European Metals Holdings Limited (ASX & AIM: EMH) ('European Metals' or the 'Company') is pleased to provide the following update for the Cinovec Project.
Feasibility Study Update
Geomet, 49% owned by European Metals and the owner of 100% of the Cinovec Lithium Project in the Czech Republic ('Cinovec' or the 'Project'), is in the process of completing the Project Definitive Feasibility Study ('DFS'). DRA Global Limited ('DRA') was appointed to complete the DFS in February 2023. The Company has previously advised in the announcement to the market on 22 December 2023 that the delivery of the DFS for the Project had been pushed back and was expected to be completed in Q1 2024. As a result of the engineering work and social and environmental engagement work subsequently performed as part of the DFS process, several material matters have been highlighted that may significantly improve the lithium processing component of the DFS. The Geomet management team, in conjunction with DRA Global, is reviewing these matters.
The Company expects to make a further announcement before the end of April 2024 detailing some of the more significant issues. Further, the Company reiterates that the process flowsheet remains as announced on 31 October 2022 and confirmed in pilot testing results announced on 9 November 2023. This review process could significantly improve the economic and social/community outcomes. Geomet considers this to be an important development in the Project and makes a further delay in the DFS well justified. Importantly, as previously reported, the Company does not expect that the extension of the study period will impact the overall Project timeline, with the permitting process expected to be effectively coordinated pursuant to the enactment of the European Union's Critical Raw Materials Act. In other matters concerning the DFS Process, EMH is pleased to announce that previously published physical and hydrometallurgical process flowsheets have been confirmed to be viable for engineering and construction purposes with high levels of lithium recovery from run-of-mine ore to battery-grade end-products. As previously noted, engineering test work programmes continue to improve process outcomes in various stages of both the physical and hydrometallurgical processing, and current test work programmes include
Gangue removal from zinnwaldite concentrate to enable a higher-grade roast mix to be processed by the rotary kilns, thus maximising the throughput of lithium units in the roasting without an increase in the size of the plant; recycling and regeneration of reagents in both the roasting and hydrometallurgical stages to reduce the consumption of fresh reagents and decrease opex per tonne of end-product, and simplification of precipitation/crystallisation processes to reduce energy and water costs, aiming at producing end-products with the lowest economic carbon footprint
Executive Chairman, Keith Coughlan, commented on the update: 'Whilst it is unfortunate not to be able to provide a fully completed DFS at this stage, I am confident that the developments currently being finalised will add significantly to the Project. In particular, permitting and timelines are expected to be positively impacted by the team's additional work. The Cinovec Project remains an important part of the drive to improve critical materials security in the EU.'
Permitting and the European Critical Raw
Materials Act The European Union's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) has now been formally adopted and will shortly enter into force. This is a significant development for the Project in several ways. The CRMA will legislate for shorter and simplified permitting processes for European critical raw materials extraction projects. In addition, the CRMA will provide the framework for the designation by the European Commission and Member States of projects deemed 'Strategic Projects'. Such designated projects will receive political and financial support to enable the projects to reach production in the shortest timeframes possible, contributing to the fulfilment of the green transition and affording the European Union a degree of critical raw materials independence. As Europe's largest hard-rock lithium mining and processing project, the Cinovec Project is applying for and is expected to receive Strategic Project designation under the CRMA. The Project has already been granted Strategic Process status under the EU's Just Transition Fund.
Cinovec Lithium Project
Geomet s.r.o. controls the mineral exploration licenses awarded by the Czech State over the Cinovec Lithium Project. Geomet has been granted a preliminary mining permit by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Industry. The company is owned 49% by EMH and 51% by CEZ a.s. through its wholly owned subsidiary, SDAS. Cinovec hosts a globally significant hard rock lithium deposit with a total Measured Mineral Resource of 53.3Mt at 0.48% Li2O, Indicated Mineral Resource of 360.2Mt at 0.44% Li2O and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 294.7Mt at 0.39% Li2O containing a combined 7.39 million tonnes Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (refer to the Company's ASX/AIM release dated 13 October 2021) (Resource Upgrade at Cinovec Lithium Project).
