I agree with RabidTiger, that Capex is a big issue. I am tuned in to any discussion on Capex.

In the article that Linisekle posted today on TCKs Cu expansion costs, I imagine that much of that expansion cost is Capex cost. Of course, there will be stripping costs in there as well, thats part of mining too.

For big operations, I think Big Capex becomes a level playing field. By that I mean the components of Capex (Base Metals, machinery, technology, transmission lines, etc etc) are quite senisitive to world commodity prices. There are only so many leading engineering firms (technology) and they are all making 1st world rates. World class miners can find bargains here and there but they are all sourcing for their projects on the world market. The same Catepillar ore truck would cost pretty much the same in Indonesia as it would at Schaft.

Schaft is big, and a bit remote but Elmer can play with capex a lot. The PFS had at least two starter pits and these will likely change with the 2011 drilling. Webgogs had mentioned conveyours on occasion. You can run a lot of different options with conveyors.

On the output side, Galore's pipeline proposal makes a lot of sense for the concentrate. It would make just as much sense to me for Schaft to pipe concentrate instead of trucking - especially trucking to a hwy truck re-load.

We won't know what the final mine plan will be so we can only go by what Elmer said. I think it was something to the effect of in the ballpark of the 2008 PFS.

With Galore + Schaft & zones + Teckland, TCK would have a very nice chunky area with lots of options and synergies to apply and amoritize its capital with big, long term, high value projects and some new exploration potential.

mho