Last checked at 7 Dec 2017 07:00
7 December 2017
Wishbone Gold Plc
("Wishbone Gold" or the "Company")
Wishbone Gold Plc / Index: AIM / Epic: WSBN / Sector: Natural Resources
Honduras Update
Wishbone Gold, a trading and exploration company focused on precious metals (gold and silver), is today updating its shareholders regarding its Honduras mining operations.
As announced on 31 March 2017, the Company's strategy in Honduras is to fund the development and exploitation of existing gold mine sites and modernise the artisanal mining sector. Wishbone Gold and its partners provide equipment and expertise to existing small mines in Honduras to enable them to increase production. In return, the mines agree to supply Wishbone Gold's trading subsidiary, Black Sand FZE, with all the output from the mines at preferential prices. The benefit to the mine is that increased production results in higher sales and higher profits. Wishbone Gold also ensures that there is no environmental damage from the processing and accounts to the Honduran government correctly for all taxes.
The operations in Honduras were temporarily stopped by the worst Caribbean hurricane season on record. Although covered less by the media than the hurricanes in the Caribbean, the weather was equally bad across Central America. The weather has now improved and construction crews are back onsite working to complete the buildings to house the processing plant. The plant and equipment had already been delivered to site before the weather stopped work.
Prior to the wet season, most of the equipment was installed but commissioning activities were suspended as new buildings could not be completed prior to the hurricanes. The weather has now improved and the buildings are expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks.
The current Honduran election dispute remains ongoing with demands from the opposition for a recount or to re-run the elections. The Company's local partners have reported that the demonstrations and protests have been largely limited to the capital, Tegucigalpa, but the position is unlikely to be stable for a few more weeks. Whichever party is eventually declared the winner, the board believes that Wishbone Gold's business model will still work. Unemployment, illegal mining and collection of taxation are priorities for both political parties. Wishbone Gold has agreed with its JV partners that the commissioning team from the United Sates will only fly down once the political situation is stable.
Richard Poulden, Chairman and CEO of Wishbone Gold, commented: "Wishbone Gold's strategy of reverse integration into the small mining sector remains our priority and we hope to announce further plans in this area shortly. We will provide a full trading update early in the New Year but wanted to share the positive news from Honduras as soon as possible".
For images of the site in Honduras and more information on Wishbone Gold please visit the Company's website at www.wishbonegold.com.
Enquiries:
Wishbone Gold Plc
Richard Poulden, CEO and Chairman Tel: +44 207 812 0645
Allenby Capital
Nick Naylor / Nick Harriss Tel: +44 20 3328 5656
Beaufort Securities Limited
Elliot Hance Tel: +44 20 7382 8300
Damson Communications
Abigail Stuart-Menteth / Amelia Hubert Tel: +44 207 812 0645