Amur Minerals reduces cost of road at Kun-Manie

Nickel-copper sulphide mineral exploration and resource development company Amur Minerals Corporation updated the market on the access road that would link the planned mine site with the Baikal Amur Rail Line (BAM) on its wholly-owned Kun-Manie nickel copper sulphide project on Friday.

The AIM-traded firm said the updated estimate based on a one-lane design indicated the average cost to construct one kilometre of the road was $0.38m including bridges, diversions and culverts.

It said the total capital cost of the 338 km road was anticipated to be in the order of $129m.

The ability to reduce the width of the road still allowed the company to deliver the annual production of up to 400,000 tonnes of concentrate to the rail station, the board said, and also allowed for the backhaul supplies to the mine site.

“We are pleased to inform our shareholders that the newly derived and reduced capital cost expenditure related to the road has already been introduced into the pre-feasibility study,” said Amur Minerals chief executive officer Robin Young.

“Confirmation of the ability to shift to the lower cost, one lane option is a significant change in the operating configuration planned for Kun-Manie.

“Following the review of the comprehensive pre-feasibility study by an independent QP we are comfortable this is a viable option to developing the planned operation.”