Antares Announces Positive Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Near-Surface Leachable Portion of Haquira Copper Deposit, Per
May 14 2008 - 10:33AM
Marketwired Canada
Antares Minerals Inc. ("Antares") (TSX VENTURE:ANM) is pleased to announce that
it has received a positive scoping study and preliminary economic assessment
("PEA") from Chlumsky, Armbrust and Meyer LLC ("CAM") for the near-surface
leachable portion of the Haquira copper deposit in south central Peru.
Highlights from the PEA include (all figures in Q1 2008 US$):
- After-tax IRR of 25.9% for base case with $2.00/lb Cu
- After-tax NPV of $224.4 million for base case with $2.00/lb Cu and 8% discount
rate
- Initial capital expenditure of $301 million (includes 25% contingency)
- 11 year mine life with average annual production of 109 million lbs Cu cathode/yr
- Early higher grade starter pit facilitates project payback in 2.9 years
- Cash operating cost averages $1.09/lb Cu over life of mine (including royalty)
- Average annual revenue of $220 million - average annual after-tax profit of
$46 million
- Strongly leveraged to price of copper (based on $1.75-3.00/lb)
-- IRR ranges from 17.9%-52.9%
-- NPV (8% discount rate) ranges from $115.4 - $660.3 million
- Open-pit, contract mining, SX-EW operation mining average of 50,000 tonnes ore/day
- Pre-feasibility study initiated with potential for significant project
optimization
This PEA only evaluates the near-surface secondary copper mineralization that is
amenable to low-cost SX-EW processing and does not consider any of the recently
discovered underlying copper-molybdenum-gold primary sulphide mineralization at
Haquira East. Four rigs continue to drill at Haquira East with the objective of
defining an initial primary resource within the next few months and completing
an integrated scoping stage evaluation which also incorporates the extensive
primary sulphide mineralization. It is anticipated that the integrated scoping
study will be completed by the end of 2008.
John Black, President and CEO of Antares Minerals Inc. commented as follows:
"This scoping study demonstrates that the near-surface secondary copper
mineralization at Haquira provides an excellent opportunity for an economically
robust SX-EW copper leach operation at manageable capital costs. This
opportunity becomes even more attractive when one considers that the SX-EW
project will likely form the initial stage of a larger integrated mining
operation that would incorporate conventional milling and flotation processing
of the underlying copper-molybdenum-gold primary sulphide mineralization
currently being defined at Haquira East. Pre-feasibility work has commenced to
further define the initial SX-EW copper leach component of the project and will
pursue several opportunities to optimize the value of the project.
We think it is important to highlight that the independently estimated after-tax
net present value of just the near-surface leachable portion of the Haquira
copper deposit exceeds the current market capitalization of Antares. The
potential for additional discoveries and increased value at the Haquira project
is very high. Drilling of the Haquira East primary sulphide discovery continues
with four diamond drill rigs and the initial drill testing of new targets at
Haquira West, which are geologically and geophysically similar to the primary
sulphide deposit at Haquira East, is slated to commence this month. We are also
anxious to initiate exploration drilling at the new Cristo de los Andes project,
located 10 km to the south of Haquira, in July when two additional diamond drill
rigs are scheduled to arrive."
Scoping Study and Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA)
The Haquira scoping study and PEA are based on an open-pit mine design and
conventional SX-EW heap-leaching of near-surface secondary copper material. Key
parameters and assumptions used for the scoping study are discussed below and
summarized in Table 1.
The basic scenario for the PEA is contract open-pit mining, with recovery of
copper from oxide material and acid leachable secondary sulphide material, via
acid heap-leaching. Copper cathodes produced on-site by electrowinning would be
trucked to a Peruvian port. Mining and processing are designed to treat 18.25
million tonnes per year of ore, with a mine life of approximately eighteen
months of engineering, procurement, construction and development followed by 10
years of mining, one year of continued leaching, and three additional years of
residual leaching and reclamation, for a total project life of approximately 15
years.
The resource base for the scoping study consists of an indicated resource of
212.2 million tonnes grading 0.42% total copper and an additional inferred
resource of 77.2 million tonnes grading 0.36% total copper (resources reported
at 0.2% Cu cut-off; see Antares press release of October 9, 2007). CAM utilized
the MicroMODEL mine planning software which uses block model economic values to
estimate economic pit limits to calculate an in-pit resource of 184.9 million
tonnes grading 0.40% total copper with an overall waste to ore stripping ratio
of 1.20 to 1. The mine sequencing model includes a starter pit scenario to allow
for early mining of higher grade material to facilitate capital pay-back.
Estimated leaching recoveries are based on metallurgical work performed by
METCON Research of Tucson Arizona, USA, during 2006 and 2007. CAM reviewed the
leaching results and estimated a 75% recovery rate, sequenced over a period of
approximately 9 months. Acid consumption is estimated at 3 kg of acid consumed
for every 1 kg of copper cathode produced. The PEA assumes full three-stage
crushing of all ore material to 80% less than 3/4 inches.
