REG - GreenRoc Mining PLC - Amitsoq MoU Signed, Placing to raise £550k

GreenRoc Strategic MaterialsAnnouncement

06/03/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 9288R  GreenRoc Mining PLC  06 March 2023

GreenRoc Mining plc / EPIC: GROC / Market: AIM / Sector: Mining

 

6 March 2023

GreenRoc Mining plc

("GreenRoc" or the "Company")

 

Amitsoq MoU Signed with Norwegian Construction and Mining Group, LNS

Placing to raise £550k

 

GreenRoc Mining plc (AIM: GROC), a company focused on the development of
critical mineral projects in Greenland, is delighted to announce that it has
signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") with Leonhard Nilsen &
Sønner A/S ("LNS"), a significant construction and mining group headquartered
in Norway, in relation to the development of GreenRoc's Amitsoq Graphite
Project in Greenland ("Amitsoq" or the "Project").

 

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has raised gross proceeds of
£550,000 by way of a placing of 15,714,287 new ordinary shares of 0.1 pence
each (the "Placing Shares") at a price of 3.5 pence per Placing Share (the
"Placing Price") (the "Placing").

 

The net proceeds of the Placing will be put towards further test work and
studies for the advancement of the Amitsoq project in Greenland, including
work on the scoping study; the processing of a 700kg bulk sample of graphite
ore; electrochemical test work on Amitsoq HPSG (high purity spherical
graphite); and ongoing work towards the completion of Environmental and Social
Impact Assessments.  The net proceeds will also support further commercial
negotiations with potential offtake and financial partners, and general
working capital requirements.

 

LNS MOU: Key Points

·    The MoU provides a framework for LNS and GreenRoc to explore the
commercial opportunities relating to Amitsoq, and the potential appointment of
LNS as the civil, mining and/or logistics contractor for Amitsoq during the
construction and operational phases.

 

·     LNS is a significant civil and mining contractor with decades of
experience as a mine operator in Norway and Greenland, as well as in
large-scale construction and infrastructure projects encompassing underground
mine development and the development of tunnels, ports, roads and airports.

 

·     GreenRoc and LNS have entered phase 1 of the discussions, focused on
a detailed review of the construction and operational requirements for
Amitsoq.  A successful outcome from this phase will lead into work on heads
of terms and definitive agreements.

 

·    The MoU also envisages discussions between the parties on other
possible commercial outcomes, such as debt/equity financing, joint venture and
procurement (of staff, equipment, and services) at Amitsoq or GreenRoc's other
projects.

 

·   While the focus of the MoU will be on Amitsoq, discussions may be
expanded in due course to encompass the plans for GreenRoc's other projects in
Greenland, namely Thule Black Sands and Melville Bay Iron.

 

Further Information on LNS

 

LNS has decades of experience as a contractor and mine operator in the Arctic
region and other parts of the world.  It has extensive experience in the
construction of mining infrastructure and in the operation of producing mines
in Greenland, most recently at the producing Aappaluttoq Ruby Mine on the east
coast, about 150km south of the capital city, Nuuk. It is the operating
contractor for many mining companies in Norway, such as Elkem Tana AS
(quartzite mine), Rana Gruber AS (iron ore) and Franzefoss Miljøkalk AS
(limestone mine).  It has a large fleet of machines, with options for
adaptation to all types of mass removal work and has significant experience in
underground mine development as well as in the development of tunnels, ports,
roads and airports.

 

In 2020, Norway's underground copper mine developer Nussir ASA appointed LNS
as the key contractor for mine development and underground mining at the
Nussir mine in Norway, in a 10-year contract valued at some NOK4 billion or
almost US$450 million, including the development of a 130,000m tunnel. The
mine is expected to be one of the first fully electrified mines in the world.

 

GreenRoc's CEO, Stefan Bernstein, commented:

"We are delighted to announce the signing of this framework MoU. LNS is
renowned for its expertise in construction and mining, particularly
underground.  It has been running some of the world's lowest-cost underground
mining operations for many years and has experience in the mining of graphite.
For decades, LNS has proved its expertise in executing large-scale projects in
the Arctic and in mountainous environments.  It has gained considerable
experience from operating in Greenland over the last ten years, including in
running the mining operations at the Aappaluttoq ruby mine. LNS also has
impressive ESG credentials and its emphasis on utilising innovative solutions
to ensure a minimal environmental impact is an approach which aligns with how
GreenRoc intends to develop Amitsoq.

