Dundee Precious Metals Inc. (TSX: DPM) (“DPM” or
“the Company”) is pleased to announce the results of a
pre-feasibility study (“PFS”) for its Čoka Rakita project in
Serbia. The robust PFS economics and continued exploration success
around Čoka Rakita serve as DPM’s basis for proceeding to a
feasibility study (“FS”) immediately for an accelerated
construction decision, with first concentrate production targeted
for 2028.
PFS Highlights(All dollar
amounts in this news release are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless
otherwise noted.)
Improvements in the PFS include increased ounces
in the initial years and decreased all-in sustaining costs. Project
highlights include:
- Accelerated gold
production in first 5 years, averaging 170,000 ounces of
gold per year.
- Robust base case
NPV5% of $735
million (after-tax) and IRR of 41%
at a $1,900 per ounce gold price assumption. Using a $2,500 gold
price assumption, NPV5% is $1.2 billion
(after-tax) and IRR is 58%.
- First quartile all-in
sustaining cost of $644 per ounce of gold (life of mine
average).3
- Attractive initial
capital of $379 million, well-within DPM’s funding
capacity.
- Mineral Reserves of 1.36
million ounces supporting a 10-year mine life with 8 years
of processing.
- Project timeline further
de-risked by utilizing existing processing equipment from
the Ada Tepe mine and leveraging proximity to Chelopech mine to
train and develop key personnel for operating roles.
- Advancing to feasibility
study, expected to be completed by year-end 2025.
- Optimization and
exploration activities ongoing to further unlock Čoka
Rakita’s value potential.
Čoka Rakita project PFS highlights(Based on a
$1,900 per ounce gold price assumption) |
Operating life |
10 years |
Total gold produced (life of mine) |
1.2 million ounces |
Average grade (life of mine) |
6.38 grams per tonne |
Average all-in sustaining cost (life of mine)3 |
$644 per ounce of gold |
NPV (after-tax, 5% discount)1,2 |
$735 million |
IRR (after-tax)2 |
41% |
|
1. Economics from construction forward and
assumes no initial capital is spent in advance of a construction
decision and is based on financial years.2. Current
legislation in Serbia allows for tax relief for large investments
for a maximum period of 10 years, subject to certain eligibility
conditions being maintained through the 10-year period. The PFS
assumes that the Čoka Rakita project is eligible for this tax
relief and the effective income tax rate applied is 0% over the
project’s 10-year mine life.3. Cash cost per ounce of gold
sold, all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold sold and free cash
flow are non-GAAP financial measures or ratios and have no
standardized meaning under IFRS Accounting Standards (“IFRS”) and
may not be comparable to similar measures used by other issuers. As
the Čoka Rakita project is not in production, the Company does not
have historical non-GAAP financial measures nor historical
comparable measures under IFRS, and therefore the foregoing
prospective non-GAAP financial measures or ratios may not be
reconciled to the nearest comparable measures under IFRS. Refer to
the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this news release for
more information, including a detailed description of each of these
measures.
“We are very excited by the results of the
pre-feasibility study. In less than 24 months since announcing the
initial discovery of Čoka Rakita, we have outlined a very robust,
highly value accretive project with the potential to add
high-margin gold production growth to our portfolio,” said David
Rae, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dundee Precious
Metals.
“Given the project’s excellent economics,
including a 41% IRR at a gold price of $1,900 per ounce, we are
immediately proceeding to a feasibility study while advancing
permitting activities in parallel, with the goal of commencing
construction in mid-2026 to support first production of concentrate
in 2028.
“We have the financial and technical resources
to advance this high-quality growth project and continue our
exploration programs to further unlock the significant potential of
Čoka Rakita and the surrounding licences. This includes the two new
high-grade Frasen and Dumitru Potok discoveries we announced
earlier this year, located within 1 kilometre of Čoka Rakita, which
confirm our view of the significant potential for large-scale
high-grade mineralization.”
Pre-feasibility Study Overview
Čoka Rakita is located approximately 35
kilometres by road northwest of the city of Bor in Serbia, and
benefits from established infrastructure, including nearby roads
and power lines. The project is a strong fit with the Company’s
underground mining and processing expertise and is approximately
320 kilometres northwest of DPM’s Chelopech mine in Bulgaria, which
will allow easy access to existing technical support functions.
