TORONTO, ONTARIO—(Marketwired – May 19, 2015) – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
HIGHLIGHTS
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On April 20, 2015, China–based Zijin Mining Group acquired a 9.9% stake in Ivanhoe Mines by investing approximately C$105 million (US$85 million) to help advance Ivanhoe's three mine–development projects in Africa. Under terms of the agreement, Ivanhoe will issue 76,817,020 common shares to Zijin through a private placement at a price of C$1.36 per share. In addition, Ivanhoe and Zijin are in detailed, friendly discussions about the strategic co–development of Ivanhoe's Kamoa copper discovery in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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On March 3, 2015, members of the Ivanhoe Mines exploration team received the prestigious Thayer Lindsley Award from the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) for the discovery of the Kamoa Copper Deposit in the DRC.
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In January 2015, Ivanhoe completed a pre–feasibility study for the Platreef Project in South Africa that covered the first phase of development of a large, mechanized, underground mine with an initial four–million–tonne–per–year concentrator and associated infrastructure to support initial concentrate production by 2019. The study estimates a planned initial, average annual production rate of 433,000 ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold (3PE+Au), plus 19 million pounds of nickel and 12 million pounds of copper per year, at an estimated $322 per ounce of 3PE+Au, net of by–products. The feasibility study for the first phase of development is expected to commence within the next six weeks.
•
Ivanhoe Mines plans to develop the Platreef underground mine in three phases – an initial annual rate of four million tonnes per year (Mtpa) to establish an operating platform to support future expansions; followed by a doubling of production to eight Mtpa; and then a third expansion phase to a steady–state 12 Mtpa. At a projected production rate of 12 Mtpa, Platreef would be among the largest platinum–group metals mines in the world.
•
On February 11, 2015, Ivanhoe announced that its South African subsidiary, Ivanplats, was the top–ranked platinum–sector mining company in compliance with the country's black empowerment laws. Ivanplats achieved Level 3 status in its first verification assessment on the Broad–Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) scorecard. A total of 70% of the 700 permanent and contract workers currently employed by the company are from the local area.
•
In major double achievements of on–the–job health and safety management, both the Kamoa Project in the DRC and the Platreef Project in South Africa now have surpassed the total of four million accumulated person hours of work without either project incurring a single injury that caused a loss of time worked. The Platreef Project topped the four–million–hour mark in April 2015. The Kamoa Project, which ended 2014 with a lost–time–injury–free (LTIF) total of 3.9 million hours, pushed its record to 4.04 million hours by the end of March this year.
•
Construction work on a large concrete surface collar for the 7.25–metre–diameter Shaft 1 at Platreef is advancing well and the refurbished stage and hoist–winding equipment will be installed once the foundations are complete. Shaft 1, including some initial lateral, underground development work, is expected to be fully funded from dedicated funds remaining in Ivanhoe's treasury from the $280 million received in 2011 from the sale of an 8% interest in the Platreef Project to the ITOCHU–led Japanese consortium.
•
On February 17, 2015, Ivanhoe announced the intersection of a potential new zone of mineralization by Hole KPU072 at the Kipushi copper–zinc–germanium–lead and precious–metals mine in the DRC, 140 metres below the base of historical Indicated Resources within the Big Zinc zone. The observed intersection includes mixed massive sphalerite, chalcopyrite and minor pyrite from 417.32 metres to 420.55 metres, massive sphalerite from 420.55 metres to 468.09 metres, and massive pyrite with accessory chalcopyrite and sphalerite from 468.09 metres to 477.17 metres. The core intersection angles suggest that the zone may have a true width of approximately 30 metres.
Principal Projects and Review of Activities
Ivanhoe Mines is advancing and developing its three principal projects in Southern Africa:
•
The Kamoa copper discovery in a previously unknown extension of the Central African Copperbelt in the DRC's Province of Katanga.
•
The Platreef Discovery of platinum, palladium, nickel, copper, gold and rhodium on the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex in South Africa.
•
The historic, high–grade Kipushi zinc–copper mine, also on the Copperbelt in the DRC and now being drilled and upgraded following a care–and–maintenance program conducted between 1993 and 2011.
