Hudbay Minerals Inc. (“Hudbay” or the “company”)
(TSX, NYSE: HBM) today released its
annual mineral reserve and resource update and issued new
three-year production guidance. All amounts are in U.S. dollars,
unless otherwise noted.
“Our updated mineral reserve estimates and
three-year production outlook demonstrate Hudbay’s high-quality
operating platform with annual production of more than 150,000
tonnes of copper and 270,000 ounces of gold from three long-life
mines located in tier-one mining friendly jurisdictions in the
Americas,” said Peter Kukielski, Hudbay’s President and Chief
Executive Officer. “We saw strong reserve conversion in Peru after
successful geotechnical work confirmed the addition of another
mining phase at Constancia, extending the mine life to 2041, and we
continued to progress drill permitting activities for the
high-potential exploration satellites in Peru. Manitoba exploration
efforts are focused on advancing the largest geophysical and
drilling program in our history in Snow Lake to test the newly
acquired land claims for another anchor deposit and extend the mine
life well beyond 2038. Our Copper Mountain mine has a robust copper
production profile over its 21-year mine life as reflected in the
recent technical report. We already have a resilient operating
platform delivering stable copper production and complementary gold
production, and we expect to continue to add to our robust
production outlook by leveraging our proven track record of
delivering value through exploration and development as we advance
our quality pipeline of growth assets.”
Constancia Operations
Constancia is Hudbay’s 100% owned copper
operation located in the province of Chumbivilcas in southern Peru
and consists of the Constancia and Pampacancha deposits. Current
mineral reserve estimates total 548 million tonnes at 0.27% copper
containing approximately 1.5 million tonnes of copper. Constancia’s
expected mine life has been extended by three years to 2041 as a
result of the successful conversion of mineral resources to mineral
reserves with the addition of a further mining phase at the
Constancia pit following positive geotechnical drilling and studies
in 2023. There remains potential for future mine life extensions
based on the mineral resources that have not yet been converted to
mineral reserves.
Hudbay continues to mine the high-grade
Pampacancha satellite deposit located approximately six kilometres
from the Constancia processing plant. Mining at the Pampacancha pit
commenced in 2021 and is expected to extend until the third quarter
of 2025, resulting in continued higher copper and gold production
over this period. Annual production at the Constancia operations is
expected to average approximately 101,000i tonnes of copper and
62,000i ounces of gold over the next three years.
Current mineral reserves and resources
(exclusive of reserves) for Constancia and Pampacancha as of
January 1, 2024 are summarized below.
Constancia OperationsMineral Reserve and
Resource
Estimates1,2,3,4,5 |
Tonnes |
Cu Grade(%) |
Mo Grade(g/t) |
Au Grade(g/t) |
Ag Grade(g/t) |
Constancia Reserves |
|
|
Proven |
|
465,600,000 |
0.260 |
78 |
0.038 |
2.63 |
Probable |
|
61,600,000 |
0.212 |
64 |
0.034 |
2.24 |
Total Proven and Probable - Constancia |
|
527,200,000 |
0.254 |
76 |
0.037 |
2.59 |
Pampacancha Reserves |
|
|
Proven |
|
20,000,000 |
0.542 |
128 |
0.330 |
5.44 |
Probable |
|
500,000 |
0.157 |
295 |
0.111 |
1.98 |
Total Proven and Probable - Pampacancha |
|
20,500,000 |
0.533 |
132 |
0.324 |
5.36 |
Total Proven and Probable |
|
547,700,000 |
0.265 |
78 |
0.048 |
2.69 |
Constancia Resources |
|
|
Measured |
|
78,400,000 |
0.213 |
74 |
0.039 |
2.20 |
Indicated |
|
93,100,000 |
0.224 |
90 |
0.040 |
1.98 |
Inferred – Open Pit |
|
29,700,000 |
0.233 |
68 |
0.056 |
2.58 |
Inferred – Underground |
|
6,500,000 |
1.200 |
69 |
0.140 |
8.62 |
Pampacancha Resources |
|
|
Inferred |
|
700,000 |
0.149 |
65 |
0.098 |
2.71 |
Total Measured and Indicated |
|
171,500,000 |
0.219 |
83 |
0.039 |
2.08 |
Total Inferred |
|
36,900,000 |
0.402 |
68 |
0.072 |
3.65 |
Note: totals may not add up correctly due to rounding.1 Mineral
resources are exclusive of mineral reserves and do not have
demonstrated economic viability. 2 Mineral resource estimates are
based on resource pit design and do not include factors for mining
recovery or dilution.3 The open pit mineral resources are estimated
using a minimum NSR cut-off of $6.40 per tonne and assuming
metallurgical recoveries (applied by ore type) of 86% for copper on
average for the life of mine, while the underground inferred
resources at Constancia Norte are based on a 0.65% copper cut-off
grade.4 Mineral reserves are estimated using a minimum NSR cut-off
of $6.40 per tonne at Pampacancha, $7.30 per tonne at Constancia
and assuming metallurgical recoveries (applied by ore type) of 86%
for copper on average for the life of mine.5 Long-term metal prices
of $4.00 per pound copper, $12.00 per pound molybdenum, $1,700 per
ounce gold and $23.00 per ounce silver were used to confirm the
economic viability of the mineral reserve estimates and to estimate
mineral resources.
Maria Reyna and Caballito Exploration
Hudbay controls a large, contiguous block of
mineral rights with the potential to host satellite mineral
deposits in close proximity to the Constancia processing facility,
including the past producing Caballito property and the highly
prospective Maria Reyna property. The company commenced early
exploration activities at Maria Reyna and Caballito after
completing a surface rights exploration agreement with the
community of Uchucarcco in August 2022. A drill permit application
was submitted for the Maria Reyna property in November 2023, and a
similar application for the Caballito property is planned for the
first half of 2024. In parallel, Hudbay continues to advance
community engagement activities. Surface mapping and geochemical
sampling confirm that both Caballito and Maria Reyna host sulfide
and oxide rich copper mineralization in skarns, hydrothermal
breccias and large porphyry intrusive bodies, as shown in Figure
1.
Snow Lake Operations
Hudbay’s 100% owned Snow Lake operations in
Manitoba include the Lalor gold, copper and zinc mine, the New
Britannia gold mill, the Stall base metals concentrator and several
satellite deposits. Current mineral reserve estimates in Snow Lake
total 17 million tonnes with approximately 2 million ounces in
contained gold, and the expected mine life of the Snow Lake
operations continues to extend until 2038. The Snow Lake operations
continue to achieve higher gold production levels due to the New
Britannia mill operating at 10% above design capacity in 2023, the
recent completion of the Stall mill recovery improvement project
and the implementation of several optimization initiatives at the
Lalor mine to improve the quality of ore production and minimize
waste dilution. The company also increased its land package in Snow
Lake by 250% in 2023, as shown in Figure 2, and has since launched
the largest Snow Lake exploration program in the company’s history
to explore the highly prospective land package for new discoveries
to maximize and extend the life of the Snow Lake operations beyond
2038.
