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RNS Number : 2480U MC Mining Limited 29 July 2022
ANNOUNCEMENT
29 July 2022
ACTIVITIES REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 30 JUNE 2022
FOR
MC Mining Limited ("MC Mining" or the "Company")
and its subsidiary companies
HIGHLIGHTS
Operations
· Health and safety remain a top priority and no lost-time injuries
(LTIs) were recorded during the quarter (FY2022 Q3: three LTIs);
· Measures previously implemented to restrict the spread of the COVID-19
virus at the various group workplaces remain in place pending formal
confirmation of the relaxation of requirements by the relevant regulatory
authorities. During the quarter, one employee (FY2022 Q3: one employee) at the
high grade Uitkomst metallurgical and thermal coal mine (Uitkomst Colliery or
Uitkomst) contracted the virus;
· Run-of-mine (ROM) coal production at Uitkomst was 7% lower than the
June 2021 quarter at 119,005 tonnes (t) (FY2021 Q4: 127,927t);
· 22,169t (FY2021 Q4: 0t) of coal were at the Durban port at the end of
June 2022 for exporting in July/August 2022 on the terms of the Coal Sales
& Marketing Agreement (Marketing Agreement) with Overlooked (Proprietary)
Limited (Overlooked), announced by the Company on 28 July 2022;
· The Company recorded 34,126t of coal sales during the quarter (FY2021
Q4: 90,858t), comprising 28,360t (FY2021 Q4: 84,834t) of high grade
metallurgical and thermal coal and 5,766t (FY2021 Q4: 6,024t) of lower grade
middlings coal;
· Revenue per tonne decreased to $80/t (FY2021 Q4: $85/t) with high
quality coal stockpiled for sales into the forecasted higher pricing API4
market, achievable through the Marketing Agreement in the September quarter
(product stockpiles at site: FY2022 Q4: 15,534t vs. FY2021 Q4: 4,553t);
· The Integrated Water Use Licence (IWUL) applications were granted by
the Department of Water & Sanitation (DWS) for the Uitkomst Colliery and
nearby Wykom siding were granted in April 2022;
· Completion of the Makhado hard coking coal project (Makhado Project
or Makhado) Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) 'base case' scenario confirming
the project's robust economic fundamentals, a key input in the due diligence
process for potential funders; and
· Limited activities undertaken at the Company's Vele semi-soft coking
and thermal coal colliery (Vele Colliery or Vele) and Greater Soutpansberg
Projects (GSP), which remains on care and maintenance.
Corporate
· Appointment of Mr Nhlanhla Nene as Non-Executive Director and
Chairman of MC Mining;
· Appointment of Mr Godfrey Gomwe as Managing Director and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company and resignation of Sam Randazzo as
director and interim CEO;
· Appointment of Mr Matthews Senosi of Senosi Group Investment Holdings
Pty Ltd (SGIH) (the Company's 19.9% shareholder) as a Non-Executive Director
of the Company;
· Issue of 38,363,909 new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company
(Ordinary Shares) to SGIH under the terms of the Convertible Advance and
Subscription Agreement (the Agreement), raising ZAR46 million and resulting in
SGIH owning 19.9% of the Company;
· Completion of an independent fair and reasonableness report by BDO
Corporate Finance (WA) Pty Ltd in terms of the Agreement for the issue of an
additional 33,333,333 new Ordinary Shares to SGIH, subject to shareholder
approval, for ZAR40 million (approximately $2.4 million);
· Securing of a R60 million (approximately $3.5 million) Standby Loan
Facility (the Facility) from Dendocept (Pty) Ltd (Dendocept), a 1.5%
shareholder in MC Mining; and
· Available cash and facilities at quarter-end of $3.1 million ($3.0
million at 31 March 2022) and restricted cash of $0.03 million.
Events subsequent to the end of the quarter
· MC Mining shareholders voted against the issue of the 33,333,333 new
Ordinary Shares to SGIH and the Company will repay the R20 million ($1.2
million) already advanced by SGIH prior to the shareholder meeting, during
August 2022; and
· Marketing Agreement entered into with Overlooked, expiring on 31
December 2022, facilitates the export of at least 20,000t of API4 coal from
Uitkomst on a monthly basis, allowing the Company to take advantage of
international coal prices.
