subject: Production start for Pine Point a perfect time, says Tamerlane Ventures [print this page] Production start for Pine Point a perfect time, says Tamerlane Ventures
www.tamerlaneventures.com 360.752.9462
Mike Willett
CEO
Optimism about continued robust demand for base metals from the world's biggest consumers, US and China, and predictions of supply shortages are further strengthening Tamerlane Ventures' (TSXV:TAM) position as a winning proposition. The company is working towards bringing the world-class zinc-lead Pine Point Property back into production in Northwest Territories, Canada, and developing its Los Pinos heap leach copper project in Peru. "Our NWT project is expected to come on line in 2013, just at the time when these base metal shortages begin. Very much like the perfect storm,' we will enter the market just when the demand for lead and zinc begins to peak," said company CEO, Mike Willett. He discusses Tamerlane's core projects and opportunities that will add to shareholder value.
Resource Intelligence: Pine Point is known as the most profitable base-metal mine in Canadian history. Do your findings so far indicate that this mine is going to live up to its impressive past? Give us some numbers.
Mike Willett: There is a an estimated 70 million tonnes of ore-grade material still in the ground, even after mining 64 million tonnes between 1964 to 1987. We have been working at bringing those resources up to NI 43-101 compliance. Currently we have 7.8 million tonnes in reserves and another 10 million tonnes in resources.
RI: What are the benefits of re-mining a past-producing mine?
MW: There are several benefits to the redevelopment of Pine Point. First, the infrastructure is still in place, specifically the surface access to the deposits and the availability of power, which reduces our overall capital costs. Second, our testing indicates that we will be able to produce the same high-grade concentrates that were produced in the past, which was very well-received by smelters.
RI: What else could you share with us to help investors evaluate the potential of this project?
MW: We are currently building a pipeline of projects at our site. Our initial project covers off six of the 42 deposits that we have. In addition, through an airborne survey completed in 2005, an additional 35 anomalies were identified, which have not been drilled yet.
RI: At what stage is the project now and what`s next to bring it to production stage?
MW: Currently we are working on updating our feasibility study from our 2008 numbers, and finalizing definitive engineering to prepare for the next stage construction. We are currently raising the funding that will allow construction to commence, which could start as early as the end of this year.
RI: What opportunities do you see in the zinc and lead markets?
MW: Both the zinc and lead markets are heating up. Prices of zinc are in the $1.10 range and lead is in the $1.20 range. These are significant increases from just a year or two ago. We see several of the major zinc mines closing over the next several years, with expected shortages starting to occur in 2013, which is when we expect our project to come on line. Very much like "the perfect storm," we will enter the market just when the demand for lead and zinc begins to peak.
RI: You're currently trading around $0.25 a share. Is this a fair valuation of the company?
MW: Prior to the meltdown of 2008/2009, our company was preparing to put the Pine Point Project into construction, and into production. Our share price had hit the $2.93 range. The market cap of Tamerlane at that time was in the range of $180 million. I see no reason why we shouldn't reach those levels again.
RI: What big news should shareholders and potential investors expect from you next and when would that be?
MW: We are working on one of our deposits, N-204, to bring it up to NI 43-101 compliance. This will add significant resources to our base. We should be able to announce results of our study sometime this month. In addition, we are working diligently at acquiring the financing to get our project rolling, and we are seeing a lot of serious interest.
RI: What value does your company immediately provide to investors?
MW: Our NWT project is one of the few that have permits and agreements in place to start production. Once financing is in place, construction will commence.
RI: How do you plan on showing continued shareholder value for shareholders?
MW: We will continue to work at bringing resources online at our site. In addition, we have our copper property, Los Pinos, which is located in Peru, and plan to focus on that once we get our Pine Point project up and running. As you know, the demand for copper is very strong, and is expected to stay that way in the foreseeable future.
RI: Where do you see Tamerlane over the next three to five years?
MW: We'll see our Pine Point project commence production and our additional deposits will provide an inventory to continue that production far into the future. Our production levels of lead and zinc will place us as a mid-tier base metal producer, here in Canada.
RI: As an investor, give me three reasons I should take a close look at Tamerlane.
MW: We have a very experienced team that has put numerous properties into production and have operated them successfully; our share structure is tight, with only 66 million shares issued; and our property in NWT has tremendous upside potential with an additional 36 deposits in the ground.
Investor Highlights:
Resource defined, permitted
Significant Zn and Pb reserves and resources
Additional exploration upside potential
Proven management team
100% owned project located in mining-friendly jurisdiction
