REG - Centamin PLC - Quarterly Report

CentaminAnnouncement

20/04/2022 07:00

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RNS Number : 6704I  Centamin PLC  20 April 2022

 

20 April 2022

Centamin plc

("Centamin", "Group" or "the Company")

LSE: CEY / TSX: CEE

 

QUARTERLY Report

for the three months ended 31 March 2022

 

MARTIN HORGAN, CEO, commented: "As planned, Q1 2022 production reflected the
successful transition to owner mining in the underground, which is now
complete, enabling us to unlock the full potential of the underground
operations. Significant investment resulted in progress being made across all
our major project work streams including the solar power station and the paste
fill plant.

Our exploration team made good progress with initial drill results from
surface exploration within the Sukari concession indicating the potential to
define satellite resources, with several follow-up targets already identified.
In parallel we are delighted that the airborne survey of the Sukari concession
is now underway and we look forward to updating you on the progress of these
promising growth projects and the continued expansion of the underground
resource base, including the high grade bonanza zones, during Q2.

Centamin reiterates its 2022 full-year guidance and we look forward to
delivering against our optimisation targets outlined at the capital markets
event on 8 December 2021."

Q1 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

Quarterly operational performance in line with guidance

·      Ongoing safety performance: The Company recorded zero lost time
injuries during Q1 2022

·      Transition to owner-operator in the Sukari underground completed:
This exercise involved detailed advanced planning, including the contractor
demobilising; servicing the purchased mobile equipment; purchase of associated
spares and consumables; and transferring the requisite contractor employees to
become Centamin employees

·      Production on track for 2022 guidance: Due principally to the
underground transition, Q1 2022 production was planned to be lower than the
remaining quarters of the year. Gold production of 93,109 ounces ("oz") for
the three months to 31 March 2022 ("Q1") reflected this transition and we
remain on track for 2022 guidance

·      Strong revenue generation: Revenue of US$174.6 million, generated
from gold sales of 92,559 oz at an average realised gold price of US$1,883/oz
sold

·      Costs: Cash costs of US$1,006/oz produced and all-in sustaining
costs ("AISC") of US$1,558/oz sold reflect the planned reduction in production
for the quarter

·      Progressing capital projects: Capital expenditure ("capex") of
US$71.4 million represents the peak quarterly investment in 2022, which
included significant investment in the paste fill plant, solar power station
and underground transition

·      Robust balance sheet: Cash and liquid assets of US$217.3 million,
as at 31 March 2022

·      Progressing systematic exploration: The airborne geophysical
survey commenced flights during the quarter, marking a first for Sukari and
more broadly the mining sector in Egypt.

Full Year 2022 OUTLOOK UNCHANGED

Investing for operational consistency and growth

·      Gold production of 430,000 to 460,000 oz for the year

·      Cash costs of US$900-1,000/oz produced

·      AISC of US$1,275-1,425/oz sold. Given the current inflationary
operating environment we continue to monitor consumables pricing and review
opportunities to offset price increases with cost savings initiatives

·      Capex budget of US$225.5 million remains unchanged

·      Exploration expenditure for the year is expected to be US$25
million, predominantly focused on the Doropo Pre-Feasibility Study (scheduled
for completion in H2 2022); ABC fieldwork and drill testing; airborne
geophysics survey of the Sukari Mining Concession and commencing exploration
on the highly prospective Egyptian Eastern Desert 3,000km(2) landholding

 

RESULTS SUMMARY

                                   YoY comparative           QoQ comparative
                                   Q1 2022  Q1 2021  % Δ     Q4 2021    % Δ
 SAFETY
 LTIFR (1m hours)                  0.00     0.42     (100%)  0.31       (100%)
 OPEN PIT                                                     
 Total material mined (kt)         31,001   22,583   37%     30,397     2%
 Ore mined (kt)                    2,970    3,763    (21%)   2,683      11%
 Ore grade mined (g/t Au)          0.92     0.77     19%     0.93       (1%)
 UNDERGROUND                                                  
 Ore mined (kt)                    154      170      (9%)    145        6%
 Ore grade mined (g/t Au)          3.55     5.84     (39%)   4.97       (28%)
 PROCESSING                                                   
 Ore processed (kt)                2,954    3,018    (2%)    3,210      (8%)
 Feed grade (g/t Au)               1.07     1.16     (8%)    1.11       (4%)
 Gold recovery (%)                 88.1     88.6     (1%)    87.0       1%
 Gold production (oz)              93,109   104,047  (11%)   107,549    (13%)
 COST & SALES                                                 
 Gold sold (oz)                    92,559   106,573  (13%)   99,936     (7%)
 Cash costs (US$/oz produced)      1,006    733      37%     1,000      1%
 AISC (US$/oz sold)                1,558    1,091    43%     1,349      16%
 Realised gold price (US$/oz)      1,883    1,778    6%      1,828      3%
 Revenue (US$m)                    174.6    189.9    (8%)    183.0      (5%)
 CAPEX (US$m)                      71.4     37.8     89%     129.2      (45%)

WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL

The Company will host a webcast and conference call today, Wednesday, 20 April
at 09.30 BST to discuss the results, followed by an opportunity to ask
questions.

Webcast link:
https://www.investis-live.com/centamin/624ee7282c01e00c00606dfa/asdf
(https://www.investis-live.com/centamin/624ee7282c01e00c00606dfa/asdf)

 Dial-in telephone numbers:

United Kingdom (and all other locations)       +44 (0) 203 936 2999

United States
                                                 +1
646 664 1960

Participation access code:
403731

 

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Operational safety has been a key focus across the Group. Prioritised
management oversight and empowering employees to be safety leaders has
resulted in an improved safety performance. In Q1, there were no lost time
injuries ("LTI") therefore resulting in a lost time injury frequency rate
("LTIFR") of 0.0 per 1,000,000 site-based hours worked, compared to the
corresponding 0.42 in the first quarter in 2021 ("YoY"). The total recordable
injury frequency rate ("TRIFR") for Q1 was 3.23 per one million site-based
hours worked, below our 2022 target of 3.99 but an increase from 1.67 YoY.

Sukari Gold mine, egypt

(Q1 2022 vs Q1 2021)

Production

Sukari gold production for the quarter was 93,109 oz, an 11% decrease YoY, due
to scheduled reduced production during the transition to owner mining in the
Sukari underground.

Open Pit Mining

Total material moved (waste and ore) of 31.0Mt, a 37% increase YoY, driven by
improved operating efficiencies and productivity plus the accelerated waste
stripping programme.

Total open pit waste material mined for the quarter was 28.0Mt, a 49% increase
YoY, driven by the ongoing execution of the accelerated waste-stripping
programme (9.2Mt), aimed at improving the long-term flexibility of the open
pit. The strip ratio for the quarter was 9.4:1 (waste:ore).

Open pit ore mining in Q1 continued to focus on the Stage 5 North and Stage 4
East. Total open pit ore mined for the quarter was 3.0Mt, a 21% reduction YoY,
at an average mined grade of 0.92 grams of gold per tonne ("g/t Au"), a 19%
improvement YoY, driven by improved grades from the primary mining area of
Stage 5 North.

During the quarter, the low-grade stockpiles increased from 18.6Mt to 18.7Mt
at 0.46g/t Au.

Underground Mining

As planned, mined tonnage was lower due to the transition to owner mining,
with the contractor fully demobilising from site, servicing of all purchased
equipment and the transition of selected staff from contractor to owner.
Volumes and grades are planned to increase through the remainder of the year
given full autonomy over the underground and progression of activities to
higher grade areas. In parallel, the underground drilling contractor was also
replaced during the quarter and similarly operations are planned to ramp up
over the balance of the year.

Total material mined (waste and ore) was 214kt, a 17% reduction YoY. Total ore
mined was 154kt at an average combined (stoping and development) grade of
3.55g/t Au. This represented a 9% reduction in ore tonnes YoY and a 39%
decrease in grade YoY.

The underground ore was made up of 100kt of ore mined from stopes, at an
average grade of 3.46g/t Au, and 54kt of ore mined from development, at an
average grade of 3.73g/t Au.

Processing

The plant processed 3.0Mt of ore, a 2% decrease YoY, at an average feed grade
of 1.07 g/t Au, an 8% decrease YoY reflecting the mined material over the
period delivered to the plant.

The metallurgical gold recovery rate was 88.1% for the quarter, a 1% reduction
YoY, reflecting the lower contribution from underground ore and the
grade-recovery relationship.

During the period, a series of optimisation studies were commenced with the
aim of improving overall plant performance and included the assessment of
gravity gold recovery, alternate reagent supply and tails detoxification
processes.

