AGM Statement
Anglesey Mining plc
6 October 2008 LSE:AYM
Chairman's statement at 2008 Annual General Meeting
At the Annual Meeting of Anglesey Mining plc, held in London on 3 October,
Chairman John Kearney reported to shareholders that "the period since our last
AGM has been one of very significant developments for Anglesey Mining plc. Our
iron ore project in Labrador, Canada was successfully floated on the Toronto
Stock Exchange and is moving towards first production in 2009."
"At the Parys Mountain copper/zinc/lead project in Wales, negotiations continue
with Western Metals of Australia which we hope will result in agreement being
reached to move that project forward."
"Meanwhile iron ore prices remain very positive and while base metals,
especially zinc, have weakened recently, Anglesey believes that the outlook for
iron ore prices, and indeed zinc, copper and lead, is encouraging, all driven by
Chinese demand which shows no sign of abating", said Mr Kearney.
Labrador Iron Mines Holdings (TSX-LIR)
Anglesey Mining holds 50% of Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited ("LIMH") which
was floated on the Toronto Stock Exchange in December 2007 raising $C53 million
before expenses. At 31 August 2008 LIMH had cash of approximately $C45 million,
which is held in short term deposits with Schedule 1 Canadian Chartered Banks.
LIMH is pursuing a direct shipping iron ore project in north-western Labrador
where it is engaged in the redevelopment of the Schefferville iron ore mines,
previously operated by the Iron Ore Company of Canada from 1954 to 1982. During
2008 LIMH has been actively advancing the project with the objective of
achieving initial production of iron ore in 2009.
Resource Definition Drilling
A programme of definition drilling is being undertaken on the four deposits
which comprise the first development phase of the project. Over 50 reverse
circulation holes have been drilled. In addition a programme of diamond drilling
is being carried out on the outlying Sawyer Lake Property where seven holes have
been drilled.
The results of the drilling will be utilized in the preparation of updated
compliant resource estimates, which will be incorporated in a new 43-101
technical report expected to be completed by year end. The historical resources
in LIMH's eight deposits were previously estimated at 93 million tons, with in-
situ grades of 56%-58% Fe, based on previous work undertaken by the Iron Ore
Company of Canada prior to 1983. These historical resource estimates are not r
NI 43-101 compliant.
Test Mining and Bulk Sampling
To provide representative samples for metallurgical testing, process design and
product marketing, bulk samples totalling 6,500 tonnes were mined from each of
the James, Redmond, Knob and Houston deposits by local contractors. The samples
were crushed and screened to produce stockpiles of representative lump and
sinter fine ores. It is estimated that approximately 25% of the stockpiles is
lump ore with 75% sinter fine ore. The samples will be transported by rail to
the Port of Sept Iles, where they will be onward shipped to various steel plants
and potential customers, with a portion utilized for metallurgical testing.
Transportation
Detailed studies were carried out on the ore transportation plans. Further
technical assessment reports were completed on the railroad. Negotiations have
been carried out with the rail companies and freight rates for 2008 have been
negotiated. Ten railcars, each with 100 tons capacity, have been leased to
transport the bulk samples to port. Stevedoring rates have also been negotiated
with the port and stevedoring companies for storage and ship-loading.
Permitting and Environment
The Project Registration Document for the first phase development of the James
and Redmond properties was submitted to the Government of Newfoundland and
Labrador at the end of April. The phase one development incorporates the mining
plan for the first four years of mining operations. The Ministry of Environment
and Conservation completed its review in August and the Minister directed the
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EIS Technical
Committee has been established by the Minister and the draft terms of reference
are being finalised. It is anticipated that the submission of the Environmental
Impact Statement will be made prior to the end of 2008. Authorization and
release of the project by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is
anticipated during the first quarter of 2009.
Community Consultations
In July 2008 an Impact Benefit Agreement was signed with the Innu Nation of
Labrador. The IBA is a life of mine agreement that establishes the processes and
sharing of benefits that will ensure an ongoing positive relationship between
LIM and the Innu Nation.