Infill drilling at Lalor in 2023 resulted in the
successful conversion of high value gold material from inferred
resources to mineral reserves. There remains another 1.4 million
ounces of gold contained in inferred resources in Snow Lake that
have the potential to maintain strong annual gold production levels
beyond 2030 and further extend the mine life in Snow Lake. The
company is advancing an access drift at the nearby 1901 deposit to
enable infill drilling aimed at converting the inferred mineral
resources in the gold lenses to mineral reserves.
The Snow Lake mineral reserve and mineral
resource estimates include the copper-gold WIM deposit, the
gold-rich 3 Zone and the zinc-rich Watts, Pen II and Talbot
deposits, which have the potential to provide feed for the Stall
and New Britannia processing facilities and further extend the life
of the Snow Lake operations. Hudbay is also conducting geophysical
and drilling programs on the newly acquired land in Snow Lake,
including the Cook Lake claims and the former Rockcliff claims, as
discussed further below.
Hudbay has been executing a multi-phased gold
strategy in Snow Lake since 2019, which has resulted in increased
annual gold production from optimization initiatives, including
higher processing capacity and gold recoveries since the start-up
of the New Britannia mill in late 2021. As a result, annual gold
production from Snow Lake increased from 69,657 ounces in 2020 to
146,233 ounces in 2022, New Britannia’s first full year of
production. The New Britannia mill achieved record throughput
levels averaging 1,650 tonnes per day in 2023, exceeding its design
capacity of 1,500 tonnes per day, which contributed to record
annual gold production of 187,363 ounces in 2023. Annual gold
production from Snow Lake is expected to average 185,000i ounces
over the next three years, in line with 2023 levels.
Current mineral reserves and resources
(exclusive of reserves) for Lalor, 1901 and other Snow Lake
satellite deposits as of January 1, 2024 are summarized below.
Lalor Mine and 1901 DepositMineral Reserve
and Resource
Estimates1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 |
Tonnes |
Au Grade(g/t) |
Zn Grade(%) |
Cu Grade(%) |
Ag Grade(g/t) |
Gold Zone Reserves |
|
|
Proven – Lalor |
|
3,263,000 |
5.5 |
0.73 |
0.59 |
29.6 |
Proven – 1901 |
|
102,000 |
2.8 |
1.33 |
1.00 |
19.2 |
Probable – Lalor |
|
3,678,000 |
4.5 |
0.37 |
1.22 |
22.1 |
Probable – 1901 |
|
52,000 |
1.7 |
0.44 |
1.88 |
5.4 |
Total Proven and Probable - Gold |
|
7,096,000 |
4.9 |
0.55 |
0.93 |
25.3 |
Base Metal Zone Reserves |
|
|
Proven – Lalor |
|
4,406,000 |
2.8 |
5.17 |
0.41 |
30.2 |
Proven – 1901 |
|
1,154,000 |
2.3 |
8.31 |
0.31 |
25.4 |
Probable – Lalor |
|
649,000 |
1.9 |
4.63 |
0.35 |
35.1 |
Probable – 1901 |
|
264,000 |
0.8 |
11.45 |
0.31 |
28.1 |
Total Proven and Probable – Base Metal |
|
6,474,000 |
2.5 |
5.93 |
0.38 |
29.8 |
Total Gold and Base Metal Zone Reserves |
|
|
Proven and Probable – Lalor |
|
11,997,000 |
4.0 |
2.46 |
0.70 |
27.8 |
Proven and Probable – 1901 |
|
1,573,000 |
2.1 |
8.12 |
0.40 |
24.8 |
Total Proven and Probable (Gold and Base
Metal) |
13,570,000 |
3.8 |
3.12 |
0.67 |
27.4 |
Gold Zone Resources |
|
|
Inferred – Lalor |
|
2,979,000 |
4.3 |
0.24 |
1.68 |
25.7 |
Inferred – 1901 |
|
1,605,000 |
5.4 |
0.30 |
0.84 |
16.5 |
Total Inferred - Gold |
|
4,584,000 |
4.7 |
0.26 |
1.39 |
22.5 |
Base Metal Zone Resources |
|
|
Inferred – Lalor |
|
710,000 |
1.7 |
5.34 |
0.38 |
31.6 |
Inferred – 1901 |
|
334,000 |
1.6 |
5.58 |
0.22 |
30.9 |
Total Inferred – Base Metal |
|
1,044,000 |
1.7 |
5.42 |
0.33 |
31.4 |
Total Gold and Base Metal Zone Resources |
|
|
Inferred – Lalor |
|
3,689,000 |
3.6 |
6.28 |
1.69 |
21.8 |
Inferred – 1901 |
|
1,939,000 |
4.8 |
1.21 |
0.74 |
19.0 |
Total Inferred (Gold and Base Metal) |
|
5,628,000 |
4.0 |
4.53 |
1.36 |
20.8 |
Note: totals may not add up correctly due to rounding.1 Mineral
resources are exclusive of mineral reserves and do not have
demonstrated economic viability. 2 Mineral resources do not include
factors for mining recovery or dilution.3 Base metal mineral
resources are estimated based on the assumption that they would be
processed at the Stall concentrator while gold mineral resources
are estimated based on the assumption that they would be processed
at the New Britannia concentrator.4 Long-term metal prices of
$1,700 per ounce gold, $1.25 per pound zinc, $4.00 per pound copper
and $23.00 per ounce silver with an exchange rate of 1.33 C$/US$
were used to confirm the economic viability of the mineral reserve
estimates.5 Long-term metal prices of $1,900 per ounce gold, $1.25
per pound zinc, $4.00 per pound copper and $23.00 per ounce silver
with an exchange rate of 1.33 C$/US$ were used to estimate mineral
resources.6 Lalor mineral reserves and resources are estimated
using NSR cut-off ranging from C$146 to C$173 per tonne assuming a
long hole mining method and depending on the mill destination. 7
Individual stope gold grades at Lalor were capped at 10 grams per
tonne. This capping method resulted in an approximate 3% reduction
in the overall gold reserve grade at Lalor.8 1901 mineral reserves
and resources are estimated using a minimum NSR cut-off of C$166
per tonne.