CAM estimates that pre-production capital expenditures to construct the project
will total US$301.3 million. This estimate includes a 25% contingency for most
costs.
The PEA confirmed the potential for an economically robust SX-EW copper leach
project to process the near-surface secondary copper mineralization at Haquira.
The base case for the PEA estimates an NPV of $224.4 million and an IRR of
25.91% assuming a flat long-term price of copper of US$2.00/lb and an 8%
discount rate. The life-of-mine cash operating cost is estimated at US$1.05/lb
Cu. A summary of the key financial performance indicators predicted by the PEA
is presented in Table 2.
A Peruvian NSR royalty of 3 percent, a corporate tax rate of 30 percent, and an
employee profit sharing of 8 percent have been used in the cash flow analysis.
Sunk costs to date are not included, but mine-life working capital allowance has
been included. Capital costs are assumed to include costs subsequent to
completion of the pre-feasibility study, to be completed at end of 2008. All
prices and costs are stated in first-quarter 2008 US dollars. All analyses are
on an after-tax basis.
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Table 1. Key Parameters for Haquira Scoping Study
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Item Value
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Annual ore production 18.25 mllion tonnes
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Daily ore production 50,000 tonnes
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Total copper produced (LOM) 557,962 tonnes
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Total copper produced (LOM) 1.23 billion lbs
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Average annual production (11 yrs of principal production) 49,500 tonnes
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Average annual production (11 yrs of principal production) 109 million lbs
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Average annual production (first three yrs of production) 58,800 tonnes
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Average annual production (first three years of production) 130 million lbs
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Current 43-101 global resource amenable to SX-EW processing
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Indicated - 212.2 million tonnes @ 0.42% Cu, 0.2% Cu cut-off
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Inferred - 77.2 million tonnes @ 0.36% Cu, 0.2% Cu cut-off
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In pit resource for this Scoping Study/PEA
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Ore: 184.9 million tonnes @ 0.40% Cu
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Waste: 221.6 million tonnes
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Strip Ratio waste/ore: 1.20 to 1
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Copper recovery rate (% of total copper) 75%
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Acid consumption (kg acid/kg Cu in cathode) 3 kg acid/kg Cu
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Total project life approximately 15 yrs
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Construction 1.5 yrs
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Mining 10 yrs
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Continued leaching 1 yr
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Residual leaching and reclamation 3 yrs
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Contract mining
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Three stage crushing for all ore (80% minus 3/4 inch)
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Starter pit with higher grades (initial 3 yrs)
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Table 2. Haquira Preliminary Economic Assessment Summary
(Cu price = $US2.00/lb)
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Item Value
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Pre-production Capital Cost (including 25% contingency) $ 301.3 million
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Sustaining Capital $ 10.6 million
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Reclamation $ 15.0 million
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Total Capital Cost (including reclamation) $ 326.9 million
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Operating Cost $1,287.5 million
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Royalties $ 53.6 million
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Cash Operating Cost (including Royalties) $ 1.090/lb Cu
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Cash Operating Cost (without Royalties) $ 1.047/lb Cu
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Taxes (8% employee profit sharing) $ 67.2 million
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Taxes (30% corporate) $ 231.9 million
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Copper Production 557,962 tonnes
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Metal Sales(1) $2,484.8 million
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Project Cash Flow, Post-Tax $ 528.3 million
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Post-Tax NPV@ 0 % Discount Rate $ 528.3 million
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Post-Tax NPV@ 5 % Discount Rate $ 311.5 million
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Post-Tax NPV@ 8.0 % Discount Rate $ 224.4 million
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Post-Tax NPV@ 10.0 % Discount Rate $ 178.7 million
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Post-Tax NPV@ 12.0 % Discount Rate $ 140.6 million
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Post-Tax IRR @ 8.0 % Discount Rate 25.91%
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Base case pay-back period (Cu price = $2.00) 2.9 yrs
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Average Annual Revenues (11 principal prod yrs) $ 220.3 million
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Average Annual Revenues (first three years of production) $ 262.1 million
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Average Post-tax Profit (11 principal prod yrs) $ 46.3 million
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(1) Includes $0.02/lb copper premium
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Project Sensitivities
Project cash flow is highly sensitive to changes in the price of copper as
indicated in Table 3 below.
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Table 3. Copper Price Sensitivity (after tax)
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Copper Price IRR NPV (x US$ million)
(US$/lb Cu) (%) (8%)
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1.50 8.6 6.3
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1.75 17.9 115.4
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1.80 19.6 137.2
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2.00 25.9 224.4
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2.25 33.2 333.4
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2.50 40.1 442.4
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2.75 46.6 551.3
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2.82 48.4 581.9
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3.00 52.9 660.3
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The project is also sensitive to variations in capital and operating costs
as indicated in Table 4.
