Canadian Premium Sand Inc. (“
CPS”
or the “
Company”) (TSXV: CPS) is pleased to
announce that it has concluded a comprehensive capital optimization
review relating to the Company’s Wanipigow Sand Project (the
“
Project”). CPS estimates a revised capital cost
of CAD $120 million for facilities required to extract, produce and
market silica sand at a production rate of 1.25 million metric
tonnes per year. This figure is approximately CAD $80 million less
than originally estimated. The Company also estimates that the
Project will have a robust after-tax internal rate of return
(“
IRR”) of 40% or greater. The Company will be
filing an updated preliminary feasibility study validating the
following conclusion and recommendations within 45 days of this
announcement.
Project update: The Company has identified
numerous opportunities that significantly lower the revised capital
cost estimate for the Project with a similar production capacity
included in the Preliminary Feasibility Study and Mineral Resource
Report (the "Technical Report") disclosed in the
Company’s June 12, 2019 press release. The revised capital cost of
CAD $120 million (before contingency) results from an operational
and design approach that employs OnCore™ Processing, the
recently announced mobile processing unit solution provided by
Hi-Crush Inc.
The after-tax IRR for the Project, based on
Company’s internal calculations and estimates is anticipated to be
40% or greater and will be supported in an updated preliminary
feasibility study (an "Updated Technical Report"). Subject to
financing, permitting and a final investment decision, the Company
plans to bring the Project into production in early 2022 at a time
when market conditions, drilling activity and silica sand prices in
Western Canada are expected to improve resulting in a robust IRR
and a payback period of under four (4) years. The Company expects
silica sand pricing in early 2022 to have recovered to $150 CAD per
metric tonne in Grande Prairie area. John T. Boyd Company has been
contracted to prepare the Updated Technical Report utilizing the
revised capital cost and execution plan.
The Updated Technical Report will also provide
details of all assumptions and market data that are utilized to
arrive at the IRR for the Project.
“We re-examined every aspect of the Wanipigow
Project with invaluable input from the Hi-Crush Inc. team and our
skilled consultants and were able to achieve a result that we are
confident will provide an attractive and achievable path forward to
the next phase of the Project, which is the build out,” said
Company President & CEO, Glenn Leroux. “Wanipigow provides a
long-term supply of premium quality sand. Our challenge was
designing an operation that could get it to market cost effectively
and in a manner that aligned with our customers’ buying practices.
We have now done so. This is a major milestone for our shareholders
and our local stakeholders.”
Sales activities update: The Company is also
pleased to announce it has entered into a Master Services Agreement
(“MSA”) with an operator to supply Northern White
Sand (“NWS”) from Wisconsin for their fracturing
operations in Western Canada. The MSA establishes the commercial
terms for the operator to purchase frac sand from the Company
starting in Q2 2020. The Company continues to advance its sales
objectives by increasing its presence in the Canadian frac-sand
market as a recognized supplier. In addition to existing sales and
the potential sales under the MSA, CPS is working towards expanding
its presence into key active basins in Western Canada including the
Montney and Duvernay plays where the Company will ship NWS from
Wisconsin. Growing the Company’s sales channels and market presence
in Western Canada will serve to establish sales conduits for sand
from the Project when operational.
About the Wanipigow Sand
Resource
The Wanipigow Sand Resource consists of 41.5
million tonnes of Measured Resource, 8.1 million tonnes of
Indicated Resource and 97.3 million tonnes of Inferred Resource as
outlined in the Technical Report (see the Company's press release
dated June 12, 2019) prepared in accordance with National
Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”). Mineral resources
are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic
viability. Furthermore, the Technical Report indicates a Proven and
Probable Reserve of 30.6 million tonnes, upon which the published
economics, mine-life and business plan are based. The Mineral
Reserves estimated for the Wanipigow Silica Sand Project are
subject to the types of risks common to most silica sand quarry
operations that exist in Canada. Uncertainty that may materially
impact mineral reserve estimation include but are not limited to:
site-specific mining and geological conditions, management and
personnel capabilities, availability of funding to properly operate
and capitalize the operation, variations in cost elements and
market conditions, developing and operating the mine in an
efficient manner, unforeseen changes in legislation and new
industry developments.
