Goodheart, very nice reporting.
Just wanted to add a few comments.
- Post says: "He produced an acordian paper with the whole route on it done by satalite with elevations. He said the engineers needed to see personally some gps corordinates marked on the route paper to complete the study".
Most likely the elevation information along the corridor was not done by satellite (the terrain model and GPS information are not that accurate from commercial sources), since KWG had much more accurate elevation data which were done by their consultant (I think it's Golder). They had a LiDAR (air) survey done along the entire route with phenomenal accuracy.
- In addition, there are a few technical/engineering reports around (one from Krech Ojard & Associates, and the other is a detailed comparison between RR and road by Tetra Tech). Plus the EW Alternate road proposed by KWG in additon to NOT original EWroad proposal. These reports are readily available on the web for anyone who would be interested and care enough to look them up and read...At least, I would expect Bob Rae as (presummably) the Chief Negotiator/Advisor should be aware of all these to brief the Matawa FN (for the conference in North Bay).
- Also, Mr Rae should explain to the FNs that chromite is bulky stuff and would need the train to move it out the RoF, rather than monster trucks that would chew up the roads in notime, etc...In addition, Ni is not the only stuff available to be mined in the RoF. It would be an econmically viable solution to start with a Ni mine (but the Capex and Opex are large, and the banks would want to know if the company has an off-take agreement), but the Chinese NOT director/observer for China, Mr. Xu? of Baosteel, would be expected to have a long view, beyond Ni. It was interesting to note that Baosteel has the first right of refusal on NOT Chromite (any link for this FRoR?).
- All Chinese (or Western) companies would have some kind of link with one another, so it should not be a surprise for Baosteel to have a chat with the other Chinese companies which are doing the work with KWG. May be, Baosteel can pony up some money to build a chromite mine for KWG?, Black Horse, Big Daddy (surely, NOT could be persuaded to throw in the other 70%?)...If there is strong resistance from management, then one option would be to have an arrangement for a buy-out. Bet that RCF (and Franco Nevada) would want to protect/get back their investment with a strong support from deep pockets. And the merge that with KWG to create a single entity... speaking with one voice.
And that would be a game changer...a total package for the RoF financed totally with foreign investment. They have the money and can have it done right the first time. We pay them with the chromite they dig up with their shovels and transport out from the RoF with their train. Canadians would have jobs and the governments would happily collect the taxes. Win-win for everyone.
GH
