RE: EUA3 Jul 2023 08:06
Chairman’s statement
The year 2022 stands out as a uniquely challenging year not only for Eurasia, but also for the entire mining sector. Apart from the Ukraine conflict which hit the world hard in February, the entire industry has been disrupted by supply chain interruptions although this has, however, resulted in positive price changes for EUA’s metals.
In the meantime, work has continued on optimising the asset base prior to a possible sale.
West Kytlim
We took the decision to stockpile the ore from West Kytlim and not to generate revenue from Russia in 2022 due to our strong cash position and the expectation of improving prices in the future.
The West Kytlim mine saw significant investment over many years culminating with a conversion of operations from diesel power to electricity powered equipment and infrastructure. Hydro-derived grid power and an electric dragline installed to site. This allows stripping work to continue through the winter, with the accommodation and office also on the grid. Significant reductions in operating costs have been achieved.
As previously announced, we took the decision to stockpile the mine product (a 'black sand' concentrate containing platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium and gold) from West Kytlim and not to generate revenue from Russia during 2022.
Monchetundra
DFS
At Monchetundra, the DFS study for the several open pits at Loipishnune and West Nittis was completed for the project's development and submitted at the end of 2022 and the Company was notified that all authorities were received at the end of June 2023.
NKT / Monchetundra Flanks
The NKT project comprises a brownfield Tier-1 scale deposit: 305Kt of Nickel, 143Kt of Copper, 57 tons of PGM and Gold (11.2Moz of Platinum equivalent) as estimated by Wardell Armstrong International as JORC-compliant resources for an underground mining operation. We continue to look at the potential for additional mineralisation on the property. For now the NKT Project sits as considerable upside adjacent the Monchetundra asset.
Nyud Project and Rosgeo agreement
Eurasia retains a right to 75% of the Nyud exploration licence, which was applied for and later received by Rosgeo’s subsidiary OOO Monchegorskoye with an intention of establishing a joint venture with Eurasia’s 100% owned subsidiary, Yuksporskaya Mining Company, pursuant to the now expired two-year agreement between Rosgeo and Eurasia as announced 26 March 2021. The project is now being considered in the context of the Company’s proposed asset sale.
Possible sale of Russian Assets
The Board remains of the view that any buyer is likely to be found in BRICS countries. This process has now run on substantially longer than the Company's management team had anticipated. We acknowledge shareholder frustration regarding the duration of the sale process, however, we also note recent precedent transactions which have successfully completed despite the geopolitical situation.