December Quarter 2019 Key Highlights1
BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- During the quarter the Olaroz Lithium Facility (Olaroz) responded to challenging market conditions by reducing operating costs 16% quarter on quarter (QoQ) and achieving a gross margin of 24% to retain positive operational cashflow. Significant progress has been delivered on both growth projects at the Naraha Lithium Hydroxide Plant (Naraha Plant) and Olaroz Stage 2 Expansion, while Olaroz operations remain on track to deliver increased production for FY20. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, two contracts have been signed for the supply of battery grade lithium carbonate to top tier Chinese cathode manufacturers.
OLAROZ LITHIUM FACILITY (ORE 66.5%)2
- Production for the quarter of 3,586 tonnes was down 5% on the previous corresponding period (PCP) following the strategy of managing both brine quality in preparation for the upcoming seasonal rains and finished product inventories given the prevailing market conditions. New pond availability and tailoring of production resulted in brine with a more consistent lithium concentration being delivered to the plant and improved process recovery
- Sales volume for the quarter was up 6% QoQ to 3,287 tonnes while sales revenue was down 19% QoQ to US$17.8 million. The realised average price achieved was US$5,419/tonne on a free on board basis (FOB)3. December quarter product pricing was below that of the September quarter following a decision to meet competitor pricing to ensure retention of market share
- Cash costs for the quarter (on cost of goods sold basis)4 improved to US$4,109/tonne, down 16% QoQ, excluding the export tax of US$238/t for the quarter. This follows a significant focus on cost reduction across the business
- Operations remained operating cash flow positive with gross cash margins (excluding export tax) of US$1,310/tonne, down 41% QoQ mainly due to the lower average price received, offset by better cost performance.
LITHIUM GROWTH PROJECTS
- Construction of the Stage 2 Olaroz Lithium Facility Expansion has reached approximately 25% completion. Focus areas for this quarter included brine transport systems, ponds, rain diversion channels, new production wells and associated infrastructure
- Naraha Lithium Hydroxide Plant construction is progressing with more than 40% of planned works now completed.
BORAX ARGENTINA
- Overall sales volume for the December quarter was 8,614 tonnes, down 31% QoQ and down 20% PCP
- Sales revenue was down 33% QoQ, with the average price received down 3% QoQ due to a reduction of sales in the Brazilian market.
CORPORATE
- As at 31 December 2019, Orocobre corporate had available cash of US$171.9 million of which US$11.1 million has been set aside as a guarantee for the Naraha debt facility. Including SDJ and Borax cash and project debt, net group cash at 31 December 2019 was US$115.5 million, down from US$151.2 million at 30 September 20195 following provision of shareholder loans to fund Stage 2 Expansion activities
- The Orocobre 2019 Annual General Meeting was held on Friday 22 November, with all resolutions successfully passed as ordinary resolutions.
OLAROZ LITHIUM FACILITY
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SAFETY
As clearly defined in the Company’s strategy, safety (along with quality and productivity) is a key focus. With the increase in Stage 2 Expansion related activities, additional measures are being put in place to mitigate the inherently increased risk of safety incidents occurring during the construction phase.
The central safety committee and five subcommittees (training, operational discipline, audit, risk management and incident investigation) continue to make good progress establishing improved ‘operating discipline’, via specialised operator training programs and more frequent risk assessments. This is already producing greater consistency in the quality of products produced.
Work continues consolidating Intelex as the central safety management database. Process hazard identification and control reporting have been established, as well the implementation of a Management of Change (MOC) process - a systematic approach to safely manage modifications to production processes.
Significant progress has been made with the reporting of safety observations after employees completed training aimed at increasing their awareness and understanding of near miss incidents. The ‘root cause’ investigation process for incidents involving injuries or incidents with high potential for injury is now more vigorous and is being applied consistently to all reportable events.
