East Africa Metals Signs Definitive Agreement for Development Financing
East Africa Metals Signs Definitive Agreement for Development Financing
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 02, 2019 -- East Africa Metals Inc. (TSX-V: EAM - “East Africa” or the “Company”) is
pleased to announce the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, has executed a definitive Share Purchase
Agreement and Joint Venture Contract with Silk Road Resources Investments Co. Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tibet
Huayu Mining Co. Limited (“THM”), for the development and operation of the Adyabo Project’s Mato Bula and Da Tambuk
deposits located in the Tigray region of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.
Highlights:
• THM has agreed to purchase 70% interest of the Adyabo Project
• EAM will receive a cash payment of US$1.2M on closing of the transaction and retain a 30% Net Profit Interest
• THM will finance 100% of the capital costs, and operate the mine development program and mining operations
• Estimated capital costs for construction of US$54 million for Mato Bula and US$34 million for Da Tambuk (see East
Africa News Release dated April 30, 2018)
• EAM will retain the exploration rights to all prospective mineralization on its concession areas outside of the current
resource
Tibet Huayu Share Purchase and Project Development Financing
In finalizing the terms of the transaction described in the binding letter of intent (see East Africa News Release dated February
8, 2019), East Africa has agreed to transfer to Tibet Huayu Mining, 70% of the Company’s equity interest in its Ethiopian
subsidiary company, Tigray Resources Inc. (100% owner of East Africa’s Adyabo Project).
The terms of the signed Share Purchase Agreement and Joint Venture Contract confirm Tibet Huayu’s obligation to fund 100%
of the capital expenditures required to develop the Mato Bula and Da Tambuk deposits, operate the mine development program
and mining operations, and make a cash payment to EAM of US$1.2M on closing of the transaction. EAM will benefit from a
30% profits interest in the project.
ADYABO PROJECT PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT SUMMARY (April 30, 2018)
PARAMETER Units
Mato Bula
Mato Bula North Da Tambuk
Mineral Resources*
Indicated
Inferred
Indicated
Tonnes
2,440,000
775,000
Tonnes
Oz Au/Au eqv 5,825,000
330,000 110,000
116,000
Inferred Oz Au/Au eqv 420,000 15,000
Current Mine Plan
(LOM)
Tonnes
3,335,000
650,000
Oz Au/Au eqv 300,000 96,000
Years 6.8 3.3
Capital Cost US$ (‘000s) 54,200 34,030
Sustaining Capital US$ (‘000s) 5,600 8,030
Post Tax Cash Flow (LOM) US$ (‘000s) 97,700 20,615
Post Tax NPV @ 8% US$ (‘000s) 56,660 13,020
Post Tax IRR % 28.4% 28.6%
C1 Op Cost US$/oz Au 412 420
AISC US$/oz Au 620 642
Payback Years 3.0 1.9
Processing Rate t/day 1,400 550
Post Tax Cash Flow US$ (‘000s) $ 29,310 $ 6,185
(See East Africa News Release April 30,2018) Preliminary Economic assessments are preliminary in nature and
include inferred resources considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to
them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. Further, mineral resources that are not mineral
reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty the preliminary economic assessment
will be realized
*See East Africa Metals Project Resource Table attached for additional detail
The transaction also contemplates East Africa will retain the mineral rights, and all exploration obligations for the prospective
targets on its concessions but not incorporated in the Adyabo mining licenses (“EAM Mineral Resources”). East Africa shall
grant Tibet Huayu a right of first refusal of reasonable duration to acquire future EAM’s Mineral Resources based on mutually
agreeable terms similar to those defined by the current transaction.
Andrew Lee Smith, the Company’s CEO stated, “With the Share Purchase Agreement and Joint Venture Contract, East Africa
and Tibet Huayu have agreed on terms and are now committed to closing the transaction prior to August 9, 2019, that will see
the financing for the development of the Mato Bula and Da Tambuk projects finalized.”
The Harvest Project:
EAM and THM continue to develop a separate Share Purchase Agreement and Joint Venture Contract for the financing and
development of the Harvest Project, located eleven kilometers east of the Adyabo Project in the Tigray Region. Negotiations
are proceeding and are expected to be concluded soon.
