Champion Announces Preliminary Feasibility Study Results Indicating $3.3 Billion NPV and 30.9% IRR for West and East Deposits...
February 07 2013 - 6:00AM
Marketwired Canada
Champion Iron Mines Limited (TSX:CHM)(OTCQX:CPMNF)(FRANKFURT:P02) ("Champion",
or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results from its Preliminary
Feasibility Study ("PFS") for the West and East deposits of the Consolidated
Fire Lake North ("CFLN") Project that was performed by BBA Inc. ("BBA") of
Montreal, Quebec. The study is based on an initial 20 year mine life and
produced a Net Present Value ("NPV") of $3.295 billion using an 8% discount
rate. The financial model shows an Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 30.9% and
a capital payback period of 3.4 years. The financial results included in this
press release are expressed in Canadian dollars and pre-tax (unless otherwise
noted).
Summary of Preliminary Feasibility Study Results
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NPV at 8% discount rate (Pre-tax) $ 3,295 million
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IRR (Pre-tax) 30.9%
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Payback Period at 8% discount rate 3.4 years
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Pre-production Capital Cost (excluding rail cost) $ 1,394 million
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- Rail capital contribution $ 213 million
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Average Operating Cost (loaded at Port of Sept-Iles 44.05 per tonne
including rail capital and debt service costs) $ of concentrate
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FOB Concentrate Selling Price based on CFR China
benchmark price at 62 % FeT adjusted for higher
CFLN Fe grade @ $5.00 per percent and $20.00/t
freight cost
Year 1-5 $ 115.00 per tonne
Year 6-20 $ 110.00 per tonne
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Mine Life 19.6 years
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Concentrate Grade (percent contained Fe) 66%
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Process Recovery (Iron) 82%
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Weight Recovery 39.9%
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Average Annual Concentrate Production 9.3 M Tonnes
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In-pit Optimized Measured and Indicated Resources
West and East Deposits, CFLN Project
(COG of 15 %, 31.5% Total Iron) 691.3 M Tonnes
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Engineered Optimized In-Pit Mineable Reserves
West and East Deposits, CFLN Project
(COG of 15 %, 32.4% Total Iron) 464.6 M Tonnes
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Projected Concentrator Plant Start-up and
Commissioning Q1 2016
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Projected Start of Nominal Production Q2 2016
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Champion's President and CEO, Tom Larsen commented, "Completion of this
Preliminary Feasibility Study is the result of our team's dedicated efforts over
the past couple of years and we believe the results confirm the excellent
project at our Consolidated Fire Lake North property. The delivery of the
Preliminary Feasibility Study is another major milestone for Champion. Our
progress in securing port access and material handling capacity at Sept-Iles,
advanced negotiations for electric power to the project and permits to start the
mine construction camp has resulted in material de-risking of the Fire Lake
North Project." Mr. Larsen added, "The recent increase in the estimated mineral
resources at Consolidated Fire Lake North to over 2.6 billion tonnes including
the Oil Can deposits creates strong support for a potential increase in annual
concentrate production to 20 million tonnes with a mine life greater than 20
years. The release of this study on CFLN and what we believe to be a potential
world-class mine will accelerate our discussions with potential strategic
partners."
Consolidated Fire Lake North Project Mineral Reserves
The iron process recovery of 82% yields an average production of 9.3 million
tonnes per year ("Mtpa") of iron concentrate grading 66% total Iron ("FeT")
during a 19.6 years mine life. The current optimized engineered pits yield
reserves of 464.6 M tonnes grading 32.37% FeT at a 15% FeT cut-off grade with a
weight recovery of 39.9%. The first five years of production will average 9.8
Mtpa of concentrate.
Table 1 underneath summarizes the reserves and stripping estimates for both the
West and East pit.
