Liberum Capital Buy 27.65 60.00 60.00 Reiterates

Progressing well, accumulating on the dips.

Sirius Minerals PLC 120.3% Potential Upside Indicated by Liberum Capital

Posted by: Amilia Stone 16th August 2017

Sirius Minerals PLC with EPIC/TICKER (LON:SXX) has had its stock rating noted as ‘Reiterates’ with the recommendation being set at ‘BUY’ today by analysts at Liberum Capital. Sirius Minerals PLC are listed in the Basic Materials sector within AIM. Liberum Capital have set a target price of 60 GBX on its stock. This is indicating the analyst believes there is a potential upside of 120.3% from the opening price of 27.24 GBX. Over the last 30 and 90 trading days the company share price has decreased 2.85 points and increased 0.99 points respectively. The 52 week high for the stock is 52.5 GBX while the year low share price is currently 16.75 GBX.

Sirius Minerals PLC has a 50 day moving average of 31.39 GBX and a 200 Day Moving Average share price is recorded at 24.04. There are currently 4,463,103,829 shares in issue with the average daily volume traded being 5,753,604. Market capitalisation for LON:SXX is £1,242,974,433 GBP.

http://www.directorstalkinterviews.com/sirius-minerals-plc-120-3-potential-upside-indicated-by-liberum-capital/412733731

I can see the Market is excited by this mining prospect...AGM late June, in York.... but the nominal value of the shares is tiny...yet folks are prepared to pay a thousand (DYOR) times the face-value . . . when the only prospect of profit ( as in "Dividend" ), is many, many years away.
In their Video it all looks very nice and tidy...but building an underground transport system ((OK maybe a small diameter tunnel, say 1metre, but even this size will create maintenance issues... so I suspect they will need to have something over twice this, so maintenance-men can walk upright.)), The cost of tunnelling "...to Teeside..."will be enormous - never mind the potential Export monies.. . . invariably this will require a separate investment ( unless Whitby want to become a Port again?) . . . . however, underground transport will probably kill off this project . . . . For Example... where will the dirt go?
Therefore, will [SXX] "Rise Again" using eco-friendly driverless trucks ( As does Rio Tinto in Australia )..... pounding the N.York Moors . . . . whilst that is unlikely to satisfy the Eco-Flat-earthers . . . IF the reward was sufficient.... perhaps they might get an agreement . . . . or a cut-n-cover tunnel to Whitby ( or nearer Scarborough, using the seacut disturbance, so no-one would notice?
I suspect many folks will continue to push this sp, but not me until there is some visibility that my investment won't b shot to dirt.

On a +ve:- . . . it's nice to see a British prospect having World Markets in their sights.

Q2 2017 Results Earnings Conference Call

August 16, 2017 04:30 AM ET

Executives

Tom Staley - CFO

Analysts

Luke Nelson - JPMorgan

Richard Knights - Liberum

Yuen Low - Shore Capital

Presentation

Tom Staley

Good morning, everybody, and thank you for dialing in this morning. I’m please to present to you the half year results for the first half of 2017.

I’d like to start firstly safety and just to reiterate our commitment to safety as a company and the importance we placed on ensuring that we create a safe working environment for both our employees and the employees of that contractors that we develop this project.

As far as the project goes, I’m pleased to report that our progress through the period has kept us on time and on budget, and we’re very pleased with some of the achievements that we’ve made during the period. So what I’d like to do from a business review point of view is to take you through four areas: our progress, mostly in construction development; technical program and some of our corporate achievements; and then after that I’ll turn our attention to the financial review.

So starting with construction. The period started with some of the preliminary works that we were require to complete in order to facilitate commencement of work on site, and those works were predominately highway works to enable safe movement of vehicles off the highway network on to outside. And in conjunction with those activities, we also completed some services works to enable us to provide the utilities to site that we need for the construction program.

