Palladon Ventures Ltd. ("Palladon" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:
PLL) (FRANKFURT: PV-1) is pleased to announce that it has received
the NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for the
Comstock and Mountain Lion pits ("CML") and the adjacent stockpiles
from SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc. ("SRK"). The PEA does not address
Palladon's other significant historic resources at the same Iron
Mountain Project location.
Highlights:
On August 7, 2009, the Company announced its NI 43-101 Compliant
Resource estimate for the CML pits and stockpiles. The indicated
mineral resource estimate, as shown in Table 1, totals 40.35
million short tons at a grade of 45.32% Fe (Iron). The PEA
addresses the technical and economic merits of a development option
for CML and the stockpiles. Note that with reference to National
Instrument 43-101, mineral resources that are not mineral reserves
do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Table 1: CML and Stockpiles Resource Statement as of August 1, 2009
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Area Classification Mt Fe% SiO2% Al2O3% CaO% MgO% P%
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CML Indicated 31.35 48.60 10.27 2.70 3.77 1.89 0.239
Stockpiles Indicated 9.00 33.88 28.34 5.74 6.27 3.86 0.277
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Total Indicated 40.35 45.32 14.30 3.38 4.33 2.33 0.248
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The Company is pleased to announce that the project's robust
economics at the scoping study level justify moving forward with a
feasibility study, which should be compete by the end of April
2010. The full PEA report has been filed and is accessible on
SEDAR, as well as on the company's website,
www.palladonventures.com. Leah Mach, Neal Rigby and Jeff Woods, all
qualified persons under NI 43-101, endorsed the report.
The PEA is based on a production target of one million metric
tons of direct reduced iron ("DRI") per year. No pre-stripping is
necessary for either CML or the stockpiles. As discussed further
below, Palladon will continue to study other product options and
production rates.
The 40.35 million short tons of indicated resource translate
into a fifteen year mine life, during which 37.5 million short tons
at 43.3% Fe are mined, and 14.4 million metric tonnes of DRI are
produced and sold at a modeled selling price of $378/metric tonne,
as follows.
Production Summary: Short Metric
Tons - '000 Tonnes - '000
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Mineable Resource 37,507 34,026
DRI Produced 15,893 14,416
Projected Financial Results: Per short ton Per metric
Mineable tonne
US$000s Resource DRI Produced
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Gross Revenue $5,449,287 $145.29 $378.00
Freight, Marketing & Royalty (738,070) (19.68) (51.20)
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Net Revenue 4,711,217 125.61 326.80
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Mining (119,228) (3.18) (8.27)
Mill (1,836,275) (48.96) (127.38)
G&A (119,216) (3.18) (8.27)
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Operating Costs (2,074,719) (55.32) (143.92)
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Operating Margin 2,636,498 70.29 182.89
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Mine Equipment (21,043) (0.56) (1.46)
Plant Equipment and Construction (670,742) (17.88) (46.53)
Owner Pre-Production Costs (13,150) (0.35) (0.91)
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Total Capital Costs (704,935) (18.79) (48.90)
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Pre-Tax Cash Flow $1,931,563 $51.50 $133.99
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Cash Flow NPV at 8% $763,089
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IRR 24%
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Sensitivity:
Project sensitivities denoting Life of Mine NPV @ 8% are as
follows (US$ in thousands):
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Parameter -10% -5% Base +5% +10%
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Price 446,512 604,800 763,089 921,377 1,079,666
Operating Cost 885,268 824,178 763,089 701,999 640,910
Capital Cost 838,300 800,694 763,089 725,483 687,878
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Capital Costs:
- Projected capital costs of $705 million include total
contingency costs of $118.1 million. Capital and contingency costs
are summarized as follows.
Capital Costs ($ in thousands)
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Initial Sustaining Total
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Mining Equipment $ 10,324 $ 6,510 $ 16,834
Concentrator Equipment 47,476 3,122 50,598
DRI Facility 450,000 31,500 481,500
Infrastructure 24,745 - 24,745
Owner/Mine Closure Costs 13,150 - 13,150
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545,695 41,132 586,827
Contingency 109,399 8,709 118,108
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Total Capital Costs $655,094 $ 49,841 $704,935
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Market for AIU(i):
During 2007 U.S. demand for Alternate Iron Units ("AIU"(i)) was
8.7Mst (million short tons). Only 2% of this demand was met by
domestic supply. DRI was 2.8Mst of the imported supply. ((i)Note:
The category "Alternate Iron Units" is most commonly comprised of
pig iron, direct-reduced iron (DRI) and iron nugget.)
