NYSE: TC
TSX: TCM, TCM.WT
Frankfurt: A6R
TORONTO, June 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. ('Company'), one of the world's largest publicly traded, pure molybdenum producers, today announced changes to its 2009 estimates for molybdenum sales, molybdenum production and cash production costs.
'In response to the recent improvements in the molybdenum market, the Company is making operational adjustments at its mines that will result in molybdenum production and sales in 2009 being approximately 10% higher than previously announced estimates,' said Kevin Loughrey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
'These operational adjustments include the shortening of the planned shutdown period this summer to two weeks from one month for the milling operations at the Thompson Creek and Endako mines.
'We will continue for the time being with the other main production adjustment we announced in February 2009, namely the reduction in the Thompson Creek mill operation to 70% of capacity (a 10 days on, four days off schedule). However, we will be monitoring market conditions and we intend to remain flexible and ready to adjust our production again in the future.'
The Company now expects production and sales of molybdenum from its own mines will be in a range of 22 to 26 million pounds in 2009, up from previous guidance of 20 to 24 million pounds.
Molybdenum production at the Thompson Creek Mine is expected to be 16 to 18 million pounds (compared to previous guidance of 15 to 17 million pounds) and the Company's 75% share of production at the Endako Mine is now estimated at 6 to 8 million pounds (compared to previous guidance of 5 to 7 million pounds).
The Company's 2009 cash production costs are currently estimated in the range of $5.75 to $7.00 per pound of molybdenum produced, down from a previously estimated range of $6.25 to $7.25 per pound, with costs at the Thompson Creek Mine expected to be approximately $5.50 to $6.50 per pound (compared to previous guidance of $6.00 to $7.00 per pound) and costs at the Endako Mine expected to be approximately $6.50 to $7.50 per pound (compared to previous guidance of $7.00 to $8.00 per pound).
