Aurelia Metals Limited (AMI) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

February 24, 2022

Australian Securities Exchange AU Materials Metals and Mining earnings 44 min

Earnings Call Speaker Segments

Operator

operator
#1

Thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Aurelia Metals H1 FY '22 Financial Results Investor Call. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to hand the conference over to Mr. Dan Clifford, Managing Director. Please go ahead.

Daniel Clifford

executive
#2

Thanks, Melanie. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our half year results call this morning. With me, I have Ian Poole and Peter Trout. Before we get started, I think it's a point of reflection for where we are at the moment with the milestone of reaching another reporting period. For some time during the last -- now the last reporting periods, I've been generally expressing our objectives as creating a strong foundation for value, now that via discovery, acquisition, the operating of our assets and the subsequent extension of them. I think now when we look back and thinking forward for the business, now I think the discussion is shifting towards actual execution and what we think we can or what we will be building off this platform or foundation in terms of value. But just to start, we're going to look over the shoulder a little bit with our operating performance through the first half of the financial year, our financial performance and cash generating foundation, and then as I said a bit earlier, I think what's important is we shift the discussion to what can be and what will be built going forward. I'll move to Slide 6. I am actually immensely proud of our business and what we've managed to achieve in a reasonable period of time with significant improvements across safety, health, environment and, of course, the onset of COVID into our businesses or across our states. Although I must say there remains a lot of drive required yet in the sector, and this comment for me comes about with -- you don't have to look hard and around our industry or business at the moment. Things like the Rio report, AFR reports through Newcrest, the ongoing dialogue around Parliament House to see that there is significant drive required within our sector. And from myself and our management team and the Board, our attitude towards this is now shifting from either one of being response and reaction to actual energetic participation. So extending our arms further around health and safety, environment, our community but also the ground [ treating ] for our people in terms of employee experience through surveys and on-the-ground assessment of how our business is performing. And this -- just to summarize this point, this is actually about ensuring that we are building or we're going to build off what I would call a truly progressive and healthy foundation. Let's move on to Slide 7, extending that discussion on the foundation. Gold up 18% with Dargues significantly offsetting Hera's lowering contribution to the business. Copper is down, although half 1, a bit softer than we're expecting for half 2 in this financial year. Lead is even. Zinc, strongly up. And across the board on base metals and gold, we are the beneficiaries of some very healthy prices. And with that, our all-in sustaining costs remaining at FY '21 levels. Move over to Slide 8. Our operating guidance is as per our discussions on the December quarterly during mid-January. We have had some discussion around on Omicron impacts. From our perspective at Aurelia, I think it's fair to say we are seeing the Omicron impacts appearing to reduce across our business. It's interesting between the operations all being different and also in head office in Brisbane, the impacts are all quite wide and varied, but I think we are seeing that reducing, which is great to see. That being said, with the Western Australian borders opening and travel and movement of labor, we could see that somewhat offset the Omicron reduction when it comes to labor availability across our businesses. So I think just talking to those first couple of slides, I think really in summary of those, I think it's very clear and we believe we have created a solid and healthy foundation in which the business can move forward. Moving over to Slide 10. The next key or cog in this drive chain is our financial position to enable us to build off this foundation. Our revenue is up to $235 million. Just remembering, I think looking back on the full year of FY '21, it was just over $400 million for the full year. So you can see our run rate on revenue increasing. Statutory EBITDA up to approximately $80 million, although our impacts are down with increased D&A and, as flagged earlier, this year with the inclusion of Dargues into the portfolio. Generating mine -- operating mine cash flow has been maintained. Net mine cash flow, down with increased capital. That's across both -- particularly across sustaining, but that's with the inclusion of the third asset to the business. And our group cash flow is down. After the net position in this year -- or this half, we've actually spent plus what we're spending in the prior corresponding period on exploration expenditure. Puts us in a position to end at December 31 with $95 million cash at bank. With that, I'll just hand over to Ian for some more detail into the financial performance. Thanks, Ian.

