Pacific Coal Resources Ltd. announces fourth quarter and full year 2011 financial results and provides Q1 2012 operational and corporate update
TORONTO, April 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Pacific Coal Resources Ltd. (TSXV: PAK) has filed today its audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011, together with its Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the corresponding period. All financial figures contained herein are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted. These documents will be posted on the Company's website at www.pacificcoal.ca and under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The Company also provided an operational and corporate update on its first quarter 2012 production at its La Caypa, Cerro Largo, and C.I. Jam mines.
Luis Carvajales, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "2011 was an important year in the development of Pacific Coal. In addition to acquiring the Cerro Largo mine and Barranquilla Port, we achieved over 96% of our projected production totals from the Company's La Caypa and Cerro Largo mines. We remain focused in 2012 on expanding our margins and continuing to reduce our strip ratio at Cerro Largo, and we believe that we have laid a solid foundation to significantly ramp up thermal coal production at La Caypa and Cerro Largo, and increase coke production at C.I. Jam."
Financial and Operating Summary
A summary of the financial and operating results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2011 is as follows:
Fourth Quarter | Year ended December 31, 2011 |
Period from incorporation on May 4, 2010 to December 31, 2010 |
||
(000's except per share and operating data) | 2011 | 2010 | ||
Operational | ||||
Tonnes of coal produced | 356,541 | 272,704 | 1,426,750 | 767,381 |
Average stripping ratio - operations | 7.79:1 | 7.90:1 | 7.48:1 | 8.73:1 |
Tonnes of coal sold (1) | 477,127 | 270,304 | 1,694,516 | 848,746 |
Average realized price per tonne sold | $ 101.12 | 98.52 | $ 98.62 | 91.01 |
Operating margin per tonne sold (2) | 4.03 | 15.39 | 7.38 | 8.69 |
Financial | ||||
Revenues (3) | $ 48,813 | $ 26,629 | $ 167,690 | $ 77,246 |
Gross margin | (618) | 3,574 | 5,753 | 6,024 |
Net (loss) earnings attributed to shareholders | (7,236) | (34) | (53,616) | 2,279 |
Basic and fully diluted (loss) earnings per share | (0.02) | (0.01) | (0.18) | 0.03 |
Total cash | 11,062 | 5,000 | 11,062 | 5,000 |
Total assets | 369,562 | 259,289 | 369,562 | 259,289 |
Total long-term debt, including current portion | 35,942 | 13,820 | 35,942 | 13,820 |
- Includes tonnes of coal purchased from third parties for sale
- See "Additional Financial Measures"
- Includes 2,320 tonnes of coke sold in the fourth quarter of 2011
Fourth Quarter Highlights
- Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 increased by 5% over the third quarter of 2011 to $48.8 million credited to the sale of 0.5 million tonnes of coal sold at an average realized price of $101.12.
- Pacific Coal produced 356,541 tonnes of coal in the fourth quarter of 2012. Production in the fourth quarter of 2012 was approximately 12% less than in the third quarter of 2011 as the Company focused its effort and resources on development work at the south pit at La Caypa. Production was also negatively affected by delays caused by extreme weather conditions in September 2011 which resulted in the collapse of a bridge located near La Caypa which subsequently out of use for 45 days. The Company repaired the bridge and reconstruction was completed in November 2011 at a cost of $0.3 million, which saved the Company approximately $1.5 million in the fourth quarter by avoiding potential loss of production with estimated savings of $3.3 million in each of the first two quarters of 2012 had it used alternate trucking routes while waiting for the government to repair the bridge.
Full Year 2011 Highlights
- Pacific Coal produced approximately 1.5 million (1) tonnes of thermal coal during 2011, reaching over 96% of its production guidance for the year despite severe weather related delays during the fourth quarter. The Company expects 2012 coal production to increase more than 40% to approximately 2.2 million tonnes.
- Revenues for 2011 were $167.7 million, more than double the previous year, as a result of increased production and sustained strong coal prices during 2011.
