Q3-2024 Production Results and Operational Highlights
Serabi Gold plc ("Serabi” or the "Company”) (AIM:SRB, TSX:SBI, OTCQX:SRBIF), the Brazilian focused gold mining and development company, is pleased to announce the Company's third quarter production results and operating highlights for FY2024 (all financial amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated).
QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
- Highest quarterly gold production year to date of 9,489 ounces for Q3-2024.
- Released results of the updated pre-economic assessment ("Updated PEA”) for its currently producing Coringa Gold operation ("Coringa”), prepared by NCL Ingeniería y Construcción SpA of Santiago, Chile ("NCL”). Highlights include:
- Annual production of 28,000oz in 2025, ramping up to 36,000oz per year between 2026 and 2031 with an 11-year mine life until 2034 at an average life of mine AISC of $1,241/oz;
- After-tax NPV10% of $145M with average life of mine annual free cash flow of $19M using a long-term gold price of $2,100/oz.
- Construction of the classification plant (crusher and ore sorter) progressing on time and budget; Commissioning trials of the crusher already ongoing. The ore sorter remains on track to being fully operational during Q4.
- Cash as at 30 September 2024 was $20.0M vs cash as at 31 December 2023 of $11.6M.
- Net cash balance at quarter end (after interest bearing loans and lease liabilities) of $14.0M (31 December 2023: net cash $5.0M)
- The Company is reiterating FY2024 consolidated gold production guidance of 38,000 - 40,000 ounces.
"The third quarter has been our best quarterly production year to date with close to 9,500 ounces generated. The process plant again performed admirably with another quarter recording approximately 55,000 milled tonnes (600 tonnes per day). Mine output also exceeded 58,000 tonnes.
The Coringa orebody continued to perform well with production principally now coming from levels 290m and 260m. The main Serra ramp has now reached level 165m and with development on levels 225m, 195m and 165m the mine is being developed well ahead of production. As mentioned in the past, the conversion of inferred resources into reserves at Coringa is close to 90% and therefore, the return of mineral reserves per metre developed is highly beneficial.
The classification plant being assembled at Coringa is now close to completion and remains on track to being operational during Q4. The Company plan to pre-concentrate mined ore at Coringa and truck this preconcentrated product to the Palito plant, 200km to the north, has been formally documented in the forthcoming Updated PEA. The full NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report will be issued by November 21 at the latest.
We are tracking well towards guidance, and with the classification plant progressing according to plan at Coringa, we remain very optimistic for the remainder of the year. We look forward to seeing the classification plant being operational next quarter, and hopefully what will be a great end to the year.”
| SUMMARY PRODUCTION STATISTICS FOR 2024 AND 2023 | |||||||||||
|
| Qtr 1 | Qtr 2 | Qtr 3 | YTD | Qtr 1 | Qtr 2 | Qtr 3 | Qtr 4 | Full Year | ||
| 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | |||
| Group | |||||||||||
| Gold production (1)(2) | Ounces | 9,007 | 9,003 | 9,489 | 27,499 | 8,005 | 8,518 | 8,738 | 7,891 | 33,153 | |
| Mined ore | Tonnes | 56,296 | 59,564 | 58,862 | 174,721 | 41,546 | 41,022 | 44,744 | 49,541 | 176,853 | |
| Gold grade (g/t) | 5.31 | 5.06 | 5.48 | 5.28 | 6.49 | 6.94 | 6.64 | 5.22 | 6.28 | ||
| Milled ore | Tonnes | 54,521 | 55,192 | 54,579 | 164,292 | 39,004 | 41,116 | 43,092 | 48,988 | 172,201 | |
| Gold grade (g/t) | 5.38 | 5.31 | 5.59 | 5.42 | 6.75 | 6.84 | 6.72 | 5.31 | 6.35 | ||
| Horizontal development | Metres | 3,087 | 3,481 | 3,146 | 9,714 | 2,464 | 2,977 | 2,923 | 3,134 | 11,498 | |
(2) Production numbers are subject to change pending final assay analysis from refineries.
