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8 COLIN STREET
WEST PERTH WA 6005
PO BOX 1726
WEST PERTH WA 6872
EMAIL:⋅info@excoresources.com.au
WEBSITE www.excoresources.com.au
• Results from the recently completed Pre-Feasibility Study have successfully demonstrated
both the technical and commercial credentials of Exco’s Cloncurry Copper Project
• On the basis of these positive results the Board intends making an immediate commitment to
the Definitive Feasibility Study phase
INTRODUCTION
Exco Resources Limited (Exco) is pleased to provide a summary of results from the recently
completed Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) on the Cloncurry Copper Project (CCP). The PFS commenced
in December 2007 and initially considered options for a 1 to 2Mtpa sulphide concentrator operation
located within the Company’s Project areas (see Figure 1). The preferred scenario of locating a
≥2Mtpa facility at Exco’s flagship E1 Camp emerged quite quickly allowing the Company and its Study
Manager GRD Minproc to focus on developing preliminary engineering designs, cost estimates and
sensitivity analyses for this option, which are summarised below.
In addition to identifying the optimal capacity and location, the PFS has also provided a solid technical
basis for the CCP. Aspects such as mining, ore beneficiation, metallurgy (including by-product
potential), infrastructure and transportation have all been addressed. Each of these aspects will
receive more detailed attention during the upcoming Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS).
In parallel with the PFS the Company has also progressed an environmental impact study (EIS) and
completed the major portion of an infill drilling program targeting conversion of ~25 million tonnes of
the existing ~36 million tonnes of CCP resources (see Table 1) to the indicated category (and
ultimately to a probable reserve) as the basis for the initial 11-year mine life. This drilling and
subsequent resource modelling will be completed during Q3/2008 to allow incorporation into the DFS.
Project valuations are considered robust and compare favourably with peer projects in Australia.
There are also a number of opportunities for significant commercial upside (e.g., further resource
upgrades, pit optimisations, mine planning and scheduling, cost optimisations and by-product
potential), which will all be further investigated as studies continue.
On the basis of both the technical and commercial credentials of the CCP the Board intends making
an immediate commitment to the DFS, targeting completion by the end of Q1/2009.
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PROJECT OVERVIEW
“Critical Mass” of The CCP includes tenements and mining leases with a resource base in excess of
resources in place 35.8 Mt grading 0.93% copper and 0.25 g/t gold (see Table 1). The sulphide
copper-gold mineralization occurs predominantly within magnetite, pyrrhotite, and
chalcopyrite-pyrite mineral assemblages.
Simple open-pit Conventional blast, excavate and haul mining techniques will be utilized to recover
mining ore from open cut pits. The project infrastructure (Figure 2) will be located at the
E1 Camp with ore being trucked from Monakoff and Great Australia to a
processing plant at E1.
Tailings and waste rock will be deposited in surface dumps adjacent to the
processing plant and respective pits. Water will be sourced primarily from pit de-
watering.
Completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and the Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIS) is planned for the end of Q1/2009. Subject to receipt of the
Schedule in place
targeting first
relevant project approvals and permits, and procurement of the necessary long
production in late lead items, construction is expected to commence in late 2009, targeting first
2010 production in Q3/2010.
MINING: The PFS has assessed the economic viability of mining operations at the
six deposits including development of open-pits and the infrastructure required to
access, mine and dispose of waste rock.
The study has produced pit designs, inventories, a schedule and costs associated
with feeding 2 Mtpa of ore to concentrator facility located at the E1 Camp.
On the basis of work completed during the PFS, mining inventories currently total
Strip Ratio = 4.5:1 21.4 Mt of ore at 0.92% Cu and 0.25 g/t Au with an average Net Smelter Return
(NSR) value of $35.6/t of ore. The total mining inventory of 117.1 Mt includes
95.7 Mt of waste at a strip ratio of 4.5:1.
Pit optimisations have been carried out assuming a copper price of US$2.00/lb,
which Exco currently considers conservative.
