23.04.2007 Announces plans to start mining in Chita by 2011-2012
Norilsk Nickel published the resources audit for its polymetallic Bystrinskoye deposit in Chita, which saw a total of 348.8mn tons of ore, containing copper at 0.69% grade and also gold, silver, and iron.
The company plans to build an open pit mine with an annual capacity of 10mn tons of ore by 2011-2012. During 2007-2011, Norilsk Nickel plans to spend over $600mn on construction of a railroad link between the mine and the Trans-Siberian railway. The government is to contribute the remaining $1.4bn. No guidelines were given for capex requirements for the processing plant; we estimate those to be around $400mn. Such a mine may produce about 60,000 tons of copper annually from 2012-2013.
Bystrinskoye contains 2.4mn tons of copper and numerous by-products JORC resources Ore mn tons Grade Metal content Copper % Gold g/t Silver g/t Iron % Copper 000 tons Gold 000oz Silver 000oz Iron 000 tons Measured & Indicated 293.7 0.74% 0.85 4.97 23.7% 2,187 8,028 46,954 69,624 Inferred 55.1 0.37% 0.50 6.12 12.3% 203 892 10,848 6,797 Total 348.8 0.69% 0.80 5.15 21.9% 2,391 8,920 57,802 76,421
Source: Company data
Norilsk Nickel is also to spend $90mn on exploration over the next five years, which may further increase reserves at the deposit, which (at the mine's currently planned capacity) should last over 30 years.
We view the news as very positive: the company apparently has realistic plans for organic growth as opposed to maintaining flat output. We reiterate our Buy recommendation on Norilsk Nickel with an end-2007 fair value of $270.
Quelle: Aton
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