FIRST BAUXITE CORPORATION ("First Bauxite" or the "Company") (TSX
VENTURE:FBX)(FRANKFURT:FBI)(BERLIN:FBI) is pleased to announce the
completion of the update its Bonasika Bauxite Project Feasibility
Study and to report significantly improved results by the inclusion
of the Bonasika 6 and 7 deposits in the economic analysis. The
Company has been working for the past year on optimizing and
updating the Bonasika Feasibility Study announced last year, to
mine refractory grade bauxite and produce 100,000 tonnes per year
of bauxite sinter from its 100% owned Bonasika Project in Guyana,
South America. The recently completed Bankable Feasibility Study
Update ("BFSU") was prepared by Met-Chem Canada Inc. ("Met-Chem")
under the supervision of G Mining Services ("GMining"), both of
Montreal, Canada who were supported by a group of independent
consultants with specialist expertise in critical sections of the
project and First Bauxite personnel.
In September 2010, First Bauxite issued a NI43-101 compliant
Technical Report titled "Feasibility Study of the Bonasika Project,
Guyana" ("BFS") also prepared by Met-Chem, which presented the
results of a feasibility study to mine refractory grade bauxite ore
from Bonasika 1, Bonasika 2 and Bonasika 5 deposits. During the
course of the 2010 study, additional investigations and drilling
were conducted on both Bonasika 6 and Bonasika 7 deposits, formerly
known as Upper and Lower Waratilla-Cartwright. The results showed
that Bonasika 7 is a large deposit with reserves that more than
double the mine life of Bonasika 1, 2 & 5 combined. The
Bonasika 7 ore, although buried under thicker overburden, is better
in quality and can be mined selectively. Further, iron content is
sufficiently low to negate the need for magnetic separation.
Consequently, First Bauxite has updated the 2010 BFS to include the
Bonasika 6 and 7 resources and reserves in the economic analysis,
and to change the Mine Plan to commence mining Bonasika 7 deposit
first. The annual production target remains at 100,000 tonnes of
sintered bauxite, trade marked (GUYSIN®).
The key benchmarks of the improved results are listed in Table 1
below:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2011 Feasibility
Study Update 2010 Feasibility VARIANCE/
Benchmarks ("BFSU") Study ("BFS") COMMENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
GEOLOGY & MINING: Start of mining at Bonasika 7 deposit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of 5 3 Bon 6 & 7 now in
Deposits mine plan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mineral 13,089,000 tonnes 7,528,000 tonnes Adding Bon 7
Resource (Bon 6 included in increased Resource
(Measured & 2010) +74%
Indicated)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mineral 11,098,000 tonnes 2,504,000 tonnes Bon 6 & 7 increased
Reserve (Bon 6 was not Reserves
(Proven & included) +343%
Probable)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Better quality 0.9% 2.1% Lower iron is a
bauxite (Bon 7 average) (Bon 1, 2 & 5 highly desirous
Fe2O3 (content average) refractory quality
%)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
High grade Bonasika 7 hosts Bon 1, 2 & 5 Selective mining of
bauxite zone Direct Feed Bauxite No high grade zone high grade zone at
("DFB") zone Bon 7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life of Mines Bonasika 1, 2, 5, 6 Bonasika 1, 2, & 5 Bon 6 & 7 added
& 7 44.5 years 8.5 years + 36 years
424% improvement
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROCESS: Simplified with better recovery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recovery: 48% 33% 45% improvement
from raw ore
mined to final
product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Magnetic No magnetic Mag separation Defer mag. sep.