In parallel, with the construction activities, we completed a number of conditions clearing activities, and that was part of the requirements of our planning agreement which set out a number of conditions ranging from environment to -- environmental and traffic conditions work that has to be completed in order for activity on site to commence. With those conditions cleared, we were granted four more commencements to develop on site, and at that point in time, we took the opportunity to name the mine. And as you may be aware, the mine is now known as the Woodsmith Mine, Woodsmith being a combination of surname of the founding geologists of the resourcing work with Chris in the early days of the project, they being Peter Woods and Rick Smith.

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So one formal commencement of development has been granted. Construction commenced in earnest on sites and a number of key deliverable have been completed during the period, including the [indiscernible] road to provide access to the shaft-sinking platform for heavy vehicles, primitive fencing, site security and side office work, if it’s so, we take the construction. The expansion of the shaft-sinking pads has been completed and number of areas around those pads have been prepared in order for us to safely store the material loose excavated from the shaft and tunnel, once those activities commenced. A groundwater protection system has been put in place to manage any water runoff from the sites. And then to support future construction activities, we’ve now installed and commissioned a concrete batch plants and then now moving into some of the other infrastructure requirements of construction. So [indiscernible] batch plant foundation has now been laid in advance of the [indiscernible] plant being assembled, and we have commenced on preliminary de-walling activities through the construction of the guide wall and foundations for the de-walling equipment when it is delivered.

On the development side, since the beginning of the period, a substantial of that design work has been conducted under an early contractor involvement contract with IMC, and that has put us in a good place in the overall development program. In addition to that design engineering work, a number of long-laid items have been procured, the most significant of those being the orders for the permanent shop winding equipment that is require for the start of the mine in synch in 2018.

A commitment has been made to the de-walling subcontractor and that has enabled initial design and mobilization activity to commence in advance of that Diaphragm walling activity to roll.

On the tunneling side, a similar arrangement has now been put in place with our preferred partners for the tunnel, Hochtief Murphy, and so that re-involvement process has commenced and we now have Hochtief Murphy team based with appearance in [indiscernible] working on some design work for the tunnel.

For BHMS in the court, we have a number of consultant engaged with our standard development team as we continue and expand on that design work in advance of the commercial procurement prices that will commence in earnest next year.

From a development standpoint of view, I'm pleased to report that all key positions have been filled and we are now in the process of expanding out the members of those teams in order to scale up as the development activity scale up over time.

Post [indiscernible], we have now awarded Homeway to Shop Thinking scope of work to AMC, and I'll come back to this after moving through the financial review.

So on the geo-tech side, the main component of our geo-tech program is drilling that’s happening over the production shop SN14B, and that drilling is still in the [indiscernible] sandstone. We have taken a number of course and run a series of tests through the sandstone and the starter above it, And we are pleased to report that all of the findings today have been in line with expectations and support initial assumptions and design work that had been prepared on the basis of the information we have collected from the previous drilling program.

In addition to that drilling campaign, we have completed some new service geo-tech activities on site and this is helping format design work. Other geo-tech work has also taken place at both Lockwood Beck, the intermediate shaft site and some locations along the MTS route. In addition to drilling, there’s been some seismic survey work ongoing. We have now covered over one-third of the tunnel route with seismic work, and data and analysis of that work has supported our historical funding and the assumptions that had gone into the initial work that was conducted last year as part of the tender the process where HMJV was selected that preferred tunneling partner.

On the corporate side, throughout the period, we have progressively expanded the sales and marketing team and now have a number of industry leaders in place in our key market around the world. We have also commenced a new round of commercial dialogue some very significant industry participants in those key and growth markets, and that dialogue progresses well and we're working hard towards progressing that dialog into some material volume opportunities for our product. Alongside that sales and marketing effort, the crop trial program continues to expand both in number of trials into new crops, new regions and also into validation and expansion of the depths and breadth of historical programs in certain locations. As you are probably all aware, we moved to the main board in April and have subsequently been included into 42-50 index.

