Generation Mining Acquires Mills for Marathon Palladium Copper Project

Generation Mining Limited announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Generation PGM Inc., which is developing the Marathon Palladium Copper Project near Marathon, Ontario, has entered into an agreement with Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation for the purchase of an unused, surplus SAG mill and ball mill currently stored in Nevada and Texas, USA for US$12,000,000, of which US$500,000 is due on signing, the second payment of US$500,000 is due not later than September 30, 2022, and a final payment of US$11,000,000 is due not later than March 31, 2023. Gen PGM will also assume certain costs related to the Mills, including storage, insurance and financing charges, if any, until completion of the sale.

Prior to entering into the agreement, the Mills were inspected by FLSmidth (mechanical, structural) and ABB (electrical) and additionally, Orway Mineral Consultants completed a design applicability review. Prior to installation, FLSmidth has recommended cosmetic upgrades and painting of the mill components and ABB has recommended updating the Mills’ drives. Overall, the reports have confirmed that the Mills are suitable for use on the Marathon Project. The Mills are slightly larger in size and power than contemplated in the March 2021 Feasibility Study, which will allow for the grinding circuit to be operated in a SAB configuration (as opposed to SABC) thereby eliminating the need for a pebble crusher in the current design. Wood Engineering has included these Mills in the current detailed engineering design being progressed.

Jamie Levy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gen Mining stated, “With the procurement of the Mills, we continue to advance the Marathon Project and reduce some of the risk associated with the procurement, logistics and cost-uncertainty associated with long-lead items for the Project.”

On August 2, 2022, the Joint Review Panel issued its Environment Impact Statement Report to the Federal and Provincial Ministers of the Environment. Final Ministerial decisions in the Environmental Assessment process are expected to be delivered within 120 days of delivery of the Report. Upon receipt of favourable decisions from the Ministers and the required permits, the Company anticipates starting construction late in the first quarter of 2023.

About the Company

Gen Mining’s focus is the development of the Marathon Project, a large undeveloped palladium-copper deposit in Northwestern Ontario. The Company released the results of the Feasibility Study on March 3, 2021 and published the NI43-101 Technical Report dated March 25, 2021. The Marathon Property covers a land package of approximately 22,000 hectares, or 220 square kilometres. Gen Mining owns a 100% interest in the Marathon Project.

The Feasibility Study in respect of the Marathon Project estimated that at US$1,725/oz palladium, and US$3.20/lb copper, Marathon’s Net Present Value (at 6% discount rate) is approximately C$1.07 billion with a payback of 2.3 years and an Internal Rate of Return of 30%. Upfront capital costs were estimated at C$665 million, net of equipment financing and pre-completion operating costs and revenues. The mine would produce an estimated 245,000 palladium equivalent ounces per year over a 13-year mine life at an All-In Sustaining Cost of US$809 per palladium-equivalent ounce. For more information, please review the detailed Feasibility Study dated March 25, 2021, filed under the Company’s profile at SEDAR.com.