6 Oct 2014 07:00
BERKELEY MINERAL RESOURCES PLC
("BMR" or "The Company")
Final lead and zinc flowsheet design under way
Berkeley Mineral Resources, which is primarily engaged in processing mining tailings at Kabwe, Zambia through its wholly-owned subsidiary Enviro Processing Ltd ("EPL"), announces that it is making good progress towards production, following its receipt of project approval from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency ("ZEMA") detailed in the announcement of 19 August 2014.
LEAD and ZINC
During the assessment by ZEMA of EPL's submission, EPL was temporarily prevented from carrying out any further technical testwork at its Kabwe site. It did however continue to conduct metallurgical studies and test alternative gravitational solutions, with all work conducted off-site. It also commissioned a desk-top study of leaching solutions for processing both the washplant and leachplant tailings.
Since receipt of the ZEMA approval, EPL has continued its testwork programme, evaluated the results of the desktop study and expects to receive within the next month a revised simplified flowsheet for the Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS"). The Executive Summary of the DFS is available on the BMR website at http://www.bmrplc.com/lead-and-zinc.
The simplification of the gravity flowsheet is expected to provide a more robust and manageable process that should enhance the already attractive economic returns reported in the DFS.
Additionally, BMR is reviewing proposals it has received from interested parties for co-financing the project.
BMR therefore expects that it will have all the necessary information to make the final processing decision. In order to co-ordinate and manage the processing, BMR has engaged the services of Dr Geoffrey Casson B Sc., PhD., who has extensive previous experience of base metals mining and processing in Zambia, principally with the State-owned mining company, ZCCM.
COPPER PROCESSING
Following the successful Proof of Concept trials which resulted in production of 92% grade cement from EPL's copper plant at Kabwe in February 2014, further work was halted pending the ZEMA decision.
EPL has received and is reviewing a proposal for supplies of copper feedstock concentrate which would call for substantial expansion of this facility.
Masoud Alikhani, Chairman, commented:
"We remain clearly focused on reaching the position where we can order, install and put into operation the lead and zinc washplant tailings processing plant which will maximise BMR's returns. Since receiving the ZEMA approval, we have commissioned the final studies and put in place the management resources to achieve this aim in the shortest possible time."
06th October 2014
For further information:
Berkeley Mineral Resources Plc 020 7408 1181
Masoud Alikhani, Chairman
WH Ireland Limited 020 7220 1666
Chris Fielding, Head of Corporate Finance
Lothbury Financial Services 020 3440 7620
Michael Padley / Gary Middleton
For further information please see the Company's website at http://www.bmrplc.com
The Directors of Berkeley Mineral Resources accept responsibility for this announcement.