Alkane Resources (ASX:ALK) - Gold production from the mid-grade stockpile at Tomingley continues to perform above our expectations, resulting in a second upgrade of our production estimates this year. We increase forecast gold (Au) production for FY19 to 48,000oz (from 44,000oz on 2 May 2019, previously 40,000oz on 12 February 2019). As a result, we also increase forecast gold sold to 52,800oz (from 48,800oz). The increased production levels also result in a lower all-in sustaining cost (AISC), which decreases to A$1,004/oz Au (from A$1,059/oz Au). Alkane also announced a binding agreement with Zirconium Technology Corporation to fund a pilot plant operation to convert metal oxides into metals.
Underground development continues apace
Alkane’s transition to underground mining is on schedule and on budget. The company expects first ore stoping to commence in August 2019.
Strategic agreement with Zircon Tech
Alkane has entered into a strategic agreement with South Korean company, Zirconium Technology Corporation (Zircon Tech). The agreement will see Alkane invest US$1.2m in return for a 10% holding in a newly established company, which will hold an exclusive licence to all intellectual property and expertise associated with the electrolytic processing technology. Alkane will also have exclusive global rights to use the technology at commercial scale for zirconium and hafnium processing.
Technology could improve economics at Dubbo
Alkane has entered into the strategic agreement with Zircon Tech, as it believes the technology could improve the economics of the Dubbo polymetallic project by replacing the high-energy Kroll process with an electrolytic process that converts metal oxides into metals.
Valuation: Increased on Tomingley improvements
Our updated valuation factors in Alkane’s increased share price to A$0.305 (vs A$0.24 previously), increased cash flow from Tomingley, the transaction value of the Zircon Tech agreement and a minor increase in the market valuation of Alkane’s 15% interest in Calidus Resources. These factors increase our valuation of Tomingley plus Alkane’s investments to A$0.34/share from A$0.30/share. Assuming Alkane secures development funding for Dubbo and the prices of metals improve to the level it expects over the next three years, our valuation could increase to A$0.53/share from A$0.47/share.
Business description
Alkane Resources is an Australian production and development company. It previously produced 70,000oz of gold per year from the open pit operations at its Tomingley gold mine, but is now transitioning to underground operations and expects to produce around 32,000oz of gold pa.
Higher grades lead to second FY19 forecast upgrade
As in Q319 (ending 31 March 2019), the period ending 31 May 2019 saw Alkane processing higher grades from the mid-grade stockpile at Tomingley. As a result, we have upgraded our forecasts for the year.
Financials
Alkane’s management has provided an updated guidance range for Gold production at Tomingley of 48,000–49,000oz, up from 42,000–47,000oz previously. Cost guidance for FY19 has reduced to between $950/oz and $1,050/oz as a result.
We therefore increase our gold production forecasts for FY19 to 48,000oz of gold from 44,000oz. Forecast gold sales increase to 52,800oz Au from our previous 48,800oz Au. We reduce our forecast AISC has to A$1,004/oz Au from A$1,059/oz Au. Revenue for FY19 increases to A$92.1m from A$85.1m, with cost of sales increasing to A$47.7m from A$45.7m. As a result, EBITDA increases to A$34.9m from A$29.9m and PBT to A$28.4m from A$23.5m (see Exhibit 1).
Valuation
The total effect of the updates to our forecasts is an increase in our valuation of the Tomingley Gold Mine to A$0.33/share from A$0.29/share, with our valuation of Alkane’s 15.2% holding in Calidus Resources unchanged at A$0.012/share. We value the Zircon Tech investment at a transaction value of A$0.003/share.
While our forecasts for the Dubbo project have not changed, the increase in Alkane’s share price to A$0.305/share vs A$0.24/share in our last note (published on 2 May) means that we forecast a lower amount of dilution relating to the potential equity component of funding the Dubbo project, which increases our valuation per share. We continue to assume that Alkane secures initial development funding for Dubbo in CY20 and that the prices of metals improve to the level that Alkane expects over the next three years. On this basis, our valuation could increase to A$0.53/share (previously A$0.47/share).
Zirconium Technology Corporation agreement
On 6 June, Alkane agreed a binding agreement with Zirconium Technology Corporation whereby it will invest US$1.2m to secure a 10% interest in a newly established company that will hold an exclusive licence to all intellectual property and expertise associated with the electrolytic processing technology. Alkane also retains exclusive global rights to use the technology at commercial scale for zirconium and hafnium processing.
Alkane has also agreed to provide an additional loan of US$0.6m to the new company, at market-based rates, should the plant require additional capital. Alkane will have the right to convert the loan into an equity interest.
The new company will use the investment from Alkane to construct a pilot plant at Chungnam National University’s (CNU) Department of Materials Science and Engineering, located in Daejeon, South Korea. The pilot plant will use rare earth oxides, zirconium dioxide and hafnium oxide extracted from the Dubbo project and Alkane has the right to market the finished product.
The plant is expected to operate through 2019 and 2020, during which period commercialisation discussions will be advanced.
Potential impact of the technology for Alkane
There are three principal benefits to Alkane from commercialising Zircon Tech’s processing technology:
The first is the potential to use a carbon-free and environmentally superior processing technology to the traditional Kroll process, to make nuclear and industrial-grade zirconium metal, high-purity hafnium and rare earth metals at the Dubbo project.
Secondly, Zircon Tech’s processing technology has the potential to reduce metallisation costs for zirconium, hafnium and rare earth metals by 50%. As these metals account for 87% of the potential revenue generated over the life of mine at the Dubbo project, any reduction in metallisation costs for these products would have a significant impact on Alkane’s bottom line.
Thirdly, the technology uses solid oxide membranes (SOM) that are made from yttria-stabilised zirconia to replace carbon electrodes. If this technology is proven to work on a commercial scale for any of the major industrial metals, it is likely to create significant demand for both yttrium and zirconium, both of which the Dubbo project can produce.
Recent exploration results at Tomingley
Alkane has now defined significant gold mineralisation at three prospects around the Tomingley mine: Roswell, San Antonio and El Paso. All three prospects are located within 7km of the processing plant and with further work these prospects could provide additional feed for mill, extending the life of the operation beyond 2022.
The near-mine drill programme at the Tomingley Underground Mine is continuing and further drill results are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. A follow-up programme of ground magnetics and drilling is being planned at the El Paso prospect.
