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ORION MINERALS LIMITED - Orion Signs Renewable Energy Generation Collaboration Agreement with Juwi for the Prieska Zinc-Copper Project

Release Date: 05/03/2019 08:31
Code(s): ORN     PDF:  
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Orion Signs Renewable Energy Generation Collaboration Agreement with Juwi for the Prieska Zinc-Copper Project

Orion Minerals Limited
Incorporated in the Commonwealth of Australia
Australian Company Number 098 939 274
ASX share code: ORN
JSE share code: ORN
ISIN: AU000000ORN1
(“Orion” or “the Company”)

ORION SIGNS RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH JUWI FOR
THE PRIESKA ZINC-COPPER PROJECT

Orion finalises collaboration agreement with the leading global renewable energy company
juwi to investigate renewable energy supply for the Prieska Zinc-Copper Project, South
Africa.
The preliminary scope is to assess the feasibility of establishing a dedicated solar and wind
hybrid power plant for the Prieska Project.
The results of this work will inform the long-term power supply strategy for the Prieska
Project and are in line with local government Integrated Development Plans.

Orion’s Managing Director and CEO, Errol Smart, commented:

"This agreement is in line with our strategy to make best use of our geographic advantage in the
semi-arid Northern Cape Province of South Africa. This region has the highest irradiance levels in
the country with its hot, dry climate and is also very well-suited for wind farms. It is already a well-
established renewable energy generating region with 190MW of solar power plants in operation
and 240MW of wind power currently under construction immediately adjacent to our Prieska
Project.

This opportunity can only improve our long-term power supply security, while at the same time
lessening the burden on the national electricity grid and reducing our carbon and water footprint.
Our decision to pursue renewable power supply options is another illustration of our commitment
to build a modern 21st century mine at Prieska that employs innovative technologies and
embraces sustainability. Investing in a long-term renewable energy solution also makes perfect
sense for a long-life production asset such as Prieska.”

Orion Minerals Limited (ASX/JSE: ORN) (Orion or Company) is pleased to announce that through
its subsidiary, Repli Trading No 27 (Pty) Ltd, it has entered into a collaboration agreement with juwi
Renewable Energies (Pty) Ltd South Africa (juwi) to investigate renewable energy generation for
its flagship Prieska Zinc-Copper Project (Prieska Project), in the Northern Cape Province of South
Africa.

The preliminary scope is to investigate the feasibility of generating and supplying 35MW of
electricity for the Prieska Project, from a hybrid power system using integrated wind and solar
technologies. The renewable energy generation site will be located within 20km of the Prieska
Project, making the establishment of a dedicated feed via an overhead power transmission line
possible.
juwi is part of the international juwi Group, one of the world’s leading renewable energy
companies. juwi’s business is focused on both solar energy and onshore wind energy. juwi is a
recognised leader in off-grid hybrid solar/wind-diesel-storage energy solutions. To date, juwi South
Africa has built five utility-scale solar plants totalling 121MW and developed the 138MW Garob
Wind Farm, which will soon start construction – all developed under the South African
Government's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) – with a
further three solar projects (totalling 250MW) currently under construction.

juwi South Africa also participates in the South African Government's Small Independent Power
Producer (IPP) Program and operates and maintains all its solar projects on behalf of their owners.

In Australia, juwi was recently responsible for the project development, design, construction and
now operations of a highly successful $40 million, 10MW solar power facility which came into
commercial operation in 2016 at Sandfire Resources’ (ASX: SFR) DeGrussa Copper-Gold Mine in
Western Australia. This facility has since attracted international attention as the largest off-grid
integrated solar and battery storage facility in the world. With close to three years of operational
data and 100% uptime, this successful project has established juwi as leaders in hybrid power
supply solutions for mines.

The investigations into renewable energy solutions at Orion’s Prieska Project will complement the
ongoing Bankable Feasibility Study, with the additional benefit of potentially improving the base
case plan of obtaining national grid power directly from the Cuprum sub-station already
established on site.

Developing the renewable energy potential of the region is also a strategic goal of local
government, as communicated in its Integrated Development Plans. Orion and juwi intend to
continue to work closely with local government, under the auspice of the collaboration
agreement entered into with the Siyathemba Municipality in October 2017, to maximise the
employment and enterprise development in the local communities.

Errol Smart
Managing Director and CEO

5 March 2019

ENQUIRIES

Investors                              Media                                                              JSE Sponsor
Errol Smart – Managing Director        Nicholas Read                         Barnaby Hayward              Rick Irving
& CEO
Denis Waddell – Chairman               Read Corporate, Australia             Tavistock, UK                Merchantec Capital
T: +61 (0) 3 8080 7170                 T: +61 (0) 419 929 046                T: +44 (0) 787 955 1355      T: +27 (0) 11 325 6363
E: info@orionminerals.com.au           E: nicholas@readcorporate.com.au      E: orion@tavistock.co.uk     E: rick@merchantec.co.za
Suite 617, 530 Little Collins Street
Melbourne, VIC, 3000

Disclaimer

This release may include forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements may include, among
other things, statements regarding targets, estimates and assumptions in respect of metal production and
prices, operating costs and results, capital expenditures, mineral reserves and mineral resources and
anticipated grades and recovery rates, and are or may be based on assumptions and estimates related to
future technical, economic, market, political, social and other conditions. These forward-looking statements
are based on management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events. Forward-looking
statements inherently involve subjective judgement and analysis and are necessarily subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Orion. Actual results and
developments may vary materially from those expressed in this release. Given these uncertainties, readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Orion makes no undertaking
to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this release to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this release. All information in respect of Exploration Results and other
technical information should be read in conjunction with Competent Person Statements in this release (where
applicable). To the maximum extent permitted by law, Orion and any of its related bodies corporate and
affiliates and their officers, employees, agents, associates and advisers:

-    disclaim any obligations or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to the information to reflect
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-    do not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or
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     statement or any event or results expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement; and

-     disclaim all responsibility and liability for these forward-looking statements (including, without limitation,
      liability for negligence).
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