Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the “Company” or “Torex”) (TSX: TXG)
provides 2022 operational guidance for its El Limón Guajes (“ELG”)
Mining Complex, which forms part of the Company’s Morelos Property
in Guerrero, Mexico. Full year non-sustaining capital expenditure
guidance for the Company’s Media Luna project will be announced
when the updated Technical Report for the entire Morelos Property
is released at the end of March.
2022 OPERATIONAL OUTLOOK FOR
ELG
|
2022 Guidance |
2021 Guidance1 |
Gold Production |
oz |
430,000 to 470,000 |
430,000 to 470,000 |
Total Cash Costs2a |
$/oz sold |
$695 to $735 |
$680 to $720 |
All-in Sustaining Costs2b |
$/oz sold |
$980 to $1,030 |
$920 to $970 |
Sustaining Capital Expenditures2c |
|
|
|
Capitalized Waste |
M$ |
$50 to $60 |
$45 to $50 |
ELG Sustaining |
M$ |
$35 to $45 |
$30 to $40 |
Total Sustaining |
M$ |
$85 to $105 |
$75 to $90 |
Non-Sustaining Capital Expenditures2d |
|
|
|
ELG Non-Sustaining |
M$ |
$15 to $20 |
$25 to $40 |
Media Luna Non-Sustaining |
M$ |
Pending |
$100 to $110 |
Total Non-Sustaining |
M$ |
Pending |
$125 to $150 |
1) |
2021 guidance was updated mid-year to reflect
increased level of capital waste related to approval of El
Limón pushback. |
2) |
Refer to “Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures”
in the Company’s September 30, 2021 MD&A for further
information and a detailed reconciliation. See also the Cautionary
Notes to this press release. |
|
a) |
Total cash costs in 2021 have averaged $646 per ounce gold
sold through Q3. |
|
b) |
All-in sustaining costs in 2021 have averaged $883 per ounce gold
sold through Q3. |
|
c) |
Sustaining capital expenditures in 2021 have totaled $59.2 million
(including $33.9 million of capitalized waste) through Q3. |
|
d) |
Non-sustaining capital expenditures in 2021 have totaled $111.5
million (including $80.4 million of capital expenditures for Media
Luna) through Q3. |
Jody Kuzenko, President and CEO of Torex,
stated:
“We expect 2022 to be another solid year for
Torex as we continue to build on our reputation as a profitable,
safe, reliable, and consistent operator. Our guided gold production
for 2022 is consistent with the range set out within our inaugural
3-year outlook issued in September 2021. With another strong year
of cash flow anticipated from ELG and a robust cash position with
zero debt, we are well positioned to advance the development of
Media Luna and fund our exploration efforts.
“The forecast increase in all-in sustaining
costs at ELG is due to a higher level of waste mined and select
additional fleet rebuilds. Both elements directly relate to the
previously announced expansion of the El Limón pit, which will
extend open pit mining from late-2023 to mid-2024 and provide
additional confidence in a smooth transition from ELG to Media
Luna. Exploration will also remain a key focus, with a total of $39
million in exploration and drilling planned in 2022 with the intent
to grow the overall resource and reserve base.
“Non-sustaining capital expenditures specific to
Media Luna will be announced with the release of the upcoming
Technical Report scheduled for the end of March. With the increased
activity associated with the project, we expect expenditures to
materially increase in 2022 and peak in 2023, with a tail in
2024.
“2022 is a pivotal year for Torex and will set
the foundation for our future. The strength of our underlying
business will enable us to continue to execute on our plan –
optimize and extend operations at ELG, de-risk and advance Media
Luna, grow reserves and resources and invest in other value
accretive opportunities.”
2022 PRODUCTION OUTLOOKGold
production in 2022 is expected to be between 430,000 ounces and
470,000 ounces. The guided range is consistent with the range of
430,000 to 470,000 ounces outlined within the Company’s inaugural
3-year production outlook released in September 2021.
Quarterly production is expected to be the
lowest in Q1 and the highest in Q4, with relative similar levels of
production anticipated in Q2 and Q3. The quarterly variability is
attributed to sequencing of the open pits, which is expected to
result in processed grades increasing slightly through the
year.
2022 COST OUTLOOKTotal cash
costs in 2022 are expected to be moderately higher than the result
delivered in 2021, driven by higher labour rates for our employees
and contractors, higher reagent costs, higher electricity
consumption and unit rates, and other consumables. These factors
will be partially offset by a higher level of mined waste
capitalized versus expensed. All-in sustaining costs in 2022 are
expected to be above the levels achieved in 2021, primarily as a
result of a greater level of capitalized waste and modestly higher
sustaining capital expenditures in the open pit driven by the
decision to extend the life of the El Limón deposit. The gold price
used within operational guidance is consistent with the $1,700 per
ounce assumption used when setting 2021 guidance.