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Table 4. Capital and Operating Cost Sensitivities (after-tax - @2.00/lb Cu)
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Capital Costs Operating Cost
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Variations NPV (US$ million) NPV (US$ million)
IRR% (8%) IRR% (8%)
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Minus 20 % 34.5 275.9 32.2 318.5
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Base Case 25.9 224.4 25.9 224.4
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Plus 20 % 19.9 172.9 19.0 130.2
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Qualified Person
The Haquira PEA was completed by Chlumsky, Armbrust and Meyer LLC (CAM) of
Lakewood, Colorado and will be incorporated in an updated, NI 43-101 compliant,
Independent Technical Report to be available on SEDAR and the Antares' website
within 45 days. Mr. Robert L. Sandefur, P.E., Senior Geostatistician with CAM
and Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, prepared the resource estimate
upon which the PEA was based (see Antares press release of October 9, 2007) and
collaborated with Mr. Gregory F. Chlumsky and Mr. Fred Barnard, also of CAM and
Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101, to prepare the scoping study and PEA
described in this press release.
All drilling at Haquira to the end of 2006 was incorporated into the PEA.
Drilling from 2007-08 that focuses on the underlying primary sulphide
mineralization at Haquira East was not considered. In the preparation of the
PEA, CAM received written or verbal data from Antares staff, written opinions
from a Lima law firm, and metallurgical reports from METCON Research, an
independent testing lab in Tucson, Arizona. The data were independently
confirmed by CAM. The capital and operating data developed in the PEA came from
review of the metallurgical test work, in-house CAM data and discussions with
other SX/EW operations in Peru. The tax, royalty and legal information were
provided by Antares.
The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes the use of inferred resources
which are considered too speculative to apply economic considerations that would
enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. Mineral resources that are
mineral reserve do not have demonstrated economic viability. Thus, there is no
certainty that the production profile concluded in the PEA will be realized.
Actual results may vary, perhaps materially. The projections, forecasts and
estimates presented in the scoping study and PEA constitute forward-looking
statements and readers are urged not to place undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements. Additional cautionary and forward-looking statement
information is detailed at the end of this press release.
All of Antares' exploration programs and pertinent disclosure of a technical or
scientific nature are prepared by or prepared under the direct supervision of
John Black, Antares' President and CEO, who serves as the qualified person (QP)
under the definitions of National Instrument 43-101. A section of the Antares
website is dedicated to sampling, assay, and quality control procedures. Mr.
Black has reviewed and approved the information contained in this release.
About Haquira
The Haquira project offers potential for a low-strip, low-cost SX-EW operation
in southern Peru as well as a good opportunity for an underlying higher grade
primary porphyry copper-molybdenum deposit. The project is located contiguous
to, and immediately south of, Xstrata Copper's Las Bambas Cu-Au project. Antares
has an option agreement with Minera Phelps Dodge del Peru S.A.C. ("Phelps
Dodge") to acquire a 100% interest in the Haquira project by completing optional
payments totalling US$15 million over a five-year period (see Antares press
release dated March 17, 2005). Additional information about the Haquira project
is available on our website at www.antaresminerals.com.
Antares recently announced an updated resource estimate for the near-surface,
SX-EW amenable portion of the Haquira project (October 09, 2007) and has filed
the corresponding 43-101 technical report on SEDAR. Based on 215 drill holes
completed through the end of 2006, Haquira hosts an indicated resource of 133.7
million tonnes at 0.53% total Cu with an additional inferred resource of 43.6
million tonnes at 0.44% total Cu (0.3% total Cu cut-off, leachable secondary
copper sulphides and oxides only). The current resource estimate does not
incorporate any of the 2007-08 drilling that has been focussed on delineation of
the newly discovered high-grade primary copper-molybdenum-gold zone beneath the
Haquira East copper oxide zone.
About Antares Minerals Inc.
Antares is a successful mineral exploration company with a highly experienced
technical and management team. The Company is focused on precious- and
base-metal exploration properties in Latin America that can be quickly and
cost-effectively advanced to the discovery and production stage. In addition to
the Haquira Project in Peru with Minera Phelps Dodge del Peru S.A.C., Antares is
also currently exploring the Rio Grande (Cu-Au porphyry) project in Salta
Province of NW Argentina in an option/joint-venture agreement with Mansfield
Minerals Inc.
Cautionary and Forward-looking Statement Information
Certain disclosure in this release, including management's assessment of
Antares' plans and projects, constitutes forward-looking statements that are
subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to Antares'
operation as a mineral exploration company that may cause future results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied. Readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Mineral resources do not have demonstrated economic viability and future in-fill
drilling and scoping, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies will determine
what percentage of the inferred resource can be placed into the mineable
category. Antares is not aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title,
taxation, socio-political, marketing or other issue which may materially affect
this estimate of mineral resources.
