Tungsten Mining to Pay AU$15 Million for Vital Metals’ Tungsten Project

Tungsten Mining (ASX:TGN) has agreed to pay Vital Metals (ASX:VML) AU$15 million in cash for its Watershed tungsten project in Queensland.

The deal will see Tungsten Mining acquire 100-percent interest in the project, as well as all exploration permits. The purchase will bolster Tungsten Mining’s efforts to explore and develop a number of tungsten assets across Australia, including the Mount Mulgine, Big Hill and Kilba projects.

“We are delighted to have agreed terms for the purchase of this significant development-ready tungsten project. Tungsten Mining have a stated objective of becoming a globally significant player in the tungsten industry,” Tungsten Mining said in a press release.

“The Watershed project complements our existing portfolio of advanced tungsten projects and substantial inventory of contained metal,” it added.

The project is currently development ready, with several granted mining leases and an environmental approval for an open pit mine.

However, a recent independent review of the Watershed project found a capital investment of AU$105.8 million would be needed to develop a 2.5-million-tonne-a-year operation, with an estimated mine life of ten years. The project is estimated to have a post-tax net present value of AU$150-million, and an internal rate of return of 32 percent.

Vital Metals plans to use the AU$15 million payment to fund expanded exploration efforts in West Africa following success at its Bouli gold project in Niger. Aside from the Bouli project, Vital also owns several zinc and gold projects in Burkina Faso.

“The company is extremely encouraged with the results from drilling at the Bella Tondi prospect within the greater Bouli gold project,” Vital said in a press release. “Vital has undertaken a review as to how best to maximize the value of the Watershed tungsten project in light of its success at the Bouli gold project.”

Tungsten Mining expects the purchasing process to be complete over the next two months.

On Wednesday (May 2), shares in Tungsten Mining closed up 14.29 percent in Sydney to AU$0.72.

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Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.