Ann: Portal Cut for Kanmantoo Decline Commences, page-20

The possibility of the MC51 running into trouble or taking longer to get to the end of the decline than originally expected has to be a possibility.There is also a chance it could have a much better outcome than expected. Place your bets.

When I read in relation to Vale's trial “Although progress is expected to be slower at first as production is ramped up, the MRE (MC51) is expected to eventually cut through about 3.5 m of rock per shift. At that rate, the 400 m trial should take about nine to 12 months, and continue into 2022.” I thought our 4 to 5 month forecast for 500m was a bit ambitious.

However the maths of 400m / 3.5m = 114 shifts. presuming there are two shifts a day thats only 57 days which is nothing like 9 to 12 months. This from a more recent article might explain some of the difference "The machine is scheduled to carry out a 1,400 m initial test run at the mine, according to Komatsu,"

The maths based on 1,400m would take the time at 3.5m a shift up to 199 days which makes more sense

Our 500m on the maths could take 71 days at 3.5m per shift.

If 199 days is reported as 9 to 12 months then our 71 days based on the same logic looks like 3.2 to 4.3 months. Which is reflected in the presentation time lines.

It will be interesting if this Pioneering route leads to a better cleaner and cheaper cost.

If not I guess its back to plan A and the tried and well tested path of Drill and Blast.

MRE ? Mechanical Rock Excavator ???? It's a shame that MRE means something quite different in the mining arena.