And on the community side, we recently completed the launch of the Sirius Mineral Foundation. For those of you who aren’t aware, that is a foundation that we have undertaken to establish, which will be the beneficiary of a revenue royalty once we are in production. We undertook to provide the foundation with an initial grant once construction has commenced, and that money will be used to run a smaller community program over the construction period until such time as revenues flow to the foundation.

So turning our attention now to the financial review on Slide 2, I’d like to start first with the income statement. The company reported an operating loss of £15 million during the period, which is predominantly driven by an increase in company activity. And as you can see, it is up from the prior corresponding period. But this is a number that you would expect to see from our spending that is in line predominantly our approach to expensing some company costs and then ultimately capitalizing predominantly the cost associated with the project.

The company reported a total loss of £151 million, and this -- difference between the total loss and the operating loss is almost entirely driven by fair value loss on derivative instruments. And whilst derivative instruments can be quite complicated, it's very important to point out that the main driver of this loss is actually the increase in share price over the period. But fundamentally, is over the period as the share price has increased over 50%, the value of the derivative associated with the convertible bonds and the royalty financings has increased in value, which has towards that to revalue that liability on our balance sheet and ultimately then flow through a loss to the P&L.

Also worth pointing out that the reverse would also be true. If the share price had fallen during the period progressively, I would be here talking to you about a significant profit.

The two key points to note in relation to the derivative movements are that they are non-cash and they move our non-cash basis as balance sheet item highly valued but had no cash impact to our operations. And over time, the derivative liabilities will ultimately be reclassified to equity, and that happened as the convertible bonds are converting to equity or as the royalty financing is drawn down.

Turning to Slide 3 and capital deployment. During the period, the company deployed £121 million in the development of financing of the project. Capital expenditure accounted £48 million of that, and in addition to that capital expenditure, there are a number of other additional financial commitments that I mentioned during the business review, such as the permanent the permanent winding and the de-walling activities. These items are not reflected in the accounts but represent commitment to work that will occur through the second half of this year and in some instances into next year.

We have also provided £35 million in local authority security requirements, and this is largely driven by an obligation in our planning arrangements to provide money in Escrow for funds that we will pay to local communities over the subsequent 10-year period.

The final item I’ve notes, financing costs and the amount you can see there, £23 million, relates to interests and make all payments for the convertible bonds.

Turning now to Slide 3, and total funds, what we’ve provided there is a table to give you a sense of our total funding position and the breakdown between available cash and restricted cash. So the key points to note that we have £585 million in total funds, £491 million of that is available cash and £94 million is restricted, and the restricted cash includes both the local authority requirements I just touched and also the convertible bond Escrow.

Our holding split in the number of currencies. We currently hold 55% GDB sterling, 40% U.S. dollars and 5% euros, and we have been in the process of acquiring or purchasing further euros and Canadian dollars following the award of the shaft-sinking scope, which I will come on to.

So turning now to Slide 5. In July, the shaft-sinking scope was formerly awarded to AMC, and that scope of work encompasses approximately three quarters of the mine site development line item that was outlined in the Stage 1 financing plan. So the remainder scope of work that’s not included in shaft-sinking scope relates to items such as site preparation, the provision of utilities to the site and the contract and shaft bottom development. And so for those particular scopes that work like site preparation, we had a local earth-lift contractor conducting the scope of work to-date, and the provision of utilities, we are managing directly with options for the provision of electricity and water from local providers.

As we previously articulated to the market, the commercial nature of the contract with AMC is one of risk-sharing, and this has been structured using a “target price paying share, gain share mechanism,” where the target price and share to agree, any increases in performance both in time in budget are for the benefit of both the project and the contractor and any delays will cost over resulting an adverse economic outcome for both parties. And we feel this is the best commercial approach to managing some of the risks associated with the shaft-sinking scope of work. Certainly important to point out that the target price of the scope of work is consistent with the project budget and the target date for reaching both [indiscernible] completion are consistent with those dates outlined in the project schedule.