About East Africa Metals
East Africa’s assets include four, fully permitted, development ready gold and base metal projects in Africa. Over the past
seven years East Africa has been able to advance the Company’s exploration assets through the discovery phase, resource
definition and permitting through to development phase at a pace that is seldom seen in emerging resource sectors. The
performance of the exploration programs designed and implemented by East Africa are notable, not only due to short time-
frame it has taken to achieve the milestone of this past week, but also by the extremely low discovery costs.
The Company’s mineral resources:
EAM Project Resources (Au + Aueqv Metal ounces)
Project Category Au + Aueqv ounces
Adyabo Project Indicated 446,000
Inferred 551,000
Harvest Project Indicated 469,000
Inferred 426,000
Handeni Project Indicated 721,000
Inferred 292,000
*See East Africa Metals Project Resource Table attached for additional detail
More information on the Company can be viewed at the Company’s website: www.eastafricametals.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors:
Andrew Lee Smith, P.Geo., CEO
For further information contact:
Nick Watters, Business Development
Telephone +1 (604) 488-0822
Email [email protected]
Website www.eastafricametals.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.
Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate",
"believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "budget", "schedule", "may", "will", "could", "might",
"should", “indicate”, “confident” or variations of such words or similar words or expressions. Forward-looking information is
based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company as at the date of such information and 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: closing of the Tibet Huayu Transaction; obtaining all required approvals for the Tibet Huayu
Transaction; the ability of Tibet Huayu to develop and operate the Ethiopia Projects and Properties within the required laws
and agreements; the outcome of the arbitration case with the developer for the Tanzanian projects; if the arbitration case is
successful that the Company can occupy the site and advance the Tanzanian projects; if the arbitration is successful the
Tanzanian Definitive Agreement payments are not refundable; recoverability of the Ethiopian and Tanzanian VAT receivable;
early exploration; the ability of East Africa to identify any other corporate opportunities for the Company; the possibility that the
Company may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service its planned operations and may be force to take other
options; the risk the Company may not be able to continue as a going concern; the possibility the Company will require
additional financing to develop the Ethiopian Projects into a mining operation; the risks associated with obtaining necessary
licenses or permits including and not limited to Ethiopian Government approval of EAM Mineral Resources extensions for the
Company’s Ethiopian Properties and Projects; risks associated with mineral exploration and development; metal and mineral
prices; availability of capital; accuracy of the Company’s projections and estimates, including the initial and any updates to the
mineral resource for the Adyabo, Harvest and Handeni Projects; realization of mineral resource estimates; interest and
exchange rates; competition; stock price fluctuations; availability of drilling equipment and access; actual results of
exploration activities; government regulation; political or economic developments; foreign taxation risks; environmental risks;
insurance risks; capital expenditures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities; personnel
relations; the speculative nature of strategic metal exploration and development including the risks of contests over title to
properties; and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, as well as those risk factors set out in the
Company’s listing application, East Africa’s financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for the three
months ended March 31, 2019 and for the year ended December 31, 2018, and East Africa’s listing application dated July 8,
2013. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of
mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or
other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported inferred mineral resources as the estimation is uncertain in nature
and there has been insufficient exploration to define any inferred mineral resources as an indicated or measured mineral
resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading inferred mineral resources to an indicated or measured
mineral resource category. The contained gold, copper and silver figures shown are in situ. No assurance can be given that
the estimated quantities will be produced. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be
reasonable, including but not limited to the price of precious and base metals; the demand for precious and base metals; the
ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the timely receipt of any required approvals; the ability to obtain
qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the ability to operate in a safe, efficient and
effective manner; and the regulatory framework including and not limited to license approvals, social and environmental
matters, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there
may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such
information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
information. The Company does not update or revise forward looking information even if new information becomes available
unless legislation requires the Company to do so. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
information contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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.
A PDF is available at: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/ff288d8e-547c-4038-b82c-6d9fba5c3d0e