The 2008 gold production target is 1,250 kg (40,000 oz) compared to last year's
actual production of 1,073 kg. The target is split between 900 kg for the
alluvial subsidiaries and 350 kg for the Tardan mine. As usual the bulk of the
gold will be produced during the second half of the year. During the quarter
January - March 2008 some 50 kg of gold (0 kg) were produced.
• A new magnetite separator will be commissioned at the Tardan processing plant
towards the end of the second quarter. This unit will enhance the recovery
coefficient in respect of the magnetite containing ore blocks that are
currently produced.
• It is planned to shortly submit the new gold reserve report in respect of the
Tardan deposit to the relevant authorities for inspection and approval. The
reserve review and approval are expected during this summer. The feasibility
study for the heap leaching plant is also due in summer this year, after which
commencement of construction of the plant is planned.
• A drilling programme amounting to some 1,100 m was carried out at the
Kara-Beldyr deposit during January - March 2008. The analyzed samples confirm
that the gold mineralized zone at the Gordejevskoe mineralization is evenly
distributed from surface down to a depth of at least 30 m. The drilling
programme also proved that the mineralization extends to the northeast.
• In the Bodaibo district (Irkutsk) a significant working programme is being
carried out in 2008. During the first quarter some 80,000 m3 of trenching was
performed, resulting in 20 surface trenches with a total length of 3,800 m
along the gold mineralized zone. Core drilling and mud drilling are proceeding
at the site. As previously stated, the gold mineralized zone is homogenous from
the top section down to the bottom in the drilled core wells.
• In May 2008 the geologic authorities in Irkutsk stated that they believe that
the completed comprehensive exploration programme will be able to prove some
132 tons (4.2 million oz) of gold reserves and gold resources. This is a very
promising indication.
• An EGM held on May 21, 2008 approved a preferential rights issue of some MSEK
65, which will be carried out in June.
• Consolidated revenues for the quarter January - March 2008 amounted to TSEK
34,933 (TSEK 6,009).
• The net result after tax for the reporting period was TSEK
-9,242 (TSEK -16,174).
• EPS was SEK -0.012 for the twelve-month period (SEK -0.053). For the last
quarter EPS was SEK -0.023 (-SEK 0.041).
Comment by the Managing Director
During the first quarter of 2008 Central Asia Gold has focused on completing
the new gold reserve report in respect of the Tardan deposit, which is due to
be submitted soon. The resulting reserve review results from the Russian
authorities are due this summer. Thereafter it should hopefully be possible to
start the design and construction of the long awaited heap leaching plant. At
present, prior to the completion of the leaching circuit, we only recover
approximately half of the gold in the extracted ores. However we have already
covered the major part of the total production costs. This implies that the
profits and cash flow from the Tardan gold production are currently being
stored in the tailings pond. When the leaching plant starts working, which for
the time being is expected to occur during the second half of 2009, the group's
gold production will increase considerably without significant incremental
costs. Our operations will then become very much more profitable.
Within our alluvial subsidiaries, we have made big efforts to hammer out a new
incentive system based on production targets and profitability. This is
important when inflation creates new challenges.
As regards the very promising geologic exploration work at the Kopylovskoye
deposit, the working programme is going at full speed. The ore bodies at the
deposit are open in all directions, and in the limited part of the deposit
where reserves have been calculated down to a depth of only 30 m, there already
exists close to quarter of a million ounces of gold reserves. The potential is
significant. The geologic authorities in Irkutsk have recently stated that they
estimate that a comprehensive exploration programme at Kopylovskoye may result
in 62 tons of gold reserves (C1+C2) and in addition 70 tons of P1 gold
resources. This is, as said, subject to a completed exploration programme.
The forthcoming rights issue will enable Central Asia Gold to continue with all
these development opportunities.
Torbjörn Ranta, Managing Director
Background
Central Asia Gold AB (CAG AB) is a Swedish mining company with operations in
Eastern Siberia, Russia. The group structure consists of the Swedish joint
stock parent company, which currently controls three subsidiaries, of which two
are in Russia. The Russian subsidiaries are of the limited liability type. The
three subsidiaries also own several sub-subsidiaries in Russia. The operations
involve exploration and production of gold, primarily in the Tyva and Irkutsk
regions in Russia.
