June 2019 Quarterly Report
(firmenpresse) - Highlights from the June 2019 Quarter
- Administrative Court of Toulouse ruled to cancel the Couflens exploration permit (the Couflens PER) due to claimed errors made by the French State in the granting of the permit. The Couflens PER includes the high grade Salau tungsten mine
- French State announced that it will appeal the decision immediately as it firmly believes the Couflens PER was issued in accordance with the French Mining Code
- In its press release (see copy at Appendix 1) the French State highlighted the importance of the Couflens PER to the Ariege region and to securing tungsten supplies for France
- Program of works within the Salau mine was completed including installation of ventilation infrastructure, the repair of mine supports, securing working areas for exploration and the installation of communication and emergency facilities
- Final works under the health and safety risk assessment program for the Salau mine were completed, with results pending
- Cooperation Agreement in relation to the Couflens Project was approved by a unanimous vote at the General Assembly of the Community of Communes Couserans Pyrenees
- The approved Cooperation Agreement sets the framework for support and cooperation between the Company and the local population
LOOKING AHEAD
- The Company will assist the French State with its appeal against the adverse Court verdict in relation to the PER Couflens as an interested party to the proceedings. The appeal is due to be lodged with the Appeal Court of Bordeaux before the end of August 2019
- The French State will also apply for a stay of execution of the judgment. If a stay of execution of the judgement were to be successful, work could continue on the mine site during the appeal process
For further information please contact:
Hugo Schumann
Tel: +44 207 478 3900
Robert Behets
Tel: +61 8 9322 6322
Email: info(at)apollominerals.com
FRENCH STATE TO APPEAL ADMNISTRATIVE COURT OF TOULOUSE RULING TO CANCEL THE COUFLENS PROJECT
Apollo Minerals Limited (Apollo Minerals or the Company) reports that during the quarter the Administrative Court of Toulouse ruled to cancel the Couflens exploration license in France (the Couflens PER) that was granted to a French subsidiary of the Company in 2016. The Couflens PER includes the historical Salau tungsten mine.
The decision was issued following a Court hearing held earlier in June (see ASX announcement on 11 June 2019) and all work on site was required to stop immediately.
The court case was lodged by a group of opposition parties against the French State (specifically the Ministry of Economy and Finance which is responsible for the mining sector). As the legal challenge was against the French State, the Company was an interested party and was not directly involved in the proceedings although it did provide supporting arguments for the French State in the defence of the case.
The Company is extremely disappointed that the Court has reached this decision, despite the strong evidence in favour of maintaining the validity of the Couflens PER which was presented by the Head of the Mining Department of the French State during the Court hearing. The Courts have interpreted certain provisions within the Mining Code in a manner that is contrary to the well-established application of the Mining Code by the Mining Department.
The French State has confirmed that it will appeal the decision of the Administrative Court and will also apply for a stay of execution of the judgment. If a stay of execution of the judgement were to be successful, work could continue on the mine site during the appeal process.
The appeal will be filed with the Bordeaux Administrative Court of Appeal before the end of August 2019.
The French State commented in its press release following the court verdict that: Given the importance of this project for the vitality of the Salat valley in Ariège and the security of tungsten supplies, a stay of execution of the cancellation decision will also be requested.
The French State then went on to comment that: It will be demonstrated that Variscan Mines [Apollo Minerals French subsidiary] had, at the time the permit was granted, the financial capacity to carry out the research work and to fulfil its obligations to protect the environment and the health of workers during exploration work pursuant to Article L. 122-2 of the Mining Code.
Since the granting of the Couflens PER, Apollo Minerals has assembled a high-quality French operating team, made substantial technical advances which have clearly demonstrated the significant exploration potential of the project area, and completed major enhancements to surface and underground infrastructure at the Salau mine.
The Company will strongly defend its position and will immediately consider the range of options available to it in relation to the adverse Court verdict. As an interested party to the proceedings, the Company will assist the French state in the preparation of its appeal.
The Company will update the market on any material developments.
