CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2019 7:55 am November 25, 2019
Four provinces open for gold mine exploration
The Ministry of Mines and Energy has called on local and international companies to apply for licences to study and explore gold mining in four provinces believed to be rich in gold.

According to a statement signed on November 9 by Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem, local and international companies should apply for licences to study and explore gold mining in four provinces.

It said that the four areas include 49.25 kilometres in Stung Treng province’s Thalaborivath district and another 32 kilometres in Thalaborivath district, 41.58 kilometres in Battambang province’s Phnom Proek district and 93.94 kilometres straddling between Kratie province’s Sambour district and Kampong Thom province’s Sandan district.

The statement said that companies can receive application forms from the ministry until January 30, 2020.

Ean Meak, director of Battambang provincial Mines and Energy department, said two areas in Samlot and Phnom Proek districts are being studied and explored for gold.

“But now the government found and opened another new area for mine exploration,” Mr Meak said. “It is a gold mine.”
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50663635/f ... ploration/

ALL provinces open for gold mine exploration, Thats how it should read. There is more money in selling the licence than digging for gold.

Yep, ^^^ the licences (including licensed partnership spin-offs)

ANd the stock exchange scams - which, even when they are not straight out manipulation, provide the funds for;
the salaries, directors fees, management contracts, consultancy payments, living allowances, professional services, travel arrangements, flash cars and long lunches.

If you look at the balance sheet of foreign listed mining companies operating in Cambodia, the items listed above invariably total in the millions - the recipients are mostly hidden but almost certainly mostly goes back to the same small handful.
The supply contracts are often part of the local "payoff".

Off the top of my head, in recent history no listed company from anywhere has ever earned $1 from actual production in Cambodia.
But that is all about to change - it is inevitable that some significant mineral deposits will be found here soon.
Some will be worse than others, some may actually be of nett benefit to Cambodia.
?? maybe.

PS, I am still cheering on Angkor Resources (formally Angkor Gold) as my chosen underdog.
because at least they are tough and gutsy with ten years hard slog of peering inside tens of thousands of termite mounds in their quest for cambodian gold. Their recent shift to oil exploration looks a bit desperate tho'.

Breaking..

Emerald Resources is in another trading halt "pending the release of an announcement regarding Definitive Feasibility
Study outcomes"
So we should get some definitive news very soon.
I reckon it is more likely to be "good" news, from the company's perspective, than bad.
Let's hope i am wrong.


(Emerald Res to ASX) 25 November 2019
Mr Chris Hesford
Geologist, Listings Compliance (Perth)
ASX Compliance Pty Ltd
Level 40, Central Park,
152-158 St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6000
Dear Chris, (** nb, note the company secretary is on first name terms with the ASX compliance regulator FFS)
REQUEST FOR VOLUNTARY SUSPENSION
Emerald Resources NL (ASX: EMR) (‘Emerald’) requests a voluntary suspension in the Company's
securities pending the release of an announcement regarding the Mineral Investment Agreement
for the Company’s 100% owned Okvau Gold Project in Cambodia.
The Company expects the securities remain in voluntary suspension until Tuesday 26 November
2019.
Yours sincerely,
Mark Clements
Company Secretary

Market Announcement - (from ASX 10 seconds later)
25 November 2019
25 November 2019 Market Announcement 1/1
ASX Limited ASX Customer Service Centre 131 279 | asx.com.au
Emerald Resources NL (ASX: EMR) – Suspension from Official
Quotation
Description
The securities of Emerald Resources NL (‘EMR’) will be suspended from quotation immediately under Listing
Rule 17.2, at the request of EMR, pending the release of an announcement regarding Definitive Feasibility
Study outcomes.
Issued by
Jessica Coupe
Adviser, Listings Compliance (Perth)

MONDULKIRI GOLD MINE WILL PROCEED (99.5% sure)
first modern mining project in Cambodia in recent history

"Emerald completed a Definitive Feasibility Study (‘DFS’) on the development of the Okvau Gold Project which demonstrated a robust project producing approximately 106,000 ounces of gold per annum on average over 7 years from a single open pit."

HIGHLIGHTS
- Approval of Mineral Investment Agreement by Cambodian Council of Ministers,
- Uplift in NPV (net present value of project)
- Internal evaluation of original key assumptions applied to DFS demonstrates compelling economics
- US$60M Project financing facility nearing finalisation

Preparation work has already commenced, but there was no definite GO, and no decisions on size, timetables, methods of processing. etc. All that uncertainty has past, definitive plans now set.

Link to the key doc (Nov 26)
It is not mostly about the headline, the approval - that was a given.
It is a summation of what the directors, financiers and RCG have decided in light of the Definitive Feasibility Study
Further down you can see all aspects of the project in detail - maps, plans, production descriptions and diagrams, etc

https://www.emeraldresources.com.au/sit ... 956603.pdf

Now every bar for sale will be quoting ,

This is a gold mine.

demonstrates compelling economics

Definitive Feasibility Study

Haha! and an IRR (internal rate of return) of -
IRR (post-tax) 57% p.a

What is in the sanctuary that is nowhere else? For a conservationist how bad is it?

Real gold -Endangered species, endangered landscape

Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary. 18 Critically Endangered species include
Asian elephant, leopard, banteng, wild water buffalo, jungle cat, deer, yellow-cheeked gibbons (the best and rarest) white shouldered ibis, vultures, sarus crane, giant ibises. (cambodia's critically endangered National Bird)

Fast disappearing Eastern Plains Landscape - a prime remnant.
Dry forest plain, evergreen forest plain, rainforest

"It is also important for social and cultural aspects in regard to the local communities," including indigenous.
"One the most popular tourist attractions in Mondulkiri. Located amidst the Eastern Plains which is known for the sprawling rain forests and beautiful rivers. Thousands of tourists and nature lovers visit."

Not sure yet of particular impacts here, early days. But generally speaking cyanide gold mining is never good, often disastrous even in the West, and especially in this kind of enviro.
I am taking no stand for/against, yet. We will need to get used to more mining projects starting up here. Some projects will be worse than others, some will spread their benefits better than others.

At least with a Aust listed company there is some minor attention to enviro and social impacts - and some minor opportunities for accountability. eg, When the World Bank, ADB and western banks stopped lending for dams, and China took over, we lost all leverage.

Who knows, maybe we all get rich after all..

this regime responds to 'leverage' with 'fook off', so not really worthwhile

Phnom Poon wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 8:09 pm this regime responds to 'leverage' with 'fook off', so not really worthwhile

I know what you are saying PP, and it is not the place of outsiders to "leverage" the gov.
That is why it is good to be able to at least talk with an OS listed mining company.

And crucially, local civil society will increasingly find a voice to talk to the powers here. As is happening.
They do actually listen sometimes.

A huge amount of environmental and social improvements to mining and other development projects occurs - just by sitting down and giving them a reminder.
Many miners a fab people personally, they often just need a nudge to wake up that side of their personality can be applied to their work. And make everybody happier.
Others need a slightly more pointed elbow - a reminder that people are watching. That make a big diff too.

Not many people realise it is not all about the thrill of battling bulldozers in the muddy trenches.
There is lots of unsung stuff too.