separation separation for circuit required for circuit costs for 36
circuit Bonasika 6 & 7 Bonasika 1, 2, & 5 years ($10,786,000)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ECONOMICS: Improved Investment Returns
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Results Financial Results
are for Bonasika 6 are for Bonasika 1,
and 7 2 & 5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPV (before $157.1 million $41.4 million 279% improvement
tax @ 7.5%
discount rate)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPV (after tax $123.6 million $19.4 million 537% improvement
@ 7.5%
discount rate)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Flow $732.5 million $115.3 million 535% improvement
(undiscounted
before tax)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Flow $556.6 million $73.9 million 653% improvement
(undiscounted
after tax)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
IRR (before 18.7% 16.2% 15.5% improvement
tax)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
IRR (after 17.7% 12.2% 45% improvement
tax)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payback Period 5 Years 4.5 Years
(undiscounted)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fuel Price US$85.00 / barrel US$80.00 / barrel + US$5.00 / barrel
Assumption crude crude crude
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capex (direct) $82.7 million $78.6 million 5.2% increase
(US$)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capex $41.2 million $34.2 million 20% increase
(indirect)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capex $36.9 million $7.5 million 392% increase
(sustaining)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capex (Total) $160.8 million $120.3 million 34% increase
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Production US$211.04 per tonne US$182.29 per tonne 16% increase
Costs per
tonne of
finished
product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(All dollar figures in US Dollars unless otherwise stated)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hilbert N Shields, CEO and Company Director, stated: "We now
have a vastly superior project, one which is more financeable as
well as one providing improved economic returns for all
stakeholders. The enhancement is there despite the rise in
Operating Costs resulting from global increases in fuel cost and
the elevation in Capital Costs caused by some deterioration of US
currency versus the Euro. The declaration of more than five (5)
times the tonnage and mine life identified in this study over the
previous should send a strong message to both shareholders and
customers that First Bauxite will be a major supplier of refractory
bauxite well through the first half of this century."
FEASIBILITY STUDY UPDATE
Calcined or sintered refractory bauxite is an important
industrial mineral used in the manufacturing of thermally,
chemically and/or physically resistant materials (refractories).
Refractory products are used as linings of furnaces, or other high
temperature vessels, wherever industrial processes are conducted at
severely elevated temperatures, and/or need protection from
corrosive environments. As a result, all pyro-metallurgy for the
winning of metals from ores (steel, aluminum, copper, nickel, etc),
the manufacture of ceramic ware, fired building bricks, cement and
glass as well as the cracking of petroleum to its basic
constituents are reliant on refractory products.
The BFSU is based on the NI 43-101 Compliant Mineral Resource
and Mineral Reserve estimates of the Bonasika 1, 2, 5, 6 & 7
deposits. The BFSU defines and confirms the economic viability of a
bauxite mining and sintering operation based on sequential mining
of the Bonasika deposits. The sinter plant production level will be
100,000 tonnes per year of sintered bauxite finished product, which
will be marketed under the trade marked name of GUYSIN®. Mining
will begin at the Bonasika 7 deposit, which has a mine life of 22
years. Both the wash plant and the sinter plant will be located at
Sand Hills, on the west bank of the navigable Demerara River.
The BFSU considered all aspects related to the development of
the Project, including in-situ geology, mining, metallurgy,
processing and engineering, economics, marketing and logistics,
social and other environmental considerations.
To view Figure 1, please click on the following link:
http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/f105.pdf
Contributors
The BFSU is based on technical information generated by
Met-Chem, a number of other independent consulting firms, with
complementary specific areas of expertise and supporting input from
First Bauxite personnel. Table 2 lists the responsible contributors
to the various sections of the BFSU:
Table 2: Bankable Feasibility Study Update Contributors
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPONENT RESPONSIBILITY,
CONTRIBUTION
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Project History, Property Holdings, Legal and First Bauxite Corporation
Regulatory
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geology, Geologic Interpretation, Drilling, Aluminpro Geological
Sampling, Mineral Resource Modeling and Estimate Consultants ("Aluminpro")
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mineral Reserves, Pit Design, Mine Planning Met-Chem and GMining
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mineral Processing, Metallurgical Testing Met-Chem
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Briquetting and Sintering Plant Design Met-Chem and Polysius AG
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geotechnical and Hydrological Studies Golder Associates
("Golder")
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Infrastructure Design and Estimates GMining
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rejects Pond and Estimates Golder
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environment, Permitting & Community Environment Management
Consultants ("EMC") and
SENES Consultants Ltd
("SENES")
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refractory Bauxite and Refractory Products Market CRU Strategies ("CRU")
Study
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAPEX, OPEX, Met-Chem and GMining
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Analysis GMining,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Implementation Plan Met-Chem and GMining
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highlights from the BFSU include:
-- Exploration supervised by Aluminpro on the five (5) Bonasika deposits
demonstrated the existence of approximately 12.8 million tonnes of
Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources.