Ian Poole

executive
#3

Thanks, Dan. We're on Slide 11. So the revenue for the period improved by 13% to $235 million compared to the prior corresponding period. Realized A-dollar prices computed 4% of the improved revenue for the period with increased prices for all base metals, partly offset by a reduction in the gold price. Increased volumes contributed 9% of the improved revenue, including the contribution of gold concentrate from Dargues, which was acquired in December 2020. It's more than offset the lower gold volumes at Peak and Hera. And the higher lead and zinc sales offset the lower copper sales. Spot pricing for all Aurelia's commodities are now higher than the average realized in the first half. If you go to Slide 12, the underlying EBITDA for the period was $84 million. The net profit before tax of the period was $40 million and the net profit after tax was $7.5 million. As shown in the waterfall graph, major changes in the net profit before tax compared to the prior corresponding period were an increase in base metal revenues at Peak and Hera due to improved prices and quantities of concentrate, which resulted in increased cost at Peak and Hera because of the timing of shipments and costs associated with concentrate sales. Gold revenue at Hera and Peak, less than the prior corresponding period due to lower head grades and mill throughput at both Peak and Hera. Gold revenue from Dargues operations offset the decrease in gold revenue at Peak and Hera. And the -- there was a $48 million of operating cost at Dargues, which included $30 million of depreciation and amortization, accordingly contributed $28 million of the EBITDA for the period. One of the key costs for the period and has been a query about us was around depreciation charges, which was $63 million, which is broken down into Peak of $22 million, Hera is about $10 million and Dargues at $30 million. So the depreciation charge is really based on a unit of production basis. So we look at the total cost of the mine, what we've -- what the cost -- what the capital costs are now as well as into the future and then we determine what we charge, so it's a variable cost. So that will -- depending on our level of production, that would determine the depreciation charge. So next, I'd like to go to Slide 13, which is cash flow. As Dan said, there was $97 million of operating cash flow, mine cash flow for the period, which was used to fund $35 million of sustaining capital at the 3 operating sites, noting that Kairos development at Peak was growth capital in 2021, which is now classified as sustaining capital. We had $6 million of growth capital for the feasibility study at Federation and the EIS as well as the Hera camp expansion to enable the next stages of the Federation project. Gold and mineral exploration spend during the period included the infill drilling programs at Federation and at Cobar as -- our exploration program at Great Cobar as well as other near-mine and regional exploration programs. We also had $10 million of cash backing for our environmental bonding obligations and an $8 million reduction in the term debt facility, which resulted in a net increase of $21 million in cash for the period and giving us a closing cash balance of $95 million and net cash position of $55 million, which means that we're well-placed to continue to fund our organic growth projects. I'd now like to hand back to Dan.

Daniel Clifford

executive
#4

Thanks, Ian. So just in looking at that solid EBITDA, continued strong cash generation with our exploration and through the continuation of investment into exploration and extending of these assets, I think really, in summary, it really does put us again in a very healthy position. It's what I mentioned earlier about moving from talking about building the platform to actually -- or foundation to actually building on that foundation. So with that, I'll hand over to you, Peter.

