The improvement in Mississippi Lignite Mining Company results was primarily attributable to increased operating efficiencies due to the completion of the move to a new mine area in late 2023 and improved mining conditions. Changes in the level of coal inventory and costs capitalized into inventory also contributed to the improvement. The increase in earnings of unconsolidated operations was primarily due to increased pricing at Falkirk that began in June 2024 when temporary price concessions ended, and improved results at Coteau.
Full-year 2024 consolidated capital expenditures are expected to total approximately $6900萬, which includes approximately $1100萬 for Unallocated capital expenditures, primarily at Mitigation Resources of North America®. During the 2024 fourth quarter, the Company expects to expend up to $3800萬, including $2000萬 related to Minerals Management. In 2024, cash flow before financing activities is expected to be a use of cash.
2025 Perspectives & Long-term Growth and Diversification
NACCO's businesses provide critical inputs for electricity generation, construction and development, and the production of industrial minerals and chemicals. Increasing demand for electricity, on-shoring and current federal policies are creating favorable macroeconomic trends within these
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industries. Management is confident in the Company's trajectory and business prospects as it prepares for 2025 and longer-term growth opportunities.
While the Company realizes the coal mining industry faces political and regulatory challenges and overall demand for coal is projected to decline over the longer-term, management believes coal should be an essential part of the energy mix in the United States for the foreseeable future. The Company anticipates continued solid customer demand at its coal mining operations in 2025 and will benefit from the absence of temporary price concessions at Falkirk. Cost inflation is anticipated to affect Mississippi Lignite Mining Company's 2025 results.
North American Mining expects to build on its current 2024 momentum to deliver further improved results in 2025. Benefits from new and amended contracts, and new business expansion opportunities, are expected to generate improved 2025 results on expectations for comparable year-over-year customer demand. New contracts and contract extensions are central to the business' organic growth strategy, and the Company expects North American Mining to be a substantial contributor to operating profit over time.
通過其Catapult Mineral Partners業務,礦產管理板塊正在美國建設一個高質量、多元化的油氣礦產和採礦權組合,預計將提供近期現金流收益和長期增長預期。當前組合爲公司提供了堅實的資產基礎,預計將繼續提供穩健的財務業績。儘管回報的時機可能有所不同,公司保持着長期的視角。鑑於當前的油氣價格和預期產量趨勢,公司預計2025年會有適度的產量下降。公司認爲礦產管理業務在成熟階段將提供中等的不帶槓桿的稅後資本回報率。
The Company believes its businesses have competitive advantages that provide value to customers and create long-term value for stockholders. The Company is pursuing growth and diversification by strategically leveraging its core mining and natural resources management skills to build a robust portfolio of affiliated businesses. Opportunities for growth remain strong. Acquisitions of additional
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mineral interests and improvements in the outlook for Coal Mining segment customers, as well as new contracts at Mitigation Resources and North American Mining should be accretive to the Company's longer-term outlook.
NACCO also continues to pursue activities which can strengthen the resiliency of its existing coal mining operations. The Company remains focused on managing coal production costs and maximizing efficiencies and operating capacity at mine locations to help customers with management fee contracts be more competitive. These activities benefit both customers and the Company's Coal Mining segment, as fuel cost is a significant driver for power plant dispatch. Increased power plant dispatch results in increased demand for coal by the Coal Mining segment's customers. Fluctuating natural gas prices, weather and availability of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, could affect the amount of electricity dispatched from coal-fired power plants.
The Company continues to look for ways to create additional value by utilizing its core mining competencies which include reclamation and permitting. NACCO established ReGen Resources to utilize these skills to address the rapidly increasing demand for additional power generation sources in the United States through development of solar and other energy-related projects on reclaimed mining properties. These projects could be developed by the Company itself or through joint ventures that include partners with expertise in energy development projects. Current opportunities under review include solar arrays, solar-gas hybrid projects and carbon capture on reclaimed mine land in Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Texas.