Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksCentral Rand Gold Regulatory News (CRND)

  • There is currently no data for CRND

Watchlists are a member only feature

Login to your account

Alerts are a premium feature

Login to your account

Operational Update

31 Mar 2015 07:00

RNS Number : 9019I
Central Rand Gold Limited
31 March 2015
 

 

Central Rand Gold Limited

(Incorporated as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey,

Company Number 45108)

(Incorporated as an external company with limited liability under the laws of South Africa,

Registration number 2007/0192231/10)

ISIN: GG00B92NXM24

LSE share code: CRND JSE share code: CRD

("Central Rand Gold" or the "Company")

 

TRANSACTION AND OPERATIONAL UPDATE

 

Highlights

 

· Positive engagement with all MOU Parties and due diligence programs continue to advance

· Completion date for all MOU agreements reset to 12 June 2015 to ensure common timetable for all MOU Parties and completion of required due diligence by all parties

· Metallurgical plant performing well with significant improvements in both Mine Call Factor and plant availability

· Selective metallurgical plant upgrades to continue in H1 2015 with aim of further improving Mine Call Factor and plant availability

· TCTA has successfully completed phase 1 upgrade to the clarifier rakes at HDS plant

· HDS plant running at 86% nameplate capacity in March resulting in a daily pumping rate of 72 mlpd

 

Extension of MOU Dates

Throughout the first quarter of 2015, the Company has advanced due diligence discussions with Hiria Group Company Limited ("Hiria"), Shengbang Jiabo Consulting Company ("Shengbang"), Beijing Ankong Investment Company ("Ankong") and Huili Resources Group Ltd ("Huili") (together the "MOU Parties"). All MOU Parties remain engaged and continue to work towards due diligence completion.

 

As previously announced on 12 February 2015, the Company executed a MOU with Huili which had a target completion date for execution of a formal sale agreement by 12 June 2015. After consultation with all MOU Parties, the Company has decided to realign the target completion date for all MOU Parties to 12 June 2015. The purpose of the realignment of the target completion date is to ensure that all MOU Parties are working on a common timetable and have the ability to complete their required due diligence. This will enable the Company to streamline the process and ensure that Company resources are not wasted. The planned site visits scheduled for February 2015, were postponed by mutual agreement, to allow all MOU Parties further time to complete their due diligence on all information supplied via the Central Rand Gold data room. To ensure that the due diligence process is completed effectively, the Board has tasked Jason Hou, a Non-Executive Director of Central Rand Gold, to lead the due diligence process. The Board believes that with Jason being permanently based in Beijing, coupled with his proficiency in English and Mandarin, he is able to engage with all MOU Parties on a regular basis, to ensure the timeous completion of the due diligence process.

 

Commenting on the due diligence progress, Nathan Taylor, Interim Chairman of the Company said: "The feedback from all MOU Parties is positive at this stage. Significant attention has been focussed on examining the Company's geological information and database, resources estimation method, and finally Central Rand Gold's growth strategy via the CMR and Crown Competent Persons Report."

 

Acid Mine Drainage

The interim solution to strengthen the clarifier rakes in the HDS plant was completed at the end of February 2015. This improvement has allowed for an increase in daily pumping to approximately 72mlpd. This level of pumping was only anticipated to be achieved in June 2015 once the permanent solution had been implemented. Since the beginning of March 2015, Central Rand Gold has seen a steady decrease in the water table and a reduction of around 1.6 vertical metres has been reported to date, with the current water level at approximately 142 metres below surface. This is very encouraging as it once again proves that the Central Basin can be de-watered even during the typical 'rainy season'.

 

Mining Update

With the water level at approximately 142 metres below surface, underground mining remains suspended. The Company continues to focus on exploiting the open pit potential in its tenement area, during this interim phase. Open pit mining has performed in line with management's expectations in the first quarter. During the first two months of the year, 8,471 tons were mined from slot 7 and 15,974 tons were mined from slot 5. Mining at slot 5 recommenced in March 2015, having been temporarily suspended in February 2015, to allow for the existing stockpile levels to be reduced to more acceptable levels. Overall, an average mined grade of 2.01g/t was achieved with a Mine Call Factor of 84%.

