
December 09, 2024
Boab Metals Limited (ASX: BML) (“Boab” or “Company”) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Sorby Hills Pty Ltd (“SHPL”), has executed a binding offtake agreement (the “Offtake Agreement”) with Trafigura Asia Trading Pte. Ltd. (“Trafigura”) for lead-silver concentrate produced from the Company’s flagship Sorby Hills Lead-Silver-Zinc Project, located in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia (“Sorby Hills” or “the Project”).
In conjunction with the Offtake Agreement, the Company, SHPL and Trafigura have executed a binding term sheet (the “Prepayment Term Sheet”) for a US$30 million prepayment facility (the “Prepayment Facility”) which is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PREPAYMENT AND OFFTAKE TRANSACTIONS
Prepayment Term Sheet
- US$30 million Prepayment Facility from Trafigura to be applied towards the construction and development of the Project.
- Interest Rate of SOFR1 + 5% per annum.
- 5-year Term from first drawdown with an 18-month interest only period.
- To be repaid via equal monthly instalments over 42 months following the 18-month interest only period.
- Financial Close and drawdown of the Prepayment Facility are subject to, amongst other things, the execution of definitive agreements, the finalisation of due diligence to Trafigura’s satisfaction and the Project being fully funded.
Offtake Agreement
- If Financial Close on the Prepayment Facility is achieved, the offtake will be for 75% of lead-silver concentrate produced at Sorby Hills, (minimum 531,000 tonnes, ~7 years based on the FEED Study production schedule).
- If Financial Close on the Prepayment Facility is not achieved, the offtake will be for 25% (or greater, at SHPL’s discretion) of lead-silver concentrate produced at Sorby Hills (minimum 177,000 tonnes) provided that if Boab exercises its option to terminate the Prepayment Term Sheet or obtains alternative financing for development and construction of the Project, the offtake will be for 50% (or greater, at SHPL’s discretion) of lead-silver concentrate produced at Sorby Hills (minimum 354,000 tonnes).
Boab Managing Director and CEO, Simon Noon, stated:
“We are delighted to have secured support in the form of binding offtake and project financing from a party of Trafigura’s calibre. Throughout what has been a highly competitive offtake tender process, Trafigura has demonstrated a willingness to work constructively with the Company to deliver a result that is in the best interests of the Project.
The binding Offtake Agreement and Prepayment Term Sheet with Trafigura represents a cornerstone of our targeted financing plan for Sorby Hills. We now look forward to further progressing discussions with other prospective senior lenders with a view toward reaching a final investment decision on the Project.”
“The opportunity to secure high-quality concentrate from the Sorby Hills project is an exciting prospect for our lead trading book. We look forward to seeing Boab’s management team bring this project into production,” Trafigura’s Global Head of Zinc and Lead has stated.
Background Information
Sorby Hills is located 50km from the regional centre of Kununurra in the East Kimberley of Western Australia and has access to existing sealed roads to transport the concentrate 150km from the site to the facilities at Wyndham Port.
The Project comprises a Mineral Resource of 47.3Mt containing 1.5Mt Pb at 3.1% and 53Moz Sliver at 35g/t (Table 1). The current Sorby Hills mine plan comprises 18.3Mt at 3.4% Pb and 39g/t Ag of which ~83% is classified as an Ore Reserve (Table 2).
On 6 June 2024, Boab released the results of a Front-End Engineering & Design Study (“FEED Study”) on the Project showing strong pre-tax economics including C1 operating costs of US$0.36/lb payable Pb (incl. a net Silver credit of US$0.37/lb payable Pb), NPV8 of A$411M, IRR of 37%, A$778M free cash flow, and an average annualised EBITDA of A$126M. Pre-production capital costs were estimated to be A$264M.
With operating costs covered by revenue generated by a historically non-volatile lead price, the Project free cash flow is exposed to movements in the price of silver.
Sorby Hills is being developed via a joint venture between SHPL (75%) and Yuguang (Australia) Pty Ltd (“Yuguang”, 25%). On 23 September 2024, Boab announced that it had executed an agreement with Yuguang to acquire their interest in the Project subject to reaching a final investment decision on the Project (“JV Acquisition Agreement”).
On 25 October 2024, the Company indicated that it was proactively assessing multiple opportunities to materially reduce the upfront capital expenditure for Sorby Hills (“Capital Cost Reduction Initiatives”). The identification of available second-hand process plants has been one such initiative and the potential purchase of the available DeGrussa plant has been deemed the most technically suitable option for Sorby Hills. Over the coming quarter, Boab will work closely with preferred EPC Contractor GR Engineering Service (“GRES”) to undertake a thorough review of the DeGrussa process plant and assess the technical and economic benefit of its potential incorporation into the Sorby Hills Project.
The Offtake Agreement and Prepayment Term Sheet executed with Trafigura represents another key milestone towards a final investment decision on Sorby Hills and a cornerstone of Boab’s financing solution for the Project. The result follows a very competitive process in which multiple parties including other global traders and smelters expressed strong interest in the Sorby Hills concentrate.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Boab Metals Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
The Conversation (0)
09 January
Boab Metals Limited
Advancing toward near-term lead and silver production in Western Australia
Advancing toward near-term lead and silver production in Western Australia Keep Reading...
13 November
Americas Gold & Silver to Acquire Crescent Silver in US$65 Million Deal
Mid-tier precious metals producer Americas Gold and Silver (TSX:USA,NYSEAMERICAN:USAS) continues to grow its North American footprint with its intended acquisition of privately owned Crescent Silver. The two companies inked a US$65 million binding purchase agreement on Thursday (November 13). It... Keep Reading...
13 November
ASX Silver Stocks: 5 Biggest Companies in 2025
The silver price rose to new highs this year, breaking above its previous record set in 1980, as strong safe-haven demand for precious metals aligned with tightening supply.Over the years, silver has seen a broadening of industrial use, particularly in electronics and for the energy transition.... Keep Reading...
12 November
Chris Marcus: Silver Supply Crunch Not Over, Price Path Clear Long Term
Chris Marcus, founder of Arcadia Economics, shares his thoughts on silver and gold. While it's impossible to know exactly how precious metals prices will move in the short term, he's confident they will maintain an upward trajectory in the long term.Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for... Keep Reading...
10 November
What Was the Highest Price for Silver?
Like its sister metal gold, silver has been attracting renewed attention as a safe-haven asset due to high levels of uncertainty. Although silver continues to exhibit its hallmark volatility, a silver bull market is well underway in 2025. Experts are optimistic about the future, and as the... Keep Reading...
09 November
Steve Penny: Silver, Gold, Uranium — Price Targets and My Strategy
Steve Penny, founder of SilverChartist.com, explains why he currently has a bullish outlook for gold, silver and platinum, as well as uranium. “The reaction to the next deflationary impulse is what I believe ultimately sends silver up towards triple digits, gold up towards north of US$10,000... Keep Reading...
07 November
Rich Checkan: Silver to Outpace Gold in 2026, Use This Dip to Buy
Rich Checkan, president and COO of Asset Strategies International, shares his thoughts on the recent pullback in gold and silver prices, emphasizing that both still have room to run. In his view, silver is set to outpace gold in 2026. Don't forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time... Keep Reading...
Latest News
Latest Press Releases
Syntheia Announces Shares for Debt Transaction
14 November
E-Power Provides Update on Management Changes
14 November
Related News
TOP STOCKS
American Battery4.030.24
Aion Therapeutic0.10-0.01
Cybin Corp2.140.00






