VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - January 25, 2017) - Endeavour Silver
Corp. (TSX: EDR) (NYSE: EXK) provides 2017 production and
cost guidance for its three producing mines in Mexico: the Guanaceví mine in Durango state and the Bolañitos and El Cubo mines in
Guanajuato state.
In 2017, the Company's plan is to produce at slightly lower throughput and higher silver grades compared to 2016, resulting in
similar silver production and slightly lower gold production forecasts. Endeavour plans to continue investing significantly in
exploration and development programs to extend the existing mine lives and build new mines to fuel future growth.
2017 Production Guidance
Silver production is expected to be in the range of 5.2-5.7 million oz and gold production is expected be in the 50,000-53,000
oz range. Silver equivalent production is forecast to be 8.9-9.7 million oz using a 75:1 silver:gold ratio, as shown in the table
below.
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Mine |
Silver (M oz) |
Gold (K oz) |
Ag Eq (M oz) |
Tonnes/Day (tpd) |
Guanaceví |
2.4-2.6 |
5.3-6.3 |
2.8-3.1 |
1,000-1,200 |
Bolañitos |
0.9-1.0 |
21.5-22.5 |
2.5-2.7 |
1,000-1,100 |
El Cubo |
1.9-2.1 |
23.2-24.2 |
3.6-3.9 |
1,300-1,500 |
Total |
5.2-5.7 |
50.0-53.0 |
8.9-9.7 |
3,300-3,800 |
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Bradford Cooke, Endeavour CEO, commented, "We expect 2017 to be a transformative year for Endeavour as our attention turns to
growth. The emergence of our exciting new Terronera discovery and the acquisition of two attractive projects last year, El Compas
and Parral, have positioned us for significant growth over the next three years which we think could coincide with rising
precious metal prices. We believe now is the right time to invest for the future across our portfolio."
In particular, the Company continues to advance the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and initial resource estimate for
the El Compas project in Zacatecas state and the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) and updated reserve/resource estimate for the
Terronera project in Jalisco state for completion in March, 2017.
The El Compas PEA is somewhat dependent on the outcome of appeals by several industries of the recently amended Revenue Law in
the State of Zacatecas. The amendment to the Revenue Law is effectively a new environmental tax on the extraction of rock, sand
and similar materials, the pollution of air, soil and water and the disposal of wastes including all mill tailings and heap leach
pads. However, mining companies already pay a federal environmental tax and the Company has received legal advice that the
amended state Revenue Law is unconstitutional so Endeavour and many other companies plan to file constitutional challenges in the
Mexican courts. The amendment went into effect as of January 1, 2017 and could make the El Compas project, and every other mine
in the state, uneconomic. High level discussions are now underway between the affected industries in Zacatecas and state and
federal government officials to repeal or amend this law.
At Guanaceví, production will be similar to 2016 based on slightly lower grades and higher throughputs of 1,000 to 1,200
tonnes per day (tpd), primarily from the Santa Cruz, Porvenir Norte, and Porvenir Centro orebodies. Underground exploration and
mine development in these areas will be funded by mine cash flow. Development of the new SCS and Milache deposits will utilize
growth capital funded by the Company's treasury.
At Bolañitos, mine production will continue operating at approximately 1,100 tpd primarily from the LL-Asunción deposit, the
Plateros deposit, and historic mine fill. Underground exploration and mine development in these areas will continue to be funded
by mine cash flow.
At El Cubo, production will also continue steady state at about 1,400 tpd from the V-Asunción, Dolores, Villalpando, San
Nicolas and Santa Cecilia veins. Underground exploration and mine development in these areas will continue to be funded by mine
cash flow.
Operating Costs
Cash costs, net of gold by-product credits, are expected to be $6.50-$7.50 per oz of silver produced in 2017, comparable to
the first three quarters of 2016. Consolidated cash costs on a co-product basis are anticipated to be $10.25-$11.25 per oz silver
and $775-$825 per oz gold.
All-in sustaining costs (AISC), net of gold by-product credits, in accordance with the World Gold Council standard, are
estimated to be $14-$15 per oz of silver produced in 2017, higher than the first three quarters of 2016 due to increased
investments in exploration and development programs. When non-cash items such as stock-based compensation are excluded, AISC is
forecast to be in the $13.50-$14.50 range. On a co-product basis, AISC is anticipated to be $14.50-$15.50 per oz silver and
$1,050-$1,150 per oz gold. Direct operating costs are estimated to be in the range of $70-$75 per tonne.
Management has assumed a $17 per oz silver price, $1,190 per oz gold price, and 20:1 Mexican peso per US dollar exchange rate
for its 2017 cost forecasts.
2017 Capital Budget
Last year management focused on reducing sustaining exploration and capital investments at low precious metals prices to
ensure positive cash flow for the Company. In 2017, Endeavour plans to invest $43.3 million on capital projects at the three
operating mines, including $7.7 million of growth capital, all primarily for mine development, in order to access reserves and
resources for mining. At today's prices, the investments at operations will be covered by operating cash flow, while exploration
and growth capital will be funded by the Company's treasury.