Within 1,200 miles of Palladon's project location there are
eight end users who purchase roughly 1.1Mst of AIU per year. In
North America, there are 29 end users that use over 4.8Mst of AIU
per year. Currently, the majority of this AIU requirement is met
with either DRI or imported pig iron.
AIU market studies conducted for Palladon by Hatch Management
Consulting ("Hatch") indicate that U.S. domestic mini mill demand
could support the sale of up to 1Mstpa of AIU (DRI or nuggets) as a
supplement to the charge mix. The scrap-short Asian market could
also be a good source of demand for AIU. So estimated total market
demand appears sufficient to support the annual 1Mtpa DRI
production scope considered in this PEA report. SRK evaluated both
nuggets and DRI, and both options are still being considered. DRI
was used for the PEA because DRI is a more established product with
more detailed information available. However Midrex's new ITmk3®
nugget technology may have advantages in certain markets,
particularly the Asian export market, due to ease of shipment
compared to DRI.
Palladon CEO John Cutler stated:
"The PEA demonstrates a very attractive project, both in terms
of technical feasibility and economic value. This brownfield
expansion is supported by the existence of substantial
infrastructure, including power to the site, roads and a fourteen
mile rail spur line. Significant community support also exists at
all levels - city, county and state. The company is working to
bring additional historic resources into compliance, which will
further increase the potential for this project.
In its efforts to maximize shareholder value, Palladon continues
to consider all options as to final product and appropriate
production rates. For instance, a concentrate plant is required at
the front end of an AIU plant, and concentrate production could be
initiated prior to completion of the AIU plant, so the Company
would evaluate any possibility to profitably ship concentrate.
These options will be examined further as we continue toward
completion of the feasibility study. Discussions with potential
strategic and financial partners may also influence our production
plans.
We are proud of the progress that we have made to quantify the
potential for the Iron Mountain Project. We especially want to
thank SRK for their extraordinary efforts to produce the PEA. A
tremendous amount of coordination, planning, research and analysis
went into generating such a detailed document.
Palladon expects to raise a minimum of US$5 million by October
15, 2009 in order to extend the Luxor debt to December 31, 2010.
Completion of this funding will provide working capital, as well as
funding for the bankable feasibility study that SRK expects to
complete by late April 2010.
Finally, we look forward to our annual shareholder meeting,
which has been scheduled for Monday, November 16 in Salt Lake
City."
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
John W. Cutler, President and Chief Executive Officer
About Palladon
Palladon Ventures Ltd. is a junior resource company focused on
advancing the Iron Mountain Project, an iron ore mine located west
of Cedar City, Utah.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this release are forward-looking
statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding:
(1) the Company's expectation to raise a minimum of US$5 million by
October 15 to extend the Luxor debt, which will also provide
working capital and feasibility funding through the end of 2010;
(2) the Company's belief that SRK is expected to complete a
bankable feasibility study for the project by late April 2010; (3)
the Company's expectation that bringing additional historic
resources into compliance will further increase the potential for
this project; (4) the Company's belief that the interim $5-8
million funding will close in the coming weeks. Forward-looking
statements consist of statements that are not purely historical,
including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or
intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance
or developments to differ materially from those contained in the
statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events
anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if
they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them.
These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views
and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions
which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and
uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements,
including: (1) a downturn in general economic conditions in North
America and internationally, (2) the inherent uncertainties and
speculative nature associated with mineral exploration and
production, (3) a decreased demand for minerals, (4) any number of
events or causes which may delay or cease exploration and
development of the Company's property interests, such as
environmental liabilities, weather, mechanical failures, safety
concerns and labor problems; (5) the risk that the Company does not
execute its business plan, (6) inability to retain key employees,
(7) inability to finance operations and growth, (8) other factors
beyond the Company's control and (9) the risk that the Company will
not be able to raise funds due to Luxor Capital Group. These
forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news
release and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update
the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the
forward-looking statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
Contacts: Palladon Ventures Ltd. John W. Cutler President &
CEO 801.521.5252 801.521.5454 (FAX) info@palladonventures.com
www.palladonventures.com