Capital Projects

Total Capex in Q1 was US$71.4 million, which was an 89% increase YoY.
Significant investment was made in key capital projects during the quarter.
The solar power project, tailing storage facility 2 lift and pump upgrades,
underground equipment purchase, underground development and the waste
stripping programme were all progressed. Development and construction of the
solar power project and paste fill plant are scheduled for commissioning in Q3
2022 and Q1 2023, respectively. Solar power project activities completed in
the quarter included civil works for the battery storage facility, drilling
and installation of tracker posts as well as installation of solar modules.
The paste fill plant earthworks and site preparation neared completion with
civil and steelworks advancing well.

Sukari Exploration

Good progress continued to be made in respect of the exploration of the Sukari
orebody with a particular focus on the underground growth targets including
the higher grade zones of the Bast section. These remain a priority focus for
resource definition drilling during 2022 with the aim of fast tracking them
into the production schedule at the earliest opportunity.

Surface exploration on the 160km(2) Sukari Mining Concession continued with
the completion of the 10,000m drilling programme, targeting potential
satellite deposits for the Sukari processing facility. Initial assay results
have been received with promising results, supporting our strategy of
generating additional Sukari mill feed through systematic exploration. The
remaining results are expected during Q2 2022.

Pending the receipt of the full assay results, follow-up programmes will be
designed with the aim of further testing prospective targets with the aim of
developing resources and ultimately reserves.

The airborne geophysical survey commenced flights during the quarter marking a
first for Sukari and more broadly the mining sector in Egypt. The programme is
scheduled for completion during Q2 and has been designed to identify potential
exploration targets within the concession and further provide insights that
could be used as we explore our highly prospective exploration ground secured
in the Eastern Desert.

A full exploration update on all our growth projects is planned to be made
during Q2 2022.

SALES AND COSTS

Gold sales for the quarter were 92,559 oz, a 13% decrease YoY. The average
realised gold price for the quarter was US$1,883/oz, up 6% YoY. Revenues
generated of US$174.6 million, decreased by 8% YoY, driven by lower gold
sales, marginally offset by a higher realised gold price.

Cash costs of production were US$93.6 million for the quarter, a 23% increase
YoY, with lower underground costs partially offsetting higher fuel prices and
increased open pit costs as a result of the increase in material moved. Unit
cash costs of production were US$1,006/oz produced, a 37% increase YoY.

Total all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") were US$144.2 million for the quarter,
a 23% increase YoY, resulting from inventory movements and capitalising of
waste above the life of mine strip ratio. Unit AISC of US$1,558/oz sold, a 43%
increase in YoY costs, reflecting the lower gold sales.

EXPLORATION PROJECTS

The total exploration spend for the quarter was $11.9m, of which US$9.3m was
expensed, a 210% increase YoY. In Côte d'Ivoire the Doropo PFS is progressing
as planned, and at ABC trenching continued. We look forward to providing a
comprehensive update later this year.

FINANCIAL POSITION

Free Cash Flow

Under the terms of the Sukari Concession Agreement, the Egyptian government
earned US$5.5 million in royalty payments and received US$8.5 million in
profit share payments during the quarter. After Sukari profit share
distribution, Group exploration expenditure and corporate investing
activities, Group free cash flow for the quarter was negative US$21.4 million,
as a result of the US$25m of deferred growth capex from Q4 2021 and the
continued investment in waste stripping and other capital projects. Capital
expenditure continues in key areas that will improve the long-term
profitability and operability of Sukari, such as the solar plant, waste
stripping programme, paste fill plant and underground equipment purchase.

Balance Sheet

Centamin is in a strong financial position, with net cash and liquid assets to
US$217.3 million as at 31 March 2022. The Company remains unhedged and
debt-free.

Governance

·      The Company will be publishing its 2021 Sustainability Report on
27 April 2022

·      As announced on 5 April 2022, the Company's AGM will be held on
10 May 2022

·      As announced on 16 March 2022, the Board of Directors recommended
a final dividend of 5 US cents per share, subject to shareholder approval at
the 2022 AGM.

 

About Centamin

Centamin is an established gold producer, with premium listings on the London
Stock Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange. The Company's flagship asset is the
Sukari Gold Mine ("Sukari"), Egypt's largest and first modern gold mine, as
well as one of the world's largest producing mines. Since production began in
2009 Sukari has produced circa 5 million ounces of gold, and today has a
projected mine life of 12 years.

Through its large portfolio of exploration assets in Egypt and West Africa,
Centamin is advancing an active pipeline of future growth prospects, including
the Doropo project in Côte d'Ivoire, and over 3,000km(2) of highly
prospective exploration ground in the Egypt's Arabian Nubian Shield.

