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Hope & Gorob Mine Planning Update

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Bezant progresses Hope & Gorob mine planning, securing ore sorter access and finalising contractor agreements.

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Following the granting of Mining Licence M246, subject to statutory approval (the "Mining Licence"), and confirmation of the renewal of adjoining exploration licences, including EPL 5796 surrounding the Mining Licence, Bezant Resources ("Bezant" or the "Company") has continued to move the Hope & Gorob Project towards development-ready status pending the granting of an Environmental Clearance Certificate ("ECC") for which the Company is awaiting approval.

During this intervening period whilst the Company awaits the granting of the ECC, Bezant is using the time to refine and update both technical and contractual matters aimed at improving anticipated processing recoveries, mine scheduling and cash flow projections.

Highlights

  • The Company has negotiated access to a Namibian-based ore sorter unit with the specifications corresponding in size, throughput and sensor types to the equipment selected for the Hope & Gorob ore sorting.
  • Commencement of optimisation of ore sorting recoveries by a leading provider of ore sorting solutions. To this end Bezant has supplied a one tonne ore sample obtained from its recently completed drilling programme at Hope.
  • Optimisation results will inform the financial model as to the anticipated cash flow relative to run of mine ore upgrade and ore sorter recovery associated with multiple variable sensor testing.
  • Encouraging pricing meetings undertaken with contractors responsible for drilling and blasting, in-pit mining and haulage and outbound logistics for the transport and delivery of pre-concentrate to the copper concentrator for the open pit mining at Hope.
  • Ongoing negotiations regarding heavy plant and equipment to be used for mining and ore - waste haulage.

Colin Bird, Executive Chairman of Bezant, commented "Development of a metallurgically simple copper - gold resource amenable to ore sorting and modest capex with a 5 - year open pit starter ore body would be an ideal asset for the Company at a time when my belief is that the copper price has the potential to fluctuate between US$8,500 and US$11,000 per tonne. The excellent work of our highly skilled and experienced external contractors and advisers gives us confidence in our ability to develop Hope & Gorob. We look forward to notifying the market of the receipt of the ECC and the next stage of development of the mine."

Bezant has commenced a programme of detailed optimisation of ore sorting recoveries for a variety of sensor responses for the Hope & Gorob Project. A one tonne sample of fresh mineralisation has been delivered to a Namibian testing facility where an ore sorting unit with dimensions, throughput capacity and ore sorting sensors similar to the unit selected for Hope & Gorob is currently available for use. Access to equipment to undertake advanced analysis and the refinement of optimisation ahead of Project construction is an opportunity not to be missed.

The Company is also pleased to confirm pricing meetings have been held on-site with Namibian-based selected contractors who will be responsible for drilling and blasting, in-pit mining and haulage and outbound logistics for the transport and delivery of pre-concentrate to the copper concentrator for the open pit mining at Hope. Discussions specifically related to detailed costing and manpower requirements consistent with the advanced stage of development of the Project.

The Company has also agreed with the same contractors, on the quantity and type of heavy plant and equipment to be utilised during the first 4 to 5 years of production.

Further detail on the Project can be obtained from an independent report generated by Sound Mining and announced on 15 November 2024. The report can be accessed from http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/4529M_1-2024-11-15.pdf

Cleaned text: letterheads, contacts and legal notices removed. View the original announcement ↗ · Company filings. Not investment advice.

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