1. Kamoa Project
95%–owned by Ivanhoe Mines
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The Kamoa Project is a very large, stratiform copper deposit with adjacent prospective exploration areas within the Central African Copperbelt, approximately 25 kilometres west of the town of Kolwezi and about 270 kilometres west of the Katangan provincial capital of Lubumbashi. Ivanhoe holds its 95% interest in the Kamoa Project through a subsidiary company, Kamoa Copper SA (formerly African Minerals Barbados Limited SPRL). A 5%, non–dilutable interest in Kamoa Copper SA was transferred to the DRC government on September 11, 2012, for no consideration, pursuant to the DRC Mining Code. Ivanhoe also has offered to sell an additional 15% interest to the DRC government on commercial terms to be negotiated.
Kamoa is the world's largest undeveloped, high–grade copper deposit. On January 17, 2013, an updated mineral resource estimate was announced that increased Kamoa's Indicated Mineral Resources to a total of 739 million tonnes grading 2.67% copper and containing 43.5 billion pounds of copper. This was an increase of 115% over the previous estimate prepared in September 2011 of 348 million tonnes grading 2.64% copper and containing 20.2 billion pounds of copper. Both estimates used a 1.0% copper cut–off grade and a minimum vertical mining thickness of three metres.
In addition to the Indicated Resources, the updated estimate included Inferred Mineral Resources of 227 million tonnes grading 1.96% copper and containing 9.8 billion pounds of copper, also at a 1.0% copper cut–off grade and a minimum vertical mining thickness of three metres.
At a higher, 2.0% copper cut–off grade, Kamoa's Indicated Resources total an estimated 550 million tonnes grading 3.04% copper and containing 36.9 billion pounds of copper. At the 2.0% cut–off, Kamoa also has 93 million tonnes of Inferred Resources grading 2.64% copper, which contain an estimated 5.4 billion pounds of copper.
Diamond drilling
Limited drilling occurred in Q1 2015, with only 100 metres completed in three shallow holes drilled by company–owned rigs in the Kansoko Nord area.
Ivanhoe plans to continue drilling in 2015 with two company–owned rigs and a recently purchased new rig that is capable of drilling to a depth of 1,000 metres. The 2015 exploration program will focus on the southern portion of the project area where the successful 2014 program highlighted a promising target – the Kakula discovery, which is similar in style and stratigraphic position to the high–grade Kansoko trend. Exploration also will continue to look for shallow, high–grade zones in the Kamoa North area.
Preparation for construction of first declines
The construction of the box cut for the first access declines to the initial, planned underground mine was completed at the end of 2014. This will enable the construction of the twin declines that have been designed to intersect the high–grade copper mineralization in the Kansoko Sud area, approximately 150 metres below the surface.
Ivanhoe's drilling program in this area has defined a thick, near–surface zone of high–grade copper mineralization, where a recent drill hole intercepted 15.7 metres (true width) of 7.04% copper, at a 1.5% total copper cut–off.
To view Figure 1, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1006658–F1.pdf
A tender for construction of the twin declines to the first mining area and a raise–bore ventilation shaft was issued at the end of November. The company anticipates awarding the contract in Q2 2015 and commencing construction in Q3 2015. The tendered work also will include bolting, meshing and shotcreting required to permanently support the walls of the box cut. The construction of a concrete roadway, drains and de–watering sumps in the box cut began at the end of 2014 and is due to be completed in Q3 2015.
Pre–feasibility study
In line with the phased approach to project development outlined in the 2013 Kamoa preliminary economic assessment, the Kamoa pre–feasibility study (PFS) is progressing based on the planned first phase of the project, which will be the construction of an underground operation producing three million tonnes a year and feeding an adjacent concentrator.
Given the relatively undeformed, continuous mineralization of the Kamoa resource, it is considered amenable to large–scale, mechanized stepped–room–and–pillar mining, transitioning to drift–and–fill mining in the deeper sections of the mine.
A consortium of MDM and AMEC Foster Wheeler has been appointed to complete the PFS for the processing plant and infrastructure.
