macusani project - saimm · strategic asset positioned for uranium sector recovery * jan 2016...
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Macusani Project Uranium & Lithium in Peru
Moving Towards 2020 Production
TSX-V:PLU FSE:QG1 OTC:PLUUF
Disclaimer
The particulars contained herein were obtained from sources which we believe reliable but are not guaranteed by us and may be incomplete. The opinions expressed are based upon
our analysis and interpretation and are not to be construed as a solicitation or offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. This presentation includes certain forward-looking
statements concerning the future performance of Plateau Uranium's business, operations and financial performance and condition, as well as management's objectives, strategies,
beliefs and intentions. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words
referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. Forward-looking statements and forward-
looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimated production and mine life; the future price of uranium; the estimation of mineral reserves and
resources; the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; success of exploration activities; and
currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Plateau Uranium, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking
statements. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral
exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, competitive risks, the availability of financing, variations in grades or recovery rates, risks relating to international
operations, fluctuating currency exchange rates, changes in project parameters, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other
risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, as described in more detail in the Company's recent securities filings available at
www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and Macusani cautions against placing undue reliance thereon.
Neither Plateau Uranium nor its management assume any obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements.
Qualified Persons
The scientific and technical information contained in this document relating to preliminary economic assessment was prepared by or under the supervision of, or reviewed and
approved by, Mr. Michael Short, B.E., CEng., FIMMM and Dr Thomas Apelt, PhD, CEng., MAusIMM, of GBM Minerals Engineering Consultants, and/or Mr. Mark Mounde, BEng.,
CEng., MIMMM of Wardell Armstrong International, who are independent technical consultants to the Company and "Qualified Persons" under NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects.
The scientific and technical information contained in this document relating to the Mineral Resources was prepared under the supervision of, or reviewed and approved by Mr. David
Young, B.Sc. (Hons), FGSSA, FSAIMM, FAusIMM, Pr Sci Nat (No 400989/83) of The Mineral Corporation that is an independent technical consultant to the Company and a “Qualified
Person” under NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
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Developing An Emerging Uranium District
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Plateau Uranium
• Plateau Uranium controls one of the largest undeveloped uranium districts in the world with additional Lithium potential
• Located on the Macusani Plateau, Puno, Southern Peru
• Unique, shallow, volcanic-hosted supergene/surficial uranium deposits
• Excellent infrastructure:
• Access to labour, water and inexpensive hydro-electric power
• Transport (major paved highway) • Plentiful supply of sulfuric acid
• History of mining in the region
• Minsur – San Rafael Tin Mine
• Other gold & silver development projects
• Supportive government and local communities
Proposed Central Processing Plant (PEA Jan 2016)
District Potential
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Over 910 km2 of Exploration Concessions
7.5 km radius
• Consolidated >910 km2 land package
• One of the largest uranium districts in the world – 124 Mlbs & growing
• Un-tested Mineralized prospects at surface
• Drilling focused on <15% of land package
• Significant exploration potential exists
• Uranium and by-product Li potential exists throughout the District
Investment Highlights
• Strong Uranium-only Project Economics at US$50/lb U3O8* • NPV8: US$603M / IRR: 40.6% / 1.8 years capital payback (post-tax)
• Large Scale: Proposed production of over 6M lbs U3O8 per year over a 10 year mine life
• Low Cost: US$17.28/lb LoM cash production cost, <US$300M initial capital – Lowest quartile production potential
• Project economic at current Term uranium prices, significant leverage to consensus longer term forecasted prices
• Control of All Defined Uranium Resources in Emerging Uranium District** • 52.9 M lbs U3O8 Measured & Indicated (248 ppm)
• 72.1 M lbs U3O8 Inferred (251 ppm)
• 75 ppm U cut-off
• Additional Lithium Resources with Uranium ** • 67,000 t Li2O Measured & Indicated (0.13% Li2O)
• 109,000 t Li2O Inferred (0.12% Li2O)
• Resources in only 4 uranium deposits within 75 ppm U cut-off
• Uranium Economics will improve further • Additional resources, optimization and upgrading opportunity
• Lithium Leach test work positive • Evaluating potential value-add by establishing OPEX/CAPEX
Strategic Asset Positioned for Uranium Sector Recovery * Jan 2016 Preliminary Economic Assessment ** Resource details from May 2015 and March 2016 NI 43-101 Reports.
