TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 08/27/14 -- Potash Ridge Corporation ("Potash Ridge" or the "Corporation") (TSX: PRK)(OTCQX: POTRF) today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tetra Tech Inc. ("Tetra Tech") for a long-term Strategic Relationship to develop the Blawn Mountain Project (the "Project").
Under the terms of this Memorandum of Understanding, Tetra Tech will undertake to perform the feasibility study on the Project. The Corporation expects to commence the feasibility study later this year, subject to successfully raising additional financing.
The Memorandum of Understanding also engages Tetra Tech to be the engineering, procurement and construction management ("EPCM") contractor for the Project on a right of first offer basis. In addition to engineering and construction support, the Memorandum of Understanding contemplates Tetra Tech participating in Build-Own-Operate ("BOO") arrangements for various infrastructure assets, which may include (but not be limited to), the Water Treatment Plant and Sulphuric Acid Plant.
Guy Bentinck, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "We are very pleased to have Tetra Tech on board as our partner through the engineering and construction aspects of our Project. This partnership combines our world class sulphate of potash project with a leading provider of consulting, engineering and construction management. Tetra Tech's willingness to participate in BOO arrangements for infrastructure assets represents our Project's first long-term strategic alliance and is a major positive step in our project financing strategy."
Brent Thompson, President of Tetra Tech's Mining and Minerals business added, "Tetra Tech is delighted to provide its engineering and construction capabilities as well as its potash expertise to the Blawn Mountain Project, adding value to Potash Ridge's team and the Project."
About Potash Ridge
Potash Ridge is a Canadian based exploration and development company focused on developing a surface alunite deposit in southern Utah called the Blawn Mountain Project. It is expected to produce a premium fertilizer called sulphate of potash and a possible alumina rich by-product.
Located in Utah, a mining friendly jurisdiction with established infrastructure nearby, the Project is expected to produce an average of 645,000 tons of SOP per annum over a 40 year mine life. A NI 43-101 compliant Prefeasibility Study completed in November 2013 by Norwest Corporation demonstrated that the Project is both technically and economically viable. The Prefeasibility Study, entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Resources and Reserves of the Blawn Mountain Project, Beaver County, Utah" dated effective November 6, 2013 is available on SEDAR.
Potash Ridge has a highly qualified and proven management team with significant financial, project management and operational experience and the proven ability to take projects into production.
About Tetra Tech
Tetra Tech is a leading provider of consulting, engineering, program management, construction management, and technical services. The Company supports government and commercial clients by providing innovative solutions to complex problems focused on water, environment, energy, infrastructure, and natural resources. With 14,000 staff worldwide, Tetra Tech's capabilities span the entire project life cycle.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Corporation's expectations regarding future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects. These forward-looking statements may include statements that are predictive in nature, or that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and can generally be identified by words such as "may", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "guidance" or similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent the Corporation's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the future financial or operating performance of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and its mineral projects; the anticipated results of exploration activities; the estimation of mineral resources; the realization of mineral resource estimates; capital, development, operating and exploration expenditures; costs and timing of the development of the Corporation's mineral projects; timing of future exploration; requirements for additional capital; climate conditions; government regulation of mining operations; anticipated results of economic and technical studies; environmental matters; receipt of the necessary permits, approvals and licenses in connection with exploration and development activities; appropriation of the necessary water rights and water sources; changes in commodity prices; recruiting and retaining key employees; construction delays; litigation; competition in the mining industry; reclamation expenses; reliability of historical exploration work; reliance on historical information acquired by the Corporation; optimization of technology to be employed by the Corporation; title disputes or claims and other similar matters.
If any of the assumptions or estimates made by management prove to be incorrect, actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to, the following: that general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties remain favorable; that agriculture fertilizers are expected to be a major driver in increasing yields to address demand for premium produce, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as diversified protein rich diets necessitating grains and other animal feed; that actual results of exploration activities justify further studies and development of the Corporation's mineral projects; that the future prices of minerals remain at levels that justify the exploration and future development and operation of the Corporation's mineral projects; that there is no failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; that accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry do not occur; that there are no unanticipated delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of future studies, development or construction activities; that the actual costs of exploration and studies remain within budgeted amounts; that regulatory and legal requirements required for exploration or development activities do not change in any adverse manner; that input cost assumptions do not change in any adverse manner, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Corporation's Annual Information Form (AIF) for the year-ended December 31, 2013 available at sedar.com. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
Contacts:
Niall Murphy
Manager of Investor Relations
416.362.8640 ext. 108
info@potashridge.com
