Throughout 2024, activities by illegal miners continued to weigh on operations at Buriticá, including underground confrontations. On January 20, 2025, the operator announced that it has restarted gold production after an attack by an armed group of illegal miners. The attack, which targeted a substation, temporarily halted operations but did not result in any injuries.
Despite the ongoing presence of illegal miners, Buriticá was able to maintain overall steady operations throughout 2024. The operator continues to engage closely with the surrounding community on illegal mining with support by national institutions, including the National Police of Colombia.
| 5. | Altan Tsagaan Ovoo (Operator: Steppe Gold) |
Under the stream agreement with Steppe Gold, we receive 25% of the payable gold until 46,000 ounces of gold have been delivered and 25% of payable gold thereafter, subject to an annual cap of 7,125 ounces. We also receive 50% of the payable silver until 375,000 ounces of silver have been delivered and 50% of payable silver thereafter, subject to an annual cap of 59,315 ounces. As at December 31, 2024, 30,080 ounces of gold and 114,285 ounces of silver had been delivered under the stream agreement with Steppe Gold since inception.
For the three months ended December 31, 2024, we sold 365 ounces of gold and 86 ounces of silver delivered to the Company under our stream and related interests, compared to the 1,485 ounces of gold and 8,719 ounces of silver sold for the same period in the prior year. GEOs sold were 372 for the three months ended December 31, 2024, compared to 1,609 for the same period in the prior year.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we sold 4,065 ounces of gold and 38,407 ounces of silver delivered to the Company under our stream and related interests, compared to the 9,375 ounces of gold and 35,647 ounces of silver sold for the same period in the prior year (including 2,500 ounces of gold from the Steppe Gold Prepaid Interest). GEOs sold were 4,593 for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to 9,827 for the same period in the prior year.
On March 15, 2024, Triple Flag and Steppe Gold agreed to amend and restate the Steppe Gold Prepaid Gold Interest Agreement such that the Company made a further cash payment of $5.0 million in exchange for delivery of 2,650 ounces of gold. The Steppe Gold Prepaid Gold Interest is accounted for as a financial asset at fair value through profit or loss and is classified as level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
On February 13, 2025, Triple Flag received a delivery of 1,000 ounces of gold under the Prepaid Gold Interest Agreement. The fair value of the prepaid gold interest as at December 31, 2024, was estimated taking into consideration the credit risk related to the financial asset.
Asset Performance — Royalties (Producing)
| 1. | Beta Hunt (Operator: Westgold Resources Limited, effective August 1, 2024) |
Pursuant to the Maverix acquisition, the Company acquired 3.25% GRR and 1.5% NSR royalties on all gold production and aggregate 1.5% NSR royalties on all nickel production from the Beta Hunt mine, located in Australia.
GEOs earned were 1,123 and 4,882 for the three months and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, compared to 1,260 and 4,881, respectively, in the prior year.
The expansion project to achieve consistent mine throughput at Beta Hunt of 2 million tonnes per annum continues to advance, with recent capital investment focused on upgrades to primary ventilation, mine pumping and water supply. Infill drill data completed across the Western Flanks and A-Zone is also being incorporated into an updated resource model. Westgold Resources Limited (“Westgold”) continues to expect the mine expansion project at Beta Hunt to deliver increased productivity in 2025 and beyond.