The PFS is based on a Mineral Reserve Estimate
of 6.6 million tonnes (“Mt”) at 6.38 grams per tonne (“g/t”) for
1.36 million contained gold ounces. The PFS contemplates
underground mining of the Čoka Rakita deposit with a relatively
standard comminution, gravity and flotation flowsheet to process
850,000 tonnes of ore per annum, producing saleable gravity and
flotation gold concentrates. A portion of the gravity concentrate
will be smelted and sold as a doré for improved sales terms.
The PFS assumes start of construction mid-2026
with first production of gold concentrate targeted for the second
half of 2028.
The process flowsheet and project schedule allow
DPM to leverage the use of existing processing equipment and
infrastructure from the Ada Tepe operation in Bulgaria, which will
be decommissioned and refurbished following the mine’s closure in
mid-2026. Several benefits of this approach were identified,
including de-risking the project timeline in terms of long-lead
items and supply chain risk, as well as the ability to leverage the
Company’s processing expertise, training and maintenance
practices.
The following table summarizes key inputs,
operating statistics and results of the Čoka Rakita PFS:
Key Operating and Financial Assumptions and
Metrics |
Assumptions |
Gold price |
$ per ounce |
$1,900 |
Government royalty (NSR) |
% |
5.0 |
Production and costs |
Mineral Reserve |
million tonnes |
6.6 |
Average gold grade mined (life of mine) |
grams per tonne |
6.38 |
Annual throughput |
tonnes per annum |
850,000 |
Average gold grade processed (life of mine) |
grams per tonne |
6.38 |
Average gold metallurgical recovery |
% |
86.8 |
Total gold produced (life of mine) |
million ounces |
1.2 |
Average annual gold production (life of mine) |
thousand ounces |
147 |
Average annual gold production (first five years) |
thousand ounces |
170 |
Life of mine operating unit costs |
|
|
|
$ million |
$ per tonne processed |
Mining |
$251 |
38 |
Processing |
$166 |
25 |
General & administrative |
$98 |
15 |
Royalties |
$107 |
16 |
Offsite cost |
$69 |
10 |
Total cash costs1 |
$691 |
$104 |
Total cash costs1 |
$ per gold ounce |
$596 |
All-in sustaining cost1 |
$ per gold ounce |
$644 |
Capital estimates |
Initial capital |
$ millions |
$379 |
Sustaining capital (life of mine) |
$ millions |
$29 |
Closure costs2 |
$ millions |
$27 |
Project economics |
Free cash flow (after-tax)1,3,4 |
$ millions |
$1,077 |
NPV (after-tax, 5% discount)3,4 |
$ millions |
$735 |
IRR (after-tax)3,4 |
% |
41% |
Payback period3,4 |
years |
1.7 |
1. Cash costs, all-in sustaining cost per ounce
and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures or ratios. Refer to the
“Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this news release for more
information.2. Closure costs include a non-recoverable VAT of
approximately $2.3 million.3. Economics from construction forward,
assumes no initial capital spent in advance of a construction
decision, and are based on financial years.4. Current
legislation in Serbia allows for tax relief for large investments
for a maximum period of 10 years, subject to certain eligibility
conditions being maintained through the 10-year period. The PFS
assumes that the Čoka Rakita project is eligible for this tax
relief and the effective income tax rate applied is 0% over the
project’s 10-year mine life.
Mining and Processing
The PFS mine plan assumes access from surface
via two declines and a spiral ramp to truck the mined material to
surface. The anticipated mining method is conventional sublevel
long-hole open stoping and utilizing paste backfill with cemented
rock fill, and unconsolidated rock fill used where the mining
sequence permits, leveraging DPM’s experience and expertise from
its underground Chelopech mine.
The PFS is based on a Probable Mineral Reserve
of 6.6 million tonnes. The PFS mine plan and design has been
optimized to access the high-grade core of mineralization in the
initial years. Production in the first five full years is expected
to average 170,000 ounces per year from an average gold head grade
of 7.42 g/t. The average life of mine gold production is expected
to be approximately 147,000 ounces per year from an average gold
head grade of 6.38 g/t.
