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PART 4: MINE-TO-MARKET NICKEL BUSINESS Post year-end in July 2021, Blackstone Minerals delivered a compelling Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for the Downstream Business Unit. The PFS demonstrated post-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of more than US$2 billion and internal rate of return (IRR) of 67%. Upfront project capital of US$491 million would be paid back in 1.5 years from first production. In terms of Blackstone Minerals' Upstream unit, they are continuing to drill out five orebodies across the project, comprising two larger disseminated deposits and three high-grade underground deposits. Blackstone Minerals have eight drill rigs operating to support resource
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estimations for each of these and these are intended to be incorporated into the Upstream Business Unit PFS, due for delivery later in the 2021 calendar year. [source: Blackstone Minerals Annual Report 2021] Andrew Strickland together with the experience management team to drive Ta Khoa forward as mine-tomarket nickel business. The Ta Khoa Nickel Project is to produce downstream nickel products for the lithium-ion battery industry. Andrew describes his role in developing the overall upstream and downstream projects in a way to optimise the overall value of Blackstone Minerals including
Coffee With Samso: Andrew Strickland, Head of Project Development at Blackstone Minerals Ltd on Mine-to-Market Nickel Business