The strip ratio for 2022 is expected to average
8:1, slightly higher than the 7.3:1 result in 2021. The forecast
strip ratio for 2022 is consistent with the optimized mine plan
that spreads out the pushback strip ratio over 2022 and 2023.
2022 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
OUTLOOKSustaining capital expenditures in 2022 are guided
at $85 million to $105 million, of which $50 million to $60 million
is related to capitalized waste stripping. The year-over-year
increase in both capitalized waste and sustaining capital
expenditures is directly attributable to the pushback of the El
Limón open pit. The pushback will result in a greater level of
waste mined in 2022 as well as additional equipment rebuilds, which
are required to extend the life of the open pit fleet into mid-2024
when open pit reserves are expected to be depleted.
Non-sustaining capital expenditures specific to
ELG are guided at $15 million to $20 million. The lower level of
expenditure relative to 2021 reflects the anticipated completion of
Portal #3 by mid-year and no further investment in the Company’s
monorail-based mining technology.
Full-year non-sustaining capital expenditure
guidance for Media Luna will be announced when the Company releases
an updated Technical Report for the broader Morelos Property at the
end of March. Anticipated project-specific investment in Q1 2022 is
estimated at $50 million, with the quarterly level of project
expenditures anticipated to increase through the year as
development activities ramp-up.
EXPLORATION OUTLOOKThe Company
plans to invest approximately $39 million in exploration and
drilling in 2022, with the purpose of increasing the overall
resource and reserve base of the Morelos Property. Details of the
planned exploration programs are as follows:
- Media Luna:
Approximately $19 million is budgeted for infill and step-out
drilling at Media Luna as well as an initial infill drill program
at the adjacent EPO deposit. A total of 64,000 metres of drilling
is budgeted at Media Luna. Costs of the program will be classified
as non-sustaining capital expenditures.
- ELG Underground:
Approximately $6 million is budgeted for infill and step-out
drilling within the ELG Underground. Drilling targeting deeper
extensions of the Sub-Sill and ELD deposits is expected to commence
in H2 with the completion of Portal #3. A total of 28,000 metres of
drilling is budgeted for the ELG Underground in 2022. Program costs
will be classified as capital expenditures and are included in the
sustaining capital expenditure guidance for ELG.
- Near Mine and
Regional: Approximately $9 million is budgeted to conduct
exploration across the broader land package, including drilling of
near mine targets (28,500 metres of drilling) as well as regional
exploration north and south of the Balsas River (6,000 metres of
drilling). The program expenditures will be classified as
exploration expenses.
- Definition and Grade
Control: Approximately $5 million is budgeted for ore
control and definition drilling in the ELG Open Pit and
Underground. The costs associated with these programs are included
in mining operating expenses and, therefore, reflected in total
cash cost guidance.
2022 CASH FLOW SEASONALITYCash
flow from operations in Q1 will be impacted by the payment of the
Mexican-based Mining Tax (accrued throughout the year and paid out
the following March) as well as Corporate Income Tax owing at
year-end, after accounting for monthly installments made during
2021. Taxes paid will be reflected in cash flow from operations
prior to changes in non-cash working capital. In Q2, cash flow from
operations after changes in non-cash working capital is expected to
be impacted by payment of the employee profit sharing (“PTU”),
which is accrued through the year and paid out in full by May the
following year.
Cash flow seasonality in 2022 will be further
impacted by the expectation that quarterly gold production will be
more heavily weighted to the back half of the year compared to
2021, when production was weighted towards the first half.
ABOUT TOREX GOLD RESOURCES
INC.Torex is an intermediate gold producer based in
Canada, engaged in the mining, developing, and exploring of its
100% owned Morelos Gold Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in the
highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometres
southwest of Mexico City. The Company’s principal assets are the El
Limón Guajes mining complex (“ELG” or the “ELG Mine Complex”),
comprising the El Limón, Guajes and El Limón Sur open pits, the El
Limón Guajes underground mine including zones referred to as
Sub-Sill and ELD, and the processing plant and related
infrastructure, which commenced commercial production as of April
1, 2016, and the Media Luna deposit, which is an advanced stage
development project, and for which the Company issued an updated
preliminary economic assessment in September 2018 (the “2018
Technical Report”). The property remains 75% unexplored.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE
CONTACT:
TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. |
Jody
Kuzenko |
Dan
Rollins |
President and CEO |
Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor
Relations |
Direct: (647) 725-9982 |
Direct: (647) 260-1503 |
jody.kuzenko@torexgold.com |
dan.rollins@torexgold.com |
QUALIFIED PERSONThe technical and scientific
information in this news release, with respect to the Company’s
2022 production outlook and strip ratio, has been reviewed and
approved by Dave Stefanuto, P. Eng, Executive Vice President,
Technical Services and Capital Projects of the Company, and a
qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.
