VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 11,
2024 /CNW/ - Lundin Gold Inc. (TSX: LUG)
(Nasdaq Stockholm: LUG) (OTCQX: LUGDF) ("Lundin Gold" or the
"Company") is pleased to report fourth quarter 2023 gold
production of 99,310 ounces ("oz") from its Fruta del Norte gold
mine ("Fruta del Norte") in southeast Ecuador, resulting in total gold production of
481,274 oz for the year, in line with the high end of the Company's
upwardly revised 2023 guidance range of 450,000 to 485,000 oz. Of
the total quarterly gold production, 65,298 oz were produced as a
concentrate and 34,012 oz as doré. During the same quarter in 2022,
the Company produced 121,139 oz of gold. PDF Version
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the mill processed approximately
427,743 tonnes at an average throughput rate of 4,649 tonnes per
day ("tpd"), the average grade of ore milled was 8.2 grams per
tonne, and average recovery was 88.1%.
Ron Hochstein, President and CEO
commented, "I am happy to announce that Lundin Gold is in line with the high end of its
revised 2023 production guidance. 2024 will be an exciting year at
FDN, with the expansion of plant throughput to 5,000 tpd and the
installation of new flotation technology to improve recoveries. In
addition, we will be undertaking the largest ever exploration
program on our extensive land package. I'm excited to continue
building on our successes over the next year."
Production Results
|
Q4
2023
|
FY
2023
|
Q4
2022
|
FY
2022
|
Ore processed
(tonnes)
|
427,743
|
1,654,520
|
420,838
|
1,559,178
|
Average throughput
(tonnes per day)
|
4,649
|
4,533
|
4,574
|
4,272
|
Average head grade
(grams per tonne)
|
8.2
|
10.2
|
10.0
|
10.6
|
Recovery (%)
|
88.1 %
|
88.4 %
|
89.6 %
|
89.5 %
|
Gold ounces
produced
|
99,310
|
481,274
|
121,139
|
476,329
|
Concentrate
|
65,298
|
310,831
|
78,756
|
314,694
|
Doré
|
34,012
|
170,443
|
42,383
|
161,635
|
Gold ounces
sold
|
98,005
|
474,365
|
119,890
|
470,103
|
Average realized gold
price ($/oz sold)1
|
2,021
|
1,958
|
1,814
|
1,789
|
Lundin Gold's operations in
Ecuador have not been impacted by
the recent security situation in the country. The Company continues
to closely monitor the situation.
Year End 2023 Results Conference
Call and Webcast
Lundin Gold will publish its year
end 2023 results on Thursday, February 22,
2024, after market close in North
America. The Company will host a conference call and webcast
to discuss its results on Friday, February
23 at 7:00 a.m. PT,
10:00 a.m. ET, 4:00 p.m. CET. Conference call details and a link
to the webcast will be published with the year end 2023
results.
_______________________________
|
1 Refer to
Non-IFRS Financial Measures section in this News
Release.
|
Non-IFRS Financial
Measures
This news release refers to certain financial measures, such as
average realized gold price, which are not measures recognized
under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by
IFRS. These measures may differ from those made by other companies
and accordingly may not be comparable to such measures as reported
by other companies. These measures have been calculated on a basis
consistent with historical periods. Please refer to the Company's
MD&A filed on SEDAR+ under the Company's profile at
www.sedarplus.com, pages 14 to 17, for the third quarter of 2023
for an explanation of non-IFRS measures used.
Qualified Persons
The technical information relating to Fruta del Norte contained
in this News Release has been reviewed and approved by Ron Hochstein P. Eng, Lundin Gold's President and CEO who is a
Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.
About Lundin Gold
Lundin Gold, headquartered in
Vancouver, Canada, owns the Fruta
del Norte gold mine in southeast Ecuador. Fruta del Norte is among the
highest-grade operating gold mines in the world.
The Company's board and management team have extensive expertise
in mine operations and are dedicated to operating Fruta del Norte
responsibly. The Company operates with transparency and in
accordance with international best practices. Lundin Gold is committed to delivering value to
its shareholders, while simultaneously providing economic and
social benefits to impacted communities, fostering a healthy and
safe workplace and minimizing the environmental impact. The Company
believes that the value created through the development of Fruta
del Norte will benefit its shareholders, the Government and the
citizens of Ecuador.
Additional Information
The information in this release is subject to the disclosure
requirements of Lundin Gold under
the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This information was publicly
communicated on January 11, 2024 at
2:00 p.m. Pacific Time through the
contact persons set out below.
Caution Regarding Caution
Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements
Certain of the information and statements in this press release
are considered "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking
statements" as those terms are defined under Canadian securities
laws (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements").
Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to
predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives,
assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always,
identified by words or phrases such as "believes", "anticipates",
"expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "pending",
"intends", "plans", "forecasts", "targets", or "hopes", or
variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain
actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "will",
"should" "might", "will be taken", or "occur" and similar
expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be
forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking
statements and information involve assumptions, inherent risks and
uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict, and are
usually beyond the control of management, that could cause actual
results to be materially different from those expressed by these
forward-looking statements and information. Lundin
Gold believes that the expectations reflected in this
forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be
given that these expectations will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. This
information speaks only as of the date of this press release, and
the Company will not necessarily update this information, unless
required to do so by securities laws.
This press release contains forward-looking information in a
number of places, such as in statements pertaining to the
opportunity to improve the operational performance of Fruta del
Norte. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to
be accurate, as Lundin Gold's actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in this
forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in
the "Risk Factors" section in Lundin Gold's Annual
Information Form dated March 31,
2023, which is available at www.lundingold.com or
on SEDAR+.
Lundin Gold's actual results
could differ materially from those anticipated. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking
statement or that could have a material impact on the Company or
the trading price of its shares include: risks related to political
and economic instability in Ecuador; risks associated with the Company's
community relationships; risks related to estimates of production,
cash flows and costs; risks inherent to mining operations;
shortages of critical supplies; the cost of non-compliance and
compliance costs; control of the Company's largest shareholders;
volatility in the price of gold; failure of the Company to maintain
its obligations under its debt facilities; risks related to
Lundin Gold's compliance with
environmental laws and liability for environmental contamination;
the lack of availability of infrastructure; the Company's reliance
on one mine; security risks to the Company, its assets and its
personnel; risks related to illegal mining; exploration and
development risks; the impacts of a pandemic virus outbreak; risks
related to the Company's ability to obtain, maintain or renew
regulatory approvals, permits and licenses; uncertainty with and
changes to the tax regime in Ecuador; the reliance of the Company on its
information systems and the risk of cyber-attacks on those systems;
the imprecision of Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates;
deficient or vulnerable title to concessions, easements and surface
rights; inherent safety hazards and risk to the health and safety
of the Company's employees and contractors; risks related to the
Company's workforce and its labour relations; key talent
recruitment and retention of key personnel; volatility in the
market price of the Company's shares; measures to protect
endangered species and critical habitats; social media and
reputation; the adequacy of the Company's insurance; risks relating
to the declaration of dividends; uncertainty as to reclamation and
decommissioning; the ability of Lundin
Gold to ensure compliance with anti-bribery and
anti-corruption laws; the uncertainty regarding risks posed by
climate change; limits of disclosure and internal controls; the
potential for litigation; and risks due to conflicts of
interest.
SOURCE Lundin Gold Inc.