COMMENTARY
MC Mining's flagship Makhado Project's favourable economics were confirmed in
the BFS completed by Minxcon (Pty) Ltd (Minxcon) during the quarter. The
development of Makhado is expected to deliver positive returns for
shareholders and could position the Company as South Africa's pre-eminent hard
coking coal (HCC) producer. The BFS confirms the project's robust economics
and is a key milestone in the funding process. The Company is progressing
several alternative strategies to raise the required funding with a target
date to conclude the requisite financing during Q3 CY2022
The BFS is based on the project plan with the lowest capital cost options and
results in Makhado's ROM coal being transported to the Vele Colliery for
processing for the entire life of mine. The project has an estimated capital
cost (including contingencies) of R625 million (approximately $41.7 million),
a peak funding requirement of R727 million (approximately $48.5 million), and
is expected to create an estimated 650 permanent employment positions
(including contractors) when at steady state production. The BFS confirmed
that Makhado has a short expected construction period of 12 months,
positioning the project to take advantage of the short-term forecasted higher
global coal prices.
Uitkomst Colliery - Utrecht Coalfields (70% owned)
No LTIs were recorded during the quarter (FY2022 Q3: one LTI).
The invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and subsequent sanctions against
Russia exacerbated the global energy shortage leading to international thermal
coal prices attaining record highs. The increase in coal prices were not
accepted by the South African domestic coal market. As a result of ongoing
major maintenance and the high coal prices, Uitkomst did not receive any
orders during the quarter from its largest customer.
The Company continued its assessment of alternative coal marketing strategies
for Uitkomst during the quarter, including the trial production of a higher
quality, low ash coal for the smaller but more stable international pulverized
coal injection (PCI) market. However, the continued demand for API4 coal
indicated that this is currently the most lucrative market for Uitkomst's coal
and the colliery concluded the Marketing Agreement in July 2022, with this
route to market secured until December 2022. As a result, the colliery will
sell the majority of its coal at higher international coal prices rather than
floating and fixed price domestic prices.
The Uitkomst Colliery generated 119,005t of ROM coal during the quarter, a
decline of 7% (Q4 FY2021: 127,929t) resulting from challenging geological
conditions experienced. Sales of high-grade peas and duff of 28,360t (Q4
FY2021: 84,834t) with sales volumes in the comparative Q4 FY2021 were
augmented by the sale of coal carried over from the preceding quarter.
Uitkomst had 22,169t (Q4 FY2021: 0t) of API4 quality coal at the Durban port
at the end of the quarter, and a further 15,534t (FY2021 Q4: 4,553t) of at the
colliery, compared to 8,373t at the beginning of the quarter. In addition, the
colliery also sold 5,766t of high ash middlings coal during the quarter
(FY2021 Q4: 6,024t).
The average API4 prices for the three months to 30 June 2022 were $315/t
compared to $105/t in Q4 FY2021. Uitkomst's sales include lower value
middlings coal as well as sales under fixed price arrangements and the volumes
of these sales were reduced in July 2022 when the offtakes were renegotiated.
The stockpiling of high grade export coal adversely affected the composition
of Uitkomst's sales mix resulting in revenue per tonne being marginally higher
than the comparative period in South African rand terms (R1,238/t vs.
R1,201/t). However, exchange rate movements resulted in average revenue per
tonne decreasing in US dollar terms ($80/t vs. $85/t in Q4 FY2021). The 67%
decline in sales of premium quality ROM coal products as well as increased
maintenance, particularly underground mining equipment, resulted in production
costs per saleable tonne being higher than the comparative period (FY2022 Q4:
$108/t vs. FY2021 Q4: $57/t) and the decision to stockpile coal for sale on
international markets.
Quarter to end-Jun 2022 Quarter to end-Jun 2021 %▲
Production volues
Uitkomst ROM (t) 119,005 127,927 (7%)
Inventory volumes
High quality duff and peas at site (t) 15,534 4,553 241%
High quality duff and peas at port (t) 22,169 - 100%
37,703 4,553 728%
Sales tonnages
High quality duff and peas (t) 28,360 84,834 (67%)
Middlings sales (t) 5,766 6,024 (4%)
34,126 90,858 (62%)
Quarter financial metrics
Revenue/t ($) 80 85 (6%)
Revenue/t (ZAR) 1,238 1,201 3%
Production cost/saleable tonnes ($)^ 108 57 91%
^ costs are all South African Rand based
Makhado Hard Coking Coal Project - Soutpansberg Coalfield (67% owned)
The favourable economics of MC Mining's flagship Makhado Project were
confirmed in the BFS completed by Minxcon. The development of Makhado is
expected to deliver positive returns for shareholders and could position the
Company as South Africa's pre-eminent HCC producer. The Company subsequently
mandated Minxcon to expand the BFS to include alternative development plans to
enhance value. These include, amongst others, the moving of the Vele coal
processing plant (CPP) to Makhado or the construction of a new CPP at Makhado,
and this additional work on the BFS is ongoing. A further announcement is
expected to be made in the coming weeks.
