TIDMPOG
RNS Number : 8480L
Petropavlovsk PLC
24 April 2018
24 April 2018
Petropavlovsk PLC
Q1 Production Results
Petropavlovsk PLC ("Petropavlovsk" or the "Company" or, together
with its subsidiaries, the "Group") is pleased to announce
production results for the quarter ended 31 March 2018.
Ian Ashby comments: "Petropavlovsk has multiple operational and
strategic objectives for 2018 and as such I am pleased to report a
solid start to the year in which the team delivered on its
production and development plans.
Our flagship mines Albyn and Pioneer gave a robust performance,
though with some negative year on year difference in production
output due to the one off positive effect of gold in circuit
recovery during Q1 2017. Successful work at our Malomir underground
operations provided a year on year increase in production at the
mine, with a more than 40% increase in processed grades. Our
development plans were carried out as scheduled and we continue to
make steady progress with our flagship POX project. As part of this
development the Pokrovskiy processing plant was closed in March for
refurbishment and integration into the POX Hub by the end of
September 2018. We remain on track for commissioning in Q4 2018, as
confirmed by an independent consultant.
I am pleased to welcome Roman Deniskin to the Petropavlovsk team
and I am confident that under his leadership the team will continue
to deliver a strong performance in line with our strategic
objectives. Roman commenced his role as Chief Executive Officer on
16(th) April 2018 in place of Interim CEO, Sergey Ermolenko, who
has now resumed his previous role as General Director of Management
Company Petropavlovsk. I am very grateful to Sergey for his support
during this transition."
Summary:
-- Total gold production for the quarter was 112,556oz, a c.5%
decrease YoY (Q1 2017: 118,071oz) due to a positive contribution to
production from gold in circuit in Q1 2017
-- Total gold sold for the quarter was 112,244oz, a c.5%
decrease YoY (Q1 2017: 117,826oz)
-- Average realised gold price of US$1,295/oz (including a
negative US$35/oz effect from hedging), up c.4% YoY
-- Full year 2018 production forecast of 420-460koz
reiterated
-- POX Hub development advanced towards planned commissioning in
Q4 2018
Gold production - Dore (incl. GIC movement), oz
------------------------------------------------------------
Three months to Three months to
31 March 2018 (Q1 2018) 31 March (Q1 2017)
=========== ======================== ===================
Pioneer 40,932 48,457
=========== ======================== ===================
Pokrovskiy 4,293 5,852
=========== ======================== ===================
Malomir 27,942 16,431
=========== ======================== ===================
Albyn 39,389 47,331
=========== ======================== ===================
Total 112,556 118,071
----------- ------------------------ -------------------
Q1 2018 Production Report
Pioneer
Pioneer mining operations
------------------------------------------------
Units Q1 2018 Q1 2017
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Total material
moved m3 '000 4, 087 3, 394
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Ore mined t '000 1, 341 1, 040
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Average grade g/t 0.93 1.12
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold content oz. '000 40.3 37.6
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Pioneer processing operations
------------------------------------------------
Resin-in-pulp (RIP) plant
------------------------------------------------
Total milled t '000 1, 597 1, 642
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Average grade g/t 0.87 0.81
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold content oz. '000 44.4 43
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Recovery % 77.0 71.2
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold recovered oz. '000 34.2 30.4
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Pioneer gold
production -
Dore oz. '000 40.9 48.5
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Note: there was no heap leach production at Pioneer during Q1
2018.
Mining works during the period took place mainly at the Yuzhny
and Andreevskaya-West pits, which delivered predominantly low grade
ores. High grades were sourced from Katrin.
Average RIP recovery rates were around 77% in line with the
budget. Heap leaching did not take place during the period.
Underground development at the NE Bakhmut 6-3 area included both
development and stope mining in January through February, and in
March focused solely on development. The grades were somewhat lower
than budgeted, due to a combination of higher mining dilution and
the amount of low grade development ore being larger than planned.
In Q1 2018, total underground workings amounted to 923 l.m., and 29
000t of ore was mined with an average grade of 2.3 g/t.
Pokrovskiy
Pokrovskiy mining operations
-------------------------------------------------
Units Q1 2018 Q1 2017
----------------- ---------- -------- --------
Total material
moved m3 '000 152 1, 038
----------------- ---------- -------- --------
Ore mined t '000 116 127
----------------- ---------- -------- --------
Average grade g/t 0.59 0.49
----------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold content oz. '000 2.2 2.0
----------------- ---------- -------- --------
Pokrovskiy processing operations
-------------------------------------------------
Resin-in-pulp (RIP) plant
-------------------------------------------------
Total milled t '000 223 438
----------------- ---------- -------- --------
Average grade g/t 0.55 0.40
----------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold content oz. '000 4.0 5.6
----------------- ---------- -------- --------
Recovery % 94.2 70.4
----------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold recovered oz. '000 3.7 4.0
----------------- ---------- -------- --------
Pokrovskiy gold
production -
Dore oz. '000 4.3 5.9
----------------- ---------- -------- --------
Note: there was no heap leach production at Pokrovskiy during Q1
2018.
