May 2019 SMR

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Vol:108.No:05

1912-2

019

TYCOON BILLION IN YEAR OF ACTUAL COUNSEL P 06

ESSAR SUES OVER STATE'S PLANS TO BAN COMPANY P 12

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2 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW May 2019

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...From the Editorial Desk MAY 2019 VOL.108. NO.05

The demand for steam coal just isn’t there

L

egislation is being advanced that will lower coal tax from

Skillings Mining Review publishes comprehensive information on global mining, iron ore markets and critical industry issues via our monthly magazine, weekly E-newsletter, annual mining directory and real time website.

PUBLISHER CHARLES PITTS chas.pitts@skillings.net MANAGING EDITOR JOHN EDWARD john.edward@cfxnetwork.com SENIOR SALES MANAGER STAN SALMI stan.salmi@skillings.net SALES REPRESENTATIVE, CANADA RON SANDERSON ron.sanderson@cfxnetwork.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS SARAH HART KATIE SIMS DAVID WILSON CAROLINE DAVIS ART DIRECTOR MO SHINE mo.shine@cfxnetwork.com CIRCULATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions@skillings.net SALES & MARKETING CHRISTINE MARIE advertising@skillings.net

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percent over three years.

5

to

3

A coal owners lobby representative says the $435 million in economic activity

cut severance tax would generate

and

400

new projects.

However, the demand for steam coal just isn't there. West Virginians have found that tax cuts don't cover themselves and do not do much to draw new business. They also know that coal is not going back into pre-2008 manufacturing in West Virginia. West Virginia steam coal is more expensive than in competitor nations, but what is actually leaving the sector in the dust is natural gas, which can be far less costly. This has been obvious for decades, but state legislators continue to attempt to appease out-of-state coal barons at the cost of all West Virginians.

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May 2019 SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW | 3

IN THIS ISSUE

HOMECOMING COSTS LAKSHMI MITTAL FORTUNES IN YEAR OF LEGAL DRAMA P 06

P 14

FIRST LAKER OF THE 2019 SHIPPING P 19 SEASON IS OUT

INDIANA CONTINUES TO LEAD

AMERICA’S STEEL PRODUCTION

COMMENTARY

against PolyMet mine ...............................................17

The demand for steam coal just isn’t there..............03

ArcelorMittal takes Hibbing Taconite site from

COAL

longtime manager Cleveland-Cliffs...........................18

Canada’s Newest Coal Mine Piles on Safety Warnings.. 20

PolyMet's NorthMet mine gets last needed permit

COPPER

PolyMet and Twin Metals in continuous fight mode .....12 COVERSTORY

Homecoming Costs Lakshmi Mittal Fortunes in year of Legal drama...............................06 IRON RANGE REGION

Essar sues over state's plans to ban company........08 Cliffs CEO call on Walz, DNR to revoke Nashwauk Leases......................................................10

from Army Corps of Engineers..................................20 MINING FINANCE

Polymet Mining Corp decrease in short interest leads to increased investments................................05 Polymet Mining Corp Short Interest Up 5.8% in Feb......13 Canadian Mining Industry Loses Ground to International Competition .......................16 SHIPPING

First Laker of the 2019 Shipping Season is Out.......19

Plans for a mine to the edge of the Boundary

STEEL

Waters Canoe Area have made continuous progress..... 15

Indiana Continues to Lead America’s Steel

Federal judge lifts hold on lawsuits

Production..................................................................14

Statistics.............................................................. 22/23

4 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW May 2019

Mining People............................................................ 21

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Polymet Mining Corp decrease in short interest leads to increased investments

L

N ational C orp raised Polymet Mining Corp. (PML) by 37.2 percent in the fourth quarter. Lincoln National C orp now owns 92,619 stocks of Polymet’s basic substances company incoln

its holdings in

stock after acquiring an additional

25,088 shares in the quarter valued, w o r t h $75,000 a s o f i t s m o s t filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. recent

Polymet Mining Corp was the receiver of a decline in short interest from the month of January. At the time of

January 31st, there was brief interest that totaled 1,790,422 stocks, a decline of 4.2% from the January 15th total of 1,869,817 shares. Based on the average daily amount of 316,341 stocks, the short-interest ratio is currently 5.7 days.

Polymet Mining Corp traded $0.03 during trading hours on Thursday, attaining $0.67. 364,700 shares of the company were exchanged, in comparison to its normal amount of 304,288. Polymet Mining includes a twelve month low of $0.66 and also a twelve month high of $1.27. LPL Financial LLC increased its holdings in Polymet Mining by 59.2%

throughout the fourth quarter. LPL Financial LLC owns 186,450 stocks of their basic substances company stock after purchasing an additional 69,345 shares in the quarter, worth $151,000. A fresh stake in Polymet Mining was acquired by Carlson Capital Management through the fourth quarter. Finally, a brand new stake was acquired in Polymet Mining throughout the quarter by Renaissance Technologies LLC, valued at approximately $130,000.

Cahill Financial Advisors Inc. currently owns 393,439 shares of Polymet’s basic substances company stock, worth $320,000, after buying an extra 26,598 shares during the period. Changes have recently been made by a range of hedge funds to their own positions. Cahill Financial Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Polymet Mining by 7.3% during the fourth quarter.