OPERATIONAL RESULTS
Total production for the third quarter was 9,489 ounces. Total ore mined during the quarter was 58,862 tonnes at 5.48 g/t compared to 59,564 tonnes at 5.06 g/t of gold for the second quarter of 2024.
The Palito orebody continued to perform satisfactorily with good mine outputs, but not at forecast grades. The problems highlighted in the previous quarterly report cited the need to bulk mine the Chica da Santa sector where selective mining had originally been planned. This resulted in lower than budgeted grades due to unavoidable dilution. As the Company ramps up the development of Coringa, several crews have been redeployed and, as a result, development and production levels at Palito have decreased slightly. A return to mined grades of 6.00g/t is forecast with the opening of the Barichello sector which will contribute a significant volume of production for 2025.
The process plant performance has been exceptional with another approximately 55,000 tonnes milled during the quarter equivalent to 600 tonnes per day, this has been an exceptional effort, brought about by exceptional crushing performance and better preventative maintenance programmes which have dramatically reduced mill downtime. We have now had a consistent nine months of throughput at these new record levels.
The Palito Complex process plant treated 54,579 tonnes of ROM ore during the quarter, with an average grade of 5.59 g/t of gold, compared with 55,192 tonnes at 5.31 g/t in the second quarter of 2024.
A total of 3,146 metres of horizontal development has been completed for the quarter of which, 1,957 metres was ore development. The balance is the ramp, crosscuts and stope preparation development.
The Coringa orebody continues to perform very well, with mined grades averaging 6.44 g/t for the quarter. Production is focused on the uppermost levels 320m, 290m and 260m, with development now complete or very nearly on levels 225m and 195m. The newest level 165m is now under development as the main ramp continues to advance towards level 130m. Coringa has 2½ fully developed levels ahead of stoping.
UPDATED CORINGA PEA RESULTS (October 7, 2024 News Release)
Highlights:
- Annual production is estimated at 28,000oz in 2025, and then averages 36,000oz per year between 2026 and 2031 with an 11-year mine life until 2034
- Average Life of Mine ("LOM”) All-In Sustaining Cost ("AISC”) of $1,241/oz including royalties and refining costs using the Base Case gold price.
- The updated Mineral Resource Inventory at Coringa, upon which the Updated PEA is based were as follows:
- Measured & Indicated Resources (M&I) 795kt @ 7.03g/t gold (179koz contained);
- Inferred Resources 1,454kt @ 5.81g/t gold (271koz contained);
- Mine plan utilises 145koz M&I and 241koz Inferred which equates to 81% of the total M&I resource inventory and 89% of the inferred resource.
- Average LOM gold grades from the mine of 5.38 g/t, which are increased to 8.50 g/t after ore sorting, producing a total gold production of 363koz.
- Under the Base Case scenario, the operation underscores robust economics:
- Post-tax NPV10% of $145M;
- Average annual free cash flow of $19M;
- Sustaining Life of Mine ("LOM”) capital expenditures of $87M to be funded from project cash-flow;
- Mining is by underground shrinkage stoping using a cut-off grade of 3.16 g/t gold. Resource widths and grades within the Updated PEA mine plan have been further diluted to 1 metre minimum mining widths.
An interview with Mike Hodgson by BRR Media discussing the PEA can be accessed here: https://brrmedia.news/Coringa_PEA
The Updated PEA was completed by NCL Ingeniería y Construcción SpA ("NCL”) of Santiago, Chile, Serabi's independent engineering consultant.
The full NI 43-101 compliant Technical Report, supporting the economic results and including the updated mineral resource statement is being prepared by NCL and is required to be published with 45 days, with an expected release no later than November 21, 2024. A further news release will be made when it becomes available with copies available on the Company's website and on SEDAR+.
