http://www.thenational.com.pg/052509/biz2.php
Good time to build mines, says Gooding
THE current period of low commodity prices in global markets caused by the global financial crisis is a good time to build mines, says John Gooding, managing director and chief executive officer of Highlands Pacific Ltd (HPL).
“I think it has been a good test. When times are tough it’s not a bad time to be building a mine because once prices come back up, it’s ready to go,” he said while commenting on the progress of construction at the Ramu nickel cobalt project in Madang province.
HPL had estimated a low construction cost for Ramu Nico with resource value of 143 million tonnes at 1.01% nickel and 0.10% cobalt. The ore reserves were estimated at 75.7 million tonnes at 0.91% nickel and 0.10% cobalt.
The Ramu Nico project is expected to be commissioned at year end, with production set for next year.
The HPL management and its board will be visiting the mine site, Mr Gooding revealed last Thursday during the annual general meeting in Port Moresby, which was attended by shareholders, management and board members.
HPL has an 8.56% interest in the project that it is jointly developing with China’s Metallurgical Group Corp (MCC), along with its three joint venture Chinese companies.
But HPL could increase its current interest to 11.3% once its debt has been paid over the next seven years.
Mr Gooding said the company had an option to increase that to 20.55% of market value, which would be good depending on the performance of the project.
On commodity price development, Mr Gooding said copper price movement for the last 12 months was volatile, with the price reaching over US$4 (K11) a pound last year and then dropping to US$1.40 (K4) per pound due to the financial crisis.
“Copper is currently back at over US$2.04 (K6) per pound,” he said, adding that nickel also hit a high of US$24 (K68) a pound but was now at US$6 (K17) per pound.
Good time to build mines, says Gooding
THE current period of low commodity prices in global markets caused by the global financial crisis is a good time to build mines, says John Gooding, managing director and chief executive officer of Highlands Pacific Ltd (HPL).
“I think it has been a good test. When times are tough it’s not a bad time to be building a mine because once prices come back up, it’s ready to go,” he said while commenting on the progress of construction at the Ramu nickel cobalt project in Madang province.
HPL had estimated a low construction cost for Ramu Nico with resource value of 143 million tonnes at 1.01% nickel and 0.10% cobalt. The ore reserves were estimated at 75.7 million tonnes at 0.91% nickel and 0.10% cobalt.
The Ramu Nico project is expected to be commissioned at year end, with production set for next year.
The HPL management and its board will be visiting the mine site, Mr Gooding revealed last Thursday during the annual general meeting in Port Moresby, which was attended by shareholders, management and board members.
HPL has an 8.56% interest in the project that it is jointly developing with China’s Metallurgical Group Corp (MCC), along with its three joint venture Chinese companies.
But HPL could increase its current interest to 11.3% once its debt has been paid over the next seven years.
Mr Gooding said the company had an option to increase that to 20.55% of market value, which would be good depending on the performance of the project.
On commodity price development, Mr Gooding said copper price movement for the last 12 months was volatile, with the price reaching over US$4 (K11) a pound last year and then dropping to US$1.40 (K4) per pound due to the financial crisis.
“Copper is currently back at over US$2.04 (K6) per pound,” he said, adding that nickel also hit a high of US$24 (K68) a pound but was now at US$6 (K17) per pound.