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May 2019 SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW | 5

COVERSTORY

E

ssar

S teel ' s

capability will

instantly make

A rcelor M it -

tal that the fourth - biggest

participant in a country where the government plans to spend trillions of rupees in infrastructure.

For Mittal,

that probably means success still stays a legal struggle or two off.

Brothers Pramod and Vinod Mittal finally sold their debt-laden neighborhood steel company, while ArcelorMittal acquired a foothold in India via a minority investment in processed steel manufacturer Uttam Galva Steels Ltd., that was finally sold. Mittal took a 49 percent stake at a local petroleum refinery.

On Friday, success for Mittal appeared close following a bankruptcy court accepted ArcelorMittal and spouse Nippon Steel's supply for Essar Steel.

Lenders can expect to recuperate roughly 85 percent of defaulting depending on the resolution estimated Sunidhi Securities Research, which stated the way to an entrance unless contested by the mill owners -- clears to markets from the steel giant.

Mittal's first success abroad helped him determine that his future lay out India, he's stated, and he also wished to prevent conflicts around growth plans within the household.

Mittal's international giant ArcelorMittal is now nearing the conclusion of a yearlong struggle to split into India with all the $5.9 billion purchase of Essar Steel India Ltd.. Following its creditors approached the court the steelmaker was set on the block. ArcelorMittal finally cleared the dues in query after sweetening its bidding, which the Ruias

6 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW May 2019

Homecoming Costs Lakshmi Mittal Fortunes in year of Legal drama subsequently topped into a last-minute attempt to thwart Mittal.

The household has been divided.

"India is extremely focused on creating its industrial backbone," Aditya Mittal said in February following ArcelorMittal's annual earnings. "The expansion that exists in India isn't really a growth that's available to imports,

but mostly to national players." Maybe the biggest barrier premiered by Essar Group's Ruia brothers, who lost control of the mill following a ruler forced it to bankruptcy court.

Challenges from rival bidders Essar Group plus a few lenders have observed ArcelorMittal make dozens of trips as a first bid in February 2018 to court

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-- dwarfing its own effort in what had been the industry's biggest merger for Arcelor SA. The forced sale of this 10 million metric tons annually mill has hit a lot of roadblocks such as rules that forced Mittal to shell out an additional $1 billion to clean the dues of 2 companies where he held a stake and to allegedly promote his holdings in among these for 1 rupee a discuss. Although Numetal's was rejected among its shareholders

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was the son of an Essar founder arcelorMittal's deal was invalidated due to the dues of 2 group businesses. The legal wrangling landed at the Supreme Court this past year, setting precedents for India's bankruptcy legislation. The play also sounded a warning to walking with no consequences and also to creators, who until lately were used to a court system.

"We've obtained plenty of organizations across the world. For the very

first time, we've been sued for obtaining a business," Aditya Mittal, Mittal's 43-year-old son along with also the organization's chief financial officer, stated in a BloombergQuint meeting in January. "All these are exceptional conditions." It has been a challenging year since India's fourth-richest guy has struggled to come back to his origins.

Five months following the regulator's order, the authorities intervened to prohibit what it called"habitually

May 2019 SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW | 7

COVERSTORY

non-compliant" individuals from using the bankruptcy process to recover control of their late businesses with decreased debt burdens.

After Lakshmi Mittal, 68, left India for a holiday through Asia over four years before, he did not intend to remain in Indonesia and lay the base for a steel empire that spans the world and created $5 billion in earnings this past year. Yet that is exactly what he did as a series of attempts to set himself India's steel marketplace.

"ArcelorMittal includes a solid market position globally in the auto industry, and its entrance in India can provide more choices to national car types."

That follows a request at exactly the appeals court opposing the acceptance of the strategy of ArcelorMittal as a portion of its own dues will remain outstanding, by Standard Chartered Plc, the third-biggest creditor into the mill, according to people who have knowledge of the issue.

The offers and counteroffers fueled a protracted legal battle involving ArcelorMittal and Numetal, and the Ruias, prompting the Supreme Court to psychologist deadlines mandated by the insolvency legislation and reiterate principles for creators bidding for their late assets.

Without doubt India's bankruptcy procedure is reshaping its steel market.

Five firms from the industry were one of 12 debtors -- that the dirty dozen -arranged into bankruptcy courtroom in 2017 from the ruler at a cleanup of one of debt that is terrible. law is being, then, impacted by those instances.

8 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW May 2019

Essar sues over state's plans to ban company The company that left the Nashwauk mine website half built and in bankruptcy, Essar Global, is currently suing two Minnesota state agencies that are trying to prevent Essar from conducting business in the state.

I

n a complaint filed in

R amsey

County on Feb. 20, Essar claims M innesota D epartment of Natural Resources and Department of the

Administration are violating state law by looking for the debarment of Essar, a move which would prohibit the company from doing business in

Minnesota.

www.skillings.net

The business also claimed and the actions of the state put the future of the Nashwauk job at risk. Essar fully intends to return to Nashwauk and finish the job it started earlier this decade, according to Essar spokesperson Jon Austin. “We are puzzled by the job of the DNR, and we don't think it has the power or a legitimate reason to debar us," Austin said. "To guard the project, we have asked the Court to intervene."