Snow Lake Regional Deposits - GoldMineral
Reserve and Resource
Estimates1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Tonnes |
Au Grade(g/t) |
Zn Grade(%) |
Cu Grade(%) |
Ag Grade(g/t) |
Probable Reserves |
|
|
WIM |
|
2,450,000 |
1.6 |
0.25 |
1.63 |
6.3 |
3 Zone |
|
660,000 |
4.2 |
- |
- |
- |
Total Probable (Gold) |
|
3,110,000 |
2.2 |
0.20 |
1.28 |
5.0 |
Inferred Resources |
|
|
New Britannia |
|
2,750,000 |
4.5 |
- |
- |
- |
Birch |
|
570,000 |
4.4 |
- |
- |
- |
Total Inferred (Gold) |
|
3,320,000 |
4.5 |
- |
- |
- |
Note: totals may not add up correctly due to rounding.1 Mineral
resources are exclusive of mineral reserves and do not have
demonstrated economic viability. 2 Mineral resources do not include
factors for mining recovery or dilution.3 Gold mineral resources
are estimated based on the assumption that they would be processed
at the New Britannia concentrator.4 Long-term metal prices of
$1,700 per ounce gold, $1.25 per pound zinc, $4.00 per pound copper
and $23.00 per ounce silver with an exchange rate of 1.33 C$/US$
were used to confirm the economic viability of the mineral reserve
estimates.5 WIM mineral reserves assume processing recoveries of
98% for copper, 88% for gold, and 70% for silver based on
processing through New Britannia's flotation and tails leach
circuits.6 3 Zone mineral reserves assume processing recoveries of
85% for gold based on processing through New Britannia's leach
circuit.7 New Britannia mineral resource estimates have been
reported at a minimum true width of 1.5 metres and with a cut-off
grade varying from 2 grams per tonne (at the lower part of New
Britannia) to 3.5 grams per tonne (at the upper part of New
Britannia).
Snow Lake Regional Deposits – Base
MetalMineral Reserve and Resource
Estimates1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Tonnes |
Au Grade(g/t) |
Zn Grade(%) |
Cu Grade(%) |
Ag Grade(g/t) |
Indicated Resources |
|
|
Pen II |
|
470,000 |
0.3 |
8.89 |
0.49 |
6.8 |
Talbot |
|
2,190,000 |
2.1 |
1.79 |
2.33 |
36.0 |
Total Indicated (Base Metals) |
|
2,660,000 |
1.8 |
3.04 |
2.01 |
30.9 |
Inferred Resources |
|
|
Watts |
|
3,150,000 |
1.0 |
2.58 |
2.34 |
31.0 |
Pen II |
|
130,000 |
0.3 |
9.81 |
0.37 |
6.8 |
Talbot |
|
2,450,000 |
1.9 |
1.74 |
1.13 |
25.8 |
Total Inferred (Base Metals) |
|
5,730,000 |
1.3 |
2.39 |
1.78 |
28.3 |
Note: totals may not add up correctly due to rounding.1 Mineral
resources are exclusive of mineral reserves and do not have
demonstrated economic viability. 2 Mineral resources do not include
factors for mining recovery or dilution.3 Base metal mineral
resources are estimated based on the assumption that they would be
processed at the Stall concentrator.4 Watts and Pen II mineral
resources were initially estimated using metal price assumptions
that vary marginally over the assumptions used to estimate mineral
resources at Lalor. In the Qualified Person’s opinion, the combined
impact of these small variations does not have any impact on the
mineral resource estimates.5 Watts mineral resources are estimated
using a minimum NSR cut-off of C$150 per tonne, assuming processing
recoveries of 90% for copper, 80% for zinc, 70% for gold and 70%
for silver. 6 Pen II mineral resources are estimated using a
minimum NSR cut-off of C$75 per tonne.7 The above resource
estimates table includes 100% of the Talbot mineral resources
reported by Rockcliff Metals Corp. in its 2020 NI 43-101 technical
report published on SEDAR+.
2024 Snow Lake Exploration Program
The planned 2024 exploration program is Hudbay’s
largest Snow Lake program in the company’s history and consists of
modern geophysical programs and multi-phased drilling
campaigns:
- Modern geophysics
program – A majority of the newly acquired Cook Lake and
former Rockcliff claims have been untested by modern deep
geophysics, which was the discovery method for the Lalor deposit. A
large geophysics program is currently underway consisting of
surface electromagnetic surveys using cutting-edge techniques that
enable the team to detect targets at depths of almost 1,000 metres
below surface.
- Multi-phased drilling
program – The winter 2024 surface drill program is
underway with eight drill rigs that are currently focused on
testing the deep extensions of the gold and copper zones at Lalor
and completing follow up drilling at the Lalor Northwest target, as
shown in Figure 3. The drill rigs will be relocated to the Cook
Lake and Rockcliff claims later in the 2024 season to test
additional geophysical targets.
The goal of the 2024 exploration program is to
test mineralized extensions of the Lalor deposit and to find a new
anchor deposit within trucking distance of the Snow Lake processing
infrastructure, which has the potential to extend the life of the
Snow Lake operations beyond 2038.
Advancing Access to the 1901 Deposit
The 1901 deposit was discovered by Hudbay in
2019 and is located within 1,000 metres of the existing underground
haulage ramp to Lalor. The deposit consists of a series of zinc and
gold-rich lenses that were defined by surface drilling and
pre-feasibility studies conducted between 2019 and 2021. In early
2024, the company commenced the development of an access drift from
the existing Lalor ramp, which is expected to enable underground
drill platforms for diamond drilling to further confirm the optimal
mining method to extract the base metal and gold lenses and to
convert the inferred mineral resources in the gold lenses to
mineral reserves. The 1901 development and exploration drift
program is expected to take place over 2024 and 2025. For further
information, please see Figure 4.
Copper Mountain Mine
Current mineral reserve estimates at the Copper
Mountain mine total 367 million tonnes at 0.25% copper and 0.12
grams per tonne gold with approximately 900 thousand tonnes of
contained copper and 1.4 million ounces of contained gold. Hudbay
acquired Copper Mountain as part of its acquisition of Copper
Mountain Mining Corporation in June 2023 and holds a 75% interest
in the mine with Mitsubishi Materials Corp. holding the remaining
25% interest. The current mineral reserve estimates support a
21-year mine life, as previously disclosed on December 5, 2023 in
the company’s first NI 43-101 technical report in respect of the
Copper Mountain mine.
As detailed in the technical report, the mine
plan contemplates average annual copper production of 46,500 tonnes
in the first five years, 45,000 tonnes in the first ten years and
37,000 tonnes over the 21-year mine life. The updated mine plan
represents an approximate 90% increase in average annual copper
production and an approximate 50% decrease in cash costs over the
first 10 years compared to 2022 levels.
Hudbay’s mine plan for Copper Mountain is based
on a revised resource model that was constructed using the same
methods applied at the Constancia, Copper World and Mason deposits.
There exists significant upside potential for reserve conversion
and extending mine life beyond 21 years through an additional 140
million tonnes of measured and indicated resources at 0.21% copper
and 0.10 grams per tonne gold and 370 million tonnes of inferred
resources at 0.25% copper and 0.13 grams per tonne gold, in each
case, exclusive of mineral reserves.
Since completing the acquisition of Copper
Mountain in June 2023, Hudbay has been focused on advancing its
plans to stabilize the Copper Mountain mine over the next few years
to improve reliability and drive sustainable long-term value. This
includes increasing mining activities by remobilizing the idle
mining fleet from 14 trucks to 28 trucks, accelerating stripping to
access higher grades, and improving mill throughput and recoveries
with a more consistent ore feed grade and several planned mill
enhancement projects. The new technical report filed in December
2023 reflects Hudbay's base case stabilization plan.
Current mineral reserves and resources
(exclusive of reserves) for Copper Mountain as of January 1, 2024
are summarized below.