Two incidents were recorded at Olaroz during the quarter resulting in Lost Time Injuries (LTI), one occurred within the expansion team and one in the operations team. Both employees have returned to work on full duties. As at 31 December, operations had achieved 41 days without an LTI.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
QUALITY
Market quality and specification requirements continue to evolve. To meet changing customer needs, Olaroz has implemented a continuous improvement and product development program. Activity to date has seen a reduction of product impurity levels, changes to product packaging and research on process variations.
For both industrial and battery grade products, this program is delivering higher processing capability and improved product quality and consistency.
PRODUCTIVITY
Production for the December quarter was 3,586 tonnes down from 3,782 tonnes on PCP. Recognising current market conditions, the operational focus has been on process stability and product quality rather than maximising production tonnage. Ongoing refinement of the pond management system and brine inventory is expected to provide improved operational resilience with seasonal weather variations.
Production for the December quarter was slightly below forecast due to inventory control. However, production for the first-half of FY20 is in line with expectations. Good plant recovery was driven by more stable lithium concentration brine being delivered into the plant.
With production processes attaining greater stability, statistical analysis has confirmed a sustained improvement of process capability (Cpk) regarding the final product analytical profile.
COSTS/MARGINS
A regimented financial plan was implemented at the end of the quarter with the aim of reducing unit cash costs and sustaining the current competitive position as one of the world’s lowest cost, brine based lithium carbonate producers.
Operating costs (on a cost of goods sold basis, excluding export tax) improved to US$4,109/tonne down 16% QoQ and up 3% on PCP.
Costs for the quarter were positively impacted by higher brine concentration, reduced consumption of reagents, devaluation of the Peso and some benefit from the cost reduction program.
Gross cash margins for the quarter remained positive at 24% or US$1,310/tonne (excluding export tax), down 41% QoQ and 80% on PCP.
| Metric | December quarter 2019 | September quarter 2019 | Change QoQ (%) | PCP (Dec qtr 2018) | Change PCP (%) |
| Production (tonnes) | 3,586 | 3,093 | 16% | 3,782 | -5% |
| Sales (tonnes) | 3,287 | 3,108 | 6% | 3,019 | 9% |
| Average price received (US$/tonne) 3 | 5,419 | 7,111 | -24% | 10,587 | -49% |
| Cost of sales (US$/tonne)4 | 4,109 | 4,885 | -16% | 3,974 | 3% |
| Revenue (US$M) | 17.8 | 22.1 | -19% | 32.0 | -44% |
| Gross cash margin (US$/tonne) | 1,310 | 2,226 | -41% | 6,613 | -80% |
| Gross cash margin (%) | 24% | 31% | -23% | 62% | -61% |
| Export tax (US$/tonne) | 238 | 420 | -43% | 882 | -73% |
SALES AND COMMERCIAL
Product sales were 3,287 tonnes of lithium carbonate with an average price of US$5,419/tonne on an FOB basis and total sales revenue of US$17.8 million. The average price received during the quarter was down 24% QoQ due to continued market softness.
As previously stated (see ASX Releases dated 20, 21 January 2020) Orocobre and its’ joint sales and marketing agent, Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC), have been pursuing a commercial strategy of selling a greater proportion of the Olaroz Lithium Facility’s products under long term sales agreements with key customers. Following the end of the quarter, two contracts have been finalised for supply of a total 7,200 tonnes of battery grade lithium carbonate and supply of a total 2,880 tonnes of micronised battery grade lithium carbonate.
FUTURE GUIDANCE
Orocobre expects that full-year production for FY20 will be at least 5% higher than FY19. Expectations for the Q3 FY20 weighted average price will be provided with the half-year results.
STAGE 2 EXPANSION AT OLAROZ
PROGRESS TO DATE
As at 31 December, approximately US$105 million has been spent on the first phase of expansion activities, which includes approximately US$30 million of pre-payments to suppliers. Recent works include brine transport systems, ponds, rain diversion channels, commissioning of the secondary liming plant, roads and camp upgrades. The secondary lime plant will be converted to a slaking plant in Q3 FY20 which is expected to reduce operating costs. Approximately 25% of planned expansion works are now complete.
