Cascadero Copper Announces Positive Preliminary Economic Assessment ON the Taron Cesium Project IN Argentina
Cascadero Copper Corporation
#395, 901 West Third Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3P9
Phone: 604 985 3327
www.cascadero.com [email protected]
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MAY 15 2024
CASCADERO COPPER ANNOUNCES POSITIVE PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT
ON THE TARON CESIUM PROJECT IN ARGENTINA
• Resource of 50,810 tonnes of contained Cesium
• 23.85 Mt resource at a grade of 2,131ppm Cesium with significant potential to grow
• 14+ year mine life
• Strong NPV based on conservative pricing of Cesium Formate - 20% increase in prices can
produce almost four times the NPV
• NPV (10) (after-tax) of US$79M, with an IRR of 14% (after tax) and payback period less than
five years of operations
• Taron has the potential to be the world’s foremost supplier of Cesium
Vancouver, BC, Canada, May 15, 2024 – Cascadero Copper Corporation (“Cascadero” or the “Company”)
(TSXV:CCD) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its Preliminary Economic Assessment
(“PEA”) on its Taron Cesium Project (“Taron” or the “Project”) located in Salta, Argentina. The PEA
indicates that the drilled portion of the Taron property has a 23.85 Mt at a grade of 2,131 ppm Cesium.
Using the Company’s patented extraction process developed at the University of British Columbia and a
Cesium Formate price of $50,000/t, the project has a 14+ years of mine life with a NPV(10) of US$79M, an
IRR of 14% and a payback period of less than five years. The PEA was completed by Wardell Armstrong
International (“WAI”).
In recognition of the opaque nature of the Cesium market, WAI conducted a resource sensitivity
assessment at varying Cesium prices. An increase in Cesium Formate price of only 20% increases the NPV
by almost four times (4X).
The PEA assessed the development of the Taron Project mineral resource by open pit mining, using the
Company’s patented High-Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) process to produce a final solution contain ing
Cesium hydroxide to which formic acid is added for the production of an 80% Cesium Formate brine.
Cascadero’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and Interim President , Dr. George Gale, stated: “This
Preliminary Economic Assessment supports our assertion that the Taron Cesium Project has the potential
to be the next primary Cesium producing mine in the world. T h e r e s u l t s of t h e B a s e C a s e s t u d y s h o w
positive economics, a long mine life and modest upfront capital cost, all in a favourable mining and
permitting jurisdiction.”
Gale continued: “The Taron Project contains a globally significant mineable resource that has the potential
to be greatly expanded by further exploration because only the portions of mineralisation that crop out
Cascadero Copper Corporation
#395, 901 West Third Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3P9
Phone: 604 985 3327
www.cascadero.com [email protected]
have be drilled to date. The deposit is a thick accumulation of poorly consolidated gravels and sands that
were mineralized by late hot spring fluids, which flowed through the sediments and precipitated a cement
of Cesium-bearing minerals on the rock particles. The potential to expand the resource outside the current
resource area is very likely as Cesium-bearing material has b een f ound s ome five km f r om the current
resource. With Cesium on the critical minerals lists of the International Energy Agency as well as United
States, Canada, South Korea and Japan , and the lack of any meaningful supply, worldwide , Cascadero’s
Taron Project has the potential to be the world’s next globally valuable and viable mining operation.”
Report will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this announcement.
Cascadero Copper Corporation
#395, 901 West Third Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3P9
Phone: 604 985 3327
www.cascadero.com [email protected]
Wardell Armstrong International (WAI) was retained by Cascadero to complete the PEA for the Taron
Cesium Project located in the province of Salta, Argentina, and to prepare an independent Technical Report
in accordance with the requirements of Canadian National Instrument 43 -101 (NI 43-101) “Standards of
Disclosure for Mineral Projects” of the Canadian Securities Administrators. The prime purpose of the PEA
is to evaluate the economic viability of the Project and to establish an economic concept to justify further
expenditure on this Project. In addition, the report supports public disclosure of a PEA that is based on the
Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) dated 31 January 2024, as prepared by WAI. The NI 43-101 PEA Technical
Report will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this announcement.
Cesium Market Summary
Cesium is primarily used in Formate brines to assist in the drilling of high temperature and pressure oil and
gas production wells. Other applications include the production of Cesium compounds such as Cesium
bromide for use in infrared detectors, optics, photoelectric cells, scintillation counters and spectrometers.