The group's main assets comprise a large number of mineral licences held by the
various subsidiaries. The licences, as at early January 2008, are estimated to
contain 645,000 troy ounces (oz) (1 oz = 31.1 g) of gold reserves according to
the Russian C1+C2 categories, as well as 1,049,000 oz of P1 gold resources and
6,255,000 oz of P2 gold resources.
The gold reserves attributable to the Tardan deposit will be subject to a new
reserve review by the authorities during summer 2008. In Irkutsk, 25% of the
Kopylovskoye project has been sold out to a group of external investors during
2007, which initially reduces the Kopylovskoye net gold reserves to CAG AB.
CAG AB was publicly listed on the Swedish NGM Nordic Growth Market stock
exchange on March 29, 2005. The number of shareholders is currently some 4,600.
Results - the Group
For the three-month period ending March 31, 2008 the group reports a net result
after tax of TSEK -9,242 (TSEK -16,174), which corresponds to SEK -0.023 per
share (SEK -0.041).
Consolidated gold sales revenues were TSEK 8,999 (TSEK 1,720) during the
reporting period.
In addition, a revenue component of TSEK 7,661 (TSEK 2,770) relating mainly to
services performed by the transportation subsidiaries of the group is included
in the consolidated P/L account. Only the part of transportation services
relating to external clients is included in the consolidated accounts.
The change in stock of finished and semi-finished goods during the quarter
January - March 2008 amounted to TSEK 5,828 (TSEK 1,041).
During first quarter 2008 total costs of TSEK 12,350 were capitalized at
subsidiary level (TSEK 476).
Total operating costs in the group during the reporting period amounted to TSEK
42,076 (TSEK 24,187).
Net financial items were TSEK -2,029 for the quarter January - March 2008 (TSEK
2,010). This includes non-cash flow affecting currency exchange losses in the
parent company of TSEK -2,960.
The tax cost for the reporting period was TSEK -70 (TSEK 0).
The minority share of the net result for the 3-month period was TSEK 204 (TSEK
-258).
Mining operations
Tardan project in the Tyva region
General overview
Tardan is a medium sized gold deposit, which was privatized in a public auction
in the summer of 2003. The established Russian reserves (C1/C2) and P1
resources, most recently updated in the early 1990s, then amounted to 413,000
oz of gold, of which 229,000 oz were C1/C2 reserves. In addition, Tardan is
estimated to contain 4,354,000 oz of P2 gold resources (Russian classification
standards). The appraisal work has so far only been conducted to a depth of
about 100 m. The average gold grade of these reserves was estimated at 10.7
grams/ton (g/t). Some 30 ore bodies exist, out of which the four main ore
bodies constitute the bulk of the gold reserves assigned thus far.
A considerable exploration programme involving core drilling, trenching and
construction of underground drifts and shafts was carried out in the Soviet
period and has been supplemented by new data gathering in 2004 - 2007. The
first license applies to a 3.3 square kilometre area, which is located 80 km to
the east of the region's capital Kyzyl.
Another exploration and production license with a term of 25 years was won in a
public auction in summer 2007. This license area comprises some 520 km2 and
surrounds the first license area. This new license is called the "Tardan mining
district". A large number of gold occurrences were identified at this license
block during the Soviet era, and Central Asia Gold has already commenced with
appraising them. The occurrence of initial interest is called "Tardan 2" and is
located only some 2 km to the east of the new processing plant commissioned
this year.
Reserve status and heap leaching plans
As stated above, the initial Tardan license comprised some 229,000 oz of gold
reserves assigned in the Soviet era. The cut-off grade applied then was 2 g/ton
and the appraisal work did not go below a depth of 100 m. Of the total gold
reserves assigned during the Soviet era, the 5 major ore bodies contained some
160,000 oz of the assigned C1/C2 reserves.
