Grängesberg Fe project, central Sweden 
Sidan på svenska
Current plans
Grängesberg Iron receives positive PFS on Grängesberg
iron ore project
Swedish mining company Grängesberg Iron AB is pleased to announce the
positive outcome of the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) on its iron ore mine project
in Grängesberg, Bergslagen area in central Sweden. The study proves the
project to be robust and clearly economically feasible. The Life of Mine,
based on the current mineral reserve as defined in the PFS, is 16 years. The
first production is planned for 2016.
View over the planned industrial area for the new
Grängesberg mine (pelletizing plant alternative).
On behalf of Grängesberg Iron AB, the Pre-Feasibility Study has been
performed by the independent global engineering firm URS Corporation (which
in 2010 acquired engineering consultancy Scott Wilson), with contributions
by other consultant companies and suppliers. The study describes all aspects
of the future mining operations, from ore geology and mineral reserves, through
mining, hoisting and beneficiation, to transportation and market analysis
for the final iron ore products. The PFS has been performed according to the
NI 43-101 regulations, with an accuracy of + / - 25% and represents a sound
base for the further development of the project towards production.
The total capital investment costs are estimated to 554 MUSD in a scenario
for production of iron ore concentrate (pellet feed), and 848 MUSD in a scenario
with a pelletizing plant producing iron ore BF pellets. According to the financial
model, which is based on a forecast of the future price development for iron
ore products by Raw Material Group, the annual revenue in the pellet feed
scenario will be approx. 320 MUSD, and in the pellets scenario approx. 350
MUSD.
The Grängesberg mine, which was closed in 1989, still has an extensive
infrastructure underground, of which a significant part can be re-used. The
mining schedule and the technical planning for the mining operations have
been designed according to the latest underground mining principles and comprises
an average of 5.3 million tonnes of crude ore mined yearly, resulting in a
yearly production of 2.5 million tonnes of iron ore products. The PFS also
provides a detailed technical solution for the initial dewatering of the mine,
estimated to take up to two years. The time is partly dependent on details
in the future environmental permit.
The PFS describes the railway transportation 250 kilometres down to the Port of Oxelösund, which has excellent capabilities and potential for handling and ship loading of the iron ore products, with Panamax capacity today and a future potential for Capesize vessels. Grängesberg Iron AB signed a Letter of Intent with the port company Oxelösunds Hamn AB in 2010. Grängesberg Iron AB also has a co-operation agreement with the Swedish Transport Administration regarding investigations and planning of the future railway capacity between the Grängesberg mine and the Port of Oxelösund.
On the 2nd of April 2012, Grängesberg Iron AB filed an application for
an initial 25 year’s mining concession for the Grängesberg iron
ore mine.
Financing
The PFS represents the basis for the next financing step. On-going discussions
with leading investment banks in Scandinavia and other industrial investors
indicates a strong interest for the Grängesberg iron ore project which,
based on the results of the PFS, should rank as one of the most interesting
iron ore projects in Europe.
For more information, please see further in the Overview section, and in the press release.