CAUTIONARY NOTESNON-IFRS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
MEASURESTotal cash costs per oz of gold sold (“TCC”), and all-in
sustaining costs per ounce of gold sold (“AISC”), sustaining
capital expenditures and non-sustaining capital expenditures are
financial performance measures with no standard meaning under
International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and might not
be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other
issuers. Please refer to the “Non-IFRS Financial Performance
Measures” section (the “MD&A Information”) in the Company’s
management’s discussion and analysis (the “MD&A”) for the
quarter ended September 30, 2021, dated November 2, 2021, available
on the Company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com for further
information with respect to TCC, AISC, sustaining capital
expenditures and non-sustaining capital expenditures and a detailed
reconciliation of these non-IFRS financial performance measures the
most directly comparable measure under IFRS. The MD&A
Information is incorporated by reference into this press
release.
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATIONThis press release
contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking
information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. While pending the results of the Feasibility Study on
the Media Luna project, the Company is advancing the project and
continues the early works program to maintain the schedule to first
production. However, the Company has not taken a production
decision in advance of completing the Feasibility Study.
Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the
operational outlook for 2022 including gold production, TCC, AISC,
sustaining capital expenditures and non-sustaining capital
expenditures (collectively the 2022 Guidance; another solid year
expected for the Corporation, including another strong year of cash
flow anticipated from ELG, a robust cash position with zero debt,
positioning the Corporation to advance the development of Media
Luna and fund exploration efforts; the expansion of the El Limón
pit, extending the open pit mining from late-2023 to mid-2024 and
for additional confidence in a smooth transition from operations at
ELG to Media Luna; plans to spend a total of $39 million in
exploration and drilling in 2022 with the intent to grow the
overall resource and reserve base on the Morelos Property,
allocated to the various purposes as set out in the press release;
the release date of the upcoming Technical Report scheduled for the
end of March 2022; expenditures to materially increase in 2022 and
peak in 2023, with a tail in 2024; continued to execution on the
Corporation’s plan – optimize and extend operations at ELG, de-risk
and advance Media Luna, grow reserves and resources and invest in
other value accretive opportunities; quarterly production is
expected to be the lowest in Q1 and the highest in Q4, with
relative similar levels of production anticipated in Q2 and Q3;
quarterly variability is attributed to sequencing of the open pits
which is expected to result in processed grades improving through
the year; the strip ratio for 2022, as set out in the press
release; open pit reserves are expected to be depleted by mid-2024;
anticipated Media Luna expenditures specific to Q1 2022 are
currently estimated at $50 million, with the quarterly level of
project expenditure anticipated to increase through the year as
development activities ramp-up; and cash flow seasonality in 2022
will be impacted by the expectation that quarterly gold production
will be more heavily weighted to the back half of the year compared
to 2021 when production was higher during the first half.
Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use
of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", “planned” or
variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain
actions, events or results “will”, or “is expected to" occur.
Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results,
level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be
materially different from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking information, including, without limitation, the
inability of the Company’s mining and exploration operations to
operate as intended due to shortage of skilled employees, shortages
in supply chains, inability of employees to access sufficient
healthcare, significant social upheavals, government or regulatory
actions or inactions, and those risk factors identified in the 2018
Technical Report and the Company’s annual information form (“AIF”)
and MD&A or other unknown but potentially significant impacts.
Notwithstanding the Company's efforts, there can be no guarantee
that the Company’s measures to protect employees and surrounding
communities from COVID-19 during this period will be effective.
Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions discussed
in the 2018 Technical Report, AIF and MD&A and such other
reasonable assumptions, estimates, analysis, and opinions of
management made in light of its experience and perception of
trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other
factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the
circumstances at the date such information is made. Although the
Company has attempted to identify important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in
the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that
cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance
that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not
undertake to update any forward-looking information, whether as a
result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as
may be required by applicable securities laws.
Torex Gold Resources (TSX:TXG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2024 to Dec 2024
Torex Gold Resources (TSX:TXG)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2023 to Dec 2024