Horizonte Minerals PLC: Appointment of Head of Projects

LONDON, March 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Horizonte Minerals Plc, (AIM: HZM, TSX: HZM) (‘Horizonte’ or ‘the Company’) the nickel company focused on Brazil, is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Drake as Head of Projects.

In his role as Head of Projects, Michael’s primary responsibility will be overseeing the development of Horizonte’s two 100% owned projects, the Araguaia ferro-nickel project (“Araguaia”) and the Vermelho nickel-cobalt project (“Vermelho”). Work is currently focussed on starting construction at Araguaia subject to closing project finance, while Vermelho is being progressed through to feasibility study and permitting. Michael will be based out of the Company’s Brazilian headquarters in Belo Horizonte, where he will work closely with the Company’s in-country team.

Michael is a Mechanical Engineer with extensive international leadership experience in the construction, operation and optimisation of medium to large capex projects, with extensive expertise in both ferro-nickel, and nickel acid-leach operations. Prior to joining Horizonte, Michael worked for BHP, Newcrest Mining, and WMC Resources. At BHP, Michael led Cerro Matoso’s US$350 million ferro nickel production line refurbishment with a complete furnace rebuild in Colombia. As Vice President: Projects and Engineering at Nickel West, he was responsible for the implementation of a US$5 billion capital investment programme, and he led the asset ramp-up phase of the Ravensthorpe nickel operation in Australia. Michael is a graduate from Curtin University and also has an MBA from the University of Western Australia.

Commenting on the appointment, Jeremy Martin, Horizonte’s CEO, said: “We are pleased to welcome Mike to the Horizonte team. He has extensive experience in developing, operating and optimising nickel operations, his experience across both RKEF and HPAL technologies is well suited to the development of both of Horizonte’s projects.

Mike will oversee the development of Araguaia and Vermelho in Brazil and will also be an invaluable asset to the corporate team in London. Horizonte has the capability to build and deliver the Araguaia ferro-nickel project, as well as simultaneously progressing Vermelho. The continued development of the broader team is a critical workstream as we advance our transition towards becoming a nickel producer.”

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About Horizonte Minerals:

Horizonte Minerals plc is an AIM and TSX-listed nickel development company focused in Brazil. The Company is developing the Araguaia project, as the next major ferronickel mine in Brazil, and the Vermelho nickel-cobalt project, with the aim of being able to supply nickel and cobalt to the EV battery market. Both projects are 100% owned.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the ability of the Company to complete the Acquisition as described herein, statements with respect to the potential of the Company's current or future property mineral projects; the success of exploration and mining activities; cost and timing of future exploration, production and development; the estimation of mineral resources and reserves and the ability of the Company to achieve its goals in respect of growing its mineral resources; the ability of the Company to complete the Placing as described herein, and the realization of mineral resource and reserve estimates. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks related to: the inability of the Company to complete the Acquisition as described herein, exploration and mining risks, competition from competitors with greater capital; the Company's lack of experience with respect to development-stage mining operations; fluctuations in metal prices; uninsured risks; environmental and other regulatory requirements; exploration, mining and other licences; the Company's future payment obligations; potential disputes with respect to the Company's title to, and the area of, its mining concessions; the Company's dependence on its ability to obtain sufficient financing in the future; the Company's dependence on its relationships with third parties; the Company's joint ventures; the potential of currency fluctuations and political or economic instability in countries in which the Company operates; currency exchange fluctuations; the Company's ability to manage its growth effectively; the trading market for the ordinary shares of the Company; uncertainty with respect to the Company's plans to continue to develop its operations and new projects; the Company's dependence on key personnel; possible conflicts of interest of directors and officers of the Company, the inability of the Company to complete the Placing on the terms as described herein, and various risks associated with the legal and regulatory framework within which the Company operates. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.