Try our mobile app
MC Mining Limited
Previously Coal of Africa Limited
(Incorporated and registered in Australia)
Registration number ABN 008 905 388
ISIN AU000000MCM9
JSE share code: MCZ
ASX/AIM code: MCM
29 July 2022
ACTIVITIES REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 30 JUNE 2022
FOR
MC MINING LIMITED (“MC Mining” or the “Company”)
AND ITS SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
HIGHLIGHTS
Operations
• Health and safety remain a top priority and no lost-time injuries (LTIs) were recorded during the
quarter (FY2022 Q3: three LTIs);
• Measures previously implemented to restrict the spread of the COVID-19 virus at the various group
workplaces remain in place pending formal confirmation of the relaxation of requirements by the
relevant regulatory authorities. During the quarter, one employee (FY2022 Q3: one employee) at
the high grade Uitkomst metallurgical and thermal coal mine (Uitkomst Colliery or Uitkomst)
contracted the virus;
• Run-of-mine (ROM) coal production at Uitkomst was 7% lower than the June 2021 quarter at
119,005 tonnes (t) (FY2021 Q4: 127,927t);
• 22,169t (FY2021 Q4: 0t) of coal were at the Durban port at the end of June 2022 for exporting in
July/August 2022 on the terms of the Coal Sales & Marketing Agreement (Marketing Agreement)
with Overlooked (Proprietary) Limited (Overlooked), announced by the Company on 28 July 2022;
• The Company recorded 34,126t of coal sales during the quarter (FY2021 Q4: 90,858t), comprising
28,360t (FY2021 Q4: 84,834t) of high grade metallurgical and thermal coal and 5,766t (FY2021 Q4:
6,024t) of lower grade middlings coal;
• Revenue per tonne decreased to $80/t (FY2021 Q4: $85/t) with high quality coal stockpiled for
sales into the forecasted higher pricing API4 market, achievable through the Marketing
Agreement in the September quarter (product stockpiles at site: FY2022 Q4: 15,534t vs. FY2021
Q4: 4,553t);
• The Integrated Water Use Licence (IWUL) applications were granted by the Department of Water
& Sanitation (DWS) for the Uitkomst Colliery and nearby Wykom siding were granted in April 2022;
• Completion of the Makhado hard coking coal project (Makhado Project or Makhado) Bankable
Feasibility Study (BFS) ‘base case’ scenario confirming the project’s robust economic
fundamentals, a key input in the due diligence process for potential funders; and
• Limited activities undertaken at the Company’s Vele semi-soft coking and thermal coal colliery
(Vele Colliery or Vele) and Greater Soutpansberg Projects (GSP), which remains on care and
maintenance.
Corporate
• Appointment of Mr Nhlanhla Nene as Non-Executive Director and Chairman of MC Mining;
• Appointment of Mr Godfrey Gomwe as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
the Company and resignation of Sam Randazzo as director and interim CEO;
• Appointment of Mr Matthews Senosi of Senosi Group Investment Holdings Pty Ltd (SGIH) (the
Company’s 19.9% shareholder) as a Non-Executive Director of the Company;
• Issue of 38,363,909 new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (Ordinary Shares) to SGIH
under the terms of the Convertible Advance and Subscription Agreement (the Agreement), raising
ZAR46 million and resulting in SGIH owning 19.9% of the Company;
• Completion of an independent fair and reasonableness report by BDO Corporate Finance (WA)
Pty Ltd in terms of the Agreement for the issue of an additional 33,333,333 new Ordinary Shares
to SGIH, subject to shareholder approval, for ZAR40 million (approximately $2.4 million);
• Securing of a R60 million (approximately $3.5 million) Standby Loan Facility (the Facility) from
Dendocept (Pty) Ltd (Dendocept), a 1.5% shareholder in MC Mining; and
• Available cash and facilities at quarter-end of $3.1 million ($3.0 million at 31 March 2022) and
restricted cash of $0.03 million.
