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BFRE.OB > SEC Filings for BFRE.OB > Form 10-Q on 15-May-2008All Recent SEC Filings

Show all filings for BLUEFIRE ETHANOL FUELS INC | Request a Trial to NEW EDGAR Online Pro

Form 10-Q for BLUEFIRE ETHANOL FUELS INC


15-May-2008

Quarterly Report


Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and plan of operations together with our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this quarterly report. Various statements have been made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may also be made in BlueFire's other reports filed with or furnished to the SEC and in other documents. In addition, from time to time, BlueFire through its management may make oral forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "optimistic," "intend," "plan," "aim," "will," "may," "should," "could," "would," "likely" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. BlueFire undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

PLAN OF OPERATION

We plan to raise additional funds through joint venture partnerships, both project equity and debt financings or through future sales of our common stock, until such time as our revenues are sufficient to meet our cost structure, and ultimately achieve profitable operations. There is no assurance that we will be successful in raising additional capital or achieving profitable operations. Our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these uncertainties. We will need financing within 12 months to execute our business plan.

We have not developed our own proprietary technology but rather we are a licensee of the Arkenol Technology and therefore have benefited from Arkenol's research and development efforts and cost expenditures.

Our business will encompass development activities culminating in the construction and long-term operation of ethanol production biorefineries. As such, we are currently in the development-stage of finding suitable locations and deploying project opportunities for converting cellulose fractions of municipal solid waste and other opportunistic feedstock into ethanol fuels.

For the next 12 months, our Plan of Operations is as follows:

? Obtain additional operating capital from joint venture partnerships, debt financing or equity financing to fund our ongoing operations and the development of initial biorefineries in North America.

? The Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides for grants and loan guarantee programs to incentivize the growth of the cellulosic ethanol market. These programs include a Cellulosic Biomass Ethanol and Municipal Solid Waste Guarantee Program under which the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") could provide loan guarantees up to $250 million per qualified project. We have received approval of our pre-application and must now submit a formal application for a loan guarantee of up to $200 million to support the development of a 55 million gallon per year project in a location to be determined.

? The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created a Biorefinery Demonstration Project Program under which $384 million or another amount appropriated by Congress is available to fund up to three biorefinery demonstration projects. Ultimately the DOE was appropriated $385 million for the program and granted awards of various size to six companies of which we are one. In October, 2007, we signed the contract for the first phase of the grant program referred to by the DOE as "Award 1" for pre-construction activities on our Department of Energy project and expect to draw down on those funds by the end of the second quarter 2008.

? As available and as applicable to our business plans, applications for public funding will be submitted to leverage private capital raised by us.

Our initial planned projects in North America are projected as follows:

? A facility that will process approximately 170 tons of green waste material to produce roughly 3 million gallons of ethanol annually. On November 9, 2007, we purchased the facility site which is located in Lancaster, California "BlueFire Ethanol Lancaster, LLC". Permit applications were filed on June 24, 2007 to allow for construction of the Lancaster facility. We are currently in preliminary engineering. Although the cost of construction is not readily determinable, we estimate the cost to be approximately $30 million for this first plant. We are currently in discussions with potential sources of financing for this facility but no definitive agreements are in place.


? A facility proposed for development and construction in conjunction with the Department of Energy in Southern California. This facility will use approximately 700 metric dry tons of green waste and wood waste currently disposed in the landfill to produce about 16.6 to 18 million gallons of ethanol annually. Preliminary engineering design is in progress and permitting for this facility will commence once all required preliminary engineering design is completed. A definitive agreement is being finalized with Petro-Diamond for the purchase and sale of the ethanol produced from the facility. We have received an Award from the DOE of up to $40 million for the Department of Energy Facility. On or around October 4, 2007, we finalized Award 1 for a total approved budget of just under $10,000,000 with the DOE. This award is a 60%/40% cost share, whereby 40% of approved costs may be reimbursed by the DOE pursuant to the total $40 million award amount in February 2007. The remainder of financing for this project is yet to be determined.

? Several other opportunities are being evaluated by us in North America including discussions with various landfill owners to duplicate the proposed Department of Energy project, although no definitive agreements have been reached.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

During the first quarter in 2008, BlueFire continued to develop the engineering package for its first biorefinery, BlueFire Ethanol Lancaster, LLC. The Company initiated contract negotiations with two integral companies for the deployment of the technology.

In January 2008, BlueFire began negotiating with Brinderson, a detail design and construction firm based in Costa Mesa, California. In April 2008, BlueFire executed definitive agreements with Brinderson for the detailed design and construction of the Lancaster facility.

In January 2008, BlueFire began negotiating with Roeslein Associates for the modular construction of key equipment for the BlueFire Ethanol Lancaster, LLC biorefinery. In April 2008 BlueFire executed definitive agreements with Roeslein Associates for the modular construction of key equipment for the Lancaster facility.

In January 2008, BlueFire completed vendor testing for the Decrystalyzer-Hydrolyzer-Filter Train with B&P Processing of Saginaw, Michigan. The testing allowed vendors building the equipment for the Lancaster facility to have hands-on experience with the technology and process conditions. This experience helps assist the vendors in mitigating building and design risks if and when they arise.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007

Project Development

For the first quarter in 2008, our project development costs were approximately $1,635,000, compared to project development costs of $467,000 for the same period during 2007. Included in project development costs in the first quarter of 2008 and 2007, was approximately $676,000 and $243,000 of non-cash share-based compensation expense, incurred in connection with our 2007 and 2006 Stock Option awards. The increase in project development costs is due to the increased activity in the design and engineering development contracts.

