2nd UPDATE: Energy Resources Of Australia 1st Half Profit Tumbles 82%
30 July 2010 - 1:55PM
Dow Jones News
Energy Resources of Australia Ltd. (ERA.AU) said Friday that its
first half profit plunged 82% after the Rio Tinto Ltd. (RIO.AU)
subsidiary, and one of the world's biggest uranium producers,
encountered poor ore grades at the resumption of dry season mining
in Australia's Northern Territory.
A big fall in profits was largely expected by the market after
ERA on July 13 adjusted for the lower grades by sharply downgrading
its production guidance by 18% to 4,300-4,700 metric tons of
uranium ore. It reiterated that guidance Friday.
But the owner of the world's second biggest uranium mine by
output, Ranger, on Friday also revealed that it's getting less
money for its uranium oxide as high global stockpiles and lower
demand caused by a global economic slowdown keep prices subdued. A
stronger Australian dollar also wiped about A$50 million off the
group's top line.
Net profit for the six months to June 30 fell to A$22.7 million,
from A$127.6 million in the previous corresponding period, missing
UBS and J.P. Morgan forecasts of A$28 million and A$39.6 million,
respectively.
Revenue slid 37% to A$217.7 million from A$347.0 million.
"It's definitely a year of two halves," Chief Executive Rob
Atkinson told Dow Jones Newswires. "It was a challenging first
half, but we appear to be well set up for the second half and I'm
certainly looking forward to a stronger performance," he said.
ERA, 68%-owned by Rio Tinto, negotiates prices in long-term
sales contracts, although some contracts can be partially
influenced by movements in the spot price.
Higher uranium stockpiles, particularly in Kazakhstan, and
delays in the construction of some nuclear reactors in China are
expected to keep uranium oxide, or yellow cake, prices suppressed
in the short term, ERA said.
"My sense is it's going to remain reasonably flat for the next
year or so," Atkinson said when asked when the world's yellow cake
supply, demand balance might swing in ERA's favour.
The Darwin-based company stuck to its forecast of achieving an
average realized uranium oxide price in 2010 broadly similar to
what it got in 2009. In the 2010 first half, it realized a price of
US$44.79 per pound, compared to US$48.02 in the 2009 first
half.
ERA downgraded its output guidance on July 13 after it gained
access to the main ore body at Ranger when seasonal rains dried up
and it overcame stability problems with the south wall of the
pit.
The ore it encountered, however, was of a much lower grade than
it expected. "We see good grades in front of us now and we're
hoping to exploit that," Atkinson said July 13.
Ranger produced 9% of the world's uranium in 2009, according to
the World Nuclear Association.
ERA has extended the life of the mine to at least 2012, after
which it plans to sell stockpiled ore until 2020.
The company is considering an expansion of the mine in which it
would plunder an untapped 30,000-40,000 metric ton resource in the
Ranger 3 Deeps mineral deposit. It is currently finalizing studies
on whether to build a 'decline'--a tunnel bored through the
resource to facilitate closely spaced drilling and a geotechnical
assessment--and expects to make a final decision on the decline by
Sept. 30.
ERA also said Friday it expects to submit a draft environmental
impact statement for its proposed heap leach facility in the second
half of 2010 following a "minor delay". Heap leaching uses acid
filtration to extract minerals from poor quality ore.
The company warned in February that work on the growth projects
will combine with maintenance costs to push up its expenses in
2010, without providing specific numbers. Atkinson said he expects
costs in 2010 may be "slightly weighted" to the second half.
-By Ross Kelly, Dow Jones Newswires; 61-2-8272-4692;
ross.kelly@dowjones.com
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