2.   Liquidity Risk

Our operations are based on a small number of large sales.  As a result, our cash flow and therefore our current assets and working capital may vary widely during the year based on the timing of those sales.  Virtually all of our sales are under contracts which specify delivery quantities, sales prices and payment dates. The only exceptions are spot sales which we are currently only making when advantageous. As a result, we are able to perform cash management functions over the course of an entire year and are less reliant on current commodity prices and market conditions. We monitor our cash projections on a weekly basis and have used various techniques to manage our cash flows including the assignment of deliveries, negotiating changes in delivery dates, purchasing inventory at favorable prices and raising capital.

As at March 31, 2020, the Company’s financial liabilities consisted of trade accounts payable and accrued trade and payroll liabilities of $0.7 million which are due within normal trade terms of generally 30 to 60 days, a note payable of $12.4 million, and asset retirement obligations with estimated settlement dates until 2033. The payment schedule for the note was modified on October 1, 2019 to defer principal payments for eighteen months (see note 10).

On April 16, 2020, we received approximately $0.9 million under the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Payroll Protection Program which was created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). We believe that we will be able to meet the program requirements for forgiveness of a significant portion of this funding based on our payroll and other qualifying expenses for the eight-week period beginning on April 16, 2020 (see note 17).

In addition, most of our current assets except for prepaid expenses are immediately realizable, if necessary, while our current liabilities include a substantial portion that is not due for three months or more which, allows us to plan for those payments well in advance and address shortfalls, if any.