Areas of Judgment and Estimation Uncertainty

In preparing our consolidated financial statements, we make judgments in applying our accounting policies. The judgments that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in our financial statements are outlined below. In addition, we make assumptions about the future in deriving estimates used in preparing our consolidated financial statements. We have outlined below information about assumptions and other sources of estimation uncertainty as at December 31, 2019 that have a risk of resulting in a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next year.


a)	Areas of Judgment

Assessment of Impairment Indicators

Judgment is required in assessing whether certain factors would be considered an indicator of impairment or impairment reversal. We consider both internal and external information to determine whether there is an indicator of impairment or impairment reversal present and, accordingly, whether impairment testing is required. The information we consider in assessing whether there is an indicator of impairment or impairment reversal includes, but is not limited to, market transactions for similar assets, commodity prices, interest rates, inflation rates, our market capitalization, reserves and resources, mine plans and operating results.

As at December 31, 2019, as a result of lower market expectations for Western Canadian Select (WCS) heavy oil prices, we reviewed our energy assets for impairment. For our interest in Fort Hills, we determined that the reduction in WCS heavy oil prices was an indicator of impairment under the requirements of IAS 36, Impairment of Assets and accordingly, we performed an impairment test (Note 8(a)).

The remainder of our energy assets are oil sands properties, the most significant of which is our Frontier oil sands project. These assets are considered exploration and evaluation assets and accordingly, our assessment of impairment indicators is performed under the requirements of IFRS 6, Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources. We determined that our withdrawal of our Frontier oil sands property from the regulatory review process was an indicator of impairment and consequently, we recorded an impairment of Frontier as at December 31, 2019 (Note 8(a)).

Property, Plant and Equipment and Intangible Assets – Determination of Available for Use Date

Judgment is required in determining the date that property, plant and equipment or an intangible asset is available for use. An asset is available for use when it is in the location and condition necessary to operate in the manner intended by management. At that time, we commence depreciation of the asset and cease capitalization of borrowing costs. We consider a number of factors in making the determination of when an asset is available for use including, but not limited to, design capacity of the asset, production levels achieved, capital spending remaining and commissioning status. Fort Hills produced first oil in January 2018 and was considered available for use as at June 1, 2018. When concluding that these assets were available for use at June 1, 2018, we considered whether all three secondary extraction trains were running as expected, whether the production and product quality were consistent with expectations, and the status of asset commissioning. We have included the operating results for Fort Hills in our consolidated statements of income from that date forward.

Joint Arrangements

We are a party to a number of arrangements over which we do not have control. Judgment is required in determining whether joint control over these arrangements exists and, if so, which parties have joint control and whether each arrangement is a joint venture or joint operation. In assessing whether we have joint control, we analyze the activities of each arrangement and determine which activities most significantly affect the returns of the arrangement over its life. These activities are determined to be the relevant activities of the arrangement. If unanimous consent is required over the decisions about the relevant activities, the parties whose consent is required would have joint control over the arrangement. The judgments around which activities are considered the relevant activities of the arrangement are subject to analysis by each of the parties to the arrangement and may be interpreted differently. When performing this assessment, we generally consider decisions about activities such as managing the asset while it is being designed, developed and constructed, during its operating life and during the closure period. We may also consider other activities including the approval of budgets, expansion and disposition of assets, financing, significant operating and capital expenditures, appointment of key management personnel, representation on the board of directors and other items. When circumstances or contractual terms change, we reassess the control group and the relevant activities of the arrangement.

If we have joint control over the arrangement, an assessment of whether the arrangement is a joint venture or joint operation is required. This assessment is based on whether we have rights to the assets, and obligations for the liabilities, relating to the arrangement or whether we have rights to the net assets of the arrangement. In making this determination, we review the legal form of the arrangement, the terms of the contractual arrangement and other facts and circumstances. In a situation where the legal form and the terms of the contractual arrangement do not give us rights to the assets and obligations for the liabilities, an assessment of other facts and circumstances is required, including whether the activities of the arrangement are primarily designed for the provision of output to the parties and whether the parties are substantially the only source of cash flows contributing to the arrangement. The consideration of other facts and circumstances may result in the conclusion that a joint arrangement is a joint operation. This conclusion requires judgment and is specific to each arrangement. Other facts and circumstances have led us to conclude that Antamina and Fort Hills are joint operations for the purposes of our consolidated financial statements. The other facts and circumstances considered for both of these arrangements include the provision of output to the parties of the joint arrangements and the funding obligations. For both Antamina and Fort Hills, we will take our share of the output from the assets directly over the life of the arrangement. We have concluded that this gives us direct rights to the assets and obligations for the liabilities of these arrangements proportionate to our ownership interests.

Streaming Transactions

When we enter into a long-term streaming arrangement linked to production at specific operations, judgment is required in assessing the appropriate accounting treatment for the transaction on the closing date and in future periods. We consider the specific terms of each arrangement to determine whether we have disposed of an interest in the reserves and resources of the respective operation or executed some other form of arrangement. This assessment considers what the counterparty is entitled to and the associated risks and rewards attributable to them over the life of the operation. These include the contractual terms related to the total production over the life of the arrangement as compared to the expected production over the life of the mine, the percentage being sold, the percentage of payable metals produced, the commodity price referred to in the ongoing payment and any guarantee relating to the upfront payment if production ceases.

