PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

12 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2020

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

NOTE 8 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following at January 31, 2020 and 2019:

	2020		2019
Land and improvements	$	863	$	863
Building and improvements		5,696		6,000
Furniture, machinery and equipment		18,900		17,779
Trucks and other vehicles		5,213		4,918
Project development costs (Note 3)		6,853		2,149
		37,525		31,709
Less - accumulated depreciation		14,986		11,931
Property, plant and equipment, net	$	22,539	$	19,778

Project development costs have been incurred by the Company’s consolidated variable interest entity in preparation for building a new gas-fired power plant. Such costs include engineering costs, professional fees and permitting fees. Depreciation for property, plant and equipment was $3.5 million, $3.4 million and $2.8 million for Fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which amounts were charged substantially to selling, general and administrative expenses in each year. The costs of maintenance and repairs were $3.4 million, $3.1 million and $2.4 million for Fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which amounts were charged substantially to selling, general and administrative expenses each year as well.