www.churchillmining.com
Churchill Mining PLC is an AIM listed (CHL) mining company with a significant thermal coal development project located in the East Kutai Regency of Kalimantan, Indonesia, where to date more than 2.73 billion tonnes of coal resource has been defined to JORC standard. The project feasibility study has been completed, indicating an economic and desirable project and the study forms the platform for the next stage in the development of the Project. In addition to the East Kutai Coal Project, Churchill has interests in the Sendawar Coal Bed Methane Project in East Kalimantan, Indonesia and a strategic holding in Spitfire Resources, who are developing the South Woodie Woodie Manganese Project in Western Australia.
Churchill Mining targets completion of East Kutai feasibility review for Q2 2010
Churchill Mining PLC (AIM: CHL) said it now expects to complete the feasibility review process for its flagship 75 percent held East Kutai coal project (EKCP) in Indonesia in the second quarter of 2010. It will make a detailed statement on the project's economics and associated matters upon completion of that review.
In mid-December, the group announced the completion of the feasibility study for East Kutai, confirming a preferred 20 million tonne per annum production rate. The company was planning project construction work at EKCP to start in 2010, taking two years to complete.
The EKCP has a 2.481 billion tonne JORC resource of which 956 million tonnes has been classified as a probable reserve. Churchill said in December it had put the project's infrastructure items - mine stockyard, overland conveyor, port/ship loader and power station - out to tender and this process is well advanced. The bids received had been well below predicted costs due to the resurgence in global manufacturing and engineering capabilities following the global financial downturn.
As announced in September 2009, the company received several non-binding approaches relating to possible acquisitions of specific projects within Churchill. It said today it is continuing to review these approaches, and its options with regard to the various funding and commercial alternatives for the EKCP and is working through an evaluation of these alternatives in order to maximise shareholder value.
The feasibility study envisages that the EKCP coal will be transported from the mine, ultimately made up of three open pits, using a 160 kilometre overland conveyor system comprising eight flights at a speed of 5 metres per second, powered by a coal-fired plant using EKCP coal.
Churchill in December appointed Pala Investments AG as strategic advisor to assess the company's current structure with a view towards increasing its operational and capital-raising flexibility. Pala is focused on the mining and natural resources sector.
In addition to appointing Pala, Churchill has engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers Indonesia to assist with assessing certain aspects of the company's current structure from a tax and financial perspective, including the impact of the implementation of the new Mining Law in Indonesia.

