COOPERATION AGREEMENT APPROVED BY THE COMMUNITY OF COMMUNES
Through its efforts to stimulate the local economy, create local employment and to communicate openly and transparently with all local stakeholders, the Company gained strong support among the local population for the development of the project.
A Cooperation Agreement (the Agreement) in relation to the Couflens Project was approved by unanimous vote at the general assembly of the formal body representing 94 local communities.
The Agreement was negotiated between the Company and the Communauté des Communes Couserans Pyrénées (CCCP), who act as representatives for the regions local municipalities and their 30,000 inhabitants.
The Agreement provides a framework for support for the project. Under the terms of the Agreement the Company committed to provide the CCCP with the results of its work programmes, plans for future work programmes, and the projects previous and planned financial investments.
The Company hosted a visit for key members of the CCCP to visit the Mittersill tungsten mine in Austria to demonstrate the positive influence that a responsible mine can have on local communities and economies.
COMPLETION OF WORKS PROGRAMS TO INSTALL VENTILATION
A program to reinstall mine services at Salau was completed during the quarter.
The mine environment benefits from excellent natural ventilation flows from upper levels of the mine which are open. As a result, the required ventilation improvements to support exploration activities are minimal and comprise the installation of one fan on the 1430 level, two ventilation doors and two walls.
In addition to the ventilation works, the Company repaired mine supports, secured working areas for exploration and installed communication and emergency facilities inside the mine.
The program was carried out using local contractors. Goods and services have been sourced locally as part of the Companys commitment to invest in the region.
The works were completed within the expected time frame and were followed by a final study of health and safety risk assessments to assess the existence of asbestiform minerals.
PROGRESS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AT THE AURENERE PROJECT IN SPAIN
The Aurenere Project in Spain comprises an Investigation Permit under application which covers an area of 27.5km², along strike from and adjacent to, the Companys Couflens Project in France.
The Aurenere Project hosts an extension of the highly prospective corridor for tungsten and gold which strikes east-west through the Couflens Project and into the Aurenere Project area.
The Company has planned an initial drilling program at the Aurenere Project as part of its application for an Investigation Permit.
The drilling program includes six diamond drill holes designed to test an outcrop of approximately 100m2 of pyrrhotite rich skarn where high grade gold (up to 33.90 g/t) and tungsten (up to 5.49% WO3) was recovered from rock samples.
The application for an Investigation Permit for Aurenere required the submission to the Spanish authorities of One and Three-Year Work Programs as well as a Simplified Environmental Impact Assessment and a Restoration Program.
The Company was subsequently asked by the Department of Territory and Sustainability to submit an Ordinary Environmental Impact Assessment. The Company is currently working with environmental consultants to complete the Ordinary Environmental Impact Assessment.
COMPETENT PERSONS STATEMENT
The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results from the Couflens Project in France and Aurenere Project in Spain is extracted from announcements on 29 November 2017, 5 February 2018 and 27 March 2018. These announcements are available to view on www.apollominerals.com. The information in the original announcement that related to Exploration Results were based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Mr Robert Behets, a Competent Person who is a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Behets is a holder of shares and options in, and is a director of, Apollo Minerals Limited. Mr Behets has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcement. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Persons findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.
The information in this report that relates to Historical Exploration Results is extracted from an ASX announcement dated 4 February 2019 which is available to view at www.apollominerals.com. The information in the original announcement that related to the Historical Exploration Results is based on information compiled by Mr Andrew Boyd of Cairn Consulting Limited, a Competent Person who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Boyd is a holder of shares, options and performance rights in, and is a key consultant of, Apollo Minerals Limited. Mr Boyd has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Boyd consents to the inclusion in this report of the statements based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements regarding plans with respect to Apollo Minerals projects are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that the Companys plans for development of its projects will proceed as currently expected. These forward-looking statements are based on the Companys expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward looking statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of the Company, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. The Company makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this announcement, to reflect the circumstances or events after the date of that announcement.
Please follow the link to download entire press release:
https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20190731/pdf/44719l4zl36gkt.pdf
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