Stabilis Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:SLNG) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

We’re not different. We’re going to have that similar perspective. But I will say one of the unique attributes of our business is we’ve got a mobile asset fleet. So we are going to test trial certain markets on the East Coast or along the Gulf Coast to help establish those trade lanes. I’d say also the revenue and margin opportunity different as it relates to the difference between that and our industrial business is multiples larger. It’s significant. On any given day, we’re trucking a 100,00 to 200,000 gallons to a customer location. Those marine bunkering on any bunkering might be 0.5 million gallons to 1 million gallons alone. So it’s considerable multiples and considerably longer contract tenors than that’s kind of more spot market we have in our core business.

That was a lot to unpack. So I hope that helps.

Jeff Grampp: No, that’s great. I appreciate the thoughts there. And my follow-up is on the capital side of things. I think you guys mentioned it was like $5 million in the quarter. It sounds like a lot of that was for the critical components for this new train that maybe sound a little opportunistic. I mean, correct me if I’m off base there. But any kind of expectations for CapEx pace going forward? Is it more opportunistic as some of these contracts potentially materialize or any kind of color you can provide about go forward capital plans would be great?

Westy Ballard: Yes, I think, it’s a blend. This was – certainly had some opportunistic undertone to it. But candidly, we know this asset, we know this configuration very well. The price was attractive, but we also have very strong belief that this is going to be rolling out into a market in a fairly short period of time. When you think small scale versus the world scale, those are 10 year, 12 year FID [ph] to liquid flowing. Ours is anywhere between nine months to 15 months. So we can in a very modular fashion roll this out quickly. The beauty of this asset is, as I mentioned, we know, so it’s got a lot of optionality for us, but to repeat myself, I think I have very strong conviction. We’re going to build this train out very quickly.

I think also as we think about CapEx moving forward, we’ve got the predominant amount of OpEx with great operating leverage. So CapEx will scale and we’ll be thoughtful in that capital structure and you’re talking about numbers anywhere between 50 to 350 based upon opportunity. We want to have some commercial meat on the bone before we start outlaying that kind of capital. And that’s why we’re pedaling so fast and hard to with these discussions, with these vessel owner and operators to, as they establish kind of their infrastructure needs. It’s a bit of a chicken in the egg, but I think we’re going to be thoughtful about how we capitalize it. But we’re excited because there’s an enormous tsunami of demand that’s on the way.

And we think that given our footprint, our mobility, our experience, we will be at the forefront. Also, remember that Chart Industries owns 8% of our company and we have a wonderful relationship with Chart. They’re arguably one of the premier manufacturers of a lot of this equipment. So when you think of supply chain and that capital expenditure side, we’ve got a very tethered relationship and we think that our cost will be very competitive and our turnaround supply chains and critical item needs will be very expeditious. And so that’s kind of how we think about it.

Jeff Grampp: Great. I look forward to following along and best of luck.

Westy Ballard: Yes, thanks.

Operator: [Operator Instructions] We will take our next question from Barry Haimes with Sage Asset Management. Please go ahead.