Peter Trout

executive
#5

Thanks, Dan, and good morning to everyone on the call. I'll be speaking to Slides 15 and 16 of the presentation deck. And further to Dan's comments, over the half, we've substantially progressed our internal growth portfolio with 2 projects now moving forward to execution. Our most advanced projects, being Federation and Great Cobar, are set to deliver life extensions to our Hera and Peak mine, and that will underpin future cash flows for the business. Now Dargues Mine, surface drilling is now testing targets outside the mineral resource footprint. In parallel, stakeholder consultation and environmental assessments are underway to support an application to modify the project's development consent. We continue to be excited by the Federation project, given this -- like Kairos is only 10 kilometers from our Hera mine and has some of the best lead/zinc grades of any new mining project. The feasibility study is progressing well and remains on track for completion in the middle of this calendar year. In January, we released drill intercepts with some spectacular grades, and drilling continues to extend the deposit outside the mining area identified in last year's scoping study. We've now reached the data cutoff date for the feasibility study's geological model, with the drilling results collected over the last half year now being incorporated into an updated mine design. I think it's significant that drilling is yet to find the limits of the Federation deposit. We're looking at a feasibility study of delivering us what will be a starter project. It provides a platform that will extend production from the Hera-Federation complex into the next decade. There's also been some excellent progress with project permitting and approvals over the half year. We've received all regulatory approvals required for the exploration decline at Federation, and the project's environmental impact statement has been finalized. We anticipate that the EIS will be available imminently for public exhibition and comment, which is a significant milestone for the project. At site, stage 1 of the Hera camp expansion has been completed, allowing us to accommodate the additional workforce required for the surface civil works and exploration decline development that we expect to commence in the coming months. And separate from the feasibility study, 5 drill rigs are operating at Federation to further extend the limits of the deposit, which remain open in several directions. Results from this drill program will inform an updated mineral resource estimate that's expected midyear. Turning to Slide 16. We published the findings of the Great Cobar Pre-Feasibility Study in January and are now moving towards project execution, with the underground access declines planned to start in July of this year. PFS supported the development of a new satellite mine. Based on initial mining area at Great Cobar and the declaration of a maiden 840,000-tonne ore reserve, that will more than offset mining depletion at the Peak mine this financial year. The PFS also showed that mining at Great Cobar could deliver 2.3 million tonnes of feed to the Peak Mines process plant over a nominal 5-year production period to produce high-quality copper/gold concentrate and gold/silver doré. Similar to Federation, the Great Cobar mine development will provide underground drill platforms to unlock the upside potential of the deposit, and that's supported by the recent deeper drilling intercepts from our surface drilling campaign that postdate the PFS data set and were therefore not included in the PFS findings. And on that note, I'll hand back to Dan for closing comments.

Daniel Clifford

executive
#6

Thanks, Peter. I think it's pretty clear to see here that the building now is -- has or is about to commence imminently on this foundation, something that we -- as I mentioned earlier, looking back as to where we've got 31 December, it has been a terrific milestone and a real inflection point for where the business is. So with that, Melanie, I'd like to hand to questions, please.

Operator

operator
#7

[Operator Instructions] The first question comes from Dylan Kelly with Ord Minnett.

Dylan Kelly

analyst
#8

Thanks very much for the layout of today's results, particularly with the tables that just give us a quick reconciliation back to the underlying numbers. Ian, I think it's your time to shine. When it comes to the D&A, can you just talk us through how do we think about Dargues rolling forward? Should we just assume whatever the carrying value of the asset is today divided by the amount of tonnes sitting in reserve should give us a D&A number rolling forward? And just a second question to add to it. So on the tax, what's the -- I was expecting an outflow for the quarter but it seems like you've got a refund. What's the look-forward here in terms of -- for the remainder of this calendar year in terms of cash tax payments?

Ian Poole

executive
#9

Okay. I'll answer the depreciation question first. So for Dargues, we used the production target as our basis. So if you take the production target and divide it by the cost base, then that gives you your pro rata. So that's particularly a quick and dirty way of doing it. So divide the production -- the depreciation for the period by the ounces and then that gives you a rate, and that should be a pretty good proxy for the rate going forward.

Dylan Kelly

analyst
#10

Okay. Understood.

Ian Poole

executive
#11

Okay. And then from a tax perspective, so we had an inflow of tax or refund -- tax refund during the period, which is just a really tax payment's timing on the accelerated deductions that we claimed last year but got refund for this year. That's why it would be inflow rather than outflow. But going forward, over the balance of this year, we would -- there'll be some tax outflows but really, really modest because we have a reasonable tax shelter because of the purchase price of Dargues and that government also has provided accelerated tax deductions.

Dylan Kelly

analyst
#12

Okay, understood. So that -- I can see you've got on the balance sheet, what, $6 million in current tax assets, this is -- I can't recall. That's fine. In regards to the bonding requirements on a look-forward basis, how much more can we expect to come there? Is that fully funded to this point? Or are you still waiting for the latest reserve resource statement to roll through? And similar to that, is there any sort of potential lever that you might be able to get some of that refunded or any movements there or indication of what the flows might be?