The construction, drilling and testing of new production wells continues to advance, with newly completed wells delivering flow rates and lithium concentrations that exceed original expectations.
Structural steel for the new carbonation module arrived in Chile at the end of the quarter and is being transported to Olaroz. Following the completion of contract awards, civil works are due to commence in Q3 FY20.
International engineering company Worley has completed engineering design work and commenced onsite supervisory works for the Stage 2 Expansion. Detailed engineering for the carbonate plant will be completed in Q3 FY20.
NARAHA LITHIUM HYDROXIDE PLANT
PROGRESS TO DATE
The Naraha Plant, the first of its kind to be built in Japan, is designed to convert industrial grade lithium carbonate feedstock into purified battery grade lithium hydroxide. Feedstock for the 10,000 tonne per annum (tpa) Naraha Plant will be sourced from the Olaroz Lithium Facility’s Stage 2 Expansion that will produce industrial grade (>99.0% Li2CO3) lithium carbonate.
Since construction commenced at the Naraha Plant there have been no LTIs recorded. The Veolia Joint Venture is undertaking weekly safety meetings and regular site safety checks, with project staff continuing to attend safety training in alignment with the project’s safety management plan.
As at 31 December, approximately US$39.3 million has been spent on the first phase of engineering, civil works and procurement at the Naraha Plant - this includes the first two progress payments made to Veolia. Construction activities to date are proceeding well with more than 40% of planned works now completed. Construction is expected to accelerate during Q3 FY20 as more than 95% of equipment purchase orders have now been placed.
Civil and architectural construction of several key plant components commenced during the quarter, including construction of Li2CO3 and LiOH storage facilities, offices, laboratory, a wastewater treatment plant, the kiln structure, plant foundations, roads, parking facilities and liquid CO2 storage foundations. Fabrication of the Naraha Plant’s Process and Utilities equipment will continue in Q3 FY20, with detailed engineering reviews currently underway for the plant’s piping, insulation and local construction design, together with a review of the electrical and instrumentation design.
Discussions are ongoing with the Veolia Joint Venture’s plant design engineers with the objective of minimising any impurity sources from plant feed and raw materials entering the plant.
SHARED VALUE PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY
EDUCATION
There are currently 15 community based SDJ employees and contractors undertaking secondary school studies via Orocobre’s Baccalaureate Program. As at 31 December 2019, these students had successfully completed courses in Spanish, Biology, History, Mathematics, Ethics and Social Studies. The three year secondary school education program currently has eight students in the final year, awaiting their secondary certification which is to be awarded in April 2020. These graduations will bring SDJ closer to the goal of 100% of the workforce being secondary qualified by 2025.
EMPOWERMENT
A key component of the Shared Value Program in CY19/20 has been the delivery of collaborative infrastructure projects that support and empower local communities. The projects empower local communities not only through the delivery of key infrastructure (community halls, educational facilities) but also through the contracting of local suppliers to construct and deliver those projects.
One of these projects is the construction of network infrastructure (in collaboration with the provincial government and other key stakeholders) to provide natural gas to the community of Jama. As at 31 December, this project was nearing completion, with commissioning and final inauguration expected in Q3 FY20. Other projects nearing completion include the construction of community halls in Susques, Coranzulí, El Toro and Catua.
PRODUCTION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
A major component of the Shared Value Program’s Production and Natural Resources pillar is the circular economy: the re-utilisation of waste products to create a closed-loop system that generates valuable assets and infrastructure for the local communities.
An example of this is the ’Raising Recycled Walls’ Project that saw the construction of greenhouses (and other infrastructure) from recycled plastic bottles in collaboration with local community members, authorities and institutions. These greenhouses are providing valuable support for agricultural production and increased cultivation of crops during the winter months.
