PTR Minerals (ASX:PTR) has appointed former Base Resources executive Colin Bwye as a non-executive director as it progresses study work at the Rosewood Titanium Project in South Australia.
Bwye is a metallurgist with more than 35 years of experience spanning mineral sands project development, operations, marketing, and strategy.
He joined Base Resources, which was later acquired by Energy Fuels (NYSE:UUUU), as executive director of operations and development in 2010. Bwye led the development of the Kwale mine in Kenya through to production in 2013, with his responsibilities later extending to operations, marketing, expansion projects, and development of the Toliara Project in Madagascar following its acquisition in 2018.
Before joining Base, Bwye held technical, production, and mining roles with RGC Mineral Sands and helped develop and operate the Dardanup mineral sands mine in Western Australia for Doral Mineral Industries. He retired from Base in March 2022 but has continued to advise mineral sand projects and operations.
PTR Chairman Derek Carter says Bwye’s technical and commercial experience will support PTR’s ongoing study programs.
“PTR will benefit not only from his wide range of experience in the mineral sands sector as we progress with our study programs but also his experience in building a successful mineral sands company,” Carter says.
The appointment follows PTR’s June maiden mineral resource estimate for Rosewood of 463 million tonnes (Mt) @ 8.8% heavy minerals (HM), containing 40.6Mt of HM.
PTR describes Rosewood as one of the world’s ‘highest-grade’ titanium heavy mineral sand deposits. The company is undertaking scoping work aimed at identifying development options that could maximise early cash flow from its inventory.
Meanwhile, Rob Sennitt has transitioned from executive director to managing director. He will share responsibility with CEO Peter Reid for progressing Rosewood as PTR advances its scoping work.
Bwye will receive $40,000 per year, plus superannuation, and one million zero exercise price options, subject to shareholder approval.
PTR Minerals is an Australian critical minerals exploration company advancing titanium, copper, and rare earth projects in South Australia’s Gawler Craton.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: PTR Minerals
