Trading Statement - Labrador Iron reports resul...
Anglesey Mining plc LSE:AYM 30 June 2010
LIM reports fiscal 2010 year end financial results
Strong balance sheet with $48.3 million in cash
Anglesey Mining plc announces that its 41% owned associate company Labrador Iron
Mines Holdings Limited (TSX: LIM) has reported its results for the fiscal year
ended 31 March 2010. At 31 March 2010, LIM held $48.3 (£31.5) million in cash
and cash equivalents with no debt and is in sound financial condition. Current
liabilities, comprising accounts payable and accrued liabilities were $2.1
(£1.4) million.
LIM reported net income of $1.16 (£0.7) million or $0.03 per share compared to a
loss of $0.35 (£0.2) million or $0.01 per share for the prior year. The net
income resulted primarily from a future income tax recovery of $3.9 (£2.5)
million due to a reduction in the Ontario tax rate that took effect in November
2009. This was largely offset by corporate, management and administration
expenses of $2.4 (£1.6) million.
To 31 March 2010 approximately $30 (£20) million had been expended on the
capital cost of the Schefferville Area Project, including exploration.
Schefferville Area Project Update
Rail Spur Line Completion
The first major construction activity has been the laying of the planned 4.5 km
railway spur line from the Sept-Iles - Schefferville main line to LIM's
processing site at Silver Yards. Installation of the new track commenced in May
2010 and has now been completed including ballast and tamping work. The new rail
spur line will be used to move to site the main components of the processing
plant and the accommodation camp. In due course the spur line will be further
extended to facilitate future operations. LIM has submitted the required
information to support an operating certificate for the use of the railroad and
is awaiting the approval for its operation.
Beneficiation Plant and Camp
All of the items of the beneficiation plant have been ordered and manufacturing
of the components has been largely completed. These items are now being brought
to railheads at Sept-Iles and at Labrador City awaiting delivery to site. Some
pre-assembly is taking place in Labrador City. Subject to receipt of outstanding
permits and licences, final assembly on site should take place this summer to
enable the beneficiation facilities to be commissioned during the fall of 2010.
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.
Environmental and Permitting
Numerous environmental permits have been received over recent weeks including
the Mining Leases for the first stage James and Redmond deposits and Surface Use
Leases over the Silver Yards beneficiation area, the camp, Redmond roads and
pipeline. Final approvals from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans have been
received, including the real time water monitoring program, and programs
encompassing surface water quality sampling have been authorized and completed.
The Environmental Protection Plan for Mine Construction and Operation, which was
the final condition of the environmental assessment release, has been approved
by the Minister of Environment and Conservation. The permits for the 2010
exploration drilling season for Quebec and Labrador have also been received.
LIM has submitted all required information in support of the Certificate of
Approval for Mine Construction and Operation and for the Certificate of Approval
for the Operation of the rail spur and is awaiting issue of these Certificates
by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The receipt of these permits has
taken longer than anticipated, which has resulted in a delay in LIM's planned
construction and production timeline.
Negotiations with Quebec Innu
LIM has recently been in negotiations towards an Impact Benefit Agreement with
the Innu Community of Matimekush-Lac John (based in Schefferville, Quebec), one
of four First Nations who claim Aboriginal rights in the general Schefferville
area. In May 2010 LIM proposed a comprehensive package of jobs, contracts,
social benefits, infrastructure grants and revenue sharing, which addressed all
of the demands made by Matimekush. This proposal has not been accepted. The Innu
Matimekush are currently in an election period, with the elections for Chief and
Band Council to be held July 7, 2010.
On 11 June 2010, the "Innu Strategic Alliance" (comprised of five Innu
communities living in northeastern Quebec, including the communities of
Matimekush and Uashat), as part of a campaign to have their ancestral rights in
the territory called Nitassinan (which includes parts of northeastern Quebec and
western Labrador) recognized by Government, set up a barricade at the edge of
the town of Schefferville, in Quebec, to block access from the town to mining
properties in the Schefferville area.
In March 2008 LIM entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Innu
Community of Matimekush-Lac John, wherein the parties agreed to negotiate an
Impact Benefit Agreement and LIM agreed to use its best efforts to employ or
contract with individuals and businesses of Matimekush. LIM has been in
discussions and consultations with the Chief, Council and Elders of Matimekush
continuously thereafter and up to date. Over the past four years LIM has worked
well with the Quebec Innu and has employed many Innu members in its exploration
and environmental activities, as well as contracting with Matimekush and Uashat
businesses.
In July 2008, LIM and Innu Nation of Labrador signed an Impact Benefit Agreement
with respect to the development of LIM's iron ore project in western Labrador.
The Labrador Innu, as represented by the Innu Nation are the only aboriginal
party with a land claim that has been accepted by the Government of Newfoundland
and Labrador.
The Federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs has proposed creating a
forum for talks between the Innu residing both in Quebec and Newfoundland and
Labrador regarding their overlapping claims. The Minister indicated that Canada
is willing to provide funding to both Innu parties to enter into exploratory
talks and has appointed a special representative to act as facilitator in hopes
of resolving these overlapping land claim issues. Canada is currently
negotiating land and resource rights with the Innu of Labrador.
LIM respects the legitimate aspirations of all First Nations but believes that
negotiations on impact benefit agreements for mining projects should not be side
tracked by larger land claim considerations, where LIM has no say or ability to
provide solutions. LIM has indicated that it is ready to continue negotiations
with the Quebec Innu and is currently in discussions with representatives of the
Matimekush and Uashat and with the relevant governments.
Outlook
Upon receipt of all remaining necessary permits, licenses and approvals, LIM is
planning to commence site construction of the mine and beneficiation facilities
during the summer of 2010 and hopes to achieve start up and initial production
before the seasonal shut down of operations at the end of November 2010. LIM
plans to commence full scale production in April 2011 and expects production of
2 million tonnes of iron ore during that calendar year.
Labrador Iron Mines Holdings Limited (LIM)
LIM's Schefferville area project involves 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. LIM plans to start up production in the fall of 2010, subject to
timely receipt of remaining permits.
For further information, please see 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.
For further information contact:
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