Bushveld Minerals Regulatory News (BMN)

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) DisclosureCertain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement.

19 March 2020

Bushveld Minerals Limited

("Bushveld", the "Company" or the "Group")

Appointment of Dolly Mokgatle as an Independent Non-Executive Director

Bushveld Minerals Limited (AIM: BMN), the AIM-listed, integrated primary vanadium producer which owns high-grade vanadium assets in South Africa, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Dolly Mokgatle as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company.

Ms Mokgatle is an established business leader in South Africa who has held various significant leadership positions within several of South Africa's state owned enterprises, as well as within the private sector. Her leadership roles in the state-owned enterprises sector has seen her accumulate extensive commercial and policy-making experience in the Energy Sector. As a senior advisor to the government on electricity-related matters, Ms Mokgatle has made contributions that have shaped the country's energy policy.

Ms Mokgatle's career experience includes serving on the steering committee of the Electricity War Room in respect of electricity supply industry restructuring, both within and outside of Eskom Holdings SOC Limited ("Eskom") in the policy environment, under the leadership of the then Department of Minerals and Energy. Ms Mokgatle has also represented Eskom in the Southern African Power Pool, tasked by the Southern African Development Community Energy Ministers to establish and operate an energy pool for the benefit of the subcontinent and beyond.

Ms Mokgatle is a former Managing Director of the Transmission Group at Eskom. Prior to that role, she held various Eskom roles including, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs, Senior General Manager: Growth of Development and Acting Legal Manager.

Ms Mokgatle was the Chief Executive Officer of Spoornet from 2003 until 2005, and has also served as a Non-Executive Director of several prominent South African companies including Kumba Iron Ore Limited, Sasfin Bank Limited, Hudaco Industries Limited, and was Chairman of the Board of Zurich Insurance Co South Africa Limited.

From 2005 until 2009, Ms Mokgatle was engaged by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa as Deputy Chairperson and chaired the Electricity Committee. Ms Mokgatle was also actively involved in the restructuring of the electricity distribution industry in South Africa and chaired the board of the holding company, which was established and tasked by the government with the oversight, facilitation and monitoring of the establishment of regional electricity distributors throughout the country.

In 2015, President Cyril Ramaphosa and the then Deputy President of South Africa, appointed Ms Mokgatle as a member of the Advisory Panel on the turnaround of Eskom.

Ms Mokgatle is currently the Chairperson of Total South Africa Pty Ltd, and a Non-Executive Director on the boards of Rothschild (South Africa) Pty Ltd, Bid Corporation Limited and Telkom SA SOC Limited. As a founder and current Executive Director of Peotona Group Holdings Pty Ltd, a majority black-women owned investment company, Ms Mokgatle is a highly experienced and sought-after Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment partner.

Ian Watson, Chairman of Bushveld Minerals Limited, commented:

"We are delighted to welcome Ms Mokgatle to the Board. Her extensive expertise in respect of South Africa's power network, coupled with her in-depth knowledge of energy policy, will be valuable as we continue to pursue our energy strategy. In addition, her corporate experience, having sat on numerous company boards over the years, will no doubt strengthen our governance. We look forward to working with Dolly as we continue on our journey to building a global leader in the vanadium and energy storage sector."

ENDS

Enquiries: info@bushveldminerals.com

Appendix

Dolly Doreen Mokgatle (née Moloko), aged 63, is or has been a director of the following companies over the past five years:

Ms Mokgatle does not own any ordinary shares in Bushveld Minerals. There are no other matters to be disclosed in relation to Schedule 2, paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.

ABOUT BUSHVELD MINERALS LIMITED

Bushveld Minerals is a low-cost, integrated, primary vanadium producer, with ownership of high-grade vanadium assets. 

The Company's flagship vanadium platform includes a 74 per cent controlling interest in Bushveld Vametco Alloys (Pty) Ltd, a primary vanadium mining and processing company; 100 per cent of Bushveld Vanchem, a primary vanadium processing facility with a beneficiation plant; the Mokopane Vanadium Project and the Brits Vanadium Project.

Bushveld's vision is to become a significant, low-cost, integrated primary vanadium producer through owning high grade assets. Whilst the demand for vanadium remains largely anchored in the steel industry, Bushveld Minerals believes there is strong potential for an imminent and significant global vanadium demand surge from the fast-growing energy storage market, particularly through the use and adoption of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries. Bushveld Energy, the Company's energy storage solutions provider, plays a leading role in the development and promotion of the role of vanadium in this market.

While the Company's focus is on vanadium operations and the development and promotion of VRFBs, it has additional investments in coal, power and tin.

The Company's approach to project development recognises that, whilst attractive project economics are imperative, they may be insufficient to secure capital to bring them to account. A clear path to production within a visible timeframe, low capital expenditure requirements and scalability are important factors in ensuring a positive return on investment. This philosophy is core to the Company's strategy in developing projects.

Detailed information on the Company and progress to date can be accessed on the website www.bushveldminerals.com.