-- The Sand Hills processing plant is designed for an annual production
level of 100,000 tonnes of sintered refractory bauxite, trademarked
Guysin®.
-- The total Capital Costs for the Project (Bonasika 7 and Bonasika 6) is
estimated at $160.8 million, of which 36.9 million is sustaining
capital.
-- The direct operating costs per tonne of Guysin® are estimated at
$211.04.
-- The financial analysis of the project has demonstrated that, at an
average sale price of $475/tonne, the IRR is 18.7% (before taxes) and
17.7% after taxes.
-- The payback period is estimated at five (5) years (undiscounted).
-- Selective mining of the Bonasika 7 deposit high grade core produces two
(2) separate concentrates that can be blended under controlled
conditions to achieve a chemically consistent sinter plant feed, reduce
wash plant capacity and improve recovery:
-- Direct Feed Bauxite ("DFB") material that can be directly fed to the
blend point after proper crushing and thus by-passes the wash plant;
-- Regular Grade Bauxite ("RGB") material that will be upgraded by
crushing and washing, then re-combined with crushed DFB at the blend
point ahead of sintering to produce a consistent quality,
homogenized sinter plant feed.
-- The independent market study concluded that:
-- First Bauxite production will provide consumers a new supply source
of premium product;
-- The global demand for bauxite is likely to grow steadily over the
next 10 to 15 years; and
-- The nominal and real refractory grade bauxite prices are expected to
rise over the next ten (10) years.
Exploration Drilling & Mineral Resources
The Bonasika 1, 2, and 5 deposits, within the Bonasika Mining
License, and the Bonasika 6 and 7 deposits, within the Waratilla
Cartwright Prospecting License, are part of a cluster known as the
Essequibo Group in the northerly half of the Guyana Coastal Bauxite
Belt, and are located between the Demerara and Essequibo rivers.
The Bonasika deposits were historically drilled by DEMBA, a local
Guyanese subsidiary of ALCAN; this historical drilling for which
excellent drill logs were recovered, served to guide the sonic
drilling programs of First Bauxite.
A NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource statement has been
prepared for all five of the Bonasika deposits; see Table 3 below.
At Bonasika 7 a selectively minable high grade 'core horizon' was
identified within the refractory grade bauxite. Upon determination
that this core constituted at least 40% of the deposit volume it
was decided to extract it separately from regular grade and move it
to concentrate storage as Direct Feed Bauxite ("DFB").
Table 3: Unwashed Mineral Resource Statement for Bonasika 1, 2, 5, 6 & 7
Deposits
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonnage Al2O3 SiO2 Fe2O3 TiO2 LOI
Resources ('000 t) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Measured 1,443 55.8 11.5 2.0 1.9 28.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicated 90 53.9 13.7 2.5 1.9 27.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal 1,533 55.7 11.7 2.0 1.9 28.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Measured 342 54.7 13.5 1.7 1.9 27.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicated 90 54.9 13.4 1.8 1.8 27.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal 432 54.8 13.5 1.7 1.9 27.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicated 645 55.1 12.8 2.0 1.8 27.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicated (WCPL) 4,596 58.9 7.9 1.0 2.3 29.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicated (BML) 322 58.9 7.0 0.9 2.4 30.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
RGB Indicated 3,174 55.5 12.2 1.0 2.3 27.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DFB Indicated 2,387 60.8 3.0 0.7 2.7 31.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mineral Reserves
Mineral Reserves were determined for the Bonasika 6 and 7
deposits, with emphasis placed on the Bonasika 7, where mining will
take place for the first 22 years; Bonasika 6 could be developed
thereafter to continue production for another 14 years. The
Bonasika 1, 2 and 5 reserves were previously reported on and
presented in the BFS; they are now scheduled to be mined at a later
stage.