Table 1 - Summary of Updated PEA Results (in Millions)
| Gold Price (per ounce) | $1,950 | BASE CASE $2,100 | $2,280 | SPOT $2,600 |
| Pre-tax NPV5% | $193 | $230 | $275 | $356 |
| Pre-tax NPV10% | $151 | $181 | $217 | $281 |
| Post-tax NPV5% | $159 | $184 | $214 | $267 |
| Post-tax NPV10% | $125 | $145 | $169 | $211 |
| Project Post-tax Cash Flow | $210 | $242 | $281 | $350 |
| Avg. Annual Free Cash Flow | $16 | $19 | $22 | $27 |
| Avg. Gross Revenue | $52 | $56 | $61 | $69 |
| Unit | Amount | |
| Gold Price | $/oz | $2,100 |
| Cut-off grade | g/t | 3.16 |
| Run of Mine (ROM) Material to Process | Tonnes | 2,232,919 |
| Mining Method | Method | Shrinkage Stoping |
| Annual Throughput at 100% Capacity | Tonnes | 215,000 |
| Ore Sorter Efficiency (Tonnes) | % | 61% |
| Ore Sorter Upgrade | x | 1.59 |
| Process Gold Recovery | % | 97% |
| Total Gold Production (Recovered) | Ounces | 363,108 |
| Mine Life | Years | 11 |
| Sustaining Capital Expenditures | $M | $87 |
| Mine Closure Costs | $M | $1 |
| Cash Operating Costs (inc. Royalty + TC/RCs) | $/oz | $965 |
| All In Sustaining Cost (inc. Royalty + TC/RCs) | $/oz | $1,241 |
| Exchange Rate | R$:US$ | 5.5 |
| Royalties | % | 4.00% |
| Profits Tax Rate | % | 34% |
Table 3 - Coringa Updated Mineral Resource Estimate
| Classification | Quantity | Grade | Contained Metal |
| Gold | Gold | ||
| 000 't | g/t | 000' oz | |
| Measured Resources | 172 | 8.96 | 49 |
| Indicated Resources | 623 | 6.49 | 130 |
| Measured & Indicated Resources | 795 | 7.03 | 179 |
| Inferred Resources | 1,454 | 5.81 | 271 |
| (1) Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimates. Mineral Resources are reported within classification domains inclusive of in-situ dilution at a cut-off grade of 3.16g/t gold assuming an underground extraction scenario, an operating cost of $107/t for mining, crushing and sorting, sorting efficiency of 61% of the tonnes and 1.59 upgrade factor, $88/t for hauling to Palito, processing at Palito plant and site costs, metallurgical recovery of 97%, 4% on royalties and 2.3% for refining, insurance, freight and sales, and a gold price of $1,950/troy oz. (2) Serabi is the operator and owns 100% of the Coringa Gold Project such that gross and net attributable mineral resources are the same. The mineral resource estimate was prepared by NCL Ingeniería y Construcción SpA in accordance with the standard of CIM and Canadian National Instrument 43-101, with an effective date of 6 April 2024 by Mr Nicolás Fuster, who is a Qualified Person under the Canadian National Instrument 43-101. (3) NCL believes that the resource estimates shown in the table above meets the CIM standards for a resource estimate based on CIM Standards of Mineral Resources and Reserves Definitions and Guidelines adopted by the CIM council 10 May, 2014 | |||
As reported last quarter, in January 2024, the Company received the renewal of the GUIA trial mining license, for a period of three years and it is under the GUIA license that Coringa is operating. The Company has been invited and has applied for an increase of the volume of ore that can be transported from Coringa to Palito. With respect to progress on the Installation License (LI), the Company along with its environmental consultancy, Araca, has completed the Plano Basico Ambiental (PBA). This study was incorporated into the Indigenous Impact Report (ECI) that was submitted to FUNAI (the federal agency for indigenous communities) in May 2024 for approval.
FINANCE UPDATE
Cash balances at the end of September 2024 were $20.0M, in comparison to the cash balances at the end of December 2023 of $11.6M. On 7 January 2024, the Group completed a $5.0M unsecured loan arrangement with Itau Bank in Brazil. The loan is repayable as a bullet payment on 6 January 2025 and carries an interest coupon of 8.47 per cent. The proceeds raised from the loan are being used for working capital and secure adequate liquidity to repay a similar arrangement which was repaid on 22 February 2024. The Company had a net cash balance at the end of Q3-2024 (after interest bearing loans and lease liabilities) of $14.0M (31 December 2023: net cash $5.0M). Cash generated in the quarter was boosted by the realisation of inventory with sales recognised in the quarter for 10,683 ounces compared with production of 9,489 ounces. At an average price of $2,480 for the quarter this represents approximately $3.0M.
