21 november 2012 chairman’s address and ceo presentation ... · chairman’s address and ceo...
TRANSCRIPT
STOCK EXCHANGE ANNOUNCEMENT
21 November 2012
www.bannermanresources.com
BANNERMAN RESOURCES LIMITED ABN 34 113 017 128
Corporate Office Level 1 ■ Suite 18 ■ 513 Hay Street ■ Subiaco Western Australia 6008 Post PO Box 1973 ■ Subiaco Western Australia 6904
T +61 8 9381 1436 F +61 8 9381 1068
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CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS AND CEO PRESENTATION
Perth, Australia – Bannerman Resources Limited (ASX: BMN, TSX: BAN, NSX: BMN) ("Bannerman" or the "Company") attaches the following documents to be delivered at today’s Annual General Meeting:
1. Chairman’s Address; and 2. Chief Executive Officer’s Presentation.
For further information please contact: Len Jubber
Chief Executive Officer Perth, Western Australia Tel: +61 (0)8 9381 1436
Tim Haughan
Investor Relations Manager Perth, Western Australia Tel: +61 (0)8 9381 1436 [email protected]
Spyros Karellas
Investor Relations Toronto, Ontario, Canada Tel: +1 416 800 8921 [email protected]
About Bannerman - Bannerman Resources Limited is an emerging exploration and development company with interests in two properties in Namibia, a southern African country considered to be a premier uranium mining jurisdiction. Bannerman’s principal asset is its 80%-owned Etango Project situated southwest of Rio Tinto’s Rössing uranium mine and to the west of Paladin Energy’s Langer-Heinrich mine. Etango is one of the world’s largest undeveloped uranium deposits. Bannerman is focused on the development of a large open pit uranium operation at Etango. More information is available on Bannerman’s website at www.bannermanresources.com.
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www.bannermanresources.com
BANNERMAN RESOURCES LIMITED ABN 34 113 017 128
Corporate Office Level 1 ■ Suite 18 ■ 513 Hay Street ■ Subiaco Western Australia 6008 Post PO Box 1973 ■ Subiaco Western Australia 6904
T +61 8 9381 1436 F +61 8 9381 1068
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CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS
As noted in my letter to shareholders, today is my last day as Chairman of Bannerman.
I joined the Bannerman Board in late 2009, approximately 18 months after the incredible highs when uranium
reached $160/Ib and uranium company share prices went through the roof. More sobering times followed as
uranium prices fell substantially, and along with them, uranium company share prices. Since then companies
have had to knuckle down even more to do the hard yards.
Bannerman has done extensive drilling of its orebody as well as considerable technical, engineering and pilot
scale work, which has taken us through the stages of PFS and final DFS. The work proved we have an orebody
of relatively low grade, but very large scale, which means that we are strongly leveraged to the uranium price.
This fact was reflected when the uranium price started to uplift again in 2010/2011 and our share price moved
well in front of the pack. However, after global setbacks culminating in the Fukushima incident, the spot uranium
price has descended to $40/Ib and, correspondingly, our share price has dropped with it.
Whilst this is very disappointing, on the positive side, the team has worked diligently and stayed extremely
focused. We have a very thorough DFS that has been fully engineered and costed.
The study has been universally complimented. We also have a very strong relationship with the community and
Government of Namibia. We now have all our environmental approvals. We also have open, ongoing
discussions with potential partners. What we all need is more certainty about a future positive uranium market
and share price.
At today’s short and long term uranium prices, production growth is stagnant. Developments are on hold. A
$60/Ib long term uranium price doesn’t work for most developers. The industry generally needs an $80/Ib long
term price before developments will kick-start.
This all makes you wonder. Whilst Germany and Scandinavia are talking nuclear power cutbacks in the near
term, their influence on the global demand is negligible in the scheme of things. Japan’s intent to exit nuclear
energy by 2040 is anything but certain looking at their future power needs and environmental considerations.
There are huge expansions planned for nuclear energy in China, India, Middle East, other Asia, Russia and
Eastern Europe. Len will talk more about this. The secondary supplies of uranium are also decreasing as the
agreement between the US and Russia to convert weapons grade uranium for use in power stations is nearing
its completion.
So, we have a situation of low uranium prices and stagnant uranium supply, but the likelihood of large increases
in net use of global nuclear power. It questions the readiness of the industry to supply adequate uranium for
future demand. It gives a bullish tenor to the supply side. It reminds me of the situation in the iron ore industry in
the early 2000s, when ore prices were low, no one was expanding and no one was ready for the dramatic
expansion of the demand from China. For
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In this environment, with the DFS in hand, Bannerman is very well placed to move quickly when a positive
situation emerges.
