MINARA UPDATE ENDS. 25 February 2004

Transcription

1 MINARA RESOURCES LIMITED 25 February 24 ASX CODE: MRE MINARA UPDATE The Minara Resources Limited (ASX Code: MRE) briefing presentation released late January 24 has been updated for use in various investor presentations. The revised presentation is attached. Operations have now resumed at the Murrin Murrin nickel/cobalt plant in Western Australia after the interruption caused by the local flooding last weekend.. ENDS For further information contact: John Quayle, Company Secretary Ph: (8) Tony Dawe, Ward Holt Corporate Communication Ph: (8)

2 Peter Johnston - CEO & Managing Director February/March 24 History Founded in 1994, previously known as Anaconda Nickel Ltd Debt restructure and recapitalisation in 22/23 Name changed in Dec 3 to Minara Resources Ltd Minara will be the world s 1th largest nickel producer at Murrin Murrin Murrin Murrin is a 6/4 Joint Venture between Minara and Glencore International AG At capacity Murrin Murrin will produce 4, TPA Nickel, 2,5 TPA Cobalt before any expansion 2

3 Murrin Murrin Location 125E o 12 E o Wyndham 2S o 115 E o North West Shelf Gasfield Karratha Port Hedland Newman Calcrete Mining 25 S o 3 S o Carnarvon Perth Meekatharra Mt Margaret Geraldton Leonora Jimberlana Ravensthorpe Wiluna Murrin Murrin Kalgoorlie Murrin Murrin East Murrin Murrin North Deposits Plant Area and Tailings Disposal Reference Karratha Mt Korong Albany Major Town or City Other ANL Projects Esperance Scale 25 5 km Murrin Murrin South Deposit Road Railroad Goldfields Gas Pipe Line 3 Murrin Murrin Facility UTILITIES REFINERY ORE LEACH 4

4 Financials Net Profit of $57.5m in December half Working capital loan facility repaid 14 months ahead of schedule Operating cash surplus of $16m in December half Clean Balance Sheet following recapitalisation in 23 No debt at end January Cash at bank $42m at end January Fluor arbitration upside 5 Gross Profit Performance at operating level 1 75 Half Year Profit breakdown 31-Dec-21 3-Jun Dec-22 3-Jun Dec-23 3 week statutory maintenance shutdown 3 week statutory maintenance shutdown $A million (25) 6

5 Fluor Arbitration Phase 1 Phase 1 award to MMO of $155m. Fluor counterclaim $1m net award to MMO $55m Secured creditors received 9% of Phase 1 payments, MMO retained 1% Fluor appeal unsuccessful Phase 2 MMO claims exceed $35m MMO retains 1% of any successful outcome Arbitration decision mid year 7 Production 9, Nickel Metal* Tonnes per quarter 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 3 week statutory maintenance shutdown 3 week statutory maintenance shutdown 1, Q4 2 Q2 21 Q4 21 Q2 22 Q4 22 Q2 23 Q4 23 * 1% - Minara share 6% 8

6 Organisational Achievements last 2 years New management and structure at Murrin Murrin Grade profile significantly improved Infrastructure deficiencies corrected Targeted capital program Technology challenges progressively eliminated Strong governance implemented Legal legacies dealt with 9 Operational Challenges Safety refocus on behaviours True operating costs still emerging expect C1 of US$2. 2.4/lb at full production Complete capital program Continuous operations statutory shutdowns only Focus on planned maintenance v. breakdown Commence de-bottlenecking program Continue culture change program 1

7 Minara s Murrin Murrin 1th largest nickel producer in the world World Refined Nickel Production by Producer Production ('t) Murrin Murrin at full capacity 5 Norilsk Nickel Inco (+Tokyo Ni) Falconbridge BHP Billiton WMC OMG Eramet Jinchuan Sumitomo Murrin Murrin JV Cubaniquel Pamco Sherritt Amplats Larco Lomo de Niquel PT Aneka Tambang Source: AME; Macquarie Research 11 Minara s Murrin Murrin 5th largest Cobalt producer in the world Production ('t) World Refined Cobalt Production by Producer Murrin Murrin at full capacity Spare capacity Significant by-product credits OMG Norilsk Chambishi Falconbridge Murrin Murrin JV Mopani(Glencore) Sherritt BHP Billiton CTT Morocco Jinchuan China Tocatins WMC US DLA Stocks sale Sources: AME; Metal Bulletin, Minara 12

