EXPLORATION: AMERICAN PACIFIC’S WARWICK SMITH ON MADISON PROJECT / 3 Geotech_Earlug_2016_Alt2.pdf 1 2016-06-24 4:27:20 PM
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BHP turns toward ‘future facing’ commodities POTASH
| Miner approves Jansen project and sale of oil and gas division
BY ALISHA HIYATE
I
n a long awaited decision, BHP (NYSE: BHP; LSE: BHP; ASX: BHP) has approved US$5.7 billion in spending on its Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan — an important project for diversification of the mining giant’s assets, which are dominated by iron ore and copper. “This is an important milestone for BHP and an investment in a new commodity that we believe will create value for shareholders for generations,” said BHP CEO Mike Henry. Stressing its focus on ‘future facing’ commodities needed for global economic growth and decarbonization, the company also announced a deal to sell its oil and gas unit, and noted its recent offer for Canada’s Noront Resources (TSXV: NOT) for its nickel assets in Ontario’s Ring of Fire. The investment at Jansen will see BHP produce around 4.4 million tonnes of potash per year in a first phase of development (Jansen S1). Initial production at the long-life underground mine is expected in 2027, following a construction period of six years. Ramp up of the operation is expected to take another two years. At consensus forecast potash prices, the company expects the investment to yield a 12-14% post-tax rate of return across a 100-year mine life,
The Jansen potash mine shaft development, about 140 km east of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. BHP
with payback achieved in seven years. However, since 2008, BHP has already spent US$4.5 billion at Jansen, including US$3 billion to build two shafts and related infrastructure that are expected to be completed
next year. If that investment were also considered, the project’s rate of return would be much lower. The company had previously considered selling part or all of the project. In addition to the underground
mine, the Jansen development will involve construction of a processing facility, a product storage building, and a continuous automated rail loading system, as well as port infrastructure required to ship potash
through Westshore, in Delta, B.C. While the potash market currently has excess production capacity, the company said that it expects demand growth to “progressively absorb” that capacity. It sees “opportunity for new supply” late this decade or early in the 2030s — in line with Jansen’s development schedule. The company says potash prices beyond this decade will be influenced by Canada’s greenfield solution potash mines, which have higher operating costs and sustaining capital requirements than conventional mines such as Jansen. Potash prices have surged this year on strong demand, coupled with sanctions against major potash producer Belarus. At the same time BHP is investing in the nutrients business, it is looking to sell its oil and gas division, confirming that it will sell the division to Woodside Petroleum (ASX: WPL) in exchange for shares it will distribute to its shareholders. BHP shareholders will hold 48% of the resulting energy company. The company also announced it is planning to simplify its corporate structure, unifying its two primary listings in Australia (BHP Ltd.) and the U.K. (BHP Plc), under a primary listing on the Australian Stock Exchange. TNM PM40069240
Newcrest Mining commits US$226 million to expand Telfer AUSTRALIA
| Investment adds at least two more years to gold-copper operations
BY CECILIA JAMASMIE
A
ustralia’s largest gold producer, Newcrest Mining (TSX: NCM; ASX: NCM), is investing A$246 million (US$226 million) to expand its Telfer goldcopper operations, which include the Main Dome, West Dome open pits and underground mines, for at least two years. The company said the West Dome Stage 5 cutback would allow further mine life extension opportunities to be assessed within the open pit and underground at Telfer located in the metals-rich Paterson province of Western Australia. The project is near the company’s Havieron gold-copper project, which Newcrest is developing in partnership with Greatland Gold (LSE: GGP).
“WE BELIEVE THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER MINE LIFE EXTENSIONS IN THE OPEN PIT AND THE UNDERGROUND BEYOND THIS TIME.” SANDEEP BISWAS CEO, NEWCREST MINING
“This...is an investment in Telfer’s future which will ensure the operation is able to continue for at least
the next two years,” Newcrest CEO Sandeep Biswas said in a press release. “With additional drilling, we believe there is the potential for further mine life extensions in the open pit and the underground beyond this time.” Production stripping for the Stage 5 cutback will start in September, with first ore production expected to reach the Telfer mill in March 2022, the company said. Newcrest noted that no extra permits, licences or regulatory approvals are needed for the project, and said that it won’t seek further gold-price hedges linked to it. Telfer has the largest gold processing facility in Paterson province, where it produces gold doré and copper-gold concentrates. In the six months to June 30, the operation yielded 185,000 ounces of gold,
5,000 tonnes of copper and 52,000 ounces of silver. Newcrest, which is also the world’s No. 3 gold producer by market value, has been aggressively searching for juniors with appealing assets to jointly develop. Early last year, it acquired a 70% stake in Canada’s Red Chris copper and gold mine from Imperial Metals (TSX: III). The remote Paterson region hosts several large gold and/or copper deposits such as Nifty, Winu and Newcrest’s Telfer. The world’s second-largest mining company, Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO; LSE:RIO; ASX: RIO), is also invested in the area. In 2018, it applied for nearly 30 exploration licenses in Patterson, sparking a stampede into adjacent lots by other explorers. TNM
FORECAST: S&P SAYS EXPLORATION BUDGETS LIKELY TO RISE IN 2022 / 5