# Jubilee Metals Group completes the acquisition of the Sable Zinc Refinery in Kabwe

- Link: https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/jubilee-metals-group-completes-the-acquisition-of-the-sable-zinc-refinery-in-kabwe/412791124
- Published: 2019-08-23T10:26:25+01:00
- Author: Amilia Stone

**[Jubilee Metals Group](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/company/jubilee-metals-group-plc/jlp.l)
P**LC ([LON:JLP](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/company/jubilee-metals-group-plc/jlp.l)),
the AIM and Altx traded metals processing company, has today announced that the 
sale and transfer of the entire issued share capital in Sable Zinc Kabwe Limited
to Jubilee has been completed, allowing Jubilee to commence with the implementation
of a fully integrated multi-metal refinery in Zambia.

**Highlights**

·    The acquisition of Sable Zinc Refinery has been completed representing a major
step for the advancement of the Kabwe Project

·    The acquisition significantly reduces the Kabwe Project implementation time
lines and project capital requirement

·    The Refinery together with Jubilee’s Kabwe surface resources in excess of 6
million tonnes at surface, establishes a fully integrated multi-metal operational
footprint in Zambia

·    Jubilee intends to recommission the current copper/cobalt circuit during Q4
2019 to achieve earnings during the build phase of the zinc vanadium and lead circuit
with first production of zinc and vanadium targeted for Q2 2020

·    The acquisition expands Jubilee’s commodity basket to include copper, vanadium,
zinc and lead

·    This multi metal refining operation affords Jubilee the opportunity to rapidly
expand its metals recovery footprint in Zambia which the Company is actively pursuing

> **_Jubilee Chief Executive Officer Leon Coetzer said:_**_ _
> _“Completing the acquisition of the Refinery is a key milestone in delivering 
> Jubilee’s Zambian strategy of establishing a fully integrated multi-metal recovery
> operation.  The Refinery, which will be the only one of its kind in Zambia, opens
> tremendous potential opportunities for Jubilee to significantly increase its access
> to additional surface materials for further refining._
> _“The advancement of the Kabwe Project is in line with our group strategy to diversify
> earnings across multiple commodities and jurisdictions.  We are able to fund the
> acquisition and implementation of the Kabwe project from our current cash reserves.”_

**Acquisition of Sable Zinc Refinery**

Jubilee and [Glencore plc](https://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/ftse-company/glencore-plc/glen.l)
through two of its subsidiaries (“Glencore”) entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement(“
SPA”) for the acquisition by Jubilee of the entire issued share capital in Sable
Zinc. Sable Zinc owns the Sable Zinc Refinery (the “Refinery”) adjacent to Jubilee’s
Kabwe Project.  The transfer of ownership of Sable Zinc from Glencore to Jubilee
has been finalised after satisfaction of the conditions in the SPA, including receiving
consent to the transfer from the Zambian Mining Cadastre Department.

Under the terms of the SPA, Jubilee has approved and made the first payment tranche
of US$6,000,000 to Glencore.  The second payment of US$3,000,000 will fall due on
the earlier of the completion of the conversion of the Plant to a zinc processing
plant or six months after Closing. The third payment of US$3,000,000 will fall due
on the earlier of commencement of commercial production of any saleable product 
at the Plant or six months after the second payment.

**The Kabwe Project**

The Kabwe Project seeks to establish a fully integrated metal recovery and refining
operational footprint in Zambia. The Project combines access to large surface material
with the adjacent multi-metal refining capability. The Kabwe Project resource comprises
an estimated 6.4 million tonnes (3.2 million JORC compliant) of surface assets containing
356,843 tonnes of zinc, 351,386 tonnes of lead and 1.26% equivalent vanadium pentoxide.
This excludes further third party sourced copper and zinc rich mined material for
further refining.  The adjacent Refinery will be expanded to include a copper, zinc,
vanadium and lead refining circuit based on Jubilee’s extensive process development
and optimisation works program. 

The Kabwe Project will be implemented over three phases as outlined below.  Jubilee
is fully funded to deliver this development plan.

**Phase 1:** Upgrade and commissioning of the copper refining circuit with a targeted
capacity of 3,000 tonnes of refined copper per annum, targeting implementation during
Q4 2019.

**Phase 2:** Implementation of both the zinc and vanadium refinery circuit with 
an initial targeted capacity of 8,000 tonnes per annum of zinc contained in a high
grade zinc concentrate suitable for the market and 1,500 tonnes per annum of vanadium
pentoxide, targeting commissioning of the zinc and vanadium refinery circuit during
Q2 2020.

**Phase 3:**  Implementation of the lead refining circuit with an initial targeted
capacity of 11,000 tonnes per annum of lead contained in a high-grade concentrate
during Q2 2021.

The Kabwe Refinery process flowsheet offers flexibility with two separated fully
equipped electro-winning circuits able to produce either high grade copper or zinc
with only minor adjustments. The Company can allocate this refining capacity either
to both metals individually or a combination of the two metals depending on the 
prevailing market conditions to maximise returns.

Prior to taking ownership of the Refinery, Jubilee actively pursued the completion
of the project design and initiating final equipment selection to enable rapid implementation
of the process flowsheet.  Please refer to Jubilee’s website which is being updated
to show the project progress. 

**Appointment of joint broker**

Jubilee has appointed WHIreland as joint broker together with Shard, in support 
of Jubilee’s focus to broaden its institutional shareholder base.

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