Newcastle Mining Company (NMC) mines coal, puts it through a one-step crushing process, and loads the bulk raw coal onto river barges for shipment to customers. NMC's management is currently evaluating the possibility of further processing the raw coal by sizing and cleaning it and selling it to an expanded set of customers at higher prices. The option of building a new sizing and cleaning plant is ruled out as being financially infeasible. Instead, Amy Kimbell, a mining engineer, is asked to explore outside-contracting arrangements for the cleaning and sizing process. Kimbell puts together the following summary: Click the inantnim A B. C 1 Selling price of raw coal $30 per ton 2 Cost of producing raw coal $21 per ton Selling price of sized and cleaned 3 coal $34 per ton 9,000,000 4 Annual raw coal output tons Percentage of material weight 5 loss in sizing/cleaning coal 6% Incremental Costs of Sizing & Cleaning Processes 6 7 Direct labor $790,000 per year $190,000 per year 8 Supervisory personnel Heavy equipment rental, 9 operating, maintenance costs $35,000 per month W $3.30 per ton of raw coal $250 per 60-ton rail 10 Contract sizing and cleaning 11 Outbound rail freight car Car TvwVUTTU TOM Tigre Percentage of sizing/cleaning waste that can be salvaged for 12 coal fines Range of costs per ton for 13 preparing coal fine for sale Range of coal fine selling prices 14 (per ton) 75% ho $3 $ 5 an $14 $ 25 Kimbell also learns that 75% of the material loss that occurs in the cleaning and sizing process can be salvaged as coal fines, which can be sold to steel manufacturers for their furnaces. The sale of coal fines is erratic and NMC may need to stockpile it in a protected area for up to one year. The selling price of coal fine ranges from $14 to $25 per ton Te Ceamy and sizmy process cal de salvaged as tuar fines, which can be sold to steel manufacturers for their furnaces. The sale of coal fines is erratic and NMC may need to stockpile it in a protected area for up to one year. a The selling price of coal fine ranges from $14 to $25 per ton and costs of preparing coal fines for sale range from $3 to $5 per ton 1. Prepare an analysis to show whether it is more profitable for NMC to continue selling raw bulk coal or to process it further through sizing and cleaning. (Ignore coal fines in your analysis.) 2. How would your analysis be affected if the cost of producing raw coal could be held down to $20 per ton? Mowlanoidartha natantialualue aftba nonl fons and VOTwy wynor FOOT Turururuvayronary your analysis.) 2. How would your analysis be affected if the cost of producing raw coal could be held down to $20 per ton? 3. Now consider the potential value of the coal fines and prepare an addendum that shows how their value affects the results of your analysis prepared in requirement 1
