BY: SIMONE LIEDTKE
Progress on finalising the feasibility study at potash-focused development company Emmerson’s Khemisset potash project, in northern Morocco, continues, with only minor, if any, delays to the delivery timetable expected.
Emmerson on Monday said that it still expects to be able to meet the previously provided timelines, subject to the continuing availability of its independent engineers.
The Covid-19 outbreak and related global mitigation actions are, so far, having a limited impact on the project, the miner confirmed in a statement.
However, taking the current crisis into account, Emmerson indicated that it had a “robust contingency plan” in place to reduce costs and focus on maintaining shareholder value, should the current market instability continue into the latter half of the year.
As a precautionary measure, staff in Morocco are predominantly working from home, with a skeleton workforce in place in the office or at site when necessary.
All non-essential activity, including travel, has been ceased or reduced to protect the miner’s employees and assets, and conserve capital.
Commenting on the current unprecedented market situation, Emmerson CEO Hayden Locke said the miner remains fortunate in terms of its ongoing work programmes, most which were now focused on desktop reviews and report writing.
“The environmental- and social-impact assessment is under way, and we will continue to move this key item forward to ensure [the company’s] aggressive permitting lines will still be achieved, assuming some stability and normality return in the latter part of the year,” Locke noted.
Should the disruptions continue past that point, Emmerson already has a mitigation strategy in place.
EDITED BY: CHANEL DE BRUYN
CREAMER MEDIA SENIOR DEPUTY EDITOR ONLINE