All diamond drilling at Haquira has been performed using HQ diameter core with
recoveries averaging greater than 95%. Core is logged and cut with a diamond saw
on site under the supervision of Antares geologists. Sampling is done on
intervals varying from 1-3 metres. Reverse-circulation drilling at Haquira
typically has recoveries averaging greater than 90% with some exceptions in
areas of difficult drilling conditions. Reverse circulation drilling samples are
routinely collected at 2 m intervals under the supervision of Antares staff. All
samples are transported by Antares vehicles or contract transport, accompanied
by Antares staff, to Arequipa, Peru for direct shipping to ALS Chemex
Laboratories in Lima. The QC/QA program includes the insertion of control
samples (known standards, blanks, and duplicates) comprising a minimum of 10% of
each sample batch.
All of Antares' exploration programs and pertinent disclosure of a technical or
scientific nature are prepared by or prepared under the direct supervision of
John Black, Antares' President and CEO, who serves as the qualified person (QP)
under the definitions of National Instrument 43-101. A section of the Antares
website is dedicated to sampling, assay, and quality control procedures.
All information contained in this press release relating to the contents of the
scoping study and preliminary economic assessment (PEA), including but not
limited to statements of the project's potential and information under the
headings "Key Parameters for Haquira Scoping Study" and "Haquira Preliminary
Economic Assessment Summary (Cu price = US$2.00/lb)" are "forward looking
statements" within the definition of the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation.
Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is
expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends",
"anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such
words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "can",
"could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".
The scoping study, including the PEA, was prepared to broadly quantify the
project's capital and operating cost parameters and to provide guidance on the
type and scale of future project engineering and development work that will be
needed to ultimately define the project's likelihood of feasibility and optimal
production rate. It was not prepared to be used as a valuation of the project
nor should it be considered to be a pre-feasibility study. The capital and
operating cost estimates which were used have been developed only to an
approximate order of magnitude based on generally understood capital cost to
production level relationships and they are not based on any systematic
engineering studies, so the ultimate costs may vary widely from the amounts set
out in the Study. This could materially and adversely impact the projected
economics of the project. As is normal at this stage of a project, data are
incomplete and estimates were developed based solely on the expertise of the
individuals involved. At this level of engineering, the criteria, methods and
estimates are very preliminary and result in a high level of subjective judgment
being employed.
The following are the principal risk factors and uncertainties which, in
management's opinion, are likely to most directly affect the conclusions of the
scoping study and PEA and the ultimate feasibility of the project. The
mineralized material at the project is currently classified as resources and it
is not reserves. The mineralized material in the scoping study and PEA is based
only on the resource model developed by Chlumsky, Ambrust, & Meyer, LLC ("CAM"),
a professional mining engineering firm in Denver Colorado in October 2007.
Considerable additional work, including in-fill drilling, additional process
tests, and other engineering and geologic work will be required to determine if
the mineralized material is an economically exploitable reserve. There can be no
assurance that this mineralized material can become a reserve or that the amount
may be converted to a reserve or the grade thereof. Final feasibility work has
not been done to confirm the mine design, mining methods, and processing methods
assumed in the PEA. Final feasibility could determine that the assumed mine
design, mining methods, and processing methods are not correct. Construction and
operation of the mine and processing facilities depends on securing
environmental and other permits on a timely basis. No construction or operation
permits have been applied for and there can be no assurance that required
permits can be secured or secured on a timely basis. Data are incomplete and
cost estimates have been developed in part based on the expertise of the
individuals participating in the preparation of the PEA and on costs at projects
believed to be comparable, and not based on firm price quotes.
Costs, including design, procurement, construction, and on-going operating costs
and metal recoveries could be materially different from those contained in the
PEA. There can be no assurance that mining can be conducted at the rates and
grades assumed in the PEA. The PEA assumes specified, long-term price levels for
copper. The price for copper is historically volatile, and Antares has no
control of or influence on the price, which is determined in international
markets. There can be no assurance that the price of copper will continue at
current levels or that it will not decline below the prices assumed in the PEA.
The price of copper has been below the price range assumed in the PEA at times
during the past ten years, and for extended periods of time. The project will
require major financing, probably a combination of debt and equity financing.
Interest rates are at historically low levels. There can be no assurance that
debt and/or equity financing will be available on acceptable terms. A
significant increase in costs of capital could materially and adversely affect
the value and feasibility of constructing the project. Other general risks
include those ordinary to large construction projects including the general
uncertainties inherent in engineering and construction cost, the need to comply
with generally increasing environmental obligations, and accommodation of local
and community concerns.
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