YASTEST
ENDEAVOUR DECLARES COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION AT HOUNDE AFTER QUICK RAMP
UP TO NAMEPLATE CAPACITY
HIGHLIGHTS
- Commercial production declared
more than 2 months ahead of schedule following the rapid
construction and ramp-up periods, with nameplate capacity achieved
within weeks following the introduction of ore into the
mill
- Construction was completed $15
million below the initial $328 million budget
- Performance trial testing was
completed with all key metrics (including process rates, mill
availability, and recovery rates) above design
parameters
- Mining activities are
progressing well with nearly 3-months of feed already stockpiled
and positive grade reconciliation against the resource model being
achieved
- No Lost-Time-Injury occurred
over the 7-million manhours worked over the construction
period
- Hounde is expecetd to produce
between 30,000-35,000 ounces at an AISC of $550-600/oz for
Q4-2017
- Exploration drilling has
discovered several high-grade satelite mineralizations, for which
results are expected to be published in the coming weeks
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Abidjan, October
31, 2017 - Endeavour Mining Corporation (TSX:EDV)(OTCQX:EDVMF)
("Endeavour") ("the Company") is pleased to announce that the
construction of its Houndé Project in Burkina Faso has been
completed $15 million below its initial capital budget with
commercial production being declared more than two months ahead of
schedule as a stable nameplate capacity was achieved within weeks
from first ore being introduced into the plant on September 25,
2017.
Sébastien de
Montessus, President & CEO, stated: "We are extremely
proud to declare commercial production ahead of schedule,
below-budget, and most importantly at full nameplate capacity with
all key metrics ahead of the assumptions set out in the feasibility
study. I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of
our integrated project team led by Jeremy Langford, our COO &
EVP Projects, which has successfully designed and delivered the
project over the past 4 years from feasibility through to
commercial production.
As demonstrated
by its very low All-In-Sustaining Costs of below $600/oz, Hounde is
expected to immediately start contributing to the Group's free cash
flow generation. After unlocking value by successfully bringing the
project into production, we now look forward to quickly creating
further value through our exploration program."
The Houndé Mine began processing
ore ahead of schedule on September 25, 2017, and achieved its first
gold pour on October 18, 2017. A 7-day performance trial testing
period was recently successfully completed with all key metrics
above targets: processing rate of 8,600 tonnes per day (or 105% of
nameplate capacity), overall plant availability of 96% (compared to
the target of 91%) and gold recovery rate of 95% (compared to 93%
expected over the life of mine). Over the remainder of the year
maintenance and optimization down-time periods have been
scheduled.
Mining activities at the Main
Vindaloo open pit are progressing well with nearly 3-months' worth
of feed already stockpiled and positive grade reconciliation
against the resource model being achieved. The current stockpile
totals 571,000 tonnes at 2.6 g/t containing 47koz, inclusive of
130,000 tonnes at over 5.0 g/t. Resettlement compensation for
communities living near the high-grade Bouere and Dohoun satellite
deposits has commenced, with mining activities scheduled to begin
in late 2018.
The Houndé build was completed $15
million below the initial capital budget of $328 million. As
construction was tracking ahead of schedule and below budget,
Endeavour decided, in addition to the initial planned works, to
spend an additional $21 million (mainly for the addition of a 26MW
back up power station & fuel farm and to build a second
tailings storage facility), bringing the total spend to $334
million.
Houndé is expected to produce
between 30,000 to 35,000 ounces of gold at an All-in Sustaining
Cost ("AISC") between $550-600/oz in Q4-2017. Endeavour will start
reporting operating costs for Houndé beginning November 1,
2017.
Exploration drilling, which
resumed in early 2017 following a two year period of inactivity,
has confirmed the occurrence of high-grade mineralization at the
nearby Kari Pump and other targets, with the initial results
expected to be published in the coming weeks.
ABOUT THE HOUNDÉ
PROJECT
Endeavour's 90%-owned Houndé
Project has become the Company's flagship low-cost mine, ranking
amongst West Africa's top tier cash generating mines, with an
average annual production of 190,000 ounces at an All-In Sustaining
Cost ("AISC") of US$709/oz over an initial 10-year mine life based
on reserves. In its first four years, the average annual production
is expected to be 235,000 ounces at an AISC of
US$610/oz.[1]
The project is an open pit mine
with a 3.0Mtpa gravity circuit / Carbon-In-Leach plant.
Construction began in April 2016 and was completed in October 2017
ahead of schedule and below budget.
QUALIFIED
PERSONS
Jeremy Langford BEng(Mech)hons,
Endeavour's Chief Operating Officer - A Fellow of the Australasian
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy - FAusIMM, is a Qualified Person
under NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the technical
information in this news release.
ABOUT ENDEAVOUR
MINING
Endeavour Mining is a TSX listed
intermediate African gold producer with a solid track record of
operational excellence, project development and exploration in the
highly prospective Birimian greenstone belt in West Africa.
Endeavour is focused on offering both near-term and long-term
growth opportunities with its project pipeline and its exploration
strategy, while generating immediate cash flow from its
operations.
Endeavour operates 5 mines across
Côte d'Ivoire (Agbaou and Ity), Burkina Faso (Karma), Mali
(Tabakoto), and Ghana (Nzema) which are expected to produce
600-640koz of gold at an AISC of US$860-905/oz in 2017. Endeavour's
high quality development projects (Hounde, Ity CIL and Kalana) have
the combined potential to deliver an additional 600koz per year at
an AISC well below $700/oz between 2018 and 2020. In addition, its
exploration program aims to discover 10-15Moz of gold by 2021 which
represents more than twice the reserve depletion during the
period.
For more information, please
visit www.endeavourmining.com.
CONTACT
INFORMATION
Martino De Ciccio
VP - Strategy & Investor Relations
+ 44 203 011 2706
mdeciccio@endeavourmining.com |
DFH Public Affairs in
Toronto
John Vincic, Senior Advisor
(416) 206-0118 x.224
jvincic@dfhpublicaffairs.com
Brunswick Group LLP in London
Carole Cable, Partner
+44 7974 982 458
ccable@brunswickgroup.com |
Corporate Office:
5 Young St, Kensington, London W8 5EH, UK
This news release contains
"forward-looking statements" including but not limited to,
statements with respect to Endeavour's plans and operating
performance, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the
timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of future
production, future capital expenditures, and the success of
exploration activities. Generally, these forward-looking statements
can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as
"expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", and "anticipates".
Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best
estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties
that may cause actual results to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including
but not limited to: risks related to the successful integration of
acquisitions; risks related to international operations; risks
related to general economic conditions and credit availability,
actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated
reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans
continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including
gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in
market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in ore
reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or
processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes,
title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and
other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of
development or construction activities, changes in national and
local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and
regulations, and political and economic developments in countries
in which Endeavour operates. Although Endeavour has attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in forward-looking
statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be
as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. Please refer to Endeavour's
most recent Annual Information Form filed under its profile at
www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks
affecting Endeavour and its business. AISC, all-in sustaining costs
at the mine level, cash costs, operating EBITDA, all-in sustaining
margin, free cash flow, net free cash flow, free cash flow per
share, net debt, and adjusted earnings are non-GAAP financial
performance measures with no standard meaning under IFRS, further
discussed in the section Non-GAAP Measures in the most recently
filed Management Discussion and Analysis.
[1]As announced
in Endeavour's April 11, 2016, news release entitled "Endeavour
starts construction of its Houndé Project, its next low-cost gold
mine" available on the Company's website and on Sedar.
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This
announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf
of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Endeavour Mining Corporation via
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