Cashflow prediction quarter, page-45

Hi Rocket, I disagree that mine gate costs should be doubled. Mine gate costs are mostly fixed costs, not variable. For example, the majority of the mine gate (production costs) are labour and equipment. Mining costs are probably paid for on a per bcm basis, but there will also be standby costs etc so ultimately, regardless of the material being moved, the contractor will be earning a relatively fixed amount.

So I am predicting that the mine gate costs will flatten out at about $8m per month. If production volumes increases then the unit cost (per dmtu produced) will decrease, but the total expenditure will be flat.

This is the opposite to the logistics cost which are (almost) all purely variable and therefore all paid for on a per tonne hauled or shipped basis.