
South Africa: Jeremy Michaels +27.82.772.1122