Central Asia Gold has conducted a significant appraisal programme at these ore
bodies over the last two years, and gold production has commenced. The
appraisal work continues, and thus more information is added all the time.
Central Asia Gold is now preparing for a new reserve examination by the Russian
State Mineral Reserve Committee (GKZ). The documentation will be submitted
shortly, and the authorities are expected to conduct their reserve examination
during summer 2008. This reserve review will comprise the major ore bodies at
the license block. At the same time a feasibility study will be conducted in
respect of the new heap leaching plant by a selected Russian project design
institute. The feasibility study is due in summer 2008, and thereafter it
should be possible to start construction of the plant.
The tentative time plan in respect of the heap leaching plant implies that the
first stage of this plant, including leaching pads capable of leaching a few
hundred thousand tons of ores annually, should be commissioned in 2009. In
2009, it is planned to leach only the tailings from the high-grade ores
processed in Tardan. In 2010 the leaching capacity will be increased. The
feasibility study will, however, give more exact parameters. In this way, gold
production on the Tardan license is planned to increase in 2009, and will then
be increased further in the subsequent years when the low-grade ores will also
be treated.
Gold production - the processing plant
The gravimetric processing plant has worked satisfactorily during the reporting
period. Ore volumes processed amounted to 22,000 tons. The up-time of the plant
exceeded 90%. During the quarter January - March 2008 ore blocks with
relatively lower grade and fine gold grains have been processed. The recovery
coefficient in the plant was therefore less than 40% during this quarter. The
total volume of chemically pure gold produced was about 50 kg. As from the
middle of the second quarter, the gold grade in the processed blocks will be
higher.
One challenge thus far has been the presence of the mineral magnetite in the
ore. When it is present, the recovery of gold in the gravimetric process
decreases and a relatively larger part of the gold in the ores is lost in the
tailings. This problem will be eliminated once the heap leaching plant has been
commissioned. In the mean time, the OOO Tardan Gold management has prepared an
interim solution, namely the introduction of a magnetite separator. It is due
to be commissioned by the end of the second quarter, and the recovery
coefficient in respect of the magnetite containing ores will thereby increase
during the second half of this year. Awaiting this, a large quantity of ores
with high magnetite content has been stored. The gold grade in these ores is
high and therefore gold production at Tardan during the second half is expected
to exceed production during the first six months of the year.
The gold production target at Tardan for 2008 remains at 350 kg.
Kopylovskoye deposit in Irkutsk
Kopylovskoye is a gold deposit that holds 7 tons of gold reserves as per
Russian geological standards (some 240,000 oz). The project's potential reserve
base, however, is significantly larger as the gold reserves registered thus far
are only attributable to a depth of some 30 m.
The geological work is ongoing at the site in Bodaibo. The working programme is
extensive. During the first quarter of the year, a total 20 surface trenches
were constructed with a total length of 3,800 m. These intersect the license
block on both sides of the established ore bodies in a total zone of
approximately 1.5 km. Sampling has already commenced in the trenches and in
addition core- and mud drilling are ongoing.
A new laboratory, or rather sample preparation unit, has been commissioned. It
is able to quickly and reliably process and concentrate test samples on line.
Thereafter the prepared test samples are sent for final analysis to an external
laboratory. More than 1,000 samples have so far been collected from trenches
and cores, and the sampling continues at full speed. The sample analyses arrive
with a certain time lag.
It is important to stress that the existing ore body is still fully open in all
directions. The established strike of the ore body is some 300 m and the width
some 50 m. However, the license block itself has a length of some 3 km and the
gold mineralized zone penetrates right through the license block. The analysis
of the first cores shows that the structure of the rocks at an absolute depth
of some 100 m is identical to the rocks in the top of the deposit (where the
established gold reserves are located).
In May 2008 the geologic authorities in Irkutsk stated that they estimate,
subject to a fully completed exploration programme, that the Kopylovskoye
project will result in 62 tons of gold reserves (C1+C2) as well as 70 tons of
P1 gold resources (highest Russian resource category). This corresponds to a
total 4.2 million ounces of gold in the ground. Again this presumes the
completion of the exploration programme. The expectations of the geologic
authorities thereby exceed those of Central Asia Gold up to now, which is
encouraging.