The concentrator plant consists of three stages of crushing followed by ball milling to a grind of 80% passing 53µm (micrometres). The flotation circuit consists of a fast–floating rougher and cleaner section followed by a slower–floating rougher and cleaner section, including a concentrate regrind. Concentrate from the two sections is combined, dewatered and bagged for sale. Testwork consistently has resulted in copper recoveries in excess of 85% at concentrate grades approaching 40% copper, depending on copper–feed mineralogy. The scope of work for the infrastructure includes the access road, rail siding, raw–water supply from a borefield and power supply for the mine.
Work on the mining portion of the PFS is progressing well, with the majority of the underground design and mine scheduling completed. Additional design and testwork is continuing for the paste backfill system that is planned to be used in drift–and–fill mining.
Continued focus on sustainability
There remains a key focus on safety, health, environmental management and community relations at the Kamoa site. By the end of Q1 2015, 4,047,743 lost–time–injury–free (LTIF) hours had been worked. Ivanhoe is continuing to maintain health programs relating to malaria and HIV monitoring, prevention and treatment in the workplace and in the communities.
Baseline data collection for Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) purposes was completed in 2014 and the team continues to monitor surface and ground–water conditions, dust fallout and noise levels for regulatory purposes. A reforestation program involving more the 3,000 square metres and 800 seedlings has been developed.
A total of 165 stakeholder meetings were conducted in Q1 2015 involving 2,052 participants ranging from community members and traditional leaders to governmental officials. The construction of the Kaponda School was completed and a handover ceremony was attended by the community members, authorities, partners and Kamoa representatives. Livelihood initiatives during Q1 2015 included the monitoring of the 343 hectares of maize, honey and vegetable production and marketing and the training of women on poultry production.
To view Figure 2, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1006658–F2.pdf
A social and environmental management system has been developed that monitors and records environmental and community statistics. Resettlement planning and updating of the environmental and social impact assessment await the finalization of the project schedule.
2. Platreef Project
64%–owned by Ivanhoe Mines
South Africa
The Platreef Project in South Africa's Limpopo province is 64%–owned by Ivanhoe through its subsidiary, Ivanplats (Pty) Ltd. (Ivanplats) and 10%–owned by a Japanese consortium of ITOCHU Corporation; ITC Platinum, an ITOCHU affiliate; Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation; and Japan Gas Corporation. The Japanese consortium's 10% interest in the Platreef Project was acquired in two tranches for a total investment of $290 million. The remaining 26% interest is held by Ivanhoe's broad–based, black economic empowerment (BBBEE) partners, which include communities, employees and entrepreneurs. Ivanplats achieved Level 3 status in its first verification assessment on a BBBEE scorecard, the highest–ranking platinum–sector mining company in compliance with South Africa's black empowerment laws.
The Platreef Project hosts an underground deposit of thick, platinum–group metals, nickel, copper and gold mineralization in the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex, approximately 280 kilometres northeast of Johannesburg.
On the Northern Limb, such mineralization primarily is hosted within the Platreef, a mineralized sequence that is traced more than 30 kilometres along strike. Ivanhoe's Platreef Project, within the southern sector of the Platreef, is comprised of three contiguous properties: Turfspruit, Macalacaskop and Rietfontein. The northernmost property, Turfspruit, is contiguous with, and along strike from, Anglo Platinum's Mogalakwena group of properties and mining operations.
Since 2007, Ivanhoe has focused its exploration activities on defining and advancing the down–dip extension of its original Platreef discovery, now known as the Flatreef Deposit, which is viewed as being amenable to highly mechanized, underground mining methods. The Flatreef area lies entirely on the Turfspruit and Macalacaskop properties.
To view Figure 3, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1006658–F3.pdf
Mining right activated
The Ivanplats mining right was officially executed by the national government's Department of Mineral Resources on November 4, 2014. The mining right authorizes the company to exclusively mine and process platinum–group metals, nickel, copper, gold, silver, cobalt, iron, vanadium and chrome from the mining area for an initial period of 30 years, and may be renewed for an unlimited number of consecutive periods each of up to 30 years, in accordance with section 24 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act.
Mining operations must be conducted in accordance with the Mining Work Program (MWP) and any amendment to such MWP, and with an approved Environmental Management Plan (EMP). The company commenced the roll–out of its Social and Labour Plan (SLP), which includes the planning, implementation and execution of local economic development projects, human resource development and enterprise/supplier development.
