QUEBEC CITY, Nov. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robex Resources Inc. (“Robex” or “the Company”) (TSXV: RBX/FWB: RB4) is pleased to report its financial results for the quarter ending September 30, 2020.
All amounts presented are in Canadian dollars (CAD).
Highlights of the third quarter of 2020:
- GOLD SALES INCREASED BY 80%
Over the third quarter of 2020, 18,121 ounces of gold have been sold for a total of CAD 45.9 M, including all 7,831 ounces of the gold ingot stocks from June 30 for a total of CAD 19.5 M, compared to the 13,276 ounces of gold that were sold for CAD 25.5 M in the same period in 2019, thus an 80% increase.
As a reminder, the difference between the number of ounces of gold sold and the number of ounces of gold produced during the periods is due to the timing of shipments, and to the Company’s liquidity management.
- 224% INCREASE FOR NAMPALA’S OPERATING INCOME
The mine generated an operating income of CAD 28 M for the third quarter of 2020, compared to CAD 8.6 M for the same period in 2019, including CAD 3.5 M in the amortization of fixed assets for this 2020 quarter and CAD 7.4 M for the same period in 2019. Last October, the Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report containing the mineral resources and reserve estimates for the Nampala mine as at July 31, 2020, which has extended the Nampala mine’s life to over eight years, thereby slowing the amortization rate. - PRODUCTION COSTS
For the third quarter of 2020, there was a temporary 29% decrease in production, which reached 10,706 ounces compared to 15,175 ounces for the same period in 2019.
- The rainy season was extremely long and heavy this year, making the ore from the bottom of the main pit inaccessible. Normally, each spring, a higher-grade ore is deposited on the ROM pad to maintain production levels in anticipation of the rainy season, a period when pit excavation is more difficult. However, the restriction on the number of people on the mine site during the lockdown in the second quarter of 2020 has limited pit excavation and therefore prevented us from doing so. In the third quarter of 2020, we had to process lower-grade ore (0.86 g/t compared to 1.05 g/t for the same period in 2019).
- Also, the opening of the east pit led us to process surface ore which, as has previously been the case in the main pit, is of a lower grade than the core of the mineralized zone.
Consequently:
The all-in sustaining cost per ounce sold1 is of CAD 1,072 for the third quarter of 2020, compared to CAD 893 per ounce sold for the same period in 2019. The increase is primarily explained by the lower grade, which has resulted in fewer ounces being produced from the same tonnage of processed ore.
Rather than smoothing this one-time situation, it was decided to execute the mining plan at its economic optimum, even if it meant having a quarter with an apparent production underperformance. However, this did not prevent us from achieving an overall production for the first nine months of 2020 equivalent to the same period in 2019. It is important to note that since the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Nampala mine has recovered a richer ore grade and therefore production is more consistent with that obtained before the rainy season.
Production costs capitalized as stripping costs were of CAD 4.7 M in the third quarter of 2020, stemming from the fact that operating new pits around the main pit in 2020 has temporarily involved stripping work and, consequently, the removal of larger amounts of waste rock to reach the ore.
- CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES2 REPRESENTING 202% OF THOSE FOR THE SAME PERIOD IN 2019
The Company’s operating activities have generated cash flows of CAD 28.1 M (CAD 0.047 per share1), which corresponds to 61% of the turnover, compared to CAD 13.9 M (CAD 0,024 per share1) for the same period in 2019.