Copper Mountain MineMineral Reserve and
Resource
Estimates1,2,3,4,5,6 |
Tonnes |
Cu Grade (%) |
Au Grade(g/t) |
Ag Grade(g/t) |
Reserves |
|
|
Proven |
|
195,000,000 |
0.27 |
0.12 |
0.8 |
Probable |
|
172,000,000 |
0.22 |
0.11 |
0.6 |
Total proven and probable |
|
367,000,000 |
0.25 |
0.12 |
0.7 |
Resources |
|
|
Measured |
|
41,000,000 |
0.21 |
0.09 |
0.7 |
Indicated |
|
97,000,000 |
0.21 |
0.11 |
0.7 |
Total measured and indicated |
|
138,000,000 |
0.21 |
0.10 |
0.7 |
Inferred |
|
371,000,000 |
0.25 |
0.13 |
0.6 |
Note: totals may not add up correctly due to rounding.1 Mineral
resource estimates are exclusive of mineral reserves. Mineral
resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated
economic viability.2 Mineral reserves are reported using an NSR
cut-off value of $5.67 per tonne that meets a minimum 0.10% copper
grade.3 Long term metal prices of $4.00 per pound copper, $1,700
per ounce gold and $23.00 per ounce silver were used to confirm the
economic viability of the mineral reserve estimates.4. Long term
metal prices of $4.00 per pound copper, $1,650 per ounce gold and
$22.00 per ounce silver were used to estimate mineral resources.5
Mineral resource estimate tonnes and grades constrained to a Lerch
Grossman revenue factor 1 pit shell.6 Mineral reserve and resource
estimates presented on a 100% basis. Hudbay holds a 75% interest in
the Copper Mountain mine.
3-Year Production Outlook
The consolidated copper and gold production
guidance demonstrates the continued strong growth from the
successful completion of brownfield investments in Peru and
Manitoba and the enhanced operating platform with the acquisition
of Copper Mountain. Consolidated copper production over the next
three years is expected to average 153,000i tonnes, representing an
increase of 16% from 2023 levels. Consolidated gold production over
the next three years is expected to average 272,500i ounces,
reflecting continued high annual gold production levels in Manitoba
and a smoothing of Pampacancha high grade gold zones in Peru over
the 2023 to 2025 period, as further described below.
Peru’s three-year production guidance reflects
continued higher copper and gold grades from Pampacancha into the
third quarter of 2025. Mill ore feed throughout 2024 and 2025 is
expected to revert to the typical one-third from Pampacancha and
two-thirds from Constancia until the depletion of Pampacancha,
unlike 2023 when a majority of the ore feed was from Pampacancha in
the second half of the year. Gold production reflects a smoothing
of Pampacancha high grade gold zones over the 2023 to 2025 period
as additional high grade areas were mined in 2023 ahead of
schedule, resulting in gold production exceeding 2023 guidance
levels, and other high grade areas being deferred to 2025. Total
expected gold production in Peru over the 2023 to 2025 period is
higher than previous expectations with 2025 gold production now
expected to total 80,000i, compared to 58,500i ounces in the
company’s previous guidance.
Manitoba’s three-year production guidance
reflects continued strong gold production levels averaging 185,000i
ounces per year as the Snow Lake operations have achieved steady
levels after the successful refurbishment and optimization of the
New Britannia mill, the completion of the Stall mill recovery
improvement program and the improvement in the quality of ore
production and operating efficiencies at the Lalor mine. The
production guidance anticipates Lalor operating at 4,500 tonnes per
day and an increase in New Britannia mill throughput to 1,800
tonnes per day starting in 2024 given the mill has been
consistently operating above its 1,500 tonnes per day nameplate
capacity. Zinc production is expected to decline over the next
three years as the Lalor mine continues to prioritize higher grade
gold and copper zones.
British Columbia’s three-year production
guidance reflects sequentially higher annual copper production as a
result of the implementation of several improvement initiatives as
part of the company’s stabilization plan. The Copper Mountain
production guidance ranges in 2024 and 2025 are wider than typical
ranges and coincide with the operation ramp up activities over the
stabilization period. Copper production at the Copper Mountain mine
is expected to increase by 32%i in 2026 compared to 2024,
reflecting operational improvements consistent with the NI 43-101
technical report for Copper Mountain issued in December 2023.
3-Year Production OutlookContained Metal
in Concentrate and Doré1 |
2024 Guidance |
2025 Guidance |
2026 Guidance |
Peru |
|
|
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
98,000 - 120,000 |
94,000 - 115,000 |
80,000 - 100,000 |
Gold |
ounces |
76,000 - 93,000 |
70,000 - 90,000 |
15,000 - 25,000 |
Silver |
ounces |
2,500,000 - 3,000,000 |
2,700,000 - 3,300,000 |
1,500,000 - 1,900,000 |
Molybdenum |
tonnes |
1,250 - 1,500 |
1,200 - 1,600 |
1,500 - 1,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
Manitoba |
|
|
|
Gold |
ounces |
170,000 - 200,000 |
170,000 - 200,000 |
170,000 - 200,000 |
Zinc |
tonnes |
27,000 - 35,000 |
25,000 - 33,000 |
18,000 - 24,000 |
Copper |
tonnes |
9,000 - 12,000 |
8,000 - 12,000 |
10,000 - 14,000 |
Silver |
ounces |
750,000 - 1,000,000 |
800,000 - 1,100,000 |
800,000 - 1,100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
British Columbia2 |
|
|
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
30,000 - 44,000 |
30,000 - 45,000 |
44,000 - 54,000 |
Gold |
ounces |
17,000 - 26,000 |
24,000 - 36,000 |
24,000 - 29,000 |
Silver |
ounces |
300,000 - 455,000 |
290,000 - 400,000 |
450,000 - 550,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
Copper |
tonnes |
137,000 - 176,000 |
132,000 - 172,000 |
134,000 - 168,000 |
Gold |
ounces |
263,000 - 319,000 |
264,000 - 326,000 |
209,000 - 254,000 |
Zinc |
tonnes |
27,000 - 35,000 |
25,000 - 33,000 |
18,000 - 24,000 |
Silver |
ounces |
3,550,000 - 4,455,000 |
3,790,000 - 4,800,000 |
2,750,000 - 3,550,000 |
Molybdenum |
tonnes |
1,250 - 1,500 |
1,200 - 1,600 |
1,500 - 1,900 |
1 Metal
reported in concentrate and doré is prior to smelting and refining
losses or deductions associated with smelter terms. 2 Represents
100% of the production from the Copper Mountain mine. Hudbay holds
a 75% interest in the Copper Mountain mine. |
Copper World Project
The 100% owned Copper World project is located
in Pima County, Arizona, approximately 50 kilometres southeast of
Tucson. The Copper World project includes seven deposits discovered
in 2021, together with the East deposit (formerly known as the
Rosemont deposit). The new deposits were defined after the
completion of an expanded drill program following a successful
initial drill program in 2020. A new resource model was completed
for the preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”) of Copper World in
2022, which contemplated a two-phased mine plan with Phase I as a
standalone operation requiring state and local permits only and
Phase II expanding onto federal lands requiring federal
permits.