Shaft 1 construction
The excavation of the box cut is complete and the construction of the large concrete shaft collar is underway. Construction also is underway of the foundations for the large winding equipment required for shaft sinking. The winding equipment has been refurbished and is being stored off–site.
To view Figures 4 and 5, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1006658–F4–5.pdf
Other work on site includes the construction of the primary terraces for Shaft 1 and the 5MVA temporary power supply. The construction of the pollution control dam is ongoing. A total of 83% of the 638 permanent and contract workers currently employed by the company are from the local area.
To view Figure 6, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1006658–F6.pdf
Platreef planning a phased approach to a large, underground, mechanized mine
The company completed a pre–feasibility study (PFS) in January 2015 that covered the first phase of development that is expected to include construction of an underground mine, concentrator and other associated infrastructure to support initial concentrate production by 2019. As the first phase is being developed and commissioned, there will be opportunities to refine the timing and scope of subsequent phases of production.
PFS highlights
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Development of a large, mechanized, underground mine with an initial four–million–tonne–per–year concentrator and associated infrastructure.
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Planned initial average annual production rate of 433,000 ounces (oz) of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold (3PE+Au), plus 19 million pounds of nickel and 12 million pounds of copper.
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Estimated pre–production capital requirement of approximately $1.2 billion, including $114 million in contingencies, at a ZAR:USD exchange rate of 11 to 1.
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Platreef would rank at the bottom of the cash–cost curve, at an estimated $322 per ounce of 3PE+Au, net of by–products.
•
The planned Platreef mine is projected to require a workforce of approximately 2,200 within four years of the start of production.
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After–tax Net Present Value (NPV) of $972 million, at an 8% discount rate.
•
After–tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 13%.
The scenarios describe a staged approach, where there would be opportunities to expand the operation depending on demand, smelting and refining capacity and capital availability. As the Phase 1 production scenario is developed and placed into production, there is expected to be an opportunity to modify and optimize the subsequent phases, allowing for changes to the timing of capacity expansions to suit market conditions.
Ivanhoe also has retained Whittle Consulting of Melbourne, Australia, to conduct an optimization study based on the Platreef PFS. This work is complete and certain recommendations from the study will be carried forward into the feasibility study during 2015.
Mineral resources in the Flatreef underground discovery
The Flatreef Mineral Resource, with a strike length of 6.5 kilometres, lies predominantly within a flat to gently dipping portion of the Platreef mineralized belt at relatively shallow depths of approximately 700 to 1,100 metres below the surface.
The Flatreef Deposit is characterized by its very large vertical thicknesses of high–grade mineralization and a platinum–to–palladium ratio of approximately 1:1, which is significantly higher than other recent PGM discoveries on the Bushveld's Northern Limb. The grade shells used to constrain mineralization in the Flatreef Indicated Mineral Resource area have average true thicknesses of approximately 24 metres at a cut–off grade of 2.0 grams per tonne (g/t) of platinum, palladium and gold (2PE+Au). The Indicated Mineral Resource grade at an equivalent 2.0–gram–per–tonne 3PE+Au cut–off is 4.1 g/t 3PE+Au, 0.34% nickel and 0.17% copper. Flatreef's Indicated Mineral Resources of 214 million tonnes contain an estimated 28.5 million ounces of platinum, palladium, gold and rhodium, 1.6 billion pounds of nickel and 0.8 billion pounds of copper. The company has declared an initial Probable Mineral Reserve of 15.5 million ounces of platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold, using a declining Net Smelter Return (NSR) cut–off of $100/t–$80/t.
Mining methods
Mining zones in the current Platreef mine plan occur at depths ranging from approximately 700 metres to 1,200 metres below the surface. Four vertical shafts will provide access to the mine. Shaft 2 will host the main personnel transport cage, material and ore handling systems, while Shafts 1, 3 and 4 will provide ventilation for the underground workings. Shaft 1, now under development, will be used for initial access to the ore body and early underground development.
Mining will be performed using highly productive, mechanized methods, including long–hole stoping and drift–and–fill mining. The mined drift–and–fill and long–hole stopes will be backfilled with a paste mixture that utilizes tailings from the process plant and cement. The ore will be hauled from the stopes to the bottom of Shaft 2, where it will be crushed and hoisted to surface.
