Potash Ridge Reports First Quarter 2014 Financial Results and Provides Update on Its Blawn Mountain Sulphate of Potash Project
09 May 2014 - 7:30AM
Marketwired
Potash Ridge Reports First Quarter 2014 Financial Results and
Provides Update on Its Blawn Mountain Sulphate of Potash Project
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 8, 2014) - Potash Ridge
Corporation ("Potash Ridge" or the "Corporation") (TSX:PRK)
(OTCQX:POTRF) today released its first quarter financial
results.
2014 Q1 Financial Results
- The Corporation reported a net loss for the first quarter of
$0.2 million ($0.00 per share) compared with a net loss of $1.0
million ($0.01 per share) for the first quarter of 2013.
- A total of $2.6 million was incurred on Blawn Mountain Project
(the "Project") activities in the first quarter compared with $3.6
million on project activities for the first quarter of 2013.
- The Corporation closed the first quarter of 2014 with cash and
cash equivalents of $5.5 million and had accounts payable and
accrued liabilities of $0.9 million.
The Corporation's first quarter unaudited Financial Statements
and Management's Discussion & Analysis are available at
www.sedar.com.
Key Project Highlights of the Three Months Ended March 31,
2014
- Various studies undertaken by the Corporation's consultants
have established premiums growers are willing to pay for sulphate
of potash ("SOP") over muriate of potash ("MOP") for certain key
crops due to yield benefits, and also the market demand potential
for SOP in various key markets. These studies indicate that growers
are willing to pay significant premiums, and that the demand growth
potential in key markets is robust. During the quarter, the
Corporation initiated discussions with various purchasers and users
of SOP in North America, all of which have indicated a severe
supply shortage. This supply shortage is expected to persist, given
limited growth potential using existing SOP production processes.
The impact of the supply deficit, and the willingness and ability
of growers to pay a significant premium for SOP over MOP is evident
when comparing prices. In North America, average realized SOP
prices were approximately US$670/tonne for the first quarter of
2014 compared with approximately US$690/tonne for the same period
in 2013. By contrast, North American MOP average realized prices
declined to approximately US$250/tonne during the first quarter of
2014 from approximately US$363/tonne during the same period in
2013. The average realized price for SOP is currently approximately
170% over the average realized price for MOP.
- In February 2014, the Corporation filed its groundwater
discharge permit application. The permit is expected in the second
quarter of 2014.
- In March 2014, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers confirmed the
Corporation's findings that no jurisdictional waters or wetlands
will be impacted by the Project and, accordingly, a "Department of
the Army Permit" is not required for the Project. Following receipt
of this confirmation, no further federal permitting issues are
expected as it pertains to the Project site.
- On March 24, 2014, the Corporation converted its Exploration
Agreement with the Utah State School and Institutional Land Trust
Administration ("SITLA") into a Mining Lease. Concurrent with the
exercise of the Option, the Corporation entered into an agreement
with SITLA, whereby the upfront payment requirement of US$1,020,000
upon conversion was replaced with an initial payment of US$200,000
plus five equal semi-annual installments of US$164,000 commencing
in March 2015. Interest will accrue on unpaid installments at an
annual rate of 5.75%.
- The Corporation has initiated discussions with a number of
independent engineering firms regarding the upcoming feasibility
study for the Project. It is expected that the feasibility study
contract will be awarded by mid-year, subject to receipt of
additional financing by the Corporation.
- The scope of additional metallurgical test work required for
the upcoming feasibility study has been determined and proposals
are being obtained from metallurgical testing firms to carry out
this testing program. The test program will include variability
testing, continuous testing and testing at vendor facilities, with
the objective of obtaining process guarantees.
- The Corporation is advancing discussions towards securing
build, own, operate type arrangements for various infrastructure
aspects of the Project, such as the electricity transmission line,
a natural gas pipeline, short-line rail and load-out facilities,
sulphuric acid plant and water treatment plant.
