TORONTO, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. ("Company"), one of the world's largest publicly traded, pure molybdenum producers, today announced that capital expenditures in 2010 are expected to be $298 million, comprised of $89 million in sustaining capital expenditures and $209 million for its 75% share of capital expenditures required for the Endako Mine expansion project. (All dollar amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated.)
"We have increased our sustaining capital expenditures for our producing operations in 2010 as we proceed with maintenance and upgrades that had been postponed to conserve cash in 2009 and as we begin purchasing new equipment required for the extended 16-year mine life recently announced for the Thompson Creek Mine," said Kevin Loughrey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
"The purchase of new trucks, shovels and drills will amount to almost one-half of the estimated $89 million in sustaining capital expenditures in 2010," he added. "We are also increasing our spending on important reclamation and environmental measures in 2010."
The Company expects its sustaining capital expenditures in 2009 will total approximately $32 million.
The Endako Mine expansion project includes the construction of a new, modern Endako mill, which will replace the existing 45-year-old mill and raise ore-processing capacity from the existing 31,000 tons per day to 55,000 tons per day. The new mill facility will eliminate the need for significant capital expenditures to upgrade and refurbish the existing Endako mill.
The Endako Mine expansion project was originally announced March 13, 2008, after the completion of a feasibility study dated December 14, 2007, which estimated that project capital expenditures would be C$373.6 million (including a contingency of C$45 million), with Thompson Creek's 75% share of the total at C$280 million. The project was halted in December 2008 due to economic uncertainty, although the Company proceeded with the purchase and storage of equipment when orders could not be cancelled without the payment of onerous penalties. Thompson Creek announced on August 6, 2009 that the Company's Board of Directors approved the resumption of the project (subject to approval by the joint venture partner).
"The delay gave us time to reassess the project's design and we have made a number of improvements which we believe will ensure the efficiency and reliability of the milling process and the planned significant reduction in operating costs," said Mr. Loughrey.
"Among the significant changes are an enhanced and more flexible pebble crusher circuit to ensure a finer grind and an enhanced automation system - both of which will contribute to improved recovery of molybdenum from the ore."
"In addition, all processing equipment except for the roaster will now be located in a larger new mill building. The original plan was to utilize the existing mill building and some existing equipment for the final stages of the flotation process in the production of molybdenum concentrate. The new mill building and equipment will be more reliable and more efficient, with this new design facilitating the exclusive dedication of the existing mill building to producing concentrate without disruption until the new mill is operational. The old mill will be mothballed once the new mill is fully operational and available in the event of possible further expansion."
"While the new design has raised the total capital cost of the Endako modernization and expansion project to C$498 million (including a contingency of C$60 million), with Thompson Creek's 75% share of the total at C$374 million, the project remains economically attractive and will, with a greater certainty, generate the expected significant reduction in per-pound cash processing costs. As a result, the Company's Board of Directors has approved the revised capital cost estimate and we are seeking the approval of our joint venture partner, Sojitz Corporation, in order to proceed with the project," Mr. Loughrey stated.
Assuming an exchange rate of US$1 = C$1.05, approximately $81 million (of which $61 million is Thompson Creek's share) has been spent on the project from inception through October 31, 2009, with an estimated $15 million to be spent on the project for the remainder of the year (of which Thompson Creek's share is $11 million). About $279 million (of which $209 million is Thompson Creek's share) is expected to be spent in 2010 and the remaining $99 million (of which $74 million is Thompson Creek's share) is scheduled to be spent in 2011. Commercial production of molybdenum concentrate from the new mill is expected late in the second half of 2011.
As previously announced on March 13, 2008, the Endako expansion project includes the installation of a new grinding circuit consisting of semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) and ball mills and a modern flotation circuit. The result will be a more cost-efficient mill with fewer mechanical items and with the ability to handle a variety of ore more easily and achieve greater recoveries than the existing mill.
The capital expenditures will also include the acquisition of more trucks and other equipment to supply the mill with a higher volume of ore. The current mining plan provides for a widening of the area being mined as well as for the creation of a large single pit through the mining of ore contained in the walls separating the three existing pits.
Annual molybdenum production as a result of the expansion is expected to be approximately 15 to 16 million pounds, of which Thompson Creek's share would be about 11 to 12 million pounds. The Company's 75% share of 2009 production is expected to be in a range of 7 to 8 million pounds but in the absence of the modernization and expansion project, annual production in future years can be expected to gradually diminish due to declining grades.
About Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.
Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. is one of the largest publicly traded, pure molybdenum producers in the world. The Company owns the Thompson Creek open-pit molybdenum mine and mill in Idaho, a metallurgical roasting facility in Langeloth, Pennsylvania and a 75% share of the Endako open-pit mine, mill and roasting facility in northern British Columbia. Thompson Creek is evaluating the Mount Emmons Deposit, a high-grade underground molybdenum deposit near Crested Butte, Colorado. Thompson Creek has an option to acquire up to 75% of the Mount Emmons Deposit. The Company is continuing to pursue permitting of the Davidson Deposit, a high-grade underground molybdenum deposit near Smithers, B.C. The Company has approximately 750 employees. Its principal executive office is in Denver, Colorado, and it also has an office in Toronto, Ontario. More information is available at http://www.thompsoncreekmetals.com/.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements ----------------------------------------------------
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and amount of estimated future production. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Thompson Creek and/or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include the future price of molybdenum, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the realization of mineral reserve estimates and those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Thompson Creek's current annual information form which is available on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com/ and is incorporated in its Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission which is available at http://www.sec.gov/. Although Thompson Creek has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Thompson Creek does not undertake to update any such forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Readers should refer to Thompson Creek's current annual information form which is available on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com/ and is incorporated in its Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC which is available at http://www.sec.gov/ and subsequent continuous disclosure documents available at http://www.sedar.com/ and http://www.sec.gov/ for further information on mineral reserves and mineral resources, which is subject to the qualifications and notes set forth therein.
CONTACT: Wayne Cheveldayoff, Director of Investor Relations, Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc., Tel: (416) 860-1438, Toll free: 1-800-827-0992, wcheveldayoff@tcrk.com; Dan Symons, Renmark Financial Communications Inc., Tel.: (514) 939-3989, dsymons@renmarkfinancial.com
Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc.
CONTACT: Wayne Cheveldayoff, Director of Investor Relations, Thompson
Creek Metals Company Inc., Tel: (416) 860-1438, Toll free: 1-800-827-0992,
wcheveldayoff@tcrk.com; Dan Symons, Renmark Financial Communications Inc.,
Tel.: (514) 939-3989, dsymons@renmarkfinancial.com