Metallurgical and processing
Metallurgical test work has focused on maximizing the recovery of platinum–group elements (PGE) and base metals, while producing an acceptably high–grade concentrate suitable for further processing and/or sale to a third party. The three main geo–metallurgical units and composites have produced smelter–grade final concentrates of approximately 85 g/t PGE + Au at acceptable PGE recoveries. Testwork also has shown that the material is amenable to treatment by conventional flotation without the need for re–grinding. Batch open–circuit and locked–cycle flotation testwork has been performed.
Comminution and flotation testwork has indicated that the optimum grind size is 80% passing 75 µm (micrometres), which is consistent with sizes commonly reported by platinum mines in South Africa. The circuit developed during 2014 includes the use of industry–standard reagents and has replaced the previous circuit that used niche flotation reagents. Current flotation test work is focused on improving the concentrate specification to facilitate discussions around future off–take agreements.
Platreef ore is classified as ranging from hard to very hard, and thus not suitable for semi–autogenous grinding. A multi–stage crushing and ball–milling circuit is the preferred option.
A two–phased development approach was used for PFS flow–sheet design. The selected flow sheet is comprised of a four–million–tonne–per–year, three–stage crushing circuit that will feed crushed material to two parallel milling–flotation modules, each with a capacity of two million tonnes per year. Flotation is followed by a four–million–tonne–per–year tailings handling and concentrate thickening, filtration and storage circuit.
Shafts 1 and 2
Shaft 1 will have an internal diameter of 7.25 metres, with an annual planned hoisting capacity of 2.5 million tonnes. It is projected to reach a total depth of 975 metres in 2018. South Africa–based Aveng Mining, the shaft–sinking contractor, is responsible for the excavation of the box–cut access for the shaft collar and vent plenum and will be the sinking contractor for Shaft 1. The fabrication of the temporary, sinking head–frame and centre tower has begun.
Shaft 1, including some initial lateral, underground development work, is expected to be fully funded from dedicated funds remaining in Ivanhoe's treasury from the $280 million received in 2011 for the sale of an 8% interest in the Platreef Project to the ITOCHU–led Japanese consortium.
Ivanhoe awarded the contract for the design and engineering of Shaft 2, the 10–metre–diameter main production shaft that will be capable of hoisting six million tonnes a year, to South Africa–based Murray & Roberts Cementation in June 2014. This will enable Ivanhoe to start Shaft 2 development works this year, subject to necessary approvals and funding. The box–cut designs are complete and the contract for the early engineering works for the winding equipment has been awarded to South Africa–based FLSmidth.
Bulk water and electricity supply
The Olifants River Water Resource Development Project (ORWRDP) is designed to deliver water to the Eastern and Northern limbs of South Africa's Bushveld Igneous Complex. The project consists of the new De Hoop Dam, the raised wall of the Flag Boshielo Dam and related pipeline infrastructure that ultimately will deliver water to Pruissen, southeast of the Northern Limb. The Pruissen Pipeline Project will be developed to deliver water onward from Pruissen to the municipalities, communities and mining projects on the Northern Limb. Ivanhoe is a member of the ORWRDP's Joint Water Forum. The Minister of Water & Sanitation issued a directive that the Trans Caledonian Tunnel Authority was appointed as the implementing agent for the outstanding phases of the ORWRDP's scheme, which include the Phase 2B pipeline from Flag Boshielo Dam to Mokopane.
Participants in the water development scheme are required to indicate their water requirements so that the total water demand may be calculated relative to the scheme's capacity. The Platreef Project's water requirement for the first phase of development is projected to peak at approximately 10 million litres per day. Ivanhoe is continuing to investigate various alternative bulk–water sources.
The Platreef Project's power requirement for a four–million–tonne per year underground mine, concentrator and associated infrastructure has been estimated at approximately 100MVA. As power is required for the initial mine development (shaft sinking), prior to the main power supply being available, an agreement with Eskom has been reached for the supply of 5MVA of temporary construction power. Ivanhoe is awaiting the budget quote from Eskom on the permanent supply.
