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Thompson Creek announces Davidson Deposit feasibility study
Shares outstanding: 113,484,000
NYSE: TC
TSX: TCM, TCM.WT
Frankfurt: A6R
- The Davidson Deposit feasibility study estimates that the development
of the Davidson Deposit would require a capital expenditure of
C$109 million.
- Molybdenum production is estimated at approximately four million
pounds per year over a 10-year period.
- The average annual cash costs are estimated to be US$9.46 per pound.
- The estimated pre-tax internal rate of return (IRR) is 20% and
payback is 3.4 years from the start of full production at the assumed
molybdenum prices including a long-term price of US$14 per pound
starting in 2012.
- The sensitivity analysis shows the IRR would increase to 43% if
molybdenum prices are 20% higher than assumed.
TORONTO, April 2 /CNW/ - Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. (the
"Company"), one of the world's largest publicly traded, pure molybdenum
producers, today announced the results of the feasibility study on the
development of the underground Davidson Deposit near Smithers, British
Columbia.
"The Davidson Deposit feasibility study indicates positive project
economics," said Kevin Loughrey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This
is the case even though we make an assumption that molybdenum prices in the
later years of the study will be considerably lower than we are receiving
currently. We intend to review the details of the study and make a decision in
the next few months on whether to proceed with the project.
"We will also be discussing the project with Sojitz Corporation, our
joint venture partner with a 25% interest in the Endako Mine, where the
Davidson ore would be processed if the project goes ahead. Sojitz has
indicated an interest in partial ownership of the Davidson Deposit.
"While the underground Davidson Deposit within Hudson Bay Mountain (nine
kilometres northwest of Smithers) has a considerable measured and indicated
mineral resource containing molybdenum, the Company requested a feasibility
study on mining only a limited portion of the deposit," Mr. Loughrey stated.
"This allows us to mine the molybdenum as soon as possible and provides the
best opportunity for our shareholders to benefit from high molybdenum prices.
"Our internal expansion projects, consisting of the proposed Davidson
mine as well as the Endako expansion conditionally approved by the Board of
Directors on March 13, 2008, will comprise a large part of the Company's
capital expenditures in the 2008-2010 period," Mr. Loughrey stated. "Total
expansion and sustaining capital expenditures over the three years are
expected to be approximately C$600 million, with expenditures in any year
ranging from C$150 million to C$300 million depending on project timing. We
expect that the Company will be able to fund these capital expenditures from
internal cash flow.
"Our Endako joint venture partner, Sojitz Corporation, has approved the
planned Endako Mine expansion and will participate in the expansion with the
company. This project includes increasing the processing capacity of the mill
from 28,000 to 50,000 tonnes per day beginning in 2010. Sojitz will contribute
25% of the C$373.6 million total capital cost for the expansion. Thompson
Creek's share of the capital cost will be C$280 million.
"We are also pleased to announce that the Endako Mine has received
regulatory approval to resume mining in the Endako Pit where a rock slide
interrupted activity last November. This provides us with greater flexibility
in the months ahead at the Endako Mine where we currently are mining in the
Denak West Pit," Mr. Loughrey added.
Davidson Deposit Feasibility Study
The Davidson Deposit feasibility study, compiled by Hatch Ltd. with
contributions from several consulting firms, evaluates the potential for
mining 2,000 tonnes per day over a 10-year period of the highest-grade
molybdenum-containing ore from the deposit and trucking it 200 kilometers to
the Endako Mine for processing.
The study assumes that 7.3 million tonnes of proven and probable mineral
reserves plus 0.5 million tonnes of sub-grade material will be mined and
processed over 12 years, of which 10 years would be at full production. The
average grade is estimated at 0.265% contained molybdenum (Mo).
Total molybdenum production after milling and roasting is estimated at
40.3 million pounds Mo or an annual production rate of approximately 4.5 to
5.0 million pounds Mo during the initial full production years, tapering down
to average approximately four million pounds per year over the study period.
Mining permits are assumed to be issued in November 2008. First
production is expected in August 2009 with full production beginning in April
2010.
The report estimates that capital expenditures of C$109 million would be
required to develop the project. This estimate combines a McIntosh Engineering
projection of C$65.7 million for underground development and equipment costs
and a Hatch estimate of C$43.3 million for surface infrastructure.
The underground development would include the construction of a
three-kilometre adit as a haulage ramp from the base of the mountain upward
toward the deposit at an incline of approximately 10% and the enlargement of
an existing two-kilometre adit to be used for air-intake ventilation and as a
secondary access to the deposit.
Major items of surface infrastructure would include a water treatment
plant, access roads, on-site buildings, and ore-handling facilities at Endako.
The study estimates operating costs would be C$54.40 per tonne of ore
milled, including milling and roasting costs at the Endako Mine.
The average cash cost over the project period is estimated at
US$9.46 per pound of molybdenum produced. All cost estimates assume an
exchange value for the Canadian dollar of US$0.90.
The study assumes an average molybdenum price over the production period
of US$16.13, or about half the current level. The analysis assumes a
molybdenum price of US$27 per pound in 2009, US$23 per pound in 2010,
US$17.50 per pound in 2011 and US$14 per pound thereafter. The current price
for technical grade molybdenum oxide is approximately US$34 per pound.