Essar’s Nashwauk site was the state's first all-new taconite mine and processing center in years, and was to employ 350 people by 2014 as it generated some 7 million tons of taconite iron ore pellets.

However, in 2015, Essar walked off the job after spending $1.8 billion, leaving the center less than half-finished. The company left $1 billion in debt, leading to years of insolvency and post-bankruptcy troubles that continue now. After Essar said it would pay $260 million of the debt that it left in Minnesota, and buy its way back into the Nashwauk job, DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen delivered a letter to the CEO of Mesabi Metallics, the business that is now hoping to revive the mine, warning the company of the agency's aim to obstruct Essar from having any participation in the job.

In Strommen’s January letter, she made it clear Essar is wanted out

by Minnesota, noting years of failed attempts, missed deadlines, and fiscal mismanagement as the company tried to push through the Nashwauk project, "Essar established itself within a period of years to be an unreliable partner with builders, local governments and the nation." Essar complained, calling Strommen's letter a "hazard."

"By petitioning to debar Essar Global and its affiliates, the DNR is jeopardizing conclusion of the Facility and the general public benefits that could flow from conclusion of the Facility," Essar attorneys wrote in the complaint.

Mesabi Metallics additionally earned key mineral rents back from the state in July 2018, but an ownership dispute just

IRON RANGE REGION

weeks later forced Chippewa proprietor Tom Clarke from the provider.The project was purchased by Chippewa Capital Partners, the parent firm of Mesabi Metallics, which vowed in a statement on their website in December 2017 to finish the mine and processing center, while constructing an iron plant at the site, and pull it from bankruptcy.

Until last September, it appeared Essar was not involved in the job whatsoever until Mercuria, a Swiss energy and commodity company, said it planned to have a majority stake in the project, while a draft version of its news release, meant to stay unpublished, said Essar would eventually become a minority shareholder in Mesabi Metallics.

In an emailed statement to the News Tribune Thursday afternoon, Mesabi Metallics spokesperson Darin Broton said Chippewa Capital Partners continues to be the only owner of Mesabi Metallics and that the project's construction timeline includes a "Spring 2019 acceleration."

Cliffs CEO call on Walz, DNR to revoke Nashwauk Leases Cleveland-Cliffs' CEO again demanded the state take mineral leases for the Nashwauk mine site in Mesabi Metallics and give them to Cliffs.

I

f given the leases, currently in the hands of

Mesabi Metallics missed a key year-end deadline when it failed to start building on its value-added center

by Dec. 31, 2018. This triggered its own rent and royalty payments to the state to double before the facility is finished, according to the DNR. In a statement, DOA spokesperson Curt Yoakum said, "The Department of Administration is now reviewing the DNR's recommendation for debarment of Essar Global. In regards to this legal action, the section doesn't comment on pending litigation."

10 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW May 2019

Mesabi Metallics,

the firm attempting to revive

the long-delayed project,

Delaware bankruptcy judge finally chose Mesabi Metallics to take over the Essar site in July 2017.

Goncalves

stated that plans for the site still include a mine, pellet plant along with a hot-briquetted iron plant.

"I've hope that Gov. Walz will mend what was broken by the previous government," Goncalves said. "It is up to him. It is a simple win."

Goncalves often blames former Gov. Mark Dayton for destroying Cliffs' strategies for the site due to his unwillingness to transfer the leases after a

Cliffs have leases throughout the Nashwauk site, developing an intricate quilt of possession with Mesabi Metallics. Goncalves said on Thursday that he needed more support from people in the area, specifically local politicians. "I don't feel like I have, from the local politicians, the support I need, and Cleveland-Cliffs deserves," Goncalves said.

Cliffs have previously called on the state to hand over the leases, including

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through a lawsuit that challenged the DNR's refusal to modify, transfer or withdraw Mesabi Metallics' license to mine at the site.

"I'm glad about the way the DNR is moving under Gov. Walz," Goncalves said. "I think that the new commissioner is trying to do the right thing."

from doing any business in the state after the firm settled $260 million of the debt it left behind to get his way back into the project.

Asked by a reporter if Cliffs would drop the lawsuit against the DNR, Goncalves said: "we're in discussions right now.�"We are talking, but it does not indicate that we have resolved," Goncalves said. "We are going to get everything resolved when those leases are assigned to Cleveland-Cliffs."

Goncalves last publicly called for the leases during former Gov. Dayton's government regime and before the DNR moved to debar Essar. At that moment, former DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr reacted in a letter stating that it was not possible to withdraw or transfer Mesabi Metallics' leases.

Strommen added afterward that Mesabi Metallics license and leases were under inspection, hinting that the firm could lose the leases.

Goncalves said he hasn’t interacted with Walz since he took office in January or has met Sarah Strommen, the new DNR commissioner, but Cliffs team is communicating well with the DNR.

However, the DNR, currently led

by Strommen, a Walz appointee, has seemingly taken a more aggressive strategy toward the Nashwauk site. In January, the DNR moved to ban Essar

"DNR is continuing its review to ascertain if Mesabi Metallics is in complete compliance with its licenses and current mineral lease requirements," Strommen composed at the moment.

