THUNDER BAY – BUSINESS – Premier Gold Mines Limited (“Premier” or “The Company”) (TSX:PG) (OTCPK: PIRGF) is pleased to report operating and financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2020. Significantly improved production costs at Mercedes were realized, and when combined with continued strong production from South Arturo, has resulted in the Company’s best operational quarter in 2020. The Company previously released third quarter production results on October 14, 2020.
2020 Third Quarter Highlights
- 50% reduction in Mercedes mine cash cost and all-in sustaining cost (US$885/oz) compared to Q1 2020
- 19,278 ozs gold production
- $30.5 million in revenue
- $13.9 million mine operating income and a net income of $1.6 million for the quarter
- $51.9 million in cash and cash equivalents
CEO Commentary
“With a focus on achieving operating margins, the revised mine plan implemented at Mercedes has exceeded our expectations since the mine resumed operations late in the second quarter”, stated Ewan Downie, President & CEO. “In addition, Nevada Gold Mines continues to over-deliver at South Arturo with year-to-date production now having surpassed the annual production plan, and the strong drill results from El Nino at depth suggest further potential to expand resources and mine life.”
Three months ended September 30, 2020
A total of 19,278 ounces of gold and 50,576 ounces of silver were produced in the quarter, a significant increase compared Q3 2019 when 16,484 ounces of gold and 37,856 ounces of silver were produced.
The Company reported total revenue of $30.5 million and significantly improved mine operating income of $13.9 million during the third quarter compared to revenue of $18.7 million and mine operating loss of $0.4 million during Q3 2019. The increase in Q3 revenue when compared to the same period in 2019 is attributed to the impact of the increased production and related revenue generated from the South Arturo and Mercedes operations and an increase in the average realized selling price of gold. The average realized gold price was $1,876 per ounce, an increase of $494 per ounce when compared to Q3 2019.
Total mine operating income of $13.9 million for Q3 2020 compared to a loss of $0.4 million in Q3 2019 is the result of the increased production, higher gold selling price, a 34% reduction in the cash costs per ounce of gold sold to $724 for Q3 2020 compared from $1,095 for Q3 2019, and a 29% reduction in the all-in-sustaining costs per ounce of gold sold to $965 for Q3 2020 compared from $1,354 for Q3 2019. Improvements in production and costs at the Mercedes mine were the primary contributors to the reduced unit cost for the period. A total of $6.2 million in exploration and pre-development expenditures were incurred during the quarter.
Nine months ended September 30, 2020
A total of 42,359 ounces of gold and 103,974 ounces of silver were produced for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to 50,547 ounces of gold and 147,328 ounces of silver for the prior year period.
The Company reported total revenue of $68 million and mine operating income of $15.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to revenue of $64.9 million and mine operating income of $2.6 million for the prior year period. The reduction in production, when compared to the prior year period is due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in no gold produced at Mercedes during the second quarter due to a government mandate that suspended all mining operations. The increase in revenue and mine operating income during the quarter is attributable to the increase in the average gold selling price of $345 per ounce of gold sold and the reduction of operating unit costs at the Mercedes mine in Q3 2020.
Table 1: Selected Consolidated Operational and Financial Information
A total of $13.9 million in exploration and pre-development expenses were incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. These expenditures along with the care and maintenance costs incurred on the shut down at Mercedes mine of $5.1 million and restructuring costs of $1.9 million, contributed to a net loss of $24.4 million reported for the year to date period.
A total of $8.6 million in capital expenditures were incurred during the period, including $7.9 million for mine development and equipment at Mercedes. The Company closed the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $51.9 million, an increase from the previous quarter.
Mercedes
The Mercedes mine is located 150 kilometres northeast of the city of Hermosillo in the state of Sonora, Mexico. Significant progress has been made with respect to cost reduction initiatives at the mine primarily due to lower unit mining costs resulting from a reduction in fixed costs for labour and contractors as the workforce was downsized to align with the new mine plan. The result was co-product cash costs per ounce of gold sold of $608 (a 44% reduction vs Q3 2019) and co-product all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold sold of $885 in Q3 (a 35% reduction vs Q3 2019), the lowest cost quarter of 2020. Although the grade had a positive impact on the cost per ounce, the primary driver of the overall improvement was the reduction in mine unit cost per tonne processed.
As previously announced, Mercedes was placed into care and maintenance during the second quarter as mandated to help protect the health of our employees, their families, and neighbouring communities from the growing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Extensive technical work was carried out during the two-month shutdown to assess alternative mine plans with renewed attention to increasing profit margins. As a result, a new simplified operating plan with a more focused mining and development strategy was implemented when operations resumed late in the second quarter. The outcome is enhanced productivity and reduced costs, which is ensuring the mine’s ability to reliably deliver cash flow.