In September 2023, Hudbay released its enhanced
pre-feasibility study (“PFS”) for Copper World reflecting the
results of further technical work on Phase I of the project. Phase
I has a mine life of 20 years, which is four years longer than the
Phase I mine life that was presented in the PEA, largely due to an
increase in the capacity for tailings and waste deposition as a
result of optimizing the site layout. Phase II is expected to
involve an expansion on to federal lands with a significantly
longer mine life and enhanced project economics. Phase II would be
subject to the federal permitting process and was not included in
the PFS results.
The first key state permit required for Copper
World, the Mined Land Reclamation Plan, was initially approved by
the Arizona State Mine Inspector in October 2021 and was
subsequently amended to reflect a larger private land project
footprint. This approval was challenged in state court, but the
challenge was dismissed in May 2023. In late 2022, Hudbay submitted
the applications for an Aquifer Protection Permit and an Air
Quality Permit to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
Hudbay expects to receive these two outstanding state permits in
2024.
Based on the PFS, Phase I contemplates average
annual copper production of 85,000 tonnes over a 20-year mine life,
at average cash costs and sustaining cash costs of $1.47 and $1.81
per pound of copperiii, respectively. A variable cut-off grade
strategy allows for higher mill head grades in the first ten years,
which increases annual production to approximately 92,000 tonnes of
copper at average cash costs and sustaining cash costs of $1.53 and
$1.95 per pound of copperiii, respectively.
At a copper price of $3.75 per pound, the
after-tax net present value (“NPV”) of Phase I using an 8% discount
rate is $1.1 billion and the internal rate of return (“IRR”) is
19%. The valuation metrics are leveraged to higher copper prices
and at a price of $4.25 per pound, the after-tax NPV (8%) of Phase
I increases to $1.7 billion, and the IRR increases to 25.5%.
Copper World is one of the highest-grade open
pit copper projects in the Americasiv with proven and probable
mineral reserves of 385 million tonnes at 0.54% copper. There
remains approximately 60% of the total copper contained in measured
and indicated mineral resources (exclusive of mineral reserves),
providing significant potential for Phase II expansion and mine
life extension. In addition, the inferred mineral resource
estimates are at a comparable copper grade and also provide
significant upside potential.
Current mineral reserves and resources
(exclusive of reserves) for the Copper World project as of January
1, 2024 are summarized below.
Copper World ProjectMineral Reserve and
Resource
Estimates1,2,3,4,5,6 |
Tonnes |
Cu Grade(%) |
Soluble CuGrade (%) |
Mo Grade(g/t) |
Au Grade(g/t) |
Ag Grade(g/t) |
Reserves |
|
Proven |
319,400,000 |
0.54 |
0.11 |
110 |
0.03 |
5.7 |
Probable |
65,700,000 |
0.52 |
0.14 |
96 |
0.02 |
4.3 |
Total Proven and Probable Reserves |
385,100,000 |
0.54 |
0.12 |
108 |
0.02 |
5.4 |
Resources – Flotation |
|
Measured |
424,000,000 |
0.39 |
0.04 |
150 |
0.02 |
4.1 |
Indicated |
191,000,000 |
0.36 |
0.06 |
125 |
0.02 |
3.5 |
Total Measured and Indicated (Flotation) |
615,000,000 |
0.38 |
0.05 |
142 |
0.02 |
3.9 |
Inferred |
192,000,000 |
0.35 |
0.07 |
117 |
0.01 |
3.1 |
Resources – Leach |
|
Measured |
159,000,000 |
0.28 |
0.20 |
- |
- |
- |
Indicated |
70,000,000 |
0.26 |
0.20 |
- |
- |
- |
Total Measured and Indicated (Leach) |
229,000,000 |
0.27 |
0.20 |
- |
- |
- |
Inferred |
83,000,000 |
0.26 |
0.19 |
- |
- |
- |
Total Measured and Indicated |
844,000,000 |
0.35 |
0.09 |
104 |
0.01 |
2.9 |
Total Inferred |
275,000,000 |
0.32 |
0.11 |
82 |
0.01 |
2.2 |
Note: totals may not add up correctly due to rounding.1 Mineral
resource estimates are exclusive of mineral reserves. CIM
definitions were followed for the estimation of mineral resources.
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability.2 Long term metal prices of $4.00
per pound copper, $12.00 per pound molybdenum, $1,700 per ounce
gold and $23.00 per ounce silver were used to confirm the economic
viability of the mineral reserve estimates.3 Mineral reserve
estimates are limited to the portion of the measured and indicated
resource estimates scheduled for milling and included in the
financial model of the Copper World PFS.3 Mineral resources are
constrained within a computer-generated pit using the
Lerchs-Grossman algorithm.4 Mineral resource estimates were
reported using a 0.1% copper cut-off grade and an oxidation ratio
lower than 50% for flotation material and a 0.1% soluble copper
cut-off grade and an oxidation ratio higher than 50% for leach
material.5 Long-term metals prices of $3.75 per pound copper,
$12.00 per pound molybdenum, $1,650 per ounce gold and $22.00 per
ounce silver were used to estimate mineral resources.6 Estimate of
the mineral reserve does not account for marginal amounts of
historical small-scale operations in the area that occurred between
1870 and 1970 and is estimated to have extracted approximately
200,000 tonnes, which is within rounding approximations of the
current reserve estimates.
Mason Project
The Mason project is a 100% owned greenfield
copper deposit located in the historic Yerington District of Nevada
and is one of the largest undeveloped copper porphyry deposits in
North America. The Mason project’s measured and indicated mineral
resources are comparable in size to Constancia. Hudbay views the
Mason project as a long-term future development asset as part of
the company’s pipeline of high-quality copper growth opportunities.
Since acquiring Mason, Hudbay has consolidated a prospective
package of patented and unpatented mining claims contiguous to the
Mason project and has advanced a number of technical studies,
including a revised resource model and the completion of a PEA on
Mason.
The Mason PEA was completed in April 2021 and
contemplates a 27-year mine life with average annual copper
production of approximately 140,000 tonnes over the first ten years
of full production. At a copper price of $3.50 per pound, the
after-tax net present value using a 10% discount rate is $1,191
million and the internal rate of return is 18%. For information
regarding the limitations of a PEA, please refer to the Qualified
Person and NI 43-101 statement at the end of this news release.
Since 2021, the company completed a geophysical
program and additional drilling at Mason, while continuing to focus
on local stakeholder engagement. For the first time since Hudbay
acquired the Mason project, Hudbay initiated a drill program in
September 2023 to test satellite deposits which confirmed the
occurrence of high-grade skarn mineralization near the historical
mines potentially amenable to open pit mining but of limited
spatial extent. Hudbay is currently compiling and analyzing the
results from the 2023 drilling. Additional metallurgical studies
are underway with the objective of further enhancing the project
economics.