In terms of cost and currency, it's our expectation that approximately 55% of the circle work will be in pounds sterling, 30% in euro and 15% in Canadian dollars, and as I mentioned, there we are now in the process of ensuring that we have appropriate amounts of both euro and Canadian dollar to mitigate our exposures under that arrangements.

So with that, I would like to now turn to Q&A and answer any questions that anyone may have. Thank you.

Question-and-Answer Session

Operator

[Operator Instructions] And our first question comes from the line of Luke Nelson of JPMorgan. Please go ahead. Your line is now open.

Luke Nelson

Hi, Tom, a couple of questions. Firstly on the shaft contract award, can you just concern whether that has -- whether that’s also been signed by AMC?

Tom Staley

Yes, we formally awarded in the contract with the bonding letter and the contract attached to it. There are three or four processes that are ongoing at the moment, and the contract it self is expected to be signed very shortly. We are really just in the process now of just [indiscernible] an increased rating of the schedules to make sure everything is in order. But that formal award and the issue of the bonding letter and singing of that locks in all of the headline in key commercial terms of the arrangements.

Luke Nelson

And then previously you’ve sort of indicated around de-walling completion by January-February next year, given the process that you have been through with awarding and still awaiting signing of the contract. Should we maybe thinking a bit of pushback on the timing of that or not really?

Tom Staley

So we had indicated that our milestone for 2017 with the substantially complete the Diaphragm walling components of the production and services shafts, and we are still confident that we can deliver on that. But what we will do as part of our next quarterly update is provide a little bit more color around the activities that will happen as part of the Diaphragm walling program in the four-shaft design to give people some more color around what will be delivered over the balance of this year. But we are confident with where we are at in terms of program. The mobilization of the de-walling has taken a little bit longer than what we would have liked. But that really -- what we were looking to do there was actually get ahead of the schedule as appose to deliver on the schedule by getting some of that mobilization activity complete soon rather than later.

Luke Nelson

Yes, fine. And then final question just changing tack a bit on to marketing. I mean we are setting here in August and we're not that far from heading into 2018, so I suppose it’s becoming more acute in terms of the timing on Stage 2 funding and suppose through that is walling commitment. So just could you outline the strategy going forward in terms of walling commitments, when we might expect some announcements on commitments and whether you - are you comfortable with the way you fit from a marketing and all heading into H2 had to for 2018?

Tom Staley

Yeah. So we obviously need to get some more off-take agreements in place, and we are working towards having some new off-take agreements into incremental volume in place by the end of the year. But we've got a handful of opportunities that we're working very hard on at the moment, and we're positive that we can get some of those opportunities turned into agreement at some stage over the balance of this year. And then ultimately what we're working towards is having the required amounts of off-take agreements in place before we execute the Stage 2 financing in the second half of 2018. So there is still quite a bit of time out there, but very clearly I wanted to emphasize that we have the target of gaining more off-take agreements in place this year, and we're positive about being able to achieve that.

Luke Nelson

Okay, thank you.

Operator

Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Richard Knights of Liberum. Please go ahead. Your line is open.

Richard Knights

Hi, Tom. Just a question regarding the shaft contract, anymore flavor you can give around the types of incentives that are included and penalties in that contract and any sort of indication you can give on what realistic flex either side of the £730 million? Obviously, it’s a pretty open-ended question, but is there any more color you can give on that?

Tom Staley

So I can't give you a whole lot because it's obviously commercially confident, but other than to say that the mechanism is pretty simple in nature. There is a significant financial incentive or penalty, depending on which way it goes, in relation to the cost of the project coming in below the target for us or the schedule coming in ahead of schedule, and then equally it goes the same way to the extent that the target price is exceeded or the schedule is exceeded. Then there is a meaningful financial penalty on the contract. So I appreciate that that's not -- that's probably not the level detail that you would ideally like, but unfortunately due to just the commercial sensitivity of the arrangement, that’s all I can provide you.

