Orosur Mining Inc. (“Orosur” or “the Company") (TSX:OMI) (LSE:OMI), the
South American gold exploration, development and production company with
a producing mine and exploration assets in Uruguay, and exploration and
development projects in Chile, is pleased to announce strong operating
results for its fourth quarter and for the fiscal year ending 31 May
2014.
HIGHLIGHTS:
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Full year production of 60,271 Au oz exceeds upgraded guidance (55,000
- 60,000 oz).
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Operating cash costs for FY 2014 of US$792/oz better than planned
(2014 upgraded guidance of US$800 - US$875/oz) and 28% lower than FY
2013 (US$ 1,093/oz costs).
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Q4 production of 15,373 oz, a 16% increase over Q3 production (13,218
oz).
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Mine life at San Gregorio has been extended during this year after the
main projects added 75,000 Au oz to Reserves:
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Arenal – 40,000 Au oz added from pillar-less mining and 15,000 Au
oz added from the recent brownfield exploration.
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Vaca Muerta – 9,000 Au oz added through infill drilling and
remodelling.
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Laureles – 11,000 Au oz in the Laureles open pit situated 18km
north-east of the San Gregorio plant.
Ignacio Salazar, CEO of Orosur, commented:
“Orosur is pleased to have achieved another strong set of operating
results, delivering ahead of guidance and showing production increases
quarter on quarter. The Company continues to demonstrate solid progress
through the generation of initiatives to improve operations and the
ability to implement them. During the year, Orosur successfully
and profitably put the Vaca Muerta open pit into production and
developed and implemented a new pillar-less mining method in Arenal.
This year has been one of significant change for Orosur against a
less than buoyant gold price environment. Despite that, the Company has
been able to internally fund and successfully execute the exploration
and development necessary to extend its mine-life at San Gregorio with
75,000 Au oz of Reserves added to pits and underground operations close
to the San Gregorio plant, meaning they can be brought into production
quickly and cheaply.
The recently announced proposed acquisition of Waymar Resources will
add an attractive high grade exploration asset with significant upside
in Colombia. I am delighted to see progress in all these fronts. Our
intention remains to deliver further improvements both in the short and
long term for the benefit of our shareholders.”
OVERVIEW
The constant emphasis on cost control adopted by the new management team
since May 2013 has delivered a strong performance in the fourth quarter
and the year as a whole. The operational improvements introduced in ore
control, mine planning, and modelling and operations combined with the
successful implementation of the pillar-less mining sequence in Arenal
Deeps and the start-up in Vaca Muerta, were important factors in
delivering results above upgraded targets.
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Full Year
Actual
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Upgraded
Full year
Outlook
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Original Full
year Outlook
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Gold produced
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Ounces
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60,271
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55,000-60,000
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50,000–55,000
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Cash Operating cost
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US$/oz
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792
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800-875
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850-925
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ADDED 75,000 AU OZ OF RESERVES
During the year, the Company has been systematically identifying new
gold resources, and converting them to economic ore reserves. As a
consequence, the Company has created a portfolio of projects to develop
around San Gregorio which have extended its minelife. The objective of
the Company is to carry out sufficient exploration to maintain a
four-to-six year rolling reserve.
As previously announced, the Company successfully added 40,000 oz of
gold reserves from pillar-less mining using Cemented Rock Fill at the
Arenal Deeps Mine in Q2, and 9,000 oz of gold reserves at Vaca Muerta
following the results of an infill drilling campaign during Q2 and after
re-optimizing the mineral reserves calculations using a US$1200/oz gold
price during Q3.
In addition, on the basis of historical drilling since 2006 and
following a 4,886 metre exploration drilling campaign in the current
quarter, the Company has successfully added 11,000 oz of gold reserves
in the Laureles open pit (and 27,000 Au oz of mineral resource, note
that all resources are stated inclusive of reserves). The cost of the
drilling campaign is equivalent to US$22/oz of Reserve addition. The
Laureles project is situated 18 km north-east of the San Gregorio plant.
Orosur continues its brownfield exploration program around Laureles with
the objective of adding more resources, including targeting an area
about 250 metres to the NNE of the Laureles main zone that has not been
evaluated yet.
The recent brownfield exploration drilling campaign in Arenal Deeps
covered 2,504 meters below and along strike of the Arenal Deeps
underground mine, conducted from underground platforms and targeting
three different zones with potential mineralization, very close to the
current underground operations. As a result, Orosur added 18,000 Au oz
in resources and 15,000 Au oz in reserves. Additional exploration,
targeting mineralization further away along strike and at depth is
planned to continue in fiscal 2015 in Arenal.
In total, the Company added 75,000 oz in reserves in its main projects,
during the 12 month period thereby extending the minelife at San
Gregorio.
Qualified Person's Statement
The information presented in this press release has been reviewed by
Walter Muehlebach, GM Exploration of OMI and by Francisco Castillo, GM
Development and Technical Services and they are both considered to be a
“Qualified Person” in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 and the
AIM Rules for Companies.
Mr Muehlebach is a graduate in Geology of the Universidad Católica del
Norte (Chile) and a member of the Chilean Comisión Calificadora de
Competencias en Recursos y Reservas Mineras, and has 23 years of
experience in the field of mineral exploration.
Mr Castillo is a graduate in Mining Engineering of the Universidad de
Santiago de Chile and a member of the Chilean Comisión Calificadora de
Competencias en Recursos y Reservas Mineras, and has 12 years of
professional experience.
Forward Looking Statements
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained or
incorporated by reference in this news release, including any
information as to the future financial or operating performance of the
Company, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
certain securities laws, including the "safe harbour" provisions of the
Securities Act (Ontario) and the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations estimates
and projections as of the date of this news release. There can be no
assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, such
statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements include,
without limitation success of exploration activities; permitting time
lines; the failure of plant; equipment or processes to operate as
anticipated; accidents; labour disputes; requirements for additional
capital title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage.
The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information,
future events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent
required by applicable law.
About Orosur Mining Inc.
Orosur Mining Inc. is a fully integrated gold producer and exploration
company focused on identifying and developing gold projects in South
America. The Company operates the only producing gold mine in Uruguay
(San Gregorio), and has assembled an exploration portfolio of high
quality assets in Uruguay and Chile. The Company is quoted in Canada
(TSX:OMI) and London (AIM:OMI).
For more information please visit www.orosur.ca
Copyright Business Wire 2014