Feb 2 2016
GoviEx Uranium Inc. is pleased to confirm that the Government of Niger has advised the company that its Mining Permit application for the Madaouela I tenement area has been approved by its Counsel of Ministers.
"This positive decision on behalf of the Government of Niger is the result of a decade of considerable effort by GoviEx and local stakeholders engaged on exploration, discovery, engineering, and the critical environmental and social aspect of this large and high-grade project. Since being awarded the exploration permits in June 2006, GoviEx has worked to achieve best international standards throughout the completion of the various technical studies. This decision of support is a stamp of approval for the quality of the work done to date by GoviEx, and the robustness of the Madaouela Project," stated Govind Friedland, GoviEx's Founder and Chairman. "We are extremely proud of the entire team who have helped the company and the State reach this important milestone."
The Madaouela Project is based on the mineral resources associated with the Madaouela I Mining Permit. The NI 43-101 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for the Madaouela Project in Niger, defined a large, low operating cost, commercially viable uranium project in the prolific Arlit uranium-mining district of northern Niger. The confirmed Mine Permit and approved Environmental and Social Impact Assessment means that the Madaouela Project is fully permitted for construction and production.
The IDP was prepared for GoviEx by SRK Consulting (UK) Limited. The NI 43-101 technical report - titled, "An Updated Integrated Development Plan for the Madaouela Project, Niger" dated effective August 11, 2015 - is available under the company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Highlights of GoviEx's Madaouela Project IDP:
- The project development plan envisions an average 2.69 million pounds per year U3O8 yellowcake production rate over a 21-year mine life, with a 93.7% ultimate recovery of uranium.
- The IDP is based on Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of 110 million pounds (Mlb) U3O8 and 61 Mlb of Probable Mineral Reserves.
- The base case project economics for this project at a long-term uranium price of US$70/lb U3O8 are positive, and indicate an after-tax net present value of US$340 million (at 8% discount rate) with an internal rate of return (IRR) of 23.5% and a total life of mine (LoM) net free cash of US$1,126 million.
- Initial capital costs are estimated at US$359 million, and cash operating costs of US$24.49/lb U3O8 including by-product credits and excluding royalties. It is noted that molybdenum has not been included in the Mineral Resource model and hence is not considered to be at the same level of confidence as the uranium grades.
In addition, the company has been advised by the Niger Government that its application for the Eralrar exploration tenement has been approved, as well as the renewal applications for the Madaouela II, III, IV and Anou Melle tenements. However, the company's renewal application for Agaliouk exploration tenement was not approved and the company remains focused assessing the various options available.
About GoviEx Uranium
GoviEx is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its Madaouela Project and its other uranium properties in Niger.
For additional details, please visit GoviEx's website at www.goviex.com.
The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Dr. Rob Bowell, a chartered chemist of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a chartered geologist of the Geological Society of London and Fellow of the Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Materials who is an independent Qualified Person under the terms of National Instrument 43-101 for uranium deposits.