The company continues to review the development options for the cashmere project in line with the elevated iron ore outlook. Discussions with an infrastructure group are ongoing. The current regional infrastructure concept includes collaborating with other projects in the area to create sufficient mass to support the resources required to fully evaluate the economics of a large scale infrastructure solution. The current concept would see power, water and a slurry pipeline being provided to site. The infrastructure group intends to start their PFS in the coming months.
Initial studies show that we will be able to produce a 68% Fe concentrate delivered on board at Geraldton or a facility nearby using the infrastructure as outlined above at an all up cost of approximately AU$50-55 per tonne. With current prices for 68% Fe concentrate being in the range of AU$110 per tonne the project shows strong economics for development.
At the end of 2017 the company increased the JORC resources at the project area by a further 147 million tonnes in the inferred category.
Discussions with a number of parties interested in investing in the project are continuing.