All figures are in United States dollars. All production figures reflect payable metal quantities and are on a 100%-basis, unless otherwise stated. For references denoted with NG, refer to the “Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures” disclosure at the end of this news release for a description of these measures.
TORONTO, Oct. 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Centerra Gold Inc. (“Centerra” or the “Company”) (TSX: CG and NYSE: CGAU) today reported its third quarter 2023 operating and financial results.
President and CEO, Paul Tomory, commented, “Centerra had a strong third quarter, with cash provided by mine operations of $144 million and $36 million, from Öksüt and Mount Milligan, respectively. In addition, the Langeloth Metallurgical Facility returned $17 million from the previous investment into working capital, all of which drove a substantial increase to our cash balance. Öksüt outperformed our expectations, producing almost 87,000 ounces in the quarter. Our 2023 consolidated gold production guidance remains on track to be between 340,000 to 360,000 ounces and we expect to continue to generate significant free cash flow in the fourth quarter, resulting in a higher cash balance by the end of the year. We remain on track for a strong finish to 2023.”
“In September, we announced positive economics for the Thompson Creek Mine restart, while simultaneously initiating a process to evaluate all strategic options for the Molybdenum Business Unit assets. We also continue to drive operational and technical improvements at Mount Milligan to unlock its full potential as our cornerstone asset. Given the results from this quarter, we are optimistic about the future of Centerra and our ability to internally fund our strategic initiatives with cash flows from operations.”
Third Quarter Highlights
Operations:
Financial:
Other:
Centerra’s consolidated guidance for production and unit costs remains unchanged from the previously disclosed guidance on June 30, 2023 in our second quarter report. The Company has revised its 2023 outlook for Öksüt and Mount Milligan based on updated estimates for metal production and corresponding unit costs at both mines. The Company’s updated 2023 outlook and comparative actual results for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 are set out in the tables below.
Mount Milligan produced 39,554 ounces of gold and 15.0 million pounds of copper in the third quarter of 2023. Production in the quarter was impacted by mine sequencing. While most of the ore-waste transition material was mined in the first half of 2023, some residual ore-waste transition material was mined in the third quarter 2023. In addition, recoveries were impacted by the elevated ratio of pyrite to chalcopyrite from blending low grade gold, high grade copper ore mined in phase 9 with high grade gold, low grade copper ore mined in phase 7. The Company expects medium-term recoveries for gold and copper to be similar to those achieved in 2023. The Company is currently undertaking additional metallurgical reviews aimed at increasing recoveries from current levels.
During the third quarter of 2023, mining activities were carried out in phases 5, 6, 7, and 9 of the open pit. A total of 13.4 million tonnes were mined in the third quarter of 2023. Process plant throughput for the third quarter of 2023 was 5.6 million tonnes and averaged 60,927 tonnes per day.
Mount Milligan’s gold production guidance has been lowered to 150,000 to 160,000 ounces, from 160,000 to 170,000 ounces previously. This is mainly due to mine sequencing and lower than planned gold recoveries from the elevated ratio of pyrite to chalcopyrite as discussed above. Processing a portion of the elevated pyrite bearing high grade gold, low grade copper ore mined in phase 7 is expected to be deferred to 2024 for blending purposes, which is expected to result in overall higher gold grades in 2024. Copper production of 60 to 70 million pounds remains unchanged but is expected to be near the low end of the guidance range. In 2024, the Company anticipates higher levels of gold production and similar levels of copper production compared to 2023 production guidance levels.
Gold production costs in the third quarter 2023 were $1,050 per ounce, a decrease from the second quarter 2023, driven by higher gold ounces sold. AISC on a by-product basis NG was $1,150 per ounce, a decrease from the second quarter 2023, driven by lower gold production costs per ounce and higher by-product credits as a result of higher realized copper prices.
As a result of Mount Milligan’s reduced gold production outlook, full year 2023 gold production costs have been increased and are now expected to be $1,050 to $1,100 per ounce, up from $1,000 to $1,050 per ounce previously. Full year 2023 AISC on a by-product basis NG guidance at Mount Milligan has also been increased and is now expected to be $1,175 to $1,225 per ounce, up from $1,125 to $1,175 per ounce previously. A full asset optimization review has been launched, with the assistance of a third-party consultant, which includes assessments of occupational health and safety (“OH&S”), productivity and cost efficiency opportunities in concert with mine plan optimization. This review is designed to identify and drive incremental improvements in the mine’s operations and is expected to be completed in 2024.
