/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE
SERVICES NOR FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE
UNITED STATES/
Trading Symbols
AIM: AGQ
TSX-V:
AGQ
FWB: I3A
LONDON,
Aug. 31, 2015 /CNW/ - Arian Silver Corporation ("Arian
Silver" or the "Company"), a silver mining company focussed on
silver projects in the silver belt of Zacatecas, Mexico, announces today the release
of its Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") and
unaudited Financial Statements ("Financials") for the three and six
months ended 30 June 2015.
The MD&A and audited Financials will be
available at SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at
www.ariansilver.com. These documents can also be obtained on
application to the Company. The following information has been
extracted from the MD&A and Financials. The financial
information in this announcement does not constitute full statutory
accounts.
Arian Silver's
Chief Executive Officer, Jim
Williams, commented today, "The phased commissioning of
the Company's processing plant has been ongoing during the second
quarter of the year.
The commissioning process has highlighted the
need for remedial work to the tertiary crusher which will result in
a delay in completion of commissioning into Q4 this year, and a
corresponding delay in mine development.
The silver price has continued to fall this
year, recently touching a six year low and current market consensus
is for continued short-term weakness. Therefore, it has become
clear that alterations to the mine plan will be required if
profitable production is to be achieved in the current climate, and
amendments to the mine plan will take place contemporaneously with
the remedial work to the tertiary crusher.
Additional working capital will be required
whilst the Company makes these changes and we are currently in
discussions with several groups in order to satisfy this
requirement. Current market conditions, including the weak silver
price, are of course a concern, and it is important to highlight
the success of any such fundraising cannot be guaranteed.
On a more positive note, the two remaining
ball mills are now ready to be commissioned and should enable
increased throughput once the tertiary crushing bottleneck has been
cleared. In addition, the zinc circuit is now mechanically complete
and should be ready to be brought online as soon as the
aforementioned work is complete."
THE STRATEGY
The Company's strategy is
to:
- establish a silver mining business capable of sustaining more
than two million ounces per annum, and
- build shareholder value by expanding silver resources on the
Company's mining concessions in Zacatecas, Mexico.
OVERVIEW OF SECOND QUARTER 2015
During
the quarter, the Company continued the phased commissioning
programme of La Tesorera
processing plant (the "Plant"), which saw first concentrate sales
from the first of two flotation circuits in April 2015.
Highlights
- First silver-lead concentrate sales revenues received in
April 2015
- Commissioning of the Plant remains underway in Q2 2015 and is
expected to continue during Q3 2015
- Results from the phase 5 drill programme confirm the continuity
of the vein through the Guanajuatillo section of the San José
mine
- Cash balance at 26 August 2015:
$0.7 million
Overview of
financial performance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six
months
ended
30 June
2015
|
|
Six
months
ended
30 June
2014
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
|
$000s
|
|
$000s
|
|
$000s
|
Gross loss
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
(153)
|
|
153
|
Administrative
expenses
|
|
|
|
(2,029)
|
|
(1,634)
|
|
(395)
|
Gain/(loss) on
derivative liabilities
|
|
|
|
5,533
|
|
35
|
|
5,498
|
Net investment
(loss)/income
|
|
|
|
(11)
|
|
-
|
|
(11)
|
Net profit/(loss) for
the period
|
|
|
|
3,493
|
|
(1,752)
|
|
5,245
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As
at 30 June
2015
|
|
As
at 31
Dec 2014
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
|
$000s
|
|
$000s
|
|
$000s
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
|
|
778
|
|
2,846
|
|
2,068
|
Total
assets
|
|
|
|
40,001
|
|
35,865
|
|
4,136
|
During the period the Company drew down
$5.9 million in accordance with the
terms of the Base Metals Purchase Agreement ("BMPA") with Quintana
San Jose Streaming Co. LLC ("Quintana Streaming").
A total of 202 tonnes of lead-silver concentrate
has been sold for $0.5 million.
