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GoviEx Uranium Inc. (TSXV: GXU) (OTCQB: GVXXF) ("GoviEx or the Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed drilling contracts with ESAFOR and FORACO to undertake drilling programs related to a Feasibility Study for the Company's Madaouela Uranium Project (the "Project") in Niger.
"Following the positive results of the updated pre-feasibility study ("Updated PFS")(1) announced February 18, 2021, and based on our view that the uranium market fundamentals are demonstrating continued improvement, we have decided to move straight on to the completion of the Feasibility Study required to secure project financing. A key benefit from the Updated PFS was the simplification and optimisation of the Project - which has also simplified the scope of the remaining test work expected to be completed in support of a Feasibility Study. As a result, our priorities for the advancement of Madaouela include a drilling program designed to further our understanding of the molybdenum mineralization of the Project and confirmatory metallurgical test work." stated Daniel Major, Chief Executive Officer.
GoviEx has planned a 13,000 metre drilling program, with a combination of rotary mud and diamond core drilling, to an average depth of 100 metres. This drilling program, located at the Miriam deposit, will focus three main objectives:
- Drilling a 50 metre grid within the planned open pit shape to confirm an indicated mineral resource for molybdenum mineralisation. The process flowsheet has been designed to recover molybdenum as a by-product based on the molybdenum content reported in the previous test work.
- Final corroboration of the geotechnical slope design for Miriam, which was steepened from 51 degrees to 53 degrees in the Update PFS.
- Verification of whether Miriam dewatering is sufficient to support process water requirements rather than developing a standalone well field as is currently assumed given the reduced water usage defined in the Updated PFS. Positive results, if they are achieved, will potentially permit reduced operating and capital costs associated with water supply, and could also lower the potential environmental impact.
The planned drilling program will be performed by l'Entreprise Sidi Abdoul Aziz de Forage ("ESAFOR"), and FORACO NIGER S.A. ("FORACO"). ESAFOR, a Nigerien drilling company, has completed substantial previous drilling for GoviEx, having completed over 620,000 metres of exploration and resource drilling on the Project area. FORACO, a Nigerien subsidiary of Foraco International SA, a French drilling company, has concluded extensive exploration work on a number of nearby uranium deposits in Niger. The first drill rig is expected on site by May 1, 2021, and it is anticipated that the total program will last approximately five months.
Additionally, the Company has prepared one tonne of ore samples, which are due to be sent to South Africa, for Feasibility Study metallurgical test work. Due to the simplification of the process flowsheet, the required test work necessary to meet the technical requirements for a Feasibility Study is also simplified and will focus on verification and optimisation, including comminution, acid leach and ion exchange.
1) Note: See technical report titled, "An Updated Pre-Feasibility Study for the Madaouela Project, Niger", dated effective April 5, 2021, prepared by SRK Consulting (UK) Limited ("SRK") in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), and is available on the Company's website (www.goviex.com) and under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).
Figure 1: ESAFOR drilling at Miriam in 2017
To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:
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Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by
Dr. Rob Bowell, a chartered chemist of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a chartered geologist of the Geological Society of London, and a Fellow of the Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Materials, who is an independent Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101 for uranium deposits. Mr. Bowell has verified the data disclosed in this news release.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
About GoviEx Uranium
GoviEx is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its flagship mine-permitted Madaouela Project in Niger, its mine-permitted Mutanga Project in Zambia, and its multi-element Falea Project in Mali.
Contact Information
Govind Friedland, Executive Chairman
Daniel Major, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +1-604-681-5529
Email: info@goviex.com
Web: www.goviex.com
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All information and statements other than statements of current or historical facts contained in this news release are forward-looking information.
Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in GoviEx's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward- looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information.
Forward-looking statements include those in relation to, (i) the timing for completion of the Feasibility Study required to secure project financing; and (ii) the method and timing of any test work, exploration, development or mining operations in relation to the Project by FORACO and/or ESAFOR or any other party including the Company itself.
Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be achieved. Such assumptions, which may prove incorrect, include the following: (i) that the drilling program and test work contemplated in this release will advance the Project towards Project financing and development; (ii) that ESAFOR and FORACO will be able to successfully completed the bulk if not all the planned drilling programs; (iii) the current uranium upcycle will continue and expand; (iv) that the integration of nuclear power into power grids world-wide will continue as a clean energy alternative; and (v) that the price of uranium will remain sufficiently high and the costs of advancing the Company's mining projects will remain sufficiently low so as to permit GoviEx to implement its business plans in a profitable manner.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include (i) the inability or unwillingness of FORACO and/or ESAFOR to complete the planned drill programs; (ii) results of the metallurgical test work and drilling programs will not produce the anticipated positive results for whatever reason; (iii) a regression in the uranium market price; (iv) inability or unwillingness of include or increase nuclear power generation by major markets; (v) potential delays due to COVID-19 restrictions; (vi) the failure of the Company's projects, for technical, logistical, labour-relations, or other reasons; (vii) a decrease in the price of uranium below what is necessary to sustain the Company's operations; (viii) an increase in the Company's operating costs above what is necessary to sustain its operations; (ix) accidents, labour disputes, or the materialization of similar risks; (x) a deterioration in capital market conditions that prevents the Company from raising the funds it requires on a timely basis; and (xi) generally, the Company's inability to develop and implement a successful business plan for any reason.
In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Financial Risks and Management Objectives" in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2019, of GoviEx, which is available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release.
Although GoviEx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance, or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances, or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information in this news release will transpire or occur, or, if any of them do so, what benefits that GoviEx will derive therefrom. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and GoviEx disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.
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