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African advancement banks expected to fund Caledonia's new Zimbabwe mine, CEO says

African development banks are viewed as the most likely funders of Caledonia Mining Corporation's prepared $250 million cash cow in Zimbabwe, the mining business's CEO Mark Learmonth said on Wednesday.

Caledonia, which already owns the Blanket cash cow in Zimbabwe, is upgrading a feasibility study ahead of the planned construction of a brand-new mine at Bilboes to produce at least 170,000 ounces every year, making it potentially the country's. greatest cash cow.

The southern African nation has substantial mineral. resources, consisting of platinum group metals, gold and lithium,. but has actually had a hard time to draw in investment due to financial. instability and jitters over home rights after the. federal government seized white-owned farms at the millenium.

Caledonia, backed by financiers consisting of BlackRock and Cape. Town-based fund manager Allan Gray, is one of the couple of foreign. financiers - along with Anglo American Platinum and Impala. Platinum - to brave Zimbabwe's hard economy marked by foreign. currency shortages and episodes of hyperinflation.

The business remains in preliminary talks with the probably. lenders, Learmonth said during a conference call.

They are going to be African development banks who have. indicated a high degree of interest in this job, he said.

Learmonth stated financial obligation would form the bulk of the funding for. the Bilboes task.

We will not be approaching the market for any non-debt. moneying until we've got a much better idea of what the financial obligation capacity. is because, honestly, nothing is going to be as inexpensive as financial obligation. financing, Learmonth stated.

He said once funding remained in location, optimistically a year. from now, construction of the mine would likely take 2 years. after monetary close.

Caledonia's operating earnings plunged 62% to $15.18 million. in 2023, from $40.28 million a year earlier, mainly due to. greater administrative and production expenses.

(source: Reuters)