During the Plant's commissioning process, any income from
concentrate sales (less the associated production costs) is
capitalised and recognised as a non-current asset. This is a
constituent element of "Property, plant and equipment" in the
consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
Total assets increased since 31 December 2014 as a result of the continued
investment in the mine and Plant and the capitalisation of interest
for the period. The movement in the Company's cash balance reflects
the drawdown under the BMPA, the continued investment in the mine
and Plant together with general corporate and administrative
expenditures.
The net profit for the period was primarily due
to the fair value adjustment relating to the $5.5 million gain on derivative liabilities (this
is explained further in note 7 to the Financial
Statements).
Overview of
operational performance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q2
2015
|
|
Q1
2015
|
|
Q4
2014
|
|
Q3
2014
|
Head grade - Ag grams
per tonne (g/t)
|
|
161
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Tonnes
mined
|
|
14,370
|
|
5,719
|
|
(695)
|
|
-
|
Tonnes
milled
|
|
18,278
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silver concentrate
tonnes produced
|
|
244
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Recovery %
|
|
57
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Silver ounces
produced
|
|
54,034
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Silver ounces per
concentrate tonne produced
|
|
222
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silver ounces
sold
|
|
47,581
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Silver concentrate
tonnes sold
|
|
202
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter end
inventory balances
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mined tonnes
stockpile
|
|
35,458
|
|
39,366
|
|
33,647
|
|
34,342
|
Silver concentrate
inventory tonnes
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Silver ounces
included in concentrate inventory
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q2
2014
|
|
Q1
2014
|
|
Q4
2013
|
|
Q3
2013
|
Head grade - Ag grams
per tonne (g/t)
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Tonnes
mined
|
|
1,588
|
|
5,739
|
|
8,057
|
|
1,816
|
Tonnes
milled
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silver concentrate
tonnes produced
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Recovery %
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Silver ounces
produced
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Silver ounces per
concentrate tonne produced
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Silver ounces
sold
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Silver concentrate
tonnes sold
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter end
inventory balances
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mined tonnes
stockpile
|
|
34,342
|
|
32,754
|
|
27,015
|
|
18,958
|
Silver concentrate
inventory tonnes
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
Silver ounces
included in concentrate inventory
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
-
|
During Q2 2015, the Company continued the phased
commissioning of the Plant, which continues through Q3.
During the quarter, the Company published the
results of its fifth phase drilling results, which demonstrated the
significant potential for further silver and base metal resources
within the San José vein system, returning some excellent
intersections with increased true widths in several drill
holes.
The results confirmed that the silver, lead and
zinc mineralisation extends beneath the township of Guanajuatillo
over a length of a kilometre. The Guanajuatillo area connects to
the Soledad resource blocks to the east as well as to the resource
blocks to the west of Guanajuatillo.
These drilling results will enable us to update
our NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate over the coming
months and we look forward to updating shareholders in due
course.
In addition, the Company recently commenced an
underground drilling program using its own compact drilling rig
which has been set up to drill the down dip extensions of the San
José vein system and to further aid mine development work.
Mine development remained a focus of the Company
during the period with the aim of further preparing areas in
readiness for the Company's production ramp-up. Two new decline
ramps at the Soledad and Guanajuatillo sections of the mine were
progressed during the month. The operation is already producing ore
from Soledad section of the mine.
Comparison of
quarter year-on-year
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q2
2015
|
|
Q2
2014
|
|
Change
|
Head grade - Ag grams
per tonne
|
|
|
161
|
|
-
|
|
100%
|
Tonnes
mined
|
|
|
14,370
|
|
1,588
|
|
805%
|
Tonnes
milled
|
|
|
18,278
|
|
-
|
|
100%
|
Silver concentrate
tonnes produced
|
|
|
244
|
|
-
|
|
100%
|
Silver ounces
produced
|
|
|
54,034
|
|
-
|
|
100%
|
Silver ounces per
concentrate tonne produced
|
|
|
222
|
|
-
|
|
100%
|
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Funding
Cash of $1.6 million was received in July 2015 pursuant to the terms of the BMPA. The
Company has now received $15.2
million of the $15.6 million
committed by Quintana Streaming.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
The Company is
continuing the phased commissioning of its recently refurbished
processing plant. This, together with the planned ramp-up, albeit
delayed in the immediate term, to its maximum projected processing
capacity of 1,500tpd over the coming months, and achievement of
consistent production thereafter sees the Company firmly on the
path to achieving its long-term strategy.