Goncalves said he would not wait indefinitely for the nation to act but provided no deadline until Tuesday.

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May 2019 SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW | 11

IRON RANGE REGION

PolyMet and Twin Metals in continuous fight mode also be found in northern Minnesota - and the earliest inside the Boundary Waters landmark.Environmentalists started the Save the Boundary Waters campaign in 2013 to combat coppernickel mining in the Superior National Forest south of this wilderness area. It set its own aims about the Twin Metals proposal, and some other projects which may follow.

This past year, after almost 15 decades of research and intense public discussion, the Department of Natural Resources approved the projected PolyMet copper-nickel mine. If constructed, the mine would become the nation's first-ever copper-nickel exploration operation.

P

oly M et intends to dig out

the

well worth the danger of causing possibly grave environmental damage to one of the country's wilderness treasures.

The PolyMet job is not a done deal yet.

Even though the business waits for its closing national licenses, the project faces several court challenges.

The job's proximity to the Boundary Waters has pitted environmentalists, fearful of the potentially severe effects of copper-nickel mining around the area's waterways, against advocates, who long for its high-paying jobs and the regional financial effect the $1 billion project would deliver.The question is whether exploiting the abundant economic potential of one of the world's largest known deposits of nickel, copper and precious metals is

PolyMet is not the only company vying for the natural resources in the area. When it receives its new lease, Twin Metals, a subsidiary of the Chilean mining giant Antofagasta, has stated it intends to submit an official mine plan of operations to state and national labs sometime this season, a measure that would run an environmental review of the project.If accepted, it would probably become Minnesota's next coppernickel mining job - after the country declared the PolyMet job, which would

an open pit mine near

Minn.,

Babbitt,

and also process the

ore in a retired taconite plant out

Hoyt Lakes. The

huge underground

copper-nickel mine will lie just outside

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

12 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW May 2019

At the waning days of this Obama government, the national authorities rescinded key mineral rents from the Superior National Forest which are crucial to Twin Metals' bid to start its own mine. The U.S. Forest Service in the time also suggested a 20-year moratorium on any new mining jobs inside the Boundary Waters watershed.

However, the Trump government has since taken several actions to undo those activities. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management returned the mineral rents to Twin Metals and began the procedure to give the organization a 10-year expansion.

It also canceled the environmental review that had been launched to study the proposed mining ban, a process mining opponents say was critical to making an informed decision about whether the Boundary Waters watershed is an appropriate place to mine. While Twin Metals has not yet filed its strategy for its underground mine, it's estimated it would dig 20,000 tons of coppernickel ore every day for 30 decades, and employ around 650 people.

www.skillings.net

Polymet Mining Corp Short Interest Up 5.8% in February

1 one

,000,800 shares of the Polymet Mining Corporation Company traded hands, in contrast to its average quantity of 529,476. Polymet Mining includes a year low of $0.64 and a one year high of 1.25.

company's stock worth $375,000 after buying an additional 146,000 shares during the period.

Polymet Mining Corp saw a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totaling 1,937,249 shares, an increase of 5.8% from the February 15th total of 1,831,848 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 348,231 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 5.6 days.

Large investors have recently made changes to their holdings in the company. Carlson Capital Management bought a new position worth $28,000 in stocks of Polymet Mining during the fourth quarter. Lincoln National Corp boosted its stake in shares of Polymet Mining by 37.2% during the fourth quarter. Lincoln National Corp currently owns 92,619 shares of the basic materials company's stock value worth $75,000 after purchasing an additional 25,088 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new position in stocks of Polymet Mining during the third quarter worth about $130,000.

LPL Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of Polymet Mining by 59.2% during the fourth quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 186,450 shares of the basic materials company's stock worth $151,000 after purchasing additional stocks during the period. Cahill Financial Advisors Inc. currently holds 366,841 shares of the basic materials

www.skillings.net

May 2019 SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW | 13

STEEL

Indiana Continues to Lead America’s Steel Production The Washington D.C.-based American Iron and Steel Institute reported that U.S. steelmakers made 95.5 million tons of steel this past year, which was up from 89.9 million tons the previous year, along with many others produced in the USA, since the 98.1 million tons U.S. steelworkers cranked back in 2007.

The Hoosier state took the steelmaking crown in the late 1970s, when the American steel sector was gutted during a period of cut-throat foreign competition leaving most steel mills shuttered and mill cities hollowing out husks of their former selves.

Indiana led the nation in steel production again in 2018, preserving the best spot it's held for more than four decades and generating over twice as much steel as the second-place state.

The United States has made a mean of only 81.9 million tons a year since then, with India surpassing America in steel production in 2015. Imports have

14 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW May 2019

provided roughly 23 to 30 percent of the steel used in the past several years in the United States, according to AISI. Mills at Northwest Indiana continued to flourish because of their place on the fantastic Lakes that ensured a constant, cost-effective source of raw materials like iron ore and coke.