A phased re-start of the mine in June began with limited mining activities and the stockpiling of ore to ensure the safe and successful implementation of the plan and meet sanitation requirements necessitated by our COVID-19 protocols. Processing commenced on a batch milling basis in early July. The initial focus of the phased approach prioritizes completion of key access ramps to the Diluvio West and Lupita Extension stoping areas, delineation/definition drilling at Marianas and Diluvio West, and San Martin delineation drilling. During the third quarter operations were not affected by the pandemic and were executed according to the revised plan.
Mercedes mined a total of 106,597 tonnes during Q3 as compared to 163,030 tonnes during the prior year period as a result of focusing all mining activities on two production areas (Diluvio and Lupita) instead of six areas previously. This change had a several positive impact, with a considerable reduction waste tonnage, a 15% increase in the average gold grade from 2.94 g/t in Q3 2019 to 3.37 g/t, and a significant decrease in the costs per ounce sold.
The quarterly operating results are summarized in Table 2 below.
Table 2: Mercedes Selected Financial and Operating Results
South Arturo
The South Arturo mine in Nevada is a joint venture with Nevada Gold Mines LLC, operated by Barrick Gold Corporation (“Barrick”). Several opportunities exist on the property including the recently developed El Nino underground mine that represents the second operation developed at South Arturo and has delivered consistent production results since being put into production in the second half of 2019.
For Q3 2020, South Arturo produced 7,095 ounces of gold and 601 ounces of silver from El Nino. Ore production and the average grade were both above plan for the period. To-date there has been no material impact on the operations at South Arturo due to the COVID-19 pandemic as measures have been successfully implemented by the operator to control the risk to the employees and communities.
Co-product cash cost per ounce of gold sold was $987 and all-in sustaining cost per ounce of gold sold was $1,148 during the quarter.
Expansion drill results previously announced from the El Nino underground program were announced with highlight results of 39.6 m of 17.11 g/t Au, including 21.3 m of 24.75 g/t Au (SER20019) and 100.6 m of 5.73 g/t Au, including 13.7 m of 8.52 g/t Au (SER20018). The partners continue to advance additional development opportunities, including the Phase 1 and Phase 3 open-pit projects, and are assessing the potential for an on-site heap leach facility. Surface drilling in the vicinity of these proposed future pit projects commenced during the third quarter and the Company is in the final stages of completing a Preliminary Feasibility Study for South Arturo.
Table 3: South Arturo Selected Financial and Operating Results
Greenstone Gold Mines
The Company owns a 50% interest in the Greenstone Gold Mines Partnership (“GGM”). GGM’s principal asset is the Hardrock Mine Project (“Hardrock”) located on the Trans-Canada Highway near Geraldton, Ontario, Canada that represents one of the most significant large-scale, permitted mine development projects in North America.
Operations at Greenstone were not directly impacted by COVID-19. Greenstone management is closely monitoring the situation and were able to progressively reopen its offices and the project site during the period.
Spending at Hardrock during the quarter totaled $5.7 million (CAD$7.7 million) and $14.5 million (CAD$19.7 million) year-to-date. Key activities include further advancement of detailed engineering work for key infrastructure items, permitting, continued implementation of indigenous agreements, water management modelling and renewed exploration testing several targets outside of the Hardrock deposit.
Since inception of GGM in 2015, $120.8 million (CAD$158.9 million) has been expended on initiatives designed to de-risk and further optimize the economic model associated with the project. Premier disclosed a revised resource estimate in late 2019 that was prepared by G-Mining, the Independent Qualified Person (“QP”) for the project. Significant detailed engineering work was also completed during that time to further refine project design and increase the level of confidence associated with costs included in the economic model. Late in 2019, the QP prepared an updated economic model which incorporated the cumulative results of each of the comprehensive work programs over the past three years. The updated economic model, which was delivered to GGM in December of 2019, indicated significantly enhanced economics. The Company has commissioned the preparation of an updated technical report to accompany the economic model presented to the partners in late December 2019 and expects to have it completed in the near future.
Q3 2020 Financial Results and Conference Call Details
Full financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 will be released before market open on November 4th, followed by a conference call with senior management being held at 10:00am EST.
Details for the conference call and webcast can be found below and will be accessible on the Company’s website.
Toll Free (North America): (+1) 888 390 0605
International: (+1) 416 764 8609
Webcast Link: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1385431&tp_key=ca1ecfd77a
Conference Call Replay
The conference call replay will be available from 1:00pm EDT on November 4, 2020 until 11:59pm EDT on November 11, 2020.
Toll Free Replay Call (North America): (+1) 888 390 0541
International Replay Call: (+1) 416 764 8677
Passcode: 423039#
Qualified Person
Stephen McGibbon, P. Geo., Executive Vice-President, Corporate and Project Development at Premier has reviewed the scientific and technical information contained in this press release and is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43 -101.