- The Company completed the refurbishment of the coker infrastructure and 160 ovens at C.I. Jam during the third quarter of 2011, allowing the Company to produce 7,226 tonnes of coke in the fourth quarter of 2011. Coke production in 2012 is expected to reach approximately 72,000 tonnes.
- During the third quarter, the Company entered into a sales purchase agreement with LCC Group, an established energy services company based in Ireland, for the supply of 700,000 tonnes per annum, commencing upon completion of deliveries under their existing contract in 2014 and extending the relationship between the two companies to 2019. Management has estimated the value of this agreement at approximately $350 million based on projected forward prices for coal.
- During 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of the Cerro Largo mine, adding 11.6 million tonnes of coal resources with potential for additional resources through greenfield exploration.
- The Company has undertaken exploration at both the La Caypa and Cerro Largo mines and updated NI 43-101 technical reports for the open pit and underground resources at both mines are expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2012. The Company has also commenced geophysical studies at La Tigra, where exploration is progressing and is expected to continue through the third quarter of 2012.
- In March 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of a 96.4% interest in a port concession in Barranquilla, Colombia. Engineering, design and development work is ongoing with operations expected to commence in 2012.
- In the second quarter of 2011, the Company took possession of a leased truck fleet of 100 trucks serving both La Caypa and Cerro Largo which contributed to an 11% decrease in transportation costs per tonne sold from Q3 to Q4.
- Includes 0.1 million tonnes produced in the first quarter of 2011 at Cerro Largo prior to the March 2011 acquisition.
Q1 2012 Operational and Corporate Update
Luis Carvajales, Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Coal, commented: "We made good progress with regard to the Company's production during the first quarter of 2012, producing 317,070 tonnes of thermal coal at our La Caypa and Cerro Largo mines. We have also made important progress with the development work both at La Caypa's south pit and on Cerro Largo's integrated mine plan. The Company remains committed to expanding its margins and reducing its costs on a per tonne basis."
Q1 2012 Production at La Caypa
Production of Coal (metric tonnes) |
Waste (bcm) |
Strip Ratio | |
Actual Pit | 185,175 | 1,297,248 | 7.01:1 |
South Pit | - | 321,424 | NA |
Total | 185,175 | 1,618,672 | 8.75:1 |
During the first quarter of 2012, the Company produced 185,175 tonnes at La Caypa, completing 87% of its planned production, despite a two week blockade as a consequence of an illegal strike by employees of a mine subcontractor (see Pacific Coal press releases dated January 30, 2012 and February 6, 2012). Stripping ratios at La Caypa now reflect waste volumes moved from the south pit.
Q1 2012 Production at Cerro Largo - La Divisa
Production of Coal (metric tonnes) |
Waste (bcm) |
Strip Ratio | |
Total | 131,895 | 2,135,468 | 16.19:1 |
In the first quarter of 2012, the Company made substantial progress at Cerro Largo in both production and reduction of strip ratio. Production was up over 50% from the previous quarter, improving to 131,895 tonnes from 87,297 tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2011, while the strip ratio was reduced to 16.19:1 from 17.72:1 in the fourth quarter of 2011.
While coal production at Cerro Largo was 77% of planned production, consistent improvement and performance, coupled with the commissioning of additional equipment by the operator, have placed the Company on track to achieving its 800,000 tonne production target by the end of 2012.
The Company experienced some logistical disruption at Cerro Largo associated with the collapse of a bridge on the route on December 26, 2011, which forced an additional 200 kilometers detour until February 21, 2012. However, the cost impact was mitigated and transport ensured by the utilization of the Company's own truck fleet (a cost assessment will be provided with the Q1 financials). Additionally, Pacific Coal joined efforts with other coal producers, with the coordination of Transportes Sanchez Polo and the Ministry of Transport, in providing a temporary solution to the matter. The Company has also made a minor financial contribution to help fund a study that will report on the structural condition of the bridges on coal routes between La Caypa and Santa Marta and between Cerro Largo and Santa Marta.
Coal sales during the first quarter of 2012 from La Caypa, Cerro Largo and third party production totaled 252,526 tonnes.
