Endeavour Silver Corp.
(“Endeavour” or the
“Company”) (NYSE: EXK; TSX: EDR) reports
third quarter 2023 production of 1,148,735 silver ounces (oz) and
9,089 gold oz, for silver equivalent1 (“AgEq”) production of 1.9
million oz. Production continues to track in-line with the 2023
production guidance of 8.6-9.5 million silver equivalent ounces,
totaling 6.5 million AgEq oz for the nine months ended September
30, 2023.
“Our production decreased this quarter compared
to previous quarters due to lower throughput and ore grades
processed at Guanacevi. We mined lower grades due to mine
sequencing changes related to access and ventilation, whereas
throughput was impacted due to an extended scheduled maintenance
program. The mine sequencing is now back to plan, which will result
in access to improved ore grades going forward. Additionally, the
maintenance program has been executed successfully to minimize
operational risks in the mill,” stated Dan Dickson, Chief Executive
Officer. “We anticipate improved operational performance and
operational efficiency in the last quarter.”
Q3 2023 Highlights
-
Guanacevi Performance: Production was below plan
due to a reduction in silver and gold grades and also impacted by
lower processed tonnes due to a scheduled maintenance shutdown.
Mine sequencing changes that were initiated in Q2 have resulted in
lower grades compared to plan and historical comparisons. It is
expected that the grades will increase in Q4 and stabilize going
forward.
-
Bolañitos’ Performance Remained Steady: Strong
gold production, higher gold grades and increased throughput were
offset by the impact of lower silver production and silver
grades.
- Metal
Sales and Inventories: Sold 1,370,032 oz silver and 8,760
oz gold during the quarter. Held 416,033 oz silver and 1,253 oz
gold of bullion inventory and 8,184 oz silver and 436 oz gold in
concentrate inventory at quarter end.
-
Completed the sale of the Cozamin Royalty to Gold Royalty
Corp: Total consideration of US$7,500,000 was received by
the Company in cash upon closing on the sale of the 1% Cozamin
royalty (see news release dated August 30, 2023).
-
Published Mid-Term Update on our 2022-2024 Sustainability
Strategy: This publication describes the Company’s
progress in executing the first half (18 months) of its three-year
plan. Of the 39 targets that were set in the 2022-2024
Sustainability Strategy, 21 have been completed or achieved, 13 are
on track or underway and 5 require more improvement.
Subsequent to Q3
-
Obtained US$120 Million Project Financing for
Terronera: Societe Generale and ING Capital LLC (together
with ING Bank N.V.) have signed a definitive credit agreement for a
senior secured debt facility of US$120 million (see news release
dated October 10, 2023).
Q3 2023 Mine Operations
Consolidated silver production decreased 21% to
1,148,735 ounces in Q3, 2023 compared to Q3, 2022, primarily driven
by decreased silver production at the Guanacevi mine due to a
reduction in silver grade partially offset by higher milling rates.
Although historically higher grades have been mined from the El
Curso orebody, mine sequencing changes during Q2, 2023 have
resulted in lower grades compared to both Q3, 2022 and Q2, 2023. It
is expected that grades will increase in Q4, 2023. Local
third-party ores continued to supplement mine production, totaling
21% of quarterly throughput.
Consolidated gold production decreased by 1% to
9,089 ounces primarily due to increased throughput at both the
Guanacevi and Bolanitos mines offset by a reduction in gold grade
mined at the Guanacevi mine.
Guanacevi Q3, 2023 throughput was 6% higher than
Q3, 2022 with silver grades 27% lower and gold grades 20% lower.
Silver production decreased by 22% while gold production decreased
by 13% at the Guanacevi mine.
Bolañitos Q3, 2023 throughput was 6% higher than
Q3, 2022 with silver grades 15% lower and gold grades 1% higher.
Silver production decreased by 15% while gold production increased
by 7% at the Bolañitos mine. The change in grades was due to
typical variations in the ore body.
Scheduled Maintenance at
Guanacevi
Towards the end of the third quarter, Guanacevi
entered its scheduled maintenance shutdown, which took place in the
last week of September and the first week of October. Repairs and
maintenance work were performed on a filter press transformer, the
primary thickener, and the secondary crushing circuit.
Concurrently, mining activities have been focused on building
stockpiles. With the maintenance work now complete, both the mine
and the plant are back to operating according to plan. The Company
believes that it is well positioned to complete this year within
the previously stated production guidance of between 8.6-9.5
million silver equivalent ounces.