8 The Future - Growth Fluor Daniel determination mid year Continuous debottlenecking to 42,5mt Ore reserves - no grade decline for 5 yrs - 4 years life on current reserves Additional third party feed options Exploration for sulphides 5 th autoclave to 5,mt 13 Minara tenement holdings New sulphide nickel exploration project 14

9 Resources / Reserves Murrin Murrin Resource: 327mt@.99% Ni and.63% Co (measured) Reserve 23: 1.7% Ni and.85% Co (1.3%Ni for next 5 yrs then declines to 1.15% over following 1 yrs) Third Party feed WMC residue 4%Ni 1,tpa 15 Exploration tenements MT MARGARET 16

10 Exploration projects High grade Ni sulphides target in Marshall Pool area (1% owned) Disseminated nickel sulphides in Mt Margaret (1% owned) Ni/Cu/pge sulphides in Weld Range area (75% interest in JV with SoG) High grade Ni laterites at Murrin East (1% owned) Gold prospectivity 17 Assets World scale plant 4 year mine life Large tenement holding exploration upside Strong management team experienced in Ni Intellectual property in dry laterites - proven technology Capable of treating range of inputs Low political risk WA 18

11 Key Summary $71.5m EBITDA in December half No debt - $42m cash in bank January 4 Fluor Daniel arbitration promising Focus on Murrin Murrin - performance improving Increased throughput Improved reliability 4,tpa rate by mid year Strong Ni/Co markets in prospect next 2/3 years Dividend policy under consideration 19 Share Price (post close of takeover offer) MRE share price $4. $3.5 $3. $2.5 $2. $1.5 $1. $.5 $. 6-Mar 4-Apr 8-May 6-Jun 8-Jul 6-Aug 4-Sep 3-Oct 3-Nov 2-Dec 5-Jan 4-Feb 2

12 Appendices Nickel prices and stocks history Nickel supply/demand Nickel value chain Nickel demand by industry Cobalt price history Minara profit analysis Debt recapitalisation and restructure history 21 Nickel price and stocks history Nickel price US$/mt Stocks mt 2, 18, 16, 14, 12, 1, 8, 6, LME Stocks Producer Stks Nickel Price 3, 25, 2, 15, 1, 4, 2, 5, Jul-84 Sep-86 Nov-88 Jan-91 Mar-93 May-95 Jul-97 Sep-99 Nov-1 Jan-4 22

13 Nickel supply/demand Stainless Steel production % change % % % % 24F % 25F % Nickel consumption % change 4.1% -2.% 5.9% 7.8% 6.6% 2.4% Nickel production World market balance Norilsk/Other stockpile sales Overall balance implied Source: Macquarie Research 12 December Nickel Value Chain Ore Mining Smelt/Leach Refining First Use 3 Process routes : Majority are Integrated Mines/Smelter/Refinery Operators Concentrate Smelting 64% Stainless Steel Ore mined Pressure Acid Leach Ferro nickel smelters Refining 36% Other Uses 24

14 Nickel Demand by Industry Tonnes 1,6 1,4 1,2 1, Year Stainless Steel Alloy Steels Alloys&Superalloys Foundry Plating Other Sources: Billiton, JB Were & Sons 25 Cobalt price history Cobalt price US$/lb US$/lb Jul-84 Sep-86 Nov-88 Jan-91 Mar-93 May-95 Jul-97 Sep-99 Nov-1 Jan-4 26

15 Cobalt Demand by Industry 45, 4, 35, 3, tonnes 25, 2, 15, 1, 5, Year Alloys Tools Magnets Chemicals Batteries Other Sources: CDI; AME; Metal Bulletin; Minara 27 Minara Profit Analysis Half Year Profit breakdown $A million (2) 31-Dec-21 3-Jun Dec-22 3-Jun Dec-23 Reported net profit Other financial profit items Gross Profit at operating level (4) (6) 28

16 Debt Restructuring & Recapitalisation Anaconda defaulted on A$775m debt in March 22 Agreement reached with secured creditors to extinguish debt September 22 Rights Issue for A$323m to raise funds to settle outstanding debt February 23 Share consolidation December 23 Current shareholdings Glencore 46.6% MatlinPatterson 35.9% Minara debt free January 24 29