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QUÉBEC CITY, June 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robex Resources Inc. (“Robex” or the “Company”) (TSXV: RBX) is pleased to announce the hiring of new employees to bolster the technical skills to deliver the Kiniero Gold Project and transform the Company to a multi asset producer.
VP Operations
Daniel Marini has joined the Company on June 1, 2023 as Vice President Operations, overseeing the Nampala Mine (Mali) and the operating readiness of the future Kiniero Mine (Guinea). Daniel was most recently Director, General Manager and Country Manager for Assala Energy where he actively contributed to the operating growth and obtained ISO 14 001 and IFC certifications.
Before joining Assala, he was General Manager of Perkoa Zinc/Lead underground mine in Burkina Faso until September 2020 and VP General Manager of Tasiast in Mauritania where he led the development plan and achieved (i) high standard safety results, and (ii) ramp up in 2 months at 150% of nameplate capacity.
Before 2017, Daniel spent 25 years holding various positions at Eramet from head of technical services, mine manager, production manager to CEO of Grande Cote Operation (a heavy minerals operation in Senegal with an operating complex from mine, processing, railway and plant).
Daniel holds a master, Bachelor and PhD from Paris VI University in Applied Geology.
Kiniero Gold Project Director
Joe Bannister will be joining Robex on July 1st, 2023 as Kiniero Gold Project Director leading the project execution. Joe is joining from Perseus Mining where he was overseeing the development of sustaining capital projects at Yaouré Mine in Cote d’Ivoire.
Prior to joining Perseus, Joe was Project Director for Geopacific Resources and Sycamore Mining for the previous project restart in 2021. Before 2021, Joe was Manager of major projects for Teranga Gold Corp (acquired by Endeavour Mining in 2021) where his role was to focus on the definition, planning, and delivery of a US$ 300M Sabodala-Massawa expansion (brownfield and greenfield development) as well as large scale social relocation projects (US$ 50M).
Prior to joining Teranga, Joe spent 14 years as Manager of major projects for Crystal Mining Australia. He was part of the executive team responsible for steering the company and reported directly to the Managing Director, and to boards (Australian and International).
Joe holds a Bachelor, Graduate, MBA and Executive leadership from University of Queensland. Joe is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Head of people
Robex has hired a Head of people starting on July 1, 2023, with more than 25 years of experience as an HR director. He served for the last 8 years as a site-based HR director in Africa on large mine sites (around 1,400 people). He will oversee the ramp-up of the Kiniero Gold Project as well as the group HR structure in Canada, UK, France and West Africa.
Exploration and production geology
Luca Maggini will join the Company’s geology team, on July 1, 2023, as exploration manager. Luca was most recently exploration manager for Goldcorp Mining in Mali. Prior to joining Goldcorp Mining, Luca was Project manager and senior geologist at Endeavour Mining Corp with positions ranging from near mine exploration to target generation and prioritisation.
Peter Taylor also joined Robex as a Production Geologist on May 22, 2023. Peter has 10 years of experience and was most recently lead reconciliation geologist at Nevada Gold Mines a JV between Barrick Gold and Newmont. Previously Peter worked in Mali and Zambia as mine geology specialist. Peter holds a BSc and MSc in Mining geology from Camborne School of Mines, UK.
Non-executive board members
As described in the Company’s management information circular dated May 30, 2023, two non-executive nominees will be proposed for election as directors at the upcoming annual and special meeting of shareholders of the Company scheduled to be held on June 29, 2023. Management wishes to announce its support for the election of (i) Mr. Gérard de Hert to help the Company unlock the exploration potential of our properties and (ii) Thomas Lagrée to strengthen the financial capabilities of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) to help us support our growth with financing and M&A. The Board believes that the addition of these two nominees will enhance the overall skill set of the Board given their relevant industry expertise.
Mr. Gérard de Hert is an experienced mining executive with over 25 years in the industry. Beyond being a seasoned geologist, Gerard has considerable experience spanning from greenfield exploration to mining operations. Gérard is transitioning from La Mancha Resource Capital to the full-time CEO role of In2Metals Explorer, a new privately incorporated company owned by the Sawiris Family. Gérard joined La Mancha in 2020 to formalise and oversee technical due diligence processes and support the portfolio company from a technical and geological expertise standpoint. From 2012 to 2020 Gérard was Senior Vice President of Exploration for Endeavour Mining where he contributed to the transformation of the company from a junior single asset producer to a multi-asset intermediate miner with 6 mines and 2 projects through his involvement in exploration and support of M&A processes. Prior to his time with Endeavour Mining, Gérard was General Manager at Vale-ARM from 2010 to 2012, Chief Geologist at Teal Mining from 2007 to 2009, Regional Exploration Geologist at IAMGOLD Corporation in 2006 and Chief Mine Geologist at AngloGold Ashanti from 2002 to 2006 at the Sadiola gold mine. Gérard began his career at Randgold Resources Limited in 1997 where he worked on the Morila gold mines and Syama gold mines.
Gérard holds an MSc in Geology from the University of Louvain (Belgium) and an MSc in mineral exploration from the University of Leicester (UK). He is fluent in French and English.
Mr. Thomas Lagrée is a senior structured finance specialist with deep knowledge of the Metals & Mining sector. He has over 15 years of experience in a large international bank where he structured and arranged tailor-made debt financing for junior to mid-tier mining companies in Europe, Africa and the Americas, with a focus of junior gold companies.
Mr. Lagrée graduated from the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées and holds a MSc in financial engineering from Paris 1 Sorbonne. For further details on such nominees and the election process please refer to the Company’s management information circular dated May 30, 2023 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.ca.
