Geomega Resources Inc. (“
Geomega” or the
“
Corporation”) (TSX.V: GMA) (OTC: GOMRF), a
developer of clean technologies for the mining, refining, and
recycling of rare earths and other critical materials, is pleased
to provide shareholders with a corporate update. Furthermore,
shareholders are invited to join the management virtually at the
Annual General Assembly which takes place today at 10am ET by
registering here.
Financing AchievementsThe last
12 months have been very successful for the Corporation in raising
funds and leveraging our technical knowledge and expertise as more
funds are being deployed towards critical and strategic metals,
mining and industrial waste reduction and decarbonization. A total
of $6.98 million was raised including $2.51 million coming from
various equity instruments (two private placements, warrants and
options exercises). The remaining $4.47 million are non-dilutive
and are coming from various government grants and collaboration
with our partner on the Bauxite Residue project. The R&D
projects for which these funds were raised are expected to be
completed in 2024. The Corporation will continue to leverage its
technologies and evaluate other opportunities for its deployment
which could bring new industrial partners, additional non-dilutive
funding and future projects in order to grow shareholder value.
Human ResourcesOver the last 12
months, the technical team of Innord, the private subsidiary of
Geomega and the R&D arm of the Corporation has grown
significantly and almost doubled. The rapid growth came during a
challenging period in terms of hirings in the industry. Expanding
the team was important in order to bring the engineering for the
magnet recycling demonstration plant inhouse and to complete the
work required based on the funded R&D projects. This hiring
process was challenging and slow and continues to be the main cause
of delays for our various projects as the Corporation deals with an
annual turnover rate of over 50%, significantly higher than the
norm. Various changes within the Corporation and several hirings
within the support team in the last 6 months are expected to
improve this metric for the upcoming year. More hirings are
expected in the coming months to cope with the entire workload of
the ongoing projects and the demonstration plant. Growth and high
turnover rate have a significant impact as well on project
management and team efficiency. Consequently, the Corporation has
recently implemented a new project management software which will
help streamline activities and increase efficiency.
The Corporation’s success in raising funds for
new projects translates into more technical knowledge which will
help further leverage our expertise and accelerate technologies
development in the future. Having raised over $530K per technical
team employee over the last 12 months demonstrates the success of
the team and further shows the need to increase our technical
team.
Magnet Recycling Demonstration
PlantThe magnet recycling project has been progressing
despite the post-COVID challenges facing the manufacturing sector.
Although the project remains behind schedule of the initial
estimates from 2019 and 2020, the diligent engineering work serves
to improve our technology which is still in Technology Readiness
Level 8. The switch to inhouse engineering for the detailed
engineering phase provided more control over costs and execution
but at the same time slowed down the project while the team was
hired and trained, which continues even today.
Progress at the various stages of the project is
explained below:
- Process design – The process flow
diagrams (PFD) are complete, the Piping & Instrumentation
Diagrams (P&ID) are approximately at 80% completeness level and
continue to evolve as more equipment is being ordered and detailed
designs are provided by the vendors. Instrumentation, control
system integrator and valve selections have been made and orders
are expected to be issued in November for these items. The process
control diagrams (PCDs), P&ID, stream tables, utility list,
process description, control philosophy and operation schedule
(batch process) are being periodically updated as the project
advances.
- Equipment and packages – Equipment
ordering began in May 2022. Out of the 31 packages, a total of 10
has been ordered while others are being finalized with vendors and
are expected to be ordered in the coming months. Some of the
equipment is expected to start arriving in February 2023.
- Pre-construction activities – The
Corporation has selected the engineering firm for peripheral
engineering design (civil and architectural, HVAC system, drain
system designs, etc.) and the contract is expected to kick off in
the coming weeks. A project safety study was conducted by a
specialized firm around the off-gas system of the plant which
contributed to process design improvements. A technical risk
assessment of the project is being currently conducted by an
external consultancy. These safety studies will be important to
HAZOP activities which are planned for early 2023, project
permitting and insurance contracts. Permitting activities have
begun and will continue as required at the various upcoming stages
of construction and commissioning.
- Layout – The latest layout was
provided in the March 2022 update. An updated layout will be
completed by the engineering firm mentioned above in the coming
months as their work is being performed and all the detailed
equipment drawings are received.
- Complementary testwork – Certain
pilot and bench scale testwork has continued throughout the year to
support and adjust the design of the demonstration plant. Some of
the improvements include more efficient filtration medium selection
and testing, improved cobalt recovery circuit, crushing and
grinding optimization and improved cake moisture enabling a
simplified solid handling method.
As the above activities are completed, the
Corporation will be requesting detailed construction quotes before
moving to ground preparation work, equipment receiving, inspection
and installation during 2023. More information will be provided as
these milestones are met.