The PFS is based on a process flowsheet
consisting of crushing and grinding to a particle size (P80) of 53
µm, followed by gravity concentration and sulphide flotation. The
gravity concentrate will be marketable directly to gold refineries,
and the sulphide flotation concentrate will be suitable for
processing by smelters in the region. Testwork results to date
indicates that the final concentrates do not contain any
deleterious elements above smelter penalty thresholds. A portion of
the gravity concentrate will be smelted and sold as a doré. Average
payability for the flotation concentrate is expected to be 97.5%,
average payability for the gravity concentrate is expected to be
99.8% and average payability for the doré is expected to be 99.9%,
with a combined life of mine weighted average of 98.5%.
The production schedule as outlined in the PFS is presented in
the table below:
|
Unit |
Total / average |
Preproduction |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
Year 6 |
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Ore mined |
Kt |
6,633 |
76 |
596 |
855 |
855 |
855 |
855 |
855 |
853 |
833 |
Gold grade |
g/t |
6.38 |
10.17 |
10.70 |
7.17 |
8.35 |
6.38 |
5.25 |
5.61 |
4.76 |
3.73 |
Ore processed |
Kt |
6,633 |
– |
672 |
855 |
855 |
855 |
855 |
855 |
853 |
833 |
Gold grade |
g/t |
6.38 |
– |
10.63 |
7.17 |
8.35 |
6.38 |
5.25 |
5.61 |
4.76 |
3.73 |
Recoveries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Doré |
% |
22.7 |
– |
23.0 |
23.2 |
23.7 |
22.8 |
22.2 |
22.4 |
21.9 |
21.2 |
Gravity |
% |
13.4 |
– |
13.5 |
13.6 |
13.9 |
13.4 |
13.0 |
13.2 |
12.9 |
12.4 |
Flotation |
% |
50.7 |
– |
47.8 |
50.6 |
50.0 |
51.1 |
51.8 |
51.6 |
52.2 |
53.2 |
Combined |
% |
86.8 |
– |
84.3 |
87.4 |
87.6 |
87.3 |
87.1 |
87.2 |
87.0 |
86.8 |
Gold production |
Koz. |
1,161 |
– |
194 |
172 |
201 |
153 |
126 |
134 |
114 |
87 |
All-in sustaining cost1 |
$/oz. |
$644 |
– |
560 |
475 |
560 |
550 |
664 |
750 |
737 |
1,019 |
1. All-in sustaining cost per ounce is a non-GAAP measure. Refer
to the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section of this news release
for more information.
Capital Expenditures
The PFS estimates initial project capital costs
of approximately $379 million includes development of the
underground mine, construction of an 850,000 tonne per annum
processing plant utilizing existing equipment from the Ada Tepe
mine and processing facility, a 3.93 Mt fully lined dry tailings
storage facility, and additional infrastructure, including haul and
access roads, water treatment, power supply and site services.
The PFS includes several enhancements to the PEA
design, resulting in improved economic benefits to the project.
This included improved mine access layout to incorporate a second
decline and portal, change of the SAG mill to an AG mill and pebble
crusher, the addition of a secondary grinding mill, and the
addition of a gravity gold circuit and gold room.
The following table breaks down the initial
capital estimate:
|
$ millions |
Initial capital estimates |
Mining |
85 |
Earthworks |
35 |
Equipment and infrastructure |
117 |
Mobile equipment |
4 |
Total direct costs |
241 |
Owners cost |
14 |
Operational readiness |
28 |
General indirect costs |
46 |
Total indirect cost |
88 |
Contingency |
50 |
Total initial capital expenditures |
379 |
Sustaining and closure |
Sustaining capital expenditures |
$29 |
Closure costs1 |
$27 |
1. Closure costs include a non-recoverable VAT
of approximately $2.3 million.
Čoka Rakita Gold Price Sensitivity
Estimates
The table below shows the gold price sensitivity for the
project:
Gold price sensitivities |
|
|
|
Base case |
|
|
Average gold price($/oz.) |
$1,500 |
$1,700 |
$1,900 |
$2,300 |
$2,500 |
NPV1,2(after-tax, 5% discount) |
$410 |
$573 |
$735 |
$1,059 |
$1,222 |
IRR1,2(after-tax) |
28.3% |
35.1 |
41.4% |
52.5% |
58% |
Payback(years) |
2.3 |
1.9 |
1.7 |
1.4 |
1.2 |
1. Economics from construction forward,
assumes no initial capital spent in advance of a construction
decision, and are based on financial years.2. Current
legislation in Serbia allows for tax relief for large investments
for a maximum period of 10 years, subject to certain eligibility
conditions being maintained through the 10-year period. The PFS
assumes that the Čoka Rakita project is eligible for this tax
relief and the effective income tax rate applied is 0% over the
project’s 10-year mine life.
Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve
(“MRMR”) Estimate
In conjunction with the PFS, DPM has updated the
Mineral Resource Estimate (“MRE”) for Čoka Rakita. The database
cut-off was August 30, 2024, which is also the effective date of
the MRE. Drill hole spacing is approximately 30 metres by 30 metres
over the deposit footprint, with infill drilling reaching a spacing
of between 20 metres to 15 metres within the high-grade core of the
deposit. The updated MRE incorporates detailed understanding of the
geologic controls and deposit architecture.
To support the MRE, a comprehensive sensitivity
analysis was completed on assumptions and parameters used in the
estimate, which identified the optimum top cutting strategy,
composite length, block size, search parameters and domaining
strategy. The MRE satisfies reasonable prospects of eventual
economic extraction (“RPEEE”) by demonstrating the spatial
continuity of the mineralization based on a 2 g/t Au reporting
cut-off grade and optimized stope volumes. The cut-off grade
assumes a gold price of $1,700 per ounce. The MRE was classified as
Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, informed by drill spacing
supported by a drill hole spacing study, QA/QC, quality of data,
confidence in geological and mineralization interpretations.
The Mineral Reserve Estimate is based only on
Indicated Mineral Resources identified in the block model.
Optimized stope shapes were generated with respect to the design
and economic criteria established such as cut-off grade, deposit
geometry criteria and stope shape parameters. The stopes were then
sequenced to suit the mining method (long-hole longitudinal
retreat) and scheduled to produce the production profile and life
of mine plan. Mineral Reserves are based on an in-situ cut-off
grade of 2.5 g/t Au for stopes and 1.0 g/t Au for development,
which assumes a gold price of $1,500 per ounce of gold.
The Mineral Reserve Estimate for Čoka Rakita is show below and
is effective as of August 30, 2024.
Čoka Rakita Mineral Reserve Estimate(Effective
date August 30, 2024) |
Reserve Category |
Tonnes(Mt) |
Gold Grade (g/t) |
Contained Gold (Moz.) |
Proven |
– |
– |
– |
Probable |
6.63 |
6.38 |
1.359 |
Total Proven & Probable |
6.63 |
6.38 |
1.359 |
1. At the time of this report, there are no Proven Mineral
Reserves for the Čoka Rakita Project. 2. The Mineral Reserves
disclosed are classified as Probable and are based on the 2014 CIM
Definition Standards and 2019 CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources
& Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines. 3. The
Inferred Mineral Resources are treated as waste and do not
contribute to Mineral Reserves estimation. 4. The Mineral Reserves
estimate has an effective date of August 30, 2024. 5. The
reference point at which the Mineral Reserves are defined is where
the ore is delivered to the process plant and therefore not
inclusive of milling recoveries or payable metal deductions.
6. Long-term metal price assumed for the evaluation of the Mineral
Reserves is $1,500/oz for gold. 7. Mineral Reserves are based
on a global rounded cut-off grade of 2.5 g/t (in-situ) and includes
incremental ore from development at a reduced cut-off grade of 1.0
g/t Au.8. Mineral Reserves account for 10% external mining dilution
and 95% mining recovery applied to the stopes 9. Contained
Metal is calculated as follows: Au Contained Metal, (oz) = Tonnage
(Mt) * Grade (g/t) / 31.1035. 10. Figures have been rounded to
reflect that this is an estimate and totals may not match the sum
of all components.
The Mineral Resource estimate, exclusive of
Mineral Reserves, is shown below and is effective as of August 30,
2024.
