Although analysts were positive about the announcements, one of the key messages was the rising cost of the major iron ore expansion, which the miner said would be around $US180 a tonne.
A $US7.4 billion iron ore expansion announced on Friday, of which BHP's share is $US6.6bn, will rapidly increase operations in Western Australia's Pilbara region, with mine, rail and port developments to support an expansion to more than 220 million tonnes a year.
BHP's cost of expansion is higher than plans by Pilbara rivals: Rio Tinto's production increases will cost about $US130 a tonne, and Fortescue Metals Group has suggested it can lift its output at about $US84 a tonne.
Quite a difference between the 3 big boys. $180 per ton is expansion costs not mining costs which at the present is about $40 per ton for BHP. The $3.3b BHP is spending to develop the Jimblebar mine works out at approx $93 per ton based on initial mining of 35mtpa A years mining covers the development costs. Whats it going to cost PLV to mine per ton including all de costs incurred so far and further capital outlays. ie How after it starts mining does it take PLV to start making a profit?
PLV Price at posting:
79.7¢ Sentiment: LT Buy Disclosure: Held
