Strong cash flow sparks refinancing at Fortescue

Fortescue Metals will seek to extend the maturity date on its biggest debt obligation, and request cheaper interest rates, as the iron ore miner continues to act early on its giant debt pile.

In a sign of Fortescue's growing confidence from high iron ore prices, it said it would seek to renegotiate terms on the $US5 billion ($5.3 billion) credit facility that makes up the single largest chunk of its $US12 billion debt.

The $US5 billion facility is set to mature in October 2017, but Fortescue said it wanted to reduce the 5.25 per cent interest rate.

"The release of the company's quarterly results and strong financial position, together with strong market conditions, has enabled the company to pursue an amendment," it said in a statement.

The request for an extension of the repayment time may be an attempt to smooth out its debt repayment process, which is loaded toward a three-year period ending in June 2018, during which time $US9 billion must be repaid.

Fortescue has previously stated its desire to pay off much of its debt ahead of time, and has pledged to repay $140 million worth of preference shares within the next fortnight, even though they are not technically due until the March quarter of 2017.

Fortescue's debt challenge seems far more achievable now the iron ore price has avoided a slump during August and September, as it did in 2012 and 2011.

Despite predictions it would fall as low as $US70 a tonne during the spring, the price has held above $US130 a tonne.

In recent months Fortescue has won the praise of ratings agencies such as Moody's, which last month improved its outlook on the miner's debt situation.

Moody's changed its "negative" view of Fortescue's Ba3 credit rating to "positive", and indicated it could be in line for an upgrade. An improved credit rating could allow Fortescue to access cheaper debt than before.

The talk of refinancing came amid suggestions Fortescue's tenements in the Pilbara region of Western Australia may contain significant volumes of thermal coal.

The suggestions were made by gold miner Northern Star, which has an agreement with Fortescue to explore for commodities other than iron ore on Fortescue's turf.

Northern Star announced it had found the thermal coal on its own tenements, and said it believed the coal also spread onto Fortescue's nearby territory.

Northern Star said the discovery was still preliminary, but could support a coal-fired power station in the Pilbara, or a coal-to-liquids project.