During Q1, Pokrovskiy processed ore from the Zeyskoye and
Vodorazdelnoye ore bodies. In mid-March the processing plant (RIP)
was closed for refurbishment and integration into the POX hub by
the end of September 2018.
Average RIP recovery rates were above 90% (up to 94%), which was
due to the process plant being closed and gold recovery from the
technological circuit. Heap leaching did not take place during the
period.
Malomir
Malomir mining operations
------------------------------------------------
Units Q1 2018 Q1 2017
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Total material
moved m3 '000 1 979 2 354
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Ore mined t '000 643 759
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Average grade g/t 1.35 0.87
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold content oz. '000 28.0 21.2
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Malomir processing operations
------------------------------------------------
Resin-in-pulp (RIP) plant
------------------------------------------------
Total milled t '000 873 795
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Average grade g/t 1.24 0.87
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold content oz. '000 34.7 22.1
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Recovery % 75.1 60.6
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold recovered oz. '000 26.1 13.4
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Malomir gold
production -
Dore oz. '000 27.9 16.4
---------------- ---------- -------- --------
Mining works at Malomir were carried out at the Quartzitovoye 1
and Dorozhnoye ore zones during the period, producing low grade
ores. The high grade ores were supplied to the plant from
underground and the remainder was blended in from stockpiles.
The average recovery at the processing plant was above 75%, in
line with the budget.
Underground development continued at the Quartzitovoye 1 ore
body. Both stoping and development ore mining were carried during
the period and the latter was ahead of schedule. In Q1 2018, total
underground workings amounted to 1835 l.m., and 88000t of ore was
mined with an average grade of 6.3 g/t.
Albyn
Albyn mining operations
-------------------------------------------------------
Units Q1 2018 Q1 2017
----------------------- ---------- -------- --------
Total material
moved m3 '000 4, 942 7, 516
----------------------- ---------- -------- --------
Ore mined t '000 867 1, 375
----------------------- ---------- -------- --------
Average grade g/t 0.97 1.09
----------------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold content oz. '000 27.1 48.3
----------------------- ---------- -------- --------
Albyn processing operations
-------------------------------------------------------
Resin-in-pulp (RIP) plant
-------------------------------------------------------
Total milled t '000 1, 137 1, 138
----------------------- ---------- -------- --------
Average grade g/t 1.07 1.06
----------------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold content oz. '000 39.2 38.7
----------------------- ---------- -------- --------
Recovery % 93.6 92.3
----------------------- ---------- -------- --------
Gold recovered oz. '000 36.7 35.7
----------------------- ---------- -------- --------
Albyn gold production
- Dore oz. '000 39.4 47.3
----------------------- ---------- -------- --------
During the period, the majority of ore was extracted from the
central section of the Albyn pit. The average recovery at the
processing plant was 93-94%, in line with the budget.
POX Update
During Q1 2018, development of the POX Hub advanced towards its
planned commissioning in Q4 2018. Work has focused mainly on
piping, including the installation and welding of carbon, duplex
stainless and titanium pipes in both POX and filtration buildings,
and also on electrical construction. Mechanical construction
progressed in the filtration building, with the installation of
filters and some principal pumping equipment. In addition, we began
to refurbish the Pokrovskiy RIP plant, which is due to be
integrated into the POX Hub by the end of September 2018.
Work at the Malomir flotation plant included the construction of
a tailings dam, concentrate storage, equipment being assembled in
the transformer house, final preparations for the start-up of the
plant as well as work on ancillary facilities. Work is on schedule
for the plant to be commissioned during Q2 2018.
As per schedule and due to seasonal temperatures, there was
minimal outside construction during the period. This is expected to
intensify during Q2 with the arrival of warmer weather.
Construction progress has been monitored by MS&C, an
independent technical consultant, whose team last visited the site
in mid-March 2018. MS&C concluded that the overall quality of
design and construction is good, and though some areas require
modifications and checks, the consultant has no reason to believe
that the current schedule cannot be achieved.
About Petropavlovsk
Petropavlovsk is one of Russia's leading gold mining companies.
As at 31 March 2018, the Company had
produced approximately 6.9Moz of gold.
At this time, Petropavlovsk is in the construction phase of a
state of the art pressure oxidation facility to process the
Company's substantial refractory resource base. The Company's
combined 3,430km(2) license holding has untapped resource
potential. The Company is a leading employer and contributor to the
development of the local economy in the Amur region, Russian Far
East, where it has operated since 1994.
Petropavlovsk is a shareholder (31.1%) of IRC Limited and is the
guarantor of the US$340 million project finance facility (US$234
million principal outstanding as at 31 March 2018). IRC is a
vertically integrated iron ore producer and developer in the
Russian Far East and North-eastern China. IRC is listed on the Hong
Kong Stock Exchange (ticker: 1029.HK).
Petropavlovsk is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock
Exchange (ticker POG:LN).
Enquiries
For more information, please visit www.petropavlovsk.net and
www.ircgroup.com.hk or contact:
Petropavlovsk PLC Buchanan
Alya Samokhvalova Bobby Morse
Grace Hanratty Anna Michniewicz
+44 (0) 20 7201 8900 +44 (0) 207 466 5000
TeamIR@petropavlovsk.net POG@buchanan.uk.com
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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