Ian Poole

executive
#13

We will have to continue the cash back until at least June. And then depending on where the reserves are sitting at that time, that we're in discussions with the banks to try and defer that out because if we get life extension on our reserves, that should limit the risk from the banking perspective. So there will be additional payments between now and the end of June. And then after that, we should see -- we should be able to negotiate with the banks to push that out further based on where our reserves are at that time.

Dylan Kelly

analyst
#14

Okay. Fair enough. And that should just be going away at the same rate at, what, $4.5 million a quarter or thereabouts?

Ian Poole

executive
#15

Yes, correct.

Dylan Kelly

analyst
#16

Okay. Understood. I've taken up a few spots so I'll pass it along and circle back with some questions on growth.

Operator

operator
#17

Your next question comes from [ Roy Gillespie ], a private investor.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#18

Roy here. Thanks, Dan and others. I just want to ask, depreciation seems to be fairly high at this half year. Is that likely to continue? And with regards Dargues, it had some geotechnical problems early in last year. Are they likely to continue at depth? Any comments on that, please.

Ian Poole

executive
#19

So on the depreciation, the depreciation rate should continue at roughly the same rate that we've incurred in this half year. On the geotechnical question, I'll hand that back to Dan and Peter.

Daniel Clifford

executive
#20

Dan here. I'll handle that one. Thanks, Ian. Thanks, Roy. One other thing to comment on that depreciation, I mean, it all, as Ian said, is driven by mine life as well. It's a key plank on our strategy to extend those mine lives out with extensional drilling and exploration. So that is a way for us or a catalyst for us to be reducing that noncash component. On the geotech front, we're -- in general terms at Dargues, conditions actually improved or have improved from the earlier or shallower sections of the mine, as particularly as the structural geology, if you like, that's just in a better conditions as we get deeper. But we're not expecting that to flip the other way as it continues at depth.

Operator

operator
#21

Your next question is a follow-up from Dylan Kelly with Ord Minnett.

Dylan Kelly

analyst
#22

Sorry, me again. So Peter just mentioned the notion of 2 projects transitioning into execution, and I understand we're inserting Great Cobar within this. But I just wanted to know where Dargues, in terms of expansion, sits at the moment in terms of permitting or applications to commence works there on possibly expanding the mill. Could you give us any color there? Second one, just to add to it, if I read this presentation right, you're talking about Federation being a Tier 1. How do you define a Tier 1, I think, is the question. And how does this bode in terms of your thoughts around the ultimate size and scope of mill expansion feeding into this next round of study?

Peter Trout

executive
#23

Dylan, it's Pete. I'll deal with the question on Dargues permitting. I think at the time of acquisition, we flagged a couple of opportunities there regarding the latent capacity in the mill. So the permitting is addressing that and a couple of other issues as well. One goes -- an important one goes to water security. At the time we acquired Dargues, the area is in drought and so we are looking to establish our water management then on the site to harvest surface runoff and store that when the rainfall is high, as it is at the moment. And there's another -- several other modifications relating to vehicle movements, et cetera, but we're just looking to tidy up in anticipation of an extension of the mine life there. And with that comes a program of studies and evaluation to look at the impacts and consultation processes, which we've already commenced with local stakeholders.

Daniel Clifford

executive
#24

I'll cover the next there, Pete. With respect to Tier 1, Dylan, it's not a bad problem to have for us in how we define that. I guess a couple of numbers to quantify what might be seen as arm-waving when it comes to that comment at Tier 1. But [ 19% ] zinc equivalent, Roy, then even if I put that at now reasonably current prices on base metals, 8% gold equivalent across the entire resource that is. So I challenge people to find a better grade or an orebody like that currently at the moment and certainly in New South Wales or Queensland, for that matter. I guess when I talk about have a good problem to have and it's how we size the asset. Now there's 2 things with this. One, as Peter mentioned earlier, we haven't found any [ advantage ] to this orebody yet. As mentioned in previous conference calls, we've focused very heavily on infill drilling to get ourselves in a position for a rock-solid feasibility towards the end of this year. Step-out drilling will happen, and that's when we start to establish the real size of this orebody, strike and depth. At the maximum range on the size of this -- of the processing facility, we've got -- I think we've flagged early in the year circa 600. In terms of consenting, we've got a higher upper-end boundary that we have allowed in terms of decision envelope on what this asset looks like. With that being said, we're very cautious in ensuring we don't overcapitalize as well. I think that this will come out in the wash during the feasibility. In terms of state of mine, the mine design, the infrastructure required to the underground, the footprint, that's all quite easy and pretty well defined already. The crux of the feasibility study really is about the processing facility options on the existing footprint. So I think we'll see -- we'll have a lot more clarity on that as we push towards the end of this financial year.