In the interim the Company needs to consider its options and first and foremost continue reducing its
expenditure levels. These have come down significantly since completion of the DFS which has been largely
due to a decrease in staff numbers.
We acknowledge the need for cost structures to be addressed and to that end the Board has initiated a 17%
decrease in its fees as well as a 58% reduction in the amount of shares rights allocations to directors. All
employees have similarly supported a 50% reduction in performance share rights to be issued this year.
We will also keep shareholders updated on progress with regards to the very important matter of complimenting
the Etango Project with further assets. Len will also be talking more about this in his presentation.
I must say, I have enjoyed my time with Bannerman both as a Non-executive Director and as Chairman. Len
and his management team have worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition and have engaged with
potential partners as well as the people of Namibia. The Board is well skilled and has maintained its support
behind the management team.
Today, I stand down and hand over the reins to Ronnie Beevor. Ronnie has been with the Bannerman Board
since mid-2009 and is currently Chairman of the Audit Committee. He will assume the role of Chairman of the
Board at the conclusion of this AGM. With his extensive investment banking and boardroom experience, Ronnie
is ideally suited to lead the Bannerman Board into its next stages.
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Well positioned in uranium and pursuing
new opportunities Annual General Meeting, Perth, November 2012
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Technical Disclosures and
Forward-Looking Disclaimers
This presentation should be read in conjunction with the release by Bannerman Resources Limited dated 10 April 2012 and entitled “Bannerman Reports Positive
DFS Results and Milestone Agreement with Namibian State-Owned Mining Company”.
Certain disclosures in this presentation, including management's assessment of Bannerman Resources Ltd’s plans and projects, constitute forward-looking
statements that are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to Bannerman’s operation as a mineral development company that may cause
future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the
Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: fluctuations in uranium prices and currency
exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and
operating costs, recovery rates, production estimates and estimated economic return; general market conditions; the uncertainty of future profitability; and the
uncertainty of access to additional capital. Full descriptions of these risks can be found in the Company’s various statutory reports, including its Annual Information
Form available on the SEDAR website, sedar.com. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Bannerman Resources Ltd
expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Mineral resources that are not ore reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
The information in this presentation that relates to the exploration results of the projects owned by Bannerman is based on information compiled by Mr Martinus
Prinsloo, Exploration Superintendent of Bannerman. Mr Prinsloo is a Member and a Chartered Professional of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, a
Recognised Professional Organisation by the Australasian Joint Ore Reserves Committee, who has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and
types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which is being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the
“Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves” and as a Qualified Person for purposes of National Instrument
43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. Mr Prinsloo consents to the inclusion in this presentation of the matters based on his information in the form and
context in which it appears.
The information in this presentation relating to the Mineral Resources of the Etango Project is based on a resource estimate compiled or reviewed by Mr Brian Wolfe
in April 2012. Mr Wolfe is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Wolfe was employed by Coffey Mining as an independent consultant to the
Company at the time of the studies and public release of results. As Mr Wolfe is now no longer employed by Coffey Mining, Coffey Mining has reviewed this
presentation and consent to the inclusion, form and context of the relevant information herein as derived from the original reports for which Mr Wolfe’s consent has
previously been given. Mr Wolfe has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which is
being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the JORC ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves’ and a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101.
The information in this presentation relating to the Ore Reserves of the Etango Project is based on information compiled or reviewed by Mr Harry Warries, a full time
employee of Coffey Mining Pty Ltd. Mr Warries is a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has sufficient experience relevant to the style of
mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which is being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition
of the “Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves”, and is an independent consultant to Bannerman and a
Qualified Person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Mr Warries consents, and provides corporate consent for Coffey Mining Pty Ltd, to the
inclusion in this presentation of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
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Contents
3
Resource definition (core) drilling
at the Etango site.
1. Uranium Market
2. Etango Uranium Project
3. New Business Development
4. Summary
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Japan – only 2 restarts to date / inventory overhang / conflicting messages re start-ups vs phase out / pre-election.
China - leadership change and safety reviews.
Aggressive Chinese long term nuclear build program confirmed.
Deferrals in new mine development.
HEU Agreement ends 2013.
New reactor build programs in the Middle East, etc.
Uranium Price Drivers
Short
Term
Long
Term
1. Uranium Market F
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2.5 billion people in China and India – 36 % of global population.
