They throw carrots at Copper Fox management to keep us around and delay both a pfs report and the buyout. Teck is aware if they proposed a small program...Elmer can't justify sticking around to us (the shareholders). Teck delayed the pfs to 2024. They aren't ready to buy us yet. Teck made the 2023 program big enough to keep us around another year. It sucks! They are the delay experts of the industry and Elmer falls to it after hearing the 17 million budget (which Teck is unlikely to meet anyway but it's a nice headline for the public). They have not met target budget in the last 3 years lol. 

Elmer needs to wake up and realize value can be added to SC anytime there is a program but at this point, we need to move on.....many are sick and tired of this JV. They wasted years with no drilling, now suddenly we need to drill the deposit for certainty. The endless time invested and the continued games don't help us. 

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You are absolutely right here.  Teck is not ready to buy us out.  Until they finally put QB2 into production, they are not ready.  QB2 was supposed to be running q4 2022.  Where are we now?

There seem to be a delay there.  On top of that, they need time for coal to replenish their cash reserves.  The past year and a half with high copper and coal pricing, they only added 1 billion to their cash a balance.  Another 1 billion from fort hills sale and another 1 billion from coal spinoff.  Cash from cash flow wise still hasn't been as gravy as it looks.

But this program does sound serious.  $17 million.  I think they want to know SC further.  Hey i want a sale right now but it feels like this work will improve our value further.  Make it more expesive for Teck to buy.