General and Administrative Expense

General and Administrative Expense were approximately $1,166,000 for the first quarter of 2008, compared to $1,666,000 for the same period in 2007. Included in general and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2008 and 2007, was approximately $645,000 and $403,000 of non-cash share-based compensation expense, incurred in connection with our 2007 and 2006 Stock Option award. The decrease in general and administrative costs is mainly due to the issuance and valuation of share-based compensation related to the prior year.


Interest Income

Interest income for the first quarter of 2008 was $98,934 related to funds invested. We did not have interest income for the same period in 2007 as we had not completed our offering of common stock during such time period.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our principal sources of liquidity consist of cash and cash equivalents. Historically, we have funded our operations through financing activities consisting primarily of private placements of debt and equity securities with existing shareholders and outside investors. Our principal use of funds has been for the further development of our Biorefinery Projects, for capital expenditures and general corporate expenses. As of March 31, 2008, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $12.0 million.

Management believes that our Company's cash will be sufficient to meet our working capital requirements for the next twelve month period, as well as be sufficient to prepare our first two Projects for construction, at which point further funding will be necessary. However, we cannot assure you that such financing will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all. If, after utilizing the existing sources of capital available to the Company, further capital needs are identified and the Company is not successful in obtaining the financing, it may be forced to curtail its existing or planned future operations.

In addition, as our Projects develop to the point of construction, we anticipate significant purchases of long lead time item equipment for construction.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Our management periodically evaluates the estimates and judgments made. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates as a result of different assumptions or conditions.

The methods, estimates, and judgment we use in applying our most critical accounting policies have a significant impact on the results we report in our financial statements. The SEC has defined "critical accounting policies" as those accounting policies that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results, and require us to make our most difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain. Based upon this definition, our most critical estimates are described below under the heading "Revenue Recognition." We also have other key accounting estimates and policies, but we believe that these other policies either do not generally require us to make estimates and judgments that are as difficult or as subjective, or it is less likely that they would have a material impact on our reported results of operations for a given period. For additional information see Note 1, "Summary of Organization and Significant Accounting Policies" in the notes to our audited financial statements appearing elsewhere in this quarterly report. Although we believe that our estimates and assumptions are reasonable, they are based upon information presently available, and actual results may differ significantly from these estimates.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

For purpose of the statement of cash flows, we consider all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

We are currently a developmental-stage company and have recognized minimal revenues to date. We will recognize revenues from 1) consulting services rendered to potential sub licensees for development and construction of cellulose to ethanol projects, 2) sales of ethanol from its production facilities when (a) persuasive evidence that an agreement exists; (b) the products have been delivered; (c) the prices are fixed and determinable and not subject to refund or adjustment; and (d) collection of the amounts due is reasonably assured.


PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

Project development costs are either expensed or capitalized. The costs of materials and equipment that will be acquired or constructed for project development activities, and that have alternative future uses, both in project development, marketing or sales, will be classified as property and equipment and depreciated over their estimated useful lives. To date, project development costs include the research and development expenses related to our future cellulose-to-ethanol production facilities. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we expensed all costs related to the facility development.

INCOME TAXES

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109 "Accounting for Income Taxes." SFAS No. 109 requires the Company to provide a net deferred tax asset/liability equal to the expected future tax benefit/expense of temporary reporting differences between book and tax accounting methods and any available operating loss or tax credit carry forwards. We provide a valuation allowance to net deferred tax assets when it is deemed unlikely that we will recover such deferred tax assets.

FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The fair value of financial instruments approximated their carrying values at March 31, 2008. The financial instruments consist of cash and accounts payable.

LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

The Company presents basic loss per common share ("EPS") and diluted EPS on the face of the consolidated statement of operations. Basic loss per share is computed as net loss divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur from common shares issuable through stock options, warrants, and other convertible securities. As of March 31, 2008, the Company had outstanding options and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 10,673,853 shares of common stock that were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share as their effects would have been anti-dilutive.

CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK

The Company regularly maintains cash balances at certain financial institutions in excess of amounts insured by federal agencies.

SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

In December 2004, the FASB issued a revision of SFAS 123 ("SFAS 123(R)") that requires compensation costs related to share-based payment transactions to be recognized in the statement of operations. With limited exceptions, the amount of compensation cost will be measured based on the grant-date fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. In addition, liability awards will be re-measured each reporting period. Compensation cost will be recognized over the period that an employee provides service in exchange for the award. SFAS 123(R) replaces SFAS 123 and was effective as of the first interim period beginning after January 1, 2006. During the period ended December 31, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 123(R). No options were outstanding prior to adoption.

UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No.48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" ("FIN 48") which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes". This pronouncement recommends a recognition threshold and measurement process for recording in the financial statements uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the Company's tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosure requirements for uncertain tax positions. The accounting provisions of FIN 48 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2007. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of FIN 48 will have on its financial statements.


RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, "Fair Value Measurements". SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement clarifies fair value as permitted under other accounting pronouncements but does not require any new fair value measurements. However, for some entities, the application of this statement will change current practice. The Company will be required to adopt SFAS No. 157 as of January 1, 2008 and is currently in the process of evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on its financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), Business Combinations ("SFAS
141(R)"), which replaces FAS 141. SFAS 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how an acquirer in a business combination recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any controlling interest; recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. FAS 141(R) is to be applied prospectively to business combinations.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

There are no off-balance sheet arrangements.

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