The global Bonasika Project Mineral Reserves estimate including
Bonasika 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 is presented in Table 4 below. The
location of the deposits relative to each other and the Sand Hills
plant is shown in Figure 1 above.
Table 4: Bonasika Mineral Reserves
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore Al2O3 SiO2 Fe2O3 TiO2 LOI
('000 t) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proven 1,398 54.6 12.6 2.15 1.9 27.8
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Probable 63 52.7 14.6 2.93 1.9 27.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total 1,461 54.5 12.7 2.18 1.9 27.7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 2
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proven 330 53.9 14.8 1.77 1.9 27.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Probable 76 54.0 14.6 1.93 1.8 27.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total 406 53.9 14.8 1.80 1.9 27.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proven 0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Probable 637 54.2 13.9 2.08 1.7 27.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total 637 54.2 13.9 2.08 1.7 27.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proven 0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Probable 4,010 59.0 7.8 1.00 2.3 29.4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total 4,010 59.0 7.8 1.00 2.3 29.4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proven 0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.0 0.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Probable 4,584 58.3 7.4 0.86 2.5 29.8
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total 4,584 58.3 7.4 0.86 2.5 29.8
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BONASIKA TOTAL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROVEN 1,728 54.5 13.0 2.08 1.9 27.6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROBABLE 9,370 58.3 8.1 1.02 2.4 29.4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RESERVES 11,098 57.7 8.9 1.19 2.3 29.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mine Plan
The production target for the Project is 100,000 tonnes of final
product (sintered bauxite) annually. In order to meet this target,
the mining operation is required to supply 208,500 tonnes of dry
run of mine ore from Bonasika 7 deposit and 291,500 tonnes of dry
run of mine ore from Bonasika 6, annually. The Mine Plan is based
on mining starting at the Bonasika 7 deposit.
The mining method selected is conventional truck and shovel for
both overburden stripping and ore mining. The shallow pit depths,
low mining volumes and soft ground conditions favor a fleet of
backhoe oriented hydraulic excavators and small rigid frame mining
haul trucks. Drilling and blasting is not required, however dozers
will be equipped to rip the ore to assist the excavators. Bauxite
will be hauled roughly 21 km to the Sand Hills plant site using the
same truck fleet.
The Bonasika 7 pit is approximately 1,700 m long with an average
width of 900 m. It is important to note that the Bonasika 7 bauxite
outcrops at surface, in the south west corner of the deposit,
however, the overburden thickness averages 30 m with a range of 0 m
to 58 m. The thickness of the bauxite zone averages 3.9 m, reaching
a maximum of 7.7 m. The DFB within this zone averages 2.6 m
reaching a maximum of 6.7 m.
The Bonasika 6 pit is approximately 1,600 m long with an average
width of 800 m. The overburden thickness averages 39 m with a range
of 18 m to 58 m. The thickness of the bauxite averages 3.8 m,
reaching a maximum of 7.7 m. Met-Chem completed a 14 year mine plan
for Bonasika 6 that achieves an annual target of 100,000 tonnes of
sintered bauxite. Since the deposit was not modelled with DFB, the
current plan calls for 100 % of the bauxite to be fed to the wash
plant.
Given that bauxite ore concentrate will carry a loss-on-ignition
(LOI) of 31.5% it will be necessary to feed the kilns with 146,000
tonnes of blended ore to recover 100,000 tonnes of bauxite sinter.
The sinter plant feed target is for the blend of washed RGB
concentrate and crushed DFB ore to carry a maximum SiO2 content of
4.1%. This need to meet the silica level in the blended sinter
plant feed, while maintaining a proper balance with stripping and
target grade recovery, has been the over-riding parameter governing
the mining sequence from Bonasika 7.
