

Q: What is the short and longer term outlook for nickel prices?
A: As world economies continue to develop, including those of China and India, the demand for nickel remains strong. Nickel prices repeatedly hit all-time highs in 2007 as London Metal Exchange inventory levels dipped to historically low levels. In fact, many analysts suggest global demand for nickel is forecast to exceed supply until at least 2010. Crowflight's Bucko Lake Nickel Mine is the only new Canadian nickel project expected to come on-stream in this period and only one of a few new nickel projects to be developed in the world. All of these factors point to a continuation of very strong nickel prices until at least 2010, and above average prices beyond this date.
Q: Describe management's experience and expertise.
A: Each member of Crowflight's senior management team has at least 15 years and up to more than 30 years of experience in the areas of mineral exploration, project development and mine production, and corporate and project finance. The current team has advanced the Bucko Lake Deposit through a number of crucial stages: from a scoping study in April 2005, to a full feasibility study in January 2006, and a Bankable Feasibility Study that was completed in March 2007. This same team has raised more than $47 million to fund the ongoing development of the project since 2005 and continues to guide its development with the goal of being production in mid-2008.
Q: What are the environmental hazards associated with mining nickel?
A: Nickel mining itself poses no greater hazards than that of any other mining activity or for that matter, any industrial activity. Crowflight's management supports sustainable mining techniques and to that end will take all necessary steps to conduct all mining activities in the context of that permitted by the law with due respect for safety and sensitivity towards the environment. The Bucko Lake Nickel Deposit has been through a lengthy permitting process with the Manitoba and Canadian governments and at this time is well advanced. In February 2007, the Company received confirmation of the province of Manitoba's intent to permit the Bucko Lake Nickel Deposit as well as its intention to support Crowflight's application to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) for the use of Bucko Lake, a small, shallow, headwater lake located adjacent to the Bucko Deposit, as a tailings impoundment area (TIA). This proposal has undergone review by various departments of the provincial government, including a 30-day public and provincial Technical Advisory public review and any issues raised by reviewing parties have been addressed. Crowflight feels that it is important to share information about its projects with the local communities and therefore meets with them regularly to provide updates.
Q: How would you characterize the potential to expand the mineral resource on the Bucko Deposit?
A: Indicated Resources at the Bucko Lake Deposit increased by 32% in 2006 and by 53% since Crowflight began work on Bucko in 2005. Even with these significant increases achieved in the past, excellent opportunities exist to further expand mineral resources through extensions to the known resources. In addition to Bucko, Crowflight made two discoveries in the winter of 2006 at the M11A and Apex Zones in the TNB South Project Area, located just three kilometres from the Bucko Deposit. In September 2007, Crowflight announced new inferred nickel resources for the M11A, Apex, Bowden Lake and Halfway Lake deposits, all located within 25 kilometres of Bucko. The Company continues to test other high priority targets in its 700 square kilometre exploration package, including its joint venture agreement with Pure Nickel on the historic Manibridge deposit 20 kilometres south of Bucko.
Q: Do you foresee any obstacles as construction proceeds on the Bucko Lake Mine?
A: Crowflight is not aware of any major risks, such as permitting, access, climate, or labour issues that are unique to the development of the Bucko Lake Nickel Deposit. On the contrary, Manitoba is among the most favorable jurisdictions in the world in which to conduct mineral exploration and development activities. The Company has received confirmation from the Department of Conservation of the province of Manitoba of the province's intention to grant an Environmental Act License for the development, mining and processing operation at the Bucko Lake Nickel Deposit to produce a nickel concentrate. This will be granted once the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) has issued its approval for the use of Bucko Lake as a tailings impoundment area (TIA). The Bucko Lake Deposit is located close to excellent infrastructure (power, rail, roadways, attractive communities in which to live), an excellent local pool of experienced labour and within one of the world's most stable political environments.
Q: What projects is Crowflight involved in other than the Bucko Deposit?
A: While current project development plans are focused on the Bucko Deposit, Crowflight is also exploring 700 square kilometres of advanced-stage exploration properties surrounding the Bucko Lake Deposit and adjacent to CVRD-Inco's Thompson, Manitoba nickel operations (annual production of 110 million pounds of refined nickel).
Furthermore, Crowflight holds an interest in 100 square kilometres in the Sudbury Basin Complex, Canada, one of the world's richest known deposits of nickel and platinum group metals in the world. One of these properties, the Peter's Roost Property, is joint ventured with Wallbridge Mining. The second property is the AER Kidd Property, immediately adjacent to Inco's Totten Deposit. Crowflight also had a joint venture on the Airport Property with Millstream Mines Ltd., located four kilometres on-strike with Falconbridge's Nickel Rim South Deposit.
Q: Comment on Crowflight's share valuation relative to its peers
A: Although it is difficult to find two companies that are identical to one another, Crowflight currently appears to be undervalued compared to the average valuation of a number of exploration, emerging development and small producing nickel companies that may be considered peers for Crowflight as it passes from an exploration and mineral development to a metal producer. Independent research by investment firms such as Orion Securities and Churchill Research appear to confirm Crowflight's opinion. This is not unusual for a company at Crowflight's current stage of development. It would be expected that as the Company approaches production, valuation is enhanced more in line with other metal producing companies.
Q: Are the number of shares outstanding an issue for Crowflight?
A: Crowflight currently has approximately 250 million shares outstanding. Given that the Company is developing an economical mineral deposit, the number of shares outstanding is not uncommon. The stock is highly liquid, with daily trading in the last six months averaging 1.2 million shares and 1.0 million shares in the last 90 days and as such, the shares outstanding and liquidity are very consistent one with the other and should be of no concern.
Q: What investor shows will Crowflight likely attend in 2008?
A: For current commitments, refer to the table below.
Date |
Location |
Conference |
January 20-21, 2008 |
Vancouver, BC |
Cambridge House Resource Investment Conference |
March 2-5, 2008 |
Toronto, ON |
PDAC |
May 12-13, 2008 |
New York, NY |
IIC Hard Assets Conference |
November 2008 |
Winnipeg, MB |
Manitoba Mining & Minerals Convention |
November 30-December 1, 2008 |
San Francisco, CA |
IIC Hard Assets Conference |
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