Mining Inventories
Inventories are expected to increase once infill drilling has been completed and
likely to increase subsequent resource modelling and pit re-optimisation work carried out at a range
of copper prices.
The results show that the majority of samples tested for ore competency are
categorised as hard to very hard favouring the inclusion of a Ball Mill, rather than a
SAG mill as part of the comminution circuit.
The results of the previous flotation testwork can be summarised as follows:
Testwork has • Most primary sulphide composites float well
demonstrated good • There are indications that the copper minerals are fine in size. Finer primary
Cu & Au recoveries
grinds gave an improved copper recovery and concentrate grade
• Gold recovery is associated with copper recovery, cobalt is associated with
pyrite
• Regrinding the rougher concentrate achieves higher re-cleaner concentrate
grades
Metal recoveries are 92% for primary Copper and 80% for Gold.
The current process flowsheet incorporates a single processing line, including a
Simple & three stage crushing circuit, stockpile, reclaim, ball mill in closed circuit with cyclone
conventional process classification, flotation, high rate thickening of concentrate and tailings, pressure
flowsheet filtration of concentrate and truck load-out facilities. Further testwork will be
conducted as part of the DFS to refine this design.
The following additional baseline studies will be undertaken in the coming months:
• Visual amenity
• Social Impact Assessment
• Aquatic Flora and Fauna studies
• Environmental Risk Assessment
The total PFS capital cost estimate for the CCP is ~A$209M. Table 3 provides a
summary of the CAPEX by area.
Capex of A$209M in The costs are for a 2 Mtpa Cu-Au concentrator based in the Cloncurry district of
line with industry NW Queensland. The costs, which are presented in second quarter 2008
benchmarks Australian dollars, are considered to have an accuracy of ± 25% and are consistent
with a number of industry benchmarks.
Major equipment costs are based on budget quotes received from vendors. All
other items are based on either in-house database information, allowances or
information obtained from suppliers.
Opportunities to It is important to note that the Mining CAPEX includes both the costs for mine
optimise Mining development (pre-strip) and the cost of an owner mining fleet. The treatment of
Capex during DFS these costs will be looked at together with the preferred mining regime (i.e., owner
mining versus contract mining and dry hire alternatives) during the DFS phase.
During the DFS the Company will also be investigating the impact of increasing
Incremental Capex throughput from 2 to 2.5Mtpa. Conceptual estimates suggest project costs will
required to increase
throughput and increase by ~10% for a 25% increase in throughput. Additional Capital Cost
recover by-products estimates will also be compiled during the DFS phase in the context of recovering
by-product magnetite and uranium.
Operating costs have been developed using the parameters specified in the
process and mine design criteria. The operating cost estimate (see Table 4) is
presented in second quarter 2008 Australian dollars, and is considered to have an
accuracy of ± 25%.
Cash operating costs (before royalties, but after gold credits) are estimated to
Opex of A$1.62/lb of average A$1.51/lb of payable copper.
payable Cu Total cash costs (after royalties and gold credits) are expected to average $1.62/lb
of payable copper, or $28.66/t of ore treated.
The operating costs are dominated by power, fuel and labour. Significant attention
Opportunities to will be given to optimising these specific cost areas during the DFS.
optimise Opex and
increase by-product No additional allowance has been made during the PFS for potential by-product
credits during DFS credits from Cobalt, Magnetite and / or Uranium. These will be further investigated
during the DFS
A detailed financial model has been constructed for the project by Exco using
capital and operating costs developed by GRD Minproc and commodity price
assumptions based on published forward curves, as summarised in Table 5.
For the purposes of the PFS, the financial analysis has been conducted on a
project basis only. The analysis is on an un-escalated basis and assumes financing
by shareholders.
The principal project case assessed, assumes that the concentrate product is sold
domestically to Australian smelters on a CFR (Cost and Freight) basis with
assumed off-take terms.
