Teck Resources to lay off staff, cut spending as global uncertainty weighs on commodity prices – by Staff (Financial Post – October 24, 2019)

https://business.financialpost.com/

Teck Resources Ltd. said it would eliminate jobs, start a cost-cutting program and defer some planned capital projects amid global economic uncertainty that’s weighing on commodity prices.

The Vancouver-based company is aiming to reduce around $500 million from its spending plan through the end of 2020, according to its third-quarter results statement.

“Over the past few years, we have focused our attention on maximizing production to capture margin during periods of higher commodity prices,” said Don Lindsay, president and CEO of the company. “However, current global economic uncertainties are having a significant negative effect on the prices for our products, particularly steelmaking coal.”

The company is focusing on a program to improve efficiency and productivity across its business, and focusing on the Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 (QB2) Project in Chile, one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper resources. The project continues to target construction completion in the fourth quarter of 2021.

“We have also implemented a cost reduction program to reduce spending on our capital and operating costs for the balance of 2019 and 2020,” Lindsey said.

For the rest of this article: https://business.financialpost.com/commodities/mining/teck-resources-cuts-spending-plans-as-global-economic-uncertainty-hurts-commodity-prices