PRECIOUS METALS

K92 announces US$12.5M Barrick agreement

Investors have appreciated Papua New Guinea gold miner K92 Mining (TSXV: KNT) addressing a “significant impediment” by reaching agreement with Barrick Gold to pay US$12.5 million, to eliminate a contingent payment arrangement.

Staff reporter
 K92 addresses “significant impediment” to its plans for Kainantu in PNG

K92 addresses “significant impediment” to its plans for Kainantu in PNG

The arrangement, which stemmed from the 2014 share sale agreement over Barrick's then-mothballed Kainantu mine in PNG, continued to March 2025.

Under the amended agreement, K92 said yesterday it would pay $12.5 million in cash within 60 days to eliminate the arrangement.

K92 CEO John Lewins described it as a very good outcome for both companies.

"From the perspective of K92 this addresses a significant impediment to K92 being able to fully implement its exploration and development plans for the Kainantu gold mine, while from the Barrick perspective it brings certainty to the realisation of further value from the sale process," he said.

K92 had announced an C$18 million (US$14 million) bought deal offering at $1.90 per share last week, with proceeds to go to general corporate and working capital.

It also secured a US$15 million loan and offtake agreement with Trafigura earlier this month, to fund K92's expansion and cover 100% of copper-gold concentrate production respectively.
 
K92 is aiming to double capacity to 400,000 tonnes per annum and increase annual production to 120,000 ounces gold-equivalent.

It has reported record first-half production of 39,437oz gold-equivalent, compared with 47,237oz for the 12 months of 2018.

K92 shares are around a three-year high, closing up 7.9% yesterday to C$2.18 to capitalise it about $437 million (US$335 million).

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