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West Pit East Pit
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Consolidated Fe % Fe %
Fire Lake North Tonnage Total Weight Tonnage Total Weight
Table of Reserves (Mt) % Recovery (Mt) % Recovery
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Proven Reserves 20.7 36.2 45.7 3.0 34.2 40.2
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Probable Reserves 268.1 33.4 42.2 172.8 30.2 35.6
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Total 288.8 33.6 42.4 175.8 30.3 35.6
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Overburden 100.8 19.4
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Waste Rock 616.8 490.7
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Inferred Resources (waste) 29.9 15.9
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Total of Waste Stripping 747.6 526.0
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Stripping Ratio (Waste
Striping/Ore) 2.6 3.0
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Life of Mine 12.6 years 7.1 years
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Both Pits Combined
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Consolidated Fe %
Fire Lake North Tonnage Total Weight
Table of Reserves (Mt) % Recovery
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Proven Reserves 23.7 36.0 45.0
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Probable Reserves 440.9 32.2 39.6
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Total 464.6 32.4 39.9
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Overburden 120.2
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Waste Rock 1,107.6
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Inferred Resources (waste) 45.8
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Total of Waste Stripping 1,273.5
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Stripping Ratio (Waste
Striping/Ore) 2.7
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Life of Mine 19.6 years
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The engineered pits recover 67% of the current In-pit Optimized Measured and
Indicated Resources totalling 691.3 Mt grading 31.5% FeT. The engineered pits
limit the inclusion of In-pit Inferred resources to 45.8 Mt which are
categorized as waste.
Additional drilling of the 480 Mt grading 30.4% FeT current Inferred Resources
within the limits and proximal to the Optimized Pit Shells could provide
additional Measured and Indicated resources required to double production
capacity and support a second concentrator line that would produce an estimated
20 Mt of concentrate annually for a mine life of 20 years.
Financial Analysis
Compared to the result of the Preliminary Economic Assessment (see press release
dated November 21st, 2011) the following main differences in the capital costs
of the project are as follows:
-- Rail costs increased from $275.4 million to $1.334 billion, reflecting
the estimate for a rail system from the CFLN Project to Point Noire at
the Port of Sept-Iles as contained in the 2012 Feasibility Study
prepared for Champion by Rail Cantech. However, $200 million of upfront
costs in this rail scenario are attributed to Champion and $1.134
billion is financed via construction financing and repaid from project
cash flows over a 12 year period.
-- Concentrator and site infrastructure cost was increased by $145.9
million to support an increased concentrate production capacity to 10
Mtpa and a dual voltage substation.
-- Pointe Noire port facilities cost was increased by $109.8 million after
consideration to a more suitable storage location which could be
expanded at minimal cost.
-- Environmental cost increased by $83.4 million due to a cost
underestimation in the PEA.
-- All mining equipment is capitalized ($55.4 million) compared to the PEA
where the mining equipment was leased.
The addition of these significant cost components clarify the project scope with
regards to the project schedule and estimated budget. The financial model
illustrates the robust economics of the West and East iron ore deposits on their
own merit. With the adjacent resources within the CFLN project boundaries, the
mid and long term growth profile of this project are exceptional (refer to Press
Release dated January 9th, 2013).
The $US exchange rate is assumed to be at par value with the Canadian dollar.
Table 1 provides the Net Present Values calculated at various discounted cash
flow rates for the Base Case production scenario of 10 Mtpa of iron concentrate.
The financial analysis in the PFS study used a sale price of $115 per tonne of
iron concentrate ($/tonne is FOB Sept-Iles) for the first 5 years, and $110 per
tonne for years 6 to 20. A sale price of $115 per tonne was used for the Updated
PEA.
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Table 1: CFLN West and East Deposits Preliminary Feasibility Results (Pre-
Tax)
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Internal Rate of Return (IRR) (8% Discount Rate) 30.9%
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Undiscounted Cash Flow $ 9.0 billion
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Net Present Value @ 5% Discounted Cash Flow $ 4.7 billion
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Net Present Value @ 8% Discounted Cash Flow $ 3.3 billion
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Net Present Value @ 10% Discounted Cash Flow $ 2.6 billion
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Payback Period (8% Discount Rate) 3.4 years
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Receipt of the general Certificate of Authorization from the Quebec Government
is expected in Q1 2014 which will be followed by the construction and start-up.
Pre-construction activities are scheduled to take place in 2013. The
commissioning period is planned for Q1 2016 and feasibility study production
levels are planned for mid-2016 in line with rail transportation availability.