FY2024 PRODUCTION GUIDANCE
The Company continues to estimate FY2024 consolidated gold production of 38,000 - 40,000 ounces.
About Serabi Gold plc
Serabi Gold plc is a gold exploration, development and production company focused on the prolific Tapajós region in Para State, northern Brazil. The Company has consistently produced 30,000 to 40,000 ounces per year with the Palito Complex and is planning to double production in the coming years with the construction of the Coringa Gold project. Serabi Gold plc recently made a copper-gold porphyry discovery on its extensive exploration licence. The Company is headquartered in the United Kingdom with a secondary office in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
The person who arranged for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company was Andrew Khov, Vice President, Investor Relations & Business Development.
Enquiries
SERABI GOLD plc
Michael Hodgson t +44 (0)20 7246 6830
Chief Executive m +44 (0)7799 473621
Clive Line t +44 (0)20 7246 6830
Finance Director m +44 (0)7710 151692
Andrew Khov m +1 647 885 4874
Vice President, Investor Relations &
Business Development
e contact@serabigold.com
BEAUMONT CORNISH Limited
Nominated Adviser & Financial Adviser
Roland Cornish / Michael Cornish t +44 (0)20 7628 3396
PEEL HUNT LLP
Joint UK Broker
Ross Allister t +44 (0)20 7418 9000
TAMESIS PARTNERS LLP
Joint UK Broker
Charlie Bendon/ Richard Greenfield t +44 (0)20 3882 2868
CAMARCO
Financial PR - Europe
Gordon Poole / Emily Hall t +44 (0)20 3757 4980
HARBOR ACCESS
Financial PR - North America
Jonathan Patterson / Lisa Micali t +1 475 477 9404
Copies of this announcement are available from the Company's website at www.serabigold.com.
See www.serabigold.com for more information and follow us on twitter @Serabi_Gold
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The following is a glossary of technical terms:
| "actinolite” | amphibole silicate mineral commonly found in metamorphic rocks, including those surrounding cooled intrusive igneous rocks |
| "Ag” | means silver. |
| "alkalic porphyry” | A class of copper-porphyry mineral deposits characterised by disseminated mineralisation within and immediately adjacent to silica-saturated to silica-undersaturated alkalic intrusive centres and being copper/gold/molybdenum-rich. |
| "albite” | is a plagioclase feldspar mineral |
| "aplite” | An intrusive igneous rock in which the mineral composition is the same as granite, but in which the grains are much finer |
| "argillic alteration” | is hydrothermal alteration of wall rock which introduces clay minerals including kaolinite, smectite and illite |
| "AISC” | means All-In Sustaining Cost - a non IFRS performance measurement established by the World Gold Council |
| "ANM” | means the Agencia Nacional de Mineral. |
| "Au” | means gold. |
| "assay” | in economic geology, means to analyse the proportions of metal in a rock or overburden sample; to test an ore or mineral for composition, purity, weight or other properties of commercial interest. |
| "biotite” | A phyllosilicate mineral composed of a silicate of iron, magnesium, potassium, and aluminum found in crystalline rocks and as an alteration mineral. |
| "breccia” | a rock composed of large angular broken fragments of minerals or rocks cemented together by a fine-grained matrix |
| "brecciation” | Describes the process where large angular broken fragments of minerals or rocks become cemented together by a fine-grained matrix. |
| "CIM” | means the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum. |
| "CIP” or "Carbon in Pulp” | means a process used in gold extraction by addition of cyanide. |
| "chalcopyrite” | is a sulphide of copper and iron. |
| "copper porphyry” | copper ore body formed from hydrothermal fluids. These fluids will be predated by or associated with are vertical dykes of porphry intrusive rocks |
| "Cu” | means copper. |
| "cut-off grade” | the lowest grade of mineralised material that qualifies as ore in a given deposit; rock of the lowest assay included in an ore estimate. |
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