JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim- and TSX-V-listed lithium and borates company Bacanora Minerals on Thursday reported that the company’s chairperson and nonexecutive director, Colin Orr-Ewing, had passed away following a short illness.
"We are all deeply saddened by the news of Colin's sudden death and all the sympathies and thoughts of the board and employees are with his family at this time,” said Bacanora nonexecutive chairperson James Leahy, adding that the company would forever be in Orr-Ewing’s debt.
“Colin was the founder of Bacanora and, under his leadership as chairman, it has flourished, becoming the company it is today thanks to his vision, energy, enthusiasm and hard work. On behalf of my colleagues, we have all lost a great friend who was always generous with his time, wise counsel and support. It is a huge understatement to say he will be deeply missed by us all," said Leahy.
Bacanora noted that, for more than 40 years, Orr-Ewing had been a larger-than-life personality on London's mining and energy scene.
“Colin's long and successful career included executive management positions with KCA and Kimberly Oil in the USA, investment manager for the Shell Pension Fund and, subsequently, a long association with Blakeney Capital Management.
More recently, Orr-Ewing’s focus turned to the borates industry. The company highlighted his persistence and intuition as the driving force behind the discovery of the Sonora lithium deposit and the creation of Bacanora Minerals.
“Colin's passion for Bacanora will be long remembered, particularly as his company continues to develop the Sonora lithium project over the forthcoming years,” concluded Bacanora.