gefunden bei finanznachriten.de wkn541434 von heute,weiß aber nicht was die mit dem wert zu tun hat! Centrex seeks JV partner for South Australian iron ore project Source: MELBOURNE, Feb 5 AAP Published: Thursday February 5 2004, 6:45 PM
Adelaide explorer Centrex Metals Ltd said interest in buying into its Eyre Peninsula iron ore project had been "unbelievably strong" since former partner Portman Ltd quit the venture last month.
Centrex managing director and major shareholder Graham Chrisp said the company was in talks with a number Australian and international parties keen to cash in on the booming iron ore market.
Another option being considered was a listing on the Australian Stock Exchange, Mr Chrisp said.
"Over the past 12 months in particular interest in iron ore has become unbelievably strong," he said.
"The price of iron ore has risen and the Australian dollar has come down compared to six of seven years ago, so the economics certainly are attractive and the other thing is the advent of new geological equipment makes it easier to identify mineralisation."
Exploration in the Lower Eyre Peninsula began in 1997, as the company looked to develop a nearby coal deposit.
But as iron ore prices boomed the focus moved away from coal and related steel and energy projects to concentrate on mining and shipping of hematite ore.
Current indications are for about 200 million tonnes of hematite iron ore which can be mined and shipped straight out - and another 700 million tones of magnetite iron ore which requires processing.
Mr Chrisp said exploration to shore up reserves was expected to wind up within months, enabling the company to complete a feasibility study of the project by the end of the year.
And, with under-utilised rail, road and port infrastructure already in place to service the local grain industry, Centrex could have a mine operating by the end of 2005, Mr Chrisp said.
The cost of the first stage of the project has been estimated at
$10 million.
A long term plan involving the development of the coal deposit, an iron ore processing plant and steel-making operation could cost between $600-$700 million, Mr Chrisp said.
In the meantime the company has been talking to potential partners about the first stage of mining and shipping the hematite ore.
"Once we complete the feasibility study we'll be able to enter contracts to raise more money if needed but at this stage I fully expect we won't need to," Mr Chrisp said.
Last month Australia's iron ore giants BHP Billiton Ltd, Rio Tinto Ltd, and Portman Ltd secured higher than expected increases for their 2004 fine iron ore contracts after tight supply swung sales talks.
The companies reported contract price increases averaging about 18.6 per cent.
By Jane Williams ps.villeicht kann mihr da einer hlfen
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