 

"This MoU with LNS represents another important step forward for GreenRoc in
bringing the Amitsoq Graphite Project into production. I am particularly
looking forward to working with LNS as we explore how we can accelerate
Amitsoq to production and make it into a profitable business for both
companies and our shareholders, as well as for the people of Greenland.

 

"I am also very pleased about our successful raise of £550,000 which we will
put to good use to keep up pace at Amitsoq. Along with the work programme of
the Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, we can get started on the
Scoping Study. Additionally, we will process our 700kg bulk sample to produce
a sufficient amount of graphite concentrate to allow for advanced
spheronization tests."

 

LNS's CEO Frode Nielsen, commented:

"With the Amitsoq project, GreenRoc has identified one of the richer
flake-graphite deposits in the world and we are therefore excited to be
selected as a preferred contractor. With our experience from mining in
Greenland and graphite mining in Northern Norway, we are well positioned to
make the project into a sustainable and profitable operation."

 

LNS MOU: Next Steps

 

The parties have now entered a due diligence period (Phase 1) as part of a
detailed review of the construction and operational requirements at Amitsoq,
which will proceed alongside, and be informed by, the planned Scoping Study
for the Project.  The Company is in the final stage of the selection of its
principal contractor for the Scoping Study.

 

Following the successful conclusion of Phase 1, a second phase (Phase 2) will
involve the signing of heads of terms setting out the key terms of the
proposed contractual arrangements between the parties, which will then be
expanded upon in a third phase (Phase 3) involving the negotiation and signing
of definitive agreements.

 

Although the MoU does not bind the parties to consummating a transaction, in a
signal of the mutual intent of the parties to explore the opportunities for a
long-term partnership, the MoU will remain in effect for up to 60 months
unless terminated earlier by either party in accordance with the terms of the
MoU, or unless it is extended by mutual agreement.

 

About Amitsoq

 

Amitsoq is located in the Nanortalik region of southern Greenland and has been
confirmed as one of the highest-grade flake graphite projects in the world.
GreenRoc is focused on fast-tracking the development of Amitsoq into a
producing mine in the shortest possible timeframe to meet critical demand from
Electric Vehicle ('EV') manufacturers in Europe and North America for new,
high grade and conflict-free sources of graphite.

 

Key points about Amitsoq:

·    GreenRoc's primary focus at Amitsoq is on developing the Amitsoq
Island Deposit, which has a total inferred, indicated and measured JORC
Resource of 23.05 million tonnes (Mt) at an average grade of 20.41% Graphitic
Carbon ("C(g)"), giving a total graphite content of 4.71 Mt.

·   Deposits with compliant resources above 20% contained graphite grade are
scarce, with the average global grade of graphite resources being just 8.45%
(according to S&P Global).

·    Independent micronisation and spheronisation test work has proven that
Amitsoq graphite can be easily upgraded to high-grade anode-quality graphite,
otherwise known as high purity spherical graphite or HPSG, a key raw material
in the manufacturing of EVs.

·    In GreenRoc's test work programmes, Amitsoq spheronised graphite has
achieved higher than 99.95% purity with relatively little energy input and
processing and using the milder alkaline purification method compared to the
industry standard hydrofluoric acid, boding well for future production costs
and sustainability commitments.

·     Significant further upside exists at Amitsoq as the Amitsoq Island
Deposit is open in at least two directions with potential for considerable
further expansion via the similarly high-grade Kalaaq Mainland Deposit as well
as a series of other high-grade targets on GreenRoc's licence package.

·     The deposit was in small-scale production about 100 years ago, and
there remains considerable underground mine development in place from that
time, which will be of considerable benefit to GreenRoc in the mine
construction phase.