Operator

Thank you. [Operator Instructions] And our next question comes from the line of Yuen Low of Shore Capital. Please go ahead. Your line is now open.

Yuen Low

Could you tell us whether you’ve been having any stock with Global Capital?

Tom Staley

So we’re looking at -- as you know, we’re looking at a number of option for port infrastructure in relation to both developing our own greenfield both facility on the land that we aren’t on the Tees River but also looking at ways we could get access to the Redcar Bulk Terminal. There are a number of stakeholders in that terminal, Global Capital being one of them. And as part of exploring opportunities to access that bulk terminal, we have had discussions and are in ongoing dialogue with all stakeholders associated with that facility.

Yuen Low

Could you also tell us more about the permitting process for the design for shaft? How that’s going and when that needs to be completed by?

Tom Staley

Yes. So that focus is progressing well. We have been in dialogue with the stakeholders of that approval process prior to making the application and then now we are involve with the consultants associated with that application. It’s our anticipation that that process will conclude in October of this year and that will work in well with the overall schedule of the development program.

Yuen Low

Are you able to shed any light on the finding of drilling to-date in relation to the [indiscernible]. You undertake - are there any indications that you can use the lying regime of indicators or will there be any changer?

Tom Staley

So we have taken cores out of the sandstone that have demonstrated that there are some features in the sandstone as we expected. We’re actually pleased to come across some fishes, because it actually gives up a benchmark against what we are expecting to find in terms of the types of graphs that we might use and the volumes of graphs that will be required, because as you know that graphing is certainly part of our construction raging, we’re pleased to report that though both fishes are quite tight and consistent with what our expectations have been. In addition to that we also will run a number of packet tests which will provide us with more information and understanding as to how those fishes will be hived through that graphing process. So everything we’re going to-date is consistent with all of the consumptions that have gone into our initial lining design and now we are using the information just as a refine the work that have been done.

Operator

Thank you very much. There are no further questions. I’ll hand the call back to Thomas for closing comments.

Tom Staley

Okay. I’d like to thank everyone for dialing in and look forward to speaking to you again later in this year. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Christine and we will hope to provide you with anything we can. Thank you.

Operator

This now concludes our call. Thank you for attending. Participants, you may disconnect your lines.

.

I can see at this rate of small drops, support at 26.15p being revisited in the near future

Mining companies 'in talks' over potential buyout for potash operation which employs 750 staff in east Cleveland - Stuart Arnold @Arnie_NEcho

A MINING company which plans to dig up a natural crop fertiliser from the North York Moors could snap up a long-standing potash mine just a few miles down the road.

Sirius Minerals is understood to be in talks with Israeli Chemicals Ltd (ICL), the owner of the Boulby potash mine in east Cleveland, about a potential sale of the plant.

Despite a number of job cuts in recent years, ICL remains east Cleveland’s biggest employer with 750 staff.

Sirius overcame a number of planning hurdles to gain permission to extract the fertiliser polyhalite from Sneaton, near Whitby, at a development known as the Woodsmith mine, and expects to create up to a thousand direct jobs when production begins in late 2021.

ICL is turning away from traditional potash mining, reserves of which are declining, in order to concentrate its operations on mining polyhalite from under the North Sea, which it markets as polysulphate.

The synergies don’t end there with Sirius planning to ship its polyhalite to Wilton, near Redcar, where it will be stored before being shipped from a new harbour on the River Tees.

ICL already has a portside operation at Tees Dock and its own railway transporting goods in and out of Boulby.

Reports from Israel suggest ICL has held discussions with Sirius to sell its British mining operations for a price that could reach between $150m and $200m.

Israeli news website haaretz.com said a delegation of executives from Sirius was in Israel last week to advance the talks.

Polyhalite, a natural fertiliser, is said to aid crop growth due to its potassium, magnesium, sulphur and calcium nutrients.

ICL hopes to extract and handle a million tonnes a year of it by 2019. Sirius, meanwhile, said earlier this month that it was talking to potential customers around the world after confirming its plans remained on time and on budget.