Current mineral resource estimates for Mason as
of January 1, 2024 are summarized below.
Mason ProjectMineral Resource
Estimates1,2,3,4,5 |
Tonnes |
Cu Grade(%) |
Mo Grade(g/t) |
Au (g/t) |
Ag Grade(g/t) |
Measured |
|
1,417,000,000 |
0.29 |
59 |
0.031 |
0.66 |
Indicated |
|
801,000,000 |
0.30 |
80 |
0.025 |
0.57 |
Total Measured and Indicated |
|
2,219,000,000 |
0.29 |
67 |
0.029 |
0.63 |
Inferred |
|
237,000,000 |
0.24 |
78 |
0.033 |
0.73 |
Note: totals may not add up correctly due to rounding.1 Mineral
resource estimates that are not mineral reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability. 2 Mineral resource estimates do
not include factors for mining recovery or dilution.3 Metal prices
of $3.10 per pound copper, $11.00 per pound molybdenum, $1,500 per
ounce gold, and $18.00 per ounce silver were used to estimate
mineral resources.4 Mineral resources are estimated using a minimum
NSR cut-off of $6.25 per tonne.5 Mineral resources are based on
resource pit designs containing measured, indicated, and inferred
mineral resources.
Llaguen Project
The Llaguen project is a 100% owned
copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit located near the city of
Trujillo, the third largest city in Peru. Llaguen is at moderate
altitude and in close proximity to existing infrastructure, water
and power supply, including the port of Salaverry located 62
kilometres away and the Trujillo Nueva electric power substation
located 40 kilometres away. Hudbay completed a 28-hole confirmatory
drill program in 2021 and 2022 which confirmed and extended the
footprint of the known mineralization and highlighted the existence
of a high-grade zone in the center of the deposit.
After completing an initial mineral resource
estimate in November 2022, Hudbay initiated preliminary technical
studies, including metallurgical test work as well as geotechnical
and hydrogeological studies, which are expected to be incorporated
into a preliminary economic assessment for the Llaguen project.
Additional exploration drilling is warranted on the Llaguen
property to test the areas of the deposit that remain open and the
several untested geophysical targets in the area to fully define
the regional extent of the mineralization. The current mineral
resource is also surrounded by a large halo of low grade hypogene
copper mineralization, not currently included in the mineral
resource estimate, but for which metallurgical test work could
assess the potential for economic sulfide heap leaching via
commercially available technologies.
Current mineral resource estimates for Llaguen
as of January 1, 2024 are summarized below.
LlaguenMineral Resource
Estimates1,2,3,4,5,6 |
Metric Tonnes |
Cu (%) |
Mo (g/t) |
Au (g/t) |
Ag (g/t) |
CuEq (%) |
Indicated Global (>= 0.14%
Cu) |
271,000,000 |
0.33 |
218 |
0.033 |
2.04 |
0.42 |
Including Indicated High-grade (>= 0.30% Cu) |
113,000,000 |
0.49 |
261 |
0.046 |
2.73 |
0.60 |
Inferred Global(>= 0.14%
Cu) |
83,000,000 |
0.24 |
127 |
0.024 |
1.47 |
0.30 |
Including Inferred High-grade (>= 0.30% Cu) |
16,000,000 |
0.45 |
141 |
0.038 |
2.60 |
0.52 |
Note: totals may not add up correctly due to rounding.1 CIM
definitions were followed for the estimation of mineral resources.
Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability.2 Mineral resources are reported
within an economic envelope defined by a pit shell optimization
algorithm. This pit shell is defined by a revenue factor of 0.33
assuming operating costs adjusted from Hudbay’s Constancia open pit
operation.3 Long-term metal prices of $3.60 per pound copper,
$11.00 per pound molybdenum, $1,650 per ounce gold and $22.00 per
ounce silver were used for the estimation of mineral resources.4
Metal recovery estimates assume that this mineralization would be
processed at a combination of facilities, including copper and
molybdenum flotation.5 Copper-equivalent (“CuEq”) grade is
calculated assuming 85% copper recovery, 80% molybdenum recovery,
60% gold recovery and 60% silver recovery.6 Specific gravity
measurements were estimated by industry standard laboratory
measurements.
Flin Flon Opportunities
Unlocking Value Through Tailings
Reprocessing
Hudbay is advancing studies to evaluate the
opportunity to reprocess Flin Flon tailings where more than 100
million tonnes of tailings have been deposited for over 90 years
from the mill and the zinc plant. Please refer to Figure 5 for an
aerial view of the tailings facility. The studies are evaluating
the potential to use the existing Flin Flon concentrator, which is
currently on care and maintenance after the closure of the 777 mine
in 2022, with flow sheet modifications to reprocess tailings to
recover critical minerals and precious metals while creating
environmental and social benefits for the region. The company is
completing metallurgical test work and an early economic study to
evaluate the tailings reprocessing opportunity.
- Zinc plant tailings
– Hudbay operated a hydrometallurgical zinc facility where
high grade critical minerals and precious metals were deposited for
more than 25 years. Hudbay is currently completing a confirmatory
drill program over this facility.
- Mill tailings –
Initial confirmatory drilling completed in 2022 indicated higher
zinc, copper and silver grades than predicted from historical mill
records while confirming the historical gold grade. In 2023, Hudbay
advanced metallurgical test work and evaluated metallurgical
technologies, including the signing of a test work co-operation
agreement with Cobalt Blue Holdings (“COB”) examining the use of
COB technology to treat Flin Flon mill tailings. Initial results
from preliminary roasting test work were encouraging in converting
more than 90% of pyrite into pyrrhotite and low-carbon sulphur, and
the project has been advanced to the next stage of testing.
- Reducing environmental
footprint – The tailings reprocessing opportunity is
expected to reduce acid-generating properties of the tailings,
which would improve the environmental impacts through higher
quality water in the tailings facility and reduce the need for
long-term water treatment.
Marubeni Flin Flon Exploration Partnership
In March 2024, Hudbay entered into an option
agreement (the “Marubeni Option Agreement”) with Marubeni
Corporation (“Marubeni”), pursuant to which Hudbay has granted
Marubeni’s wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary an option to acquire a
20% interest in three projects located within trucking distance of
Hudbay’s processing facilities in the Flin Flon area. Pursuant to
the Marubeni Option Agreement, Marubeni must fund a minimum of C$12
million in exploration expenditures over a period of approximately
five years in order to exercise its option. All three properties
hold past producing mines that generated meaningful production with
attractive grades of both base metals and precious metals. The
properties remain highly prospective with potential for further
discovery based on the attractive geological setting, limited
historical deep drilling and promising geochemical and geophysical
targets.
Upon successful completion of Marubeni’s earn-in
obligations and the exercise of the option, a joint venture will be
formed to hold the selected projects with Hudbay, acting as
operator, holding an 80% interest and Marubeni indirectly holding
the remaining 20% interest.