Mining Operation: Nampala, Mali
| Third quarters ended September 30, | Nine-month periods ended September 30, | |||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019 | |||||
| Operating Data | ||||||||
| Ore mined (tonnes) | 406,005 | 477,676 | 1,364,376 | 1,378,787 | ||||
| Ore processed (tonnes) | 438,367 | 512,377 | 1,398,547 | 1,370,536 | ||||
| Waste mined (tonnes) | 1,559,460 | 645,784 | 3,924,692 | 2,309,402 | ||||
| Operational stripping ratio | 3.8 | 1.4 | 2.9 | 1.7 | ||||
| Head grade (gpt) | 0.86 | 1.05 | 0.99 | 1.01 | ||||
| Recovery (%) | 88.2 | % | 87.7 | % | 89.1 | % | 86.5 | % |
| Gold ounces produced | 10,706 | 15,175 | 39,545 | 38,324 | ||||
| Gold ounces sold | 18,121 | 13,276 | 39,267 | 35,971 | ||||
| Financial Data | ||||||||
| (rounded off to the nearest thousand dollars) | ||||||||
| Revenue – Gold sales | 45,864,000 | 25,478,000 | 92,442,000 | 64,789,000 | ||||
| Mining operation expenses | 11,194,000 | 7,489,000 | 22,357,000 | 22,027,000 | ||||
| Mining royalties | 1,085,000 | 681,000 | 2,226,000 | 1,891,000 | ||||
| Administrative expenses | 2,095,000 | 1,284,000 | 6,295,000 | 4,626,000 | ||||
| Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets | 3,488,000 | 7,384,000 | 17,635,000 | 23,193,000 | ||||
| Segment operating income | 28,002,000 | 8,640,000 | 43,929,000 | 13,052,000 | ||||
| Statistics | ||||||||
| (in dollars) | ||||||||
| Average realized selling price (per ounce) | 2,531 | 1,919 | 2,354 | 1,801 | ||||
| Cash operating cost (per tonne processed)1 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 17 | ||||
| Total cash cost (per ounce sold)1 | 678 | 615 | 626 | 665 | ||||
| All-in sustaining cost (per ounce sold) 1 | 1,072 | 893 | 1,064 | 988 | ||||
| Administrative expenses (per ounce sold) | 116 | 97 | 160 | 129 | ||||
| Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (per ounce sold) | 192 | 556 | 449 | 645 | ||||
Robex’s MD&A and the condensed interim consolidated financial statements (unaudited) are available on the Company's website in the Investors section at robexgold.com. These reports and other documents produced by the Company are also available at sedar.com.
Continuous improvement
The Nampala mine remains focused on improving safe production performances:
- In early November, a new discharge line was installed, increasing the diameter from 315 to 450 mm, to increase production while reducing pump speed;
- A cone crusher is scheduled to be installed–equipment is currently being delivered;
- A new mechanical workshop is being completed. It is bigger and much closer to the plant, and it will speed up the work;
- A 500 m3 diesel tank is being installed to increase diesel reserves and better secure production.
To improve site security, 9 members of the National Guard are now permanently posted on the Nampala site to support the police team and our own security service.
A word from the President, Mr. Georges Cohen:
Performance is extremely satisfactory despite a slight cost increase resulting from an unusually challenging rainy season and the impacts of the pandemic.
Initiatives are continually underway to optimize performances at the Nampala mine.
Our prospecting campaign is still very promising; the work and financial efforts will, I hope, make it possible to increase annual production.
For information:
Robex Resources Inc.
Benjamin Cohen, CEO
Augustin Rousselet, CFO/COO
Head office: (581) 741-7421
info@robexgold.com
This news release contains statements that may be considered “forecast information” or “forecast statements” in terms of security rights. These forecasts are subject to uncertainties and risks, some of which are beyond the control of Robex. Achievements and final results may differ significantly from forecasts made implicitly or explicitly. These differences can be attributed to many factors, including market volatility, the impact of the exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations, mispricing, the environment (hardening of regulations), unforeseen geological situations, unfavourable operating conditions, political risks inherent in mining in developing countries, changes in government policies or regulations (laws and policies), an inability to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government agencies, or any other risk associated with mining and development. There can be no assurance that the circumstances set out in these forecasts will occur, or even benefit Robex, if any. The forecasts are based on the estimates and opinions of the Robex management team at the time of publication. Robex makes no commitment to make any updates or changes to these publicly available forecasts based on new information or events, or for any other reason, except as required by applicable security laws. The TSX Venture Exchange or the Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) assumes no responsibility for the authenticity or accuracy of this news release.
1 Cash operating cost, total cash cost, all-in sustaining cost and cash flows from operating activities per share are non-IFRS financial performance measures with no standard definition under IFRS. See the "Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures" section of the MD&A.
2 Cash flows from operating activities exclude the net variation of non-cash working capital elements.