Exploration and resource expansion drilling
A total of 5,349 metres in 10 holes of Zone 1 resource–expansion drilling was completed on February 11, 2015. There are no current plans to continue with exploration drilling in 2015 as the focus of activities shifts to shaft development and the feasibility study. Despite the pause in exploration activity, the Platreef Project remains highly prospective, with the mineralised horizon open to the south and west. Additional resources potentially could be defined or the confidence in existing resources improved through exploration drilling as and when required.
There have been significant advances in the understanding of the structural framework of the Platreef Project since the completion of the 2012 resource model. Ongoing modelling and the collection of significant additional structural data have culminated in a fully revised structural model for inclusion in a new resource estimate to be completed in 2015. Since 2013, additional diamond drilling, a three–dimensional seismic survey, comprehensive photography of all Main Zone intersections and a systematic, section–by–section re–logging of all UMT drill holes has provided significant additional information.
Through the collection of this data and a very systematic approach to identifying, validating and re–modelling observed features, a revised structural model was completed at the end of Q1 2015.
Job–skills training and environmental management commitments
As required under South African legislation, and in conjunction with the approval of the mining right, an integrated water–use licence application was submitted to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS); a waste–management licence application was submitted to the National Department of Environmental Affairs; and an application for environmental authorization was submitted to the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET). Extensive environmental, social and engineering baseline studies were conducted in 2013 in support of these applications.
The Platreef Project received environmental authorization in June 2014 from LEDET. Ivanhoe is working closely with this department to ensure continual compliance during the implementation of the approved environmental management plan and the conditions stipulated in the environmental authorization. Authorization also was received from the DWS for the extraction of specified quantities of water from groundwater resources.
Ivanhoe has engaged with the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) to obtain input and guidance on the management of archaeological and heritage resources in the area.
The Platreef Project recently achieved more than four million person hours worked without a lost–time injury. Through teamwork, and in partnership with employees, consultants and contractors, Ivanhoe is working to establish a sustainable culture of harm prevention to benefit workers, communities, other stakeholders and the environment through an effective health, safety and environmental management system that recognizes and utilizes best industry practices.
Following the activation of the Platreef mining right in November 2014, Ivanhoe began investing in its Social and Labour Plan, to which the company has pledged a total of R160 million ($14 million) during the next five years. The approved plan includes R67.2 million ($6 million) for the development of job skills among local residents and R87.7 million ($8 million) for local economic development projects. This allocation includes R26 million ($2 million) to build a community skills development and a training facility in the Mokopane area as part of Ivanhoe's objective of helping to establish a roster of qualified, local candidates for jobs at the mine and its associated minerals processing plant. The facility will be accredited by the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA).
To view Figure 7, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1006658–F7.pdf
A total of 21 employees will participate in a planned internal training to provide members of the current workforce with opportunities to expand their skills, predominantly focused on exploration activities.
A total of 13 employees who do not meet the minimum Grade 12 employment requirement are enrolled in Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET). Internships for two employees in the Safety Department also are continuing.
Under a community training initiative launched in 2015, in partnership with the Department of Education, ABET began in four centres in communities directly affected by the planned development of the Platreef mine. Non–core technical training began in February 2015 at the Ergo Maphelong Training Centre in Masodi, where 78 local students are being trained in various non–core activities for employment during the mine's construction phase.
Ivanhoe has initiated a R24 million ($2 million) partnership between South Africa's University of Limpopo and Laurentian University in Canada to develop and equip Limpopo's geology department to improve its curriculum choices for students, conduct research on the Platreef Project and offer post–graduate studies in geology. Ivanhoe will allocate approximately R12 million ($1 million) to the University of Limpopo and R12 million ($1 million) to Laurentian University over the next five years, and has committed to renewing the partnership for a further five–year period.
In addition to its SLP and BBBEE commitments, Ivanhoe has begun an R11 million ($1 million) water harvesting and community sanitation facility renovation project in its host communities. The Platreef Project will provide internships to help university students complete practical components of their studies and, in the process, provide the mine with potential candidates for permanent employment.