The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment study is planned to be submitted
to the MDDEFP and CEAA within Q1 2013.
The PFS study has an accuracy of +15/-10%, which is considered industry standard
for capital and operating cost estimates in a feasibility study. The only
component that is not at a feasibility study precision level is the multi-user
rail infrastructure component. Champion has signed a contract with CN Railway
Company ("CN") whereby CN would present a feasibility study on this multi-user
concept by May 31st, 2013.
In order to complete the PFS in a timely manner, the Company included the
metrics from its Rail Cantech feasibility study completed in August 2012. This
study is based on a 310 km railway designed for an initial capacity of 20 Mtpa
that is located on the east side of the Ste. Marguerite River, starting at the
CFLN project loading station and ending in the Pointe Noire area of the
Sept-Iles port.
Therefore, the PFS includes an estimated cost of $9.47/tonne of concentrate for
rail debt service in addition to 4.80 $/tonne for operations, totalling
$14.27/tonne based on 9.3 Mtpa mine-life average production of iron concentrate.
This is a higher cost than the initial rates proposed by the CN multi-user rail
transportation solution. Nonetheless, it shows that the project economics are
strong enough to support the construction of a new 310 km railway on its own.
Excluding the rail transportation capital cost component, the total capital
expenditures during the pre-production period were estimated at $1.39 billion of
which $227.3 million is allocated to the Pointe Noire concentrate stockyard
facilities, as itemized in Table 2. The cost to develop the CFLN concentrator
and site facilities near Fermont totals $1.167 billion, which equates to a
capital intensity of $125/tonne for the 9.3 million tonnes of annualized
production of iron ore concentrate.
This PFS study takes into consideration the usage of the Sept-Iles multi-user
Port facility project that is currently in construction and planned for
completion by Q1 of 2014. The Port Authority has communicated in December 2012
that the project is on schedule and on budget.
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Table 2: Pre-production Capital Costs
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C$ million
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Mine equipment and pre-stripping 133.8
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Site infrastructure 192.0
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Concentrator including load out facilities 410.7
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Environmental and Tailings Management 85.0
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Other Pre-production Costs (rail rolling stock lease) 13.4
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Port Facilities: Car dumper, stacker/reclaimer, stockyard 158.3
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Railway (Owner's cost for 310 km distance including
turnaround loop and sidings) 200.0
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Sub Total 1,193.2
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Indirect Costs (including Owner's Costs) 300.2
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Contingency (10%) 114.6
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Grand Total (100% of the project) 1,607.8
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Operating costs are outlined in Table 3:
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Table 3: Operating Costs ($/Tonne of Concentrate)
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Average Average
Cost Parameters 20 years years 1 to 5
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Mining 18.89 12.76
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Concentrator crushing and processing 4.38 3.89
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Site Infrastructure Maintenance, & General
Administration 4.05 3.66
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Environmental Tailings and Management 0.13 0.12
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Rail Transport including lease for rolling stock 4.80 5.42
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Port facilities 2.34 2.14
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Total Direct Operating Cost 34.58 27.99
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Railway capital repayment ($1,133.6 million) 6.22 7.40
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Railway interest payment ($592.6 million) 3.25 7.29
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Total operating cost 44.05 42.68
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Optimization of the mine-life production schedule resulted in a strip ratio of
1.56:1 (waste/ore) for the first three years of production, 2.02:1 for the first
five years of operation; and a 2.74:1 strip ratio for the current 20 year
mine-life.
As in the 2012 updated PEA study, the mill flowsheet of this PFS is based on a
standard three stage spiral iron beneficiation process. The run-of-mine iron ore
is crushed in a 60" by 89" gyratory crusher and then ground in a 38' by 21.5'
autogenous grinding mill ("AG Mill"). The AG mill diameter and associated
horsepower was increased for the PFS in order to optimize the production rate
throughput and enhance the economic metrics in comparison to the 2012 PEA study.
The AG mill will have two AC variable drive motors totalling 21,450 HP. Larger
mills of up to 42' are currently in operation in the mining industry.