Vele Semi-Soft Coking and Thermal Coal Colliery - Limpopo (Tuli) Coalfield
(100% owned)
The Vele Colliery remained on care and maintenance during the quarter and
recorded no LTIs during the period (FY2022 Q3: two LTIs). The base case
assessed in the Makhado BFS assumes the Vele processing plant will be
refurbished and recommissioned as part of the development of the Makhado
Project. Depending on the outcome of the work Minxcon is doing on alternative
development plans for Makhado, the construction of a CPP at Makhado would
allow alternative development opportunities at Vele which the Company is also
investigating.
Greater Soutpansberg Project (GSP) - Soutpansberg Coalfield (74% owned)
GSP recorded no LTIs (FY2022 Q3: nil) during the quarter and no reportable
activities occurred during the period.
Standby facility
The Company secured a R60 million Standby Facility from Dendocept and proceeds
from this were utilised to enhance the Makhado BFS, geotechnical and
confirmatory drilling programmes at Makhado, as well as fund group working
capital. These funds assisted the Group during the quarter as inventory levels
rose to cater for volumes required for the export market.
The Facility is guaranteed by MC Mining, is unsecured and is available for a
period of 12 months, to June 2023. Interest is paid monthly calculated using
the prevailing South African prime interest rate (currently 9.0%) plus a
margin of 3%, similar to that levied on the current bank financing in the
Group. Any outstanding balance on the final maturity date is payable in cash
or convertible to MC Mining equity at a 15% discount to the prevailing 30-day
Volume Weighted Average Price. Payment in MC Mining equity is at the sole
discretion of the Company and is subject to all required shareholder and
regulatory requirements, including South African exchange control approval.
Appendix 5B - Quarterly Cash Flow Report
The Company's cash balance as at 30 June 2022 was $3.1 million with available
facilities of $0.3 million. The aggregate amount of payments to related
parties and their associates, as disclosed as item 6.1 of the March quarter
Appendix 5B was $106k, comprising executive director remuneration.
To meet its working capital requirements, the Group is exploring and
progressing several alternative strategies to raise additional funding
including, but not limited to:
· the issue of new equity for cash in the Company to current and new
shareholders, of which the MC Mining Group has a demonstrated history of
success;
· the issue of new equity for cash in subsidiary companies which own
the Makhado Project;
· further debt funding;
· further contractor BOOT (build, own, operate, transfer) funding
arrangements; and
· the sale of a minority stake in the subsidiary companies holding the
Makhado Project.
The Group also has the capacity if necessary to reduce its operating cost
structure to minimise its working capital requirements and defer the timing of
any future capital raising. The conclusion of the debt and equity raise is by
its nature an involved process and is subject to successful negotiations with
the external funders and shareholders. Any equity raise is likely to be
subject to a due diligence process. The Group has a history of successful
capital raisings to meet the Group's funding requirements.
Godfrey Gomwe
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
This announcement has been approved by the Company's Disclosure Committee.
All figures are in South African rand or United States dollars unless
otherwise stated.
For more information contact:
Tony Bevan Company Secretary Endeavour Corporate Services +61 08 9316 9100
Company advisors:
James Harris / James Dance Nominated Adviser Strand Hanson Limited +44 20 7409 3494
Rory Scott Broker (AIM) Tennyson Securities +44 20 7186 9031
James Duncan Financial PR (South Africa) R&A Strategic Communications +27 11 880 3924
Investec Bank Limited is the nominated JSE Sponsor
About MC Mining Limited:
MC Mining is an AIM/ASX/JSE-listed coal exploration, development and mining
company operating in South Africa. MC Mining's key projects include the
Uitkomst Colliery (metallurgical and thermal coal), Makhado Project (hard
coking coal), Vele Colliery (semi-soft coking and thermal coal), and the
Greater Soutpansberg Projects (coking and thermal coal).
All figures are denominated in United States dollars unless otherwise stated.
Safety metrics are compared to the preceding quarter while financial and
operational metrics are measured against the comparable period in the previous
financial year. A copy of this report is available on the Company's website,
www.mcmining.co.za (http://www.mcmining.co.za) .