 

Metallurgical Update

The maintenance and upgrades to the plant, following the January 2015 annual maintenance block, have been successful with availability increasing to 89% in February 2015. In February, the combined ore processing (toll inclusive) reached 19,900 tons. Due to improved metallurgical processes and recoveries, despite the feed grade being 23% lower than last year, gold production was 10% higher than last year at 1,145oz.

 

Toll Treatment and Outsourcing

The low grade Joint Tolling Venture is progressing well with Mintails Limited. This arrangement allows both companies to monetise low grade material within dumps on the Company's property that would otherwise be uneconomical to process. To date 5,613 tons at an average landed grade of 0.91g/t has been processed.

 

 

For further information, please contact:

Central Rand Gold +27 (0) 11 674 2304

Johan du Toit

Charles Stanley Securities Limited +44 (0) 20 7149 6478

Marc Milmo / Mark Taylor

Merchantec Capital +27 (0) 11 325 6363

Monique Martinez / Marcel Goncalves

 

 

 

 

 

Johannesburg

31 March 2015

 

Sponsor

Merchantec Capital

 

 

 

 

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
MSCWGUAWWUPAGAU
Date   Source Headline
10th Nov 20174:47 pmRNSCancellation from AIM
1st Nov 20177:00 amRNSReplacement Result of General Meeting
30th Oct 20171:30 pmRNSResult of Meeting
30th Oct 20177:00 amRNSStatement re EGM and potential open offer
19th Oct 201711:15 amRNSNotice of AGM
19th Oct 20177:00 amRNSPlacing, Board Changes and appointment of Nomad
18th Oct 20174:37 pmRNSInterim Results 2017
16th Oct 20173:00 pmRNSFinal Results
13th Oct 20173:00 pmRNSTrading/Market Update, Circular and Notice of GM
11th Oct 20171:00 pmRNSReplacement Nominated Adviser
10th Oct 20176:15 pmRNSNomad Register Change - ZAI Corporate Finance Ltd
6th Oct 201712:00 pmRNSDirectorate Change
5th Oct 201710:00 amRNSFinancing Update
2nd Oct 20174:00 pmRNSStatement in respect of 2016 Annual results
28th Sep 201710:00 amRNSAppointment of Broker
13th Sep 20179:30 amRNSUpdate
20th Jul 20174:00 pmRNSApplication Abandonment and Operational Update
23rd Jun 20172:45 pmRNSStatement in respect of 2016 Annual results
16th Jun 20174:01 pmRNSReceipt of US$250,000 Loan and Operational Update
15th Jun 201710:00 amRNSReplacement - Puno Funding Call Court Case Outcome
14th Jun 20174:00 pmRNSPuno Funding Call Court Case Outcome
5th Jun 20171:24 pmRNSIprop Dispute Update
22nd May 20173:00 pmRNSiProp Dispute Update
11th May 20172:50 pmRNSSuspension of Trading
11th May 20172:50 pmRNSSuspension - Central Rand Gold Limited
10th May 20177:00 amRNSLoan Agreement and Industrial Action.
2nd May 20172:00 pmRNSIssue of Equity
20th Apr 20178:00 amRNSFundraising and Operational Update
12th Apr 20178:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
5th Apr 201712:04 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
3rd Apr 20171:00 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
31st Mar 201712:15 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
31st Mar 20178:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
23rd Mar 20173:30 pmRNSFundraising and operational update
23rd Mar 20178:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
17th Mar 20179:30 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
10th Mar 20178:30 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
8th Mar 201710:30 amRNSIssue of Equity
8th Mar 20178:30 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
7th Mar 20179:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
27th Feb 201712:30 pmRNSIssue of Equity
27th Feb 201710:30 amRNSProcurement of Concentrator Circuit
23rd Feb 201710:00 amRNSOperational Update
21st Feb 20178:00 amRNSHolding(s) in Company
10th Feb 201710:00 amRNSIssue of Equity
1st Feb 20171:00 pmRNSIssue of Equity
27th Jan 20177:00 amRNSIssue of Equity
23rd Jan 20177:00 amRNSAppointment of Broker
12th Jan 20177:00 amRNSConvertible Security with Bergen
10th Jan 20179:00 amRNSPrice Monitoring Extension

Due to London Stock Exchange licensing terms, we stipulate that you must be a private investor. We apologise for the inconvenience.

To access our Live RNS you must confirm you are a private investor by using the button below.

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.

Quickpicks are a member only feature

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.