Polyhalite generates bigger cash revenues than potash because it doesn’t require as much processing and uses the same mining and logistic facilities.

ICL, which has interests in Israel, Hong Kong, China and Japan is said to be attempting to sell off its non-core operations in order to reduce the group’s debt.

A spokesman said: “The company is exploring options for co-operation, purchase or sale of companies and assets. When any of these options becomes concrete, the company will report it as required by law.”

A spokesman for Sirius said: “We do not comment on market rumours. We have commercial discussions with multiple partners at all times – we only ever comment on them if they reach a position that requires them to be disclosed to the stock market, in line with our obligations."

Former Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop said: “The two joining forces in some way, shape or form was always something we felt would be on the cards.

“This sounds pretty feasible and if it keeps the jobs for the guys at the site going forward, I’d welcome it and it’d be good for the local economy as it keeps a lot of families on good incomes.

“It’s a good conversation to be having if it provides more assurances for the existing site and workforce.

“Sirius have got some serious capital behind them, they have got people who know a lot about the mining industry, and furthermore it might bring more jobs to the Teesport area in terms of the distribution operation.”

Quarterly development update
§ The project remains on time and on budget
§ Diaphragm walling activities commencing at the Woodsmith site
§ Optimisation opportunities being progressed across several project components

Sirius Minerals Plc provide its latest quarterly development update.

Chris Fraser, Managing Director and CEO of Sirius, comments:
"Activity levels at the Woodsmith Mine continue to increase every month and now step up significantly as we commence diaphragm walling activities. Our team, including both employees and contractors, continues to grow as we expand the Company's execution capability and we are pleased with the progress being made and the positive attitude across the expanding team."

http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=5684277

A bit here on SXX chart wise.

Flippin' heck skinny.......so, having read that it could go up, but it could also go down,....badly down,....but probably won't stay where it is (mucking around)!
But 'The tea leaves indicate' ......'with our customary note of caution'.....

Having said all that, sp looking interesting to buy for a long term view. :o)

Looking more positive.

POLY4 Offtake Agreement - South East Asia

§ Take or pay offtake agreement for sale of POLY4 to Wilmar Group, a leading agribusiness group, for use and resale exclusively in South East Asia
§ Seven-year agreement with volumes ramping up to 750,000 tonnes per annum
§ Pricing mechanism consistent with the Company's portfolio of existing offtake agreements


Sirius Minerals Plc ("Sirius" or the "Company") announces the signing of a binding take or pay offtake agreement ("the Agreement") to supply POLY4 to PT Chemical Indonesia, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wilmar Group ("Wilmar") for exclusive resale into key South East Asian territories including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines and Myanmar.

Wilmar is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange and is one of the leading agribusinesses in South East Asia with extensive distribution channels, a mature logistics network in the region and over 250,000 hectares of its own farming operations. South East Asia is one of the fastest growing fertilizer regions in the world, with a population of over 650 million people.

The prices to be paid pursuant to the Agreement are calculated using a formula linked to the market price of certain nutrients contained in POLY4 and is broadly in line with the Company's existing supply agreements.

The term of the Agreement is for an initial seven years following initial production which may be extended by a further three years by Wilmar. The Agreement has a delivery schedule of up to 750,000 tpa in the seventh year. In addition, Wilmar has an option to increase the minimum volumes of supply up to 1 million tpa.

Chris Fraser, Managing Director and CEO of Sirius, comments:

"We are delighted to be partnering with one of the largest and most established fertilizer buyers and distributors in South East Asia. Wilmar is a partner with the capacity to reach a diverse customer base through well established, trusted relationships. South East Asia is a fast-growing market which provides Sirius with an attractive opportunity to further diversify and grow our current portfolio of customers."

I assume that spike is false data?

Looks good though! All MAM closing prices appear to be wrong.

Never mind this should make us feel better.