Forward-looking statements
This Announcement, including information included or incorporated by reference
in this Announcement, may contain "forward-looking statements" concerning MC
Mining that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Generally, the words
"will", "may", "should", "continue", "believes", "expects", "intends",
"anticipates" or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to
factors that are beyond MC Mining's ability to control or estimate precisely,
such as future market conditions, changes in regulatory environment and the
behaviour of other market participants. MC Mining cannot give any assurance
that such forward-looking statements will prove to have been correct. The
reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements. MC Mining assumes no obligation and does not undertake any
obligation to update or revise publicly any of the forward-looking statements
set out herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, except to the extent legally required.
Statements of intention
Statements of intention are statements of current intentions only, which may
change as new information becomes available or circumstances change.
Tenements held by MC Mining and its Controlled Entities
Project Name Tenement Number Location Interest Change during quarter
Chapudi Project* Albert 686 MS Limpopo~ 74%
Bergwater 712 MS 74%
Remaining Extent and Portion 2 of Bergwater 697 MS 74%
Blackstone Edge 705 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of Bluebell 480 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of Bushy Rise 702 MS 74%
Castle Koppies 652 MS 74%
Chapudi 752 MS 74%
Remaining Extent, Portions 1, 3 & 4 of Coniston 699 MS 74%
Driehoek 631 MS 74%
Remaining Extent of Dorps-rivier 696 MS 74%
Enfield 512 MS (consolidation of Remaining Extent of Enfield 474 MS, Brosdoorn 74%
682 MS & Remaining Extent of Grootvlei 684 MS)
Remaining Extent and Portion 1 of 74%
Grootboomen 476 MS 74%
Grootvlei 684 MS 74%
Kalkbult 709 MS 74%
Remaining Extent, Remaining Extent of Portion 2, Remaining Extent of Portion 74%
3, Portions 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 of Kliprivier 692 MS
Remaining Extent of Koodoobult 664 MS 74%
Koschade 657 MS (Was Mapani Kop 656 MS) 74%
Malapchani 659 MS 74%
Mapani Ridge 660 MS 74%
Melrose 469 MS 74%
Middelfontein 683 MS 74%
Mountain View 706 MS 74%
M'tamba Vlei 654 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of Pienaar 635 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of Prince's Hill 704 MS 74%
Qualipan 655 MS 74%
Queensdale 707 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of Ridge End 662 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of Rochdale 700 MS 74%
Sandilands 708 MS 74%
Portions 1 & 2 of Sandpan 687 MS 74%
Sandstone Edge 658 MS 74%
Remaining Extent of Portions 2 & 3 of Sterkstroom 689 MS 74%
Sutherland 693 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of Varkfontein 671 MS 74%
Remaining Extent, Portion 2, Remaining Extent of Portion 1 of Vastval 477 MS 74%
Vleifontein 691 MS 74%
Ptn 3, 4, 5 & 6 of Waterpoort 695 MS 74%
Wildebeesthoek 661 MS 74%
Woodlands 701 MS 74%
Kanowna West & Kalbara M27/41 Coolgardie^ Royalty<>
M27/47 Royalty<>
M27/59 Royalty<>
M27/72,27/73 Royalty<>
M27/114 Royalty<>
M27/196 Royalty<>
M27/181 6.79%
M27/414,27/415 Royalty<>
P27/1826-1829 Royalty<>
P27/1830-1842 Royalty<>
P27/1887 Royalty<>
Abbotshall Royalty ML63/409,410 Norseman^ Royalty
Kookynie Royalty ML40/061 Leonora^ Royalty
ML40/135,136 Royalty
Makhado Project Fripp 645 MS Limpopo~ 67%(#)
Lukin 643 MS 67%(#)
Mutamba 668 MS 67%(#)
Salaita 188 MT 67%(#)
Tanga 849 MS 67%(#)
Daru 889 MS 67%(#)
Windhoek 900 MS 67%(#)
Generaal Project* Beck 568 MS Limpopo~ 74%
Bekaf 650 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of Boas 642 MS- 74%
Chase 576 MS 74%
Coen Britz 646 MS 74%
Fanie 578 MS 74%
Portions 1, 2 and Remaining Extent of Generaal 587 MS 74%
Joffre 584 MS 74%
Juliana 647 MS 74%
Kleinenberg 636 MS 74%
Remaining Extent of Maseri Pan 520 MS 74%
Remaining Extent and Portion 2 of Mount Stuart 153 MT 100%
Nakab 184 MT 100%
Phantom 640 MS 74%
Riet 182 MT 100%
Rissik 637 MS 100%
Schuitdrift 179 MT 100%
Septimus 156 MT 100%
Solitude 111 MT 74%
Stayt 183 MT 100%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of Terblanche 155 MT 100%
Van Deventer 641 MS 74%
Wildgoose 577 MS 74%
Mopane Project* Ancaster 501 MS Limpopo~ 100%
Banff 502 MS 74%
Bierman 599 MS 74%
Cavan 508 MS 100%
Cohen 591 MS 100%
Remaining Extent, Portions 1 & 2 of Delft 499 MS 74%
