Newmont Declares Commercial Production at Long Canyon, the Most Significant Oxide Ore Discovery in Nevada in More than a
Decade
Long Canyon adds profitable production and strengthens Newmont’s track record of delivering projects safely, ahead
of schedule and below budget
Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) (Newmont or the Company) has reached commercial production at Long Canyon, a higher grade
oxide mine in an emerging gold district located less than 100 miles from its existing Nevada operations. The Company declared
commercial production based on sustaining plant availability of more than 85 percent, and achieving a minimum of 70 percent of
modeled leach recovery. The project was completed two months ahead of schedule for an investment of just under $225 million, which
is about $50 million or 18 percent below budget.
The first phase of development is expected to produce between 100,000 and 150,000 ounces of gold per year over an eight year
mine life at estimated costs applicable to sales of between $400 and $500 per ounce, and all-in sustaining cost of between $500 and
$600 per ounce1. The project was optimized by taking a phased development approach, relying on refurbished instead of
new equipment, and building a leach facility rather than a mill. At current gold prices, the project is expected to generate a 26
percent rate of return with a payback period of just under four years.
The operation includes a surface mine and heap leach pad which currently holds one million tons of ore at an average estimated
grade of 1.13 grams of gold per ton. The project was funded through free cash flow and available cash balances, and leverages
Newmont’s existing infrastructure, expertise and strong stakeholder relationships in Nevada.
“Long Canyon marks the fourth profitable new operation we’ve added to the portfolio in the last three years, including Merian in
Suriname last month, Cripple Creek & Victor in Colorado last year, and Akyem in Ghana in late 2013,” said Gary Goldberg,
President and Chief Executive Officer. “We have completed these organic growth projects on or ahead of schedule and at or below
budget; delivered a profitable expansion at Cripple Creek & Victor earlier this year; and are on track to complete value-adding
expansions at Tanami by 2017 and at Carlin by 2018. These portfolio improvements set the stage for Newmont to continue generating
superior free cash flow, which gives us the means to continue investing in profitable growth, retiring debt and returning cash to
shareholders.”
Long Canyon is the most significant oxide gold discovery in Nevada in more than a decade, with characteristics similar to the
Carlin Trend where Newmont has been operating for more than 50 years. The Company has grown the resource base at Long Canyon by 30
percent in two years; from an initial resource of 2.6 million ounces in 2013 to reserves and resources of 3.4 million ounces as of
the end of 20152. Newmont geologists have also increased the mineralized strike by 70 percent to a length of more
than five kilometers and oxide mineralization remains open in all directions.
Long Canyon Phase 2 studies are underway and Newmont expects to complete these and secure the necessary permits to proceed
before Phase 1 is depleted.
About Newmont
Newmont is a leading gold and copper producer. The Company’s operations are primarily in the United States, Australia, Ghana,
Peru, and Suriname. Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and was named the mining industry leader by
the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index in 2015 and 2016. The Company is an industry leader in value creation, supported by its
leading technical, environmental, social and safety performance. Newmont was founded in 1921 and has been publicly traded since
1925.
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, estimates of annual gold
production, estimates of mine life and development, estimates of future costs, including costs applicable to sales and all-in
sustaining costs, expectations regarding future returns and upside. 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, increased production costs and variances in ore grade or recovery rates from
those assumed in mining plans, political and operational risks, community relations risks, changes in governmental and
environmental regulations and judicial outcomes. For a more detailed discussion of other risks that may impact the Company’s future
performance, see the Company’s 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 17, 2016, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC), Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, filed with the SEC on October 26, 2016, and other SEC
filings. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any “forward-looking statement” 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.
____________________________________
i All-in sustaining costs (AISC) as used above is a forward-looking non-GAAP metric defined as the sum of costs
applicable to sales (including all direct and indirect costs related to current 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. Please refer to pages 14-20 of the Company’s most recent earnings release for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, filed
with the SEC, on Form 8-K on October 26, 2016, which is also available on www.newmont.com, for additional information regarding AISC and for reconciliations to the nearest GAAP metric of
certain historical results and the Company’s consolidated 2016 gold AISC outlook.
ii Reserves were 1.2 Moz (16.3Mt @ 2.3 g/t Au) as of December 31, 2015 and resources were 2.2 Moz (22.1Mt @ 3.1 g/t
Au) as of December 31, 2015. Resources include measured and indicated (0.9Moz) and inferred (1.3Moz) resources. U.S. investors are
reminded that reserves were prepared in compliance with Industry Guide 7 published by the SEC. Whereas, the terms resource,
measured and indicated resource and inferred resource are not SEC recognized terms. Newmont has determined that such resources
would be substantively the same as those prepared using the Guidelines established by the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and
Exploration and defined as Mineral Resource. Estimates of resources are subject to further exploration and development, are subject
to additional risks, and no assurance can be given that they will eventually convert to future reserves. Inferred resources, in
particular, have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and their economic and legal feasibility. Investors are
cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the inferred resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. For more
information regarding the Company’s proven and probable reserves prepared in compliance with the SEC’s Industry Guide 7, see the
Company’s 2015 Annual Report filed with the SEC on February 17, 2016, which is available at www.sec.gov or www.newmont.com. Additional information regarding the Company’s resource estimates is available on the Company’s
website at http://www.newmont.com/investor-relations/reserves-and-resources.
Newmont Mining Corporation
Media Contact
Omar Jabara, 303-837-5114
omar.jabara@newmont.com
or
Investor Contact
Meredith Bandy, 303-837-5143
meredith.bandy@newmont.com
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161115006745/en/