During pre-production, waste will be stripped to uncover one
year's worth of ore requirement and 25,000 tonnes or two months
equivalent of sinter plant feed will be mined and stocked at Sand
Hills. A portion of this waste will be used to supply construction
material for roads and foundations.
Based on extensive mining experience in Guyana, GMining has
selected the Komatsu HD325 as the mine haul truck, complemented by
the CAT 374 hydraulic excavator for loading. An analysis of cost
and operating parameters conducted by Met-Chem supports this
selection. Rounding out the equipment fleet are dozers, excavators,
wheel loaders, graders and other support vehicles.
The mine will operate on a 3 shift by 5 days schedule, with ore
mining on day shift only and the work force averaged over the life
of the mine, will be 83 employees.
During the mining operation, all water that infiltrates the pit
will be captured and removed under a mine dewatering plan developed
by GMining and based on Golder Associate's Preliminary Hydrological
Assessment.
Metallurgical Testing & Ore Processing
Ore processing area can be divided in two (2) sections, the wash
plant and the sinter plant. Located at Sand Hills, the wash plant
is designed to perform size reduction and lower the silica content
of the RGB by washing to produce a washed bauxite concentrate with
reduced silica. The sinter plant will perform drying, fine
grinding, briquetting, sintering, crushing, storing and finally
loading of the final product on ocean going vessels.
Bonasika 6 & 7 bauxites are of higher quality compared to
Bonasika 1, 2 and 5; they have higher alumina grades and contain
less of the iron contaminants considered deleterious in the
production of high quality refractory products. To validate and
optimize the wash plant process flow-sheet, a specific testing
program for Bonasika 7 ore was commissioned. This program tested
all the process steps envisaged, that is washing, crushing and
grinding, briquetting and sintering. Several additional tests were
conducted to compare predicted plant feed size distribution with
feed conditions and to optimize flow sheet and guide final
equipment selection. To confirm the flow sheet, a representative,
composite sample of Bonasika 7 ore was processed to assess the
performance of the designed circuit to yield the required product
specifications and to attest that grinding, briquetting and
sintering operations would perform as predicted.
The wash plant will operate for 245 days per year, on a 3 shifts
by 5 days per week schedule, while the sintering plant will operate
for 344 days per year, on a 24 x 7 basis.
Infrastructure
The Bonasika Mine site and the Sand Hills site are situated
within 70 km of Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana. That said,
both sites are isolated from significant population centers and are
without services such as roads, potable water and electricity.
Infrastructure development to support the Bonasika Project
includes:
Off-Site Infrastructure:
-- Soesdyke: Barge roll on / roll off ramp in a fenced compound on the east
bank of the Demerara River with paved road access to Georgetown;
Mine -Site Infrastructure:
-- Haul Road: 21 km between Sand Hills and Bonasika 7 mine;
-- Mine office building;
-- Diesel power generation plant for office and pit dewatering;
-- Fuel storage and distribution.
Sand Hills Infrastructure:
-- HFO Power generation plant, six 1.6 MW units for an installed capacity
of 9.6 MW;
-- Permanent camp accommodations (capacity of 72) complete with kitchen;
-- Mine equipment maintenance facilities complete with warehouse;
-- Office building;
-- Assay laboratory;
-- Fuel storage and distribution;
-- Water pumping station, piping network and storage;
-- Water treatment, distribution and storage;
-- Wharf complete with roll on roll off ramp.
Rejects & Water Management
A geotechnical assessment has been carried out including the
design of a sedimentation pond system to manage the rejects stream
from the wash plant. The pond design is based on 62,500 tpy of
total rejects from which 12,700 tpy of cement grade bauxite can be
scavenged leaving net 49,800 tpy to the sedimentation pond.
