Gereza kuhamishwa kupisha mgodi
GEREZA la Kilimo la Songwe lililoko mjini Mbeya, litahamishwa ili kupisha uchimbaji wa madini ya niobium yaliyopo eneo hilo.
Taarifa hiyo ilitolewa mjini hapa jana na mwakilishi wa Kampuni ya Panda Hill, inayotarajia kuchimba madini hayo, Emmanuel Kisasi.
Kisasi alisema kwamba watahamisha pia nyumba za wafanyakazi wa gereza hilo.
Alitoa kauli hiyo jana wakati wa ziara ya Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Mbeya, Amos Makalla.
“Kwa kuwa eneo lilipo gereza hilo kuna madini, kampuni yetu ya Panda Hill imetenga shilingi bilioni 400 kwa ajili ya kuhamisha gereza hilo, ikiwa ni pamoja na nyumba za watumishi kwa umbali wa kilomita tano.
“Sambamba na hilo, zaidi ya wananchi 467 waliopo maeneo ya mgodi, wanatarajia kunufaika kwa kupata ajira mara tu uchimbaji utakapoanza mwaka 2017.
“Madini hayo tunayotarajia kuyachimba yatatumika kutengeneza vitu vya chuma, kulainisha vyuma na kuwa imara zaidi na pia yanatumika kwenye ujenzi wa nyumba.
“Pia, yatatumika kutengeneza vifaa vya ndege, mabomba ya mafuta, mabomba ya gesi, lensi za kamera pamoja na vifaa vya kompyuta.
“Kwa hiyo, utafiti tulioufanya tumegundua kuna tani milioni 96.3 za madini hayo na yatachimbwa kwa zaidi ya miaka 30,” alisema Kisasi.
Kwa mujibu wa Kisasi, mgodi huo ni wa nne duniani na kwa Afrika, utakuwa ni wa kwanza kwa kuwa madini hayo hayapatikani kwa urahisi.
Pamoja na hayo, kampuni hiyo ilikabidhi madawati 400 kwa mkuu wa mkoa huo kwa ajili ya kuyasambaza katika shule za msingi saba na sekondari.
Naye Makalla alipokuwa akizungumzia mgodi huo, alisema kuanzishwa kwake kutawanufaisha wananchi wa maeneo husika kwa kuwa watapata ajira kulingana na uwezo wao.
Alisema pia Serikali itakuwa pamoja na wawekezaji hao ili waweze kufanya kazi kwa mafanikio zaidi ikiwa ni pamoja na kuzingatia taratibu zote za uwekezaji.
Naye Mbunge wa Mbeya Vijijini, Oran Njeza, alisema kuwapo kwa mgodi huo, kutawasaidia wananchi wa jimbo lake kubadilika kuchumi.
Chanzo: http://mtanzania.co.tz/?p=16019
Cradle Resources owns 50% of the world class niobium deposit "Panda Hill" in Tanzania. The niobium market is tightly controlled by 3 large producers. Cradle's holding of Panda Hill sets it on track to be the first new niobium producer in 40 years. The demand for niobium remains high due to its use in the production of quality steel. Cradle is in a unique position to capitalise on its holding of this rare and precious asset.
Panda Hill Niobium Project News
15/06/2016 – Cradle announce the completion of capital raising
Cradle Resources Limited is pleased to confirm that, following its announcement on 10 June 2016, the Company has completed its capital raising of $2,160,000 through the issue of 8,000,000 ordinary shares at 27 cents each to sophisticated investors. The Company has also agreed to issue 2,000,000 ordinary shares at 30 cents each (raising an additional $600,000) to a strategic investor, together with 2,000,000 free attaching options exercisable at 30 cents each on or before 30 June 2018. This raising ensures that Cradle is sufficiently funded to meet its likely working capital requirements until the Panda Hill Project secures expected debt and equity funding and a decision to mine.
13/06/2016 – Ore reserves for Panda Hill declared
Cradle Resources Limited is pleased to announce the maiden Ore
Reserve Estimate for the Panda Hill Niobium Project in Tanzania. The Ore
Reserve statement declares 20.6 million tonnes at average grade 0.68%
Nb2O5. Additionally, all mill feed within the first 10 years of the planned production schedule are now classified as Ore Reserves.
23/05/2016 – The DFS and board changes lead the way to production
On the 20th April, Cradle announced the results of its Definitive
Feasibility Study (DFS) for its 50% owned Panda Hill niobium project
located in Tanzania. This was followed by two key board appointments,
with Ian Middlemas and Robert Behets joining as non-executive directors,
and existing board member, James Kelly, assuming the role of Executive
Director.
08/05/2016 – Cradle announce board changes
Cradle Resources is pleased to
announce that Ian Middlemas and Robert Behets have been appointed to the
Board as Non-Executive Directors. Mr Middlemas, who is a long-standing
substantial shareholder in the Company with a 10 per cent stake, will
bring extensive skills and experience in corporate finance, marketing
and project funding. Mr Behets has strong technical, commercial and
managerial skills in addition to operating experience in Tanzania. Mr
Middlemas and Mr Behets were part of the founding team that together
developed Mantra Resources, a uranium company based in Tanzania. 29/04/2016 – Anglo sells Catalao for US$1.5 billion
The growing recognition of niobium as a vital new-age metal with limited supply was reflected in Anglo American’s recent sale of its Catalao niobium/phosphate mine in Brazil. The auction process was known to have been extremely competitive, resulting in Anglo selling Catalao for US$1.5 billion – about 50 per cent more than market forecasts.20/04/2016 – Cradle Resources announces positive DFS
Cradle Resources announced its Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) on the 20th April 2016. The Study has focussed on producing on average 5,400tpa (5.4Mkg/annum) niobium as ferroniobium over the LOM with a 1.3Mtpa concentrator initially operating for 4 years and then expanding to 2.6Mtpa in Year 5.Very positive financial metrics are generated in the DFS for the Project with a projected NVP8 (after tax) of US$542M and pre-tax IRR of 32% and a nominal pay-back period of only 4.75 years, from fully funded and inclusive of the expansion capital.
An initial construction capital cost of US$165M with a pre-production requirement of US$31M (excluding working capital) has been determined. A further US$93M has been allowed for the expansion of the plant to 2.6Mtpa. Average LOM operating costs for the process are estimated at US$21.34/kg Nb (vs. an average weighted LOM price od US$42).
Craig Burton, the Chairman of Cradle, commented:
“The Cradle DFS demonstrates an exceptionally strong Project. The numbers speak for themselves. On any analysis, this Project is likely to be brought into production and deliver substantial profits for many years. This will be the first new niobium producer in 40 years and the only new producer of this rare metal in the foreseeable future. The demand for niobium continues to grow strongly due to the burgeoning world-wide demand for new-age materials and associated elements like lithium, graphite and niobium.”
14/04/2016 – Final tests confirm world-class quality of Panda Hill niobium product
Cradle Resources is pleased to advise that it has achieved another major milestone in its strategy to develop the world-class Panda Hill niobium project in Tanzania, with key metallurgical tests returning outstanding results. These most recent tests demonstrate that Panda Hill concentrate can be used to produce a high-quality ferro-niobium product, which is in turn sold directly to steel mills to produce high strength, low alloy steel products. A picture of the Panda Hill FeNb buttons produced at the ANSTO facility in Sydney is shown below.These first FeNb production tests established that the buttons made from Panda Hill concentrate contained low levels of impurities, further underpinning the quality of product.
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