Consultations and negotiations are also continuing with other First Nations in
the Schefferville and Sept Iles areas. LIM has signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with each of the First Nations in the Schefferville area
reflecting the agreement of the parties with respect to community support for
the development of the project and the commitment to negotiate more detailed co-
operation agreements.
Plans for remainder of 2008 and 2009
The ongoing definition drilling program will continue until November. It is
planned to drill up to a total of 10,000 meters in the entire 2008 program. The
iron ore bulk samples will be transported by rail to the Port of Sept Iles
utilizing LIMH's ten rail cars and shipped to potential customers for testing. A
Resource and Engineering Study is being undertaken with SNC Lavalin, supported
by Geostat and Lakefield Research which will incorporate the updated resources
estimates. This is expected to be completed in early 2009.
Subject to the receipt of permits, first production of direct shipping iron ore
is targeted for the second half of 2009. It is planned to mine 500,000 tonnes of
iron ore in 2009, and this will increase to 1.5 million tonnes in 2010 and to
3.0 million tonnes in 2011/12 as production ramps up. The start-up date is
dependent on the timely release of the project by the Government of Newfoundland
and Labrador and the issue of appropriate permits.
The iron ore market is robust and is forecast to remain strong. The group
believes that it is well placed to take advantage of this strength as it brings
the Labrador iron project into production in 2009.
Parys Mountain (Zinc - Copper - Lead Project)
At the Parys Mountain zinc/copper/lead property in Wales, the second phase White
Rock diamond drilling programme was carried out in early 2008. The first hole
was a short, large diameter hole for metallurgical testing purpose and three
deeper holes were drilled into the White Rock Zone to transfer some of the
inferred resource to the indicated category and to provide additional
information on the extent and tenor of the resource.
The results of the 2008 White Rock drilling programme, which were very
encouraging, were previously reported as follows:
Hole # From To Width m Cu% Pb% Zn% Ag ppm Au ppm
WD 10 21.2 53.8 32.6 0.91 5.44 9.67 77.0 1.04
Includes 21.2 30.2 9.0 1.27 8.14 15.29 130.0 2.68
WD 11 119 145.7 26.7 0.50 2.59 5.02 36.6 0.92
Includes 119 132.7 13.7 0.78 3.98 7.49 44.3 1.00
Includes 127.3 132.7 5.4 0.66 5.51 10.46 68.5 1.97
WD12 50.9 55.0 4.1 0.76 1.76 3.87 99 0.26
and 58.2 183.7 125.5 0.10 0.74 1.52 16 0.25
Includes 126.2 153.7 27.5 0.18 1.64 2.81 21 0.27
WD13 157.3 188.4 31.2 0.20 1.42 2.32 12 0.19
Includes 169.5 185.0 15.5 0.33 2.26 3.45 15 0.20
These results should be read with caution as the drill-hole intersections were
not normal to the dip of the White Rock Zone and the indicated widths in the
table above will be larger than the true zone width. This is particularly true
for WD 10 which was drilled vertically down the zone and was intended to collect
samples for metallurgical testing purposes.
Total Parys Mountain Mineral Resources
White Rock resources - JORC compliant
Category Zone Mt Cu% Pb% Zn% Ag Au
g/t g/t
Indicated White Rock 1.75 0.36 2.22 4.27 39.00 0.43
Inferred White Rock 0.40 0.32 1.63 3.54 45.00 0.38
'Historic resources' - not JORC compliant
Category Zone Mt Cu% Pb% Zn% Ag Au
g/t g/t
Indicated Engine 1.41 1.99 3.42 6.65 99.00 0.79
Inferred Engine 2.83 3.20 1.93 4.54 22.00 0.12
Carreg y 1.37 2.07 2.64 4.79 12.00 0.15
Doll
Site Activities
Site activities at Parys Mountain during the past year included the construction
of a fenced enclosure large enough to contain the new decline site, plant site,
administration buildings and maintenance area.