During the December quarter the Shared Value Team conducted a series of workshops in Olaroz to develop local furniture construction capabilities, using recycled wooden pallets sourced from the Olaroz Lithium Facility. The workshops lasted several days with over 25 items of furniture (including tables, chairs, benches and bookshelves) being constructed. The furniture will be used by local businesses and in the local schools, health centre and police station.
MARKET AND SALES
Lithium market conditions remained difficult for most of the December quarter, however encouraging demand indicators and further supply curtailments emerged in late CY19/early CY20 and are expected to progressively improve market balance in CY20. The Company expects to see a weak market for the first half of CY20 with a potential market balance improvement becoming evident in the second half of CY20. In the short-term, higher than normal inventory levels in some parts of the supply chain are expected to temper price recovery concealing underlying improvements in demand.
DEMAND
During the December quarter, the lithium market remained challenged by the same set of demand fundamentals as recent quarters, including slower Chinese electric vehicle (EV) market growth, a sluggish Chinese economy, United States (US)/China trade war and lackluster Energy Storage System (ESS) demand. While there was no demand catalyst to alleviate lithium price pressure, several positive demand signals emerged late in the December quarter/early CY20 relating to both the China and Ex-China EV market.
In November 2019, Tesla successfully opened the Shanghai Gigafactory, increasing production to ~1000 EVs per week and ~5% share of the China market by year end. Tesla later announced a reduction in the starting price of its China-built Model 3 sedans by 9% in January 2020 to help close the gap with local manufacturers. The company also announced plans to release a China-centric EV suited to local preferences with a competitive price of US$25K. As sentiment showed early signs of turning in January 2020, the US and Chinese governments announced phase 1 of a trade deal defusing an 18-month period of uncertainty which commenced at approximately the same time the lithium market showed the first signs of softening.
Outside of China, Europe showed the most encouraging signs during the quarter including higher EV sales year-on-year, continued expansion commitments for cathode and battery capacity within Europe and a further 3.2 billion Euro (US$3.55 billion) commitment from the European Commission to the local battery supply chain. Building on these 2019 achievements, the phase-in of the CO2 emissions penalties during 2020 in preparation for full implementation in 2021 is anticipated to support momentum in the European EV market.
SUPPLY
During the December quarter, seaborne carbonate prices Ex-China remained under pressure with persisting supply from Chinese producers exacerbated by soft domestic demand. Despite this pressure, Ex-China prices failed to reach the price lows recorded by Chinese carbonate imports late in the quarter as Chinese customers’ preference for spot shipments facilitated continued price declines throughout the quarter.
Chinese imports of lithium chemicals grew at the expense of new, independent supply of spodumene concentrate. Growing pressure on non-integrated Australian hard rock suppliers became increasingly apparent resulting in one mine going into care and maintenance. Meanwhile, others announced a shift from continuous to campaign-based production driven by customer orders rather than the previous approach of maximizing operational output. It is anticipated that supply curtailments will continue in CY20 for those operations most sensitive to price pressure. South American brine producers continue to participate in the market due to their lower cost base.
BORAX ARGENTINA S.A.
SAFETY
Borax recorded no LTIs during the December quarter. As at 31 December, the Sijes mine had achieved 321 days without an LTI, Tincalayu had achieved 166 days without an LTI and Campo Quijano had achieved 274 days without an LTI.
PRODUCTION, SALES AND OPERATIONAL UPDATE
The December quarter saw a decrease of sales in Brazil (where product prices are typically high), with a total of 8,614 tonnes sold (down 31% QoQ and down 20% PCP). Total sales revenue was down 33% QoQ, with the average price received down 3% QoQ due to the reduction of sales in a weaker Brazilian market.
