President and CEO Dom Kriangkum said; "We have recognized significant success through the implementation of a number of cost reduction opportunities in the extraction and processing of aggregates in 2014. Despite slow demand during the first two quarters, we supplied in excess of 8,000,000 tonnes of aggregates to regional customers, and built up significant inventory at our corporate owned aggregate operations to meet future demand. In addition to our aggregates business, we are extremely pleased with the positive results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Firebag Project, and will continue development in 2015 targeting becoming a quality frac sand supplier to the oil and gas industry in Western Canada in 2016."
Operations Update
Susan Lake sales volumes in 2014 of 7.5 million tonnes were 20% lower than 2013. Demand levels were impacted by poor weather in the first half of the year and the impact of dropping oil prices in the last quarter of the year. Management maintained operations at historical levels, while continuing to clear land and strip topsoil which should enable the Corporation to maximize sales volumes in future periods.
Athabasca managed to increase aggregate sales volumes slightly from the Corporate owned pits in 2014 to 571,000 tonnes. In the latter half of 2014, Athabasca management implemented several cost improvement strategies which enabled the Corporation to produce gravel at a lower operating cost. By optimizing production levels at the crusher, labour requirements were reduced and associated equipment hours were minimized reducing maintenance and operational costs to ensure a higher margin product going forward.
Financial Highlights (in thousands of CDN, unless otherwise noted)
| | |
| | Four Months Q4 and Thirteen Month Ended December 31, 2014 |
| | Four Months
Q4 2014
($000,s) | Three Months
Q4 2013
($000,s) | Thirteen Months
Dec 31, 2014
($000's) | Twelve Months
Nov 30, 2013
($000,s) |
| Aggregate management fees | $3,283 | $2,884 | $8,709 | $10,419 |
| Net aggregate sales | $6,396 | $3,759 | $17,623 | $14,944 |
| Total revenue | $9,679 | $6,643 | $26,332 | $25,364 |
| Gross profit | $3,105 | $2,453 | $6,287 | $7,954 |
| Net income and comprehensive income | $12 | $390 | $(831) | $1,922 |
| | | | | |
| Total aggregate tonnes sold (MT) | 3,013,860 | 2,704,301 | 8,085,480 | 9,911,381 |
| Basic income per common share ($/share) | $0.000 | $0.014 | $(0.026) | $0.068 |
| | | | | |
Net (loss) during fiscal 2014 decreased to ($0.83) million from a net income of $1.92 million in the prior year, a reduction of $2.75 million. There were four primary contributing factors: 1) a $1.71 million reduction in aggregate management fees resulting from a 1.8 million (or 20%) reduction in aggregate tonnes sold from Susan Lake; 2) higher operating costs in the first half of 2014; 3) higher share-based compensation expense of $0.86 million due to the non-cash expense booked on the options issued in 2014; and 4) higher G&A costs due primarily to potential acquisition due diligence, and additional expenses related to the development and analysis of the Firebag Project.
Outlook
AGGREGATE OPERATIONS:
The Corporation is well positioned from a resource and equipment base to increase production tonnes based on the successful award of contracts and overall demand in the target areas. Management continues to focus on further developing existing relationships with the major oil sands and SAGD operators, including continued analysis and exploration of new aggregate deposits.
Sales guidance for 2015 at the Corporate pits is 0.5 million tonnes. Management continues to strive for production optimization levels and tighter cost controls as it prepares for the heavy demand aggregate season. Strategic inventory was established in 2014 in core areas which will allow management to quickly react to any sudden demand changes as the economy changes.
Capital spending in 2015 for the existing gravel operations is anticipated to be lower than previous years as the existing infrastructure allows management to meet the forecasted product demands.
The Company has secured contracts for approximately 50% of their production for 2015.
With the uncertainty in the region due to the drop in oil prices, sales from Susan Lake in 2015 have been forecasted for 6.5 million tonnes. While recognizing that the potential impact of lower oil prices could be significant, management believes that this projected tonnage is still appropriate and conservative, as it would be comparable to the 2009 annual sales volume recorded at Susan Lake.
EXPLORATON AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:
The Corporation's Firebag Project is located 95 km north of Fort McMurray, is accessible via Highway 63. The planned operation is for the production of industrial proppant for use in the fracking industry.
During August 2014 the Corporation received approval from the Alberta ESRD for an 80 acre SML for the development of a silica sand mining operation, which is the first phase of development of an overall 500 acre project. The Corporation also received the completed Technical Report disclosing an inferred mineral resource of approximately 45 million tonnes of silica sand within the Corporation's Firebag property located in Northeastern Alberta, Canada, approximately 95 km north of Fort McMurray. The Technical Report was filed, and is available for viewing, on the Corporation's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
A significant amount of testing was conducted on the Firebag Project sand to verify the consistency of the silica sand at various depths within the deposit. Independent testing by both Stim-Lab Inc. and PropTester Inc. confirm a high quality product with crush strength meeting or exceeding API and ISO standards for frac sand. The PEA report is filed on Sedar and the press release "Athabasca Minerals Reports Positive Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Firebag Silica Sand Project" dated February 12, 2015 will provide the detailed analysis and results.
Advancements on the trans-loading sites and detailed engineering are underway. Athabasca has been in active discussions with a major railway company and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in developing a private switch and trans-loading facility in Fort McMurray.
The Corporation's second phase of development includes plans to develop a larger adjacent 420 acre SML for which applications have been submitted. The Corporation holds 100% rights to seven Industrial and Metallic mineral leases covering 12,800 hectares (31,629 acres) in the Fort McMurray region of northeast Alberta.
Resources have been allocated to advance the engineering surrounding the final plant design, complete permitting at both trans-loading sites and evaluate procurement opportunities on longer lead time items. The majority of capital spending in 2015 will be in relation to the Firebag Project. Management is identifying cost saving opportunities to reduce the initial capital estimates, and is looking at several options surrounding financing of the Firebag Project which includes joint venture, offtake arrangements, and alternative financing options. Management has been able to fund the development of Firebag Project to date from its existing cash flow.
The Corporation is committed to becoming a major domestic supplier of high quality industrial proppant for use in the fracking industry as it actively pursue the development of its Firebag Project.
The complete financial statements for Athabasca for the year-ended December 31, 2014 and Management's Discussion & Analysis for the same period are available for viewing on the Corporation's website at www.athabascaminerals.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
About Athabasca Minerals
The Corporation is a resource company involved in the management, exploration and development of aggregate projects. These activities include contracts works, aggregate pit management, aggregate production and sales from corporate-owned pits, new aggregate development and acquisitions of sand and gravel operations. The Corporation also has industrial mineral land holdings for the purpose of locating and developing sources of industrial minerals and aggregates essential to high growth economic development.
Neither the TSX Venture nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements or information are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Corporation. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.
The securities of Athabasca have not been, nor will be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities in the United States.
