Aston Minerals Limited has selected an expert nickel mine building team to support the development and evolution of LionOre to a multi-jurisdiction mining house, which ultimately resulted in the takeover by Norilsk Nickel for $7.51 billion.
According to Aston, Executive Mining Group Limited (EMG) will provide support services as the former works to transform the Boomerang deposit in Ontario, Canada, into a development project through the requisite metallurgical testing and study phases.
The group has experience in the exploration, feasibility, studies, construction, development, commissioning and operation of multiple large-scale, disseminated nickel sulphide resources, including low-grade nickel.
Aston also appointed new executives to oversee the Boomerang Ni-Co sulphide project as it transitions from an exploration effort to a development project.
The company named Peter Breese, most recently the chief operating officer of LionOre, as executive chairman, effective 1 May.
Breese has over two decades of experience in developing significant assets into active mines, particularly in the uranium, nickel, platinum and chrome sectors.
Before joining LionOre, he served as the CEO of Mantra Resources Limited, acquired in 2011 by ARMZ for $1.16 billion.
“With our experience in successfully managing similar large, low-grade nickel deposits in Africa, we believe we have the expertise to deliver a robust technical study required to advance the Boomerang deposit further towards production,” said Breese.
Aston also named Russel Bradford, who has executive-level operational experience at mining companies, including Anglo American, BCL and LionOre, as managing director, effective 1 May.
Outgoing Executive Chairman Tolga Kumova will transition to the non-executive director role following the new executives’ appointment on 1 May.
According to Kumova, the company is “cognisant of the changing skillsets required for the evolution of the company from an exploration to development asset.”
He noted that the scale of the operation deserves a team that can perform the studies, complete the financing and operate the mine.
