Inkai

Production on a 100% basis was 2.3 million pounds for the quarter and 5.8 million pounds for the first nine months of the year, compared to 2.5 million pounds and 6.7 million pounds in the same periods last year

Based on an adjustment to the production purchase entitlement under the 2016 JV Inkai restructuring agreement, we are entitled to purchase 4.2 million pounds, or 50% of JV Inkai’s updated planned 2022 production of 8.3 million pounds, assuming no production disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions or other causes.

Due to equity accounting, our share of production is shown as a purchase at a discount to the spot price and included in inventory at this value at the time of delivery. Our share of the profits earned by JV Inkai on the sale of its production is included in “share of earnings from equity-accounted investee” on our consolidated statement of earnings.

JV Inkai has experienced a number of operational issues related to interruptions in reagent delivery and wellfield drilling. While, the issues have been partially mitigated, their impact on production and inflationary pressure on production supplies could pose a risk to JV Inkai’s 2022 production volume and its costs.

The geopolitical situation continues to cause transportation risks in the region.

JV Inkai has continued to experience delays in shipping its finished product via the Trans-Caspian route. The first shipment of our share of JV Inkai’s 2022 production was dispatched at the end of September but is delayed in transit. We continue to work closely with JV Inkai and our joint venture partner, KAP, to begin receiving our production share via this shipping route that doesn’t rely on Russian rail lines or ports, however there are no assurances regarding the timeline for resolution of this delay.

In the event that it takes longer than anticipated to secure this shipping route, we could experience further delays in our expected Inkai deliveries this year. To mitigate this risk, we have inventory, long-term purchase agreements and loan arrangements in place we can draw on. Depending on when we receive the shipment of our share of Inkai’s 2022 production, our 2022 share of earnings from this equity-accounted investee and the timing of the receipt of our share of dividends from the joint venture may be impacted.