Indiana made more than a fourth of the country's steel this past year. The next largest steel-producing country, Ohio, created 10.88 million tons in 2018, down from 10.92 million tons in 2017. Nucor, which has surpassed U.S. Steel as the largest steel company headquartered in America, operates a

miniature mill in Crawfordsville. A lot of the steelmaking in Northwest Indiana occurs in the Lake and Porter counties, at the big plantations that ring Lake Michigan's southern shore. Indiana has roughly half the country's blast furnace capacity, at the integrated steel mills across the shores of Lake Michigan at Northwest Indiana.

American Iron and Steel Institute spokesman, Jake Murphy said that steel mills at the Hoosier country made 26.7 million net tons of steel this past year, up from 24.1 million tons in 2017.

The area is home to the country's biggest steel mill, Gary Works, North America's largest integrated steelmaking conglomerate ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor in East Chicago, and the newest integrated steel mill in the nation, ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor.

Murphy stated that Indiana has led the nation in steel production since 1977.

www.skillings.net

T

he

Twin Metals

project is on

course to renew its mineral rents from

Superior National

Forest near Ely, a significant step that had previously been obstructed by

Barack Obama.

While the jobs are distinct in several ways, the mines post greater environthe administration of

traditional iron mining. Therefore, the Twin Metals project should clear a gantlet of federal and state regulatory hurdles prior to the mining initiation. mental risks compared to

The choice of Landwehr proved to be a controversial one. In November, Landwehr gave a mining license for PolyMet that was vital for the DNR commissioner. PolyMet, which hopes to construct its mine near Hoyt Lakes, has been opposed by most environmental groups combating Twin Metals. But the campaign has been silent on the latter project.

Many of those who support the PolyMet and Twin Metals jobs, whose owners have promised to bring hundreds of high-wage occupations to northern Minnesota, have also been outraged at Landwehr's new gig, saying it shows he was biased against mining while in office that was supposed to act as a neutral arbiter.Tom Landwehr hopes to make sure it does.

In his time at the campaign to Save the Boundary Waters, Landwehr stated he has worked on the outreach with lawmakers and focused on opposing the Trump administration's attempts to grant Metals renewals to its mineral rents.

Landwehr had sought to remain at DNR under new Governor Tim Walz, but the Governor chose Sarah Strom-

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Plans for a mine to the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area have made continuous progress men, a DNR Assistant Commissioner during the Dayton government, for the job instead. MinnPost caught up with him to ask about his time at DNR and Minnesota's mining regulations.

Though the former DNR commissioner was hesitant to talk about PolyMet, citing ongoing lawsuits against the company's permits, he only declined to answer one question on record: whether he thought the state should remove the DNR's legal duty to promote mining and also give those duties

to a different state agency to be able to prevent accusations of conflict of interest.

We thrive on challenges golder.com

May 2019 SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW | 15

MINING FINANCE

Canadian Mining Industry Loses Ground to International Competition The Barrick tie-up, together with Channel Islands-based Randgold Resources Ltd., has already resulted in job cuts and additional decentralization from Canada, a trend that will probably grow under Barrick's newly inked joint-venture in Nevada with Newmont Mining Corp.

Meanwhile, the Newmont's proposed takeover of Goldcorp will see the combined entity headquar tered in Colorado, with another office in Vancouver.

Renewing the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for a longer term, together with other government initiatives, could help reverse the trend but more policies are required, the report concludes.

merchandise exports in 2017.

"For decades, our industry has been a leader in the production of minerals and metals - a pioneer in mining supplies and services, a pioneer in mine fund, and a leader in sustainability and safety, but this standing is now in jeopardy and will probably be dropped without continued, decisive action at both the federal and provincial levels," said Pierre Gratton, Chief Executive Officer of the institution.

The report from the Mining Association of Canada discusses the hollowing out of the country's mining industry developments. The merger of Canada's two biggest gold companies, Barrick Gold Corp. and Goldcorp Inc., stands to hamper its global influence.

Over five decades, the country has lost its top five ranking as a producer in seven from 16 commodities. Australia has expanded its lead on Canada with respect to the number of organizations in the industry and as a percentage of overall foreign direct investment.

Capital investment in the mining industry has fallen every year since 2012. Canada is at risk of losing its global dominance in mining, despite current government initiatives to improve competitiveness, according to a report from an industry association.

T

Toronto Stock Exchange Venture Exchange raised almost one-third of the he

and

world's total equity capital in the sector in

2017,

making them high

mining listing trades.

Despite this, the industry represented only 5 percent of the total nominal GDP and 19 percent of the value of C anadian

16 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW May 2019

www.skillings.net

Federal judge lifts hold on lawsuits against PolyMet mine

A

federal judge in

Minnesota

has lifted a hold that had been placed on four lawsuits

challenging the proposed

PolyMet

copper-nickel mine in northeastern

Minnesota. Thursday’s decision by U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen doesn’t list next steps, but her decision to lift the stay means the cases can proceed.

The lawsuits, filed by environmental groups, sought to block a land swap that PolyMet needed to move forward.

The environmental groups say the soil is undervalued by that the deal and violates other legislation.