Dylan Kelly

analyst
#25

Okay. Fantastic. And just in terms of community consultant engagement, what's the feedback been like around Dargues, the light and community sort of sentiment towards what you're trying to do in both there and Cobar and Great Cobar?

Peter Trout

executive
#26

Dylan, Peter here. One of the things we track routinely is the number of community complaints and also the positive interactions we have, and we've seen a pleasing reduction in community complaints at Dargues. And that principally relates to noise and, to a less extent, light. We've actually had members of our consultation committee on site at night, in the middle of the night, to track down the particular sources of noise that are causing irritation. And we've made modifications to the facility to reduce that noise impact. So it's really pleasing to see that's being well received locally by the community members. There's more we can do, and we continue to work through that through our consultation engagement process. We've also engaged with our regional groups regarding the modification program that we're looking at and exploration we're currently doing at the site and have received very good support there. I think if we look around the Cobar region, we've got a good relationship established there with the Cobar Shire Council. And there's no doubt that the Great Cobar project going ahead is a real shot in the arm for Cobar and really pleased to able to see the community support around that. And we know we've got obligations on us to make sure we operate that in a first-class manner, which is fully our intention.

Operator

operator
#27

Your next question comes from Andrew Bowler with Macquarie.

Andrew Bowler

analyst
#28

Just going back to your comments about talking about the cutoff date for the study on Federation being passed. Are you planning on doing an interim update towards the end of this calendar year on a resource estimate for Federation? Or are you just going to -- are you just happy to sit on the estimate that's to be used in the study?

Peter Trout

executive
#29

Andrew, it's Peter here. We're doing 2 things in parallel. So if we were to wait for all the drill results to come in for Federation and then do the study, we'd be here for years. And clearly, we want to bring this deposit into production as soon as possible. So that's why the study program is working to a timetable to cut off results in early February. We'll take those results and pull it into the study, but that's not the end of it. The second part is the drill program that's underway at the moment. I mentioned 5 rigs on site. They are looking to now extend the deposit rather than infill, which has been our focus recently. And we expect to have an updated mineral resource estimate around the middle of the year. And all that means is there'll be a disconnect between what went into the feasibility study and therefore gets reported as a reserve likely versus an updated mineral resource estimate. But I think that's just the nature of the process as we look to advance the project while also doing enough work to show the potential for the deposit and allows us to plan for the future to make sure we don't go and put surface infrastructure in places that may sterilize a portion of the deposit.

Andrew Bowler

analyst
#30

All right. That makes sense, but it sounds like you have sort of a midyear estimate this year. But given the rate of growth, you don't think you'll put out almost a calendar year estimate at the end of this -- start of next calendar year before year-on-year results mid next year?

Peter Trout

executive
#31

No. The plan at the moment, Andrew, is just as we go through our normal annual update to our mineral resource and ore reserves, which is normally released around July, we'll incorporate an update to the Federation mineral resource estimate at that time.

Operator

operator
#32

[Operator Instructions] Your next question comes from [ Bill Murray ] with [ W. Murray Super Fund ].

Unknown Analyst

analyst
#33

Sorry to belabor the Dargues depreciation but just another question. If you look at the situation as of today and the rate you're writing it off, really, the mine really only has another 2.5 years of mine life. Now fair enough, you have been sort of doing infill drilling, but drilling outside the actual current situation, it doesn't really give a lot of confidence that, that's going to be extended to much more.