Both countries enjoying significant GDP growth.
1 billion people will live in China’s cities by 2030*.
China will become the world’s largest economy before 2020.
World net electricity generation will nearly double by 2035 with the
majority of this growth coming from non-OECD Asia.**
* McKinsey Global Institute. * * US Energy Information Administration / International Energy Outlook 2011
Asian demand for low emission power is growing significantly
Shanghai
1. Uranium Market F
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Demand – Asian Growth Driven
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Source: WNA September 2012
433 reactors operating
in 30 countries,
63 under construction,
489 planned and proposed.
China recently stated its
intention to increase nuclear
capacity from
12.5 GWe to 40GWe by 2015*.
India has recently reiterated its
plan to increase nuclear capacity
14 fold to
63 GWe by 2032.
*Source: The National Energy Administration of
China, and various broker and press reports.
# reactors
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
Canada UnitedKingdom
SouthKorea
Ukraine France Japan India Russia USA China
Proposed
Planned
Under Construction
Operable Reactors
1. Uranium Market F
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0
50
100
150
200
2011 MineProduction
2011-2020 MineClosures
HEU ends 2013 Additional SupplyRequired by 2020
Mlb
s U
3O
8
Pressure On Existing & New Mine Supply
125 Mlbs
1. Uranium Market
Figures are based on WNA reference forecasts
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Negative short term
sentiment
Positive long term
sentiment
1. Uranium Market F
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1. Uranium Market F
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U3O8 v Other Commodities
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1. Uranium Market F
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Etango Definitive Feasibility Study
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• 4 years resource definition, metallurgical testing, feasibility study & environmental
impact assessment.
• Straightforward mining & processing model.
• Completed in April 2012.
2. Etango Uranium Project F
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Etango Site Layout
N
Licence boundary
5km
16 year mine life & extension
opportunities.
Produce 6-9 Mlbs U3O8 per year.
Ore Reserve 119 Mlbs U3O8.
Capex US$870 million.
Opex 1st five years US$41/lb U3O8.
32% operating margin for first 5
years at current U3O8 long-term
contract price (US$60.00/lb).
DFS Features
2. Etango Uranium Project F
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Ore Reserve Estimate based on over 300km
drilling
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2. Etango Uranium Project F
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Simple Open Pit Mining
YEAR 16
1km
6km
2. Etango Uranium Project F
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Straightforward 3 stage crushing
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Primary Crushing
2. Etango Uranium Project F
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Conventional Sulphuric Acid Heap Leaching
50 day on – off cycle
2. Etango Uranium Project F
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Resource Utilisation Upside
Total U3O8 Mineral Resource comprises 149Mlbs M&I and 64Mlbs Inferred
2. Etango Uranium Project F
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Resource Expansion Upside
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5km
N
Etango Project Area
Existing Etango resource
(149Mlbs M&I and 64Mlbs
Inferred)
Etango Deeps Target (red)
Etango West Target (blue)
Etango South Target (green)
Ondjamba/Hyena Already drilled (yellow)
Additional target (green)
Ompo Already drilled (yellow)
Additional target (green)
2. Etango Uranium Project F
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Global Top 10 Uranium Projects
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0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
246
134 119
53
McA
rth
ur
Riv
er
Cam
eco
/Are
va
JORC/43-101 Compliant Reserves (Mlbs U3O8) H
usa
b
Ext
ract
/CG
NP
C
Cig
ar L
ake
Cam
eco
/Are
va
Ran
ger
/Jab
iluka
E
RA
Inka
i C
amec
o/K
azat
om
pro
m
Lan
ger
Hei
nri
ch
Pal
adin
Rö
ssin
g
Rio
Tin
to
Eta
ng
o
Ban
ner
man
Val
enci
a F
ors
ys
Do
rno
d
AR
MZ
Inka
i So
uth
U
ran
ium
On
e
335 320
209
135 119
61
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Source: Bannerman & Versant Partners, August 2012.
Reflects 100% of projects.
2. Etango Uranium Project F
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Active evaluation of opportunities
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3. New Business Development
Leverage exploration and technical evaluation expertise,
infrastructure and relationships developed over past 6 years,
Not constrained to Namibia, and
Announcement with regard to progress will be made as and when
appropriate.