An initial Probable Ore Reserve of 34.5Mt at 0.65% Li2O reported 4 July 2017 (Cinovec Maiden Ore Reserve - Further Information) has been declared to cover the first 20 years mining at an output of 22,500tpa of lithium carbonate (refer to the Company's ASX/AIM release dated 11 July 2018) (Cinovec Production Modelled to Increase to 22,500tpa of Lithium Carbonate). This makes Cinovec the largest hard rock lithium deposit in Europe and the fifth largest non-brine deposit in the world. The deposit has previously had over 400,000 tonnes of ore mined as a trial sub-level open stope underground mining operation. On 19 January 2022, EMH provided an update to the 2019 PFS Update. It confirmed the deposit is amenable to bulk underground mining (refer to the Company's ASX/AIM release dated 19 January 2022) (PFS Update delivers outstanding results). Metallurgical test-work has produced both battery-grade lithium hydroxide and battery-grade lithium carbonate at excellent recoveries. In February 2023 DRA Global Limited ('DRA') was appointed to complete the Definitive Feasibility Study ('DFS'). Cinovec is centrally located for European end-users and is well serviced by infrastructure, with a sealed road adjacent to the deposit, rail lines located 5 km north and 8 km south of the deposit, and an active 22 kV transmission line running to the historic mine. The deposit lies in an active mining region. The economic viability of Cinovec has been enhanced by the recent push for supply security of critical raw materials for battery production, including the strong increase in demand for lithium globally, and within Europe specifically, as demonstrated by the European Union's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).
COMPETENT PERSONS
Information in this announcement relating to the FECAB metallurgical testwork is based on technical data compiled or supervised by Mr Walter Madel, a full-time employee of Geomet s.r.o a subsidiary of the Company. Mr Madel is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AUSIMM) and a mineral processing professional with over 27 years of experience in metallurgical process and project development, process design, project implementation and operations. Of his experience, at least 5 years have been specifically focused on hard rock pegmatite Lithium processing development. Mr Madel consents to the inclusion in the announcement of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Madel is a participant in the long-term incentive plan of the Company. Information in this release that relates to exploration results is based on information compiled by Dr Vojtech Sesulka. Dr Sesulka is a Certified Professional Geologist (certified by the European Federation of Geologists), a member of the Czech Association of Economic Geologist, and a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Dr Sesulka has provided his prior written consent to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Dr Sesulka is an independent consultant with more than 10 years working for the EMH or Geomet companies. Dr Sesulka does not own any shares in the Company and is not a participant in any short- or long-term incentive plans of the Company. Mr Grant Harman (B.Sc Chem Eng, B.Com) is an independent consultant with in excess of 7 years of lithium chemicals experience. Mr Harman supervised and reviewed the metallurgical test work and the process design criteria and flow sheets in relation to the LCP. Mr Harman is a participant in the long-term incentive plan of the Company. The information in this release that relates to Mineral Resources and Exploration Targets is based on, and fairly reflects, information and supporting documentation prepared by Mr Lynn Widenbar. Mr Widenbar, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australasian Institute of Geoscientists, is a full-time employee of Widenbar and Associates and produced the estimate based on data and geological information supplied by European Metals. Mr Widenbar has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity that he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Minerals Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Widenbar has provided his prior written consent to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on his information in the form and context that the information appears. Mr Widenbar does not own any shares in the Company and is not a participant in any short- or long-term incentive plans of the Company. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcement and, in the case of estimates of Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves, that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the relevant market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Information included in this release constitutes forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward looking words such as 'may', 'will', 'expect', 'intend', 'plan', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'continue', and 'guidance', or other similar words and may include, without limitation, statements regarding plans, strategies andobjectives of management, anticipated production or construction commencement dates and expected costs or production outputs. Forward looking statements inherently involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the company's actual results, performance, and achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements. Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which the company operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation. Forward looking statements are based on the company and its management's good faith assumptions relating to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect the company's business and operations in the future. The company does not give any assurance that the assumptions on which forward looking statements are based will prove to be correct, or that the company's business or operations will not be affected in any material manner by these or other factors not foreseen or foreseeable by the company or management or beyond the company's control. Although the company attempts and has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that could cause actual results, performance, achievements or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of the company. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Forward looking statements in these materials speak only at the date of issue. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant stock exchange listing rules, in providing this information the company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward looking statements or to advise of any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Contact:
Keith Coughlan
Executive Chairman
Tel: +61 (0) 419 996 333
Email: keith@europeanmet.com
DRAGON MINING LIMITED 
