Canadian Premium Sand Concludes Capital Optimization Review and Provides Update on Sales Activities
CALGARY, Feb. 04, 2020 - 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
587.350.5772
glenn.leroux@cpsmail.com
Investor Relations
IR@cpsmail.com
www.canadianpremiumsand.com