$30 million term loan to finance La Parrilla tungsten/tin

W Resources (WRES), the tungsten, copper and gold, exploration and development company with assets in Spain and Portugal, has received preliminary approval from a US Special Situations Fund to provide a $30 million term loan to W Resources to fund La Parrilla tungsten tin mine in Spain.

The term loan has received preliminary approval from the investment committee and is subject to final due diligence and legal documentation. Legal documentation is underway and financial close is targeted for late December 2017/January 2018.

The financing represents a major milestone for WRES, is based on competitive terms and fully funds the development of the 2 Mt/y ROM/2,700 t/y tungsten concentrate La Parrilla mine development.

Development work at La Parrilla is progressing well with design of the jig, concentrator, mine and associated infrastructure. Engineering is on schedule for completion in Q1 2018 and orders for all long lead items have been placed. Formal feedback on the grants application for a percentage of the €19.5 million plant and facilities package from the Junta de Extremadura Government is expected in January 2018 and the company has submitted the environmental approval documentation to expand the mine from 2 Mt/y to 3.5 Mt/y at that time.

Letters of intent with two leading tungsten customers have been signed and final off-take contract documentation is underway.

Michael Masterman, Chairman commented: “The Board is delighted to have received preliminary approval for the funding of La Parrilla. 2018 looks set to be a transformational year for the company as we conclude the plant development and start production at La Parrilla, which is on track to be one of the world’s largest tungsten mines, whilst remaining extremely low-cost to bring into production. Our shareholders have been extremely patient and we now look forward to closing the financing and accelerating the development process.”