By Peter Stephens | Tuesday, 21st November, 2017


Why Sirius Minerals plc is a growth bargain I’d buy and hold for 25 years


The time horizon of investors varies significantly. However, one thing which many appear to share is an impatience to generate profit from their investments. This is understandable, since it can be hugely frustrating when a stock price fails to rise as much as had been expected at the outset. Worse still, a falling share price and paper losses can lead to even more disappointment.

However, patience in underperforming shares can be significantly rewarded in the long run. One stock which could be a prime example of this is Sirius Minerals (LSE: SXX). The mining company has disappointed in recent months and is down almost 10% in the last six months. However, in the long run the company could deliver high returns.

Slow and steady progress
This year has seen Sirius Minerals make rather ‘slow and steady’ progress. Its operations have moved forward as anticipated, with the company’s Woodsmith Mine developing as expected. There have been offtake agreements signed as the business builds up its marketing capabilities ahead of first production in just under four years’ time. And with crop studies showing that the company’s polyhalite fertiliser could potentially perform better than other options, the Sirius outlook has remained positive throughout the year.

Risks
However, market sentiment has been downbeat of late and it seems that some investors are still unsure about the level of risk the company faces. For example, the project is still in its early days, and there are various risks which could lead to higher costs and/or delays to the first production start date. Furthermore, there is a lack of certainty on the company’s future success at marketing the product, nor is there complete clarity on pricing.

Returns
Despite these risks, Sirius Minerals seems to have high return potential. Further offtake agreements could be signed over the next few years which could help to build investor confidence in its outlook. Progress on further financing initiatives may also help to generate improving investor sentiment. And if the company’s project can remain on track, its forecasts for production volumes and profitability in future years may seem to be more realistic. This could lead to a higher share price in the long run, which is why the company could be worth holding for a sustained period of time.

StockMarketWire.com
Sirius Minerals said its Woodsmith mine project in North Yorkshire remained on track to deliver first polyhalite and commercial production on time and on budget.

Current diaphragm walling activities are about two months behind schedule following some delays commissioning equipment and adverse weather conditions.

The company, however, said it was confident the "small loss of time" would be recovered over the remainder of the project schedule.

Sirius said it was continuing negotiations with a number of potential customers in multiple regions.

Activities relating to the stage two financing process of the project would gather momentum as the coming year unfolds, it added.

SXX off to china with T May:

https://news.sky.com/story/downing-street-races-to-clinch-deals-ahead-of-mays-china-visit-11222951

Given a buy recommendation in this week's I.C.

Sirius signs shaft sinking contract with DMC Mining Services

Improved shaft sinking methodology opens opportunities to accelerate first polyhalite by up to six months

§ Design and build contract for the construction of all shafts has been entered into with DMC

§ Proven SBR systems to be used for the construction of the deep shafts for Sirius

§ DMC incentivised for early completion vs existing target price and schedule guidance



Sirius Minerals Plc ("Sirius" or the "Company") announce that it has entered into a design and build contract with DMC Mining Services UK Ltd and DMC Mining Services Ltd, both subsidiaries of KGHM Polska Miedz SA ("KGHM"), for the construction of the four shafts required for its polyhalite project in North Yorkshire. DMC Mining Services ("DMC") is one of the world's leading shaft sinking and mining contractors.

Sirius has been in extended discussions with AMC UK Ltd ("AMC") in respect of finalising the shaft sinking contract following the "notice of award" in July 2017 which anticipated execution of a finalised contract shortly afterwards. Due to protracted discussions with AMC regarding commercial arrangements Sirius engaged with DMC and other shaft sinking companies in parallel to consider alternatives.

Through this process, it has become clear that DMC, with their extensive and proven shaft sinking experience, are a strong construction partner for Sirius and will bring technical opportunities and a commercial partnership that can unlock potential savings in the construction schedule. Sirius has therefore entered into a design and build contract with DMC and has terminated ongoing arrangements it had for the shafts with AMC.

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