Rejects produced at the Bonasika and Sand Hill sites are sterile
as the waste material is composed mainly of fine clay, unrecovered
bauxite and trace amounts of iron oxide. Beneficiation is by sizing
and simple washing with river water. No chemical processes or
additives are used. Surface water drainage from waste and ore
stockpiles will be directed to appropriately sized sedimentation
ponds with outlets to natural drainage channels following adequate
resident storage time to meet discharge criteria.
Environmental & Permitting
The environmental legal framework governing a mining project in
Guyana is formed from a combination of regional, national and
international policies, regulations and guidelines. Also sought for
the project is compliance with the Equator Principles and World
Bank Environmental Health and Safety ("EHS") guidelines, all of
which have been considered in the design parameters for
environmental management. Mining and processing will be conducted
in a manner that will result in minimal land disturbance with no
adverse impact long-term. Operations at Bonasika will be
state-of-art and superior to historical bauxite practice in Guyana.
Project monitoring will ensure that discharge water quality meets
acceptable criteria, progressive pit reclamation is timely, dust
and noise emissions are minimized.
The mining operations are located in forested areas that have
been extensively logged in the past. The Project footprint will be
minimized to protect all natural biological resources. A small
amount of merchantable timber will be removed during the mine
preparation and donated to the timber license holder. The haul road
from Sand Hills will be built to a minimum width to safely convey
workers and to transport ore to the Sand Hills processing site. The
selection of power generation at the mine-site eliminates the power
line and reduces road clearance requirements. Using guidance
obtained in community consultations, the Project is designed to
accommodate the needs and traditional activities of local
communities, which are remote from the mining activity. Existing
residents in the neighborhood of the Sand Hills processing facility
will be provided electricity and clean water supplies as well as a
safe access route around the process plant.
The processing and generator installations are designed to
control noise levels and dust emissions below mandated thresholds.
Rotary kilns, traditionally used in Guyana for sintering bauxite,
are replaced by pressurized shaft kilns, known for fuel efficiency
and low dust emissions. All collected fines and dust will be
returned to product while cooling water will be reused in the wash
plant. All process water will be directed to the rejects settling
ponds before decantation to the natural drainage system.
A monitoring program will be implemented to collect data
essential to the environmental management of the Project and to
fulfill reporting requirements. The program will set sampling
frequencies for key parameters at a level that will lead to early
detection of variances within the operation and ensure compliance
with the established norms.
At project termination, small portions of the open pits will be
allowed to fill with water to form small artificial lakes.
Overburden piles and rejects ponds will be covered with stored
soils from top soil stripping, then stabilized by vegetation growth
enhanced by seeding and minimal fertilization. Culverts along the
haul road will be removed to restore natural drainage. The access
road will be returned to the Government of Guyana for local use.
The closure plan will ensure the return of the land to traditional
uses with no long-term legacies.
Project Schedule
A detailed project implementation schedule including and
describing all activities necessary to commissioning of the
facilities has been developed in the BFSU. Realization of this
schedule will require the procurement of equipment having extended
lead times and should preferably be done during the pre-detailed
engineering stage. The company intends to complete and commission
the project over an 18-month time frame following a pre-detailed
engineering period of 3 months.
Production Parameters, Capital & Operating Costs
The principal production parameters and Capital and Operating
cost estimates are shown in the, Table 5 below. The BFSU cost
estimates were evaluated at an accuracy of +/-15% and include a
contingency of 11.5%. Electricity generation cost was estimated at
US$0.137 per kWh and fuel costs were based on an average crude oil
reference price of US$85 per barrel. Total workforce during normal
operation is estimated to be 209 employees.