·    Following a detailed evaluation process, the European Raw Materials
Alliance has expressed its support to GreenRoc and its Amitsoq graphite
project, stating that "GreenRoc's graphite resource is of global importance
and, together with the Company's strategy, will enable the European Union to
achieve a certain level of independence for the electrical vehicle supply
chain. ERMA has approved the Amitsoq Graphite project and will engage to
support its development and financing to produce these critical raw materials
for the benefit of the European Union goals." (see RNS dated 8 February 2023).

 

Share Placing: Admission to Trading on AIM and Total Voting Rights

 

Application will be made for the Placing Shares, which will rank pari passu
with the existing ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each, to be admitted to trading
on AIM ("Admission"). It is expected that Admission will become effective and
that dealings will commence at 8:00 a.m. on or around 9 March 2023.

 

Following the issue of the Placing Shares, the total issued share capital of
the Company will consist of 134,314,288 ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each. The
Company does not hold any ordinary shares in Treasury. Therefore, the total
current voting rights in the Company following Admission will be 134,314,288
and this figure may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator
for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to
notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the share capital
of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

 

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK
Market Abuse Regulation and the Directors of the Company are responsible for
the release of this announcement.

 

Important Notices

This announcement is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an
offer to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for, or the solicitation of an offer
to buy, sell, issue, or subscribe for any securities, nor shall there be any
sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or
sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

The distribution of this announcement and the offering of the Placing Shares
in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. No action has been taken by
the Company or SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP ("SP Angel") that would permit
an offering of such shares or possession or distribution of this announcement
or any other offering or publicity material relating to such shares in any
jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Persons into whose
possession this announcement comes are required by the Company and SP Angel to
inform themselves about, and to observe such restrictions.

 

This announcement is being issued by and is the sole responsibility of the
Company. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be made
as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or liability is or will be
accepted by SP Angel, nor any of their affiliates or agents (or any of their
directors, officers, employees or advisers) for the contents of this
announcement, or any other written or oral information made available to or
publicly available to any interested party or its advisers, or any other
statement made or purported to be made by or on behalf of SP Angel or any of
their respective affiliates in connection with the Company or the Placing and
any responsibility therefor is expressly disclaimed. No representation or
warranty, express or implied, is or will be made as to, or in relation to, and
no responsibility or liability is or will be accepted by SP Angel, or any of
their affiliates, agents, directors, officers or employees as to, or in
relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this announcement or any other
written or oral information made available to or publicly available to any
interested party or its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly
disclaimed.

 

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this announcement are
forward-looking, which reflect the Company's or, as appropriate, the Company's
directors' current expectations and projections about future events.  By
their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements.  These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely
affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described
herein.  Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement regarding
past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such
trends or activities will continue in the future.  Except as required by
applicable law or regulation, the Company does not undertake any obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.  You should not place undue reliance
on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
document.

 

**ENDS**

 

For further information, please contact:

 GreenRoc Mining plc                                                           +44 20 3950 0724

 Stefan Bernstein, CEO

 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nomad)                                          +44 20 7213 0880

 James Caithie / Sandy Jamieson / Louise O'Driscoll

 SP Angel (Broker)                                                             +44 20 3470 0500

 Ewan Leggat, Charlie Bouverat

 St Brides Partners Ltd (Financial PR & IR) Susie Geliher / Paul Dulieu /      +44 20 7236 1177
 Isabelle Morris

 

About GreenRoc

GreenRoc Mining plc is an AIM-quoted company which is developing mining
projects in Greenland in critical, high-demand and high-value minerals.

 

Led by a group of highly experienced mining industry professionals, GreenRoc
has a portfolio of 100% owned projects all of which have defined Resources:

·   Amitsoq Graphite Project, one of the highest-grade graphite deposits in
the world with a combined Measured, Indicated and Inferred JORC Resource of
23.05 million tonnes (Mt) at an average grade of 20.41% graphite, giving a
total graphite content of 4.71 Mt;

·     Thule Black Sands Ilmenite Project ('TBS'), which has an initial
Mineral Resource of 19Mt at 43.6% Total Heavy Minerals with an in-situ
ilmenite grade of 8.9%; and

·     Melville Bay Iron Project, which has a Mineral Resource Estimate of
67Mt at 31.4% iron and has been proven to be processable to a high-grade, 70%
concentrate with low impurities.

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