Centamin practices responsible mining activities, recognising its
responsibility to not only deliver operational and financial performance but
to create lasting mutual benefit for all stakeholders through good corporate
citizenship.

FOR MORE INFORMATION please visit the website www.centamin.com
(http://www.centamin.com)  or contact:

 Centamin plc                                                 Buchanan

 Michael Stoner, Group Corporate Manager                      Bobby Morse/Ariadna Peretz/James Husband

 investor@centaminplc.com (mailto:investor@centaminplc.com)   + 44 (0) 20 7466 5000

                                                              centamin@buchanan.uk.com (mailto:centamin@buchanan.uk.com)

ENDNOTES

Guidance

The Company actively monitors the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic and
guidance may be impacted if the workforce or operation are disrupted.

Financials

Financial data points included within this report are unaudited.

Non-GAAP measures

This statement includes certain financial performance measures which are
non-GAAP measures. These include Cash costs of production, AISC, Cash and
liquid assets, and Free cash flow. Management believes these measures provide
valuable additional information for users of the financial statements to
understand the underlying trading performance. Definitions and explanation of
the measures used along with reconciliation to the nearest IFRS measures are
detailed in the Company's 2021 Annual Report
https://www.centamin.com/investors/results-reports/
(https://www.centamin.com/investors/results-reports/) .

Exploration expenditure

Exploration expensed covers all exploration activities excluding the Sukari
Concession Agreement.

Royalties

Royalties are accrued and paid six months in arrears.

Cash and liquid assets

Cash and liquid assets include cash, bullion on hand and gold sales
receivables.

Cost savings

Cost savings were calculated relative to the incumbent underground contractor
contract terms, all things being equal, and include the initial equipment
purchase required to maintain current production levels and future capital
cost estimates related to any near-term fleet replacement.

Qualified Person

Information of a scientific or technical nature in this document was prepared
under the supervision of Craig Barker, an employee of the Company and a
Qualified Person, as such term is defined by National Instrument 43-101
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities
Administrators.

The Qualified Person has verified the data disclosed, including sampling,
analytical, and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in
this announcement in accordance with standards appropriate to their
qualifications.

Forward-looking Statements

This announcement (including information incorporated by reference) contains
"forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under
applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"),
including statements with respect to future financial or operating
performance. Such statements include "future-oriented financial information"
or "financial outlook" with respect to prospective financial performance,
financial position, EBITDA, cash flows and other financial metrics that are
based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action.
Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "believes", "expects", "expected",
"budgeted", "forecasts" and "anticipates"." and include production outlook,
operating schedules, production profiles, expansion and expansion plans,
efficiency gains, production and cost guidance, capital expenditure outlook,
exploration spend and other mine plans. Although Centamin believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable,
Centamin can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be
correct. Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not
based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections
of the management of Centamin about future events and are therefore subject to
known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to
differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. In addition, there are a number of factors that
could cause actual results, performance, achievements or developments to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements; the risks and uncertainties associated with the ongoing impacts of
COVID-19 or other pandemic, general business, economic, competitive, political
and social uncertainties; the results of exploration activities and
feasibility studies; assumptions in economic evaluations which prove to be
inaccurate; currency fluctuations; changes in project parameters; future
prices of gold and other metals; possible variations of ore grade or recovery
rates; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry;
climatic conditions; political instability; decisions and regulatory changes
enacted by governmental authorities; delays in obtaining approvals or
financing or completing development or construction activities; and discovery
of archaeological ruins. Financial outlook and future-ordinated financial
information contained in this news release is based on assumptions about
future events, including economic conditions and proposed courses of action,
based on management's assessment of the relevant information currently
available. Readers are cautioned that any such financial outlook or
future-ordinated financial information contained or referenced herein may not
be appropriate and should not be used for purposes other than those for which
it is disclosed herein. The Company and its management believe that the
prospective financial information has been prepared on a reasonable basis,
reflecting management's best estimates and judgments at the date hereof, and
represent, to the best of management's knowledge and opinion, the Company's
expected course of action. However, because this information is highly
subjective, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future
results. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove
to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially
from those anticipated in such information or statements, particularly in
light of the current economic climate and the significant volatility,
uncertainty and disruption caused by the outbreak of COVID-19. Forward-looking
statements contained herein are made as of the date of this announcement and
the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements.

LEI: 213800PDI9G7OUKLPV84

Company No: 109180

 

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