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Quarterly Report

31st Oct 2013 10:15

RNS Number : 8607R
Wildhorse Energy Limited
31 October 2013
 



31 October 2013

AIM/ASX Code: WHE

 

 

WILDHORSE ENERGY LIMITED

SEPTEMBER 2013 QUARTERLY REPORT

 

Wildhorse Energy ('WHE' or 'the Company'), the AIM and ASX listed company focussed on developing underground coal gasification ('UCG') and uranium projects in Central and Eastern Europe, is pleased to announce its Quarterly Report for the three months to 30 September 2013.

 

Overview:

 

· Continuation of strategic partnership search on-going in order to secure a development blueprint for WHE's asset base

· Streamlined operational costs in line with corporate focus on securing a partnership agreement

· Results from recent borehole drilling and 2D seismic at the Váralja target within the Mecsek Hills UCG Project being analysed - initial results promising

· Successful completion of discussions with the Hungarian State regarding the formerly requested studies for the Mecsek Hills Uranium Project (from the earlier Cabinet approval) - no red flags identified

· Continued discussions with the Hungarian State regarding the progression of the Mecsek Hills Uranium Project - follow-up Cabinet approval is expected in the near term

· Various uranium related studies that will be needed for the licencing of the project have been initiated

 

WHE Managing Director Matt Swinney said, "We continue with our strategic partner search regarding our Mecsek Hills UCG Project, where the development of a commercial demonstration plant has been highlighted as potentially economically and technically viable, and in terms of our interest in the highly strategic Mecsek Hills Uranium Project, both of which are in Hungary. The results from a recently completed further borehole and 2D seismic at the Mecsek Hills UCG Project are currently under analysis, and with this in mind, both of our project's developments are now primarily advancing on a corporate level. Consequently, we have made the decision to reduce our costs accordingly, with a particular focus on streamlining our team and operations.

 

"We are a dual focussed developer of energy assets in Europe and in terms of our significant interest in the Mecsek Hills Uranium project, progress has been made regarding the development of a joint venture with a range of Hungarian bodies. This is a strategic asset with a total JORC Inferred Resource of 48.3Mt at 0.072% U3O8 for 77Mlbs of U3O8 and with government approval of the joint venture expected in due course, we have initiated a range of licensing related studies over the last three months to ensure that its development is advanced as soon as it is received."

 

Operations Update - Mecsek Hills UCG Project, Hungary

 

As previously announced, operational work has focussed on strengthening the Company's geological understanding of the Váralja target at the Mecsek Hills UCG Project. This target has a current Inferred JORC resource of 185Mt and is targeted to be the location for the commercial demonstration UCG to Combined Cycle Gas Turbine facility ('CDP') of approximately 50MWe Gross (100MWt LHV fuel input). In line with this strategy, 2D seismic was completed and a bore hole drilled in Q3 2013. The results are being analysed and the initial results look positive. These activities will provide us with a stronger understanding of the area before drilling commences to upgrade the current Inferred Resource to Indicated status.

 

UCG Regulations

 

As announced previously, a proposal for the amendments to the existing legislation to allow for the licensing of UCG has been prepared by the Hungarian Mining Authority and is pending Parliamentary approval. The Company is still in correspondence with the Hungarian Mining Authority and has been advised that approval can be expected in Q4 2013/Q1 2014. Further updates will be made as appropriate.

 

Strategic Partner Selection

 

Further to the announcement dated 5 March 2013, the Company continues to progress the strategic partner selection process. Once secured, the Company intends to recommence the BFS and initiate a drilling programme to upgrade selected areas of its current JORC compliant Inferred resource of 184.5Mt to the Indicated and Measured categories.

 

Uranium Project - Mecsek Hills

 

WHE is progressing the development of the Mecsek Hills Uranium Project which combines WHE's 42.9km2 Pécs-Abaliget uranium licence and Hungarian state owned Mecsek-Öko ('MO') adjoining 19.6km2 MML-E uranium licence. The project has a total JORC Inferred Resource of 48.3Mt at 0.072% U3O8 for 77Mlbs of U3O8 and an Exploration Target[1] of an additional 55-90Mlbs of U3O8 with a grade range of 0.075-0.10% U3O8, making it one of the largest uranium deposits in Europe.