PolyMet disputes that.PolyMet completed swapping 6,650 acres of federal land in the Superior National Forest for a similar amount of private land last June.Ericksen put the cases on hold in March while Congress considered legislation that would have forced the land exchange. But the land swap has since occurred.

www.skillings.net

May 2019 SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW | 17

MINING INDUSTRY SHIPPING

ArcelorMittal takes Hibbing Taconite site from longtime manager Cleveland-Cliffs Change is inevitable, especially in Minnesota's iron ore mining sector. Bankruptcies, ownership changes, plant closures, technological advances, labor force adjustments, and efficiencies that reduce costs, have changed since the very first shipment of ore left the Minnesota Iron Company mine in Soudan. However, one of the biggest changes lately is on the horizon. On August 12, 2019, ArcelorMittal USA will take over management of Hibbing Taconite.

F

or decades ,

Cleveland-Cliffs has managed the 8.0 million ton - per - year iron ore pellet facility just north of Hibbing, and they will retain 23% possession and United States Steel 14.7%.

For several weeks, it was uncertain who would take over management beyond August 12, 2019 but in December, ArcelorMittal USA announced it would replace Cleveland-Cliffs. It is a change that amazed steelworkers working in industry observers and the facility.

But, assuming management is organic for ArcelorMittal, stated Gary Norgren,

18 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW May 2019

ArcelorMittal USA manager of raw materials and transition group leader in Hibbing Taconite. Norgren said that, "Assuming the role of managing partner of Hibbing Taconite was the right thing to do for our company, the Hibbing group, along with the Iron Range. Serving as the managing partner also ensures the long-term supply of superior iron ore operations to our crucial operations in the USA." No significant modifications in Hibbing Taconite direction are anticipated, according to Norgren. Hibbing Taconite owners and ArcelorMittal, as supervisor, will continue to honor the terms of the labor contract reached

between United Steelworkers (USW) and Cleveland-Cliffs. Norgren explained that, "Throughout the kick-off assembly, many ArcelorMittal/Cliffs teams were made to work on transitioning all functional areas. These regions comprise ever y thing from mine planning and information technology to operations and procurement. Over the subsequent six-and-a-half months, the partners will work to ensure there's an orderly transition with the goal of maintaining stability for the work force of Hibbing. ArcelorMittal is dedicated to communicating more info as it becomes available to both our team and the community."

ArcelorMittal (62.3percent) is now majority owner of Hibbing Taconite.

According to ArcelorMittal USA, no changes in production volumes or operating plans will occur. But as the transition date approaches, a combined ArcelorMittal/Cleveland Cliffs transition group has begun meeting to plan the transition, said Norgren. Transition meetings started in mid-January.

www.skillings.net

First Laker of the 2019 Shipping Season is Out

J

Hron, Manager of Marketing and Communications for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, said, "we touched 95% ice cover on Lake Superior this season, for the 8th time since 1973. Fortunately, ayson

noon as the primary outbound laker of the 2019 shipping season.The 2018 season saw the shipment of their most tonnage of iron ore since 1995, according to the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.

we have had substantial melting since then, and as of this morning, the ice cover is south

of 60%"

The Duluth Seaway Port Authority says the U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Alder and Mackinaw have been clearing the trail for ships at the head of the lake since Wednesday. Hron stated, "they have been able to open up the path a little bit for the ships which are in winter lay-up."

NORTH AMERICAN MARKET (LTU) Company

IRON ORE PRICE REPORT

Ore Type

Pellets, FOB Michigan Mines Pellets, FOB Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Minnesota Upper Lakes Port Source: CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.

They're hoping to surpass that this year.

"I believe we're going to have a very strong economic year and I am really excited about just the degree of action we are about to see," Johnson stated.

Per Iron Unit

Per Gross Ton at 64%

Per Ton at 64% Reporting Date

$1.28

$81.92

12/31/17

$1.42

$90.88

12/31/17

Kelsey Johnson, President of the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota, said that the first boat of this season is both a sign of Spring and an economic boost. "Every single ship carries about 70 thousand tons of ore that translates to $23,000 in economic activity. And that is not just from the Duluth area, but from the entire Great Lakes system, so it is a large economic indicator and I'm really enthusiastic about it", Johnson said. Kaye E. Barker passed under the Aerial Lift Bridge on Friday after-

www.skillings.net

May 2019 SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW | 19

IRON ORE

PolyMet's NorthMet mine gets last needed permit from Army Corps of Engineers

T

his was a carefully weighed choice ," explained

Col. Sam Calkins, Commander of the St. Paul District, at the launch. The St. Paul District issued a statement on the individual license late Thursday for its projected valuable metals mine

Hoyt Lakes and Minnesota's Iron Range.

on the property near

Babbitt

at

Canada’s Newest Coal Mine Piles on Safety Warnings

T

he

Kameron

coal mine has filed a new plan to the department and is

in talks with the province to acquire approval to restart production.

Donkin

The Minnesota DNR and Pollution Control Agency accepted a litany of licenses for its NorthMet mine this past Year, leaving the Army Corps of Engineers with the final license barrier for PolyMet to clean.

2.75 million tonnes of coal per year, Coal mining in Cape Breton dates back to

is expected to produce

in the next three to four decades.

the early 1700s, when the fuel was brought in by the French. The industry has long been considered a way of life.