Events subsequent to the end of the quarter
2
• MC Mining shareholders voted against the issue of the 33,333,333 new Ordinary Shares to SGIH
and the Company will repay the R20 million ($1.2 million) already advanced by SGIH prior to the
shareholder meeting, during August 2022; and
• Marketing Agreement entered into with Overlooked, expiring on 31 December 2022, facilitates
the export of at least 20,000t of API4 coal from Uitkomst on a monthly basis, allowing the
Company to take advantage of international coal prices.
COMMENTARY
MC Mining’s flagship Makhado Project’s favourable economics were confirmed in the BFS completed
by Minxcon (Pty) Ltd (Minxcon) during the quarter. The development of Makhado is expected to
deliver positive returns for shareholders and could position the Company as South Africa’s pre-
eminent hard coking coal (HCC) producer. The BFS confirms the project’s robust economics and is a
key milestone in the funding process. The Company is progressing several alternative strategies to
raise the required funding with a target date to conclude the requisite financing during Q3 CY2022
The BFS is based on the project plan with the lowest capital cost options and results in Makhado’s
ROM coal being transported to the Vele Colliery for processing for the entire life of mine. The project
has an estimated capital cost (including contingencies) of R625 million (approximately $41.7 million),
a peak funding requirement of R727 million (approximately $48.5 million), and is expected to create
an estimated 650 permanent employment positions (including contractors) when at steady state
production. The BFS confirmed that Makhado has a short expected construction period of 12 months,
positioning the project to take advantage of the short-term forecasted higher global coal prices.
Uitkomst Colliery – Utrecht Coalfields (70% owned)
No LTIs were recorded during the quarter (FY2022 Q3: one LTI).
The invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and subsequent sanctions against Russia exacerbated the
global energy shortage leading to international thermal coal prices attaining record highs. The increase
in coal prices were not accepted by the South African domestic coal market. As a result of ongoing
3
major maintenance and the high coal prices, Uitkomst did not receive any orders during the quarter
from its largest customer.
The Company continued its assessment of alternative coal marketing strategies for Uitkomst during
the quarter, including the trial production of a higher quality, low ash coal for the smaller but more
stable international pulverized coal injection (PCI) market. However, the continued demand for API4
coal indicated that this is currently the most lucrative market for Uitkomst’s coal and the colliery
concluded the Marketing Agreement in July 2022, with this route to market secured until December
2022. As a result, the colliery will sell the majority of its coal at higher international coal prices rather
than floating and fixed price domestic prices.
The Uitkomst Colliery generated 119,005t of ROM coal during the quarter, a decline of 7% (Q4 FY2021:
127,929t) resulting from challenging geological conditions experienced. Sales of high-grade peas and
duff of 28,360t (Q4 FY2021: 84,834t) with sales volumes in the comparative Q4 FY2021 were
augmented by the sale of coal carried over from the preceding quarter. Uitkomst had 22,169t (Q4
FY2021: 0t) of API4 quality coal at the Durban port at the end of the quarter, and a further 15,534t
(FY2021 Q4: 4,553t) of at the colliery, compared to 8,373t at the beginning of the quarter. In addition,
the colliery also sold 5,766t of high ash middlings coal during the quarter (FY2021 Q4: 6,024t).
The average API4 prices for the three months to 30 June 2022 were $315/t compared to $105/t in Q4
FY2021. Uitkomst’s sales include lower value middlings coal as well as sales under fixed price
arrangements and the volumes of these sales were reduced in July 2022 when the offtakes were
renegotiated. The stockpiling of high grade export coal adversely affected the composition of
Uitkomst’s sales mix resulting in revenue per tonne being marginally higher than the comparative
period in South African rand terms (R1,238/t vs. R1,201/t). However, exchange rate movements
resulted in average revenue per tonne decreasing in US dollar terms ($80/t vs. $85/t in Q4 FY2021).
The 67% decline in sales of premium quality ROM coal products as well as increased maintenance,
particularly underground mining equipment, resulted in production costs per saleable tonne being
higher than the comparative period (FY2022 Q4: $108/t vs. FY2021 Q4: $57/t) and the decision to
stockpile coal for sale on international markets.