Öksüt
Öksüt produced 86,667 ounces of gold in the third quarter of 2023. During the quarter, mining activities were focused on stripping and waste removal from phase 5 and phase 6 of the Keltepe pit, with some activities carried out in phase 2 of the Güneytepe pit. In the third quarter 2023, a total of 3.1 million tonnes were mined and 1.0 million tonnes were stacked at an average grade of 1.98 g/t, containing 62,332 ounces of gold. As at September 30, 2023, all the stored gold-in-carbon inventory had been processed. The mine continues to draw down high grade inventory from the stockpiles and to leach previously stacked high grade inventory on the heap leach pad. These ounces are expected to be processed in the coming months and into the first half of 2024.
Full year 2023 production guidance at Öksüt has been increased to 190,000 to 200,000 ounces of gold, up from 180,000 to 190,000 ounces previously, as a result of a successful ramp-up of production in the third quarter of 2023.
Gold production costs and AISC on a by-product basis NG for the third quarter 2023 were $445 per ounce and $582 per ounce, respectively. As a result of Öksüt’s increased gold production outlook, full year 2023 gold production costs are now expected to be in the range of $425 to $475 per ounce, down from $450 to $500 per ounce previously. Full year 2023 AISC on a by-product basis NG guidance at Öksüt has also been lowered and is now expected to be $625 to $675 per ounce, down from $650 to $700 per ounce previously.
Molybdenum Business Unit
In the third quarter 2023, the Molybdenum Business Unit sold 2.7 million pounds of molybdenum, generating revenue of $67.7 million with an average realized price of $24.08 per pound. In the first quarter of 2023, the Langeloth Facility required a $67 million investment in working capital to finance its business due to a rapid increase in molybdenum prices. Approximately $52 million of the investment in working capital has been released in the second and third quarters of 2023.
Intention to Renew NCIB
Subject to the approval of the approval of the TSX, Centerra intends to proceed with a renewal of a NCIB to purchase for cancellation up to an aggregate of 18,293,896 Common Shares, representing 10% of the public float. As of October 31, 2023, Centerra had 215,807,212 issued and outstanding Common Shares.
Centerra believes that the Common Shares continue to be trading in a price range which does not adequately reflect the value of such shares in relation to Centerra’s assets and its future prospects. As a result, Centerra believes that the NCIB will provide the Company with a flexible tool to deploy a portion of its cash balance pursuant to its capital allocation framework to, depending upon future Common Share price movements and other factors, purchase Common Shares for cancellation while preserving its strong balance sheet position.
Centerra has filed a notice of intention to renew a NCIB with the TSX and, subject to the approval of the TSX, Centerra may purchase Common Shares under the NCIB over a twelve-month period. Once the NCIB is commenced, the exact timing and amount of any purchases will depend on market conditions and other factors. Centerra will not be obligated to acquire any Common Shares and may suspend or discontinue purchases under the NCIB at any time. Any purchases made under the NCIB will be made at market price at the time of purchase through the facilities of the TSX and/or alternative Canadian trading systems in accordance with applicable securities laws and stock exchange rules. The Company’s previous NCIB authorized the purchase of up to 15,610,813 Common Shares and expired on October 12, 2023. During the period when that program operated, a total of 5,298,200 Common Shares of the Company were repurchased through the facilities of the TSX and alternative Canadian trading systems at a volume weighted average price of C$7.44 per Common Share. Centerra intends to establish an automatic share purchase plan in connection with its renewed NCIB to facilitate the purchase of Common Shares during times when Centerra would ordinarily not be permitted to purchase Common Shares due to regulatory restrictions or self-imposed black-out periods. Before entering a black-out period, Centerra may, but is not required to, instruct its designated broker to make purchases under the NCIB based on parameters set by Centerra in accordance with the automatic share purchase plan, applicable securities laws and stock exchange rules.
Conference Call Details
Centerra invites you to join its 2023 third quarter conference call on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 9:00am Eastern Time. The call is open to all investors and the media. To join the call, please use the dial-in details found below. To access the webcast, please use the following link: https://services.choruscall.ca/links/centerragold2023q3.html
Presentation slides will be available on Centerra’s website at www.centerragold.com .