Čoka Rakita Mineral Resource Estimate(Effective
date August 30, 2024) |
Resource Category |
Tonnes(Mt) |
Gold Grade (g/t) |
Contained Gold (Koz.) |
Measured |
– |
– |
– |
Indicated |
1.45 |
3.30 |
154 |
Total Measured & Indicated |
1.45 |
3.30 |
154 |
Inferred |
0.11 |
3.11 |
11 |
1. The cut-off grade value of 2 g/t assumes a gold price of
$1,700/oz., gold recovery of 88.8%, 0% dilution, operating costs of
$71.7/t (mining, processing and G&A), sustaining capital of
$11.19/t, as well as offsite and royalty costs.2. Mineral Resources
are reported with DSO underground mining shapes generated at a 2
g/t Au cut-off grade to ensure Mineral Resources meet RPEEE
criteria. The stope optimization process allows for blocks below
the cut-off grade to be included within the final shapes in order
to emulate the internal dilution that would be experienced during
underground mining as per CIM Estimation of Mineral Resources and
Mineral Reserves Best Practices Guidelines prepared by the CIM
Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Committee and adopted by the
CIM Council on November 29, 2019.3. Mineral Resources are reported
exclusive of Mineral Reserves.4. Mineral Resources that are not
Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.5.
Figures have been rounded to reflect that this is an estimate and
totals may not match the sum of all components.
The Qualified Persons (“QPs”) are not aware of any
environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic,
marketing, or political factors that might materially affect the
estimate of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves.
Permitting and Stakeholder Engagement
Permitting activities have continued to advance,
with a detailed permitting timeline focused on supporting
commencement of construction in mid-2026.
Work continues on baseline studies required for
the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (“ESIA”), as well as
the final report on mineral resources and reserves (the Elaborate
of Reserves) to be submitted to the relevant authorities for
receipt of the Certificate of Resources and Reserves as required
under the Serbian permitting process. While a decision by the
Serbian government to initiate the development of the Special
Purpose Spatial Plan is currently pending, the Company’s approach
includes having all preparatory work completed and ready for
submission while continuing to proactively engage with relevant
stakeholders to mitigate the risk of administrative delays.
Consistent with the approach across all
operations, DPM seeks to build and maintain strong partnerships
with local communities and governments. The Company has had a local
presence in Serbia since 2004 and has developed strong
relationships in the region and will continue to proactively engage
with all stakeholders as the project advances.
Planning for the project will be highly focused
on ensuring responsible environmental management, social
development, and the operation and closure of Čoka Rakita in
accordance with industry best practices and in-line with European
Union standards. The Company is committed to working closely with
local communities around the project to understand and support
local development opportunities, with a focus on maximizing
benefits of the project for stakeholders in Serbia.
Optimization Opportunities and Next
Steps
Based on the PFS, DPM is proceeding immediately
to a FS, which is expected to be completed by year-end 2025.
Activities in 2025 will include completing surface and underground
geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling, advancing permitting,
progressing the design to the basic engineering level, and
commencing operational readiness activities, leveraging the
project’s regional proximity to DPM’s Chelopech underground mine to
train and develop key personnel for operating roles.
Several optimization opportunities have been
identified which DPM will advance as part of the FS work. This
includes:
- The potential to add additional
gold ounces to the mining inventory through mine design
optimization, based on a higher confidence Mineral Resource and
Mineral Reserve estimate due to closer drill spacing.
- Optimization of the decline
construction schedule, which is an activity currently on the
project critical path.
- Finalizing site earthworks and
water management infrastructure, following completion of
geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling and modelling.
Ongoing Drilling Program to
Extend Exploration Potential
DPM is planning an exploration program for 2025
to advance its camp-wide drilling campaigns within Čoka Rakita and
surrounding licences. The Company plans to drill
approximately 40,000 metres in 2025, with a focus on:
- Target delineation and extensional
drilling of the recently reported copper-gold discoveries at the
Frasen and Dumitru Potok prospects, located within one kilometre of
the Čoka Rakita deposit (refer to the news release dated September
11, 2024, which is available on our website at
www.dundeeprecious.com or SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca).
- Extensional drilling at Čoka Rakita
to increase skarn-hosted gold Mineral Resources and extend
copper-gold mineralization developed within marble-hosted
stratigraphy at depth.
- Scout drilling to follow-up on
multiple gold-polymetallic skarns as well as carbonate replacement
targets, hosted at different stratigraphic levels. These targets
have been defined by integrating geological, geochemical and
geophysical data with a recently a completed camp-wide
magneto-telluric survey.