The firm, a subsidiary of U.S.-based Cline Group, gained complete control of Donkin from 2015, after buying a 75 percent majority stake in the operation from Glencore and 25% from Halifax-based Morien Resources (TSX-V: MOX), including a royalty on coal production in the mine.

The license allows PolyMet to discharge dredged and fill material to 901 acres, within its development and structure procedure, together with impacts to 27 acres. PolyMet currently holds all of the permits required to begin work.

Since an incident forced its closing in December, the Donkin coal mine has been the subject of inspections. It had been allowed to reopen a month later, but only for manufacturing. Good ventilation is a key issue for the operation according to the Head of the NS Department of Advanced and Labour Education, Harold Carroll. He asserted that getting a warning does not necessarily mean inspectors discovered a serious breach of regulations.

Jon Cherry, President and CEO, said that the firm is pleased to be the f irst mining company to be completely permitted to build and run a copper-nickel-precious metals mine inside the World Duluth Complex.

"The number of warnings and orders is not a concern," Harold Carroll, the department's Executive Director of Occupational Health and Decurity told CBC News. "It does not raise any substantial red flags for us." "We do not anticipate that these special orders/warnings will impact the Donkin mine’s return to its regular mining performance," stated Shannon Kerr, spokesperson for the NS Labour Department.

20 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW May 2019

www.skillings.net

MINING INDUSTRY PEOPLE GoldMining Inc. announced the appointment of Dr. Ken Wang to its advisory board.

Dr. Wang is a former Managing Director and the Head of Natural Resources for both Royal Bank of Canada's Asia Investment Banking and Bank of China's Global Investment Banking operations based out of Hong Kong and Beijing. Over the past 20 years, he has been at the forefront of the global mining industry, intimately involved in the successful completion of more than $100 billion of investment banking transactions in mining and other sectors.

ADVERTISING INDEX

Azcon .........................................19 Barr Engineering...........................9 CR Meyer....................................11 Global Minerals Engineering.....19 Golder Associates........................9

Titan Mining Corporation announced the closing of a senior secured credit facility with the Bank of Nova Scotia, and the appointment of Naomi Johnson as Vice President, Community Relations. Naomi Johnson joined Titan in April 2018 and is a global community relations executive, international development specialist and lawyer with 15 years of management experience in leadership positions across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Ms. Johnson brings a broad perspective to the development of sustainable and leading-edge approaches to stakeholder impact and risk management at Titan.

African Gold Group Inc. appointed Malcolm Campbell as President and Chief Operating Officer and Andrew Cheatle as Vice President. Mr. Campbell is a Professional Certified Mining Engineer with over 30 years of extensive exploration and mining project experience across Africa. Mr. Cheatle is a mining industry executive and professional geoscientist with over 25 years of domestic and international experience encompassing both the senior and junior mining sectors. ď Ž

www.skillings.net

Hallett Dock................................05 Lake Superior Chapter ISEE.......19 Malton Electric Company..........21 walcot water...............................22 ME Elecmetal.............................09 Mielke Electric Works.................13 Naylor Pipe.................................24 Neo Solutions.............................21 Northern Engine & Supply.........21

May 2019 SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW | 21

STATISTICS

March 2018 Crude Steel Production

By John Edward, Associate Publisher

W

steel, up by 1.0% on March 2017. France produced 1.4 Mt of crude steel, up by 1.5% compared to March 2017. Spain

orld crude steel produc-

quarter of 2017. North America’s crude

produced 1.3 Mt of crude steel, down by

64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 148.3 million tonnes (Mt) in March 2018, a 4.0% increase compared to M arch 2017. W orld crude steel production was 426.6 Mt in the first three months of 2018, up by 4.1%

steel production in the first three months

4.1% on March 2017. Turkey’s crude steel

of 2018 was 29.5 Mt, an increase of 1.9%

production for March 2018 was 3.4 Mt, up

compared to the first quarter of 2017.

by 7.6% on March 2017. The US produced

to the same period in 2017.

tion for the

compared

7.3 Mt of crude steel in March 2018, an China’s crude steel production for

increase of 5.3% compared to March 2017.

March 2018 was 74.0 Mt, an increase

Brazil’s crude steel production for March

of 4.5% compared to March 2017. India

2018 was 3.1 Mt, up by 7.6% on March

produced 9.2 Mt of crude steel in March

2017. The crude steel capacity utilisation

2018, up 5.3% on March 2017. Japan

ratio of the 64 countries in March 2018 was

produced 9.1 Mt of crude steel in March

74.5%. This is 2.2 percentage points higher

Asia produced 294.1 Mt of c rude

2018, an increase of 2.2% compared to

steel, an increase of 4.6% over the first

March 2017. South Korea’s crude steel

than March 2017. Compared to February 2018, it is 0.9 percentage points higher.

quarter of 2017. The EU produced 43.1

production was 6.1 Mt in March 2018,

Mt of crude steel in the first quarter of

an increase of 4.7% on March 2017. In

2018, up by 0.9% compared to the same

the EU, Italy produced 2.3 Mt of crude

Statistics based on World Steel Association Report released on April 25, 2018. 