The other gold mining projects in the Central Asia Gold portfolio
Kara-Beldyr in Tyva region:
Among Central Asia Gold's other mining projects, concrete exploration work has
taken place at Kara-Beldyr (Tyva region) during the first quarter of 2008. The
reason is that no all-year-road exists to the project, and accordingly heavy
works should preferably be carried out during the cold period of the year when
the winter roads are open. During the quarter January - March 2008, a light
drilling programme involving a total 1,100 m was completed. The drilling
programme comprised mud drilling holes down to some 30 m. Three exploration
lines were drilled crossing the established gold mineralization
"Gordejevskoye". This mineralization has historically been mostly proved at the
surface via surface trenches. The purpose of the drilling programme during the
first quarter this year was to verify old data at surface and to test the
extension deeper down. The results on the one hand confirmed that the gold
mineralized zone continues down to at least 30 m, and further that the
mineralization extends to the northwest.
As stated in the previous quarterly report, a new bulk ore sample from
Kara-Beldyr was analysed in 2007. The sample was relatively large with a weight
of a couple of hundred kg and was taken from a surface trench with a width of
some 70 m. Previously analysed samples from Kara-Beldyr have not had the same
weight. The new sample showed an average gold grade of slightly less than 3 g/t
taken from the full 70 m interval. The relatively large width of the gold
mineralized zone in this trench indicates that the gold may be extracted via an
open pit, which is preferable. It should also be added that ore enrichment
tests conducted via heap leaching on said ore sample demonstrated high
recoveries. This is a very cost effective extraction method. In summary, the
new information is very encouraging when it comes to trying to prove a
significant ore reserve at Kara-Beldyr.
Alluvial gold production:
The subsidiary gold placer producers OOO Artelj Tyva (Tyva region) and OOO
Artelj Lena (Irkutsk region)
During the first quarter of each year, no alluvial gold production takes place.
The production season normally begins in the end of May and extends to early
October, that is during the warm part of the year.
During the first quarter of the year efforts have been directed at completing a
new incentive system in the two subsidiaries. Alluvial gold production involves
a large workforce, which results in high variable operating costs. In addition
gold grades are fairly low. This implies that margins in alluvial gold
production are lower than in mining operations, but on the other hand capital
intensity is lower in alluvial companies. This, however, means that it is very
important to correctly incentivize the workers. This is particularly important
when inflation increases the costs. A profit sharing system has therefore been
worked out whereby the workers are incentivized to minimize costs. If this
occurs, the workers get a bigger profit sharing by year end. Any increase in
results due to a higher than budgeted gold price do not particularly influence
the profit sharing. Central Asia Gold believes the new system will be
beneficial to subsidiary staff as well as to Central Asia Gold. The production
target 2008 for both subsidiaries has been determined at 900 kg of pure gold.
As usual, the major part of the gold is produced during the third quarter of
the year. At the start of the year both subsidiaries year secured the working
capital requirements in the Russian banking system.
As previously stated, a minority of some 5% has arisen in subsidiary OOO Artelj
Lena during the first quarter. The background is that a couple of workers,
previous members of the workers' collective Artelj Lena, have applied to the
court in Irkutsk claiming they were non-lawfully expelled from the collective.
This applies to the period before Central Asia Gold took over Artelj Lena. A
local court in Irkutsk has reinstated them as owners of 5% of the capital and
votes in OOO Artelj Lena. Central Asia Gold and its legal advisors reject this
and will appeal. The event is not very material but a source of irritation.
Investments, liquidity and financing
Net investments in material and immaterial fixed assets during the first
quarter of 2008 amounted to TSEK 14,063 (TSEK 8,365).
Cash in group accounts was TSEK 47,743 at the end of March 2008 (TSEK 49,242).
The parent company
The Swedish parent company is a holding company without significant operations.
It supports the subsidiary companies with financing, investor relation services
and strategy reviews etc. It thus has no income other than interest on loans
extended to the subsidiaries from time to time or in respect of bank deposits.
