Leyshon Resources Limited Quarterly Activities Report (8339N)

TIDMLRL

RNS Number : 8339N

Leyshon Resources Limited

31 July 2014

LEYSHON RESOURCES LIMITED

31 JULY 2014

Quarterly Report June 2014

Leyshon Resources Limited (AIM/ASX: LRL) ("Leyshon" or the "Company") primary activities during the quarter included identifying new project opportunities and continuing the strategic review of the Mt Leyshon gold project in Queensland, Australia.

New Project Opportunities

During the quarter, the Company has been actively pursuing and studying potential investment opportunities in the resources sector which are in line with the Company's stated investing policy.

The Company's strategic objective is to identify mineral resource projects that have a clear pathway to production or monetisation and can generate high returns to shareholders. This will be achieved by leveraging the in-house expertise and track-record in identifying, acquiring, financing, developing and operating resource projects, and un-locking value. The Company's plan is to identify advanced or brown-field assets which have a stronger chance of being re-rated in the listed market.

The investment climate in the resources sector continues to be difficult. Resource equity and asset valuations are currently substantially discounted which we believe will provide an attractive entry opportunity for the Company at the bottom of the investment cycle.

The Company has a strong cash position with working capital of AUD$2.9 million. Major shareholders are supportive of the Company's acquisition strategy.

Since the completion of the demerger, the Company has commenced preliminary discussions with prospective debt and equity financiers in regard to a number of investment opportunities and has been encouraged by the response regarding the level and types of funding that could be available.

Mt Leyshon Strategic Review

The Company is continuing its strategic review of the Mt Leyshon project and a number of potential opportunities to create value from the project have been identified, including:

   1)    Utilising the existing pit and other infrastructure for small-scale hydro power generation; 
   2)    Reassessing the exploration potential of the ground in the vicinity of the old mine; and 

3) The potential to recover the gold from the ball mill scat stockpiles. A previous economic study demonstrated only modest returns at a gold price of US$780 per ounce, compared to the current price of US$1300 per ounce.

   1.            Hydro Power Generation 

During the quarter, the Company completed the concept study into developing a pumped storage hydro ("PSH") power project at Mt Leyshon.

The concept involves generating near-instantaneous electrical power and supplying it into the grid at times of peak power demand by releasing water from the existing upper reservoir through a hydro generation plant. The upper reservoir is refilled from the existing open pit during periods of off-peak prices.

The Australian Energy Market Operator forecasts that new generation capacity will be required in Queensland by 2020 in order to maintain supply reliability within the National Electricity Market Reliability Standard. Under a high growth scenario, this requirement for new capacity may be as early as 2017.

The optimal project sizing based on the physical reservoir characteristics is estimated to be around 40 megawatts ("MW"). The existing power line infrastructure connected to the site supports a project of up to 20MW and with modest upgrades may support up to 40MW.

The unit cost of production for a 20-40MW PSH plant at the Mt Leyshon site compares favourably to the cost of a larger-scale open-cycle gas turbine project, the assumed next best alternative for providing fast-start peak to intermediate generation capacity (i.e. a capacity factor of up to 30-40%.).

Whilst the study demonstrated positive project economics, further work will be required in areas including water chemistry, capital and operating cost estimates, networks, engineering, and regulatory.

The report recommended identifying a strategic partner to assist with managing market risk and underpinning the commercial viability of the project by securing either a medium to long-term off-take with an electricity retailer or major energy user, or a medium to long-term network support contract with the local network service provider. The Company is currently discussing proposals with a number of industry players.

   2.            Further Exploration 

The historical focus of the Leyshon mining operations was the Mt Leyshon Breccia, the main ore host, comprising a large pipe-like breccia, approximately 400 x 300 metres in plan, with a minimum vertical extent of 650 metres. A number of areas of brecciation and porphyry intrusion extend outside the main pit area. Historical surface sampling has identified areas of anomalous grades of gold, silver, lead and zinc. The Company will study the historical data to assess whether a new re-interpretation should be undertaken using modern day exploration methodologies including sampling and geophysics.

   3.            Recovery of Gold from Mill Scats 

In June 2012, the Company completed a drilling program and economic study on the potential recovery of gold from a large stock pile of between 12 and 15 million tonnes of ball mill scats from the historical operations. The study considered a number of different process routes to recover between 100,000 and 175,000 ounces of gold through the retreatment of the highly mineralised material. The material was stockpiled at a time when gold prices averaged around US$300 per ounce, and the 2012 study was based on a gold price of US$780 per ounce.

The results of the program indicated that the project was viable but required significant capital expenditure for a relatively modest return, and the project was put on hold. Given the recent increase in the gold price to US$1300 per ounce, the Directors have decided to revisit the economics of the project.

ASX Suspension

Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") policy, in accordance with Chapter 12 of the Listing Rules, is to allow companies that have disposed of their main undertakings a six-month period within which to satisfy ASX that the company has a sufficient level of operations to justify continued quotation of the Company's securities on the ASX. With funds available for investment and the volume of opportunities being presented to Leyshon for consideration, the Board had expected to be in a position to implement a programme to create value from its existing Mt Leyshon assets or a suitable project acquisition in time to satisfy the ASX's continued operations policy.

Since the demerger and subsequent appointment of a new Managing Director in February 2014, the Company has been actively reviewing a number of project opportunities, including appropriate due diligence enquiries, and entered into negotiations with several parties. Whilst the Company is currently evaluating a number of opportunities, there can be no certainty that a transaction will be concluded.

However, the Company was not able to satisfy the ASX that it was in compliance with Chapter 12 and was suspended from trading on 14 July 2014. Leyshon remains an ASX listed entity and provided it is able to recommence operations of a level that, in the opinion of the ASX, is sufficient to justify quotation of Leyshon securities in the future, the suspension of trading in the Company's shares will be lifted.

With our available cash reserves, Leyshon is well positioned to pursue quality projects in accordance with our investment strategy. Every effort will be made to ensure we secure assets that are most likely to achieve the corporate objectives and strategic aims of the Company.

In the interim, the Company will continue to evaluate suitable investment opportunities and will keep the market informed of any material developments as they occur.

The Company confirms that its securities continue to trade on the AIM Market and the Company remains subject to Rule 15 of the AIM Rules for Companies ("AIM Rules") whereby the Company will have to make an acquisition(s) which constitute a reverse takeover under AIM Rule 14 or otherwise implement its investing policy to the satisfaction of the London Stock Exchange within twelve months of the demerger of Leyshon Energy.

For further information please contact:

Leyshon Resources Limited

Corey Nolan - Managing Director

Tel: [phone]

[e-mail]

RFC Ambrian Limited

Samantha Harrison (Nominated Adviser)

Kim Eckhof (Corporate broking)

Tel: [phone]

http://www.leyshonresources.com

Leyshon Resources Limited held the following interests in exploration tenements at the end of the quarter:

 
PROJECT        BENEFICIAL INTEREST  TENEMENT  NAME 
 
AUSTRALIA 
MOUNT LEYSHON         100%          ML 1546   Golden Star 
                      100%          ML 10144  Mt Leyshon 
                      100%          ML 10148  Puddler Creek 
                      100%          ML 10149  Water Dam Gap Creek 
                      100%          ML 10172  Eastern Star 
                      100%          ML 10173  Southern Star 
 
 

There were no tenements acquired or disposed of during the quarter and no changes in the beneficial interests held by the Company.

Leyshon Resources Limited ABN 75 010 482 274

Level 3 / Suite 3, 1292 Hay Street, West Perth 6005, Western Australia

Tel: + 61 8 9321 0077 Fax: + 61 8 9322 4073

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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