15 Apr 2014 07:00
BERKELEY MINERAL RESOURCES PLC
("BMR" or "the Company")
KABWE UPDATE
Berkeley Mineral Resources Plc, primarily engaged in processing mining tailings in Zambia, is pleased to provide a review of progress towards the start-up of processing operations in Kabwe, central Zambia. BMR's operations in Zambia are conducted by its 100% owned Zambian subsidiary Enviro Processing Ltd ("EPL").
As previously announced, the Zambian Environmental Management Agency ("ZEMA") has been conducting an assessment of EPL's Environmental and Social Impact Statement ("ESIS") for the proposed Kabwe Lead-Zinc Recovery Project and Copper Processing Plant prior to BMR's production plans being approved. A copy of the ESIS is available from the ZEMA website at www.zema.org.zm. Last week, ZEMA officials carried out an inspection visit to the Kabwe site and on 11 April ZEMA held a public meeting also at Kabwe.
An external facilitator was appointed to manage the public meeting which was attended by over 200 delegates ranging from local and national governmental representatives to local community leaders and job seekers. The public meeting received presentations from BMR's Africa Manager, Dennis Human, and EPL's environmental consultants, African Mining Consultants Limited and JA Consulting, who dealt with technical and scientific matters arising from the Definitive Feasibility Study on the Kabwe Lead-Zinc Recovery Project, which was announced on 9 September 2013. Matters regarding the proposed Kabwe Copper Processing Plant were also addressed.
Following full and varied discussions in which a number of interested parties were involved, the issue of endorsement of EPL's lead and zinc copper processing plans by the delegates at the meeting was put to the vote and was carried with no votes against. This unanimous conclusion will now be reported to ZEMA who undertook at the meeting to give their decision in writing as soon as possible and definitely before the end of May 2014.
Masoud Alikhani, Chairman, commented:
"BMR is not surprised that this final public meeting has so convincingly approved its processing proposals at Kabwe. Since first securing the tailings on the Kabwe mine site, the Company has consistently stated that, in addition to optimising its commercial benefit, it intends to process its tailings and still-to-be-mined underground resource assets at Kabwe with the integral aims of reducing pollution, competently clearing and remediating the site and providing employment for the local community.
The Company is pleased and grateful for this unanimous verdict given by such a large and representative audience and looks forward to receiving ZEMA's final decision in due course."
This release has been reviewed by Dennis Human, B.Sc. (Hons), Bus. Admin (Hons), MGSSA, Consulting Geologist to the Company, who is a Qualified Person in accordance with the guidance note for Mining, Oil & Gas Companies issued by the London Stock Exchange in respect of AIM Companies.
15 April 2014
For further information:
Berkeley Mineral Resources Plc 020 7408 1181
Masoud Alikhani, Chairman
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe 020 7894 7000
Stewart Dickson/Julian Erleigh (Corporate Finance)
Jeremy Stephenson (Corporate Broking)
Lothbury Financial Services 020 3440 7622
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.