Evan McCall

Evan McCall inquired about the progress of plans for the new mill at Goderich, the timeline for a decision on the investment, and whether the strong winter has influenced the decision.

Answer

President and CEO Edward Dowling explained that there are three associated projects: the East Mine Drive (ongoing for years), the 3B108 project (just starting to connect shafts to the East Mine Drive), and the new mill itself, which is in the engineering and value engineering stage, with more details expected in coming quarters.

Evan McCall from BMO Capital Markets inquired about the current state of the salt market, specifically if it's well-supplied for the strong winter, the potential for imports or a larger spot market, and Compass Minerals' capacity to sell excess tons. He also asked for an update on the new mill project at Goderich Mine, the decision timeline, and if the strong winter influenced the investment decision.

Answer

Edward Dowling, President and CEO of Compass Minerals, and Ben Nichols, Chief Commercial Officer, confirmed the salt market is very tight due to the strong winter, making mid-season imports difficult. Mr. Dowling detailed the three projects associated with the Goderich mill (East Mine Drive, 3B108 project, and the new mill itself), noting the new mill is in the value engineering stage with updates expected in coming quarters. The strong winter's impact on the investment decision was not explicitly stated as a direct factor for the ongoing engineering work.