Brief history of Kenmare

by Jeremy Dibb, Corporate Development and Investor Relations, Kenmare Resources

Kenmare Resources plc is an established mining company headquartered in Dubin, Ireland. The Company’s principal asset is the Moma Titanium Minerals Mine, located in northern Mozambique. Moma has the capacity to produce ~ 10% of global demand for titanium, with sufficient resources to support a mine life in excess of 100 years.

Kenmare first began exploring for minerals in Mozambique in 1987 and has had an unbroken presence in the county since then. The mine has been in production since 2007 and the company and has a long term commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen, establish the not-for-profit Kenmare Moma Development Association (KMAD) in 2004. Moma has the capacity to mine >40 million tonnes of ore to produce and export more than 1.3 million tonnes of final products per annum, supplying customers operating in more than 15 countries globally. Kenmare produces three main feedstock products; Titanium (Ti), Zirconium (Zr) and Rare Earth Elements (REE). The principal product is the mineral ilmenite, the primary global feedstock for titanium, representing ~70% of revenues. Titanium feedstocks are predominantly used to manufacture titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment, with smaller quantities used to produce titanium metal and welding electrode fluxes. TiO2 pigment is in turn used in the manufacture of paints and other coatings, plastics and paper as well as a number of other applications, including cosmetics, food additives, ceramics and textiles. TiO2 pigment is favoured in many such applications for its brilliant whiteness, ultraviolet protection and non-toxicity. Zircon sand (containg zirconium) is a primary feedstock to a wide range of industries, of which the ceramics sector is the largest due to its brilliant whiteness. Zircon is also used in refractory, foundry and chemical applications. Finally, monazite is a mineral containing REEs. Once separated, the REEs, such as neodymium and praseodymium, are used in various industrial and technological applications, including the manufacture of wind turbines and electric cars.

Mineral Separation Plant.

Mineral are exported from the jetty on site. Dredge mining in action.

OVERVIEW OF OPERATIONS AT MOMA

Construction of the Mine began in October 2004, and production started in 2007. Kenmare mines the titanium-rich sands mainly using dredges, which float in one of three artificial ponds mining in two ore zones. The mine is a low cost, bulk operation that predominantly utilises hydro-generated power and progressive rehabilitation processes. As a result, the Mine has a low environmental impact and no toxic chemicals are used in mining or processing operations. Once separated, Kenmare transports its final products to customer vessels from a dedicated port facility. In recent years the company has made significant capital investments to increase the production by approximately 30%. The last project was completed in 2020 and involved the moving of a dredge and concentrator plant 23km by road to a new high-grade ore zone called Pilivili. This relocation represented the heaviest piece of mining equipment ever to be moved in Africa, weighing in at over 7,000 tonnes, all moved in one piece.

>10% of employees are female. KMAD AND OUR COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY

Supporting the safety of our people and local communities is always at the heart of what we do as we strive to achieve zero harm in our operations. KMAD was establisged before commercial production began at the Moma mine, KMAD is a not-for-profit organisation that implements development programmes in the areas surrounding the Moma Mine. KMAD aspires to be a catalyst for positive social and economic change in the host communities of the mine. The focus of KMAD’s work is framed by KMAD’s three key “pillars”: livelihoods and economic development, healthcare development and education development.