 

On 27 June 2012, the Hungarian Government formally pledged its support for the development of a Joint Venture ('JV') between the Company, MO and Mecsekérc ('ME'), and Hungarian Electricity Ltd ('MVM'), the owner of Paks Nuclear Power Plant ('Paks NPP'), to evaluate the necessary conditions to restart uranium mining.

With this in mind, a Special Purpose Vehicle ('SPV') uranium entity was established in September 2012. In Q2 2013 all parties, namely ME, MVM and Kővágószőlős Municipality, joined the uranium administrative SPV and signed agreements to purchase an initial nominal shareholding in the SPV. The main objective of the SPV, in accordance with the Government Resolution of June 2012, is to conduct due diligence to assess the feasibility of the property ('the Study').

 

The Study was completed in November 2012 and following the joining of these shareholders as joint company partners, this has been shared with all parties and the competent ministries. These discussions have been completed and no concerns have been raised on its content.

 

The Company is continuing its discussions with the Hungarian State regarding the further development of the project and follow up Cabinet approval of the Joint Venture is expected in the near term. Ahead of this, various uranium related studies that will be needed for the licensing of the project have been initiated.

 

Cost Reduction Initiatives

 

As the Board continues its strategic partner discussions with a view to finding a suitable party to progress WHE's Mecsek Hills UCG Project and the Mecsek Hills Uranium Project in Hungary, the Company has taken measures to preserve cash and reduce its corporate overheads until this has been formalised. With this in mind, the Company has undertaken a review of the shape and size of the business required to continue moving the project forward at this point in time and has significantly streamlined its operational and in-house team as a result of this.

 

To view the Company's Appendix 5B form, please click the following link:

 

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8607R_-2013-10-31.pdf

 

 

**ENDS**

 

For further information please visit www.wildhorse.com.au or contact:

Matt Swinney

Wildhorse Energy Limited

Tel: +44 (0)207 292 9110

Colin Aaronson/Jen Clarke

Grant Thornton UK LLP

Tel: +44 (0)207 383 5100

Elisabeth Cowell/ Susie Geliher

St Brides Media & Finance Ltd

Tel: +44 (0)207 236 1177

 

Further Information on Wildhorse:

 

Wildhorse Business Model

 

The WHE business model is focussed upon applying UCG technology to convert coal into syngas and then selling the syngas to power stations as a gas feedstock. The development and expansion of the UCG portfolio is underpinned by a potentially world class uranium project which the Company is advancing with its Hungarian uranium development partners Mecsek-Öko and Mecsekérc, with the support of the Hungarian Government.

 

Business Strategy

 

The Company's business strategy is to become a major supplier of gas feedstock to power stations in Central and Eastern Europe. WHE's project development strategy is based primarily upon acquiring strategic UCG sites in key locations in Central and Eastern Europe where gas markets are dominated by gas imports, energy security is a major factor for governments and large scale industrial consumers of gas and gas prices are correspondingly high.

 

Alongside its UCG assets, the Company also has a significant interest in a highly prospective uranium deposit in Hungary, which has a JORC Inferred resource of 48.3Mt at 0.072% uranium U3O8 for 77Mlbs of U3O8. As announced on 27 June 2012, the Government has issued a formal decree in support of the formation of a joint venture ('JV') with state-owned organisations, Mecsek-Öko, and Mecsekérc and Hungarian Electricity Ltd ('MVM') (the owner of Paks Nuclear Power Plant). The JV's initial purpose will be to evaluate the necessary conditions to restart uranium mining in the Mecsek Hills with the ultimate aim of recommencing uranium mining at the Mecsek Hills Uranium Project.

 

 


[1} The size and grade of the Exploration Target is conceptual in nature and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determination of a mineral resource. There is currently insufficient data to define a JORC compliant Mineral Resource for the Exploration Target. Mr Barnes and Mr Inwood (Competent Persons) have reviewed the historical data available for the Mecsek Hills Uranium Project and both made site visits to the area. They consider the Exploration Target to be reasonable based on the data available.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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