Ivernia Inc IVWFF

RE: Esperance

[ElJ]

Hi 99921,
                    I caution seriously about drawing a conclusion that in the context of the transport/shipping activity and it's environmental problems that Ivernia management "tried to cut corners to save a few bucks"......very wrong conclusion IMHO.

The open air drying process, which has subsequently been replaced at the mine/concentrator site was an issue that I had discussed at plant development stage with Ken Sangster. He iderntified to me at that time that the choice of solar drying  was largely based on maintaining a dust free product....forced drying(high temperature thermal or very high pressure filtration) tends to break up the flocculating bond of the additives that bind the very fine individual particles that make up the bulk of the concentrate.
The contracted services.... including transport by road to the rail terminal, the rail transportation step, the storage at Esperance and the loading processs are all part of the "cradle to grave" responsibility concept for Ivernia and I believe that there were many parties involved(contributing  in unintended ways to the disaster) but Ivernia are stepping-up  in the arrangements made with all concerned. The time duration of the logistics handling combined with the weather/temperatures,  apparently created dust that was clearly a problem in the handling process at Esperance.
Ivernia management, in their dedication, discussions and actions to resolving this unwelcome and serious problem have displayed excellence in corporate behaviour IMHO,  as they have worked through this difficult time with community, government, employees, shareholders, debt holders and customers.

One wishes them better times ahead, even though Ivernia have cost increases and in fact are at a competitive cost disadvantage(if I understand correctly) in the restrictions placed on their shipping function compared to even other operators in Australia(e.g across the country at Mt Isa), and elsewhere world-wide. 

Ivernia believe, it would appear, that they can succeed and I guess we all wish them well,
Peace,
Good Decision-making to All,
ElJ