SYDNEY, Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lindian Resources Limited (ASX:LIN) ("Lindian" or the "Company") is extremely pleased to advise it has signed a Sale and Purchase Contract ("Contract") with global metals trading company, Gerald Metals SARL ("Gerald"). The Contract provides for the supply and sale of 45,000 tonnes of rare earths concentrate from the Stage 1 development of the Kangankunde Rare Earth Project in Malawi.
Gerald Metals SARL is part of the Gerald Group, the world's largest independent, employee-owned metal trading house, and one of the world's leading global commodity trading companies. Founded in the United States in 1962 and now headquartered in London UK with trading operation hubs in Stamford USA, Morges Switzerland and Shanghai China. Gerald Group's worldwide customer and supplier base benefits from Gerald's bespoke service model across the entire commodity value chain, including: sourcing, marketing, logistics and storage, hedging and risk management, and structured finance solutions.
In addition, Gerald may elect to make available to Lindian a finance facility of up to US$10 million. The terms of such facility are being separately negotiated and subject to a financing agreement and proposed security package over Kangankunde's mined ore stockpiles. Together with Lindian's strong cash balance and in-the-money options, this financing facility, once finalized, considerably strengthens Lindian's financial flexibility.
Lindian representatives have commenced early-stage discussions with US Government officials regarding the potential for the provision of funding and concentrate sales support for the future large scale development of the Kangankunde Rare Earth Project. Given Gerald's long history and US shareholder base, it is the ideal partner to enable Lindian to meet the US critical metals strategic objectives. More details will be made available as these discussions advance.
Gerald Group Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Craig Dean, stated "Kangankunde is truly one of the most exciting REE projects to be explored in recent memory, and represents a key mineral asset for development in Malawi. We have been following Lindian's ongoing drilling campaign closely. I am very pleased to now be part of the development of Kangankunde and look forward to working closely with Lindian's team to bring multilateral investment to the table."
Lindian Executive Chairman, Asimwe Kabunga commented: "I am delighted that the globally recognized metals trading group, Gerald Metals, is partnering with Lindian to facilitate the accelerated development of the world class Kangankunde Rare Earths Project. We have been working with Gerald for an extended period on the terms of this Sale and Purchase Contract and the financing facility. They have made multiple visits to site to undertake due diligence on the project and our staged development strategy. As such, we have established a great working relationship over this time and built confidence in them as a trusted partner."
"This maiden Sale and Purchase Contract for rare earths concentrate provides one of the key enablers to advance Lindian to producer status by end-2024. This is a major achievement for a project that was effectively acquired in August 2022, just 13 months ago."
Lindian Executive Officer, Alastair Stephens added: "The Kangankunde Rare Earth Project continues to deliver excellent results including the globally strategic maiden mineral resource estimate reported last month."
"With a mining licence, and environment and social impact assessment licences granted, the Company is able to quickly move to project development following the execution of this Sale and Purchase Contract."
"These are exciting times for Lindian and we look forward to making further announcements as project development works ramp up."
Key terms of the Sale and Purchase Contract are summarised below.
Sale and Purchase Contract Key Terms
Term | 60 months from the commencement of Commercial Production defined as the first day of the month following four (4) consecutive months |
Purchase/Sale Quantity | Monazite Concentrate produced by/from the Project, with the Seller delivering to the Buyer 45,000 MT of Material from the date of First Production.
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Delivery | The Material shall be delivered by the Seller to the Buyer on a Free on Board (FOB) basis at a port to be mutually agreed and |
Pricing | Market based pricing for each shipment less selling costs and fees typical for an agreement of this type. |
Conditions | Material to be delivered from the First Production date of 31 December 2024 and other conditions typical for an agreement of this type. |
Specifications | Monazite Concentrate with a TREO content of above 55% and an NdPr minimum content of 18% and average content of 20%. |
This Media Release was authorised for release by the Board of Lindian Resources Limited.
Forward Looking Statements
This announcement may include forward-looking statements, based on Lindian's expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Lindian, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Lindian makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this announcement, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of the announcement.
MINERAL RESOURCE STATEMENT – RARE EARTHS
A summary of the mineral resource estimate for the Kangankunde Rare Earths Project is shown in the table below.
Kangankunde Rare Earths Project Mineral Resource Above 0.5% TREO Cut-off Grade
Resource Classification | Tonnes (millions) | TREO (%) | NdPr% of TREO** (%) | Tonnes Contained NdPr* (millions) |
Inferred Resource | 261 | 2.19 | 20.2 | 1.2 |
Rounding has been applied to 1.0Mt for tonnes and 0.1% NdPr% of TREO which may influence total calculation.
* NdPr = Nd2O3 + Pr6O11, ** NdPrO% / TREO% x 100
The Competent Persons' consents remain in place for subsequent releases by the Company of the same information in the same form and context, until the consents are withdrawn or replaced by a subsequent report and accompanying consent.
The Company is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information in the ASX announcement of 3 August 2023 originally referencing its resources estimate, and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates continue to apply and have not materially changed.
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