Interim report January – June 2014
Significant events during the second quarter of 2014
- The annual general meeting was held on 22 May in Ludvika.
- The Land and Environment Court's judgement granting an environmental permit was finalised on 24 June.
- Financing totalling at least SEK 40 million was secured through subscription commitments and guarantees from Inlandsinnovation AB and Bengtssons Tidnings AB.
Second quarter, 1 April – 30 June 2014· Income amounted to SEK 0 million (0)
- Earnings after tax amounted to SEK -5.3 million (-4.4)
- Investments during the period April - June amounted to SEK 2.7 million (2.7)
- Earnings per share before dilution amounted to SEK -0.46 (-0.38)
- Earnings after tax amounted to SEK -11.1 million (-9.1)
- Investments during the period January - June amounted to SEK 5.9 million (7.5)
- Earnings per share before dilution amounted to SEK -0.96 (-0.79)
- Cash and cash equivalents on 30 June 2014 amounted to SEK 2.4 million (6.5)
Interim period, 1 January – 30 June 2014· Income amounted to SEK 0 million (0)
Significant events after the end of the period
- A supplementary drilling programme for Blötberget was started in early July
- The consulting firm IMC (International Mining Consultants) was hired for independent review of the feasibility study
Comments from the CEO
An eventful period
Development during the period was eventful, with finalisation of the Land and Environment Court's judgement and the pleasing decision from SGU to name the area Blötberget-Väsman-Håksberg an area of national interest for mineral extraction.
Now, all we are waiting for is positive results from the feasibility study before we can begin our mining work. We have commissioned the British mining consulting firm IMC Group Consulting Ltd to lead the final work and then, as independent consultant, certify the study according to the JORC standard. Work on the study is progressing largely according to plan with, among other things, a further increase in the quality of our geological database through a supplementary drilling programme in Blötberget.
The study is being financed through a directed issue of shares currently being conducted by the company, most of which is guaranteed by the state-owned company Inlandsinnovation as well as the Company's largest owner. In times like these, it is comforting to know that even the state – for the first time in nearly 60 years – is supporting new iron ore production. In September, there will be a rights issue, giving Company shareholders the opportunity to subscribe for shares at the same price (SEK 25) as the directed issue.
Quality wins over quantity
The results of the ongoing process tests are encouraging. They show that we will be able to produce ore products with an even higher ore content than we previously believed possible to achieve. This means that our products will be among the best on the market. This will likely enable us to establish ourselves as a future producer of high-quality iron ore. This is extremely important since the trend in the iron ore market clearly shows that concentrate with a high iron content and good quality is in demand. We can see this interest in our interactions with potential ore customers.
Generally speaking, the quality of the ore deliveries from the larger producers has declined in recent years. This is particularly true for ore concentrate from Brazil. In China, where steel mills are facing greater and greater demands for increased efficiency and reduced environmental impact, demand for high-quality ore products is on the rise. Steel mills in Europe are also concerned about the declining quality of ore deliveries as this negatively impacts their profitability.
In May, the Company hired CRU, one of the largest international research firms in the commodities sector, to compare Ludvika mines with some 30 different ongoing international mining projects. The results of the study were encouraging as the Ludvika mines were considered one of the best ongoing iron ore projects next to the projects of the big mining companies.
The rest of the year will for the most part be marked by completion of the feasibility study, organisational development and financing work for the planned construction start in Blötberget next year.
Christer Lindqvist, CEO Nordic Iron Ore
Operations
Significant events during the period
Raising of capital
During the second quarter, the Board decided to conduct a directed issue of shares as well as a rights issue. The Company received subscription commitments and guarantees for a total of SEK 40 million for the directed issue from the state-owned venture capital company Inlandsinnovation AB as well as Bengtssons Tidnings AB. The price for new shares is set to SEK 25 per share for both issues.
Mineral resources
Preparations for the supplementary drilling programme in Blötberget were completed during the period and a drilling contractor was procured. The programme, which comprises up to 7,000 metres of core drilling, aims to examine the area between the Hugget/Betsta mines and Kalv/Flygruvorna, and to upgrade parts of the mineral deposits in Hugget/Betsta from assumed mineral resources to indicated mineral resources. The Finnish company Oy Kati ab contracted by the Company began work in early July. The drilling programme is expected to be completed in September.
