Again Boulby has large trunk conveyors, up to 10km in length (as did Selby), the proposal is not for one long conveyor but a series of smaller conveyors. Tunneling machines being the same as in brunels days is complete poppycock - yes conventional shield tunneling may be, TBM's are a very different piece of equipment, utilising a shield. The long term operating costs of the conveyor system will be far cheaper than a pumped sytem, wear and corrosion in pumping a alkaline, high solid content salt solution will be massive, with the pipes furring up over a period of time. Then you have the dewatering issues at the other end (Which uses a massive amount of energy) as well as the energy sed in actually pumping.
1. There is precedent for such a scheme (Although not quite as long) at the Selby super pit. 2. Although it sounds a long tunnel, on a mine of this type it is not particularly significant. Boulby has several hundred miles of tunnels in the salt layer under the potash carrying conveyors, these tunnels are in the order of 8m wide by 3.5m high, in what is ultimately uneconomic ground - it is mined this way in order keep the permanent accesses open, as the potash is too unstable for permanent mine infrastructure.
In some respects I agree with the issue of the economics of the tunnel and I am somewhat sceptical, however I wouldn't rule it completely out: -
By the EGM, I reckon it will 22pps.
Judging by some of the comments on here over the last couple of days, some people don't seem to understand what they were getting themselves into. This was always going to happen and should be a surprise to nobody.
They've extended the suspension until Tuesday!
Its lost more in one day than its made on 12 months? I'm beginning to wander if you're on this planet!
Interesting take on an investment from some here! Mines generally don't make money until they produce something, to produce something you have to build a mine - that costs a lot of money. The idea is it costs less than the money earnt (With an industry accepted payback period of 3 years. This mine ticks all the boxes, so for someone to suggest that the shareprice as peaked barely before a shovel is stuck into the ground is laughable!
That seems to have finally created some volume on the ASX!
See the latest announcement on the ASX is that GRES have been given the go ahead to start construction of the plant.