Ann: Quarterly Activities/Appendix 5B Cash Flow Report, page-26

My guess is that this is linked back to NF's recent comment that the financiers said this optimized DFS wouldn't be considered as a bankable feasibility study until they had a ML delivered - and so decided to hold off on issuing it until they have this ticked off. Given that having a BFS has clearly become a condition precedent for financing.

Makes sense if this is the case, though still doesn't wouldn't negate the seemingly poor strategic planning