Mali frees Resolute executives after $160 million deal, AFP reports
The three executives, including CEO Terry Holohan, were freed from detention on Wednesday.
A United Nations report published Wednesday says Danakali’s (ASX, LON:DNK) Colluli potash project has the potential to boost the economy of Eritrea, a country that until two months ago was on the UN’s sanctions list.
The independent study, commissioned and funded by the UN Development Program (UNDP), assesses a wide range of econometric data and includes findings from talks with Eritrean government officials, relevant public institutions, and other Colluli stakeholders.
It also suggests that Colluli, which sits close to the Red Sea by Eritrea’s eastern border, could “meaningfully” advance the north African nation’s sustainable development agenda.
“Colluli is much more than a great mining asset. Not only does it have outstanding grade, size, location and simplicity; Colluli’s products will also help farmers and support food security in Eritrea, across Africa and beyond,” executive chairman, Seamus Cornelius, said in a statement. “We appreciate the magnitude of the opportunity and the responsibility that comes with developing an asset of this significance.”
UNDP says the Colluli potash project has the potential to significantly boost Eritrea’s economy and advance the country’s sustainable development agenda.
In the initial phase of operation, Colluli would produce more than 472,000 tonnes a year of sulphate of potash (SOP), a premium grade of fertilizer. Annual output could rise to almost 944,000 tonnes if Danakali decides to go ahead with a second phase of development.
Colluli is being developed as a joint venture with the Eritrea’s state mining company, and the Australian miner has already struck an offtake agreement with EuroChem, one of the world’s top fertilizer companies. Under the 10-year deal, EuroChem has agreed to buy at least 87% of Colluli’s output from the first phase of development.
The project location has its pros and cons. On one hand, being so close to the Red Sea coast, makes it one of the world’s most accessible potash deposits, with mineralization beginning at 16 metres, which also makes it the world’s shallowest. Additionally, its proximity to ports will provide easy access to Asian markets.
Colluli is also by the border with Ethiopia, with which Eritrea held one of Africa’s deadliest border wars. In June 2018, the ruling coalition of Ethiopia (Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front), headed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, agreed to fully implement the peace treaty signed with Eritrea in 2000, with peace declared by both parties in July 2018.
Colluli contains at least 1.1 billion tonnes of potash, enough for at least 200 years of production, according to the latest figures published by the company.
Colluli’s location. (Courtesy of Danakali.)
When Canada’s Lundin Mining bid for fellow miner Nevsun Resources in May last year, its initial offer was structured to avoid taking Nevsun’s Eritrean mine at Bisha because of rights concerns. It changed tack in July, as Ethiopia and Eritrea’s rapprochement gained pace, offering to buy Bisha too.
But Nevsun rejected the bids, agreeing in September to a buyout by China’s Zijin Mining.
Mining industry experts said the success of Bisha, which has produced gold, silver, copper and zinc since construction was completed in 2010, showed ventures in Eritrea can succeed.
3 Comments
John
Eritrea has by far the best potential globally for a low cost SOP production. And with the minimized risk on the government’s side, I think this project would be a real win for everyone.
B. Blackman
ERITREA should not be doing business with 2 of the biggest antiblack racists white Skkkumbag nations. The criminal Australians and the filthy racist Mussolini Italian WOPS. JUST look at how they treat black people in their countries. They should be banned from Africa and Caribbean. THERE IS more to life than blood money investments from these Neanderthal Caucazoid slime balls. They have no respect for black people in the Diaspora because Continental Africans keep accepting their blood money. We should be putting our black foot up these white boys @$$ instead of laughing and grinning with them. Come on Eritrea you are a great and honourable people..please do not do business with white devils who disrespect your people in the Diaspora. We need to put them in their place and us transplanted Africans in the Americas cant do it alone. We need Continental Africans to do their part. LOOK AT white supremacist in Brazil they are working together globally with Trump and Europe….. Only black man is still sleeping. Wake da F..ck up Black People…we must start the long March to Victory and global domination. We are African Homo Sapiens ….we belong at the top of the Natural human heap..
EriSat Nay Hizbi
Eritrea is ruled by a demonic dictator who is blood thirsty and has caused more damage to Eritrea people than previous oppressors. This guy would do business with a DEVIL himself, he is a demonic manifestation and he will soon be purged from our land. Good luck to these companies working with a dictators, because in 1 day things will change up side down, when you work with dishonest corrupt individuals pretending to be a government. If you are a fool you think there is no order in the universe and deal with dictators and learn the hard way. Look what happened to the investments in Ethiopia, they got burned, in Eritrea when the day comes it will be a lot worst considering the amount of the injustice that took place in the last 27yrs.