For our silver and gold streaming arrangements at Antamina and Carmen de Andacollo, respectively, there is no guarantee associated with the upfront payment. We have concluded that control of the rights to the silver and gold mineral interests were transferred to the buyers when the contracts came into effect. Therefore, we consider these arrangements a disposition of a mineral interest.

Based on our judgment, control of the interest in the reserves and resources transferred to the buyer when the contracts were executed. At that time, we recognized the amount of the gain related to the disposition of the reserves and resources as we had the right to payment, the customer was entitled to the commodities, the buyer had no recourse in requiring Teck to mine the product, and the buyer had significant risks and rewards of ownership of the reserves and resources.

We recognize the amount of consideration related to refining, mining and delivery services as the work is performed.

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

Judgment is required in assessing whether deferred tax assets and certain deferred tax liabilities are recognized on the balance sheet and what tax rate is expected to be applied in the year when the related temporary differences reverse, particularly in regard to the utilization of tax loss carryforwards. We also evaluate the recoverability of deferred tax assets based on an assessment of our ability to use the underlying future tax deductions before they expire against future taxable income. Deferred tax liabilities arising from temporary differences on investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates are recognized unless the reversal of the temporary differences is not expected to occur in the foreseeable future and can be controlled. Judgment is also required on the application of income tax legislation. These judgments are subject to risk and uncertainty and could result in an adjustment to the deferred tax provision and a corresponding credit or charge to profit.


b)	Sources of Estimation Uncertainty

Impairment Testing

When impairment testing is required, discounted cash flow models are used to determine the recoverable amount of respective assets. These models are prepared internally or with assistance from third-party advisors when required. When market transactions for comparable assets are available, these are considered in determining the recoverable amount of assets. Significant assumptions used in preparing discounted cash flow models include commodity prices, reserves and resources, mine production, operating costs, capital expenditures, discount rates, foreign exchange rates and inflation rates. Note 8 outlines the significant inputs used when performing goodwill and other asset impairment testing. These inputs are based on management’s best estimates of what an independent market participant would consider appropriate. Changes in these inputs may alter the results of impairment testing, the amount of the impairment charges or reversals recorded in the statement of income and the resulting carrying values of assets.

Estimated Recoverable Reserves and Resources

Mineral and oil reserve and resource estimates are based on various assumptions relating to operating matters as set forth in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and National Instrument 51-101, Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities. Assumptions used include production costs, mining and processing recoveries, cut-off grades, sales volumes, long-term commodity prices, exchange rates, inflation rates, tax and royalty rates and capital costs. Cost estimates are based on pre-feasibility or feasibility study estimates or operating history. Estimates are prepared by or under the supervision of appropriately qualified persons, or qualified reserves evaluators, but will be affected by forecasted commodity prices, inflation rates, exchange rates, capital and production costs, and recoveries, among other factors. Estimated recoverable reserves and resources are used to determine the depreciation of property, plant and equipment at operating mine sites, in accounting for capitalized production stripping costs, in performing impairment testing, and in forecasting the timing of settlement of decommissioning and restoration costs. Therefore, changes in the assumptions used could affect the carrying value of assets, depreciation and impairment charges recorded in the statement of income and the carrying value of the decommissioning and restoration provision.

Decommissioning and Restoration Provisions

The decommissioning and restoration provision (DRP) is based on future cost estimates using information available at the balance sheet date that are developed by management’s experts (Note 23(a)). The DRP represents the present value of estimated costs of future decommissioning and other site restoration activities including costs associated with the management of water and water quality in and around each closed site. The DRP is adjusted at each reporting period for changes to factors such as the expected amount of cash flows required to discharge the liability, the timing of such cash flows and the credit-adjusted discount rate. The DRP requires other significant estimates and assumptions, including the requirements of the relevant legal and regulatory framework and the timing, extent and costs of required decommissioning and restoration activities. Our estimates of the cost associated with the management of water and water quality in and around each closed site includes assumptions with respect to the volume and location of water to be treated, the methods used to treat the water and the related water treatment costs. To the extent the actual costs differ from these estimates, adjustments will be recorded and the income statement may be affected.

Provision for Income Taxes

We calculate current and deferred tax provisions for each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Actual amounts of income tax expense are not final until tax returns are filed and accepted by the relevant authorities. This occurs subsequent to the issuance of our financial statements, and the final determination of actual amounts may not be completed for a number of years. Therefore, profit in subsequent periods will be affected by the amount that estimates differ from the final tax return.

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

Assumptions about the generation of future taxable profits and repatriation of retained earnings depend on management’s estimates of future production and sales volumes, commodity prices, reserves and resources, operating costs, decommissioning and restoration costs, capital expenditures, dividends and other capital management transactions. These estimates could result in an adjustment to the deferred tax provision and a corresponding credit or charge to profit.