Company: NC
Filing Date: 2025-04-30
Form Type: 10-Q
Source: 0000789933-25-000023
Chunk: 71

Company: NACCO INDUSTRIES INC
Filing Date: 2025-04-30
Form: 10-Q
Item: Part I, Item 8
Chunk 71
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 while it assists with certain construction services. Once the mine is operating, Sawtooth will be reimbursed for costs of mining, capital expenditures and mine closure and will recognize a contractually agreed upon production fee. In addition to providing comprehensive mining services, Sawtooth will receive a fee to transport clay tailings once lithium production commences. Phase 1 lithium production is estimated to begin in late 2027. 

The Minerals Management segment, through its Catapult business, has constructed a high-quality, diversified portfolio of oil and gas mineral and royalty interests in the United States. In late 2024, Minerals Management invested an additional $15.7 million in Eiger, a company that holds non-operated working interests in oil and natural gas assets in the Kansas and Oklahoma portions of the Hugoton basin. This investment, accounted for under the equity method, is expected to be accretive and contribute to the anticipated improvement in 2025 operating profit compared with 2024. First-half earnings are expected to be comparable to prior year results with an anticipated significant improvement in the second half given expected trends in oil and natural gas prices and projected volumes.

Minerals Management continues to build its portfolio with a mix of producing wells, near-term development opportunities and undeveloped acreage. We believe our data-driven approach to acquisitions and our long-term perspective provides a competitive advantage as undeveloped assets provide additional upside potential over the life of the reserve. While we continue to budget up to $20 million annually to expand our portfolio and provide long-term stable cash flow generation, our business model allows flexibility regarding the cadence and type of investment based on available opportunities that we believe will create long-term value and generate increasing profitability.

Mitigation Resources provides stream and wetland mitigation solutions as well as comprehensive reclamation and restoration construction services. This business is an avenue for growth and diversification in an area where NACCO has built a strong reputation based on its substantial knowledge and expertise. Mitigation Resources continues to expand, and as of March 31, 2025, has projects located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. 

Mitigation Resources also provides ecological restoration services for abandoned surface mines and plans to pursue other environmental restoration projects. It was named a designated provider of abandoned mine land restoration by the State of Texas, and in January 2025 secured a restoration project in Kentucky that is expected to be accretive to earnings beginning in 2026.

Mitigation Resources reported its second consecutive quarter of profitability in the