Process development
During the period, GTK in Finland continued the important process tests with raw ore from Blötberget. The preliminary results from these tests in bench scale confirm the ore's excellent enrichment properties and the huge potential to produce ore products of the highest quality. The mineralogical composition of the ore varies in different parts of the Blötberget mine as regards percentages of magnetite, hematite and apatite content. Supplementary bench scale tests have been performed to ensure the design of a maximally efficient enrichment process and to select the most suitable process equipment. The final stage of process development begins in the autumn and comprises a larger programme for the enrichment of raw ore in pilot scale. The aim of this is to ultimately verify the proposed process configuration in the ore processing plant.
Logistics
Project design work for the train terminal at Skeppmora, under the supervision of the Swedish Transport Administration, continued during the period and is expected to be completed during the third quarter. Procurement of a rail operator for the ore transports between the Skeppmora terminal and the Port of Oxelösund began during the period and evaluation of the nine submitted tenders is currently underway.
Permits
The judgement from the Land and Environment Court was finalised on 24 June 2014. As a result, the Company has all material permits, except for the municipal building permits, to restart mining operations at the mines in Blötberget and Håksberg.
The procedure for approving the detailed development plans for the industrial areas in Blötberget and Håksberg drawn up by Ludvika Municipality continues and is expected to be completed in late 2014.
Land allocation work in accordance with the Swedish Minerals Act for the land affected by the planned mining operations in Blötberget and Skeppmora is expected to be completed in connection with completion of the feasibility study.
Events after the reporting period
NIO has initiated a core drilling campaign in Blötberget. This comprises up to 7,000 metres of core drilling and will continue until September. The drilling campaign is intended to supplement the already significant geological database and raise the classification of parts of the mineral resources according to the 2012 JORC Code.
The drilling work is part of the final feasibility study for restart of operations in the Blötberget mine, which is expected to be completed by late 2014/early 2015.
Share and ownership structure
At the end of the period, the share capital amounted to SEK 1,993,110 divided between 11,492,738 shares, with a quota value of SEK 0.17 per share. The number of shareholders totalled 1,756.
Financial position
On the balance sheet date, the Group had a liquidity of SEK 2.4 million. The equity/assets ratio amounted to 53.84%. The Group's equity amounted to SEK 44.1 million, which corresponded to SEK 3.83 per share.
The Company is currently working to raise capital to finance completion of the final feasibility study of the Blötberget mine with associated ore processing plant. Upon completion of a positive study, decisions will be made regarding investments in an ore processing plant, mining equipment, etc., which will require another extensive injection of capital.
Investments
During the period January - April 2014, investments amounted to SEK 5,984,000, of which SEK 5,984,000 relates to prospecting resources and investigation work on the planned start of mining operations. The investigation work mainly relates to drilling work in Blötberget and the Väsman deposit, including analyses. Investments in equipment amounted to SEK 0.
Employees
On average, seven people were employed by the Company during the period.
Financial calendar
Interim report January – September 2013: 21 November 2014
Year-end report January – December 2014: February 2015
Risks and uncertainties
In addition to the risks associated with future global market prices for iron ore products that affect the profitability of the project, as well as the technical risks, the possibility of starting up operations depends on the requisite permits from authorities being obtained and the extensive capital requirements being met.
There have been no significant changes to alter this description.
Annual report and financial reports
The Company’s press releases and financial reports are distributed via Cisionwire and are available at www.nordicironore.se
Stockholm, 22 August 2014
Board of Nordic Iron Ore AB (publ), corporate identity number 556756-0940
Göran Ekdahl Jonas Bengtsson Sigrun Hjelmquist
Johnas Jansson Lars-Göran Ohlsson Christer Lindqvist
This report has not been reviewed by the auditors.
Technical source material has been reviewed by the Company’s independent qualified person, mining engineer Thomas Lindholm, GeoVista AB, Luleå. Lindholm is a Competent Person as defined in the internationally recognized JORC Code, based on his training and experience in prospecting, mining and assessment of mineral resources for iron, base metals and precious metals.
For further information, please contact:
Christer Lindqvist
Telephone: 070-591 0483
E-mail: christer.lindqvist@nordicironore.se
For further information: Christer Lindqvist, CEO 46 (0)240-88301
christer.lindqvist@nordicironore.se
Nordic Iron Ore Group is a mining company with the ambition to revive and develop the iron ore production of Ludvika Mines in Blötberget and Håksberg. The company also intends to expand its mineral resources, and upgrade them to ore reserves, primarily through exploration and other studies of the connecting Väsman field. For more information, see www.nordicironore.se.