4
Quarter to Quarter to
end-Jun end-Jun
2022 2021 %▲
Production volues
Uitkomst ROM (t) 119,005 127,927 (7%)
Inventory volumes
High quality duff and peas at site (t) 15,534 4,553 241%
High quality duff and peas at port (t) 22,169 - 100%
37,703 4,553 728%
Sales tonnages
High quality duff and peas (t) 28,360 84,834 (67%)
Middlings sales (t) 5,766 6,024 (4%)
34,126 90,858 (62%)
Quarter financial metrics
Revenue/t ($) 80 85 (6%)
Revenue/t (ZAR) 1,238 1,201 3%
Production cost/saleable tonnes ($)^ 108 57 91%
^ costs are all South African Rand based
Makhado Hard Coking Coal Project – Soutpansberg Coalfield (67% owned)
The favourable economics of MC Mining’s flagship Makhado Project were confirmed in the BFS
completed by Minxcon. The development of Makhado is expected to deliver positive returns for
shareholders and could position the Company as South Africa’s pre-eminent HCC producer. The
Company subsequently mandated Minxcon to expand the BFS to include alternative development
plans to enhance value. These include, amongst others, the moving of the Vele coal processing plant
(CPP) to Makhado or the construction of a new CPP at Makhado, and this additional work on the BFS
is ongoing. A further announcement is expected to be made in the coming weeks.
Vele Semi-Soft Coking and Thermal Coal Colliery – Limpopo (Tuli) Coalfield (100% owned)
The Vele Colliery remained on care and maintenance during the quarter and recorded no LTIs during
the period (FY2022 Q3: two LTIs). The base case assessed in the Makhado BFS assumes the Vele
processing plant will be refurbished and recommissioned as part of the development of the Makhado
5
Project. Depending on the outcome of the work Minxcon is doing on alternative development plans
for Makhado, the construction of a CPP at Makhado would allow alternative development
opportunities at Vele which the Company is also investigating.
Greater Soutpansberg Project (GSP) – Soutpansberg Coalfield (74% owned)
GSP recorded no LTIs (FY2022 Q3: nil) during the quarter and no reportable activities occurred during
the period.
Standby facility
The Company secured a R60 million Standby Facility from Dendocept and proceeds from this were
utilised to enhance the Makhado BFS, geotechnical and confirmatory drilling programmes at
Makhado, as well as fund group working capital. These funds assisted the Group during the quarter as
inventory levels rose to cater for volumes required for the export market.
The Facility is guaranteed by MC Mining, is unsecured and is available for a period of 12 months, to
June 2023. Interest is paid monthly calculated using the prevailing South African prime interest rate
(currently 9.0%) plus a margin of 3%, similar to that levied on the current bank financing in the Group.
Any outstanding balance on the final maturity date is payable in cash or convertible to MC Mining
equity at a 15% discount to the prevailing 30-day Volume Weighted Average Price. Payment in MC
Mining equity is at the sole discretion of the Company and is subject to all required shareholder and
regulatory requirements, including South African exchange control approval.
Appendix 5B – Quarterly Cash Flow Report
The Company’s cash balance as at 30 June 2022 was $3.1 million with available facilities of $0.3 million.
The aggregate amount of payments to related parties and their associates, as disclosed as item 6.1 of
the March quarter Appendix 5B was $106k, comprising executive director remuneration.
To meet its working capital requirements, the Group is exploring and progressing several alternative
strategies to raise additional funding including, but not limited to:
• the issue of new equity for cash in the Company to current and new shareholders, of which the
MC Mining Group has a demonstrated history of success;
6
• the issue of new equity for cash in subsidiary companies which own the Makhado Project;
• further debt funding;
• further contractor BOOT (build, own, operate, transfer) funding arrangements; and
• the sale of a minority stake in the subsidiary companies holding the Makhado Project.
