Verde AgriTech Ltd (TSX: “NPK”)
("
Verde” or the “
Company”) is
pleased to announce the results of its first Life Cycle
Analysis (“
LCA”)1, completed by LCA Design
Corporation, a leading Canadian consultancy firm.2 The LCA
determines the climate impacts associated with the production of
Verde’s potassium fertilizer K Forte® (the
“
Product”) from cradle-to-grave.3 The LCA was
conducted according to ISO 14040/44:2006 Standard4 and Puro Earth
Enhanced Rock Weathering (“
ERW”) Methodology.5
The Product's potential of carbon removal
through ERW, determined as carbon dioxide removal certificates
(“CORCs”)6, can reach up to 112.56 kilograms of
carbon dioxide equivalent per ton of Product
(“CO2e /
t”).7
The Company assessed several scenarios,
encompassing historical production, current production, and planned
production capacity ramp-up. The potential for CORCs generation
determined by the LCA was assessed based on the following
assumptions:
- Production
capacity: 3 million tons per year
(“Mtpy”). This capacity can be achieved by
utilizing Verde’s currently installed Plant 1 and Plant 2, both
operating at full capacity.
- Product
distribution: The CO2e emissions vary depending on the
product shipment distance from Verde's production facilities. The
greater the shipping distance increases the diesel consumption and,
consequently, the carbon footprint.
-
Transportation mode: The CO2e emissions were
calculated with the assumption that the Product transportation
would be exclusively done by road. Nevertheless, Verde has an
ongoing transition plan for railway transportation, with the
objective of constructing a railway branch line that will connect
its production facilities to a major freight route in Brazil.8 The
implementation of railway transportation is expected to contribute
to a reduction in the CO2 footprint compared to road
transportation.9
Calculation Methodology
The climate impact assessed in the LCA is quantified in terms of
kilograms of CO2e and encompasses all greenhouse gases directly and
indirectly associated with the process. This includes:
- Mining: This stage
encompasses all activities related to raw material extraction, as
well as its transportation to Verde’s production facilities,
including emissions from fuel, vehicles, and infrastructure.
- Processing: This
stage encompasses all processes involved in transforming Verde’s
raw material into K Forte®, as well as the Product handling on-site
(including transportation or conveying within the production
facility).
- Transport to application
site: This stage involves the transportation of the
Product to the farms where it will be applied. It encompasses
emissions related to fuel consumption, vehicles, and
infrastructure.
- Application to
site: This stage involves the actual application and use
of the Product. It assumes that the Product is applied to the soil
using agricultural equipment powered by diesel fuel.
- Weathering phase:
This stage occurs after the application of Product and involves
carbon capture through the ERW process.
- Carbon fate in
environment: This stage considers the potential risk of
remission of sequestered carbon into the environment.
Carbon Offset Removal Credits represent the net amount of CO2e
removed by the applied rock weathering within a specified time
frame, equivalent to 1 ton of CO2e, according to Puro Earth's ERW
Methodology. CORC values are presented in kilograms of CO2e in the
LCA.10
The overall equation for calculating CORCs generated by ERW
activity is as follows:
CORCs = (CO2
Stored) – (CO2
Supply Chain Footprint)
- CO2 Stored (kg of
CO2e): The amount of CO2 captured via ERW is determined by
the weathering of the Product after being applied to soil. This
process involves the generation of carbonate or bicarbonate ions
and has the potential for the precipitation of solid carbonate
minerals. CO2 Stored is the amount of CO2 that is sequestered from
the atmosphere as a result of the weathering process. The Product’s
CO2 Stored is equivalent to 120 kg CO2e per ton of K Forte®. The
CO2 Stored calculation was provided by Dr. Manning, determined
through an independent study conducted at Newcastle
University.11
- CO2 Supply Chain Footprint
(kg of CO2e): includes all greenhouse gas emissions that
occur throughout the entire supply chain process, from mining
activities and processing to transportation to the application
site, the actual application to the soil using agricultural
machinery, as well as monitoring, sampling, and testing activities
during the weathering phase. The CO2 Supply Chain Footprint
reflects the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the entire
life cycle of the Product. The CO2 Supply Chain Footprint was
calculated in the LCA.
In summary, CORCs represent the net CO2e removed by the
Product’s weathering through ERW activities.
LCA Results
Firstly, the table below displays the CORCs derived from the
cradle-to-gate12 life cycle assessment of K Forte®. This assessment
covers activities from raw material extraction to production
completion, taking into account the potential for carbon capture
through ERW.
