Erin Ventures Inc · Project advancing towards Feasibility Study ... Erin Ventures Inc. Boron...

40
Erin Ventures Inc Piskanja Borate Project, Serbia Updated - March 2016 The technical information in this presentation was approved by James E Wallis, M.Sc. (Eng), P. Eng., a director of the company, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

Transcript of Erin Ventures Inc · Project advancing towards Feasibility Study ... Erin Ventures Inc. Boron...

Erin Ventures Inc

Piskanja Borate Project, Serbia Updated - March 2016

The technical information in this presentation was approved by James E Wallis, M.Sc. (Eng), P. Eng., a director of the company, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

Cautionary Statement This presentation has been prepared by Erin Ventures Inc. (“Erin”) and consists of the slides for a presentation concerning Erin. By reviewing/attending this presentation you agree to be bound by the following conditions. Forward-Looking Statements This presentation includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this presentation including, without limitation, those regarding Erin’s financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to Erin’s products, production forecasts and reserve and resource positions), are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by terms such as “expect”, “intend”, “plan” , “objective” and other terms indicating a future intention or expectation. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Erin, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Erin’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which Erin will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could cause Erin’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, actual amounts of recoverable resources, levels of actual production during any period, levels of demand and market prices, the ability to produce and transport products profitably, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs, operational problems, political uncertainty and economic conditions in relevant areas of the world, the actions of competitors, activities by governmental authorities such as changes in taxation or regulation including environmental and such other risk factors identified in Erin's most recent MD&A. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be construed in light of such risk factors and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this presentation. Information contained in this document is for informational purposes only, is subject to change, and does not constitute an offer or solicitation.

Erin Ventures Inc.

High-grade boron deposit Projected long life (20+ years), low cost mining operation 100% owned by Erin Project advancing towards Feasibility Study

The deposit remains unbounded in two directions (good

potential for resource expansion)

Piskanja boron project highlights

Erin Ventures Inc.

Piskanja boron project highlights

Exclusive license covering 35 km2

Potential to find additional deposits in remainder of the licensed area, with positive results to date

Located in a historical mining region of Serbia with existing mining infrastructure including good paved roads, rail, power, ports, experienced miners, etc.

Erin is actively developing several strategic partnerships

Erin Ventures Inc.

Mineral Resource Estimate (NI43-101 compliant)

Mineral Resource

Category

Tonnage,

Mt

B2O3

Grade, %

Contained

B2O3, Mt

Indicated 7.8 31.0 2.4

Inferred 3.4 28.6 1.0

*Source: NI43-101 compliant Technical Report And Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) For The Piskanja Borate Project, Serbia – SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd., 1- 9-2014. The Technical Report is available at: http://www.erinventures.com/pdf/U6467_Piskanja_MRE_2016_Final_Report.pdf

MRE cautionary statement: Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The quantity and grade of reported Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to report these Mineral Resources in the Measured category and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading a part of these to this category in due course or if further technical work will enable them to reported as Mineral Reserves.

APPROACH: cost effective international standards of ore reserves smart mine planning and development apply environmental and safety standards minimize the social and environmental issues.

OBJECTIVE: Rapidly develop the Piskanja deposit

Development Plans

The next phase of work comprises further data collection, inclusive of drilling and metallurgical testwork, followed by a feasibility study. This work is anticipated to take 12 months to complete.

Item USD 000

Exploration/Resource Drilling 500

Bulk Sampling/Metallurgical Testwork 800

Decline Drilling 450

Environmental Studies 150

Geotechnical Testwork 60

Hydrological and Hydrogeological Analysis 150

Feasibility Study 550

Office Costs 540

Contingency 300

Total 3,500

Erin Ventures Inc.

Timelines for Piskanja development after receipt of exploitation license

Feasibility Study

Month 1 Month 24

Development drilling

Mine planning

Driving decline & development mining

Order mining & benefitation equipment

Construction & installation of services

Production

About boron

Uses

Boron Market

Supply/Demand

Pricing

Scarcity

Marketing Strategy

Uses for boron

Used in hundreds of products that shape modern life, with new applications developed regularly. Primary use is in the manufacture of fiberglass insulation, textile fiberglass, borosilicate glass (LCD screens, solar panels and more), ceramic glazes and porcelain enamels (64% of borate consumption) Detergents, fire retardants, metallurgy, agriculture, insecticides, wood preservatives and many specialty products account for most of the remainder of consumption

World Boron Consumption by End-Use in 2014

Source: Eti Mine

Uses for boron

Borates are safe. Used for centuries, borates pose no risk to people, animals or the environment under normal handling and use. Second, they’re versatile. In many applications, there is simply no substitute for borates.

Boron market is valued at US$2.4B per year (2015)

An oligopoly with a small group of producers and two major

producers controlling 83% of the market

Global consumption is currently matching production with growth in demand outpacing production growth (Source: RTM)

A lack of competition in supply helps to keep prices stable

Economic deposits of borates are extremely rare

Boron Market Characteristics

Erin Ventures Inc.

