Remember this Caribou press release?It is fun to look back at old press releases and see how incompetent the bone headed management is. We know now that Caribou is losing money at the $1.25 hedged price. I said all along that $1.25 was too low. Caribou is a loser mine that should not be in operation unless it can be hedged at a minimum of $1.40. Imagine if they had waited a year to reopen Caribou? They could have hedged 2 years production at $1.65. Caribou could have been a gigantic cash cow instead of a money pit. A year ago, I called management "impatient children" for reopening Caribou too early. Not only did they reopen too early, the funded it with that massive dilution. What a disaster for shareholders this has been.
Trevali to Restart Caribou Mine with Improved Economics; Continues Studies on Longer Term Value Potential
January 15, 2021
VANCOUVER, BC , Jan. 15, 2021 /CNW/ - Trevali Mining Corporation ("Trevali" or the "Company") (TSX: TV) (BVL: TV) (OTCQX: TREVF) ( Frankfurt : 4TI) today announced the planned restart of operations at its Caribou mine near Bathurst, New Brunswick . The mine has been on a care and maintenance program since March 2020 .
Trevali Mining Corp. logo (CNW Group/Trevali Mining Corp.)
With the implementation of several operational and commercial enhancements, as well as improved zinc market conditions, the Company expects to return to mining in early February 2021 , with first payable zinc production expected by the end of March 2021 .
Ricus Grimbeek, Trevali's President and CEO stated, "Our team has worked diligently to reduce the overall cost structure of the Caribou mine, and I am pleased that we are in a position to restart mine operations in a manner that we expect will generate positive cash flow. Our initial two-year plan includes several enhancements which are designed to improve the mine's economics, including the involvement of a contracted mining operator and the entry into fixed-pricing arrangements for a significant portion of the mine's forecasted production. We have benefited from the engagement of the provincial government, and with the recall of employees and the restart of production we look forward to being a more significant part of the New Brunswick economy. Looking ahead, we will continue to study the potential to extend our initial mine plan, as well as explore further potential in the Bathurst mining camp."
Enhanced Caribou Mine Economics
Trevali's production plan at Caribou is anchored on operational and commercial enhancements that improve the mine's fundamental economics and support enhanced value for Trevali shareholders:
Improved cost performance and mining efficiency – Following ramp-up in 2021, the All-in Sustaining Cost ("AISC") 1 for Caribou is forecast to be between $0.84 – $0.90 per pound of zinc in 2022, well under the overall $0.90 per pound of zinc target in Trevali's T90 business improvement program. This cost performance will be supported by a partnership with Redpath Mining Inc. as underground mining contractor at Caribou. Redpath is a leading global mining service provider with the operational experience to safely and efficiently mine Caribou's narrow mineralization. Redpath is able to mobilize people and equipment quickly, and combined with Trevali's management team, will support a timely ramp-up of efficient mining activities.
Enhanced revenue certainty from hedged production – Trevali has reduced its exposure to commodity price fluctuations by entering into 21-month fixed pricing arrangements for a significant portion of the forecasted zinc production from the mine. Pursuant to existing offtake agreements, an affiliate of Glencore plc has agreed to purchase 115 million pounds of payable zinc, which represents approximately 80% of the forecasted zinc production from Caribou, at an average price of $1.25 per pound. These agreements are for the period from March 2021 to December 2022 and are in addition to Trevali's existing hedging program which covers the period from October 2020 to December 2021 . The Company is also looking to enter into fixed-pricing arrangements for both lead and silver at meaningful levels of forecasted production from Caribou.
Future value potential – During the initial 21-month operating period, Trevali will continue to study metallurgical and operational opportunities to extend the current two-year mine plan, as well as other longer-term value enhancing initiatives in the Bathurst mining camp.
Caribou Production and Cost Guidance
Production guidance for 2021 is estimated at between 60 – 65 million pounds of payable zinc, 21 – 23 million pounds of payable lead and 585 – 650 thousand ounces of payable silver. First payable zinc production is expected by the end of March 2021 . Zinc payable production is expected to increase to 72 – 77 million pounds of payable zinc in 2022 as the mine receives the benefit of a full year of production.
Cost guidance for 2021 for C1 Cash Cost 1 is estimated between $0.79 – $0.84 per pound of zinc and AISC 1 is expected to range between $0.91 – $0.97 per pound of zinc. Capital expenditures are forecast at $9 million for 2021 and $2 million for 2022. In the event the mine plan is extended beyond the initial two-year period, further sustaining capital investment will be required.