The Plant is expected to deliver substantial cost
savings against the Company's previous toll milling operations.
With reduced operating costs, the Company should enjoy
significantly higher operating margins than would have been
achieved in the past under the same conditions.
The price of silver continued to decline during
2015. Whilst the directors believe the price of silver will rise
significantly in due course, continued short-term commodity price
weakness inevitably reduces the cash generated by operating
activities and increases the Company's financing requirements; the
Board is therefore taking the steps necessary to strengthen the
Company's financial position.
Forward-Looking
Information:
Certain information contained herein
constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
are frequently characterised by words such as "planned",
"expected", "forecast", "projected", "intended", "believe",
"anticipate", "budget", "scheduled", "outlook" and other similar
words or statements that certain events or conditions may or will
occur.
Forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management at the dates the statements
are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties
and other factors that could cause actual events or results to
differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements.
These factors include the inherent risks involved
in exploration and development, and mining of mineral properties,
the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and
other geological data, fluctuating metal prices, the possibility of
project cost overruns or unanticipated operating costs and
expenses, uncertainties related to the necessity of financing, the
availability of and costs of financing needed in the future, and
other factors described in the Company's MD&A under the heading
"Risk Factors and Uncertainties".
The Company undertakes no obligation to update
forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's
estimates or opinions should change, other than as required by
securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements (including, without
limitation, statements relating to the mineral resource estimates,
statements regarding the San José project, the ability of the
Company to achieve, maintain and possibly increase planned levels
of production, and the ability of the Company to generate positive
cash flow from the San José project, the ability to continue or
implement proposed drilling programmes on the San José vein system
and the Company's exploration, development and production plans and
objectives), or the ability of the Company to raise additional
funds.
These forward-looking statements reflect the
current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information
currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the
actual results of the Company to differ materially from those
discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such
actual results are realised or substantially realised, there can be
no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or
effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or
events to differ materially from current expectations include,
among other things, the performance of contractors and plant and
equipment, and failure to achieve anticipated production levels and
mineral grades for ore from the San José project, failure to
establish estimated mineral reserves, the possibility that future
exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's
expectations, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs
of financing needed in the future, changes in the silver commodity
price, changes in equity markets, political developments in
Mexico, changes to regulations
affecting the Company's activities, delays in obtaining or failures
to obtain required regulatory approvals, the uncertainties involved
in interpreting exploration results and other geological data, and
the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development
industry.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of
the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by
applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or
obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a
result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.
Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the
forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly
undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the
inherent uncertainty therein.
Any mineral resource figures disclosed are
estimates and no assurances can be given that the indicated levels
of minerals will be produced. Such estimates are expressions of
judgement based on knowledge, mining experience, analysis of
drilling results and industry practices. Valid estimates made at a
given time may significantly change when new information becomes
available. While the Company believes that the resource estimates
are well established, by their nature resource estimates are
imprecise and depend, to a certain extent, upon statistical
inferences, which may ultimately prove unreliable. If such
estimates are inaccurate or are reduced in the future, this could
have a material adverse impact on the Company.
Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do
not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty
that mineral resources can be upgraded to mineral reserves through
continued exploration.
This press release does not constitute an
offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the
securities of the Company in the United Sates. The securities of
the Company have not been and will not be registered under the
United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S.
Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be
offered or sold within the United
States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S.
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption
from such registration is available.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) and no stock exchange,
securities commission or other regulatory authority accepts
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release nor
approved or disapproved of the information contained
herein.
SOURCE Arian Silver Corporation