Qualified Person and NI
43-101
The technical and scientific information in this
news release related to the company’s material mineral projects has
been approved by Olivier Tavchandjian, P. Geo, Senior Vice
President, Exploration and Technical Services. Mr. Tavchandjian is
a qualified person pursuant to NI 43‑101 (as defined below).
Additional details on the company’s material mineral projects,
including a year-over-year reconciliation of reserves and resources
for all of our material projects except for Copper Mountain, is
included in Hudbay's Annual Information Form for the year ended
December 31, 2023 (the “AIF”), which is available on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca.
The Mason PEA is preliminary in nature, includes
inferred resources that are considered too speculative to have the
economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to
be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty the
preliminary economic assessments will be realized.
Note to United States
Investors
This news release has been prepared in
accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect
in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States
securities laws. Canadian reporting requirements for disclosure of
mineral properties are governed by the Canadian Securities
Administrators’ National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure
for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”).
For this reason, information contained in this
news release containing descriptions of the company’s mineral
deposits may not be comparable to similar information made public
by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure
requirements under the United States federal securities laws and
the rules and regulations thereunder. For further information on
the differences between the disclosure requirements for mineral
properties under the United States federal securities laws and NI
43-101, please refer to the company’s AIF, a copy of which has been
filed under Hudbay’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the
company’s Form 40-F, a copy of which will be filed under Hudbay’s
profile on EDGAR at www.edgar.com.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking
information within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United
States securities legislation. All information contained in this
news release, other than statements of current and historical fact,
is forward-looking information. Often, but not always,
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words
such as “plans”, “expects”, “budget”, “guidance”, “scheduled”,
“estimates”, “forecasts”, “strategy”, “target”, “intends”,
“objective”, “goal”, “understands”, “anticipates” and “believes”
(and variations of these or similar words) and statements that
certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”,
“should”, “might” “occur” or “be achieved” or “will be taken” (and
variations of these or similar expressions). All of the
forward-looking information in this news release is qualified by
this cautionary note.
Forward-looking information includes, but is not
limited to, statements with respect to the company's production,
cost and capital and exploration expenditure guidance, expectations
regarding reductions in discretionary spending and capital
expenditures, the ability of the company to stabilize and optimize
the Copper Mountain mine operation and achieve operating synergies,
the fleet production ramp up plan and the accelerated stripping
strategies at the Copper Mountain site, the ability of the company
to complete business integration activities at the Copper Mountain
mine, the estimated timelines and pre-requisites for sanctioning
the Copper World project and the pursuit of a potential minority
joint venture partner, expectations regarding the permitting
requirements for the Copper World project (including expected
timing for receipt of such applicable permits), the expected
benefits of Manitoba growth initiatives, including the advancement
of the development and exploration drift at the 1901 deposit; the
anticipated use of proceeds from the flow-through financing
completed during the fourth quarter of 2023, the company's future
deleveraging strategies and the company's ability to deleverage and
repay debt as needed, expectations regarding the company's cash
balance and liquidity, the company's ability to increase the mining
rate at Lalor, the anticipated benefits from completing the Stall
recovery improvement program, expectations regarding the ability to
conduct exploration work and execute on exploration programs on its
properties and to advance related drill plans, including the
advancement of the exploration program at Maria Reyna and
Caballito, the ability to continue mining higher-grade ore in the
Pampacancha pit and the company's expectations resulting therefrom,
expectations regarding the ability for the company to further
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the company's evaluation and
assessment of opportunities to reprocess tailings using various
metallurgical technologies, expectations regarding the prospective
nature of the Maria Reyna and Caballito properties, the anticipated
impact of brownfield and greenfield growth projects on the
company's performance, anticipated expansion opportunities and
extension of mine life in Snow Lake and the ability for Hudbay to
find a new anchor deposit near the company's Snow Lake operations,
anticipated future drill programs and exploration activities and
any results expected therefrom, anticipated mine plans, anticipated
metals prices and the anticipated sensitivity of the company's
financial performance to metals prices, events that may affect its
operations and development projects, anticipated cash flows from
operations and related liquidity requirements, the anticipated
effect of external factors on revenue, such as commodity prices,
estimation of mineral reserves and resources, mine life
projections, reclamation costs, economic outlook, government
regulation of mining operations, and business and acquisition
strategies. Forward-looking information is not, and cannot be, a
guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking information
is based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates
and analyses that, while considered reasonable by the company at
the date the forward-looking information is provided, inherently
are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and
other factors that may cause actual results and events to be
materially different from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking information.
The material factors or assumptions that Hudbay
has identified and were applied in drawing conclusions or making
forecasts or projections set out in the forward-looking information
include, but are not limited to:
- the ability to achieve production,
cost and capital guidance;
- the ability to achieve
discretionary spending reductions without impacting
operations;
- no significant interruptions to the
company’s operations due to social or political unrest in the
regions Hudbay operates, including the navigation of the complex
environment in Peru;
- no interruptions to the company’s
plans for advancing the Copper World project, including with
respect to timely receipt of applicable permits;
- the ability for Hudbay to
successfully complete the integration and optimization of the
Copper Mountain operations, achieve operating synergies and develop
and maintain good relations with key stakeholders;
- the ability to execute on the
company’s exploration plans, including but not limited to (a) the
potential ramp up of exploration in respect of the Maria Reyna and
Caballito properties and (b) the ongoing Manitoba exploration
strategies with respect to extending the mine life at the Snow Lake
operations and deferring reclamation activities;
- the ability to advance drill
plans;
- the success of mining, processing,
exploration and development activities;
- the scheduled maintenance and
availability of Hudbay’s processing facilities;
- the accuracy of geological, mining
and metallurgical estimates;
- anticipated metals prices and the
costs of production;
- the supply and demand for metals
Hudbay produces;
- the supply and availability of all
forms of energy and fuels at reasonable prices;
- no significant unanticipated
operational or technical difficulties;
- the execution of the company’s
business and growth strategies, including the success of its
strategic investments and initiatives;
- the ability to achieve the
company’s objectives and targets with respect to its environmental
and climate change initiatives;
- the availability of additional
financing;
- the ability to deleverage and repay
debt as needed;
- the ability to complete projects on
time and on budget and other events that may affect the company’s
ability to develop its projects;
- the timing and receipt of various
regulatory and governmental approvals;
- the availability of personnel for
the company’s exploration, development and operational projects and
ongoing employee relations;
- maintaining good relations with the
employees at the company’s operations;
- maintaining good relations with the
labour unions that represent certain of the company’s employees in
Manitoba and Peru;
- maintaining good relations with the
communities in which the company operates, including the
neighbouring Indigenous communities and local governments;
- no significant unanticipated
challenges with stakeholders at the company’s various
projects;
- no significant unanticipated events
or changes relating to regulatory, environmental, health and safety
matters;
- no contests over title to the
company’s properties, including as a result of rights or claimed
rights of Indigenous peoples or challenges to the validity of the
company’s unpatented mining claims;
- the timing and possible outcome of
pending litigation and no significant unanticipated
litigation;
- certain tax matters, including, but
not limited to current tax laws and regulations, changes in
taxation policies and the refund of certain value added taxes from
the Canadian and Peruvian governments; and
- no significant and continuing
adverse changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the
financial markets (including commodity prices and foreign exchange
rates).