For detailed information on the results contained within this release, please refer to the Company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) and financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 that are available on the Company’s website www.centerragold.com or SEDAR at www.sedar.com .
About Centerra
Centerra Gold Inc. is a Canadian-based mining company focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring gold and copper properties in North America, Türkiye, and other markets worldwide. Centerra operates two mines: the Mount Milligan Mine in British Columbia, Canada, and the Öksüt Mine in Türkiye. The Company also owns the Goldfield Project in Nevada, United States, the Kemess Underground Project in British Columbia, Canada, and owns and operates the Molybdenum Business Unit in the United States and Canada. Centerra’s shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) under the symbol CG and on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol CGAU. The Company is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
For more information:
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information:
Information contained in this document which is not a statement of historical fact, and the documents incorporated by reference herein, may be “forward-looking information” for the purposes of Canadian securities laws and within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The words “assume”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “budget”, “contemplate”, “continue”, “de-risk”, “estimate”, “expand”, “expect”, “explore”, “forecast”, “future”, “in line”, “intend”, “may”, “on track”, “optimize”, “plan”, “potential”, “restart”, “result”, “schedule”, “seek”, “subject to”, “target”, “understand”, “update”, “will”, and similar expressions identify forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: statements regarding 2023 Outlook and 2023 Guidance, including production, costs, capital expenditures, depreciation, depletion and amortization, taxes and cash flows; the expected profile of the Company’s future production and costs, including expectations that the Mount Milligan Mine is on track to access higher grades in 2024, plans and expectations for a ramp-up of gold processing at the Öksüt Mine, including cash processing costs for Öksüt Mine’s gold in carbon inventory and gold in ore stockpiles and on the heap leach pad, the release of working capital from the Molybdenum Business Unit, and ongoing evaluations of a restart of the Thompson Creek Mine.
Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Centerra, are inherently subject to significant technical, political, business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward- looking information. Factors and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: (A) strategic, legal, planning and other risks, including: political risks associated with the Company’s operations in Türkiye, the USA and Canada; resource nationalism including the management of external stakeholder expectations; the impact of changes in, or to the more aggressive enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices, including unjustified civil or criminal action against the Company, its affiliates, or its current or former employees; risks that community activism may result in increased contributory demands or business interruptions; the risks related to outstanding litigation affecting the Company; the impact of any sanctions imposed by Canada, the United States or other jurisdictions against various Russian and Turkish individuals and entities; statements relating to the TSX’s approval of the NCIB; compliance with applicable laws and regulations pertaining to the NCIB; statements relating to the TSX’s approval of the NCIB; compliance with applicable laws and regulations pertaining to the NCIB; potential defects of title in the Company’s properties that are not known as of the date hereof; the inability of the Company and its subsidiaries to enforce their legal rights in certain circumstances; risks related to anti-corruption legislation; Centerra not being able to replace mineral reserves; Indigenous claims and consultative issues relating to the Company’s properties which are in proximity to Indigenous communities; and potential risks related to kidnapping or acts of terrorism; (B) risks relating to financial matters, including: sensitivity of the Company’s business to the volatility of gold, copper and other mineral prices; the use of provisionally-priced sales contracts for production at the Mount Milligan Mine; reliance on a few key customers for the gold-copper concentrate at the Mount Milligan Mine; use of commodity derivatives; the imprecision of the Company’s mineral reserves and resources estimates and the assumptions they rely on; the accuracy of the Company’s production and cost estimates; Centerra’s intention to renew the NCIB and the timing, methods and quantity of any purchases of Common Shares under the NCIB; the availability of cash for repurchases of Common Shares under the NCIB; Centerra’s intention to renew the NCIB and the timing, methods and quantity of any purchases of Common Shares under the NCIB; the availability of cash for repurchases of Common Shares under the NCIB; the impact of restrictive covenants in the Company’s credit facilities which may, among other things, restrict the Company from pursuing certain business activities or making distributions from its subsidiaries; changes to tax regimes; the Company’s ability to obtain future financing; the impact of global financial conditions; the impact of currency fluctuations; the effect of market conditions on the Company’s short-term investments; the Company’s ability to make payments, including any payments of principal and interest on the Company’s debt facilities, which depends on the cash flow of its subsidiaries; and (C) risks related to operational matters and geotechnical issues and the Company’s continued ability to successfully manage such matters, including the stability of the pit walls at the