Macusani Project, Puno, Peru
Post Tax IRR/NPV of 40.6%, US$603M
Catalysts
• Improving Uranium market and price environments
• Major and Junior Uranium companies share prices surging – most to 52-week highs
• Recent mid-term contracting at US$44/lb
• Using $44/lb - PEA Scenario NPV: US$457M / IRR: 39.7% / 2.0 year payback (post-tax)
• Positive Drill Results Expected from Pinocho
• Extending mineralization southeast of existing core uranium deposits
• Will expand resource base with additional drilling
• Uranium & Lithium Extraction Results
• Confirming 60-70% lithium extraction with >98% uranium extraction at 70-85 °C
• Sulphuric Acid Consumption of 40-50 kg/t processed (head grade of ~0.13% Li2O)
• Additional work to establish OPEX/CAPEX requirements for lithium co-production
• Environmental Baseline Study Approved - on path to permitting
Increasing Value amid Sector Recovery
Simplified Flow Sheet at Macusani
Growing Uranium Demand
8 Source: World Nuclear Association (January 1, 2017)
Global Demand For Electricity to grow
76% by 2030 Nuclear Reactors Worldwide: 447 Operating Worldwide 60 Under Construction 164 Planned 347 Additional Proposals Today’s Supply Crunch: 85% of demand met by mining 15% from secondary sources U3O8 Requirements Current Demand 170 Mlbs Reference Demand 270 Mlbs by 2030
Around The World: The Rise Of Nuclear Energy by 2030
Uranium Supply, Demand & Price
9 * Source UxC Presentation & UxC (www.uxc.com)
Lowest Quartile Cash Costs $17.28/lb
Recent Supply Erosion • Kazakhstan reductions ~5Mlbs/tr • Cameco removing ~7 Mlbs/yr • Producers processing stockpiles
rather than continue mining • >10% of Global Mined Supply
Low Cost U Production vs Producers
10 Source: Cantor Fitzgerald Canada Estimates, TradeTech, Company Reports – January 6, 2017; UxC.com 30 Jan 2016
Lowest Quartile Cash Costs $17.28/lb
$24.50
Current U3O8 Spot Price as at 16 Jan 2017 (UxC.com)
Lithium Resources
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Evaluating By-product Lithium Potential
Lithium Resources all within Uranium Resources
• Existing Lithium Resources of 67,000 t Li2O Measured & Indicated (0.13% Li2O) & 109,000 t Li2O Inferred (0.12% Li2O)
• Only 4 deposits have sufficient Li analyses
• All reported Li from these deposits is within the 75 ppm U economic cutoff used in Uranium PEA
• Lithium is widespread with relatively consistent contents in the host rocks – Li resources will grow
Lithium leach test work promising
• Sulphuric acid leaching ~70% Li recovery at 70-85 °C
• Work on leaching & precipitation to determine OPEX and CAPEX requirements for Li production started
Lithium Extraction Work
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Evaluating By-product Lithium Potential
• Lithium recoveries of up to 73% in original external tests by K-UTEC Germany at 250 °C
• Additional extraction/precipitation work on-going in Peru by TECMMINE shows consistent ~60-70% Li recovery at much lower leach temperature conditions of 70-85 °C. >98% U recoveries achieved in all tests. Acid consumption of 40-50 kg/t achievable.
• Larger sample has been shipped to Australia (SGS Labs) for upgrading and U/Li extraction and precipitation work to be overseen by Hydromet Pty Ltd/Grenvil Dunn
• Output of this work – upgrading results optimized leaching conditions, % Li-K recoveries, acid consumption, precipitation and initial OPEX and CAPEX requirements for production.