World production reached 2.4 million tons B2O3 (>5 million tons mine run) in 2015 and is growing at a controlled pace (Source: RTM) China is the largest consumer of boron, where consumption has risen by 15% per year from 2000 to 2010 and is currently growing at their GDP growth rate of 7% (Source: US Geological Survey). The US market is the second largest, growing at a rate in excess of GDP growth, driven by housing recovery.

Supply/demand of boron

Global demand for borates will grow at a CAGR of 5% over the next 5 years

Over the next decade, the industry will need increased capacity that is equivalent to another 1.5 Boron-sized operations (Rio Tinto’s California mine) to meet demand. (Source: Rio Tinto)

Current Suppliers of Borates

An oligopoly exists with 2 dominate players supplying 83% of the market. This keeps prices stable and growing.

Source: Rio Tinto

Erin Ventures Inc.

Boron prices

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

Jun

-09

Sep

-09

De

c-0

9

Mar

-10

Jun

-10

Sep

-10

De

c-1

0

Mar

-11

Jun

-11

Sep

-11

De

c-1

1

Mar

-12

Jun

-12

Sep

-12

De

c-1

2

Mar

-13

Jun

-13

Sep

-13

De

c-1

3

Mar

-14

Jun

-14

Sep

-14

De

c-1

4

Mar

-15

Jun

-15

Sep

-15

US

Do

llars

Borate Prices

boric acid high

boric acid low

colemanite high

colemanite low

Price range

Source: IM Industrial Minerals

Erin Ventures Inc.

Economic borate occurrences are very rare, 2 regions are currently supplying +80% of world production today (Rio Tinto’s US Borax in California, and Eti Mine in Turkey)

The majority of other producers are from high-cost, low-grade deposits in South America

Scarcity of borates

European Commission Press Release – 26.5.2014 20 critical raw materials - major challenge for EU industry

“The European Commission’s 2014 list of Critical Raw Materials includes borates. The list should help to incentivise the European production of critical raw materials and facilitate the launching of new mining and recycling activities.”

Market penetration strategy

Erin’s planned production: 200,000 t/yr, which is a market penetration of < 5%

Room exists in the market for additional high quality producers, especially in competition with the inferior producers from South America (who have a 20% market share today)

Erin’s competitive advantages include: large deposit; high quality, low arsenic; good proximity to markets; excellent infrastructure; relationships with industry leaders; ability to add value by creating specialty products

Colemanite market – only 1 current world supplier (Eti Mine). Buyers welcome an additional supplier

Our colemanite has much lower arsenic content that that from Turkey, which is a growing concern for most countries

Strategic relationships with leading boron industry participants who provide us with ready market share, value-add product expertise, marketing capabilities, etc

The market is growing faster than production

Market penetration strategy

About Serbia

Erin Ventures Inc.

Serbia has formally entered the process for EU membership

The government has committed to stimulating and encouraging foreign investments within the mining industry. Their stated aim: “to increase the mining industry’s contribution to GDP from its current 2% to 5% by 2020 and that Serbia becomes the leader in the mining industry in southeast Europe”

No restrictions on foreign ownership

15% corporate tax rate and 5% NSR

10 year tax holiday available (Erin will qualify)

Canada and Serbia have signed a Foreign Investment Protection Agreement to ensure a more secure business environment for Canadian companies in Serbia

Additional data Erin Ventures Inc.

Geological data: Regional geology Lithology Piskanja deposit geology Mineralization zones Exploration history

General information: Local community Access Infrastructure

220 km south of Belgrade

Long: 20.663 E

Lat.: 43.375 N

Jarandol basin regional position

Jarandol basin – general features

Structural basin of

Miocene age

Sediments deposited in

a lake setting

Presumably structurally

active throughout its

existence

Concession area Piskanja – Erin Ventures Inc.

35 km sq

Jarandol basin – borates distribution & resource

Pobrdje deposit

3 km to the west of Piskanja

small, two-bed resource

Piskanja deposit

two primary beds about 90m vertical

separation

the upper bed thickness: 3 -14m

(starts at a depth of 120m)

the lower bed thickness 1.5 - 6m

(starts at a depth of 210m)

Basement: Pz/Mz serpentinites and dolomites

Neogene: tectonic shallow lacustrine basin was formed, followed by

deposition

Miocene: outpourings of andesitic lava flows, breccias and

agglomerates affected the sedimentation; solutions borates were

precipitated from HT

Result: claystone mixed with tuffaceous and calcareous sediments, coal

seams and magnesite and borate beds and lenses.

Jarandol cross section - lithology

Piskanja borate deposit geology

Borates are

inter-bedded within

volcano-sedimentary

lacustrine series of clastic-

carbonaceous-tuffaceous

sediments, tuffs, volcanics

and inter-series breccias.

