Cadence sees ‘clear path’ to production for former Anglo iron-ore mine

Cadence has received bank credit committee approval for the secured bank creditors to execute a settlement agreement, paving the way for the company to vest an initial 20% in the Amapa project.

The agreement, CEO Kiran Morzaria said, meant that there was a “clear path and process to get Amapa recommissioned, licensed and back into production”.

Diversified major Anglo American sold Amapa in 2012 and mining ceased in August 2015. A judicial order in early 2019 offered investors and creditors the opportunity to file a revised judicial restricting plan, which Cadence and joint venture (JV) partner Indo Sino took up.

Cadence could earn up to a 27% interest in the JV company, which would own the Amapa iron-ore mine. To acquire the 27% interest, Cadence will investment $6-million over two stages in the JV company.

The approval of the Amapa settlement agreement remained subject to completion of Know Your Client requirements and finalisation of documentation.

Nonexecutive chairperson Andrew Suckling described the bank credit committee approval as a “landmark” for the Amapa mine, its employees and the wider community.

“In my time working with commodity projects around the world, I have rarely, if ever, seen a lapsed mining project of this sort of potential,” he said in a statement.