Daniel Clifford

executive
#34

Bill, it's Dan. I'll take that. We've been drilling. I think the key is that the initial focus on stage 1 was from -- certainly from an underground perspective, has been infill and confidence on the actual LOM plan right in front of us. That's been the highest priority. The second stage has kicked in. We've got underground and surface rigs on now. It's -- we have been delayed 2 fronts: one, getting assays back from labs on those core results; and secondly, and as a key part of us in, I guess, a mutually beneficial coexistence in an area of where we've had residents there before the mine, we're actually only drilling on day shift. So typically, we would see results back fast from both those fronts. But the thesis of extending that mine site -- that mine life is right on our radar in terms of deployment of exploration. And as I said earlier, and I think that's what some of the concern might be, depreciation is timed over the production model, whereas -- production target, I should say, whereas as we -- and if we can extend that asset out, that's when that will start to alleviate.

Operator

operator
#35

Your next question comes from Michael Evans with Acova Capital.

Michael Evans

analyst
#36

I know it's just an interim report, but you're making good cash and prices are strong. Just on the dividend, you chose not to pay one. Is there any sort of change from the Board on the thinking around that? I know you've got lots of great -- both projects, Federation. If -- is there -- how are you balancing that sort of dividend thinking with the growth? I would have thought being in a net cash position, generating cash, you could manage both. And I assume the CapEx on Great Cobar and Federation would be relatively smooth over the next couple of years. And just on that, remind me that the Federation, I think you mentioned, sort of second part of the question, EIS, I think you mentioned at the beginning, Peter, it might have been that you expect to submit that imminently. Will you make a public announcement with some numbers around CapEx and PFS results in this half?

Daniel Clifford

executive
#37

Michael, it's Dan. I'll cover a couple of those questions off. In terms of dividends, the company, we've never done an interim. As a company, we've only ever done finals. But I think all our shareholders would expect that it is a point that is deliberated at Board level once we see financial results, either half or full year. So I think it is and has and it will continue to be a debated position with an outcome at Board level. In looking forward, looking at our capacities to be able to do that, we have paid the dividend historically. But I think there's a bit of water to get under the bridge yet on 2 fronts: one being feasibilities are done for a reason, and that is for us to lock down on capital costs of these growth projects or extension projects until we have those firm. And in conjunction with that, as to whether we see sustained buoyancy in the commodity prices, very important considerations when it comes to prudent decisions now for what can be negative consequences later. So in terms of divs, I assure shareholders that once we understand our exact financial position in each period, one of the first discussions actually is returns to shareholders and our ability to do so in the light of what's coming forward. So first thing, I think when it comes to, will we be -- I think your question was, will we be releasing any sort of estimate on capital for Federation prior to the end of this year? The answer is no, we won't be. It will be contained when we get it to feasibility level outcomes and FID.

Michael Evans

analyst
#38

Right. Isn't that -- I'm just looking at Page 23 of the presentation, Dan. Isn't that first half CY '22? I'm just looking at that online chart.

Daniel Clifford

executive
#39

Are you talking in relation to the release of the...

Michael Evans

analyst
#40

This half. Before 30 June, you expect to release to the market a feasibility study for Federation.

Daniel Clifford

executive
#41

Midyear, mid-calendar year -- mid-calendar year '22, yes. And you can see that's what will drive -- that's what will enable, I should say, the release of the maiden ore reserve, which you can see roughly in July this year.

Michael Evans

analyst
#42

Okay, okay. So you should be -- I mean, trying to ask the commodity prices. But with regards to your CapEx, you should be more confident about a dividend at the full year result from where you are now, given you've got these outstanding studies going on. Is that a fair comment?

Daniel Clifford

executive
#43

I think it is, yes. I think we should be and it depends what those costs look like. And if you can accurately forecast commodity prices and I'd like to be in your shoes, but it's -- the answer is yes, we will get more and more confident as we bring on -- we've got operating cash flow and we've got some large capital of the investment back into our assets to come. And in all circumstances, when we know time frames and amounts, capital management for us will be a lot clearer.

Operator

operator
#44

Your next question comes from [ Anthony Wallace ], who is a private investor.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#45

Dan, I just wanted to ask you about -- about a year or so ago, it was mentioned in some presentations about being copper-ready. Just wanting to see now that you've got some more detail about Great Cobar, can you add a bit of color to that from about a year ago?

