KEENLY FOCUSED ON CSR AS PRODUCTION RELAUNCHES ON BAWDWIN MINE
MYANMAR METALS
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SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES AND INTRODUCING NEW TECHNOLOGIES WRITTEN BY
SOPHIE CHAPMAN PRODUCED BY
RICHARD DEANE
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WITH LARGE-SCALE PRODUCTION ENDING DURING WORLD WAR II, MYANMAR METALS IS INTRODUCING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO THE BAWDWIN MINE WHILST PUSHING ITS CSR STRATEGY
T
he Bawdwin mine was discovered 600 years ago. Located in Myanmar, 150km from the Chinese border, the site was
originally used by Chinese miners and then British. Prior to his presidency in the US, Herbert Hoover 04
reengineered and refinanced the entire operation, which led to the mine becoming the greatest producer of lead and silver in the world during the 1920s and 1930s. “This is the mine that made Herbert Hoover his fortune, which allowed him later in life to go about his humanitarian pursuits, that ultimately led him to become the President of the United States. It is a great piece of history attached to our mine” says John Lamb, Chairman and CEO of Perth-based mining company Myanmar Metals Limited. The mine continued operations until World War II, when the mill was destroyed. “The site was nationalised during the 1940s and the level of production fell to a fraction of its former self. The mine has had a subsistent existence since, until one of our shareholders, Mark Creasy, recommended it to us,” con-
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RC diamond drilling at Bawdwin Mine The China Pit at Bawdwin Mine
tinues Lamb. As the company intends to become a major regional producer in Asia, the mine seemed like the perfect project. “We think there is good value in Myanmar and in this mine. The nation is completely under-explored, in our opinion – the opportunities there are enormous. This mine, therefore, fits perfectly into our strategy.” The CEO reveals that, for Myanmar Metals, this project is hugely significant: “At this point we’re a one asset company – we w w w.mya nma rme t a l s. com . a u
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“ THIS IS THE MINE THAT MADE HERBERT HOOVER HIS FORTUNE, AND IN MANY WAYS THAT SET HIM ON HIS PATH BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES” — John Lamb, Chairman and CEO, Myanmar Metals
had some other tenements in Australia and those really paled in significance compared to this opportunity, so we have focused our efforts on Bawdwin. This asset will be the making of Myanmar Metals.” Lamb reveals that the company and its two local partners – collectively, the Bawdwin Joint Venture - are yet to put a figure on the Bawdwin Mineral Province’s full potential, as the large site is around 38 sq km and relatively unexplored. The mine will produce lead, silver, zinc, copper, nickel and cobalt – with silver and lead being “very important in the renewable energy market, for generating and storing solar energy”. The Bawdwin Joint Venture, together with Titeline Drilling and geological support provider Valentis, has identified seven high priority exploration targets which all have similar geophysical signatures to the historical mines on the site, and has declared at least 94mn tonnes of resources within the historical workings to-date. “The value of our Joint Venture partners cannot be understated”, Lamb says. “While we are the market-facing
Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. President
partner and we bring considerable
mining expertise, our partners are both
the ability to completely transform the
sophisticated and highly capable local
local region. Agriculture is the larg-
operators, each with a large workforce.
est source of employment in the area,
They are major economic participants
and facilities are modest,” notes Lamb.
within Myanmar, and we gain credibility
“The mine can provide employment, as
from their good reputation, while their
well as developing local businesses
local operating skill fills a big gap in our
to supply all manyer of products and
knowledge”.
services such as food for the workers,
Myanmar Metals and its partners
cleaning services and high-vis clothing.
anticipate decades of production
I am sure the effects on the local com-
from the site, which could have a huge
munity will be profound. We’re already
effect on the local community. “Like
seeing that with the arrival of two doc-
any major mineral asset located in an
tors (the first to work in the Bawdwin
otherwise impoverished area, this has
village for decades) and development
E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE
John Lamb Mr. Lamb’s career spans over 30 years in mining, construction and heavy transport in Australia and Asia. Prior to joining Myanmar Metals as Chairman and CEO in 2017, Mr. Lamb held CEO roles in civil construction and heavy transport companies, and Operational General Manager roles at the Century Mine in Queensland and Rosebery Mine in Tasmania. A Chartered Professional Fellow of the AusIMM and Graduate Member of the AICD, Mr. Lamb has consulted widely in the resource sector and has served on numerous industry panels and boards. He presently chairs boutique business broker and consulting firm, Tasmania Invest.
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For more than 30 years we have been realising the potential on mining and exploration projects globally. Our broad experience and integrated approach result in high quality solutions for our clients at every stage of project development.
CSA Global is a proud partner of Myanmar Metals Limited Bawdwin Project
csaglobal.com
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INTERNATIONAL TURN-KEY EXPLORATION AND MINING SERVICES IN MYANMAR Valentis is an Australian and Myanmar led exploration, mining services and advisory group in Myanmar. Established in 2014, Valentis has grown to over 100 employees and offers turn-key services at an international standard.
