Industria
Lundin Mining Second Quarter 2024 Results
"At Candelaria, while mill throughput in the first half of the year was strong, we expect to achieve a significant step-up in production in the second half of the year with planned higher grades and higher mining rates from ore in Phase 11. This production step-up has started to materialize during the month of July from the open pit.
"Our team remains dedicated to enhancing operational performance, prioritizing safety and cost optimization. Cash costs for the quarter were at the lower end of our guidance range. We are well-positioned for a strong second half of the year and are on track to meet our consolidated production guidance for copper, gold, and zinc. Additionally, we have reduced our guidance for sustaining capital expenditures by $45 million ."
Candelaria produced 31,170 tonnes of copper and approximately 17,000 ounces of gold in concentrate on a 100% basis in the three months ended June 30, 2024 . Production in the quarter was impacted by lower grades and recoveries, partially offset by higher throughput. During the three months ended June 30, 2024 , mining rates were impacted by the interface of the open pit and historic underground mining stopes, requiring more stockpiled ore to be processed which reduced grades and recoveries. Access to higher grade ore is anticipated in the second half of 2024 as per the mine sequence. Three of four stopes have now been filled and blasted, with work on the fourth expected to begin in Q3, and not expected to impact production in the second half of 2024. Production costs were reduced by lower sales volumes and favourable foreign exchange as a result of the CLP weakening against the US dollar; however, cash cost of $2.18 /lb was negatively impacted by lower sales volumes.
Caserones produced 29,775 tonnes of total copper and 714 tonnes of molybdenum on a 100% basis in the three months ended June 30, 2024 . Copper and molybdenum concentrate production was impacted in the quarter by extended mill maintenance and weather events which reduced mining activities and limited tailings deposition. Recoveries were also temporarily reduced by changes in the mining sequence and flotation circuit disruptions. Production costs in the quarter were lower than planned primarily due to lower copper concentrate and molybdenum sales volume, as well as favourable foreign exchange. Cash cost also benefitted from favourable foreign exchange.
Chapada produced 9,106 tonnes of copper and approximately 15,000 ounces of gold in concentrate in the three months ended June 30, 2024 and was impacted by lower grades and recoveries combined with lower mill availability due to unplanned conveyor maintenance and vibration screen failure. Lower grades were a result of a shift to processing increased amounts of stockpiled ore and an optimized mine plan that significantly reduces waste movement. Production costs were reduced by lower sales volumes and favourable foreign exchange. Cash cost of $2.05/lb benefited from higher gold by-product credits combined with favourable foreign exchange and mining cost decreases due to operational improvements.
Eagle produced 1,721 tonnes of nickel and 1,563 tonnes of copper in the three months ended June 30, 2024 . A fall of ground in the lower ramp restricted access to Eagle East, limiting production. Mining rates are expected to be reduced until late 2024 while ramp rehabilitation is completed, deferring the extraction of ore from Eagle East into future years. Production costs were reduced by lower sales volumes and royalty expense, partially offset by higher maintenance costs. Nickel cash cost of $3.23 /lb was impacted by lower sales volumes, partially offset by higher by-product credits.
Neves-Corvo produced 7,347 tonnes of copper and 25,696 tonnes of zinc in the three months ended June 30, 2024 , both of which were impacted by lower grades due to changes in mine sequencing as a result of Lombador south requiring additional development work. Production costs increased due to an increase in sales volumes and cash cost of $1.70/lb benefited from increased sales volumes and higher by-product credits.
Zinkgruvan produced 21,764 tonnes of zinc and 8,966 tonnes of lead in the three months ended June 30, 2024 reflecting higher throughput and grades. Copper production of 747 tonnes was impacted by reduced availability of copper ore. Production costs increased due to higher sales volumes and zinc cash cost of $0.39 /lb reflected lower copper by-product credits.
Production and cash cost guidance for 2024 has been updated from that disclosed in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023 .
The Company remains on track to meet annual production and cash cost guidance for all metals with the exception of nickel, and has reduced sustaining capital expenditure guidance from $840 million to $795 million with reductions at Caserones, Neves-Corvo, and Zinkgruvan. Expenditure guidance related to the Josemaria Project of $225 million and exploration of $48 million each remain on target for 2024.