2014 Outlook
Several initiatives are currently underway that are expected to
result in the achievement of various key milestones during 2014 and
beyond
- The Corporation continues to advance its permitting strategy:
- The water rights application, submitted jointly with SITLA in
late 2012, is currently being reviewed by the Utah Division of
Water Rights. The approval of this application is anticipated
during the second quarter of 2014;
- The Corporation filed an application for a large mining permit
with the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining in late 2013, and it
is anticipated that the approval of the application will be
received in mid-2014; and
- Air monitoring data was collected over a one-year period that
ended in October 2013. Modeling for the air permit application will
continue in parallel with the feasibility study.
- Various commercial discussions currently underway with respect
to infrastructure and marketing initiatives are expected to
conclude with signing of commercial arrangements with third
parties.
- The Corporation is targeting to raise approximately US$25
million for the feasibility study phase and near term working
capital requirements. The Corporation currently expects that this
additional funding will bring the development of the Project to the
beginning of the execution phase and the commencement of detailed
engineering, assuming receipt of a positive feasibility study. A
number of strategies to raise this additional capital are currently
being pursued.
About Potash Ridge
Potash Ridge is a Canadian based exploration and development
company focused on developing a surface alunite deposit in southern
Utah called the Blawn Mountain Project. It is expected to produce a
premium fertilizer called sulphate of potash and a possible alumina
rich by-product.
Located in Utah, a mining friendly jurisdiction with established
infrastructure nearby, the Project is expected to produce an
average of 645,000 tons of SOP per annum over a 40 year mine life.
A NI 43-101 compliant Prefeasibility Study completed in November
2013 by Norwest Corporation demonstrated that the Project is both
technically and economically viable. The Prefeasibility Study,
entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report Resources and Reserves of the
Blawn Mountain Project, Beaver County, Utah" dated effective
November 6, 2013 is available on SEDAR.
Potash Ridge has a highly qualified and proven management team
with significant financial, project management and operational
experience and the proven ability to take projects into
production.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements,
which reflect the Corporation's expectations regarding future
growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects.
These forward-looking statements may include statements that are
predictive in nature, or that depend upon or refer to future events
or conditions, and can generally be identified by words such as
"may", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans",
"believes", "estimates", "guidance" or similar expressions. In
addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or
other characterizations of future events or circumstances are
forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical
facts but instead represent the Corporation's expectations,
estimates and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking
statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation,
are inherently subject to significant business, economic and
competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those
projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include,
but are not limited to: the future financial or operating
performance of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and its mineral
projects; the anticipated results of exploration activities; the
estimation of mineral resources; the realization of mineral
resource estimates; capital, development, operating and exploration
expenditures; costs and timing of the development of the
Corporation's mineral projects; timing of future exploration;
requirements for additional capital; climate conditions; government
regulation of mining operations; anticipated results of economic
and technical studies; environmental matters; receipt of the
necessary permits, approvals and licenses in connection with
exploration and development activities; appropriation of the
necessary water rights and water sources; changes in commodity
prices; recruiting and retaining key employees; construction
delays; litigation; competition in the mining industry; reclamation
expenses; reliability of historical exploration work; reliance on
historical information acquired by the Corporation; optimization of
technology to be employed by the Corporation; title disputes or
claims and other similar matters.
If any of the assumptions or estimates made by management
prove to be incorrect, actual results and developments are likely
to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or
implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Such
assumptions include, but are not limited to, the following: that
general business, economic, competitive, political and social
uncertainties remain favorable; that agriculture fertilizers are
expected to be a major driver in increasing yields to address
demand for premium produce, such as fruits and vegetables, as well
as diversified protein rich diets necessitating grains and other
animal feed; that actual results of exploration activities justify
further studies and development of the Corporation's mineral
projects; that the future prices of minerals remain at levels that
justify the exploration and future development and operation of the
Corporation's mineral projects; that there is no failure of plant,
equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; that accidents,
labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry do not
occur; that there are no unanticipated delays in obtaining
governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of future
studies, development or construction activities; that the actual
costs of exploration and studies remain within budgeted amounts;
that regulatory and legal requirements required for exploration or
development activities do not change in any adverse manner; that
input cost assumptions do not change in any adverse manner, as well
as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors"
in the Corporation's Annual Information Form (AIF) for the
year-ended December 31, 2013 available at sedar.com. The
Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
applicable law.
Potash Ridge CorporationLaura SandilandsManager of Investor
Relations416.362.8640 ext. 101info@potashridge.com
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