Tanzanian Minister of Minerals, Hon. Anthony Mavunde, welcomed the news, saying: "The Kabanga Nickel Project is a model example of the Government of Tanzania’s commitment to fostering sustainable development and economic growth for the benefit of Tanzania and Tanzanians. We are delighted with the announcement that DFC has signed a Letter of Interest for project finance of Kabanga. Building on the 2023 visit to Tanzania by Vice President Harris, DFC's action shows that Tanzania and the United States continue to develop a strong economic partnership founded on a shared vision for sustainable development and we are looking forward to further developing our relationship to pursue our common goals. This project will not only boost our economy regionally and nationally, but also position Tanzania as a leading international player in the global nickel market, contributing significantly to the global energy transition."
Mr. Showalter also commented: "The initiation of the project financing process with Societe Generale is a crucial next step in securing the funding required for Kabanga, and is yet another indicator of the strategic importance of the Project to our global partners. With DFC’s interest in supporting Kabanga, the U.S. government clearly recognizes the critical role that sustainable mineral development in Africa plays in the global energy transition. Today’s announcement reinforces this vision and again highlights the strong relationship between the United States and Tanzania."
Scott Nathan, Chief Executive Officer of DFC added: "DFC is helping to advance the global energy transition through projects that drive sustainable development and economic growth. The Kabanga Nickel Project represents a significant opportunity to advance responsible mineral development in Tanzania, diversifying critical supply chains and fostering economic resilience in the region."
The DFC loan application would initiate a comprehensive review process; this follows Lifezone’s August 27, 2024 announcement that DFC would be evaluating political risk insurance coverage for future investments in Kabanga.
Kabanga is one of the world’s largest and highest-grade undeveloped nickel sulfide deposits. By utilizing Lifezone’s Hydromet technology, the project is expected to significantly reduce emissions compared to traditional smelting methods.
Kabanga is supported by the Partnership of Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), which is a values-driven, high-impact, and transparent infrastructure partnership that was created to meet the enormous infrastructure needs of low- and middle-income countries and to support the United States’ and its allies’ economic and national security interests. Kabanga is also recognized as a project within the Minerals Security Partnership, a collaboration of 14 countries and the EU to catalyze public and private investment in responsible critical minerals supply chains globally.
DFC is America’s development finance institution. It partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today across sectors including energy, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and financial services. DFC investments adhere to high standards and respect the environment, human rights, and worker rights.
Societe Generale appointed as lead financial advisor to Kabanga Nickel Limited
Societe Generale has been appointed as the lead financial advisor to Kabanga Nickel Limited, a subsidiary of Lifezone that is managed by Lifezone and in which BHP has a 17% interest.
Lenaig Trenaux, Global Head of Batteries, Mining and Industries, Societe Generale, commented: "Societe Generale supports its clients in the energy transition, through dedicated solutions, and a commitment to contribute to sustainable finance. We are very pleased to be working jointly with Lifezone Metals and BHP to deliver the Kabanga Nickel Project, aiming to foster development in Tanzania and feed the energy transition with a large volume of low carbon critical mineral."
Societe Generale brings world-leading expertise in large-scale debt financing for mining projects globally. In cooperation with BHP, Lifezone and Societe Generale will look to optimize Kabanga’s capital structure through a combination of multi-source project-level debt and equity.
If you would like to sign up for Lifezone Metals news alerts, please register here.
Social Media
LinkedIn | X | Instagram
About Lifezone Metals
At Lifezone Metals (NYSE: LZM), our mission is to provide cleaner and more responsible metals production and recycling. Using a scalable platform underpinned by our Hydromet Technology, we offer the potential for lower energy consumption, lower emissions and lower cost metals production compared to traditional smelting.
Our Kabanga Nickel Project in Tanzania is believed to be one of the world's largest and highest-grade undeveloped nickel sulfide deposits. By pairing with our Hydromet Technology, we are working to unlock a new source of LME-grade nickel, copper and cobalt for the global battery metals markets, to empower Tanzania to achieve full in-country value creation and become the next premier source of Class 1 nickel. A Definitive Feasibility Study for the mine-to-metals project is due for completion in Q3 2024.
Through our US-based, platinum, palladium and rhodium recycling partnership, we are working to demonstrate that our Hydromet Technology can process and recover platinum group metals from responsibly sourced spent automotive catalytic converters in a cleaner and more efficient way than conventional smelting and refining methods.
https://lifezonemetals.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made herein are not historical facts but may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the "safe harbor" provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, amongst other things, the plans, strategies, intentions and prospects, both business and financial, of Lifezone Metals Limited and its subsidiaries.
Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events or results of operations, and any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook" or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology or expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters; provided that the absence of these does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future events, the estimated or anticipated future results of Lifezone Metals, future opportunities for Lifezone Metals, including the efficacy of Lifezone Metals’ hydrometallurgical technology (Hydromet Technology) and the development of, and processing of mineral resources at, the Kabanga Project, and other statements that are not historical facts.
These statements are based on the current expectations of Lifezone Metals’ management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Lifezone Metals and its subsidiaries. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Lifezone Metals’ business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general economic, political and business conditions, including but not limited to the economic and operational disruptions; global inflation and cost increases for materials and services; reliability of sampling; success of any pilot work; capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; changes in government regulations, legislation and rates of taxation; inflation; changes in exchange rates and the availability of foreign exchange; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in the development of projects and other factors; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Lifezone Metals; our ability to obtain additional capital, including use of the debt market, future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; the risks related to the rollout of Lifezone Metals’ business, the efficacy of the Hydromet Technology, and the timing of expected business milestones; the acquisition of, maintenance of and protection of intellectual property; Lifezone’s ability to achieve projections and anticipate uncertainties (including economic or geopolitical uncertainties) relating to our business, operations and financial performance, including: expectations with respect to financial and business performance, financial projections and business metrics and any underlying assumptions; expectations regarding product and technology development and pipeline and market size; expectations regarding product and technology development and pipeline; the effects of competition on Lifezone Metals’ business; the ability of Lifezone Metals to execute its growth strategy, manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; the ability of Lifezone Metals to reach and maintain profitability; enhancing future operating and financial results; complying with laws and regulations applicable to Lifezone Metals’ business; Lifezone Metals’ ability to continue to comply with applicable listing standards of the NYSE; the ability of Lifezone Metals to maintain the listing of its securities on a U.S. national securities exchange; our ability to comply with applicable laws and regulations; stay abreast of accounting standards, or modified or new laws and regulations applying to our business, including privacy regulation; and other risks that will be detailed from time to time in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. There may be additional risks that Lifezone Metals presently does not know or that Lifezone Metals currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Lifezone Metals’ expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Lifezone Metals anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Lifezone Metals’ assessments to change.
These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Lifezone Metals’ assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Nothing herein should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results in such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this communication, which are based upon information available to us as of the date they are made and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the cautionary statements herein. In all cases where historical performance is presented, please note that past performance is not a credible indicator of future results.
Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, data, or methods, future events, or other changes after the date of this communication.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240923733638/en/
Contacts
Investor Relations – North America
Evan Young
SVP: Investor Relations & Capital Markets
[email protected]
Media Enquiries
David Petrie
Manager: Corporate Communications
[email protected]
Investor Relations – Europe
Ingo Hofmaier
Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
