CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSXV: CTH; OTCQB: CTHCF) and Mkango Resources Ltd. (AIM/TSX-V: MKA) announced that CoTec has converted its £2 million convertible loan note in Mkango into additional shares of Mkango’s subsidiary Maginito Ltd. (“Maginito”).
As a result of the conversion, CoTec’s equity position in Maginito has increased from 10 per cent to 20.6 per cent. Maginito owns 100% of HyProMag Limited (“HyProMag”).
In February 2023, CoTec and Maginito entered into a co-operation agreement in relation to rare earth element (“REE”) opportunities in the United States. In early September 2023, CoTec and Mkango entered into a binding letter agreement pursuant to which they have agreed to form a 50:50 joint venture (the “Joint Venture”) to pursue the roll-out of HyProMag’s innovative rare earth magnet recycling technology in the United States. If the Joint Venture proceeds with the construction of the US Project, CoTec will also be responsible for funding all the development costs of the US Project, with a total expected funding of £30 million to £50 million during the first three years post completion of the Feasibility Study, subject to results of the Feasibility Study. All funding provided by CoTec would be in the form of shareholder loans. CoTec and Mkango also expect that the Joint Venture will seek US government funding for the US Project.
HyProMag’s patented Hydrogen Processing of Magnet Scrap technology (“HPMS”) enables the recovery and recycling of rare earth magnets embedded in scrap sources such as electronic waste, electric motors and wind turbines using 88% less energy versus primary mining to separation to metal alloy to magnet production. HyProMag has the added capability to then remanufacture the recovered material into rare earth magnets with a significantly reduced carbon footprint. The HPMS technology, developed at the University of Birmingham, UK and licensed by HyProMag, has benefited from approximately $100 million in research and development funding.
As announced on 14 September 2023, the roll-out of the HyProMag technology in the US is continuing with ongoing scoping studies ahead of the commencement of the feasibility study. Discussions with the US Government, potential customers and recycling partners have commenced and are ongoing. The US roll-out will be completed in parallel with UK and German based developments and is expected to benefit from operational experience and production ramp-up in the UK and Germany. First production is expected in the UK in 2023 and in Germany in 2024. Revenue from the US operation is targeted for 2025/2026.
Julian Treger, CoTec CEO commented: “With the Maginito conversion completed our focus will be the operational roll out of the HyProMag technology in the United States. This conversion simplifies our investment structure in the exciting and revolutionary HyProMag technology to a 20.6% equity interest in Maginito and a direct 50% interest in the US operations.”
“The Maginito investment is an example of the CoTec business model of acquiring minority positions in disruptive technology combined with joint venture participation at an operational level. It also allows CoTec to commence, together with its other operational opportunities, its transition from a technology investment company to resource producer.”
Will Dawes, Mkango CEO commented; “We view the completion of CoTec’s conversion as an endorsement of the implied value inherent in Maginito and specifically the proprietary HPMS technology that has potential to unlock a significant opportunity in the US market. We look forward to working with CoTec and HyProMag as we focus on the operational roll out of the technology and move into the next phase of growth.”
About Mkango Resources Ltd.
Mkango’s corporate strategy is to develop new sustainable primary and secondary sources of neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium to supply accelerating demand from electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean technologies. This integrated Mine, Refine, Recycle strategy differentiates Mkango from its peers, uniquely positioning Mkango in the rare earths sector. Mkango is listed on the AIM and the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX- V”).
Mkango is developing its flagship Songwe Hill rare earths project (“Songwe”) in Malawi with a Definitive Feasibility Study completed in July 2022 and an Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment approved by the Government of Malawi in January 2023.
In parallel, Mkango and Grupa Azoty PULAWY, Poland’s leading chemical producer have agreed to work together towards development of a rare earth separation plant at Pulawy in Poland (the “Pulawy Separation Plant”) to process the purified mixed rare earth carbonate produced at Songwe Hill.
Mkango also has an extensive exploration portfolio in Malawi, including the Mchinji rutile exploration project, the Thambani uranium-tantalum-niobium-zircon project and Chimimbe nickel-cobalt project.