COMBINED PRODUCT SALES VOLUME BY QUARTER
| Previous Year Quarters | Recent Quarters | |||
| March 2018 | 9,079 | March 2019 | 13,0416 | |
| June 2018 | 10,590 | June 2019 | 11,758 | |
| September 2018 | 9,407 | September 2019 | 12,480 | |
| December 2018 | 10,741 | December 2019 | 8,614 | |
Business development projects are being converted into sales growth with new supply agreements being signed with world-class players in the fertilizer and industrial sectors. Additionally, new product distributors are being developed throughout Asia. Unit costs continue to be controlled.
ADVANTAGE LITHIUM CORP.
Advantage Lithium Corp. (TSXV:AAL) manages a portfolio of high-quality assets in Argentina, including the Cauchari Joint Venture in which Orocobre holds a 25% interest. Orocobre also holds approximately 34.7% of Advantage’s common shares. During the quarter Advantage released a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) in accordance with Canadian standards on the Cauchari Lithium Project to the TSXV.
CORPORATE AND ADMINISTRATION
FINANCE
CASH BALANCE
As at 31 December 2019, Orocobre corporate had available cash of US$171.9 million of which US$11.1 million has been set aside as a guarantee for the Naraha debt facility. The US$51.6 million cash reduction from the previous quarter was the result of a US$49.6 million shareholder loan made to the SDJ Joint Venture to fund Olaroz Stage 2 Expansion activities and repayment of approximately US$17 million local working capital facilities due to currency control regulation implemented by the Argentine government, US$2.1 million in corporate costs, US$2.3 million other project investment payments and US$0.2 million in Cauchari JV expenditure. This expenditure was partially offset by US$2.6 million interest income.
Including SDJ and Borax cash and project debt, net group cash at 31 December 2019 was US$115.5 million, down from US$151.2 million at 30 September 2019 as calculated below:
| US$ Millions | |
| ORE Corporate Cash | 160.9 |
| ORE Restricted Cash | 11.1 |
| Total ORE Corporate Cash | 171.9 |
| Net Cash from other Entities | 0.4 |
| SDJ Cash @ 66.5% | 15.1 |
| SDJ Restricted Cash @ 66.5% | 11.4 |
| SDJ External Debt @ 66.5% | -83.4 |
| Total Proportional Net Group Cash | 115.5 |
INFLATION VERSUS DEVALUATION
The ARS/US$ exchange rate depreciated by 4% during the quarter from ARS57.59/US$ at 30 September 2019 to ARS59.89 at 31 December 2019, whilst inflation for the same period was approximately 12%. When looking at the accumulated 12-month period from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019, devaluation of the ARS against the US$ was 59% versus inflation of approximately 54%. Over time, inflation and devaluation generally cancel each other out.
OTHER MATTERS
2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Orocobre’s 2019 Annual General Meeting was held on Friday 22 November, with all resolutions successfully passed as ordinary resolutions following a poll at the meeting.
NEW CORPORATE VIDEO
Late in Q2 FY20, Orocobre released a new Corporate Video highlighting some of the milestones the Company achieved throughout CY19. Click this link to view the video: http://bit.ly/ORE-CorpVid2019.
Richard S. Anthon
Joint Company Secretary
For more information please contact:
Andrew Barber
Chief Investor Relations Officer
Orocobre Limited
T: +61 7 3720 9088
M: +61 418 783 701
E: abarber@orocobre.com
W: www.orocobre.com
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1 All figures presented in this report are unaudited
2 All figures 100% Olaroz Project basis
3 Orocobre report price as “FOB” (Free On Board) which excludes insurance and freight charges included in “CIF” (Cost, Insurance, Freight) pricing.
Therefore, the Company’s reported prices are net of freight (shipping), insurance and sales commission. FOB prices are reported by the Company to provide clarity on the sales revenue that is recognized by SDJ, the joint venture company in Argentina.
4 Excludes royalties, export tax, corporate costs and restructuring costs
5 See explanation of net group cash in Finance section
6 Includes 2,312 tonnes of low value mineral product