At Guanaceví, 9.2 kilometres (km) of mine development are budgeted at $11.3 million in the North Porvenir and Santa Cruz
mines, which have been in production since 2004 and 2012, respectively. An additional $2.2 million will be spent on ventilation,
underground electrical and water control throughout the mine. The remaining $3.2 million will be spent on new mobile equipment to
aid the significant planned development, site infrastructure and equipment.
Management has also approved an additional 2.5 km of development, budgeted at $7.1 million, to access two new ore bodies
currently not in production. The development is expected to commence in the second quarter depending on permitting.
At Bolañitos, 5.0 km of mine development are budgeted at $5.1 million to access reserves and resources in LL-Asunción,
Plateros, and mineralized fill from historic stopes not included in resources. An additional $0.5 million is planned to purchase
various mine equipment required for the year.
At El Cubo, 7.8 km of mine development are budgeted at $8.4 million, and $2.0 million is budgeted for supporting underground
infrastructure mainly in the Villalpando vein. An additional $1.4 million will be spent on mobile mine equipment and $1.4 million
on plant equipment and infrastructure.
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Mine |
Mine Development |
Other Capital |
Sustaining Capital |
Growth Capital |
Guanaceví |
$13.5 million |
$3.2 million |
$16.7 million |
$7.1 million |
Bolañitos |
$5.1 million |
$0.6 million |
$ 5.7 million |
- |
El Cubo |
$10.4 million |
$2.8 million |
$13.2 million |
- |
Corporate |
- |
- |
- |
$0.6 million |
Total |
$29.0 million |
$6.6 million |
$35.6 million |
$7.7 million |
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Exploration Budget
In 2017, the Company plans to drill 64,000 metres (m) and spend $15.2 million on brownfields and greenfields exploration,
development engineering, and land payments across its portfolio of properties. At the three existing mines, 20,000 m of core
drilling is planned at a cost of $3.0 million. At the exploration and development projects, 44,000 m will be drilled at a cost of
$10.5 million.
At El Compas, management has approved a $3.0 million exploration program to drill 8,000 m testing new targets, and collar an
800 m exploration adit (subject to the PEA and the state Revenue Law) to provide underground access to the historical resources
in the El Compas and El Orito veins, confirm drill results, and assess geotechnical parameters for mining of the mineralized
zones.
At Terronera, management has approved a $2.3 million, 10,000 m drill program to test other mineralized veins, complete the
PFS, and advance the site infrastructure. In 2016, the Terronera vein discovery was deepened and expanded by drilling.
Additionally, a number of parallel structures were discovered by mapping and sampling. In December 2016, high-grade drill results
were announced from the La Luz vein located 2,200 m northeast of the Terronera vein.
At Parral, management plans to spend $3.0 million on drilling 18,000 m to confirm a portion of the historical resource,
testing multiple greenfields high-grade and bulk tonnage silver targets, and completing a PEA. The potential for near-term, small
scale contract mining and toll milling will also be evaluated.
Additionally, the Company will conduct a 5,000 m drill program at the Guadalupe y Calvo property in Chihuahua, Mexico and a
3,000 m drill program in Chile. Both properties are highly prospective: Guadalupe y Calvo for high-grade vein mineralization near
the existing resource, and for bulk tonnage silver-lead-zinc manto mineralization in Chile.
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Project |
2017 Activity |
Drill Metres |
Expenditures (millions) |
Guanaceví |
Drilling |
8,000 |
$1.2 |
Bolanitos |
Drilling |
6,000 |
$0.9 |
El Cubo |
Drilling |
6,000 |
$0.9 |
Terronera |
Drilling/PFS/Infrastructure |
10,000 |
$2.3 |
El Compas |
Drilling/PEA/Infrastructure |
8,000 |
$3.0 |
Parral |
Drilling/PEA |
18,000 |
$3.0 |
Guadalupe y Calvo |
Drilling |
5,000 |
$0.9 |
Chile |
Drilling |
3,000 |
$1.3 |
Mexico |
Holding Costs/Land Payments |
- |
$1.7 |
Total |
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64,000 |
$15.2 |
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About Endeavour Silver - Endeavour Silver is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that owns three high
grade, underground, silver-gold mines in Mexico. Since start-up in 2004, Endeavour has grown its mining operations organically to
produce 9.7 million ounces of silver and equivalents in 2016. We find, build and operate quality silver mines in a sustainable
way to create real value for all stakeholders. Endeavour Silver's shares trade on the TSX (EDR) and the NYSE (EXK).
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States private securities
litigation reform act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.
Such forward-looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding Endeavour's
anticipated performance in 2017 including changes in mining and operations and the timing and results of various activities. The
Company does not intend to, and does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other
than as required by applicable law.
Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different
from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local
governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; financial
risks due to precious metals prices, operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining
activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and
development, risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Company's title to properties; as well as
those factors described in the section "risk factors" contained in the Company's most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form
filed with the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities.
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to:
the continued operation of the Company's mining operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, mining
operations will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with management's expectations and achieve their
stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking
statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated,
described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will
prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or
information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.