Last checked at 27 Aug 2010 11:53
27 August 2010 Anglesey Mining plc LSE:AYM
Interim Management Statement
Anglesey Mining plc is a UK based company with a full London Stock Exchange listing which holds:
* 41% of Toronto-listed Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited which has a number of iron ore deposits in Labrador and Quebec. LIM is fully funded and the deposits are under active development towards production in 2011. * 100% of the Parys Mountain base metal deposit in North Wales, UK with a total historical resource in excess of 7 million tonnes at over 9% combined copper, lead and zinc.
Update on Labrador activities
During the quarter LIM invested over C$6.8 million (£4.1 million) in property, plant and equipment compared to C$0.1 million (£0.06 million) during the same period last year, the increase attributed to the significant investment in processing equipment and rail spur line construction in preparation for the commencement of construction. LIM reported a loss for the quarter of C$0.6 (£ 0.4) million, compared to a loss of $0.3 (£0.2) million for the same period in the prior year.
With over $41 million in cash and cash equivalents and no debt, LIM is in sound financial condition and believes that it has sufficient funding to complete the commissioning of the first phase of its iron ore mining projects and to commence shipments of iron ore.
Progress on the Schefferville Projects
Environmental and Permitting
LIM has made significant progress in advancing its permitting activities with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and has received numerous permits and authorizations, including the mining leases for the first stage James and Redmond deposits and surface use leases over the Silver Yards beneficiation area, the accommodation camp, Redmond roads and pipeline. It has also received Certificates of Approval for the construction of its James and Redmond Mines and associated mining facilities as well as approval of its Development Plan and its Rehabilitation and Closure Plan from the Department of Natural Resources. These approvals provide for the construction of open pit mining and treatment facilities at the James North, James South, Redmond 2B and Redmond 5 deposits, and include the beneficiation facility, ore, waste rock and overburden stockpiles, settling ponds, access roads, accommodation camp and other associated works. The approvals also include authorization for the installation and operation of power generators at the James deposit, the Silver Yards beneficiation area and the accommodation camp.
in addition, the Environmental Protection Plan for mine construction and operation, which was a final condition of the environmental assessment release, was approved by the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
LIM has not yet received the permit for the operation of the rail spur and the Certificate of Approval for operation of the mine. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has engaged in consultation with potentially affected First Nations with regard to LIM's various permits and this consultation process is continuing. The receipt of permits has taken longer than anticipated, which has resulted in a delay in LIM's originally planned construction and production timeline. However, LIM expects the remaining permits and approvals to be issued in the near future.
Project Construction
All major items of the beneficiation plant and other infrastructure have now been procured and have been assembled at rail heads in Labrador City and Sept-Iles and a number of these have now been transported to Schefferville. Some preassembly work has taken place at Labrador City to reduce the construction time. A contract was signed in June 2010 for the installation of camp accommodation facilities. The new accommodation camp, which has been built offsite, will be brought to site and assembled.
A contract has been signed with a Labrador City based contractor for the mining and beneficiation activities. Once the mine operating permit has been issued, the mining contractor will be mobilized to site to commence mining activities, including stockpiling of iron ore ahead of the crusher pad. Water use approvals for the process water system have been approved by the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Rail and Port - Transportation Infrastructure
LIM received the construction permit for laying the new rail spur track at the beginning of May 2010 and construction of the rail spur was completed in early June. The new rail spur line will be used to move to site the main components of the processing plant and the accommodation camp and subsequently will be used to move iron ore from the Silver Yards to the Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. ("TSH") main line for onward transport to the Port of Sept-Iles.
LIM has negotiated arrangements with TSH regarding inward transport of the beneficiation plant, accommodation camp and construction materials to Schefferville and Silver Yards and has negotiated freight rate terms for the transport of any ore produced in calendar 2010.
A new railway loading ramp was constructed at Emeril Junction on the TSH main rail line in early August 2010 and will be used to load freight and materials delivered from Labrador City.
Discussions with First Nations and Government
At the date of this report, negotiations are still continuing with the Quebec Innu towards the completion of Impacts benefit agreements although these have not yet been concluded. To date and pending the issue of permits, LIM has respected the barrier set up by the Innu Strategic Alliance on June 11, 2010 restricting normal access from the town of Schefferville to mining properties in Labrador as part of their campaign to protect their rights and other political issues. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is engaged in consultation with potentially affected First Nations with regard to LIM's various permits and this process is continuing. In addition, discussions are continuing with the Government of Quebec and with the Federal Government. Restriction of normal access to LIM's properties has impacted the development of LIM's projects. LIM hopes that the ongoing discussions with both the Quebec Innu and with Governments will result in satisfactory agreements whereby the barrier will be removed and LIM's projects can be operated in a positive way for the benefit of all.
Parys Mountain
Activities at Parys Mountain in the period have been limited, however the potential for the project to be developed with a joint venture partner remains and further efforts are being made to develop contacts and move forward.
Outlook
LIM expects the remaining permits and approvals required to be issued in the near future, and, assuming normal access to the properties can be achieved, LIM plans to undertake site construction of the mine and beneficiation facilities as soon as possible and hopes to achieve plant start-up before the seasonal shut down of operations at the end of November 2010. LIM is targeting full scale commercial production in April 2011 and plans production of 2 million tonnes of iron ore during that calendar year.
The Anglesey group has over £2 million in uncommitted cash and continues to review other potential mineral developments where it would be able to generate an opportunity to enhance shareholder value.
Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited (LIM)
LIM's Schefferville iron ore projects involve the development of twenty direct shipping iron ore deposits in western Labrador and north-eastern Quebec near Schefferville, Quebec. LIM's properties are part of the historic Schefferville area iron ore district where mining of adjacent deposits was previously carried out by the Iron Ore Company of Canada from 1954 to 1982. Labrador Iron Mines contemplates mining in four stages, the first phase of Stage 1 comprising the James and Redmond deposits, which are located in close proximity to existing infrastructure.
For further information, please see LIM's website at www.labradorironmines.ca.
Anglesey Mining plc
Anglesey Mining with its LSE main board listing is primarily focused on its 41% interest in LIM. In addition to any new projects that may be brought forward the company owns 100% of Parys Mountain in North Wales with an historical resource in excess of 7 million tonnes at over 9% combined copper, lead and zinc.
Contacts:Bill Hooley, Chief Executive +44 (0) 1492 541981
Ian Cuthbertson, Finance Director +44 (0) 1248 361333
Emily Fenton/Charlie Geller, Conduit PR +44 (0) 20 7429 6608 /
+44 (0) 7788 554035
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