TORONTO, Nov. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Desert Lion Energy Inc. (TSXV: DLI) (OTCQB: DSLEF) (“Desert Lion” or the “Company”) today announced the filing on SEDAR of an independent NI 43-101 technical report completed by Hatch Ltd (“Hatch”) and The MSA Group (Pty) Ltd (“MSA”) entitled "Preliminary Economic Assessment for Desert Lion Energy Lithium Project" dated November 23, 2018. This filing follows upon the press release of November 1, 2018, which referenced the summary highlights of the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”).
Highlights of the technical report as previously announced are as follows:
Highlights:
- Cash cost of lithium carbonate of US$4,080/ tonne and lepidolite (lithium) concentrate of US$141/ tonne, in each case including byproduct credits
- Initial direct capital costs of US$275 Million for mine, concentrator and lithium carbonate conversion plant, including by-product circuits (including a contingency of US$43 Million (15%))
- Low capital intensity for lithium carbonate of $13,750/ annual tonne of production of battery grade lithium carbonate
- US$144 Million pre-tax NPV (8% discount rate)
- 29% pre-tax Internal Rate of Return
- Payback period of ~2.5 years
- Life of Mine Revenues of US$852 Million
- Average sales price of US$13,000 per tonne of lithium carbonate
Cautionary Note: A PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources, which are considered too geologically speculative to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Resources. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that the reserves development, production and economic forecast on which the PEA is based will be realized.
“Filing of the NI 43-101 technical report represents another significant milestone for Desert Lion Energy,” commented Tim Johnston, CEO of Desert Lion Energy Inc. “The report culminates over 7,000 hours of exploration, engineering, testwork and economic assessment as part of our plan to continue de-risking the project and develop a world class lithium company.”
Financial Update
Following the press release of November 5, 2018, Desert Lion is in the final stages of closing a secured convertible note financing for gross proceeds of up to $10,000,000 and a $2,000,000 private placement, which are expected to close during the week of 26 November.
Qualified Persons
The PEA was prepared by Hatch Ltd. and The MSA Group (Pty) Ltd., companies independent from Desert Lion. Robert Duinker, P.Eng, MBA, Marianne Utiger, P.Eng., Gary Fowler, QP. and Blaire Mackenzie, M.Eng, CPEng, P.Eng. of Hatch Ltd. all Qualified Persons according to NI 43-101 have reviewed and approved the technical information pertaining to the economic estimates in this news release. In accordance with the National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, which supports the MRE and PEA.
About Desert Lion Energy
Desert Lion Energy is an emerging lithium development company focused on building Namibia’s first large-scale lithium mine to be located approximately 210 km from the nation’s capital of Windhoek and 220 km from the Port of Walvis Bay. The Company’s Rubicon and Helikon mines are located within a 301 km2 prospective land package, with known lithium bearing pegmatitic mineralization. The project site is accessible year-round by road and has access to power, water, rail, port, airport and communication infrastructure.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Generally, any statements that are not historical facts may contain forward-looking information, and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget” “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or indicates that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be” taken, “occur” or “be achieved.” Forward-looking information includes but is not limited to statements and expectations regarding: the targeted additional deposits within the Company’s mining and exploration licences; the potential for the results to support an economical project; the timing for completion of the Preliminary Economic Assessment; and the Company’s planned work program for the Project and its exploration and development schedule and timetable. Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued exploration activities, lithium and other metal prices, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and production costs, the estimation of mineral resources, assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, the timing and amount of future exploration and development expenditures, receipt of required regulatory approvals, the availability of necessary financing for the Project, permitting and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein.
Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: risks related to changes in lithium prices; sources and cost of power and water for the Project; the estimation of initial capital requirements; the lack of historical operations; the estimation of labour and operating costs; general global markets and economic conditions; risks associated with exploration, development and operations of mineral deposits; the estimation of initial targeted mineral resource tonnage and grade for the Project; risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of exploration, development and production; risks associated with currency fluctuations; environmental risks; competition faced in securing experienced personnel; access to adequate infrastructure to support exploration activities; risks associated with changes in the mining regulatory regime governing the Company and the Project; completion of the environmental assessment process; risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; risks related to potential conflicts of interest; the reliance on key personnel; financing, capitalization and liquidity risks including the risk that the financing necessary to fund continued exploration and development activities at the Project may not be available on satisfactory terms, or at all; the risk of potential dilution through the issuance of additional common shares of the Company; the risk of litigation.
Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this presentation and the Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking information this is included herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of Mineral Resources will be converted to Mineral Reserves.
Inferred Mineral Resources are based on limited drilling which suggests the greatest uncertainty for a resource estimate and that geological continuity is only implied. Additional drilling will be required to verify geological and mineralization continuity and there is no certainty that all of the Inferred Resources will be converted to Measured and Indicated Resources.
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
For more information, please contact:
Desert Lion Energy Inc.
Tim Johnston, CEO
Tel: (416) 309-2953
Email: info@desertlionenergy.com