Mr. Ronnie Beevor reports
EMED MINING PUBLIC LIMITED: AGM STATEMENT
EMED Mining Public Ltd. has released a statement by its non-executive chairman, Ronnie Beevor.
I am pleased to welcome you all to the 2013 annual general meeting of
the company here in Minas de Riotinto -- where you can see the potential
first-hand of our world-class Rio Tinto copper project.
First, let me introduce myself and the other directors of EMED Mining
who are present here today:
- I am Ronnie Beevor, non-executive chairman of the company;
- Harry Anagnostaras-Adams is the company's managing director;
- John Leach is the company's finance director;
- Non-executive directors here are Jasper Bertisen, Roger Davey,
Bob Francis, Harry Liu and Ashwath Mehra. Jose Sierra sends his
apologies because some pressing other matters prevent his attendance
today.
The directors here represent around 33 per cent of the fully diluted capital of
EMED Mining.
For shareholders unable to attend today, we will conduct an on-line
investor briefing by the managing director this afternoon at 4 p.m. BST
(11 a.m. Toronto time), which will be broadcast live via video conference.
My address and the managing director's presentation to today's meeting
are now available on the company's website.
During the past 12 months EMED Mining has continued implementing its
business plan. Our first-priority continues to be the restart of
production at the Cerro Colorado open pit of the Rio Tinto copper mine,
which is the first of our planned operations here and which we expect
to continue for more than 20 years. We have also begun to understand
the potential of the other mines on the property which we are confident
will also play a significant role in production.
Last year I reported that we aimed to trigger the Rio Tinto copper mine
by the end of 2012 and it was very disappointing that we did not
achieve this, but we continue positive progress on the permitting. On
this front, I can provide an up to the minute report that several of
us, including myself, earlier this week attended a progress-checking
meeting hosted by the Andalucia government between ourselves, the
regulatory authorities, the municipalities, the unions and the employer
groups. It was clear that all parties are working in a determined
manner to trigger preliminary site works by the end of 2013, so that
production can start in late 2014.
Additional regulatory requirements for our tailings management facility
pushed out the timetable for the two key permits for construction: the
approval of the environmental plan and the grant of
administrative standing. The Rio Tinto project has continued to be
particularly challenging, but significant milestones accomplished since
our last AGM include the consolidation of all project lands; the
positive public review of the environmental plans and independent
government technical expert reviews of the full project plans; the
completion of an updated National Instrument 43-101 independent technical report reflecting
completed engineering, costing and project execution scheduling; the
confirmation by both key Andalucian government ministries (Industry and
Environment) of the conditions for the tailings management facility;
and the permitting road map for the Rio Tinto Copper project to be in
production in 2014.
We have had to spend six years and 100 million euros removing legal and
financial complexities, carrying out care and maintenance, protecting
public safety, and formulating plans that are appropriate for the 21st
century. Our project has also been particularly challenging for the
Junta de Andalucia. EMED Mining greatly appreciates the contribution of
the Junta de Andalucia to ensure that the project is not just
acceptable as regard its legal structure, but that it also complies
with the requirements of today in every respect environmentally,
operationally, economically and socially.
I am pleased to report today a financing transaction which again
demonstrates the strength of the support from global leaders in the
mining investment sector. This morning we announced a $15-million
product-off-take-linked convertible note issued to cornerstone customers
and major shareholders, XGC and Red Kite. The share conversion price of
nine pence is a significant premium to yesterday's closing share price of 5.5 pence
and redemption/conversion is set for the earlier of 18 months and the
drawdown of project finance for the restart. Today's arrangement
complements the other off-take-linked financings we entered into in 2012
with those same two parties who now have rights to approximately 50 per cent of
initial base case reserves from the first mine to restart, at future
market prices.
We are proud that our company represents such a strong group of
shareholders, which includes global leaders in investment institutions
specializing in the mining sector. We are also proud to represent some
2,000 individual shareholders around the world, including from Spain.
The board and management are fully committed to achieving EMED Mining's
business plan and to responsibly generating economic value for
shareholders and other stakeholders for the long term. Our world today
continues to experience troubled times indeed -- in the financial
markets and in many parts of the real economy, especially in Europe and
including right here in the Cuenca Minera of Andalucia. Our Rio Tinto
copper mine is potentially an important engine for economic recovery
and it will be our company's honour to have the responsibility and
opportunity to develop and operate the mine for the long term.
We greatly appreciate the support of the communities here whom we are
fully committed to serving for the long term.
In Slovakia, the company is intensifying consultations with the
affected communities, carrying out studies for regulatory permitting
and continuing negotiations with local parties -- to progress our plans
to develop our 100-per-cent-owned Detva gold project.
In Cyprus, EMED Mining continues to maintain its large geological
database of historical copper mining properties which has resulted in
the identification of a number of new targets.
For good order, I should report that the closed period for share
dealings by company officers ended today and therefore those
individuals who have advised they will exercise their in-the-money
expiring options can now proceed to do so within the next week.
Finally, I greatly appreciate the support of all of our shareholders
and I look forward to EMED Mining's next phase of starting production.
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