The Group also has the capacity if necessary to reduce its operating cost structure to minimise its
working capital requirements and defer the timing of any future capital raising. The conclusion of the
debt and equity raise is by its nature an involved process and is subject to successful negotiations with
the external funders and shareholders. Any equity raise is likely to be subject to a due diligence
process. The Group has a history of successful capital raisings to meet the Group's funding
requirements.
Godfrey Gomwe
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
This announcement has been approved by the Company’s Disclosure Committee.
All figures are in South African rand or United States dollars unless otherwise stated.
For more information contact:
Tony Bevan Company Endeavour Corporate +61 08 9316
Secretary Services 9100
Company advisors:
James Harris / James Nominated Strand Hanson +44 20 7409
Dance Adviser Limited 3494
Rory Scott Broker (AIM) Tennyson Securities +44 20 7186
9031
James Duncan Financial PR R&A Strategic +27 11 880
(South Africa) Communications 3924
Investec Bank Limited is the nominated JSE Sponsor
About MC Mining Limited:
MC Mining is an AIM/ASX/JSE-listed coal exploration, development and mining company operating in South Africa.
MC Mining’s key projects include the Uitkomst Colliery (metallurgical and thermal coal), Makhado Project (hard
coking coal), Vele Colliery (semi-soft coking and thermal coal), and the Greater Soutpansberg Projects (coking and
thermal coal).
All figures are denominated in United States dollars unless otherwise stated. Safety metrics are compared to the
preceding quarter while financial and operational metrics are measured against the comparable period in the
previous financial year. A copy of this report is available on the Company's website, www.mcmining.co.za.
7
Forward-looking statements
This Announcement, including information included or incorporated by reference in this Announcement, may
contain "forward-looking statements" concerning MC Mining that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Generally,
the words "will", "may", "should", "continue", "believes", "expects", "intends", "anticipates" or similar expressions
identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks
and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond MC Mining’s ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future
market conditions, changes in regulatory environment and the behaviour of other market participants. MC Mining
cannot give any assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to have been correct. The reader is
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. MC Mining assumes no obligation and
does not undertake any obligation to update or revise publicly any of the forward-looking statements set out herein,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.
Statements of intention
Statements of intention are statements of current intentions only, which may change as new information becomes
available or circumstances change.
8
Tenements held by MC Mining and its Controlled Entities
Change
Project during
Name Tenement Number Location Interest quarter
Chapudi Albert 686 MS Limpopo~ 74%
Project*
Bergwater 712 MS 74%
Remaining Extent and Portion 2 of 74%
Bergwater 697 MS
Blackstone Edge 705 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of 74%
Bluebell 480 MS
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of 74%
Bushy Rise 702 MS
Castle Koppies 652 MS 74%
Chapudi 752 MS 74%
Remaining Extent, Portions 1, 3 & 4 74%
of Coniston 699 MS