Technical Information and Technical Report
Filing
The PFS and other scientific and technical
information contained in this news release were prepared in
accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in
National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects (“NI 43-101”), and have been reviewed and approved by:
- Maria O’Connor, MAIG, Technical
Director, Mineral Resources, Environmental Resources Management
Ltd. (“ERM”) for mineral resource estimation;
- Daniel (Niel) Morrison, P.Eng., Principal Process Engineer, DRA
Americas Inc. (“DRA”) for metallurgical test work and recovery
methods;
- Khalid Mounhir, P.Eng., Senior Mining Engineer, WSP Global Inc.
(“WSP”) for mineral reserve estimation;
- Bruno Mandl, P.Eng., Senior Principal Mining Engineer, WSP for
paste backfill;
- Michal Dobr, P.Geo., Senior Principal Hydrogeologist, WSP for
hydrogeology;
- Isaac Ahmed, P.Eng, Director, Process and Mine Infrastructure
Design, WSP for filter plant, paste plant and underground mine
infrastructure;
- Paul Palmer, P.Eng., Senior Principal Geological Engineer, WSP
for underground mine geotechnical;
- Ian Major, P.Eng., MBA, Project Manager, DRA for project
infrastructure and site costing;
- William Richard McBride, P.Eng., Senior Principal Mining
Engineer, WSP for mine costing;
- Peter Corrigan, Engineers Ireland, BA BAI C.Eng MIEI, WSP for
dry tailings storage facility and waste rock stockpiles;
- Ryan Sweetman, Institution of Civil Engineers, CEng, MICE, WSP
for water management structures and water balance;
- Kevin Leahy, Ph.D., CGeol, SiLC, ERM for environmental studies,
permitting, and social impact;
- Daniel Gagnon, P.Eng., SVP East Canada and Mining, DRA for
market studies and economic analysis.
All are independent QPs, as defined under NI
43-101.
Ross Overall, Director, Corporate Technical
Services, of the Company, who is a QP as defined under NI 43-101,
has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information
disclosed in this news release.
A technical report prepared in accordance with
NI 43-101 for the Čoka Rakita project will be filed under the
Company’s profile on SEDAR+ within 45 days of this news release.
Readers are encouraged to read the technical report in its
entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions, exclusions and
risks that relate to the MRMR estimates and the PFS.
The MRMR estimates discussed in this news
release are classified in accordance with the disclosure
requirement of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and
Petroleum’s (“CIM”) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and
Mineral Reserves (May 2014), incorporated by reference into NI
43-101. The MRMR and related information in this news release may
not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S.
companies, subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements
under the United States’ federal securities laws and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
About Dundee Precious Metals Inc.
Dundee Precious Metals Inc. is a Canadian-based
international gold mining company with operations and projects
located in Bulgaria, Serbia and Ecuador. The Company’s purpose is
to unlock resources and generate value to thrive and grow together.
This overall purpose is supported by a foundation of core values,
which guides how the Company conducts its business and informs a
set of complementary strategic pillars and objectives related to
ESG, innovation, optimizing our existing portfolio, and growth. The
Company’s resources are allocated in-line with its strategy to
ensure that DPM delivers value for all of its stakeholders. DPM’s
shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: DPM).
For further information please contact:
Jennifer CameronDirector,
Investor RelationsTel: (416)
219-6177jcameron@dundeeprecious.com
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Certain financial measures referred to in this
news release are not measures recognized under IFRS and are
referred to as non-GAAP financial measures or ratios. These
measures have no standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be
comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The
definitions established and calculations performed by DPM are based
on management’s reasonable judgement and are consistently applied.
These measures are intended to provide additional information and
should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for
measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.
The non-GAAP financial measures used in this
news release and common to the gold mining industry are defined
below:
- Cash cost and cash cost per ounce
of gold sold: Cash cost consists of all production related expenses
including mining, processing, services, filtered tailings and paste
fill, royalties and general and administrative. Cash cost per ounce
of gold sold is calculated as cash cost divided by payable gold
ounces.
