Namibia Critical Metals Inc. (‘Namibia Critical Metals’ or the ‘Company’ or ‘NMI’) (TSXV: NMI) (OTC PINK: NMREF) announced that Bannerman Energy Limited, an Australian listed uranium development company, has issued a news release on May 18, 2022 announcing it has entered into an agreement to acquire 82,290,680 common shares (41.8%) of NMI pursuant to a private share purchase agreement with two shareholders of the Company, including Philco 192 (Pty) Ltd. which holds 75,201,603 shares (38.2%) of NMI.
Bannerman has announced that the NMI Share Acquisition is expected to complete within 30 days.
The NMI Share Acquisition by Bannerman offers significant strategic alignment and development synergies with Bannerman’s flagship Etango Uranium Project in Namibia.
The Company also announced today that Steve Kapp will not be standing for re-election at the Company’s Annual and Special Meeting to be held on May 19, 2022. The Company intends to identify a replacement for Mr. Kapp in due course.
Bannerman’s Managing Director and CEO, Brandon Munro, commented: ‘The Lofdal Project is on a path to produce dysprosium and terbium, two of the most strategically important metals on the planet. Our exposure to this future production, through a strategic shareholding in Namibia Critical Metals, is therefore a strong fit with Bannerman’s Etango Project, a near-term supplier of uranium at a globally significant scale. I have followed the Lofdal Project and worked with its management since living in Namibia in 2010, and am personally delighted to formalise these strong in-country working relationships. I am also pleased that long standing relationships with NMI’s major shareholders have enabled a direct, efficient transaction at this point in time.
‘As Lofdal moves closer to production, our partnership offers strong potential to leverage Bannerman’s extensive in-country expertise and credentials, in particular in the ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) sphere. After meeting at Lofdal with NMI President Darrin Campbell, and key JOGMEC representatives, I am confident that there is a strong alignment of intent and values between Bannerman and NMI, which has strong community and government relationships built during their 15-year presence in Namibia.’
Namibia Critical Metals Inc. President and CEO, Darrin Campbell, commented: ‘I am delighted that Bannerman Energy is set to become a supportive major shareholder in Namibia Critical Metals Inc. I look forward to working with the Bannerman team and our project partner JOGMEC to add significant further value to the Lofdal Project. I expect that Bannerman’s development experience, plus downstream industry and broader marketing experience, will be highly advantageous as we progress Lofdal towards being a globally significant supplier of dysprosium and terbium to the burgeoning permanent magnets sector.’
About Bannerman Energy Limited
Bannerman is a uranium development company listed on the Australian, OTC Markets and Namibian stock exchanges. Its flagship asset is the advanced Etango Uranium Project located in the Erongo Region of Namibia.
Etango has undertaken extensive exploration and feasibility activity over the past 15 years. The Etango tenements possess a globally large-scale uranium mineral resource1. A 20 Mtpa development at Etango was the subject of a Definitive Feasibility Study (‘DFS’) completed in 2012 and a DFS Optimisation Study completed in 20152. Bannerman constructed and operated a Heap Leach Demonstration Plant at Etango, which comprehensively de-risked the acid heap leach process to be utilised on the Etango ore.
Etango has environmental approvals for the proposed mine and external mine infrastructure, based on a 12-year environmental baseline. Bannerman is a CSR leader within Namibia and exercises best-practice governance in all aspects of its business.
In August 2021, a Pre-Feasibility Study (‘PFS’) was completed on Etango-8. The PFS confirmed that this accelerated, streamlined project is strongly amenable to development – both technically and economically. A DFS on Etango-8 has commenced with expected completion in 3Q CY2022.
About Namibia Critical Metals Inc.
Namibia Critical Metals Inc. holds a diversified portfolio of exploration and advanced stage projects in Namibia focused on the development of sustainable and ethical sources of metals for the battery, electric vehicle and associated industries. The most advanced stage project in the portfolio is Lofdal. The Company also holds significant land positions in areas favourable for gold mineralization.
Heavy Rare Earths: The Lofdal Dysprosium-Terbium Project is the Company’s most advanced project being fully permitted with a Mining Licence (ML 200) issued in 2021. The project is being developed in joint venture with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (‘JOGMEC’).
Gold: The Company’s Exclusive Prospecting Licenses (‘EPLs’) prospective for gold are located in the Central Namibian Gold Belt which hosts a number of significant orogenic gold deposits including the Navachab Gold Mine, the Otjikoto Gold Mine and more recently the discovery of the Twin Hills deposit. At the Erongo Gold Project, stratigraphic equivalents to the meta-sediments hosting the recent Osino gold discovery at Twin Hills have been identified and exploration is progressing over this highly prospective area. The Grootfontein Base Metal and Gold Project has potential for magmatic copper-nickel mineralization, Mississippi Valley-type zinc-lead-vanadium mineralization and Otjikoto-style gold mineralization. Interpretation of geophysical data and regional geochemical soil sampling have identified first gold targets.
Tantalum-Niobium: The Epembe Tantalum-Niobium-Uranium Project is at an advanced stage with a well-defined, 10 km long carbonatite dyke that has been delineated by detailed mapping and radiometric surveys and over 11,000 meters of drilling. Preliminary mineralogical and metallurgical studies including sorting tests (XRT), indicate the potential for significant physical upgrading. Further work will be undertaken to advance the project to a preliminary economic assessment stage
About Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) and the Joint Venture
JOGMEC is a Japanese government independent administrative agency which among other things seeks to secure stable resource supplies for Japan. JOGMEC has a strong reputation as a long term, strategic partner in mineral projects globally. The mandated areas of responsibilities within JOGMEC relate to oil and natural gas, metals, coal and geothermal energy. JOGMEC facilitates opportunities with Japanese private companies to secure supplies of natural resources for the benefit of the country’s economic development.
Rare earths are of critical importance to Japanese industrial interests and JOGMEC has extensive experience with all aspects of the sector. JOGMEC provided Lynas with US$250,000,000 in loans and equity in 2011 to ensure supplies of the Light Rare Earths metals suite to the Japanese industry.
Namibia Critical Metals currently owns a 95% interest in the Lofdal project with the remaining 5% held for the benefit of historically disadvantaged Namibians. The terms of the JOGMEC joint venture agreement with the Company stipulate that JOGMEC provides $3,000,000 in Term 1 and $7,000,000 in Term 2 to earn a 40% interest in the Lofdal project. Term 3 calls for a further $10,000,000 of expenditures to earn an additional 10% interest. JOGMEC can also purchase another 1% for $5,000,000 and has first right of refusal to fully fund the project through to commercial production and to purchase all production at market prices. The collective interests of NMI and historically disadvantaged Namibians cannot be diluted below a 26% carried working interest upon payment of $5,000,000 to JOGMEC for the dilution protection. The JV Agreement is structured such that no NMI equity will be issued and it is totally non-dilutive to NMI shareholders. To date, JOGMEC, has approved funding Term 1 and 2 expenditures totaling $7,000,000.
www.ferroalloynet.com
