DJ Centamin Egypt OKs $216M Sukari Gold Project Development
Last Update: 4:38 AM ET Feb 19, 2007
LONDON, Feb 19, 2007 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) -- Edited Press Release
Centamin Egypt Monday formally approved the development of the Sukari Gold Project in Egypt following the completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS").
The Base Case DFS concluded that a 4mtpa plant producing on average 200,000 ounces per annum, over 15 years of mining, is economically robust.
Total Capital Construction costs are estimated at US$216 million with average cash operating costs of US$290/oz (inclusive of 3% royalty) over the 15-year mining period.
The Sukari Gold Project will be the first modern gold mine operation in Egypt.
The 8.26moz resource is not closed off and a 10 rig drilling program is ongoing. Significant resource growth expected and potential to increase future production profile
.
Recent Drilling confirms growth 40 million @ 8.65g/t, 30 million @ 3.56g/t, 138 million @ 1.35g/t.
The Board of Directors of Centamin has received the results of the Base Case DFS, is pleased with the economic robustness of the Project and has committed to fast tracking its development.
Centamin has begun to assemble an owners' team to manage the project's development. The industrial base in Egypt is well developed and all services expected to be required during construction are available.
An overall schedule has been developed covering all phases of the project:
Project Go-Ahead Decision Feb 2007
Project Finance Q2, 2007
Commence Site Works Q3, 2007
Commence Tailings Storage Facility Q3, 2007
Kori Kollo Plant Arrives Egypt Q3, 2007
Commence Mining Pre-Strip Q4, 2007
Commissioning and Production Q3, 2008
Construction capital:
US$
Process Plant* $150.5M
Mining Fleet $48.8M
Owners Costs (including pre-strip) $16.5M
Admin/HSE $0.7M
Total $216.5M
*includes a contingency of $13.7 million
The capital estimate covers the design and construction of the process plant, together with on site and off site infrastructure requirements, including power, water supply and support services.
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