CI Jam Operations in Q1 2012
Metallurgical Coal | Q1 2012 Tonnes | Q4 2011 Tonnes |
Third Party Purchases | 14,645 | 23,400 |
Company Production | 1,123 | 1,618 |
Coke Operation | Q1 2012 Tonnes | Q4 2011 Tonnes |
Metallurgical Coke Produced | 10,547 | 7,266 |
Metallurgical Coke Sales | 4,796 | 2,361 |
Discussions have been undertaken with the operator, Geoformaciones, regarding actual processing cost reduction and a tariff revision for April 2012 onwards.
Corporate Update
Exploration continues at all of the Company's properties with the objective of updating its resources and reserves through the completion of National Instrument 43-101 compliant technical reports. Drilling programs at La Caypa, La Divisa and C.I. Jam were at 90% completion as of March 31, 2012. However, such drilling plans have been extended and increased in coordination with SRK, aiming to produce additional information necessary for the Caypa underground project and the North of Caño Canime area at Cerro Largo. The technical reports are now expected to be completed by end of the second quarter of 2012 and 43-101 reports are expected to be issued by Q3 2012.
The Company continues to advance its Colloidal Asphaltite in Water ("CAW") and Colloidal Coal in Water ("CCW") projects. As mentioned in the Pacific Coal news release dated January 24, 2012, CAW combustion trials were conducted during the second week of December 2011, producing positive results. A visitor day was held at the Babcock & Wilcox facilities to receive a full briefing on trial results on March 28, 2012. Two potential CAW/CCW Caribbean-based customers participated in the visit and conducted preliminary discussions on further greater scale trials at their facilities. Combustion trials on CCW are scheduled for June 2012. A fact sheet on the properties, uses and commercialization opportunities for asphaltite is available on the Company's website at www.pacificcoal.ca.
Underground Mine
Conceptual design, tender issuance and bid evaluation for the underground mine project at La Caypa with the support of SRK continue to progress according to plan. This process is expected to be concluded by the end of Q2 2012 and operations to commence in 2013.
La Tigra Exploration
Geophysical, metalotelluric, and gravimetric studies are in progress and results are now expected for end April 2012. Such results will provide further precise information which will enable the assembly of a full exploration program involving the Company's rigs (five in total) which is expected to be undertaken from April through August 2012.
Barranquilla Port
Land movement and preparation for early coal/coke yards at the port has commenced. Engineering and design work is ongoing with Nathan and Associates. Development work continues with the goal of having early coke export operations by the third quarter of 2012. Q2 2012 activities will be focused on concluding land preparation work, securing a deck barge to be used as a provisional berth and setting up the proper operational conditions for the early operation.
NCIB Update
As at April 13, 2012, approximately 11.1 million shares had been purchased for cancellation under the normal course issuer bid, previously announced on July 4, 2011. The Company currently has 322.1 million shares outstanding.
Conference Call
Management will hold a conference call on Wednesday, April 25, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) (9:00 am Bogota time) to discuss the fourth quarter and 2011 results.
Call-in details are as follows:
Toronto & International: | (647) 427-7450 |
North America: | (888) 231-8191 |
Conference ID: | 74388584 |
An encore of this conference call will be available by dialing 416-849-0833 or 1-855-859-2056 with the above conference ID number until May 9, 2012.
About Pacific Coal Resources Ltd.
Pacific Coal Resources Ltd. is a Canadian-based mining company focused on coal, coking coal, asphalt and asphaltite exploration, development and production from producing, development-stage and exploration-stage properties in Colombia. The Company has acquired or entered into agreements to acquire various interests in several operating coal mines and projects, representing a substantive coal and asphaltite exploration and production area throughout Colombia. Pacific Coal is committed to implementing its exploration and development strategy with a comprehensive environment, safety and community program, meeting international standards of best practice.
Forward Looking Information:
This news release contains "forward-looking information", which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the future financial or operating performance of the Company and its projects. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Pacific Coal to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and Pacific Coal disclaim, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
For further information:
Greg DiTomaso
Investor Relations
(647) 427-0208
Share this article