Savannah Resources Plc (LON:SAV) CEO David Archer talks to DirectorsTalk about the current level of interest in Lithium, what David likes about the Mina do Barroso project, with the news of the intersections supporting the potential to fast track the project David explains the plans from here and also how the mining industry will meet the demand for Lithium.
Savannah Resources Plc is a growth oriented, multi-commodity, mineral development company.
Mozambique
Savannah operates the Mutamba heavy mineral sands project in Mozambique in collaboration with Rio Tinto, and can earn a 51% interest in the related Consortium, which has an established initial Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 4.4 billion tonnes at 3.9% THM over the Jangamo, Dongane and Ravene deposits. Under the terms of the Consortium Agreement with Rio Tinto, upon delivery by Savannah of the following will earn the corresponding interest in the Mutamba Project (which currently is 20% following delivery of scoping study in May 2017): pre-feasibility study – 35%; feasibility study – 51%. Additionally, the Consortium Agreement includes an offtake agreement on commercial terms for the sale of 100% of heavy mineral concentrate production to Rio Tinto (or an affiliate).
Oman
Savannah has interests in two copper blocks in the highly prospective Semail Ophiolite Belt in Oman. The projects, which have an Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.7Mt @ 2.2% copper and high-grade intercepts of up to 56.35m at 6.21% Cu, with gold credits, provide Savannah with an excellent opportunity to potentially evolve into a mid-tier copper and gold producer in a relatively short time frame. Together with its Omani partners, Savannah aims to outline further mineral resources to provide the critical mass for a central operating plant to develop the deposits and in December 2015 outlined exploration targets of between 10,700,000 and 29,250,000 tonnes grading between 1.4% and 2.4% copper.
Portugal
Savannah holds a 75% interest one mining licence and nine prospective applications for the exploration and development of lithium, covering approximately 1,024km2 in northern Portugal. This includes the highly strategic Mina do Barroso prospect, which with an approved Mining Plan (‘MP’), Environmental Impact Assessment (‘EIA’) and a 30-year mining concession/Mining Licence (‘ML’), means that with a defined JORC resource a development decision could be made as early as Q4 2018.
Finland
Savannah has Reservation Permits over two lithium projects, covering an area of 159km². Geological mapping has highlighted the presence of seven pegmatites with key lithium minerals petalite, spodumene and lepidolite all identified.