Orion Minerals Ltd (ASX:ORN) continues to progress work on its optimised bankable feasibility study (BFS) for its Prieska Zinc-Copper Project in South Africa’s Northern Cape Province.
Positive results from ongoing value engineering and optimisation studies are now being incorporated into the optimised BFS.
The original BFS released in June 2019 already forecasts a 2.4 million tpa underground and open pit mining operation to be valued at $574 million.
Most of the optimisation work aims to lower both capital and operating costs, which in turn, can increase margins and result in a higher project valuation.
Optimisation studies include water treatment trials, value engineering related to ore processing, and mine-to-market optimisation.
Unexpected synergies emerging
Orion’s managing director and CEO Errol Smart said: “The Prieska Project continues to demonstrate pleasing upside as we add final touches pre-development.
“These improvements to an already robust business case allow us to leverage and structure the project finance for the maximum benefit of Orion shareholders.
“The interest that we are now enjoying from established mining companies as they recognise the quality and growth potential of this project with its modern, high efficiency mining focus is encouraging.
“There may well be unexpected synergies emerging that need to be considered as we work out how to maximise our shareholder returns.”
Presenting at Resources Rising Stars this week
Orion’s Errol Smart will be presenting at Resources Rising Stars Summer Series today in Sydney and on Thursday in Brisbane.
Below is a slide detailing the optimisation work from the powerpoint to be presented today and Thursday.