Dreyer 526 MS 74%
Remaining Extent of Du Toit 563 MS 74%
Faure 562 MS 74%
Remaining Extent and Portion 1 of Goosen 530 MS 74%
Hermanus 533 MS 74%
Jutland 536 MS 100%
Krige 495 MS 74%
Mons 557 MS 100%
Remaining Extent of Otto 560 MS (Now Honeymoon) 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of Pretorius 531 MS 74%
Schalk 542 MS 74%
Stubbs 558 MS 100%
Ursa Minor 551 MS 74%
Van Heerden 519 MS 74%
Portions 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Remaining Extent of Portion 10, Portions 13, 74%
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38,
39, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 & 54 of Vera 815 MS
Remaining Extent of Verdun 535 MS 74%
Voorburg 503 MS 100%
Scheveningen 500 MS 74%
Uitkomst Colliery and prospects Portion 3 (of 2) of Kweekspruit No. 22 KwaZulu-Natal~ 70%
Portion 8 (of 1) of Kweekspruit No. 22 70%
Remainder of Portion 1 of Uitkomst No. 95 70%
Portion 5 (of 2) of Uitkomst No. 95 70%
Remainder Portion1 of Vaalbank No. 103 70%
Portion 4 (of 1) of Vaalbank No. 103 70%
Portion 5 (of 1) of Vaalbank No. 103 70%
Remainder of Portion 1 of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Remainder of Portion 2 of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Remainder of Portion 3 (of 1) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Portion 4 (of 1) Rustverwacht No.151 70%
Portion 5 (of 1) Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Remainder of Portion 6 (of 1) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Portion 7 (of 1) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Portion 8 (of 2) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Remainder of Portion 9 (of 2) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Portion 11 (of 6) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Portion 12 (of 9) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Portion 13 (of 2) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Portion 14 (of 2) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Portion 15 (of 3) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Portion 16 (of 3) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Portion 17 (of 2) of Rustverwacht No. 151 70%
Portion 18 (of 3) of Waterval No. 157 70%
Remainder of Portion 1 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Remainder of Portion 4 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Remainder of Portion 5 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Portion 6 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Portion 7 (of 1) of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Portion 8 (of 1 )of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Portion 9 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Remainder of Portion 10 (of 5) of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Portion 11 (of 5) of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Portion 13 (of 4) of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Remainder of Portion 14 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Portion 16 (of 14) of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Portion 18 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Portion 23 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Remainder of Portion 1 of Jackalsdraai No. 299 70%
Remainder of Jericho B No. 400 70%
Portion 1 of Jericho B No. 400 70%
Portion 2 of Jericho B No. 400 70%
Portion 3 of Jericho B No. 400 70%
Remainder of Jericho C No. 413 70%
Portion 1 of Jericho C No. 413 70%
Remainder of Portion 1 of Jericho A No. 414 70%
Remainder of Portion 2 (of 1) of Jericho A No. 414 70%
Portion 3 (of 1) of Jericho A No. 414 70%
Portion 4 (of 1) of Jericho A No. 414 70%
Portion 5 (of 2) of Jericho A No. 414 70%
Portion 6 (of 1) of Jericho A No. 414 70%
Margin No. 420 70%
Vele Colliery and prospects Portions of Overvlakte 125 MS (Remaining Extent, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14) Limpopo~ 100%
Bergen Op Zoom 124 MS 100%
Semple 155 MS 100%
Voorspoed 836 MS 100%
Alyth 837 MS 100%
Tshikunda(1) Certain portions of Unsurveyed State Land known as Mutale Limpopo~ 60% (60%)
* Form part of the Greater Soutpansberg Projects
~ Tenement located in the Republic of South Africa
^ Tenement located in Australia
(# ) MC Mining's interest will reduce to 67% on completion of the
26% Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) transaction
<> net smelter royalty of 0.5%
(1) The Tshikunda prospecting right has lapsed
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