Production Highlights for the Three and Nine Months
Ended September 30, 2023
Three Months Ended September 30, |
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
2023 |
2022 |
% Change |
|
2023 |
2022 |
% Change |
214,270 |
202,745 |
6% |
Throughput (tonnes) |
653,918 |
610,253 |
7% |
1,148,735 |
1,458,448 |
(21%) |
Silver ounces produced |
4,266,280 |
4,132,610 |
3% |
9,089 |
9,194 |
(1%) |
Gold ounces produced |
28,250 |
27,178 |
4% |
1,140,597 |
1,445,880 |
(21%) |
Payable silver ounces produced |
4,231,064 |
4,095,696 |
3% |
8,929 |
9,039 |
(1%) |
Payable gold ounces produced |
27,749 |
26,705 |
4% |
1,875,855 |
2,193,968 |
(14%) |
Silver equivalent ounces produced |
6,526,280 |
6,306,850 |
3% |
1,370,032 |
1,327,325 |
3% |
Silver ounces sold |
4,337,112 |
3,647,987 |
19% |
8,760 |
8,852 |
(1%) |
Gold ounces sold |
27,769 |
27,025 |
3% |
Production Tables for Q3 2023 by Mine
Mine-by-mine production in the third quarter and the nine months
ended September 30th, 2023 was:
Production |
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
Grade |
Grade |
Recovery |
Recovery |
Silver |
Gold |
by mine |
Processed |
per day |
Ag gpt* |
Au gpt* |
Ag % |
Au % |
Oz |
Oz |
Guanaceví |
103,345 |
1,123 |
341 |
1.03 |
91.9% |
92.4% |
1,041,211 |
3,161 |
Bolañitos |
110,925 |
1,206 |
37 |
1.89 |
82.6% |
87.9% |
107,524 |
5,928 |
Consolidated |
214,270 |
2,329 |
183 |
1.48 |
90.9% |
89.4% |
1,148,735 |
9,089 |
*gpt = grams per tonneTotals may not add due to rounding
Production Tables for the Nine Months Ended September
30, 2023 by Mine
Production |
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
Grade |
Grade |
Recovery |
Recovery |
Silver |
Gold |
by mine |
Processed |
per day |
Ag gpt* |
Au gpt* |
Ag % |
Au % |
Oz |
Oz |
Guanaceví |
322,628 |
1,182 |
416 |
1.18 |
88.8% |
91.8% |
3,833,558 |
11,234 |
Bolañitos |
331,290 |
1,214 |
48 |
1.81 |
84.6% |
88.3% |
432,722 |
17,016 |
Consolidated |
653,918 |
2,395 |
230 |
1.50 |
88.4% |
89.6% |
4,266,280 |
28,250 |
*gpt = grams per tonneTotals may not add due to rounding
Qualified Person
Dale Mah, P.Geo., Vice President Corporate Development, a
qualified person under NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the
scientific and technical information related to operational matters
contained in this news release.
Q3 2023 Financial Results and Conference
Call
The Company’s Q3 2023 financial results will be
released before markets open on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, and a
telephone conference call will be held the same day at 10:00 a.m.
PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. To participate in the conference call, please
dial the numbers below.
Date &
Time: |
|
Tuesday,
November 7, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET |
|
|
|
Telephone: |
|
Toll-free in Canada and the US +1-800-319-4610 |
|
|
Local or International +1-604-638-5340 |
|
|
Please allow up to 10 minutes to be connected to the conference
call. |
|
|
|
Replay: |
|
A replay of the conference call will be available by dialing
(toll-free) |
|
|
+1-800-319-6413 in Canada and the US (toll-free) or
+1-604-638-9010 outside of Canada and the US. The replay passcode
is 0484#. The replay will also be available on the Company’s
website at www.edrsilver.com. |
About Endeavour Silver –
Endeavour is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that
operates two high-grade underground silver-gold mines in Mexico.
Endeavour is advancing construction of the Terronera Project and
exploring its portfolio of exploration projects in Mexico, Chile
and the United States to facilitate its goal to become a premier
senior silver producer. Our philosophy of corporate social
integrity creates value for all stakeholders.
Contact Information:
Galina Meleger, VP, Investor RelationsEmail:
gmeleger@edrsilver.comWebsite: www.edrsilver.comFollow Endeavour
Silver on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the United States private
securities litigation reform act of 1995 and “forward-looking
information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein
include but are not limited to statements regarding the development
and financing of the Terronera Project, Endeavour’s anticipated
performance in 2023 including changes in mining operations and
forecasts of production levels, anticipated production costs and
all-in sustaining costs and the timing and results of various
activities. The Company does not intend to and does not assume any
obligation to update such forward-looking statements or
information, other than as required by applicable law.
Forward-looking statements or information
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause the actual results, level of activity, production
levels, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations
to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such
statements. Such factors include but are not limited changes in
production and costs guidance; the ongoing effects of inflation and
supply chain issues on mine economics; national and local
governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and
political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; financial
risks due to precious metals prices; operating or technical
difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining
activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development
and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and
development; risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits; and
challenges to the Company’s title to properties; as well as those
factors described in the section “risk factors” contained in the
Company’s most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form filed with
the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities.
Forward-looking statements are based on
assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not
limited to: the continued operation of the Company’s mining
operations, no material adverse change in the market price of
commodities, forecasted mine economics as of 2023, mining
operations will operate and the mining products will be completed
in accordance with management’s expectations and achieve their
stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors
as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or
information, there may be other factors that cause results to be
materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated,
assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any
forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate
as actual results and future events could differ materially from
those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements or information.
1 Silver equivalent calculated using an 80:1 silver:gold
ratio.
Endeavour Silver (TSX:EDR)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2025 to Feb 2025
Endeavour Silver (TSX:EDR)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Feb 2025