Giyani Announces Board Update

TORONTO, May 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giyani Metals Corp. (TSXV:EMM, GR:A2DUU8) ("Giyani" or the "Company"), developer of the K.Hill battery-grade manganese project in Botswana ("K.Hill" or “the Project”), announces changes to its board of directors (the “Board”) as part of the Company’s transition to becoming a manganese battery metals producer. Jonathan Henry, Michael Jones, John Petersen and Nicola Spooner have retired from the board, effective as of May 24, 2024.

Mark Burnett will join the board as interim chair, with the remaining directors, President and CEO Danny Keating, Alex Azpitarte, Thuso Dikgaka and Stephanie Hart. The Board has commenced the process to identify new directors with specific expertise in EV battery product marketing, project financing and capital markets experience, with a view to completing the process prior to the next Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) when Mr. Burnett will step down as interim chair.

Mark Burnett is the Director of Mining Investments at RAB Capital, a leading mining specialist investor in London, with over 12 years investing and corporate finance experience in Africa and North America. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Golden Metal Resources (GMET:LN), focused on developing critical mineral assets in Nevada, USA.  Mark holds an MPhil from University of Oxford and has served with the British Armed Forces.

During their tenure, Mr. Henry, Mr. Jones, Mr. Petersen and Ms. Spooner have overseen a number of key milestones at Giyani including the successful receipt of the Environmental Authorisation in Botswana, the submission of the K.Hill mining licence application, the development of a bespoke hydrometallurgical process to produce high purity manganese, and the recent securing of US$26 million in funding, positioning the Company to be a leading international developer of battery grade manganese.

The streamlined Board will continue to focus on overseeing the execution of the Company’s strategy, notably the construction and commissioning of the Demonstration Plant in South Africa.

Mark Burnett, Interim-Chair of the Company, commented:
“I look forward to working with Giyani’s directors and supporting Danny and the management team in their delivery of the Demonstration Plant. I also look forward to working with the Board to introduce additional directors that will support Giyani’s strategy to become a dominant producer of battery grade manganese. I believe this company can be a significant contributor to the energy transition.”