Name of the Project
Khemisset potash project.

Location
Northern Morocco.

Project Owner/s
Emmerson PLC.

Project Description
A scoping study has confirmed Khemisset’s potential to be a low capital-cost and high-margin potash mine.

The study is based entirely on the Joint Ore Reservess Committee- (Jorc-) compliant inferred mineral resource estimate of 311.4-million tonnes at an average grade of 10.2% potassium oxide and delivers an initial mine life of 20 years.

Envisaged is the mine’s extracting about six-million tonnes of run-of-mine ore, with an average grade over the life-of-mine (LoM) of 9.35% potassium oxide.

Processing will be undertaken using a hot leaching and crystallisation process to extract and purify the potassium chloride in the ore into saleable grade K60 muriate of potash. Over the LoM, the process plant will deliver an average of about 800 000 t/y of K60 product for sale.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an after-tax net present value, at a 10% discount rate, of $795-million and an internal rate of return of 29.8%, with a payback of 3.25 years.

Capital Expenditure
$405.9-million, including a $90.4-million contingency.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Emmerson has announced an updated mineral resource estimate for its Khemisset potash project, indicating a 72% increase in total resources to 537-million tonnes, grading about 9.24% potassium oxide.

A feasibility study is on track for completion in the first half of next year.

The company is examining the potential for a Phase 2 expansion to increase production by 50%, which would substantially improve economics.

Additionally, Emmerson is considering the potential to convert some muriate of potash to sulphate of potash, which could also enhance project economics.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Golder Associates (scoping study) and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (design and estimates).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Emmerson PLC, tel +44 207 236 1177.