Based on these estimates for capital cost, operating cost and molybdenum
prices, the study estimates an internal rate of return (IRR) before income tax
of 20% and a project payback of 3.4 years from the start of full production.
Sensitivity analysis performed by Hatch shows an increase in the IRR to
32% if molybdenum prices are 10% higher than the assumed levels and to 43% if
molybdenum prices are 20% higher than the assumed levels. The IRR would be 7%
if molybdenum prices are 10% lower than the assumed levels and the project
would not have a positive return if molybdenum prices are 20% lower than the
assumed levels.
Davidson Mineral Resources and Reserves
The Davidson mine analysis is based on estimates of mineral resources as
of April 10, 2007 by Giroux Consultants Ltd. to the specifications of National
Instrument 43-101 and in accordance with the CIM Standards. Based on a cut-off
of 0.12% Mo, measured and indicated mineral resources are estimated to be
77.2 million tonnes with an average grade of 0.169% Mo and contained Mo of
288 million pounds. Measured mineral resources are estimated at 45.9 million
tonnes with an average grade of 0.18% Mo and contained Mo of 182 million
pounds. Indicated mineral resources are estimated at 31.3 million tonnes with
an average grade of 0.154% Mo and contained Mo of 106 million pounds.
The study notes that the project's assumed economics, including a
long-term molybdenum price of US$14 per pound, result in a cut-off grade of
0.173% Mo. At a cut-off grade of 0.18% Mo, the measured and indicated mineral
resources available are approximately 22.7 million tonnes with an average
grade of 0.234% Mo and contained Mo of 117 million pounds. Measured mineral
resources are estimated at 17.2 million tonnes with an average grade of
0.241% Mo and contained Mo of 91.3 million pounds. Indicated mineral resources
are estimated at 5.5 million tonnes with an average grade of 0.215% Mo and
contained Mo of 26 million pounds.
The mineral resources at different cut-off grades were estimated by Gary
Giroux, P.Eng. of Giroux Consultants Ltd., a "qualified person" as defined in
National Instrument 43-101.
The Company requested that the feasibility study focus on an initial
10-year mine plan. In order to achieve optimum economics, the mine plan is
based on a declining cut-off grade strategy starting with a cut-off grade of
0.24% Mo for primary stopes in the first three years of production. This is
then lowered to 0.21% Mo for some primary and secondary stopes and lowered
again to 0.18% Mo for secondary stopes.
Based on this approach, proven and probable mineral reserves are
estimated at 7.3 million tonnes with an average grade of 0.265% Mo and
contained Mo of 43 million pounds. Proven mineral reserves are estimated at
6.6 million tonnes with an average grade of 0.268% Mo and contained Mo of
38.9 million pounds, and probable mineral reserves are estimated at
719,000 tonnes with an average grade of 0.238% Mo and contained Mo of
3.8 million pounds.
The mining of mineral reserves over the project period would not inhibit
the ability of the Company to mine the remainder of mineral resources
available in the Davidson Deposit.
The mineral reserves were estimated by Ken Collison, P.Eng., Chief
Operating Officer, Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc., who is a "qualified
person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101, and who has reviewed and
approved the contents of this news release.
About Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.
Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded,
pure molybdenum producers in the world. The Company owns the Thompson Creek
open-pit molybdenum mine and mill in Idaho, a 75% share of the Endako open-pit
mine, mill and roasting facility in northern British Columbia, and a
metallurgical roasting facility in Langeloth, Pennsylvania. Through its
wholly-owned subsidiary Blue Pearl Mining Inc., Thompson Creek is also
developing the Davidson Deposit, a high-grade underground molybdenum project
near Smithers, B.C. The Company has approximately 800 employees. Its principal
executive office is in Denver, Colorado, and it has other executive offices in
Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia. More information is
available at www.thompsoncreekmetals.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
--------------------------------------------------
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the
meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
and applicable Canadian securities legislation which may include, but is not
limited to, statements with respect to the timing and amount of estimated
future production. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected",
"budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or
"believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and
phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could",
"would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Thompson
Creek and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Such factors include those factors discussed in
the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Thompson Creek's current annual
information form which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and is
incorporated in its Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission which is available at www.sec.gov. Although
Thompson Creek has attempted to identify important factors that could cause
actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions,
events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.
Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this
news release and Thompson Creek does not undertake to update any such
forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities
laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to
be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from
those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Readers should refer to Thompson Creek's current annual information form
which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and is incorporated in its Annual
Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC which is available at www.sec.gov and
subsequent continuous disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com and
www.sec.gov for further information on mineral reserves and mineral resources,
which is subject to the qualifications and notes set forth therein.
For further information: Wayne Cheveldayoff, Director of Investor Relations,
Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc., Tel: (416) 860-1438, Toll free:
1-800-827-0992, wcheveldayoff@tcrk.com; Dan Symons, Renmark Financial
Communications Inc., Tel.: (514) 939-3989, dsymons@renmarkfinancial.com