About Canadian Premium Sand
Inc.
The Company is an exploration stage company
which is developing its Wanipigow Sand Resource in Manitoba and
developing a sales channel into Western Canada Sedimentary Basin to
support the basis for a commercial operation at Wanipigow, when
achieved. The Company is a reporting issuer in Ontario, Alberta and
British Columbia. Its shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange
under the symbol "CPS".
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Technical Disclosure
The technical information in this press release
will be reviewed and the Updated Technical Report will be filed
within 45 days of the issuance of this press release. The Updated
Technical Report will be prepared, reviewed and approved by Roy
Eccles, P. Geol. of APEX Geoscience Ltd. and Michael Wick P. Eng.
of John T. Boyd Company, each of whom is independent of CPS and a
“qualified person” under NI 43-101. The Technical Report, effective
May 28, 2019, prepared by Roy Eccles, P. Geol. of APEX Geoscience
Ltd. and Robert Farmer P. Eng. of John T. Boyd Company, each of
whom is independent of CPS and a “qualified person” under NI 43-101
provides the details of the Project including the quality assurance
program and quality control measures applied and key assumptions,
parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resources and
Reserves and is available for review under the Company's profile on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Mineral
Reserves and Mineral Resources
The terms "Mineral Reserve", "Proven Mineral
Reserve" and "Probable Mineral Reserve" used in this press release
are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101
under the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining,
Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") Standards on
Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, as may be amended from time
to time by the CIM. The terms "Mineral Resource", "Measured Mineral
Resource", "Indicated Mineral Resource", "Inferred Mineral
Resource" used in this press release are Canadian mining terms as
defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out
in the CIM Standards. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral
Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
For a detailed discussion of the Company's
resource and reserve estimates and related matters see the
Company's Technical Report filed under the Company's profile on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this press
release constitute forward-looking statements relating to, without
limitation, expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs, including
information as to the future events, results of operations and the
Company’s future performance (both operational and financial) and
business prospects. In certain cases, forward-looking statements
can be identified by the use of words such as “expects”,
“estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”,
“plans”, “seeks”, “projects” or variations of such words and
phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results “may” or
“will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking
statements reflect the Company's beliefs, estimates and opinions
regarding its future growth, results of operations, future
performance (both operational and financial), and business
prospects and opportunities at the time such statements are made,
and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking
statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or
circumstances should change. Forward-looking statements are
necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions made
by the Company that are inherently subject to significant business,
economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and
contingencies. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of
future performance. In particular, this press release contains
forward-looking statements pertaining, but not limited, to:
estimates with respect to the revised capital costs for the Project
and related future production rates and IRR estimates; the scope
and nature of, potential benefits to be derived from the MSA; the
plan to develop a robust advancement plan for the Company and the
Project and the benefits to be derived therefrom; the timing for
the completion of the Updated Technical Report and the anticipated
results or conclusions to be contained therein; the ability to
achieve meaningful capital cost reductions on the basis outlined in
this press release and improve the investment opportunity;
projections about future improvements in market conditions and
silica sand pricing; future development plans; industry activity
levels; industry conditions pertaining to the silica sand industry;
the ability of and manner by which the Company expects to meet its
capital needs; and the Company's objectives, strategies and
competitive strengths.
By their nature, forward-looking statements
involve numerous current assumptions, known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially
from those anticipated by the Company and described in the
forward-looking statements.
