Investor Presentaiton
Wetar Strategic Review
MERDEKA
COPPER GOLD
Copper production at Wetar will remain low while management's strategic review is completed and plan
implemented in H2 2020
Historical
Performance
Strategic Review
Conclusions
The Wetar resource has delivered higher tonnes
and higher grade than forecast since
commencement of mining
Despite achieving all important KPIs in 2019, the
rate of copper leaching has slowed due to
increased Total Dissolved Solids ("TDS") levels
(predominantly ferrous) in the raffinate solution.
At the same time, mining commenced at the
high grade Lerokis pit which, due to its
mineralogy, leaches poorly in such high ferrous
raffinate
Wetar Copper Production (tonnes)
Wetar
Strategic
Review
17,071
16,777
2018
2019
Partolang ore is expected to leach with high TDS. Higher recoveries should be achieved with low TDS solutions
Lerokis and Kali Kuning ore leaching is expected to improve significantly by lowering TDS in leach solutions
2020
A Neutralisation and Metals Precipitation Plant ("NMP") plant to reduce TDS levels is necessary to allow copper leaching to return
to historical production levels. The capital estimate to develop the NMP plant is US$14 to 27 million over a 12-month period
The development of Partolang is planned to proceed in Q3 2020. It is expected to significantly improve copper production despite
high TDS. The capital associated with the development of Partolang and improving heap leach operations is expected to be US$9
to 12 million
Wetar Ore is
Intrinsically
Valuable
Optimisation of
Wetar and
Integration with
AIM Project
Management believes Wetar remains an extremely valuable asset because the ore contains high copper grades as well as good
gold and silver grades. These metals are housed in very high-grade pyrite (FeS2) ore (typically 70-90%) which generally has high
value if the sulphur can be converted to sulphuric acid and sold and the iron can be processed to a saleable product
The current Wetar heap leaching process extracts a portion of the copper but none of the gold, silver, iron or sulphuric acid in a
saleable form. It is estimated that the current process route delivers revenue of US$40-70 per tonne with a further possible US$200
per tonne of revenue recoverable via the AIM process
A desktop study investigating Copper Tank Leaching ("CTL") as a viable alternative to heap leaching is nearing completion. The
CTL process could potentially speed up the rate of copper leaching, provide more reliable and predictable recoveries and produce
less iron and acid into solution. This process would also produce feedstock concentrate necessary for the AIM process rather than
the AIM plant upgrading the pyrite feedstock (see next slide for AIM Project)
A study on alternative power supply options to reduce power costs at Wetar has also commenced
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