Net carbon sequestration for K Forte®’s
cradle-to-gate LCA
CORCs (kg CO2e / t) |
|
CO2 Stored (kg CO2e / t) |
|
CO2 Supply Chain Footprint (kg CO2e / t) |
112.56 |
= |
120.00 |
- |
7.44 |
The greenhouse gas emissions associated with the cradle-to-gate
cycle of K Forte® are relatively low, less than 10% of the amount
of carbon captured by the Product. This can be attributed to
Verde's sustainable production process, which is characterized
by:
- 100% renewable power
supply: Our operations use 100% renewable energy sources
from hydropower.
- Negligible water
demand: Our production process consumes significantly
less water compared to that of other mining or fertilizer
production companies.
- Lower-impact
mining: The area where we extract our raw materials
primarily consists of degraded pastureland,
deforested decades ago by local landowners for
cattle breeding, minimizing environmental
interventions
- No toxic
contaminants: Our product does not
contain concerning amounts of the toxic contaminants
associated with basalt or olivine, namely nickel and
chromium, unlike many other ERW projects.
- Zero tailing dams:
Our mineral processing does not require generate
tailings nor does require any dams.
When considering the cradle-to-grave assessment of the Product,
the shipping distance between Verde's production facilities and the
application site of the Product significantly impacts the range of
greenhouse gas emissions within Verde's supply chain.
The table below shows the CORCs derived from the cradle-to-grave
life cycle assessment and market size for K Forte®, according to
the distance radius for the Product’s shipment from Verde’s
production facilities.
Net carbon sequestration for K Forte®’s
cradle-to-grave LCA and market size, according to shipment
distance
Distance from Verde’s production facilities
(km) |
Potash Market Size (tons
K2O)13 |
Product’s Market Size (tons K Forte®) |
CO2 Stored
(kg CO2e /
t) |
CO2 Supply Chain
Footprint(kg
CO2e / t) |
CORCs (kg
CO2e / t) |
100 |
1,350 |
13,500 |
120.00 |
12.41 |
107.59 |
200 |
59,720 |
597,200 |
120.00 |
17.38 |
102.62 |
300 |
129,200 |
1,292,000 |
120.00 |
22.35 |
97.65 |
400 |
301,460 |
3,014,600 |
120.00 |
27.32 |
92.68 |
It is important to note that the LCA was carried
out using 33-ton trucks for product shipping, while the standard
truck capacity in Brazil is 74 tons. This resulted in a significant
overestimation of transport emissions, as trucks with higher
capacity offer improved fuel consumption efficiency by reducing the
overall number of vehicles needed, thereby reducing total
emissions.
Verde’s ERW Carbon Capture
Potential
Scalable and cost-effective ERW carbon capture
projects depend on farmers' willingness to apply minerals on a
large scale over their farmland. In that sense, Verde's has
multiple advantages in ERW:
- The
Product has a fast dissolution rate, as evidenced by agronomic
trials and potassium release.
- The
Product is a source of essential macronutrients for plants, which
creates significant motivation for farmers to adopt them in place
of traditional chemical fertilizers;
- The
Product has NI 43-101 certified14 mineral reserves proving reliably
consistency in its mineralogy, carbon capture effectiveness and
absence of deleterious elements;
- The
Product is certified organic by several governmental and
non-governmental organizations, including some of the most
stringent global standards such as the Washington State Fertilizer
Registration and the California Department of Food &
Agriculture;
- The
Product undergo meticulous particle size control when of its
manufacturing process, guaranteeing a consistent particle size
distribution. This is advantageous because particle size is
essential for optimal carbon capture and its calculation.
Few carbon capture projects based on ERW
showcase all, if any, of the above advantages which are
consistently delivered by Verde.
About Verde AgriTech
Verde is an agricultural technology Company that
produces potash fertilizers. Our purpose is to improve the health
of all people and the planet. Rooting our solutions in nature, we
make agriculture healthier, more productive, and profitable.
Verde is a fully integrated Company: it mines
and processes its main feedstock from its 100% owned mineral
properties, then sells and distributes the Product.
Verde’s focus on research and development has
resulted in one patent and eight patents pending. Among its
proprietary technologies are Cambridge Tech, 3D Alliance, MicroS
Technology, N Keeper, and Bio Revolution.15 Currently, the Company
is fully licensed to produce up to 2.8 million tons per year of its
multinutrient potassium fertilizers K Forte® and BAKS®, sold
internationally as Super Greensand®. In 2022, it became Brazil's
largest potash producer by capacity. Verde has a combined measured
and indicated mineral resource of 1.47 billion tons at 9.28% K2O
and an inferred mineral resource of 1.85 billion tons at 8.60% K2O
(using a 7.5% K2O cut-off grade).16 This amounts to 295.70 million
tons of potash in K2O. For context, in 2021 Brazil’s total
consumption of potash in K2O was 6.57 million17.