To view Figure 8, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1006658–F8.pdf
3. Kipushi Project
68%–owned by Ivanhoe Mines
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The Kipushi copper–zinc–germanium–lead mine, in the Democratic Republic of Congo's southern Katanga province, is adjacent to the town of Kipushi and approximately 30 kilometres southwest of the provincial capital of Lubumbashi. It also is located on the Central African Copperbelt, southeast of Ivanhoe's Kamoa Project, and less than one kilometre from the Zambian border. Ivanhoe acquired its 68% interest in the Kipushi Project in November 2011; the balance of 32% is held by the state–owned mining company, La Générale des Carrières et des Mines (Gécamines).
Project development and infrastructure
Work began in early March 2014 on the planned underground diamond–drilling program at the Kipushi Project, a major advance made possible by the ongoing dewatering program directed by Ivanhoe during the past three years following its acquisition of the historic mine in November 2011.
The mine, which had been placed on care and maintenance in 1993, flooded in early 2011 due to a lack of pump maintenance over an extended period. Water reached 851 metres below surface at its peak. A major milestone was reached in December 2013 when Ivanhoe restored access to the mine's principal haulage level at 1,150 metres below the surface.
Since then, crews have been upgrading underground infrastructure to permanently stabilize the water levels and support the drilling program. Recent improvements have included the establishment of pump stations at the 1,112–metre and 1,272–metre levels, refurbishment of a ventilation shaft fan, ventilation along the hanging–wall drift on the 1,272–metre level, continued removal of corroded ventilation column from Shaft 5 and inspections of all shaft conveyances, ropes and guides.
Water levels are stabilized below the 1,150–metre–level haul way and 1,272–metre–level hanging–wall drift, enabling access for drilling, with two rigs targeting the Série Récurrente and Big Zinc mineralization.
To view Figures 9, 10 and 11, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/1006658–F9–11.pdf
Environmental studies
Golder Associates was engaged in early 2014 to conduct an IFC–compliant ESHIA baseline study to determine the impact of previous mining activities by Gécamines and provide a baseline for the future. A year–long environmental monitoring and sampling program was completed in Q1 2015, with a final report expected in Q2 2015.
Monitoring of surface and groundwater, air quality and climate is continuing to meet DRC regulatory reporting requirements.
Confirmatory and exploration drilling
Ivanhoe's underground drilling program at Kipushi is designed to confirm and update the mine's estimated historical resources and to further expand the resources along strike and at depth.
A total of 4,140 metres in 11 drill holes were completed in Q1 2015 in the Big Zinc and Nord Riche zones. A total of 17,413 metres of drilling had been completed in 81 holes by the end of Q1 2015.
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following table summarizes selected financial information for the prior eight quarters. Ivanhoe had no operating revenue in any financial reporting period and did not declare or pay any dividend or distribution in any financial reporting period.
3 Months ended
March 31,
2015
December 31,
2014
September 30,
2014
June 30,
2014
$'000
$'000
$'000
$'000
Exploration and project expenditure
13,241
26,122
33,385
39,580
General administrative expenditure
5,775
8,976
8,045
4,913
Shared–based payments
1,986
2,245
7,060
85,428
Finance costs
34
382
377
1,124
Mark–to–market (gain) loss on revaluation of warrants
(4,212
)
(2,316
)
(12,360
)
5,152
Deferred tax recovery
–
(46
)
–
–
Total comprehensive loss attributable to:
Owners of the Company
15,511
31,649
23,474
129,474
Non–controlling interest
3,498
5,434
15,092
6,280
Loss per share (basic and diluted)
0.02
0.05
0.03
0.21
3 Months ended
March 31,
2014
December 31,
2013
September 30,
2013
June 30,
2013
$'000
$'000
$'000
$'000
Exploration and project expenditure
37,102
60,638
39,793
41,281
General administrative expenditure
9,318
11,567
6,259
6,270
Shared–based payments
2,561
2,029
1,898
2,143
Impairment of mineral property, goodwill and other
–
334,338
–
–
Legal settlement
–
–
10,000
–
Finance costs
358
559
543
319
Deferred tax recovery
–
(75,701
)
–
–
Total comprehensive loss attributable to:
Owners of the Company
42,750
240,262
51,787
43,804
Non–controlling interest
6,057
92,606
6,248
7,198
Loss per share (basic and diluted)
0.07
0.41
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