Driehoek 631 MS 74%
Remaining Extent of Dorps-rivier 74%
696 MS
Enfield 512 MS (consolidation of 74%
Remaining Extent of Enfield 474
MS, Brosdoorn 682 MS &
Remaining Extent of Grootvlei
684 MS)
Remaining Extent and Portion 1 of 74%
Grootboomen 476 MS 74%
Grootvlei 684 MS 74%
Kalkbult 709 MS 74%
Remaining Extent, Remaining 74%
Extent of Portion 2, Remaining
Extent of Portion 3, Portions 1,
4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 of Kliprivier 692
MS
Remaining Extent of Koodoobult 74%
664 MS
9
Change
Project during
Name Tenement Number Location Interest quarter
Koschade 657 MS (Was Mapani Kop 74%
656 MS)
Malapchani 659 MS 74%
Mapani Ridge 660 MS 74%
Melrose 469 MS 74%
Middelfontein 683 MS 74%
Mountain View 706 MS 74%
M'tamba Vlei 654 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of 74%
Pienaar 635 MS
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of 74%
Prince's Hill 704 MS
Qualipan 655 MS 74%
Queensdale 707 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of 74%
Ridge End 662 MS
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of 74%
Rochdale 700 MS
Sandilands 708 MS 74%
Portions 1 & 2 of Sandpan 687 MS 74%
Sandstone Edge 658 MS 74%
Remaining Extent of Portions 2 & 3 74%
of Sterkstroom 689 MS
Sutherland 693 MS 74%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of 74%
Varkfontein 671 MS
Remaining Extent, Portion 2, 74%
Remaining Extent of Portion 1 of
Vastval 477 MS
Vleifontein 691 MS 74%
10
Change
Project during
Name Tenement Number Location Interest quarter
Ptn 3, 4, 5 & 6 of Waterpoort 695 74%
MS
Wildebeesthoek 661 MS 74%
Woodlands 701 MS 74%
Kanowna M27/41 Coolgardie^ Royalty<>
West &
M27/47 Royalty<>
Kalbara
M27/59 Royalty<>
M27/72,27/73 Royalty<>
M27/114 Royalty<>
M27/196 Royalty<>
M27/181 6.79%
M27/414,27/415 Royalty<>
P27/1826-1829 Royalty<>
P27/1830-1842 Royalty<>
P27/1887 Royalty<>
Abbotshall ML63/409,410 Norseman^ Royalty
Royalty
Kookynie ML40/061 Leonora^ Royalty
Royalty
ML40/135,136 Royalty
Makhado Fripp 645 MS Limpopo~ 67%#
Project
Lukin 643 MS 67%#
Mutamba 668 MS 67%#
Salaita 188 MT 67%#
Tanga 849 MS 67%#
Daru 889 MS 67%#
Windhoek 900 MS 67%#
Beck 568 MS Limpopo~ 74%
11
Change
Project during
Name Tenement Number Location Interest quarter
Generaal Bekaf 650 MS 74%
Project*
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of 74%
Boas 642 MS-
Chase 576 MS 74%
Coen Britz 646 MS 74%
Fanie 578 MS 74%
Portions 1, 2 and Remaining Extent 74%
of Generaal 587 MS
Joffre 584 MS 74%
Juliana 647 MS 74%
Kleinenberg 636 MS 74%
Remaining Extent of Maseri Pan 74%
520 MS
Remaining Extent and Portion 2 of 100%
Mount Stuart 153 MT
Nakab 184 MT 100%
Phantom 640 MS 74%
Riet 182 MT 100%
Rissik 637 MS 100%
Schuitdrift 179 MT 100%
Septimus 156 MT 100%
Solitude 111 MT 74%
Stayt 183 MT 100%
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of 100%
Terblanche 155 MT
Van Deventer 641 MS 74%
Wildgoose 577 MS 74%
Ancaster 501 MS Limpopo~ 100%
12
Change
Project during
Name Tenement Number Location Interest quarter
Mopane Banff 502 MS 74%
Project*
Bierman 599 MS 74%
Cavan 508 MS 100%
Cohen 591 MS 100%
Remaining Extent, Portions 1 & 2 of 74%
Delft 499 MS
Dreyer 526 MS 74%
Remaining Extent of Du Toit 563 74%
MS
Faure 562 MS 74%
Remaining Extent and Portion 1 of 74%
Goosen 530 MS
Hermanus 533 MS 74%
Jutland 536 MS 100%
Krige 495 MS 74%
Mons 557 MS 100%
Remaining Extent of Otto 560 MS 74%
(Now Honeymoon)
Remaining Extent & Portion 1 of 74%
Pretorius 531 MS
Schalk 542 MS 74%
Stubbs 558 MS 100%
Ursa Minor 551 MS 74%
Van Heerden 519 MS 74%
Portions 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 74%