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Highly leveraged to the uranium price
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0%
100%
200%
300%
400%
500%
600%
75 80 85 90 95 100
Relative % change in pre-tax NPV against the U3O8 price
33%
% c
han
ge
in p
re-t
ax N
PV
US$ U3O8 / lb
Period Spot Price Move
Bannerman Share Price Move
Apr 05 – Jun 07 +490 % +7,900 %
Jun 10 – Feb 11 +80 % +240 %
Historical share price movement v U3O8 spot price
500%
4. Summary F
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Well positioned in uranium & pursuing new
opportunities
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1. Bannerman has:
Positioned the top 10 uranium-only Etango Project to benefit from the
expected medium term upturn in the uranium price; and
A$7.35 million cash as at end September 2012.
2. Bannerman is:
Applying tight cost control.
Open to value add transactions with potential local and international
development partners on the Etango Project; and
Pursuing new opportunities that can leverage from our asset and skill
base.
4. Summary F
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www.bannermanresources.com Scale, Simplicity, Substance
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Recent Uranium Market Activity
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Demand
• Japan paves way for orderly restarts via recently established Nuclear Regulation Authority.
• Chinese confirm plan to increase nuclear capacity from 12.5GWE to 40GWe by end 2015.
• CGNPC reportedly acquiring 13% of Immouraren project.
• UAE US$3 billion contract covering 15 years of fuel supply for first nuclear plant.
• Paladin enter into long-term off-take contract with EDF for 13.73 Mlbs U3O8.
• Saudi Arabia and Turkey indicating significant nuclear growth plans.
Supply
• BHPB defer Olympic Dam expansion and Areva defer Trekkopje & Immouraren projects.
• Kintyre - ‘challenging economics’ at current uranium price (Cameco) / delays DFS.
• Quarterly reports reflect tough operating environment for producers
.
APPENDIX F
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1. Investment Rationale
CGNPC
Erongo Uranium Province Extensive uranium inventory and nearby infrastructure
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APPENDIX F
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Etango Project Mineral Resource and
Ore Reserve Estimates
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Notes:
1. Figures may not add due to rounding.
2. Bannerman holds an 80% interest in the Etango Project through its Namibian subsidiary. All details reported are for 100% of the Project.
3. Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 100ppm U3O8 and are inclusive of Ore Reserves.
4. Ordinary Kriged Resource estimate based upon 3m cut composites; bulk density of 2.64t/m3; and panel dimensions of 25mNS by 25mEW by 10mRL.
5. The Ore Reserve was estimated with a modelled mining loss of 2.6% of metal, mining dilution of 4.9% of the total ore tonnes, a cut-off grade of 70ppm
U3O8, a processing recovery of 84.5%, a metal price of US$75/lb U3O8 and the DFS cost estimates.
6. Mineral Resources which are not Ore Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
Mineral Resource Tonnes
(Mt)
Grade
(ppm U3O8)
Contained U3O8
(Mlbs)
Measured 62.7 205 28.3
Indicated 273.5 200 120.4
Measured & Indicated Resource 336.2 201 148.8
Inferred (Etango) 45.7 202 20.3
Inferred (Ondjamba & Hyena) 118.7 166 43.6
Proved 64.2 194 27.4
Probable 215.3 193 91.8
Proved and Probable Ore Reserve 279.6 194 119.3
80%
conversion
APPENDIX
Ore Reserve
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Conventional Process Flowsheet
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APPENDIX F
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Etango – DFS Pre-Production Capital Costs
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APPENDIX
DFS Pre-Production Capital Cost Estimate (April 2012) US$
million
Mining – fleet, establishment & pre-stripping 127
Process plant 354
Site infrastructure 91
External infrastructure (power, water, rail, road and port) 47
EPCM costs 72
Accuracy provision 54
First fills and spares 29
Owner’s costs (personnel, housing, training, insurance etc) 40
Other (camp facilities, mobilisation and demobilisation and
temporary services)
56
Total pre-production capital expenditure 870
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APPENDIX
DFS Cash Operating Cost Estimate (April 2012) First 5
Years
Life-of-
Mine
Mining:
- US$/tonne mined
- US$/tonne ore
1.72
7.87
1.97
8.55
Processing (US$/tonne ore):
Consumables, labour, maintenance & other 3.37 3.41
Sulphuric acid 1.78 1.79
Power 1.29 1.31
Water 0.64 0.65
7.08 7.15
General & administration ( US$/tonne ore): 1.26 1.23
Total cash operating costs (US$/tonne ore) 16.21 16.93
Total cash operating costs (US$/lb U3O8 produced) 40.85 45.71
Etango – DFS Cash Operating Costs
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