Brazil ranks second in global potash demand and
is its single largest importer, currently depending on external
sources for over 97% of its potash needs. In 2022, potash accounted
for approximately 3% of all Brazilian imports by dollar
value.18
Corporate Presentation
For further information on the Company, please view
shareholders’ deck:
https://verde.docsend.com/view/kxdp27m8xprnhy9b
Investors Newsletter
Subscribe to receive the Company’s updates at:
http://bit.ly/InvestorNL-August2023
http://cloud.marketing.verde.ag/InvestorsSubscription
The last edition of the newsletter can be accessed at:
Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking
Statements
All Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resources
estimates reported by the Company were estimated in accordance with
the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute
of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Definition Standards (May 10,
2014). These standards differ significantly from the requirements
of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mineral Resources
which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
This document contains "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation
and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United
States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This
information and these statements, referred to herein as
"forward-looking statements" are made as of the date of this
document. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or
future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions,
expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but
are not limited to, statements with respect to:
(i) |
the estimated amount and grade of Mineral Resources and Mineral
Reserves; |
(ii) |
the estimated amount of CO2 removal per tonne of rock; |
(iii) |
the PFS representing a viable development option for the
Project; |
(iv) |
estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and
bringing a mine into production, of sustaining capital and the
duration of financing payback periods; |
(v) |
the estimated amount of future production, both produced and
sold; |
(vi) |
timing of disclosure for the PFS and recommendations from the
Special Committee; |
(vii) |
the Company’s competitive position in Brazil and demand for potash;
and, |
(viii) |
estimates of operating costs and total costs, net cash flow, net
present value and economic returns from an operating mine. |
Any statements that express or involve
discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs,
plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance
(often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects",
"anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "envisages",
"assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" or
variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or
results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur
or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar
expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be
forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements are based on
Verde's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various
assumptions made by them and information currently available to
them. The most significant assumptions are set forth above, but
generally these assumptions include, but are not limited to:
(i) |
the presence of and continuity of resources and reserves at the
Project at estimated grades; |
(ii) |
the estimation of CO2 removal based on the chemical and
mineralogical composition of assumed resources and reserves; |
(iii) |
the geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock
conforming to sampled results; including the quantities of water
and the quality of the water that must be diverted or treated
during mining operations; |
(iv) |
the capacities and durability of various machinery and
equipment; |
(v) |
the availability of personnel, machinery and equipment at estimated
prices and within the estimated delivery times; |
(vi) |
currency exchange rates; |
(vii) |
Super Greensand® and K Forte® sales prices, market size and
exchange rate assumed; |
(viii) |
appropriate discount rates applied to the cash flows in the
economic analysis; |
(ix) |
tax rates and royalty rates applicable to the proposed mining
operation; |
(x) |
the availability of acceptable financing under assumed structure
and costs; |
(xi) |
anticipated mining losses and dilution; |
(xii) |
reasonable contingency requirements; |
(xiii) |
success in realizing proposed operations; |
(xiv) |
receipt of permits and other regulatory approvals on acceptable
terms; and |
(xv) |
the fulfilment of environmental assessment commitments and
arrangements with local communities. |
Although management considers these assumptions
to be reasonable based on information currently available to it,
they may prove to be incorrect. Many forward-looking statements are
made assuming the correctness of other forward looking statements,
such as statements of net present value and internal rates of
return, which are based on most of the other forward-looking
statements and assumptions herein. The cost information is also
prepared using current values, but the time for incurring the costs
will be in the future and it is assumed costs will remain stable
over the relevant period.