The Tanco Min e in Manitoba, Canada is the world’s only currently viable Cesium mine, retaining
approximately 116,400 tonnes of primary Cesium resources. In 2013 however, instability of the mine’s
crown pillar forced its closure and it is unclear if mining operations have since been able to restart. In 2019,
Tanco was purchased by Sinomine, a Chinese company that now claims to be the world’s onl y
manufacturer and supplier of Cesium Formate with a market share nearing 100%. Sinomine also owns the
world’s only other Cesium mine, namely the Bikita Mine in Zimbabwe, however its Cesium resources are
thought to now be depleted. Sinomine also underwrote the Cesium supply output from the Sinclair Mine
in Australia, however Sinclair completed its mining and transportation of all economically viable ore in
early 2019.
As of the end of 2021, Sinomine global reserve of Cesium Formate was stated as 25,764bbl (≈10,000
tonnes), containing ~5,849 tonnes of Cesium metal equivalent. Based on modest assumptions for the
Cesium price, the PEA indicates, the current resource at Taron is in the region of 40,000 tonnes of Cesium
Formate brine (at 80% concentration) with 27,000 tonnes of contained metal.
As there are no confirmed active mining operations that can serve as a primary source for Cesium metal
products, there is a high potential for mid - to long -term supply issues to exist, particularly when
considering anticipated future market demand increases.
Preliminary Economic Assessment Summary
WAI recommends Cesium Formate brine be the assumed saleable product for the Taron PEA for the
following reasons:
• Cesium Formate is the largest and most sustainable market for Cesium products;
• No confirmed active mining operations potentially creating long-term supply issues; and
Cascadero Copper Corporation
#395, 901 West Third Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3P9
Phone: 604 985 3327
www.cascadero.com [email protected]
• Tangible reasoning for anticipating an increase in product demand.
The Taron Property consists of five (5) Contiguous Mineral Tenures, approximating 8,179 hectares (83
Units) in area. The Tenures are registered to Cascadero Minerals S.A., which is 100% owned by Cascadero
Minerals Corporation, a Canadian Company, which is 70% owned by Cascadero Copper Corporation and
30 % owned by Regberg Ltd (RB). CMC operates as a 70% CCD and 30% RB joint venture.
A summary of the life of mine discounted cash flow analysis is presented in Table 1. Utilizing a Cesium
Formate price of US$50,000/t and a 10% discount rate, the NPV is US$79M, with an IRR of 14%. The Project
payback period is estimated to be less than five years of operations.
Table 1: Summary of LOM Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
Parameter Unit Value
Ore Mined t 23,324,857
Waste Mined t 11,805,737
Processed Tonnes t 22,158,614
Processed Cs Grade % 0.21
Cs Recovered t 41,051
Net Revenue US$M 3,332
Total Operating Cost US$M (2,027)
EBITDA US$M 1,305
Depreciation & Amortisation US$M 596
EBIT US$M 708
Tax US$M (281)
Net Income US$M 428
Depreciation & Amortisation (added back) US$M 596
LOM Capital Expenditure US$M (596)
Operating (post-tax) Free Cash Flow US$M 428
NPV5 US$M 215
NPV8 US$M 126
NPV10 US$M 79
IRR % 14
Payback Period Years 5
*Numbers may not add precisely due to rounding
Capital and Operating Costs
Cascadero Copper Corporation
#395, 901 West Third Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3P9
Phone: 604 985 3327
www.cascadero.com [email protected]
The capital and operating cost estimate summaries for the Taron Project are presented in Table 2 and 3,
respectively. By using a contract miner, mining capital costs are minimised, but at the expense of higher
mining operating costs.
Closure costs were incorporated into the operating costs for pit optimisation purposes (at US$1.0 per
processed ore tonne) for the appropriate consideration of mine closure obligations, however the overall
closure cost has been allocated as a capital cost for the Project financial evaluation and is accrued at the
end of the mine life. No allowance for salvage has been included in the closure cost assumptions.
Table 2: Project Capital Costs
Item Unit Cost
Mining Capital US$M 1.98
Process Capital (HPAL) US$M 427.5
Gas Pipeline US$M 5.26
Power Generation US$M 21.62
Roads US$M 1.47
Water Supply US$M 2.35
TMF US$M 11.59
Site Buildings US$M 6.36
Closure US$M 22.16
Sustaining Capital US$M 96.39
Total US$M 596.28
Table 3: Project Operational Costs
Item
Unit Cost
(US$/t ore)
Total LOM Cost
(US$M)
Mining (inc. re-handle) 4.0 134.0
Processing 84.1 1,863.5
Cascadero Copper Corporation
#395, 901 West Third Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3P9
Phone: 604 985 3327
www.cascadero.com [email protected]
Tailings Management 0.3 7.3
G&A 1.0 22.16
Total 91.5 2,027.0
Note: Mining unit costs are based on per tonne ore mined, whereas all other costs consider per tonne ore processed (i.e less mining losses)
Average LOM Operating Cost = Total LOM Operating Costs/Total LOM Ore Tonnes Processed
Economic Analysis
The economic analysis uses a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) approach, based on a post -tax, unleveraged,
real-terms basis, to determine the Net Present Value (NPV), payback period (time in years to recapture
the initial capital investment), and the internal rate of return (IRR) for the Project. Annual cash flo w
projections were estimated over the life of the mine based on the estimates of capital expenditures,
production cost, and sales revenue. The analysis has been conducted in real terms with no consideration
given to inflation or escalation of costs or prices over the life of the Project.