With respect to the forward-looking statements
contained in this press release, assumptions have been made
regarding, among other things: the ability to obtain the necessary
stakeholder, regulatory and environmental approval to advance the
development of the Wanipigow Sand Project; the ability to secure
3rd party sales into Western Canada; the ability to enter into
definitive documentation with Hi-Crush, the ability to continue to
consult with, and address feedback received from interested stake
holders including the Hollow Water First Nation and surrounding
communities; environmental risks and regulations; future global
economic and financial conditions; future commodity prices;
operating, capital and sustaining costs; that the regulatory
environment in which the Company operates will be maintained in the
manner currently anticipated by the Company; future exchange and
interest rates; geological and engineering estimates in respect of
the Company's silica sand quantities; the recoverability of the
Company’s silica sand and its quality; the accuracy and veracity of
information and projections sourced from third parties respecting,
among other things, future industry conditions and product demand;
demand for horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing and the
maintenance of current techniques and procedures, particularly with
respect to the use of silica sand; the Company's ability to obtain
qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient
manner; the regulatory framework governing royalties, taxes and
environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which the Company
conducts its business and any other jurisdictions in which the
Company may conduct its business in the future; future capital
expenditures to be made by the Company; future sources of funding
for the Company's capital program; the Company's future debt
levels; the impact of competition on the Company; and the Company's
ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms.
A number of factors, risks and uncertainties
could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated and
described herein including, among others: the effects of
competition and pricing pressures; effects of fluctuations in the
price of proppants; risks related to indebtedness and liquidity,
including the Company's capital requirements; risks related to
interest rate fluctuations and foreign exchange rate fluctuations;
changes in general economic, financial, market and business
conditions in the markets in which the Company operates; changes in
the technologies used to drill for and produce oil and natural gas;
the Company's ability to obtain, maintain and renew required
permits, licenses and approvals from regulatory authorities; the
stringent requirements of and potential changes to applicable
legislation, regulations and standards; the ability of the Company
to comply with unexpected costs of government regulations;
liabilities resulting from the Company's operations; the results of
litigation or regulatory proceedings that may be brought against
the Company; uninsured and underinsured losses; risks related to
the transportation of the Company's products, including potential
rail line interruptions or a reduction in rail car availability;
the geographic and customer concentration of the Company; the
ability of the Company to retain and attract qualified management
and staff in the markets in which the Company operates; labour
disputes and work stoppages and risks related to employee health
and safety; general risks associated with the oil and natural gas
industry, loss of markets, consumer and business spending and
borrowing trends; limited, unfavourable, or a lack of access to
capital markets; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of
mineral resources; sand processing problems; and the use and
suitability of the Company's accounting estimates and
judgments.
Although the Company has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual actions, events or
results to differ materially from those described in its
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or
intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements
will materialize or prove to be accurate, as actual results and
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this
press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this
press release. Except as may be required by law, the Company
expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update
any forward-looking statements or information whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.
Any financial outlook and future-oriented
financial information contained in this press release regarding
prospective financial performance, financial position, IRR or cash
flows is based on assumptions about future events, including
economic conditions and proposed courses of action based on
management’s assessment of the relevant information that is
currently available. Projected operational information contains
forward-looking information and is based on a number of material
assumptions and factors, as are set out above. These projections
may also be considered to contain future oriented financial
information or a financial outlook. The actual results of the
Company's operations for any period will likely vary from the
amounts set forth in these projections and such variations may be
material. Actual results will vary from projected results. Readers
are cautioned that any such financial outlook and future-oriented
financial information contained herein should not be used for
purposes other than those for which it is disclosed herein.
The forward-looking information and statements
contained in this document speak only as of the date hereof and the
Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise
them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be
required pursuant to applicable laws.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Canadian Premium Sand
Inc. Glenn Leroux President and Chief Executive
Officer 587.350.5772glenn.leroux@cpsmail.com
Investor
RelationsIR@cpsmail.com
www.canadianpremiumsand.com
Canadian Premium Sands (TSXV:CPS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2025 to Feb 2025
Canadian Premium Sands (TSXV:CPS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Feb 2025