Approval of the detailed plans for the decline box cut excavation and related
works, as required by the conditions of the company's existing and valid
planning permission granted in 1988, was received from the Isle of Anglesey
County Council, the relevant mineral planning authority.
The new decline is intended to provide access between the proposed processing
plant and the existing 300 metre deep production-sized shaft. From the shaft
the decline will spiral down allowing access first to the newly discovered White
Rock area and later to the deeper higher grade Engine Zone and other resource
zones.
The freehold of several acres of land adjacent to the Morris Shaft was purchased
to facilitate White Rock mining operations; the company already held mining
rights over the area. In July 2008 the company was granted a consent to
discharge water from its Morris Shaft, an essential step in the re-starting of
mining operations. The planned commencement of decline construction has not occurred as had been
anticipated. The price of zinc, which would provide the majority of revenue from
the White Rock area, dropped from $4,400 per tonne during the last quarter of
2006 and 170 cents in the summer of 2007 to its current level of $1,650 per
tonne. This reduction in the zinc price has had a significant affect on the
projected revenues from the White Rock area. The effect on the projected returns
from the property as a whole is much less, as other metals, principally copper
and lead, are more important contributors to revenue outside the White Rock.
The property as a whole, including the deeper Engine Zone, has approximately
double the metal grade and four times the tonnage of the White Rock area.
Metal Prices
The outlook for base metals is changeable, the price of zinc having fallen
significantly since its 2007 peak thereby affecting the group's own plans for
the next stage of Parys Mountain.
Anglesey remains optimistic on the medium to long term outlook for zinc. There
are no new large zinc mines waiting to come into production anywhere in the
world. Some existing mines are coming towards the end of their lives and
recently a number of zinc mines have announced closures or layoffs.
On the demand side, China's zinc consumption growth continues in double digits.
The recent weakness in zinc prices was partly caused by heavy selling by hedge
funds seeking liquidity pushing metal prices down on the London Metal Exchange.
The London Metal Exchange is a liquid market where one can always sell.
We believe the price decline has been over done. The average cost of zinc
production worldwide is estimated in the range of $1,500 - $1,800 per tonne,
below which all mines will lose money, a situation which cannot continue for
long. Smelter treatment charges and ocean freight charges have both come down
recently to about half their peak, which is a sign of a shortage of supply.
In contrast, copper prices have performed better than zinc over the past year,
and more than half of the value of the Parys Mountain deposits is in copper,
generally at deeper levels than the zinc.
Anglesey believes that the outlook for zinc prices, and indeed copper and lead
is optimistic, both driven by Chinese demand which shows no sign of abating.
Update on Western Metals discussions
An offer to purchase and develop the Parys Mountain properties was received from
Western Metals Limited of Perth Western Australia in April 2008. Since that time
Western has been carrying out due diligence and negotiations on a definitive
agreement between the companies have continued.
Anglesey has been advised that Western Metals does not wish to proceed on the
basis of the April Term Sheet. Both parties have expressed an interest to reach
alternative arrangements and discussions on this matter are continuing. Anglesey
has agreed to extend the due diligence period but as at the date of this meeting
no formal agreement has been signed. Shareholder approval will be required for
this transaction.
About Anglesey Mining
Anglesey Mining plc is a UK based company listed on the London Stock Exchange
(LSE:AYM) with 100% ownership of the Parys Mountain polymetallic base metal
project in North Wales, and a 50% interest in Labrador Iron Mines Holdings
Limited (TSX:LIR) which is developing the Schefferville direct shipping iron
ore project in Labrador, Canada.
For further information:
John Kearney, Chairman + (1) 647 728 4105
Bill Hooley, Chief Executive +(44) 1492 541981
Ian Cuthbertson, Finance Director +(44) 1248 361333
mail@angleseymining.co.uk www.angleseymining.co.uk