Table 5: Project Principal Life of Mine Production and Cost
parameters (Bonasika 7 and 6)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life of Mine Production
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore Mined 8.6 million tonnes
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waste & Overburden Mined 114.6 million tonnes
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strip Ratio 13.3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Production Rates
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mining Rate 240,000 tonnes per year
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mine Life
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 7 22 years
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bonasika 6 14 years
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Mine Life 36 years
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Recovery
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Production of sintered bauxite 100,000 tpa
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Costs (USD)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mining 11.3 million
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore Processing 43.8 million
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rejects and Water Management 1.4 million
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Infrastructure and Power 26.2 million
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total Direct Costs 82.7 million
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total Indirect Costs 41.2 million
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub-Total Sustaining Costs 36.9 million
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Capital 160.8 million
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Life of Mine Operating Costs (USD)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mining (average over life) $46.30 per tonne of finished product
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ore Processing $132.99 per tonne of finished product
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Infrastructure and Services $5.88 per tonne of finished product
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
General and Administration $25.87 per tonne of finished product
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Cost per tonne of product $211.04 per tonne
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next Steps
The most important next steps include: securing off-take
contracts, implementing a project financing plan (both activities
in progress) and commissioning detailed engineering and early
infrastructure development.
Yannis Tsitos, President and Company Director, commended: "The
BSFU results provide the pillars for the future development of the
Bonasika Refractory Bauxite Project and they are a significant step
for the corporation to achieve one of its key strategic objectives;
to become the next large, long life, low cost producer of this
unique industrial commodity."
About First Bauxite
First Bauxite Corporation (TSX VENTURE:FBX) is a Canadian
natural resources company engaged in the exploration and
development of bauxite deposits, through resource discovery and
mining within a niche industrial market. The company has its
head-office in Vancouver and its current assets in Guyana, South
America and is managed by experienced geoscientists and business
development professionals with worldwide experience in the
exploration and mining business across a number of mineral
commodities. The mission of First Bauxite is to become a near term,
medium size producer and supplier of high quality refractory grade
sintered (calcined) bauxite. First Bauxite controls a large land
package in Guyana's historical coastal bauxite belt, including the
Bonasika Mining License, the Waratilla-Cartwright Prospecting
License and the Essequibo PGGS License. The licenses cover deposits
which host near surface high quality refractory grade bauxite. The
Company has completed a Feasibility Study over the Bonasika 1, 2
and 5 deposits and announced its results on July 29, 2010. In
addition, the Company has just completed a Feasibility Study Update
over the Bonasika 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 deposits and announced its
results on October 6, 2011. The Feasibility Studies define and
confirm the economic viability of an operation based on sequential
mining of the five (5) bauxite deposits located on the Licenses,
the construction of a washing plant facility, of a sintering plant
and load out facilities at Sand Hills. The Operation will produce
100,000 metric tons per year of sintered bauxite final product. The
Company also in 2010 acquired all of the issued and outstanding
shares of Bauxite Corporation of Guyana Inc. ("BCGI") and
accordingly, 100% of its interest in the contiguous Tarakuli and
Tarakuli North-West Prospecting Licenses in Northeast Guyana, which
host an historical inferred bauxite resource of significant size
and quality. For further information on First Bauxite Corporation,
please visit our corporate website at www.firstbauxite.com.
Qualified Person's Statement
Mr. Daniel Houde, Eng., of Met-Chem Canada Inc., a qualified
person under NI 43-101, is independent of the Corporation and has
reviewed the scientific and technical information in this news
release and found it conform to the Feasibility Study Report.
A NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report will be filed on the
Company's website and on SEDAR within 45 days.
On behalf of The Board of Directors of First Bauxite
Corporation
Ioannis (Yannis) Tsitos, President & Director
Hilbert N. Shields, CEO & Director
This document contains certain forward looking statements which
involve known and unknown risks, delays, and uncertainties not
under the Company's control which may cause actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially
different from the results, performance or expectation implied by
these forward looking statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Contacts: First Bauxite Corporation Ioannis (Yannis) Tsitos
President & Director 604-806-0916 604-806-0956
(FAX)www.firstbauxite.com
First Bauxite Corporation (TSXV:FBX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Aug 2024 to Sep 2024
First Bauxite Corporation (TSXV:FBX)
Historical Stock Chart
From Sep 2023 to Sep 2024
