Warrior Provides Update on Transformational Blue Creek Steelmaking Coal Project
Implementation of Innovative Technologies and Best Practices Significantly Increases Nameplate Capacity
Valuation Metrics Revised Upward Reflecting Increased Efficiency
Key Highlights
-
Nameplate capacity increased
25% to 6.0 million short tons per year from original production plan of 4.8 million short tons per year; -
At revised nameplate capacity, Blue Creek is expected to generate approximately
of incremental revenues,$1.3 billion of incremental adjusted EBITDA, and$735 million of incremental free cash flows annually;$637 million -
Net present value (“NPV”) of Blue Creek is approximately
with an internal rate of return (“IRR”) of$5.4 billion 35% and a payback period of 2.3 years at revised nameplate capacity - On track for shorter production timeline, with the first longwall expected to start no later than Q2 2026; and
- Project expected to be completed on time and within budget, and fully paid for by cash flows generated from operations.
“Our decision to begin this transformational investment in Blue Creek will transform Warrior and allow us to continue our proven track record of creating value for stockholders,” said Walt Scheller, CEO of Warrior. “This project represents a transformative opportunity for Warrior through the significant addition of nameplate capacity to address the market dynamics we believe will continue to play out over the near and medium-term. By furthering Warrior’s legacy of high-quality, low-cost assets, we believe that Blue Creek will have a positive impact on Warrior for decades to come and will benefit a wide range of stakeholders. I want to thank our employees and the rest of the project team for their dedication to this project and for ensuring the project is completed safely, on time and on budget.”
Production Projections and Timeline
Since the Blue Creek project was re-launched in May 2022, Warrior has made several meaningful operational and technological improvements that are anticipated to have a positive impact on the project economics. From a production standpoint, Warrior has been able to increase the nameplate capacity of Blue Creek to 6.0 million short tons per year from the original production plan of 4.8 million short tons per year, an increase of
Warrior has the ability to increase the current nameplate capacity
Given current market conditions, Warrior plans to initially operate Blue Creek at 4.8 million short tons per year until the additional tons are warranted, as determined by supply and demand dynamics in the market.
Warrior continues to advance the project on schedule. After launching continuous miner production during the third quarter of 2024, the Company expects the preparation plant to start in the middle of 2025 and the longwall to start no later than the second quarter of 2026.
Budget and Valuation Update
Even with the addition of innovative technologies and best practices, the project remains on budget. Warrior expects the total project capital expenditures, excluding mine development costs and including the impact of inflation on materials, labor, machinery, and supplies, to remain unchanged in the range of
Based on conservative projections and assuming a long-term benchmark price of
Investor Presentation
Concurrently with this release, Warrior has issued an updated Blue Creek presentation, which can be found on the investor section of www.warriormetcoal.com.
About Warrior
Warrior is a
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We have not reconciled our forward-looking adjusted EBITDA or free cash flow to GAAP net income or cash flow from operations, respectively, due to the uncertainty and potential variability of stock-based compensation expense, non-cash asset retirement obligation accretion and valuation adjustments, other non-cash accretion and valuation adjustments, non-cash mark-to-market loss (gain) on gas hedges and other non-recurring indirect mining expenses that are difficult to predict in advance in order to include in a GAAP estimate. Because such items cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts, we are unable to provide a reconciliation of these Non-GAAP Measures to the corresponding GAAP measures. However, such items could have a significant impact on our future GAAP net income and cash flow from operations.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains, and the Company’s officers and representatives may from time to time make, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the development of, anticipated expenditures on, anticipated financial performance of the Company related to, and the quality of coal to be produced from, the Blue Creek project, as well as statements regarding sales and production growth, ability to maintain cost structure, demand, pricing trends, profitability and cash flow generation, competitive advantage, the Company's future ability to create value for stockholders, inflationary pressures and expected capital expenditures. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “foresee,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potential,” “outlook,” “guidance” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements represent management’s good faith expectations, projections, guidance, or beliefs concerning future events, and it is possible that the results described in this press release will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, fluctuations or changes in the pricing or demand for the Company’s coal (or met coal generally) by the global steel industry; the impact of global pandemics, such as the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic, on its business and that of its customers, including the risk of a decline in demand for the Company's met coal due to the impact of any such pandemic on steel manufacturers; the impact of inflation on the Company, the impact of geopolitical events, including the effects of the
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all such factors.
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Analysts and Investors:
Dale W. Boyles, (205) 554-6129
News Media:
D’Andre Wright, (205) 554-6131
Source: Warrior Met Coal, Inc.