Canyon Resources Limited (ASX: CAY) ('Canyon' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce that, through its wholly owned Cameroon subsidiary Camalco Cameroon SA ('Camalco'), it has attended four formal sessions with the Government of Cameroon to negotiate terms of the Mining Convention for the Minim Martap Bauxite Project, located in the Adamoua Region of Cameroon.
The sessions were attended in person by senior representatives of the Cameroon Government, senior executives from Camalco and Canyon and Camalco's advisors.
The negotiations commenced on the 5th November when Camalco presented the Project to an audience of approximately 80 representatives of the Ministry of Mines and other Government administrators. The meeting involved a detailed presentation of the Project by Camalco management and an extended Q&A session by those in attendance. Following the Project presentation, the second round of negotiations involved a senior team from the Ministry of Mines reviewing Camalco's draft Mining Convention at a four day retreat between the 10th -13th November 2021.
The third round of negotiations were between the 24th - 26th November 2021. Key terms of the Mining Convention were agreed during the negotiations, which involved Canyon/Camalco, the Ministry of Mines and representatives of Sonamines, the state-owned mining company. The fourth and final session was hosted by the Minister of Mines on 6th December 2021. The Project was presented to the local communities nearby the Minim Martap Project and determined the priorities for Camalco's social and community engagement as the Project progresses into production.
This finalises the formal negotiations for the Mining Convention between Camalco and the State. Camalco will continue to work closely with the State of Cameroon to finalise the remaining matters relevant to the Mining Convention, aiming to conduct the formal signing in early 2022. A Mining Convention is the agreement between Camalco and the State of Cameroon that sets out Camalco's fiscal and legal rights and obligations for the Minim Martap Project's development and ongoing operation. A Mining Convention is the penultimate step to be completed by Camalco prior to receiving the Mining License. The completion of negotiations for the Mining Convention which importantly confirms the key financial parameters for the Project, will enable Camalco to enter binding agreements with financing and off take partners and logistics providers
Canyon's Managing Director, Mr Phillip Gallagher commented: 'We are very pleased with the positive outcome of the negotiations and are appreciative of the Ministry of Mines hosting the very productive discussions over the past few weeks. It is clear that all sides involved see the short and long term benefits of the Minim Martap Bauxite Project to the State of Cameroon and there is a positive intent to see the project developed.' 'Having completed this important step with the State of Cameroon, the Company can now enter into binding rail and port agreements as well as advance project financing and strategic partner discussions.' Subject to the approval of the Minister of Mines and travel availability in 2022, Canyon anticipates formal execution of the Mining Convention in the first quarter of 2022.
About Canyon Resources
Summary Canyon Resources is focussed on the development of the 100% owned Minim-Martap Bauxite Project, a direct shipping ore (DSO) project development opportunity in central Cameroon. The Project is situated adjacent to the main rail line linking the region to the Atlantic port of Douala. The rail line is currently underutilised and coupled with the existing port of Douala, supports a low capex, low opex solution to deliver high grade, low contaminant, seaborne bauxite to market to fuel the large and growing aluminium industry as described in the 2020 Pre-Feasibility Study. The country is planning a rail extension and is undergoing rail line debottlenecking upgrades, giving longer term potential for export through the newly built, deep-water port of Kribi. Canyon is planning the development of the bauxite Project in a 2 Stage, 2 Port execution programme with initial production exported though the port of Douala utilising the existing rail and port infrastructure and Stage 2 unlocking tonnes and reducing costs by utilising the planned rail extension to access the deep-water port of Kribi.
Forward looking statements
All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this announcement including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of Canyon, are forward-looking statements. When used in this announcement, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as 'anticipate', 'believe', 'could', 'estimate', 'expect', 'future', 'intend', 'may', 'opportunity', 'plan', 'potential', 'project', 'seek', 'will' and other similar words that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on an assessment of present economic and operating conditions, and on a number of assumptions regarding future events and actions that are expected to take place. Such forwardlooking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, its directors and management of Canyon that could cause Canyon's actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or anticipated in these statements. Canyon cannot and does not give any assurance that the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement will actually occur and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Canyon does not undertake to update or revise forward-looking statements, or to publish prospective financial information in the future, regardless of whether new information, future events or any other factors affect the information contained in this announcement, except where required by applicable law and stock exchange listing requirements.
Contact:
Tel: +61 8 6382 3342
Email: info@canyonresources.com.au
CANYON RESOURCES LIMITED 