Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) (“Newmont” or “the Company”)
welcomed the government of Suriname’s decision to exercise its option to
participate in a fully-funded, 25 percent equity ownership stake in the
Merian Gold Project.
“We look forward to partnering with the government and people of
Suriname in the Merian Gold Project,” said Gary Goldberg, President and
Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to anchoring a new, prospective
gold district in the Guiana Shield, Merian represents a profitable mine
that will be a catalyst for responsible economic and social development.”
The Republic of Suriname has assigned its right to participate to
Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname N.V. (“Staatsolie”) a Surinamese
corporation fully owned by the State of Suriname. Surgold, a
wholly-owned Newmont entity, will be the managing partner with a 75
percent interest. Staatsolie, the limited partner, will hold the
remaining 25 percent interest.
Staatsolie has made its initial cash contribution of approximately $83
million to Newmont. This payment follows the recent sale of Newmont’s
stake in the Penmont joint venture, bringing total proceeds of
divestments to nearly $1.4 billion in the last 18 months. With success
in divesting non-core assets and confidence in future cash flows,
Newmont intends to immediately allocate $100 million to repay a portion
of its term loan.
Total capital investment for Merian is approximately $900 million to $1
billion, and the government of Suriname’s fully-funded interest includes
contributions to all future project capital, operating expenses and
exploration within an area of approximately 500,000 hectares (“Area of
Interest”). The Mineral Agreement, executed between the Republic of
Suriname and Surgold on November 22, 2013, establishes the terms and
conditions that apply to the partnership within the Area of Interest.
Newmont expects to fund its approximate $600 million to $700 million
remaining share of capital expense for Merian through available cash
balances and projected cash flows.
Merian contains gold reserves of 4.2 million ounces1 and is
expected to produce an average of 400,000 to 500,000 ounces per year in
the first five years of operation with estimated average costs
applicable to sales of between $650 and $750 per ounce, and estimated
average all-in sustaining costs2 of between $750 and $850 per
ounce.
Construction of Merian is underway and includes upgrading of roads and
preparing the camp, mine and mill sites. Surgold expects to employ up to
2,500 people during project development and 1,300 during full operation.
About Newmont
Founded in 1921 and publicly traded since 1925, Newmont is a leading
producer of gold and copper. Headquartered in Colorado, the Company has
approximately 29,000 employees and contractors, with the majority
working at managed operations in the United States, Australia, New
Zealand, Peru, Indonesia and Ghana. Newmont is the only gold company
listed in the S&P 500 index and in 2007 became the first gold company
selected to be part of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. Newmont
is an industry leader in value creation, supported by its leading
technical, environmental, and health and safety performance.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section
21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are
intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and
other applicable laws. Such forward-looking statements may include,
without limitation: (i) estimates of future production and sales; (ii)
estimates of future costs applicable to sales and all-in sustaining
costs; (iii) estimates of future capital expenditures; (iv) expectations
regarding the development, growth and exploration potential of Merian;
(v) total investment and full funding estimates; and (vi) expectations
regarding future funding and cash flow. Estimates or expectations of
future events or results are based upon certain assumptions, which may
prove to be incorrect. Such assumptions, include, but are not limited
to: (i) there being no significant change to current geotechnical,
metallurgical, hydrological and other physical conditions; (ii)
permitting, development, operations and expansion of the Company’s
projects being consistent with current expectations and mine plans,
including without limitation receipt of export approvals; (iii)
political developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates
being consistent with its current expectations; (iv) certain exchange
rate assumptions being approximately consistent with current levels; (v)
certain price assumptions for gold, copper and oil; (vi) prices for key
supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; and (vii)
the accuracy of our current mineral reserve and mineral resource
estimates. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or
belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is
expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis.
However, such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other
factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from
future results expressed, projected or implied by the “forward-looking
statements”. Such risks include, but are not limited to, gold and other
metals price volatility, currency fluctuations, increased production
costs and variances in ore grade or recovery rates from those assumed in
mining plans, political and operational risks, community relations,
conflict resolution and outcome of projects or oppositions and
governmental regulation and judicial outcomes. For a more detailed
discussion of such risks and other factors, see the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 21, 2014, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as well as the Company’s other SEC filings.
The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly
revisions to any “forward-looking statement,” including, without
limitation, outlook, to reflect events or circumstances after the date
of this news release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously
issued “forward-looking statement” constitutes a reaffirmation of that
statement. Continued reliance on “forward-looking statements” is at
investors' own risk.
1 Reserves are presented as of December 31, 2013 on a
consolidated basis. On such basis, reserves at Merian were estimated at
108,250 ktonnes of Probable Reserves, grading 1.22 gpt for 4.2Moz, using
a $1,300/oz gold price assumption. See http://www.newmont.com/our-investors/reserves-and-resources
for the Company’s 2013 Reserves and Resources and additional information.
2 All-in sustaining costs is a non-GAAP metric and is
estimated for purposes of this forward-looking statement as the sum of
expected cost applicable to sales (including all direct and indirect
costs related to gold production incurred to execute on the current mine
plan), remediation costs (including operating accretion and amortization
of asset retirement costs), G&A, exploration expense, advanced projects
and R&D, treatment and refining costs, other expense, net of one-time
adjustments and sustaining capital. See cautionary note on page 2
regarding Forwarding-Looking Statements.
Copyright Business Wire 2014