- All-in sustaining cost and all-in
sustaining cost per ounce of gold sold: All-in sustaining cost
consists of cash cost, plus treatment charges, penalties,
transportation and other selling costs, cash outlays for sustaining
capital expenditures and leases, and rehabilitation-related
accretion and amortization expenses. All-in sustaining cost per
ounce of gold sold is calculated as all-in sustaining cost divided
by payable gold ounces. Cash cost and all-in sustaining cost
capture the important components of the Company’s production and
related costs and are used by the Company and investors to monitor
cost performance at the Company’s operations.
- Free cash flow: Free cash flow is
defined as cash provided from operating activities, before changes
in working capital, less cash outlays for sustaining capital, and
mandatory principal repayments and interest payments related to
debt and leases. This measure is used by the Company and investors
to measure the cash flow available to fund the Company’s growth
capital expenditures.
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward looking
statements” or “forward looking information” (collectively,
“Forward Looking Statements”) that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties. Forward Looking Statements are statements that are
not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified
by the use of forward looking terminology such as “plans”,
“targets”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”,
“estimates”, “forecasts”, “outlook”, “intends”, “anticipates”,
“believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or that state
that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”,
“might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative
of any of these terms or similar expressions. The Forward Looking
Statements in this news release relate to, among other things; the
estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves and the
realization of such mineral estimates; the statements under “PFS
Highlights” and the other results of the PFS discussed in this news
release, including, without limitation, project economics,
financial and operational parameters such as expected throughput,
production, processing methods, cash costs, all-in sustaining
costs, other costs, capital expenditures, free cash flow, NPV, IRR,
payback period and life of mine; the completion of FS and the EIA
and the anticipated timing thereof; planned surface and underground
geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling, commencing basic
engineering and advancing operational readiness activities and
other activities, and related costs; upside potential,
opportunities for growth and optimization, and expected next steps
in the development of the project, including timing for potential
commencement of construction and production; the potential to
utilize existing processing infrastructure, expertise and
maintenance practices in connection with production from the
project, and the expected benefits thereof; expected life of mine
at Čoka Rakita; engagement with stakeholders; timing of permitting
activities and other governmental approvals; availability and
applicability of tax relief as provided in existing legislation;
potential gold recoveries; and the price of gold, copper, and
silver, and other commodities. Forward Looking Statements are based
on certain key assumptions and the opinions and estimates of
management and the QPs, as of the date such statements are made,
and they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which may cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of the Company to be materially different from any
other future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by the Forward Looking Statements. In addition to factors
already discussed in this news release, such factors include, among
others, risks relating to the Company’s business, including
possible variations in mineralized grade and recovery rates;
uncertainties inherent to the conclusions of economic evaluations
and economic studies; changes in project parameters, including
schedule and budget, as plans continue to be refined; uncertainties
with respect to actual results of current exploration activities;
uncertainties inherent to the estimation of Mineral Resources and
Reserves, which may not be fully realized; uncertainties inherent
with conducting business in foreign jurisdictions where corruption,
civil unrest, political instability and uncertainties with the rule
of law may impact the Company’s activities; the impact of the
conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, including resulting
changes to the Company’s supply chain and costs of supplies;
product shortages; delivery and shipping issues; closures and/or
failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated;
labour force shortages; fluctuations in metal and acid prices and
foreign exchange rates; limitation on insurance coverage;
accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry;
delays in obtaining governmental approvals or in the completion of
development or construction activities; opposition by social and
non-government organizations to mining projects and smelting
operations; unanticipated title disputes; claims or litigation;
cyber attacks and other cybersecurity risks; changes to tax regimes
in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates; as well as
those risk factors discussed or referred to in any other documents
(including without limitation the Company’s most recent Annual
Information Form) filed from time to time with the securities
regulatory authorities in all provinces and territories of Canada
and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The reader has been
cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors
which may have been used. Although the Company has attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events
or results to differ materially from those described in Forward
Looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions,
events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended.
There can be no assurance that Forward Looking Statements will
prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The
Company’s Forward Looking Statements reflect current expectations
regarding future events and speak only as of the date hereof.
Unless required by securities laws, the Company undertakes no
obligation to update Forward Looking Statements if circumstances or
management’s estimates or opinions should change. Accordingly,
readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
Forward-Looking Statements.
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