Daniel Clifford

executive
#46

I certainly can. This one, yes, it's copper-ready for us. I think when we first built that into communication of our strategy, and it's about 18 months ago, what we were very much alluding to at that point was Great Cobar and our ability for organic growth of what we could see then is what would be and is now a very valuable commodity. So the ready, meaning we own the asset and it's in our hands, in studies and what we can do with it. So as that strategy has unfolded on us positively, that the Great Cobar asset now is right on our doorstep. And you can see it would be a two- or threefold increase in our copper production from where we've been historically in the next 2, 3 years, 4 years. So very valuable for us. We are ready. That asset now, as you heard Peter talking, has gone beyond PFS now. It's now being handed over to operations through inclusion in our LOM plan. And with that, subsequent Board approval via our budgets for execution, where we'll be recommencing a decline into that orebody early in the new financial year.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#47

Okay, great. One other quick question about, say, diesel costs and ongoing future energy requirements. What's the thoughts around when it comes to Federation and others about your mix of energy use, whether it be renewables or whatever? What's been thought about that?

Daniel Clifford

executive
#48

What our attitude toward this, Anthony, it is, one, it is a terrific opportunity for us to actually -- as I said earlier, the energy for us when it comes to climate change or diversity inclusion, sexual harassment is not now about reacting to or responding to these threats. It's about actively and energetically participating in solutions and correction of these issues. And when it comes to energy mix for our businesses, the biggest opportunity that we have is with Federation in terms of we can make meaningful change to the energy mix on that asset now with proven technology. So one of the other aspects that have been built into our capital estimates and going in and through finalization in the feasibility study is to ensure that we can transition this sort of business over to hybrid energy, so the use of renewables and the baseload of gas. So we are actually very excited about what that looks like, particularly start factoring cost of carbon into these decisions now with the right opportunity, with a brand-new asset, some already well-proven technology, and we're seeing the real emergence now of common use of underground battery equipment now as opposed to diesel, particularly on the LHD front. So we're actually dead set and excited about the opportunity, and we can be very early on this front because it's not every day a business gets to build, and I'll keep calling it this because it is, as far as in my mind, a Tier 1 asset right at this point.

Unknown Attendee

attendee
#49

Yes, yes. I thought that might be the case. And look, just -- and then quickly regarding -- we're talking about dividends, would share buybacks also be considered in the same mix as a dividend?

Daniel Clifford

executive
#50

That would form part of our capital management deliberations, Anthony. It will always be -- we always sort of look at it as 3 buckets: proven levels of cash on the balance sheet, continuing to be able to fund the growth and/or fund sustaining of the business and the growth of the business and then returns to shareholders. They are really the 3 buckets that we look at. They're never always going to be even. They will ebb and flow, but share buybacks and dividends would certainly be consideration. I won't make commitments as to what that will look like until we finalize our plans and get more line of sight on the capital commitments over the next few years.

Operator

operator
#51

There are no further questions at this time. I'll now hand back to Mr. Clifford for some closing remarks.

Daniel Clifford

executive
#52

Thanks, Melanie, and thanks, everyone, for your time this morning. As hopefully, you sensed the excitement in the inflection point for the company as we go through 31 December. We're moving not only our dialogue but our actual action on the ground now will be on just foundational work. It's about driving performance across the business and what I'd call, it's almost a relentless pursuit of operating excellence and excellence across all our ESG and nonfinancial measures. We're generating strong cash, and this is about a constant optimization of our assets within the business. And that moves us to execution. And this execution now isn't just at a strategy level, it's actually directly at a portfolio level here where we can adapt to what's coming at us, we can adapt to commodity prices and we can adapt to tailwinds in terms of how we manage our portfolio to full value. So I think in essence, what you can see now as investors in the business or potentially investors in the business that this build on the foundation is now imminent. It's right in front of us. In fact, we already commenced at the Federation deposit. And we're really looking forward to this next 6 months of delivery of this growth. So thanks very much to everyone for your time, and we will talk at the next quarterly update. Thank you.

Operator

operator
#53

That does conclude our conference for today. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect.

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