Lithium Demand & Price Increasing
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• Present demand growth driven by E-Vehicles; Future by Grid Storage
• Based on only 1-2% E-Vehicle penetration
• Li-Carbonate input cost represents only ~2% of battery cost
• Prices expected to normalize ~$10,000/t (Analyst and Producer consensus)
• 40 years of Li battery development to date – 25 years commercial
• No alternate battery technology expected for many years
Source: Albemarle Corporation; from Cormark Securities March 2016 Source: Citigroup
Community relationships and social aspects
www.plateauuranium.com
The Social Licence represents the most important step in any exploration and/or development mining project in Peru
The relationships with the Local Communities must be of a permanent nature with implementation as per signed & negotiated agreements.
Community Engagement
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• Twice yearly medical campaign
• Employment of local community members from Isivilla, Tantamaco and Corani – drill/camp personnel; environmental monitoring; prospecting, etc.
• Assisted establishing water treatment plant
• Monthly madre leche (milk) program contribution
• Schools programs sponsorship
• Sponsorship of local & regional festivals
• Loan road building equipment for local community use
• Scaled for current and planned company activities
TANTAMACO Community
Kihitian, Tantamaco and Pinocho deposits are located next to the community of Tantamaco, two of the projects with the highest uranium content in the area The community of Tantamaco is one of the most peaceful communities in the project area, socially and economically affected by lack of work and labour opportunities. They live mostly through agriculture, farming potatoes and livestock (mostly alpacas). Sewing, weaving and knitting work for the mothers is an important supplementary income.
ISIVILLA Community
This is a strong community of direct influence: the company “lives together”. Our field offices and main camp are located in the heart of this community. The mutual relationships are excellent. Colibri II and III as well as Isivilla projects are located in the vicinity of Isivilla. The company participates in daily lives, working alongside the comunity. In this way, we can understand and share their problems and attempt to help and find solutions to their daily issues. Plateau Uranium is a part of the Isivilla Community.
CORANI Community
Corani is one of the largest communities in the area, it is the regional centre with a local district government. Many conciliation efforts were spent with the community. Although quite far away form the village, the Corachapi, Taypicorani and Taititira deposits are located within their lands. The company has always worked hard with the community of Corani. Their demands and requests have often been difficult. This community has the highest population. When we work on their lands, we must use their local workers all projects, exclusively. The company always supports and participates actively in the community whenever invited.
Permitting Environment in Peru
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• Environmental Impact Study (EIA) to MEM
• Builds on Exploration EIS – enhanced number of monitoring sites and frequency
• Mine, processing infrastructure & tailings design details and Construction Plan
• Includes a social relations plan/community agreement(s)
• Certification of no archaeological remains in the area
• Draft mine closure and remediation plan
• Water rights from the National Water Authority
• Surface lands right agreements with surface owners
• Assuming all submissions are acceptable, approval to construct is granted within 1-4 months
Path to Production
Except for statements of historical fact relating to Plateau Uranium, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, competitive risks, the availability of financing, variations in grades or recovery rates, risks relating to international operations, fluctuating currency exchange rates, changes in project parameters, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated.
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2017 2019+
• Enhanced Environmental work
• Drilling for new discovery & to convert inferred to measured and indicated
• Advance uranium permitting & discussions with government
• Further metallurgical test work including U, Li/K & upgrading
• Commence trade-off & optimization studies
• Project financing
• Commence construction
• 12-18 months
• Drilling to convert resources to measured &/or reserves
• Feasibility Study
• Complete EIA process submissions for construction/production permitting
• Approvals 20-120 days
2018-19
Budget: $2-3M Budget to Complete BFS and Permitting:
$8-10M
Intend to position Plateau for production
in 2020 to meet forecasted supply
deficit
Corporate Summary
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TSX-V: PLU FSE:QG1 OTC:PLUUF
Plateau Uranium Inc. Symbol:PLU
Listed Exchange TSX-V
Market Cap. ~$35 million
Shares Outstanding 58,043,354
Warrants Outstanding 0
Options Outstanding 4,222,500
52 Wk Trading Range $0.165 to $0.72
Recent Share Price $0.60
* All figures in Canadian dollars
Contact Information
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Ted O’Connor Chief Executive Officer & Director +1-416-628-9600 [email protected]
www.plateauuranium.com
Head Office 141 Adelaide St. W., Suite 1200 Toronto, Ontario M5H 3L5