https://www.miningweekly.com

Emmerson bumps up resources at Morocco project to 500Mt

28th October 2019

By: Marleny Arnoldi

Deputy Editor Online

     

Font size: - +

London-listed potash project developer Emmerson has announced an updated mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Khemisset potash project, in Morocco, indicating a 72% increase in total resource to 537-million tonnes, grading about 9.24% potassium oxide.

Based on a 2018 scoping study, the Khemisset project has a minimum mine life of 20 years and can deliver average yearly earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of $236-million.

A feasibility study is on track for completion in the first half of next year.

The company is examining the potential for a Phase 2 expansion to increase production by 50%, which would substantially improve economics.

Additionally, Emmerson is considering the potential to convert some muriate of potash to sulphate of potash, which could also enhance project economics.

“Following a successful drilling campaign, it is pleasing to see the overall MRE tonnages increase by over 70%, to more than half-a-billion tonnes. The recalculation of the economic cut-off grade for Khemisset shows the project can be profitable to a grade as low as 5.2% potassium oxide and, as a result, we continue to believe there is strong potential to increase the mine life at Khemisset.

“The updated MRE is a further validation of the world-class prospects for the project,” CEO Hayden Locke noted in a statement on Monday.

He added that the significant proportion of the MRE within the higher-confidence indicated resource category would support the company’s ongoing discussions with various potential debt financing institutions which included an indicative proposal for up to $230-million of project finance debt from a major European commercial bank.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION