Jubilee Metals Group PLC Quarterly Operations Update & Tjate Share Issue (0987L)

TIDMJLP

RNS Number : 0987L

Jubilee Metals Group PLC

17 April 2018

Jubilee Metals Group PLC

("Registration number: 4459850")

AIM share code: JLP

AltX share code: JBL

ISIN: GB0031852162

("Jubilee" or "the Company")

Quarterly Operations Update

Tjate Project - issue of shares

Jubilee is pleased to announce an operations update for its metals recovery division, Jubilee Processing Proprietary Limited ("JPL") for Q1 2018.

Highlights

   --    Hernic sets new high for March 2018 producing 1 858 PGM ounces 
   --    Hernic PGM(1) production for Q1 2018 up 30 % to 4 897  ounces 
   --    Hernic unit cost per PGM ounce produced USD 434 
   --    Hernic operational earnings increased 18 %  to GBP 1.14 million (ZAR 18.91 million) 
   --    Hernic project revenue up 30 % to GBP 2.65 million (ZAR 44.01 million) 
   --    JPL operations  revenue up 18 % to GBP 3.90 million (ZAR 64.64 million) 
   --    JPL operations earnings up 4 % to GBP 1.26 million (ZAR 20.95 million) 

1 = Platinum Group Metals (6E platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium, and gold)

Leon Coetzer, Chief Executive commented:

"I am very pleased with the continued operational improvements at our Hernic operations. March 2018 has set a new operational high producing 1 858 ounces while our unit cost to produce a PGM ounce was at a low USD 434.

I expect Q2 2018 to deliver even better operational numbers as the Hernic operation continues to improve.

Our DCM operation is going through a transitional phase as we gear up to execute the PGM project. We have temporarily suspended the processing of 3(rd) party ore at DCM due to continued variation in feed quality causing operational difficulties negatively impacting our production of chrome from the on-site tailings and surface waste material.

It is an exciting period for Jubilee as we expand our operational reach. Our projects team has a busy time ahead as we look to execute the PlatCro PGM project, DCM PGM project and the Kabwe project."

HERNIC OVERVIEW

The Hernic operation continues to deliver improved results quarter on quarter. The unit cost per PGM ounce produced of USD 434 sets the standard for the industry and illustrates the robustness of the project. March 2018 delivered 1 858 PGM ounces which is the highest ounces delivered to the refinery in any month to date.

The table below presents the comparative quarterly performance of the Hernic operation:

 
            Tailings       PGM       Project     Project       Project      Project      Jubilee        Jubilee        Unit 
            processed    ounces      revenue    revenue(2)   earnings(3)   earnings    attributable   attributable     cost 
             tonnes     delivered      (1)      (ZAR'000)     (GBP'000)    (ZAR'000)     earnings       earnings      / PGM 
                                    (GBP'000)                                           (GBP'000)      (ZAR'000)        oz 
                                                                                                                     (USD)(4) 
---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ------------  ----------  -------------  -------------  --------- 
 Total         80 
  Q2 2017      828         808         459        7.604         (110)       (1.928)       (110)         (1.928)        901 
---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ------------  ----------  -------------  -------------  --------- 
 Total         105 
  Q3 2017      673        2 874       1.539       26.581         496         8.592         496           8.592         476 
---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ------------  ----------  -------------  -------------  --------- 
 Total         121 
  Q4           644        3 755       2.047       37.011         965        17.466         965           17.466        382 
  2017 
---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ------------  ----------  -------------  -------------  --------- 
 Total         110 
  Q1 2018      409        4 897       2.651       44.013        1.141       18.908        1.141          18.908        434 
---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ------------  ----------  -------------  -------------  --------- 
 Project       418         12 
  to date      554         333        6.697      115.209        2.492       43.038        2.492          43.038        458 
---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  -----------  ------------  ----------  -------------  -------------  --------- 
 

1= Revenue from the current project phase - 100% attributable to Jubilee until full capital recovery. Revenue is projected based on latest average PGM market prices and USD exchange rates and results are only final once final Quotational Period has passed

2= Average monthly conversion rates used

3= Project Earnings include all incurred operational costs including management services and mineral royalties

4= Unit cost includes provision for utility overhead.

DCM overview

The DCM project is gearing up to commence construction of the PGM recovery plant. The plant design target is set at 25 000 tonnes per month of feed material to the chrome and PGM recovery plant. Processing of 3(rd) party ore at DCM has been suspended temporarily during this time due to significantly varying feed quality resulting in plant operational constraints which also negatively impacts the processing of on-site tailings and surface waste material as reflected in the project numbers.

Phase 1 of the fine chrome recovery circuit has been completed with the design and construction underway of an enlarged fine chrome recovery circuit to enhance the recovery of chrome prior to the recovery of the PGMs.

The table below presents the operational quarterly performance of the DCM operation:

 
               Chromite      Project      Project       Project       Project        Jubilee         Jubilee 
              concentrate     revenue      revenue     earnings(2)    earnings     attributable    attributable 
               produced      (GBP'000)       (1)        (GBP'000)     (ZAR'000)      earnings        earnings 
                tonnes                    (ZAR'000)                                 (GBP'000)       (ZAR'000) 
----------  -------------  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------  --------------  -------------- 
 Total 
  Q4 2017       11 788        1.254        22.858         508          9.307           254            4.654 
----------  -------------  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------  --------------  -------------- 
 Total 
  Q1 2018        9 810         1.240       20.628          245          4.080          123            2.040 
----------  -------------  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------  --------------  -------------- 
 Project          130 
  to date         460         14.175       245.090        7.891        134.405        2.819           48.560 
----------  -------------  -----------  -----------  -------------  -----------  --------------  -------------- 
 

1= Average monthly conversion rates used

2 = Project earnings include project expenditure on plant and equipment

Tjate Project - issue of shares

Further to the announcement on 2 March 2017 and pursuant to a Deferred Share agreement ("Agreement") with the historically disadvantaged shareholders ("Beneficiaries") of black economic empowered New Plats (Tjate) Proprietary Limited, a shareholder in Tjate Platinum Corporation Proprietary Limited ("Tjate"), a total of 4 464 880 new Jubilee Ordinary shares of 1 pence ("Shares") will be issued to the Beneficiaries.

Tjate has executed a mining right with the Department of Mineral Resources in respect of the Project comprising the Farms Dsjate 249 KT, Fernkloof 539KS and Quartzhill 542 KS, situated in the Magisterial District of Sekhukhune in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. This achieves the third of four hurdles set out in the Agreement, the details of which were previously announced on 6 May 2009.

The Shares will be issued as fully paid and rank pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared on or after the date on which they are issued.

Application will be made for the Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM and to be listed on the AltX of the JSE Limited, which is expected to take place on or about 20 April 2018 ("Admission").

Following Admission, the Company's total issued share capital will comprise 1 310 992 791 Ordinary Shares. As the Company does not hold any Ordinary Shares in treasury, this figure may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company following Admission.

17 April 2018

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.

The financial information in this announcement is unaudited.

Contacts

Jubilee Metals Group PLC

Colin Bird/Leon Coetzer

Tel [phone] / Tel [phone]

Andrew Sarosi

Tel [phone]

JSE Sponsor

Sasfin Capital, (a member of the Sasfin group)

Sharon Owens

Tel [phone]

Nominated Adviser

SPARK Advisory Partners Limited

Mark Brady/Andrew Emmott

Tel: [phone]

Broker

Shard Capital Partners LLP

Damon Heath/Erik Woolgar

Tel [phone]

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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April 17, 2018 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)