The number of employees was 7 including the Moscow representative office at the
end of the reporting period (3). The net result for the first quarter 2008 was
TSEK -5,574 (TSEK +401). Non-cash flow affecting currency exchange losses of
TSEK
-2,960 is included in this result.
Cash in the parent company was TSEK 3,586 as at end of March 2008 (TSEK34,289).
Employees
The group had 1,183 employees at the end of March 2008 (510).
Issued shares
As at the end of March 2008, as well as at the date of this report, the number
of shares outstanding in Central Asia Gold AB (publ) is 412,210,070.
In addition to this, an options programme directed at leading personnel in the
group was approved by the Annual General Meeting of shareholders on June 12,
2007 in Stockholm. In total 14,500,000 options were issued in accordance with
this programme. The term of the options is to the end of July 2009 and the
strike price is SEK 2.25 per option corresponding to one underlying share. The
options can only be exercised towards the end of the period. The allocation of
options took place during the third quarter of the financial year. The market
price of the CAG share is lower than the strike price of the options as at the
end of the report period.
Major events after the end of the reporting period
Central Asia Gold is granted a credit by Russian Sberbank
After the end of the report period Central Asia Gold's subsidiary OOO Tardan
was granted a credit of 102 million RUR (approximately 26 MSEK at the current
exchange rate) by the Russian commercial bank Sberbank.
The credit is granted for investment purposes. It must be secured by pledges of
material fixed assets, by guarantees from other Central Asia Gold subsidiaries
and lastly by personal guarantees from certain leading personnel in OOO Tardan
Gold. All this is in accordance with Russian banking practice. The credit must,
if drawn upon, be repaid in monthly installments after some three years. The
repayment takes place over approximately 36 months. In April 2008 OOO Tardan
Gold drew upon 31 million RUR of the credit and has pledged material fixed
assets of a corresponding value.
Central Asia Gold wins license auction in Irkutsk
On April 25 Central Asia Gold AB participated in an open gold license auction
in the Bodaibo province of Irkutsk region. A number of gold exploration blocks
were subject to the auction process. Central Asia Gold, via the 75% owned
subsidiary Kopylovskoye AB, bid for the "Prodolny" block. This block has an
area of 141 km2 and houses a number of gold occurrences. The interest for this
region inter alia depends on the fact that the biggest gold deposit in the
Russian Federation, Suchoy Log, is located there.
The Prodolny license block is considered to hold some 18 tons (578,000 oz) of
gold mineral resources according to Russian standards. However, only limited
exploration work has been carried out to date.
The license entitles the license holder to carry out exploration work as well
as production of gold. The winning auction price amounted to some 3 MSEK.
Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on May 21 approves Board's proposal to
conduct rights issue
An EGM held on May 21 approved the proposal by the Board of Directors to
conduct a rights issue of so-called units containing both shares and warrants.
The term means that for each seven existing shares one unit is offered. Each
unit contains two new shares and one warrant. The warrants must be subscribed
no later than December 5, 2008. The subscription price is SEK 1.10 SEK per unit
corresponding to SEK 0.55 per share. The subscription price is SEK 0.55. Given
full take up (including exercising of all warrants) Central Asia Gold will
receive some 97 MSEK before rights issue costs. The record date for the rights
issue is May 28.
Next report due
The next financial report due is the interim report for the period January -
June 2008. It will be released on Thursday, August 28, 2008. Thereafter follows
the nine-month report on November 28, 2008.
Annual report and 2008 Annual General Meeting
The 2008 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held in Stockholm on Thursday,
June 12 at the address Operaterassen, Karl XII:s Torg, 111 47 Stockholm,
starting at 15.00. The annual report is now available for downloading at the
website
www.centralasiagold.se and will be mailed to all registered shareholders now in
May.
Company information
The parent company's full name is Central Asia Gold AB (publ). It is a public
limited liability company with head offices in Stockholm and the corporate
identification number is 556659-4833. The address of the parent company is
Brovägen 9, 182 76 Stocksund.
(For full report see attached file.)