By their very nature, forward-looking statements
involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and
specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections
and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that
assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers
not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as
a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to
differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives,
expectations, anticipations, estimates assumptions and intentions
expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risk factors
may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions and
estimates expressed above do not occur as forecast, but
specifically include, without limitation: risks relating to
variations in the mineral content within the material identified as
Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves from that predicted;
variations in rates of recovery and extraction; the geotechnical
characteristics of the rock mined or through which infrastructure
is built differing from that predicted, the quantity of water that
will need to be diverted or treated during mining operations being
different from what is expected to be encountered during mining
operations or post closure, or the rate of flow of the water being
different; developments in world metals markets; risks relating to
fluctuations in the Brazilian Real relative to the Canadian dollar;
increases in the estimated capital and operating costs or
unanticipated costs; difficulties attracting the necessary work
force; increases in financing costs or adverse changes to the terms
of available financing, if any; tax rates or royalties being
greater than assumed; changes in development or mining plans due to
changes in logistical, technical or other factors; changes in
project parameters as plans continue to be refined; risks relating
to receipt of regulatory approvals; delays in stakeholder
negotiations; changes in regulations applying to the development,
operation, and closure of mining operations from what currently
exists; the effects of competition in the markets in which Verde
operates; operational and infrastructure risks and the additional
risks described in Verde's Annual Information Form filed with SEDAR
in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) for the year ended December
31, 2021. Verde cautions that the foregoing list of factors that
may affect future results is not exhaustive.
When relying on our forward-looking statements
to make decisions with respect to Verde, investors and others
should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other
uncertainties and potential events. Verde does not undertake to
update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that
may be made from time to time by Verde or on our behalf, except as
required by law.
For additional information please
contact:
Lucas Brown, Vice-President of
Corporate Development
Tel: +55 (31) 3245 0205; Email:
investor@verde.ag
www.verde.ag | www.investor.verde.ag
1 Life-cycle assessment is a process of evaluating the effects
that a product has on the environment over the entire period of its
life thereby increasing resource-use efficiency and decreasing
liabilities. The LCA is a standardized, scientific method that can
be used to study the environmental impact of either a product or
the function the product is designed to perform. Source: European
Environment Agency. The terms "assessment" and "analysis" are used
interchangeably by different companies, but with the same
objective.2 For further information, please see:
https://lcadesign.ca/ 3 'Cradle-to-grave' assessment considers
impacts at each stage of a product's life-cycle, from the time
natural resources are extracted from the ground and processed
through each subsequent stage of manufacturing, transportation,
product use, and ultimately, disposal. Source: European Environment
Agency. 4 ISO (2006b), ISO 14040:2006, Environmental management –
Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework. ISO (2006c), ISO
14044: 2006, Environmental management – Life cycle assessment –
Requirements and guidelines.5 Puro Earth ERW Methodology (2022).
Puro Standard Edition 2022 V2.6 CO2 Removal Certificate (CORC) is
an electronic document, which records the Attributes of CO2 Removal
from registered Production Facilities. Each CORC represents a Net
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) volume of 1 ton of Long-Term CO2
Removal, equivalent to 1 carbon credit. Source: Puro Earth, Puro
Standard General Rules, V3.1.7 The term CO2e is used to compare the
emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global
warming potential, normalized to the equivalent amount of CO2.
Source: UN-REDD Programme.8 See: “Railway to freight up to 50Mtpy
of Verde’s Product granted construction permit”.9 The CO2 emission
rate per kilometer for products transported by rail stands at
0.0220 kg of CO2 per ton, significantly lower than the 0.0497
kg of CO2 emitted per ton of products transported via road.
Sources: CO2 emission standard per kilometer for train transport
(Sphera Professional Database). CO2 emission standard per kilometer
for truck transport (EcoInvent Database, Brazil Dataset).10 1,000kg
of CO2 is equivalent to 1 CORC.11 See “Verde’s Products Remove
Carbon Dioxide From the Air”.12 Cradle-to-gate is the assessment of
a product’s life cycle from raw material extraction (cradle) to its
production facility gate. It does not include the carbon footprint
associated with product transportation to the final customer.
Source:
https://circularecology.com/glossary-of-terms-and-definitions.html
13 The potash market size was determined based on the potential
demand for K2O. This calculation was derived from the total planted
areas in Brazil in 2021 (Source: IBGE, 2022), considering the
typical dosages of potash fertilizers for the main crops: Cotton =
100 kg of K2O/ha; Coffee = 200 kg of K2O/ha; Soybean/Maize System =
150 kg of K2O/ha; Other Crops = 100 kg of K2O/ha.14 National
Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects
within Canada.15 Learn more about our technologies:
https://verde.docsend.com/view/yvthnpuv8jx6g4r916 As per the
National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects within Canada (“NI 43 -101”), filed on SEDAR in 2017. See
the Pre-Feasibility Study at:
https://investor.verde.ag/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NI-43-101-Pre-Feasibility-Technical-Report-Cerrado-Verde-Project.pdf
17 Source: Brazilian Fertilizer Mixers Association (from
"Associação Misturadores de Adubo do Brasil", in Portuguese).18
Source: Brazilian Comex Stat, available at:
http://comexstat.mdic.gov.br/en/geral
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