The PFS operating costs were reduced by 16% in comparison to the 2012 PEA
despite a significant cost increase related to the construction of a new railway
and associated debt service of $1,133.6 million. Mining costs were reduced by
$5.34/tonne of concentrate primarily associated with a reduction in strip ratio
($4.19/tonne) combined with the removal of the mine equipment lease cost
($1.15/tonne). Costs at the Pointe Noire Port facilities were reduced by
$1.38/tonne of concentrate following the signing of an agreement with the Port
of Sept-Iles Authority. The concentrator, environmental, and general and
administration costs were slightly reduced by $0.14/tonne, $0.16/tonne and
$0.35/tonne respectively, following a detailed analysis of each cost component
by BBA.
Manpower levels are expected to be 508 employees in Year 1 and peak at 688 in
Year 15 when the mine reaches maximum production.
There is potential for the CFLN Project to become a significant low cost iron
ore producer with a new concentrator equipped with today's advanced mineral
processing technologies. The Company continues to analyze lower cost
opportunities.
Results from the PFS indicate that the CFLN project is a very technically
feasible and economically robust project with a Base Case scenario including one
production line yielding 9-10 Mtpa of concentrate from 464.6 M tonnes of in-pit
reserves processed over a 20 year mine-life. The PFS study is based on a
stand-alone operation at CFLN and does not consider the current Mineral
Resources identified at other iron deposits located on the CFLN Property (see
Press Release dated Jan. 9th, 2013). The outstanding mid and long term growth
profiles for the Company are evident from mineral resources identified within
the CFLN Property and surrounding Fermont Holdings.
Investor and Analyst Conference Call
Champion will host a conference call today at 8:30 am EST (February 7th, 2013)
to discuss the Preliminary Feasibility Study results and address any questions
from analysts and shareholders.
The dial-in numbers for the conference call are as follows:
Local / International: (647) 426-1845
North American Toll Free: 1-866-782-8903
The technical information in this news release was prepared by Mr. Jean-Luc
Chouinard, ing., M.Sc., VP Project Development for Champion Iron Mines Limited
and approved by Dr. Andre Allaire, ing., M.Eng., Ph.D. and Mr. Patrice Live,
ing., from BBA Inc., and all individuals are Qualified Persons under NI 43-101
standards. Mr. Allaire and Mr. Live are both independent of the issuer.
About Champion Iron Mines Limited
Champion is an iron exploration and development company with offices in Montreal
and Toronto, and is focused on developing its significant iron resources in the
provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland & Labrador. Champion holds a 100% interest
in the Fermont Iron Holdings and a 44% interest in the Attikamagen Iron Project
located in both Quebec and Labrador. The Attikamagen Project is under option to
Labec Century Iron Ore Inc. ("Labec"), a subsidiary of Century Iron Mines
Corporation, under which Labec can earn up to a 60% interest.
Champion's Fermont Iron Holdings, including its flagship Consolidated Fire Lake
North Project, are located in Canada's major iron ore producing district, in
close proximity to five producing iron mines, existing transportation and power
infrastructure. Consolidated Fire Lake North is located immediately north of
ArcelorMittal's operating Fire Lake Mine and 60 km south of Cliffs Natural
Resources Inc.'s Bloom Lake Mine in northeastern Quebec. Champion's management
and advisory board includes mining and exploration professionals with the mine
development and operations experience to build, commission, and operate the
future Consolidated Fire Lake North mine.
For additional information on Champion, please visit our website at
www.championironmines.com.
This news release includes certain information that may constitute
"forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation.
Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements about
planned operations at the Company's projects, including its Consolidated Fire
Lake North Project. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a
number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are
subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may
cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including the risks
identified in Champion's annual information forms, management discussion and
analysis and other securities regulatory filings by Champion on SEDAR (including
under the heading "Risk Factors" therein). There can be no assurance that such
information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
information. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is
given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of
Champion's management and information available to management as at the date
hereof. Champion disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as required by law. This press release has been
prepared by Champion Iron Mines Limited and no regulatory authority has approved
or disapproved the information contained herein.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Champion Iron Mines Limited
Thomas G. Larsen
President and CEO
(416) 866-2200
Champion Iron Mines Limited
Jorge Estepa
Vice President
(416) 866-2200
www.championironmines.com
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