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Statement re. Suspension

5 Apr 2022 07:40

RNS Number : 2919H
W Resources PLC
05 April 2022
 

 

 

 

 

 

5 April 2022

 

W Resources Plc

("W" or the "Company"

La Parrilla and Funding Update

Temporary Suspension of Trading in Ordinary Shares

W Resources Plc (AIM:WRES), the tungsten, tin and gold mining company with assets in Spain and Portugal, announces that the operating and commercial conditions in Spain at the La Parrilla mine continue to be extraordinarily challenging.

Key challenges:

· The recent Spanish truck drivers dispute has stopped delivery of critical spare parts to the La Parrilla mine and the collection of tungsten and tin concentrate shipments.

· Liquefied Natural Gas ("LNG") prices for delivery to the mine remain at highly inflated levels of up to seven times higher than the average monthly charges in 2021 and previous years.

As a result the Board has no option but to temporarily suspend production and operations at La Parrilla, due to shortage of key spare parts and the very high LNG prices that place an excessive cost burden on the mine. The Board has assessed that it is best to wait for a stabilisation in prices prior to recommencing operations. The Company is also investigating the possibility of LNG price support with its offtake partner and customers which would enable an earlier resumption of production.

The Board notes that similar shut downs have been initiated in Spain by many other small and medium sized businesses including the major steel plant operators.

During the shutdown period the Company is applying for Spanish government support under the Expediente de Regulación Temporal de Empleo ("ERTE") employment retention programme and it is confident this support will be received.

The Company's plans to reduce the dependence on LNG continue to be expedited including options for solar power and also an electricity grid connection upgrade.

Separately, the Company has also been informed that the Dirección General de Industria, Energía y Minas of Extremadura has challenged the W group's authorisations to operate. The Company will be appealing this challenge and has been advised by its lawyers that it can continue to operate pending resolution of the appeal. The Company is confident of a successful outcome.

 

Financing and Financial Position Update

The suspension of operations places significant financial pressure on the Company's subsidiary in Spain, Iberian Resources Spain ("IRS") which has very limited cash. W Resources has drawn US$2.5m from the expanded US$5.5m facility provided by one or more funds and accounts managed by BlackRock Financial Management, Inc. and/or its affiliates ("BlackRock") as announced on 2 March 2022. In light of the above mentioned events, the Company is in discussions with BlackRock regarding the timing of incremental drawdowns.

In addition, the Company is currently in discussion with a supplier who has an outstanding balance of approximately €1m and is proposing a payment plan with this supplier. If this is agreed then IRS will be in a position to undertake certain operational activities which are expected to generate a similar amount for IRS.

The Company believes that utilisation of its funding facilities in full and resolution of the supplier dispute will enable the Company to continue operating for approximately three to four months in the absence of the re-commencement of mining operations at La Parrilla. However, resolution of both these is required as a matter of urgency given the effect of the suspension of mining operations and associated revenues on W's cash position.

In light of the considerable uncertainty over the timing of cashflows from its borrowing facilities and elsewhere, the Company has requested a suspension of its shares on AIM pending clarification of its financial position.

 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the retained EU law version of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (the "UK MAR") which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The information is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of the UK MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

Enquiries:

W Resources Plc

Paul Hailes

investor@wresources.com

www.wresources.com

Grant Thornton UK LLP

Colin Aaronson / Harrison Clarke / Samuel Littler

T: +44 (0) 20 7383 5100

Alternative Resource Capital / Shard Capital

Alex Wood

T:+44 (0) 207 186 9004

www.altrescap.com

Damon Heath

T:+44 (0) 207 186 9952

www.shardcapital.com

Alma PR

Justine James

M: +44 (0) 7525 324431

wres@almapr.co.uk

 

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SRSEAKLSEDDAEEA
Date   Source Headline
25th Mar 20204:36 pmRNSPrice Monitoring Extension
16th Mar 20208:30 amRNSOngoing Operations and Covid-19 Response
10th Mar 20207:00 amRNSRégua and La Parrilla Update. Director Retirement
10th Mar 20207:00 amRNS£756,000 Placing to Spanish Investors at 0.36p
18th Feb 20207:00 amRNSNew Loan Facility and Extremadura Grant Update
5th Feb 20209:55 amRNSRégua Commencement and Updated Régua JORC Resource
20th Jan 20207:00 amRNSConversion of Directors' Loans
9th Jan 20208:33 amRNSFirst Shipment from New Concentrator Plant
8th Jan 20207:00 amRNSNon-Executive Director Appointment
18th Dec 20197:00 amRNSAdditional $5 Million Facility. La Parrilla Update
5th Dec 20197:00 amRNSFinance Update
29th Nov 20192:48 pmRNSIssue of Shares and Financing Update
28th Nov 20197:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Production Update
15th Nov 20193:05 pmRNSLa Parrilla Ramp-Up Finance Update
8th Nov 20197:03 amRNSLa Parrilla First Concentrate and Financing Update
21st Oct 20197:00 amRNSFirst Ore Fed to La Parrilla Concentrator Plant
30th Sep 20198:00 amRNSHalf-year Report to 30 June 2019
16th Sep 20197:00 amRNSEUR1m placement to Spanish Investors
9th Sep 20194:14 pmRNSCorrection - Corporate and EUR 5.3 m Grant Update
9th Sep 201910:02 amRNSCorporate and EUR 5.3 m Grant Update
29th Aug 20197:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Concentrator Construction Complete
16th Aug 201911:39 amRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
14th Aug 20192:48 pmRNSDirector/PDMR Shareholding
7th Aug 20197:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Tungsten & Tin Mine Update
5th Aug 20195:12 pmRNSHolding(s) in Company
28th Jun 201912:42 pmRNSResult of AGM
28th Jun 20197:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Update
19th Jun 20197:01 amRNSHaulage and Crushing Contract Signed for Régua
19th Jun 20197:00 amRNSLa Parrilla and São Martinho Update
7th Jun 20197:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Mining Contract Awarded
3rd Jun 20192:46 pmRNSNotice of AGM and Annual Report
29th May 20198:12 amRNSJoint Broker Appointment
22nd May 20197:00 amRNSExercise of Warrants by Directors
21st May 20197:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Jig Commissioned with First Ore
9th May 20197:00 amRNSAdvance on 5.3m EUR Grant through Extremadura Bank
2nd May 20197:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Update and Mine Blast
30th Apr 201911:57 amRNSFinal Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2018
29th Apr 201912:15 pmRNSMajor Shareholding Notification
18th Apr 201911:00 amRNSPrice Monitoring Extension
18th Apr 20199:31 amRNSEarly Exercise of Warrants
16th Apr 20197:00 amRNSJig & Mill Plant Completed for Commissioning
1st Apr 20197:00 amRNSHigh Grade Tungsten Intersections at Régua
18th Mar 20197:00 amRNSUpdate on La Parrilla and on Portuguese assets
5th Feb 20197:00 amRNSLa Parilla Mine Update and Issue of Shares
20th Dec 20187:00 amRNSLa Parrilla Mine's First Crushed Ore
10th Dec 20187:00 amRNSMechanical Completion of La Parrilla Crusher Plant
3rd Dec 20187:00 amRNSFirst Tungsten Shipment from the La Parrilla Mine
27th Nov 201810:50 amRNSPlacing to Raise £1.5m
23rd Nov 20187:00 amRNSTPI Investor Evening - 10 December
20th Nov 20184:19 pmRNSGrant of Share Options

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