Aurelien Bonneviot, CEO of Robex said: “Following the management changes early in the year we are now adding key skills to our team and the Board with the proposal of two new executive directors for election at our upcoming annual and special shareholders meeting. I am thrilled to have been able to attract such high calibre individuals which speaks to the quality of our project and our ambition to create a growing west African gold mining company. These hirings are key to manage the execution of the Kiniero Gold project and to make sure we operate at the highest technical standards.”
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
About Robex Resources Inc.
Robex is a multi-jurisdictional West African gold production and development company with near-term exploration potential. The Company is dedicated to safe, diverse and responsible operations in the countries in which it operates with a goal to foster sustainable growth. The Company has been operating the Nampala mine in Mali since 2017 and is advancing the Kiniero Gold Project in Guinea.
Robex is supported by two strategic shareholders and has the ambition to become one of the most important mid-tier gold producers in West Africa.
More Information
Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements
This press release contains “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (“forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are included to provide information about management’s current expectations and plans that allows investors and others to have a better understanding of the Company’s business plans and financial performance and condition.
Statements made in this press release that describe the Company’s or management’s estimates, expectations, forecasts, objectives, predictions, projections of the future or strategies may be “forward-looking statements”, and can be identified by the use of the conditional or forward-looking terminology such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “assume”, “believe”, “can”, “contemplate”, “continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “future”, “guidance”, “guide”, “indication”, “intend”, “intention”, “likely”, “may”, “might”, “objective”, “opportunity”, “outlook”, “plan”, “potential”, “should”, “strategy”, “target”, “will” or “would” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon. Forward-looking statements also include any other statements that do not refer to historical facts. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s ability to successfully advance the Kiniero Gold Project and carry out the Kiniero Gold Project feasibility study; the Company’s ability to enter into definitive agreements in respect of the US$115 million project finance facility, including a US$15 million cost overrun facility (the “Facilities”) on the terms set out in the non-binding term sheet and on acceptable terms, if any; timing of the entering into of definitive agreements in respect of the Facilities; and assuming definitive agreements are entered into, the drawdown of the proceeds of the Facilities, including the timing thereof; obtaining a receipt for the final short-form base shelf prospectus.
Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made based upon certain assumptions and other important factors that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements or information. There can be no assurance that such statements or information will prove to be accurate. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions, including the Company’s ability to enter into definitive agreements in respect of the Facilities on the terms set forth in the non-binding term sheet, and on acceptable terms, if any, and to satisfy the conditions precedent to closing and advances thereunder (including satisfaction of remaining customary due diligence and other conditions and approvals); the assumption that board approval for the Facilities will be obtained; the Company’s ability to meet the timing objectives for definitive agreements and first drawdown of funds; the ability to execute the Company’s plans relating to the Kiniero Gold Project as may be set out in the Kiniero Gold Project pre-feasibility study, including the timing thereof; the Company’s ability to complete its planned exploration and development programs; no adverse conditions at the Kiniero Gold Project; no unforeseen operational delays; no material delays in obtaining necessary permits; the price of gold remaining at levels that render the Kiniero Gold Project profitable; the Company’s ability to continue raising necessary capital to finance its operations; and the ability to realize on the mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; and assumptions regarding present and future business strategies, local and global geopolitical and economic conditions and the environment in which the Company operates and will operate in the future.
Certain important factors could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information including, but not limited to: financing costs or adverse changes to the terms of available financing, if any, for the Kiniero Gold Project; the Company’s ability to enter into definitive agreements for the Facilities on acceptable terms, if any; the Company’s ability to satisfy the conditions precedent to closing and advances thereunder (including satisfaction of customary due diligence and other conditions and approvals); failure or delays to receive necessary approvals or otherwise satisfy the conditions to the completion of the Facilities; the proceeds of the Kiniero Gold Project financing not being available to the Company; fluctuations in gold and commodity prices; risks related to the geopolitical situation in Mali and related risks, including the risk of terrorism and armed banditry, fraud and corruption, security threats and resource nationalism; fluctuations in exchange and interest rates; the Company’s access to debt financing; uncertainty of the Company’s mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; changes in the Company’s production and cost estimates; hazards and risks normally associated with mineral exploration and gold mining development and production operations; risks related to the Company’s external contractors and suppliers; the Company’s limited property portfolio; the depletion of the Company’s mineral reserves; the Company’s access to an adequate water supply for mining operations; the Company obtaining and maintaining required licenses and permits from various governmental authorities in order to operate; the Company obtaining and maintaining title to its mineral projects and exploration rights; competition with other mining companies; the Company’s ability to find and retain qualified and key personnel; environmental risks and hazards associated with operating a gold mine in Mali; the risk that the Company may not be able to insure against all the potential risks associated with its operations; risks related to the Company’s relations with its employees, shareholders and other stakeholders, including the local governments and communities surrounding its mine in Mali; the Company’s reliance on information technology systems; cybersecurity threats; the risk of any pending or future litigation against the Company; and tax risks, including changes in taxation laws or assessments on the Company.
Although the Company believes its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions and has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. These factors are not intended to represent a complete and exhaustive list of the factors that could affect the Company; however, they should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management’s estimates, assumptions or opinions should change, except as required by applicable law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company’s expected financial and operational performance and results as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented in the Company’s plans and objectives, and may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Please refer to the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022, dated April 28, 2023, and to the “Risks and Uncertainties” section of each of the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis dated April 28, 2023 for the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis dated May 30, 2023 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022, all of which are available electronically on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