Metal production continues to be weighted to the second half of the year at Candelaria, Chapada and Neves-Corvo due to mine sequencing and resultant forecasted grade profiles. Grade is expected to increase significantly at Candelaria in the second half of 2024 once access is opened to higher-grade ore. As a result of production challenges at Neves-Corvo in the first half of 2024, copper production at that operation continues to track to the lower end of its annual production guidance range. In the first half of 2024, cash cost per pound at most operations benefited from increased realized prices on by-product sales.
Guidance at Caserones has been increased to reflect production from the first half of the year and expected throughput and grades for the remainder of the year. At the Eagle mine, a fall of ground in the lower ramp restricted access to Eagle East, limiting production. Mining rates are expected to be reduced until late 2024 while ramp rehabilitation is completed, deferring the extraction of ore from Eagle East into future years. As a result, the annual nickel and copper production guidance ranges for the Eagle mine for 2024 have been reduced.
c. 68% of Candelaria's total gold and silver production are subject to a streaming agreement, and silver production at Zinkgruvan and Neves-Corvo are also subject to streaming agreements. Cash costs are calculated based on receipt of approximately $429/oz gold and $4.28/oz to $4.68/oz silver.
d. Chapada's cash cost is calculated on a by-product basis and does not include the effects of its copper stream agreements. Effects of the copper stream agreements are reflected in copper revenue and will impact realized price per pound.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2024 , exploration activity focused on in-mine and near-mine targets at the Company's operations. Exploration drilling at Zinkgruvan was focused on resource expansion and drilling at Candelaria was focused on Candelaria Norte and La Espanola. Drilling at Chapada concentrated on delineating the high-grade, near-mine trend at Corpo Sul, adding high grade resources to Sauva and testing geochemical anomalies in the Sauva area Curicaca and Curio.
At Caserones, exploration activity remains lower during the winter season. Exploration drilling continues in the lower portion of the mineral resource in search of higher-grade copper breccia bodies that could improve the average grade of the resource, and potentially expand it. Near-mine drilling at Angelica has been paused for winter since April.
At Josemaria, seasonal exploration drilling ended in early April at the Cumbre Verde Target, located west of the Josemaria ore body. Six holes were drilled targeting the same mineralized system and structures that hosted high grade mineralization on the neighbouring property that may potentially run towards the Cumbre Verde Target. Initial results highlight favorable levels of copper/gold/silver mineralization in veins and porphyry. The data obtained will help further refine and target this mineralization. Work will continue throughout the remainder of 2024 with drilling to recommence after the winter season.
There was no exploration drilling at Neves-Corvo and Eagle in the quarter.
Lundin Mining is a diversified Canadian base metals mining company with projects and operations in Argentina , Brazil , Chile , Portugal , Sweden and the United States of America , primarily producing copper, zinc, nickel and gold.
The information in this release is subject to the disclosure requirements of Lundin Mining under the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out below on July 30, 2024 at 14:30 Vancouver Time.
The scientific and technical information in this press release has been prepared in accordance with the disclosure standards of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and has been reviewed by Arman Barha , P.Eng., Vice President, Technical Services, a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101. Mr. Barha has verified the data disclosed in this release and no limitations were imposed on his verification process.
The Company uses certain performance measures in its analysis. These performance measures have no standardized meaning within generally accepted accounting principles under International Financial Reporting Standards and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. For additional details please refer to the Company's discussion of non-GAAP and other performance measures in its Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com.
Cash Cost per Pound and All-in Sustaining Costs per pound can be reconciled to Production Costs on the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Earnings as follows:
Adjusted EBITDA can be reconciled to Net Earnings (Loss) on the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Earnings as follows:
Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted EPS can be reconciled to Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Lundin Mining Shareholders on the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Earnings as follows:
Free Cash Flow from Operations and Free Cash Flow can be reconciled to Cash provided by Operating Activities on the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows as follows:
Adjusted Operating Cash Flow and Adjusted Operating Cash Flow per Share can be reconciled to Cash Provided by Operating Activities on the Company's Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows as follows:
Net debt and net debt excluding lease liabilities can be reconciled to Debt and Lease Liabilities, Current Portion of Debt and Lease Liabilities and Cash and Cash Equivalents on the Company's condensed interim consolidated balance sheet as follows:
;
For further information, please contact: Stephen Williams , Vice President, Investor Relations +1 604 806 3074; Robert Eriksson , Investor Relations Sweden: +46 8 440 54 40
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lundin-mining-second-quarter-2024-results-302210373.html