AMN - CAMEROON: Two-stage plan mooted for Minim Martap

Canyon Resources has identified the potential for a two-stage, two-port project development pathway for its flagship Minim Martap Bauxite Project in Cameroon. The two-stage development plan could result in lower start-up capex and a faster pathway to bauxite production.

Under the plan, stage one would export bauxite ore through the Douala Port utilising the existing rail infrastructure in its current configuration.

Stage two would utilise a proposed rail link to the Kribi Deep Water Port resulting in higher tonnage rail transportation and direct ship loading.

The advantage of the two-stage, two-port strategy is the opportunity for Canyon to be in production and exporting bauxite ore while the stage two infrastructure is being constructed.

Canyon has been able to group the various areas of the JORC resource into stage one and stage two clusters.

Optimisation work has identified a cluster of high-grade, low-contaminant bauxite resource areas (known as plateaux) as being suitable for the commencement of mining operations.

The stage one areas allow for simple and consolidated infrastructure aimed at minimising capex whilst also potentially maximising early beneficial returns to the project.

Canyon’s project director James Durrant said: “Minim Martap continues to show its potential as a strategic global asset for major refiners looking to secure alternate streams of long-term, high-grade bauxite.

“The optimisation results demonstrate the potential viability of the resource to produce product early via a two-stage, two-port strategy from consolidated infrastructure, maximising project value.

“Whilst continuing good progress on the PFS we are now working to complete an initial scoping study in the coming weeks on the viability of the two-stage approach to the project that will allow us to accelerate the development of the Minim Martap Project.”

www.canyonresources.com.au