Remaining Extent of Portion 10,
Portions 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29,
30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 44,
13
Change
Project during
Name Tenement Number Location Interest quarter
45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 & 54 of
Vera 815 MS
Remaining Extent of Verdun 535 74%
MS
Voorburg 503 MS 100%
Scheveningen 500 MS 74%
Uitkomst Portion 3 (of 2) of Kweekspruit No. KwaZulu- 70%
Colliery 22 Natal~
and Portion 8 (of 1) of Kweekspruit No. 70%
prospects 22
Remainder of Portion 1 of Uitkomst 70%
No. 95
Portion 5 (of 2) of Uitkomst No. 95 70%
Remainder Portion1 of Vaalbank 70%
No. 103
Portion 4 (of 1) of Vaalbank No. 103 70%
Portion 5 (of 1) of Vaalbank No. 103 70%
Remainder of Portion 1 of 70%
Rustverwacht No. 151
Remainder of Portion 2 of 70%
Rustverwacht No. 151
Remainder of Portion 3 (of 1) of 70%
Rustverwacht No. 151
Portion 4 (of 1) Rustverwacht 70%
No.151
Portion 5 (of 1) Rustverwacht No. 70%
151
Remainder of Portion 6 (of 1) of 70%
Rustverwacht No. 151
Portion 7 (of 1) of Rustverwacht No. 70%
151
Portion 8 (of 2) of Rustverwacht No. 70%
151
Remainder of Portion 9 (of 2) of 70%
Rustverwacht No. 151
Portion 11 (of 6) of Rustverwacht 70%
No. 151
Portion 12 (of 9) of Rustverwacht 70%
No. 151
Portion 13 (of 2) of Rustverwacht 70%
No. 151
14
Change
Project during
Name Tenement Number Location Interest quarter
Portion 14 (of 2) of Rustverwacht 70%
No. 151
Portion 15 (of 3) of Rustverwacht 70%
No. 151
Portion 16 (of 3) of Rustverwacht 70%
No. 151
Portion 17 (of 2) of Rustverwacht 70%
No. 151
Portion 18 (of 3) of Waterval No. 70%
157
Remainder of Portion 1 of Klipspruit 70%
No. 178
Remainder of Portion 4 of Klipspruit 70%
No. 178
Remainder of Portion 5 of Klipspruit 70%
No. 178
Portion 6 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Portion 7 (of 1) of Klipspruit No. 70%
178
Portion 8 (of 1 )of Klipspruit No. 70%
178
Portion 9 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Remainder of Portion 10 (of 5) of 70%
Klipspruit No. 178
Portion 11 (of 5) of Klipspruit No. 70%
178
Portion 13 (of 4) of Klipspruit No. 70%
178
Remainder of Portion 14 of 70%
Klipspruit No. 178
Portion 16 (of 14) of Klipspruit No. 70%
178
Portion 18 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Portion 23 of Klipspruit No. 178 70%
Remainder of Portion 1 of 70%
Jackalsdraai No. 299
Remainder of Jericho B No. 400 70%
Portion 1 of Jericho B No. 400 70%
Portion 2 of Jericho B No. 400 70%
Portion 3 of Jericho B No. 400 70%
15
Change
Project during
Name Tenement Number Location Interest quarter
Remainder of Jericho C No. 413 70%
Portion 1 of Jericho C No. 413 70%
Remainder of Portion 1 of Jericho A 70%
No. 414
Remainder of Portion 2 (of 1) of 70%
Jericho A No. 414
Portion 3 (of 1) of Jericho A No. 414 70%
Portion 4 (of 1) of Jericho A No. 414 70%
Portion 5 (of 2) of Jericho A No. 414 70%
Portion 6 (of 1) of Jericho A No. 414 70%
Margin No. 420 70%
Vele Portions of Overvlakte 125 MS Limpopo~ 100%
Colliery (Remaining Extent, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13,
and 14)
prospects
Bergen Op Zoom 124 MS 100%
Semple 155 MS 100%
Voorspoed 836 MS 100%
Alyth 837 MS 100%
Tshikunda1 Certain portions of Unsurveyed Limpopo~ 60% (60%)
State Land known as Mutale
* Form part of the Greater Soutpansberg Projects
~ Tenement located in the Republic of South Africa
^ Tenement located in Australia
#
MC Mining’s interest will reduce to 67% on completion of the 26% Broad Based Black Economic
Empowerment (BBBEE) transaction
<> net smelter royalty of 0.5%
1
The Tshikunda prospecting right has lapsed
16
17