Company’s operations; the integrity of tailings storage facilities and the management thereof, including as to stability, compliance with laws, regulations, licenses and permits, controlling seepages and storage of water, where applicable; the risk of having sufficient water to continue operations at the Mount Milligan Mine and achieve expected mill throughput; changes to, or delays in the Company’s supply chain and transportation routes, including cessation or disruption in rail and shipping networks, whether caused by decisions of third-party providers or force majeure events (including, but not limited to: labour action, flooding, wildfires, earthquakes, COVID-19, or other global events such as wars); the success of the Company’s future exploration and development activities, including the financial and political risks inherent in carrying out exploration activities; inherent risks associated with the use of sodium cyanide in the mining operations; the adequacy of the Company’s insurance to mitigate operational and corporate risks; mechanical breakdowns; the occurrence of any labour unrest or disturbance and the ability of the Company to successfully renegotiate collective agreements when required; the risk that Centerra’s workforce and operations may be exposed to widespread epidemic or pandemic; seismic activity, including earthquakes; wildfires; long lead-times required for equipment and supplies given the remote location of some of the Company’s operating properties and disruptions caused by global events; reliance on a limited number of suppliers for certain consumables, equipment and components; the ability of the Company to address physical and transition risks from climate change and sufficiently manage stakeholder expectations on climate-related issues; the Company’s ability to accurately predict decommissioning and reclamation costs and the assumptions they rely upon; the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; competition for mineral acquisition opportunities; risks associated with the conduct of joint ventures/partnerships; and, the Company’s ability to manage its projects effectively and to mitigate the potential lack of availability of contractors, budget and timing overruns, and project resources. For additional risk factors, please see section titled “Risks Factors” in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Information Form (“AIF”) available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.
There can be no assurances that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as many factors and future events, both known and unknown could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary or differ materially from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained herein or incorporated by reference. Accordingly, all such factors should be considered carefully when making decisions with respect to Centerra, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is as of October 31, 2023. Centerra assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.
This document contains “specified financial measures” within the meaning of NI 52-112, specifically the non-GAAP financial measures, non-GAAP ratios and supplementary financial measures described below. Management believes that the use of these measures assists analysts, investors and other stakeholders of the Company in understanding the costs associated with producing gold and copper, understanding the economics of gold and copper mining, assessing operating performance, the Company’s ability to generate free cash flow from current operations and on an overall Company basis, and for planning and forecasting of future periods. However, the measures have limitations as analytical tools as they may be influenced by the point in the life cycle of a specific mine and the level of additional exploration or other expenditures a company has to make to fully develop its properties. The specified financial measures used in this document do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers, even as compared to other issuers who may be applying the World Gold Council (“WGC”) guidelines. Accordingly, these specified financial measures should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for, analysis of the Company’s recognized measures presented in accordance with IFRS.
Definitions
The following is a description of the non-GAAP financial measures, non-GAAP ratios and supplementary financial measures used in this document:
Certain unit costs, including all-in sustaining costs on a by-product basis (including and excluding revenue-based taxes) per ounce, are non-GAAP ratios which include as a component certain non-GAAP financial measures including all-in sustaining costs on a by-product basis which can be reconciled as follows:
(1) Non-sustaining capital expenditures are distinct projects designed to have a significant increase in the net present value of the mine. In the current quarter, non-sustaining capital expenditures include costs related to the installation of the staged flotation reactors at the Mount Milligan Mine.
Adjusted net earnings (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure and can be reconciled as follows:
(1) Income tax adjustments reflect the impact of a one-time income tax levied by the Turkish government and impact of foreign currency translation on deferred income taxes at the Öksüt Mine and the Mount Milligan Mine.
(2) Effect of the foreign exchange movement on the reclamation provision at the Endako Mine and Kemess Project.
Free cash flow (deficit) is a non-GAAP financial measure and can be reconciled as follows:
(1) As presented in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
Sustaining capital expenditures and non-sustaining capital expenditures are non-GAAP measures and can be reconciled as follows:
(1) As presented in note 14 of the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. (2) Includes reclassification of insurance and capital spares from supplies inventory to PP&E.
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