Katanga Project Update & 1Q 2008 Financials
May 14, 2008
LONDON, UK May 14, 2008 – Katanga Mining Limited (TSX – KAT) (“Katanga” or the “Company”) today gives a project update and announces its financial results for the quarter ending March 31, 2008.
Highlights
Outlook
Arthur Ditto, President and CEO of Katanga, stated: “Copper cathode production increased each month during the first quarter and in April, and we were pleased to see cobalt metal production at the start of May. On site performance is improving with mine output steadily increasing and Luilu production growing. As a consequence, we expect to be profitable this year. We are working hard to complete the feasibility study for the expansion project by the end of the third quarter, alongside preparation for mining of the KOV pit and commencing civil work for the new SX/EW plant.”
Operational review
Copper cathode production increased each month during the first quarter as well as in April and forecast production is 30,500 tonnes for the year. Cobalt metal production is now under way and forecast production is 1,600 tonnes for the year. Concentrate production of 43,500 tonnes for the year is expected to add 3,000 tonnes of payable copper and 1,300 tonnes of payable cobalt.
Although below plan, performance at the Kamoto Underground Mine continued on a positive trend, with production and development both increasing, and ore development ahead of forecast in April. At the Musonoie-T17 and Tilwezembe open pits, mining is consistently exceeding plan. High grade cobalt ore from Musonoie-T17 has been stockpiled and will be processed at the Kamoto Concentrator as cobalt treatment capacity at Luilu increases.
The Kolwezi Concentrator was shut down during the first quarter for extensive maintenance and resumed operation on April 9. Expected concentrate production output for the balance of the year is at least 4,500 tonnes per month, giving a total 43,500 tonnes output for the year. Concentrate inventory of 9,990 tonnes at the end of the first quarter is expected to be sold in the second quarter.
Project update
Phase II of the Kamoto rehabilitation is expected to be completed by the end of 2008 for a capital cost of US$136 million. A second sulphide cascade mill is being rehabilitated and 58 floatation cells are being added to the circuit in the Kamoto Concentrator. At the Luilu Metallurgical Plant, a new roaster is being constructed, and leaching capacity and copper and cobalt electrowinning capacity will be doubled. Capacity will be increased to about 100,000 tonnes of copper cathode per year.
The feasibility study for the expansion project is scheduled to be completed by the end of the third quarter. Waste stripping at the KOV pit will begin in the third quarter. The surrounding dewatering-well field is progressing on track and dewatering of the KOV pit itself is scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2008. Procurement and construction related contracts have been awarded and site preparation for Module 1 of the new SX/EW plant is under way with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
Management changes
Patrick Hickey joined as Senior Vice President, Operations and Managing Director, Kamoto Operating Limited, in charge of operations in the DRC. He has over 25 years of experience in the extractive industries, most recently spending 12 years with Newmont Mining Corporation in a variety of senior operations and construction management roles.
Kim Freeman joined as Senior Vice President, Project Development. He has over 30 years of operations and project development expertise in the mining industry, joining Katanga from Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corporation in the Philippines, where he oversaw the restart of a major copper mine.
Conference call and webcast
Katanga will hold a conference call and webcast at 8.30am Eastern Time (Toronto) / 1.30pm BST (London) on May 14, 2008 to provide a project update and discuss its first quarter financials.
The call will be hosted by Arthur Ditto, President and Chief Executive Officer, who will be joined by Stephen Jones, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Senior site personnel will be available for questions.
Details of how to access the call and webcast are below. A news release, slide presentation, financial statements and management discussion and analysis will be available on Katanga’s website, www.katangamining.com, prior to the call.
Katanga’s Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis for the quarter are filed on SEDAR, www.sedar.com.
Conference call and webcast details
| Date: | May 14, 2008 |
| Time: | 8.30am Eastern Time (Toronto) / 1.30pm BST (London) |
| Dial in: | 1866 850 2201 (Canada Free Call) 0800 279 9640 (UK Free Call) +44 (0)20 7138 0829 (Standard International) |
| ID: | 6646370 (please quote this code when dialing in) |
| Webcast: | An audio webcast with slide presentation will be available at the following link: http://services.choruscall.eu/links/katanga080514.html |
Replay details:
The call will be available for replay until midnight on May 20 at the following numbers: 1866 883 4489 (Canada Free Call), 0800 559 3271 (UK Free Call), +44 (0)20 7806 1970 (Standard International) using ID Code 6646370. The webcast will be archived at the same location as above for six months.
For further information contact:
| Arthur H. Ditto | Steve Jones | Anu Dhir |
| President & Chief Executive Officer | Chief Financial Officer | Vice President, Corporate Development |
| Tel: +44 (0)20 7440 5800 | Tel: +44 (0)20 7440 5800 | Tel: +44 (0)20 7440 5800 |
Media:
| Citigate Dewe Rogerson (UK) | Fleishman-Hillard (North America) | |
| Kate Delahunty/George Cazenove | Caroline Spivak | |
| Tel: +44 (0)20 7638 9571 | Tel: +1 416 645 8185 |
To learn more about Katanga Mining Limited, please visit our website at www.katangamining.com
Katanga Mining Limited operates a major mine complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo producing refined copper and cobalt. The company has the potential to become Africa’s largest copper producer and the world’s largest cobalt producer, with a targeted annual output of over 300,000 tonnes of refined copper and over 30,000 tonnes of refined cobalt by 2011. Katanga is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol KAT.
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