The risks, uncertainties, contingencies and
other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information
may include, but are not limited to, risks related to the ongoing
business integration of Copper Mountain and the process for
designing, implementing and maintaining effective internal controls
for Copper Mountain, the failure to effectively complete the
integration and optimization of the Copper Mountain operations or
to achieve anticipated operating synergies, political and social
risks in the regions Hudbay operates, including the navigation of
the complex political and social environment in Peru, risks
generally associated with the mining industry and the current
geopolitical environment, including future commodity prices,
currency and interest rate fluctuations, energy and consumable
prices, supply chain constraints and general cost escalation in the
current inflationary environment, risks related to the
renegotiation of collective bargaining agreements with the labour
unions representing certain of the company’s employees in Manitoba
and Peru, uncertainties related to the development and operation of
the company's projects, the risk of an indicator of impairment or
impairment reversal relating to a material mineral property, risks
related to the Copper World project, including in relation to
permitting, project delivery and financing risks, risks related to
the Lalor mine plan, including the ability to convert inferred
mineral resource estimates to higher confidence categories,
dependence on key personnel and employee and union relations, risks
related to political or social instability, unrest or change, risks
in respect of Indigenous and community relations, rights and title
claims, operational risks and hazards, including the cost of
maintaining and upgrading the company's tailings management
facilities and any unanticipated environmental, industrial and
geological events and developments and the inability to insure
against all risks, failure of plant, equipment, processes,
transportation and other infrastructure to operate as anticipated,
compliance with government and environmental regulations, including
permitting requirements and anti-bribery legislation, depletion of
the company's reserves, volatile financial markets and interest
rates that may affect the company's ability to obtain additional
financing on acceptable terms, the failure to obtain required
approvals or clearances from government authorities on a timely
basis, uncertainties related to the geology, continuity, grade and
estimates of mineral reserves and resources, and the potential for
variations in grade and recovery rates, uncertain costs of
reclamation activities, the company's ability to comply with its
pension and other post-retirement obligations, the company's
ability to abide by the covenants in its debt instruments and other
material contracts, tax refunds, hedging transactions, as well as
the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the
company’s most recent Annual Information Form and under the heading
“Financial Risk Management” in the company’s management’s
discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Should one or more risk, uncertainty,
contingency or other factor materialize or should any factor or
assumption prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially
from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information.
Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
information. Hudbay does not assume any obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking information after the date of this news
release or to explain any material difference between subsequent
actual events and any forward-looking information, except as
required by applicable law.
About Hudbay
Hudbay (TSX, NYSE: HBM) is a copper-focused
mining company with three long-life operations and a world-class
pipeline of copper growth projects in tier-one mining-friendly
jurisdictions of Canada, Peru and the United States.
Hudbay’s operating portfolio includes the
Constancia mine in Cusco (Peru), the Snow Lake operations in
Manitoba (Canada) and the Copper Mountain mine in British Columbia
(Canada). Copper is the primary metal produced by the company,
which is complemented by meaningful gold production. Hudbay’s
growth pipeline includes the Copper World project in Arizona
(United States), the Mason project in Nevada (United States), the
Llaguen project in La Libertad (Peru) and several expansion and
exploration opportunities near its existing operations.
The value Hudbay creates and the impact it has
is embodied in its purpose statement: “We care about our people,
our communities and our planet. Hudbay provides the metals the
world needs. We work sustainably, transform lives and create better
futures for communities.” Hudbay’s mission is to create sustainable
value and strong returns by leveraging its core strengths in
community relations, focused exploration, mine development and
efficient operations.
For further information, please
contact:Candace BrûléVice President, Investor
Relations(416) 814-4387investor.relations@hudbay.com
Figure 1: Hudbay’s Satellite Properties
Near Constancia in PeruThe highly prospective Maria Reyna
property and the past producing Caballito property are located
within trucking distance of the Constancia processing
infrastructure and have the potential to host satellite mineral
deposits. Surface mapping and geochemical sampling confirm that
both Caballito and Maria Reyna host sulfide and oxide rich copper
mineralization in skarns, hydrothermal breccias and large porphyry
intrusive bodies.
Figure 2: Hudbay Expanded Land Package
in Snow LakeHudbay increased its land package in Snow Lake
by 250% in 2023 and has since launched the largest geophysics and
drilling exploration program in the company’s history in Snow Lake.
The 2024 program includes surface electromagnetic surveys using
modern technology to target depths up to 1,000 metres. A majority
of the newly acquired claims have been untested by modern deep
geophysics, which was the discovery method for the Lalor
deposit.
Figure 3: Lalor 2024 Winter Drill
ProgramA winter 2024 surface drill program is currently
underway at Lalor focused on completing follow-up drilling from the
first step-out drill program in 2023. The drill rigs continue to
test the down-plunge extensions of Lalor and the Lalor Northwest
target.
Figure 4: 1901 Development and
Exploration DriftThe 1901 deposit is located within 1,000
metres of the existing underground ramp at the Lalor mine in Snow
Lake. The deposit consists of a series of zinc and gold-rich lenses
that were defined by drilling and pre-feasibility studies conducted
over the 2019 to 2021 period. In early 2024, Hudbay commenced the
development of an underground drift to access to the 1901 deposit
for exploration and future mine development.
Figure 5: Aerial View of Flin Flon Tailings
FacilityHudbay advancing early economic studies on the
potential for tailings reprocessing in Flin Flon where more than
100 million tonnes of material were deposited over 90 years until
completion of mining activities in 2022.
________________________i Calculated using the
mid-point of the guidance range. All production estimates reflect
the Copper Mountain mine on a 100% basis, with Hudbay owning a 75%
interest in the mine.ii Sourced from Wood Mackenzie, Global Copper
Investment Horizon Outlook report, 2023 actual production for
Canadian based mining companies.iii Cash costs and sustaining cash
costs are non-IFRS financial performance measures with no
standardized definition under IFRS. For further details on why
Hudbay believes cash costs are a useful performance indicator,
please refer to the company's most recent management's discussion
and analysis for the period ended December 31, 2023.iv Sourced from
S&P Global, August 2023 and based on greenfield, open pit
porphyry projects with reserves located in the Americas with
average life-of-mine annual copper production of more than 65,000
tonnes.
Figures accompanying this announcement are available
at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a19a571-4c43-4552-aaa9-a0a953e0099c
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9c47b8f8-4156-478f-ac78-2a3c171bc37b
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/129bdfcf-1971-4723-a15c-2064dc7ab948
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/77f2bbc2-2e14-4fb7-baaf-2665b07b4aad
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dbc1e9c7-ca34-4863-be45-cf7b55f7fded
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4cec0ecb-03d3-4a6c-8674-12a548c346b7
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/47c26aee-ec65-4c13-9583-7384b388d0eb
HudBay Minerals (NYSE:HBM)
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