Wolf Receives Additional £10 Million Funding
Specialty metals producer, Wolf Minerals (ASX: WLF, AIM: WLFE) (Wolf or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on the Company's financing arrangements to support short term working capital as it progresses towards long term self-sustaining operations at the Drakelands open pit mine (Drakelands).
Highlights
· Existing Bridge Facility increased from £45 million to £55 million.
· Operating turnaround plan is delivering improved plant performance.
· Tungsten price increases to US$280 per mtu.
The Company is pleased to announce that it has reached agreement with Resource Capital Fund VI L.P. (RCF VI) to amend the existing bridge facility in place with RCF VI (as announced on 24 October 2016 and 28 June 2017) (the Bridge Facility) pursuant to which RCF VI has agreed to provide the Company with an additional £10 million.
The funds advanced under the Bridge Facility to date have been used to progress the operating turnaround plan, including improved performance in:
· the Primary DMS circuit, with all phases now complete.
· the refinery, with first phase delivering an increase in throughput and availability. The final phase is scheduled for November.
· the gravity fines circuit to improve recoveries and the grade of pre-concentrate presented to the refinery, scheduled for November.
· maintenance activities, including implementation of a new system with associated process and work flow improvements.
The operating turnaround plan remains on schedule as the Company builds towards commercial production and design performance.
In addition to the ongoing improvements in operating performance, the price of tungsten has continued to increase from US$269 in August 2017 to US$280 per mtu in October 2017. The tungsten market remains in tight supply of raw material whilst demand for finished goods is improving, indicating continued price support at these levels.
The Company will continue to review its long term capital requirements as the operating turnaround plan progresses and further value adding opportunities and cost reduction initiatives are investigated.
Wolf Interim Managing Director, Richard Lucas, commented:
"The operating turnaround plan is delivering improved processing plant performance and is also building knowledge and experience across the business. When combined with improving tungsten market conditions, this provides an exciting outlook for 2018. The Company acknowledges RCF VI's continued support, which is testament to their confidence in Drakelands and the future success of Wolf."
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