Tigers Realm Coal (ASX:TIG) has continued to ramp up operations since commencing coal production in December 2016 at Project F within its Amaam Coking Coal Project located in eastern Russia.
Coal is being trucked to stockpiles at the company-owned Beringovsky Port.
Through January and February the mining and coal transport to port operations have continued with site operating systems and mine planning working well.
The ramp-up period has been in line with budget and coal production is steadily improving and the site team continues work on improving performance.
Coal quality delivered to port is also in line with company expectations.
Production update
Mining and coal transport from Project F commenced in December 2016.
Coal delivered to the port over the past months is as follows:
- December 2016: 3,600 tonnes;
- January 2017: 21,200 tonnes; and
- February 2017: 23,300 tonnes.
An additional 12,000 tonnes of coal has been delivered to intermediate stockpiles near the pit.
After accounting for trucking days lost due to poor weather conditions, average daily coal trucking performance improved by 27% from 920 tonnes per day in January to 1,167 tonnes per day in February.
Initial coal production by necessity has come from the lowest quality coal containing weathered materials near surface, and better quality coals will be mined going forward.
The company plans to blend its thermal coals for 2017 shipping to target the sale of a typical calorific value coal of 6000 kcal/kg net as received (NAR).
Site visit from Governor
During February, the Governor of Chukotka, Roman Kopin visited site with other senior officials.
A news crew accompanied the Governor and the visit was reported on the evening television news across Russia.
Following the visit he communicated his positive impression of the operations and site management team.
Discussions during the visit focused on aspects of the operation that could be improved through cooperative arrangements between the company and government.
Amaam Coking Coal Project
Two tenements, Amaam and Amaam North, together comprise the Amaam Coking Coal Project, located within 35 kilometres of the Bering Sea coast in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, far eastern Russia.
Tigers Realm has 80% ownership of Amaam and has signed a Heads of Agreement which will see its 80% ownership of Amaam North increase to 100%.
Binding documents have been prepared and will be signed pending some administrative restructuring requirements currently in process.
The company owns 100% of the Beringovsky Port and Coal Terminal, located 35 kilometres to the north east of the Amaam North tenement.
Amaam and Amaam North have combined JORC compliant coal resources of 632 million tonnes with the majority of these resources being of coking coal quality.
Project F within Amaam North has 110.6 million tonnes of coal resources, 16.1 million tonnes of which have already been classified as Product (Marketable) Reserves under JORC.
Quick facts: Tigers Realm Coal Ltd