Sedimentary series

extends in NNE - SSW

direction and dips toward

E - SE at an angle of

about 30°.

source: RIO TINTO

General view of the mineralisation zones of Piskanja (Leapfrog, view along the azimuth 143, dip 31)

Yugoslavian Geo Survey

1967 the presence of boron mineral first detected

1979 first geochemical investigation of boron dissemination conducted

1987 colemanite first noted in structural borehole

1987 – 1992 21 boreholes; total 6,508 m - partial delineation of the deposit

Erin Ventures Inc.

1997 10 boreholes; total 2,823 m - further delineation of the deposit

Rio Tinto

2006 - 2009 5 boreholes; total 2,415.5 m - twinning of historic drill holes

9 boreholes; total 3,552.5 m - drilling outside of the known deposit

Erin Ventures Inc.

2011 -2012 37 boreholes; total 13,569 m - within mineralized area on a 100m x 100m grid

2013 -2015 11 - 50m X 50m boreholes; MRE and PEA completed

Exploration history

Piskanja deposit promising

• positive exploration results

• possibility of increasing resource

• well located for shipping the minerals to destinations by road, rail and water

• good infrastructure

• work force trained in underground mining

“the Piskanja Project and the western part of Jarandol Basin have significant potential to host multiple horizons of high-grade boron mineralisation. SRK considers the Piskanja Project to be an exploration project of merit and that there is potential to increase the current Mineral Resources” - SRK Exploration 1.12.16 colemanite

General information - local community

Adjacent to the small town

of Baljevac (3000 inhabitants)

Strong mining tradition and

culture (coal mine)

Borates perceived as the

future of local mining

Region of strategic

importance to

Serbian Government

General information - access

Highway access from

Belgrade to property

Transportation on standard

gauge rail serving Greece

(south), the Danube at

Belgrade (north) and the

Adriatic (south west)

Good paved local roads

Well located for shipping

the ore to destinations by

road, rail and boat

General information - infrastructure

3-phase power

generation and

independent sourcing of

energy available onsite

Good accommodations;

adequate

communication (phone,

internet); supplies and

services available

Summary & conclusions

Valuable and scarce mineral with growing uses and demand

Good potential to expand resource size

Good mining infrastructure in place

Competitive advantages exist for Erin

Very small current market capitalization ($15 M)

Board of Directors Tim Daniels, B Comm. (Finance) has a decade of experience in sales, management and corp. finance with Canadian based brokerage firms. He has raised many tens of millions of dollars and assisted companies in their IPO process. He has 20 years experience in the areas of management, financing, strategic planning, business development, and corporate finance of natural resource companies, and has been president of Erin since 1996. James Wallis, M.Sc. (Eng), P. Eng. has 40 years of experience in all phases of mineral exploration and mine development. He has held senior mine management and consulting positions throughout the world with companies such as Noranda, Kerr Addison, U.S. Borax, and Amax. Jim lead a team at The Allan Potash Mine key to the development of the mine - from shaft sinking to the design and selection of underground mining equipment for a large-scale trackless mining operation. Additionally, he spent time at U.S. Borax operations evaluating the economics of their mining operations, while gaining experience in boron production. Dr. Dragoljub Jujic, M. Eng., has over 35 years experience in mining, engineering and research. Dr. Jujic previously served as the Director of the Yugoslavian National Mining Institute for 8 years. He also served as General Manager for the Tomasica and Mokra Gora iron ore mines, Chief Engineer on several projects, and consulted to mining companies located in Central Europe, Asia and Africa.

Dr. Vladan Milosevic, PhD Eng. Since 1997, Vladan has held the position of Department Chief for Mineral Processing, at the "Institute for Technology of Nuclear and Other Mineral Raw Materials“ in Belgrade, Serbia. He has successfully served as Project Manager on numerous commercial mining projects in Serbia including: the reconstruction of the Veliki Krivelj Floatation Plant to increase capacity to 10,000,000 tonnes of ore per year; increasing the copper recovery from the Cerovo, Cementacija 1- South deposit; and processing optimization of the Majdanpek Copper Mine.

Key Management Dusan Podunavac, B.Sc P.Geo. Dusan served as Senior Geologist and Technical Director of the Geological Institute of Serbia for 23 years. His expertise and duties at the Institute included: management of the engineering divisions within the Institute, with supervision of 250 staff members; mining feasibility studies; cash flow analysis; international project-specific financing; mine planning, construction and remediation supervision; environmental engineering; and, evaluation of mining operations, companies and policies on behalf of governments. Dusan now serves as Project Manager for the development of Erin’s Piskanja project.

Erin Ventures Inc Quick facts:

Symbol: EV TSX-V OTCBB: ERVFF

Berlin Stock Exchange: EKV Shares outstanding: 280 Million

Year High Low $0.09 - .04

For further information:

Website: www.erinventures.com Email: [email protected] Tel: (1) 250 384 1999 Toll free: (1) 888 289 3746 Fax: (1) 250 384 6761 645 Fort Street, Suite 203 Victoria BC V8W 1G2 CANADA