The base case model includes only copper and gold products.
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Robust Base Case The base case NPV of A$126.7 million is considered robust with the project
NPV of A$126.7M economics and payback period expected to improve during the DFS on the basis
of:
• further resource upgrades
Significant potential • re-optimising pit shells at a range of higher copper prices
to further improve
project economics • optimising the preferred mining scenario and associated costs, and
• inclusion of additional by-product credits from Cobalt and Magnetite
Finance discussions The financial model will also be further refined during the DFS to incorporate
underway project finance arrangements. Preliminary discussions have commenced with a
number of potential project finance partners.
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Preliminary sensitivity analyses have been conducted for the project to assess the
effects of changes in key parameters (i.e., copper price, mined Cu grade,
concentrate Cu grade, Opex and Capex) on the IRR, NPV and the pre-tax cash
surplus.
The NPV is most sensitive to the copper price, which is currently assumed to
average US$2.72/lb over the life of the project, and mined copper grade.
BY-PRODUCT POTENTIAL
Recovery of magnetite (Fe3O4) and cobalt has the potential to significantly improve
the project economics. This was not included in the PFS base case but will be
Magnetite and Cobalt considered during the DFS.
are technically High level testwork has been carried out on magnetite recovery indicating the
recoverable
technical feasibility of producing a high-grade saleable product, for only incremental
additional capital outlay (~A$10M). Payability will however be linked to marketing
and transport constraints, which require further investigation.
Testwork has also demonstrated that Cobalt is partially recovered to the copper
Potential to generate
concentrate, whilst potential also exists to produce a separate Co-bearing pyrite
significant further
revenue concentrate. The payability of the cobalt in either concentrate will depend on off-
take terms.
Table 7 indicates the potential additional value generated by magnetite and cobalt.
Michael Anderson
Managing Director
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This report contains forward looking statements that are subject to risk factors associated with resources
businesses. It is believed that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable but they may be
affected by a variety of variables and changes in underlying assumptions which could cause actual results or
trends to differ materially, including but not limited to: price fluctuations, actual demand, currency fluctuations,
drilling and production results, reserve estimates, loss of market, industry competition, environmental risks,
physical risks, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, economic and financial market conditions in various
countries and regions, political risks, project delay or advancement, approvals and cost estimates.
All references to dollars, cents or $ in this presentation are to AUS$ currency, unless otherwise stated.
Information in this report relating to mineral resources and exploration results is based on data compiled by Exco’s
Exploration Manager Stephen Konecny, BSc Hons Geo. (MAusIMM), Mr Mike Dunbar, (who is a full time
employee of the Mitchell River Group and a consultant to Exco Resources Ltd), and who is a member of The
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and Mr Laurie Barnes (who is a full time employee of the Mitchell
River Group and a consultant to Exco Resources Ltd) and who is a member of the Australian Institute of
Geoscientists. Mr Konecny, Mr Dunbar and Mr Barnes have sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of
mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking to qualify as
Competent Persons under the 2004 Edition of the Australasian Code for reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral
Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr Konecny, Mr Dunbar and Mr Barnes consent to the inclusion of the data in the
form and context in which it appears.
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Grade Metal
Deposit Class Tonnes
Cu% Au g/t Cu T Au Oz
E1 North Indicated 4,162,000 1.22 0.35 51,000 47,400
Inferred 3,770,000 0.99 0.32 37,000 38,400
TOTAL 7,932,000 1.11 0.34 88,000 85,800
E1 South Inferred 15,200,000 0.70 0.18 106,900 89,400
E1 East Inferred 8,000,000 0.83 0.26 66,000 65,500
Other Deposits
Note: Unless otherwise stated the above resources are reported at a 0.5% Cu cut-off.
**Mt Colin resource cut-off = 2.3% Cu.
*** Wallace South resource cut-off = 0.5g/t