Horizonte Minerals shares sank on Tuesday after the nickel miner said it was reducing mine construction activities as funding uncertainty mounts.
Horizonte Minerals’ funding calculations for the Araguaia nickel project in Brazil have forced the company to scale back construction while it seeks new funding sources.
The London-based developer said Tuesday it is running out of working capital and will have to halt most construction activities at Araguaia by mid-December unless it can secure additional financing.
Horizonte has slowed work to critical areas only as it holds talks with cornerstone shareholders and lenders on a new financing plan to cover remaining construction costs. The company needs the fresh capital injection to meet the conditions for an existing $131 million debt facility.
The company has $38m cash to see them through to mid-December.
Shareholders and lenders visited Araguaia last week to conduct due diligence for the potential investment. But Horizonte does not expect funding deals to be finalised until late in the first quarter 2024, pointing to significant delays in the commencement of production at the project.
The financing crunch has cast uncertainty over the development timeline and commercial viability of Araguaia, Horizonte’s flagship nickel project.
“Discussions with the Company’s major shareholders and lenders on funding the Project to completion are progressing. While work on the funding solution continues, we have elected to focus capital and human resources on the critical work packages,” said Horizonte Minerals CEO Jeremy Martin.
“This work is planned is to ensure that we are well-positioned to resume full construction activities post receipt of the funding to benefit stakeholders and our community alike. Notwithstanding the expected increase in capital, the Araguaia project remains a Tier 1 nickel project that will produce a high grade, low cost, low impurity FeNi product over a 28-year mine life.”
Horizonte Minerals shares were down 38% at the time of writing on Tuesday.