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Sovereign Metals Limited (the Company or Sovereign) is pleased to announce the results of the Expanded Scoping Study (Scoping Study or Study) for the Company’s Kasiya Rutile Project (Kasiya or the Project) in Malawi.

In April 2022, Sovereign announced a new JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for Kasiya which confirmed the Project as the world’s largest rutile (titanium dioxide) deposit and one of the world’s largest flake graphite deposits.

The Expanded Scoping Study based on the April 2022 MRE confirms that Kasiya will be one of the world’s largest and lowest cost producers of natural rutile and natural graphite with a carbon-footprint substantially lower than current alternatives while significantly contributing to the social and economic development of Malawi.

KEY EXPANDED SCOPING STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

·    Significant increase in NPV and EBITDA from the 2021 Initial Scoping Study with lower operating costs for a relatively small increase in Capex to first production

·    Potential to become a major producer in both the natural rutile and graphite markets with steady state  production of 265,000 rutile and 170,000 tonnes of graphite with a 25-year mine life

·    Low capital costs to first production due to exceptional existing available infrastructure offering significant cost reductions and providing optionality and scalability

·    Low operating cost and high margins due to deposit size, zero strip ratio of soft, friable high-grade mineralisation from surface, amenability to hydro-mining, conventional processing, deposit location and low transport costs

·    Extremely favourable market fundamentals as rutile (titanium) and natural graphite deemed critical raw materials for the US and EU based on economic importance and supply risk

·    Natural rutile market in structural deficit with current global supply estimated to decline 45% in the next three years with graphite demand set to soar as electric vehicle production is forecast to increase 12-fold by 2040

·    Natural ESG benefits for Kasiya:

o  Substantially reduced CO₂ emissions for both rutile and graphite compared to current alternatives, including substantial Scope 3 emissions reductions for pigment production from rutile compared to alternative feedstocks

o  Significant social and economic benefits for Malawi including job creation, fiscal returns, training and continued community social initiatives

·    Study based on conservative commodity price estimates. Long-term rutile price (real) of US$1,254/t versus current spot price of +US$2,200/t¹ and long-term natural graphite basket price (real) of US$1,085/t versus current equivalent spot price of US$1,223/t²

Managing Director, Dr Julian Stephens commented

“The Expanded Scoping Study demonstrates Kasiya is a Tier 1 minerals project being the largest natural rutile resource and one of the largest graphite resources in the world. Both minerals are classified on the Critical Minerals lists of the US and EU and rutile is in extreme market supply deficit. In light of these factors, Kasiya is seen as a highly strategic project with the potential to be a major supplier in both rutile and graphite markets.

The project benefits from existing high-quality infrastructure and has inherent ESG advantages. Natural rutile has a far lower carbon footprint compared to other titanium feedstocks used in the pigment industry, and natural graphite is a key component in lithium-ion batteries – crucial to de-carbonising the global economy. Further, the vast majority of power for the planned Kasiya mining operation will be supplied by renewable hydro and solar – giving the mine itself a very low carbon footprint.

The future development of the Kasiya Rutile Project will bring substantial benefits to Malawi in terms of GDP, royalties, taxes, employment and training, local business opportunities and community development.”

ENQUIRIES

To view the announcement in full including all illustrations and figures, please refer to the announcement at http://sovereignmetals.com.au/announcements/.