Preliminary USGS Iron Ore Statistics for November 2017

By John Edward, Associate Publisher

A

U.S. G eological S urvey (USGS) report by Mineral Commodity Specialist Christopher A. Tuck, U.S. mine production and shipments of iron ore in November 2017 were 4.47 million metric tons (Mt) and 4.33 Mt respectively.

Average daily production of iron ore was 149,000 metric tons (t), 7% greater than that of October and ccording to the

27 % greater than that of November 2016.

Average daily shipments of iron ore were 144,000 t, slightly less than those in October and 3% greater than those in November 2016. Mine stocks at the end of November 2017 were slightly greater than those held at the end of October 2017 and slightly less than those held at the end of November 2016. U.S. exports of iron ore totaled 943,000 t in November 2017, 9% less than those in October 2017 and 27% less than those in November 2016. U.S. imports of iron ore totaled 320,000 t in November 2017, 45% greater than those in October and 11% greater than those in November 2016. 

22 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW May 2019

www.skillings.net

CRUDE STEEL PRODUCTION, MARCH 2018. Source – World Steel Association MARCH 2017

% CHANGE MARCH – 18/17

1,030 e

1,175

4.7

20 e

15 e

16

25.0

El Salvador

10 e

5e

8

Guatemala

25e

25 e

1,750 e

MARCH 2018

FEB 2018

1,230 e

Cuba

MARCH 2018

% CHANGE MARCH – 18/17

13,354

15,038

0.5

Total - Other Europe

3,645

3,290

3,425

6.4

33.3

Total - C.I.S. (6)

8,101

7,675

8,621

-6.0

22

12.6

Total (64 countries)

148,330 131,791 142,681

4.0

1,535 e

1,701

2.9

-

-

-

-

7,261

6,446

6,894

5.3

e – estimate | r – revised Monthly Crude Steel Production in the 67 Countries included in the report, in thousands of metric tons. The 67 countries included in this table accounted for approximately 99% of total world crude steel production in 2017.

10,296

9,056

9,816

4.9

U.S. RAW STEEL PRODUCTION

474

417

392

20.8

Brazil

3,065

2,714

2,848

7.6

Chile

110 e

85 e

109

0.7

Colombia

125 e

90 e

117

7.0

Capability Utilization Rate

Production

MARCH 2017

15,111

Ecuador

55 e

45 e

46

19.6

April 28, 2017

1,754

-1.9

74.8

29,723

1.6

75.5

Paraguay

1e

2e

1

66.7

Previous Year

1,721

1.9

73.8

29,252

-

74.4

115 e

100 e

104

10.4

April 21, 2017

1,788

0.2

76.3

27,969

5e

5e

4

25.0

1.6

75.6

40 e

25 e

49

-17.9

Previous Year

1,721

3.9

73.8

27,531

-

74.4

Total - South America

3,990

3,483

3,669

8.7

April 14, 2017

1,784

- 1.2

76.1

26,181

1.4

75.5

Egypt

650 e

583

528

23.1

Previous Year

1,721

3.7

73.8

25,810

-

74.4

Libya

30

48

49

-39.3

April 7, 2017

1,805

1.6

77.0

24,397

1.3

75.5

-

-

-

-

Previous Year

1,721

4.9

73.8

24,089

-

74.4

South Africa

527 e

491 e

545

-3.1

Total - Africa

1,207

1,122

1,122

7.6

2,350 e

2,120 e

1,635

43.7

239

152

240

-0.4

Saudi Arabia (HADEED only)

425 e

385

376

13.0

Total - Middle East

3,262

2,859

2,534

28.7

73,980 64,930 e

70,800

4.5

Mexico Trinidad and Tobago United States Total - North America Argentina

Peru Uruguay Venezuela

Morocco

Iran Qatar

China

207

214

213

218

4.7

Great Lakes

657

667

685

683

2,000

0.0

Midwest

163

165

159

166

90,475

97,979

4.3

Southern

652

666

653

660

482

90,475

429

12.3

Western

75

76

74

78

47

52

47

0.5

1,754

1,788

1,784

1,805

529

477

476

11.1

Japan

9,082

8,296

8,888

2.2

South Korea

6,095

5,415

5,823

2,000 e

1,810 e

102,190

www.skillings.net

WEEK ENDING

North East

5.3

Total - Oceania

DISTRICT

4/7

8,764

New Zealand

WEEKLY U.S. RAW STEEL PRODUCTION BY DISTRICT 4/14

8,434

Australia

In thousands of Net Tons – Source - American Iron and Steel Institute * Percent Change is a comparison between a given week and the previous week.

The % change figure in the previous year row refers to the change from a given week compared with the corresponding week of the previous year.

AISI’s estimates are based on reports from companies representing about 50% of the Industry’s Raw Steel Capability and include revisions for previous months.

4/21

9,227

Total - Asia

WEEK ENDING

Year-to-Date Production

4/28

India

Taiwan, China

Weekly Production

Percent Change*

Canada

Total - European Union (28)

FEB 2018

Percent Change*

COUNTRY

Production

COUNTRY

Total

In thousands of Net Tons – Source – American Iron & Steel Institute.

May 2019 SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW | 23