AMN - DRC: Kipoi study produces positive result

A study to investigate the viability of Tiger Resources producing cobalt at its Kipoi project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has returned a positive result. The current Kipoi Mineral Resource contains cobalt, but there is no processing pathway for this material.

The study has concluded that based on an expected nameplate copper cathode production level of 32,500 tonnes, measured cobalt in the raffinate pond and a copper to cobalt ratio derived from the Kipoi Mineral Resource there is sufficient cobalt potential within the current Kipoi copper leach circuit to justify further studies.

The study has identified two potential cobalt process routes for Kipoi:

1. Cobalt intermediate recovery (cobalt hydroxide)

2. Cobalt refining (cobalt cathode metal)

These processing pathways could be developed progressively or in stages.

The study recommends the development of a cobalt hydroxide circuit producing a cobalt hydroxide intermediate product as a first step, and estimates a capital cost of $22 million (+/- 40%) for a 1000 tonnes/year circuit.

Tiger will now scope a metallurgical test work program to confirm commercial process flow sheets and firm up the capital cost and estimate likely operating costs. This test work is expected to be completed by December 2016.

Tiger produced 26,151 tonnes of copper cathode at Kipoi in 2016, and is undertaking debottlenecking works at the plant to increase nameplate production capacity to 32,500 tonnes/year. These works are scheduled to be completed during the December 2016 quarter.

www.tigerresources.com