OUR SERVICES INCLUDE • Geological Services • Geophysical Surveys • Sample Assay • Drilling (Diamond, RC & Man-Portable)
• Geotechnical Services • Environmental and Social Impact Assessments • Commercial Advisory
OUR PARTNERS AND DIVISIONS
LEARN MORE VALENTISRESOURCES.COM | TITELINEDRILLING.COM MYANMAR@VALENTISRESOURCES.COM
CLICK TO WATCH : ‘BAWDWIN IS A GLOBALLY SIGNIFICANT, HIGH GRADE POLYMETALLIC DEPOSIT IN AN ADVANTAGEOUS LOCATION’ 09 of a new local clinic with an ambulance
bility work, which will finish at the end
and emergency capability.
of this year, a foreign investment permit
As well as it’s prioritisation of the
is expected to be in place by March
local community’s benefit from the pro-
next year. This can lead to construction
ject, Myanmar Metals is also ensuring
commencing by mid-2020, with pro-
environmental impact is limited. The
duction set to launch in late 2021. The
Joint Venture is currently conducting
company and its partners anticipate
a year-long environmental and social
pilot scale production that could com-
impact assessment as part of its cor-
mence as early as 2019 to be around
porate social responsibility strategy.
200,000 tonnes of ore per annum, with
“We’ve got Coffey-Valentis leading the
full scale production set to reach 2mn
assessment for us. It includes all man-
tonnes when the new mine and mill are
ner of metal testing, baseline measure-
commissioned in 2021.
ments, water quality and soil quality sampling,” says Lamb. Following feasi-
“The study also requires an enormous amount of consultation – to w w w.c o mpa ny we bsite. com
BAW DWI N S TAT S
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A JORC compliant Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 94.2 Mt at 4.2% Pb, 107g/t Ag, 2.1% Zn and 0.2% Cu has been declared to-date at Bawdwin, including an Indicated Mineral Resource of 37.2 Mt at 4.3% Pb, 114g/t Ag, 2.4% Zn and 0.2% Cu.
RC Drilling at Meigtha Gap Area
determine the background attitudes towards mining, which we’re finding are favourable, and to allow people to have a say in what they want to get out of the mines in terms of business development opportunities. Our plan is to bring the latest Australian approach to environmental care, safety and community relations,” adds Lamb. The company has built a strong relationship with the Myanmar government, which controls mining leases and assets. “It is our intention to make Bawdwin the flagship project in a renewed
China Pit looking South East
Myanmar minerals sector: the example for other aspiring foreign companies that shows how a Joint Venture with local partners could be structured for success, and sets the expectation of international good practice in environmental, safety, technical and community relations management” he said. Myanmar Metals and its partners deal with the state authorities through a consultation process, as well as organising visits to the mine for government workers. Due to the age of the mine, and the fact it hasn’t been operated at a commercial scale since World War II, new w w w.mya nma rme t a l s. com . a u
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“ IT IS OUR INTENTION TO MAKE BAWDWIN THE FLAGSHIP PROJECT IN A RENEWED MYANMAR MINERALS SECTOR” — John Lamb, Chairman and CEO, Myanmar Metals
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2007
Year founded
4,000
Approximate number of employees
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Myanmar Metals’s Bawdwin Minesite Office
“ OUR PLAN IS TO BRING THE LATEST AUSTRALIAN APPROACH TO ENVIRONMENTAL CARE, SAFETY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS” — John Lamb, Chairman and CEO, Myanmar Metals
technology will need to be introduced to bring the project up to date. “One thing that’s different about Bawdwin is that we’ll be mining a modern open cut mine, which means we’ll utilise modern mining practices as we mine our way down through a historical underground. We’ll be employing technologies, such as ground-penetrating radar that looks into the ground to find old voids. Advances such as modern trucks and excavators, modern drilling and blasting technology, and the latest geologi-
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Soccer medal presentation, Myanmar Metals is actively involved with the local community, supporting a variety of activities
cal modelling – which is supplied by
ness and you need to make use of that
CSA Global – and real-time tracking of
resource – it’s at your peril if you don’t.”
ore and concentrate will also be used,”
As operations on the mine continue
Lamb reveals. According to Lamb, the local com-
to develop, Myanmar Metals will ensure its relationship with the community
munity surrounding the mine are very
evolves, strengthens and offers benefits
connected: “The mine is in an interest-
to both the locals and the business.
ing location in the country, as it is set in rural Shan State where - surprisingly - you’ll find people connecting to social media because the 4G network works everywhere. The locals have connection with the world, they have an awarew w w.mya nma rme t a l s. com . a u
Myanmar Metals Limited Suite 4 38 Colin Street West Perth Western Australia 6005 T +61 (0) 8 6147 8100 www.myanmarmetals.com.au