A recurring improvement in results... The 192,024 tonnes of ore processed in December allow us to establish a new calculation base to estimate the next gold production results. For your information, Robex's historical record was obtained in 2019-Q4 with 539,127 tonnes of ore processed. Therefore, the result obtained in December makes it possible to estimate that 576,072 tonnes of ore will be processed in 2022-Q1 and for subsequent quarters.
By maintaining an average gold grade equivalent to that obtained in 2021-Q4 (0.88 g/t), we can therefore anticipate that 2022-Q1 will make it possible to obtain a 5th consecutive quarterly increase in production, to settle at 14,400 ounces of gold. Calculated on an annual basis, this is 57,776 ounces of gold for the year 2022 and a production increase of 28%. Based on the gold grade obtained in December 2021 (0.94 g/t), production could exceed 60,000 ounces of gold.
As mentioned in the press release, these excellent results are attributable to several improvements made both to the plant and to the way it extracts ore, guided by the new mining plan. Therefore, reaching this new target of 57,776 ounces of gold for the year 2022 is quite realistic and will be secured by other elements. In particular, the installation of the new trommel which will make it possible to process more quartz harder and richer in gold; the gold content which will be maintained and which will probably improve as we move away from the surface.
From a financial point of view, the benefits will increase significantly in 2022 because the recurrence of this production capacity will be combined with the significant reduction in the costs associated with moving the waste rock to the disposal site.
It is the beginning of a new era for the Nampala project because this progress will eventually make it possible to start distributing dividends again or to facilitate the financing of a new plant linked to the acquisition of a new permit.
GLTA