TORONTO, May 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verde AgriTech (TSX:NPK) ("Verde" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has begun a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") for the expansions to its Super GreensandTM production.
The expansion project will be implemented in multiple phases and will rely on mining and industrialization contractors, all of which will significantly reduce upfront capital costs. This scalable and modular approach is feasible thanks to the open-pit nature of Verde's mineral resources and simple production flow sheet, which only requires crushing and milling.
Verde has a NI 43-101 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate of 1.47 billion tonnes at a grade of 9.2% K2O that includes a Measured Mineral Resource of 83 million tonnes with an average grade of 10.1% K2O. Additionally, the Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate is 1.85 billion tonnes at a K2O grade of 8.6%.
The PFS will analyze the production schedule below:
| Super Greensand production target | |
| Year | Tonnes |
| 2018 | 300,000 |
| 2019 | 600,000 |
| 2020 | 1,800,000 |
| 2021 | 2,500,000 |
| 2022 | 3,000,000 |
| 2023 | 11,000,000 |
| 2024 | 18,000,000 |
| 2025 onwards | 25,000,000 |
Verde and its consultants expect to complete the PFS in the last quarter of 2017.
"With Verde now in production and selling, we look forward to ramping-up our production and establishing ourselves as a prominent player in Brazil's agricultural scene," said Cristiano Veloso, President and CEO.
Tobacco Results for Super GreensandTM x Sulphate of Potash ("SOP")
An independent field trial confirmed Super GreensandTM's efficiency on tobacco crops. Brazil is the world's second largest tobacco producer and, since 1993, the world's largest exporter.1 In the 2016 harvest, about 380 thousand hectares of tobacco were planted in Brazil, its production was estimated in US$1.5 billion.
The field trial was undertaken by a leading American tobacco corporation, in two cities, for five months. The objective was to evaluate the benefits of Super GreensandTM when compared to SOP, a traditionally used source of potash for tobacco.
Tobacco producers choose potash sources free of Chloride such as SOP or Nitrate of Potash instead of Potassium Chloride (KCl), which is 47% chloride, because chloride can cause harmful effects on tobacco yield2. Plus tobacco leaves with chloride gradually acquire some undesirable burning characteristics and the storage life can be reduced, negatively impacting its market value.
Super GreensandTM has virtually no chloride and no salinity, ensuring that crops will not suffer from chloride toxicity. The product can be adopted by all niche markets that apply potash premium sources with further benefits such as eliminating the need for multiple applications per harvest.
Cristiano Veloso, President and CEO, will host a live meeting on Youtube to discuss this presentation. There will be a question and answer session at the end of the event. Send your questions to email: [email protected]
Date: 14th of June 2017
Time: 2:00 pm (BRT) / 6:00 pm (BST) / 1:00 pm (EDT)
The link to access the session will be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuo37o4mf2Q
About Verde AgriTech
Verde AgriTech promotes sustainable and profitable agriculture through the development of its Cerrado Verde Project. Cerrado Verde, located in the heart of Brazil's largest agricultural market, is the source of a potassium-rich deposit from which the Company intends to produce solutions for crop nutrition, crop protection, soil improvement and increased sustainability.
For additional information please contact:
Cristiano Veloso, President & Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +55 (31) 3245 0205; Email: [email protected]
Cautionary Language and Forward Looking Statements
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1 SINDITABACO http://sinditabaco.com.br/en/about-the-sector/dimension-of-the-sector/
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