(186,5 PLN, 0,43%) intends to launch a copper and gold mine in Canada and has asked the local authorities for an assessment of the likely impact of the investment on the natural environment. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and its provincial counterpart in British Columbia will collect this information until 11 July 2011. On Thursday, the environmental agency will hold a meeting to discuss the issue in Kamloops, 10 km away from the location of the mine. The local population is concerned about the likely impact of the undertaking, saying it could disturb wildlife in the area, cause a decrease in property prices and pollute a nearby lake. has hired a PR agency to dispel these concerns. The counter arguments include the prospect of the creation of 400 new jobs and the provision of work for about 1,000 people during the 23 years of the mine’s operation. The construction of the mine itself is expected to cost more than US$ 0.5bn.
Our view:
A potential negative decision from the environmental body could derail KGHM’s Canadian venture. This in turn could trigger a downward revision of our forecasts for the company. At present, however, it is far too early to factor-in such a scenario. We currently include a 50% of chance of the enterprise being launched from 2013, which adds PLN 12.77 per share to our valuation of .