The long-term Cesium Formate brine price used in the economic analysis has been evaluated by WAI,
based preliminary market analysis suitable for a PEA level of study , and agreed with the Company at
US$50,000/t (no escalation), in real terms, over the life of the mine. A payability rate of 97% has been
applied, to reflect 3% royalty payments. No price inflation or escalation factors were taken into account.
The economic analysis is prepared on a 100% equity project basis and does not consider financing
scenarios. A 10% real discount rate has been used in the analysis. The economic model is based on the
following assumptions and exemptions:
• Average throughput rate of 1.75Mtpa open pit operation extracting mineralised material from
which Cesium Formate brines can be produced;
• Cesium Formate brine price is based on consensus equity research long-term commodity price
projections and cost estimates in United States dollars (US$);
• Capital costs (CAPEX) and Operating costs (OPEX) have been estimated at a Preliminary
Economic Assessment level of confidence (±40%);
• The contingency costs have been excluded from the CAPEX schedule; and
• All cost estimates have been calculated in 2024 money terms and, as such, the life of mine
operating cost forecasts do not account for inflation.
The total capital cost estimate for the Taron Project is estimated at US$596.3M, of which the process plant
equates to US$427.5M. The initial capital cost is US$477.7M with the remaining allocated to sustaining
Cascadero Copper Corporation
#395, 901 West Third Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3P9
Phone: 604 985 3327
www.cascadero.com [email protected]
capital (US$96.4M) and closure costs ($US22.2M). By using a contract miner, mining capital costs are
minimised – at the expense of higher mining operating costs.
The Project operating cost includes US$4.0/t for mining, US$84.1/t processing, US$0.3/t tailings
management, and US$1.0/t for G&A. This equates to a total LOM operating cost of US$2,027.0M, or an
average LOM operating cost of US$91.5/t ore processed.
The resultant DCF analysis, at a discount rate of 10%, has presented a positive NPV of US$79M, with an
IRR of 14%. The Project payback period is estimated to be in the fifth year of operations.
Sensitivity analysis flexing the Project NPV shows that the Project is most sensitive to commodity price
(and consequently grade). The Project NPV shows lesser sensitivity to operating expenditure, followed by
capital expenditure and discount rate.
At a 10% discount rate, the NPV is US$79M, with an IRR of 14%. The Project payback period is estimated
to be in the fifth year of operations. A summary of the key Project economics is presented in Table 4 below.
Table 4: Summary of LOM Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
Parameter Unit Value
NPV10 US$M 79
IRR % 14
Payback Period Years 5
A sensitivity analysis respective to variations in the Cesium Formate brine price, operating costs, capital
costs, and discount rate, was conducted to examine the sensitivity of the Model to changing economic
conditions. As can be seen in Figure 1, the Project is most sensitive to Cesium pricing, less sensitive to
operational and capital costing, and least sensitive to discount rate.
Cascadero Copper Corporation
#395, 901 West Third Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7P 3P9
Phone: 604 985 3327
www.cascadero.com [email protected]
Figure 1: Taron Project Sensitivity Analysis
Mining
Mining will be from an open pit operation utilising traditional drilling, blasting, loading and hauling
techniques, although it is currently thought that a proportion of the mined material will be free -digging.
The PEA assumed employment of a mining contractor, which will reduce capital costs and accommodate
fluctuations in annual material movement quantities. Ore material from the Taron pit will be hauled
approximately 3km (ex-pit) directly to the run of mine (ROM) pad adjacent to the process plant. Waste
rock will be hauled to a waste rock storage facility (WRSF) approximately 2km north of the pit exit. Mining
rates peak at 1.75Mtpa and continue over a period of 14 years. As the deposit outcrops at surface, no pre-
stripping phase is required with the first four years of mining producing minimal amounts of waste rock.
Figure 2 below illustrates the Annual tonnes of Ore mined with average Cesium grade.