Bauxite Residues Pilot The
Bauxite Residues project has taken up the majority of the work in
our R&D labs this year. The project is divided into 2
sub-projects:
- Pilot plant and feasibility study
(see announcement on March 31, 2022)
- Evaluating various opportunities to
monetize the iron compounds (see announcement on April 25,
2022)
Work is advancing in parallel on both of these
sub-projects. Various new analytical equipment was ordered and
received this year which is now being used to further optimize and
advance the processing technology in bench scale in preparation for
piloting. The additional bench scale work completed so far this
year is encouraging and looks very promising for the piloting in
2023. Some of the piloting equipment has now been ordered and is
expected to be received in the coming months. Delays due to longer
than expected lead times and hiring the technical team for the
Bauxite Residues project are major challenges which are causing
delays in the project. Multiple improvements should streamline
equipment ordering as the project advances and ramps up in 2023.
Challenges and improvements related to hiring the technical team
were discussed in the Human Resources section above and should help
accelerate the project in the next year. Initial results from the
project could be expected in Q1 or Q2 of 2023.
Other projectsSeveral other
projects are in the pipeline and others are being regularly
evaluated for potential compatibility with Geomega’s existing
technologies. These projects are in early stages and more
information will be provided on them in the future if they graduate
to the next level of development.
“In 2019 we set a target to diversify the
applications for our technology, increase the number of industries
and partners we could work with and reduce the commercialization
risks that come with being a single commodity focused company. What
Geomega has achieved on top of that is a stronger technical team,
less dilution and the potential to leverage our technologies as we
further develop our portfolio. The tasks ahead are crystal clear:
Geomega needs to deliver our first demonstration plant and a pilot
plant for our bauxite residue technology. We faced challenges this
year with human resources, procurement, and logistics but we have
now set up various structures in place that will help us produce
the deliverables that all our stakeholders are expecting from us.”
commented Kiril Mugerman, President & CEO of Geomega.
About Geomega
(www.geomega.ca)Geomega
develops innovative technologies for extraction and separation of
rare earth elements and other critical metals essential for a
sustainable future. With a focus on renewable energies, vehicle
electrification, automation and reduction in energy usage, rare
earth magnets or neo-magnets (NdFeB) are at the center of all these
technologies. Geomega’s strategy revolves around gradually
de-risking its innovative technology and delivering cashflow and
return value to shareholders while working directly with the main
players in these industries to recycle the magnets that power all
those technologies.
As its technologies are demonstrated on larger
scales, Geomega is committed to work with major partners to help
extract value from mining feeds, tailings and other industrial
residues which contain rare earths and other critical metals.
Irrespective of the metal or the source, Geomega adopts a
consistent approach to reduce the environmental impact and to
contribute to lowering greenhouse gases emissions through recycling
the major reagents in the process.
Geomega’s core project is based around the ISR
Technology (Innord’s Separation of Rare Earths), a proprietary,
low-cost, environmentally friendly way to tap into a C$1.5 billion
global market to recycle magnet production waste and end of life
magnets profitably and safely.
Geomega also owns the Montviel rare earth
carbonatite deposit, the largest 43-101 bastnaesite resource
estimate in North America and holds over 16.8M shares, representing
approximately 14% of the issued and outstanding shares, of Kintavar
Exploration Inc. (KTR.V), a mineral exploration company that is
exploring for copper projects in Quebec, Canada.
For further information, please contact: |
Kiril Mugerman |
President and CEO |
Geomega |
450-641-5119 ext.5653 |
kmugerman@geomega.ca |
|
Nancy Thompson |
Vorticom Public Relations |
212-532-2208 |
nancyt@vorticom.com |
Twitter: @Geomega_REE |
Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
This news release contains statements that may
constitute “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. Forward-looking information and statements may
include, among others, statements regarding future plans, costs,
objectives or performance of the Corporation, or the assumptions
underlying any of the foregoing. In this news release, words such
as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “likely”, “believe”, “expect”,
“anticipate”, “intend”, “plan”, “estimate” “target” and similar
words and the negative form thereof are used to identify
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not
be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will
not necessarily be accurate indications of whether, or the times at
or by which, such future performance will be achieved. No assurance
can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking
information will transpire or occur, including as regards the
commercialization of any of the technology referred to above, or if
any of them do so, what benefits the Corporation will derive.
Forward-looking statements and information are based on information
available at the time and/or management's good-faith belief with
respect to future events and are subject to known or unknown risks,
uncertainties, assumptions and other unpredictable factors, many of
which are beyond the Corporation’s control. These risks,
uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to,
those described under “Risk Factors” in the Corporation’s annual
management’s discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended May
31, 2022, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; they could
cause actual events or results to differ materially from those
projected in any forward-looking statements. The Corporation does
not intend, nor does the Corporation undertake any obligation, to
update or revise any forward-looking information or statements
contained in this news release to reflect subsequent information,
events or circumstances or otherwise, except if required by
applicable laws.
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