BREAKING: KCGM Owners Make Joint Announcement

KCGM Super Pit Owners Northern Star Resources and Saracen Minerals have released information to the market this morning about their respective operations based on the lockdown imposed in Western Australia.
Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited and Northern Star Resources advises that it does not expect production and exploration at its West Australian operations to be impacted by the five-day lockdown measures announced yesterday by WA Premier Mark McGowan. All the Company’s operations are located outside the lockdown boundaries set by the Government. The Company will advise the market should these circumstances change. Saracen’s top priority at all times is the health and safety of its staff, business partners and the communities in which we operate and this is the basis of all its strategies for managing COVID-19.

Morning News Bites – August 19

In the Morning News Bites – August 19

ANZ posts cash profits of $1.49 billion with around 84,000 home loan deferrals and around 22,000 business loans deferred. Dominoes Pizza has increazsed its sales in Australia and New Zealand by 4% to $1.2 billion. While The Reject Shop posts a net profit after tax of $1.1 million after a $16.9m loss in previous corresponding period.

Silver Lake Resources has posted an increase in gold production of 64% to 273,071 ounces gold equivalent and a 54% increase in gold sales. The company also posted a 3,852% increase in statutory profit after tax of $257 million. The hedge book for Silver Lake Resources is also totals 155,568 ounces at A$2,147/oz for delivery over FY21 – FY22 as of June 30.

Saracen Resources has made the big league according to Managing Director Ral Finlayson as the company announced a record underlying net profit after tax. Mr Finlayson said “These results show Saracen has successfully made the transition to the big league of ASX gold producers,” Production for Saracen is set to reach around 700,000oz pa in FY24, before climbing to around 800,000ozpa in FY27 “Our production rate is now running at +600,000oz a year and our cost base is still tight. This means we are perfectly positioned to capitalise on the strong gold price and continue generating strong growth in our cashflow. And all our operations are based in the Tier-1 location of Western Australia which, in conjunction with our future-proofing strategy, adds further certainty to the outlook for our business.” he said.

Production volume for Mineral Resources has increased for the 20FY by 65%. The Koolyanobbing Iron Ore operation June run rate was at 12.7Mtpa, while Mt Marion lithium production up 17% year-on-year. MRL have initiated a comprehensive COVID-19 screening process for employees and visitors and includes WA’s largest private PCR screening facility 7 sites – 2 in Perth metropolitan area and 5 in regional areas, More than 40 nurses and collectors trained for swab screening and they process test everyone prior to entering a site. Managing Director Chris Ellison said “MRL has entered FY21 with a strong balance sheet and positive momentum in our operations. We remain vigilant to the ongoing threat posed by COVID-19, as well as opportunities for which we can quickly and efficiently deploy the Mining Services capabilities that are the hallmark of our Company.”

Drill sites for Castillo Copper’s Big One Deposit have been pegged and preparations for the upcoming drill program are in place. Managing Director Simon Paull thanked his geology team and is looking to move forward on the drilling “Thanks to the dedicated hard work of our geology team, we are now clearly across logistics and regulatory approvals. Importantly, we are now fully prepared to move forward with our planned drilling campaign at the Big One Deposit. Moreover, the fresh geological insights the field team observed at site is extremely encouraging, especially finding high-grade supergene and massive sulphide mineralisation at surface.” he said.

Placement and Institutional Entitlement Offer attracted significant demand from both eligible existing and eligible new institutional investors located in Australia and offshore. Lynas Corp Managing Director Amanda Lacaze said “We are delighted by the level of demand for the Institutional Offer from eligible existing and new institutional investors, both in Australia and overseas. This is a clear indication of institutional support for our Lynas 2025 growth vision and our strengthened balance sheet will enable Lynas to mitigate global economic uncertainties and continue to progress with our Lynas 2025 foundation projects. We look forward to the participation of our retail shareholders when the Retail Entitlement Offer opens on Monday, 24 August.”

 

Morning News Bites – August 18

In Today’s Morning News Bites for August 18. KCGM release their reserves, resources and guidance update for FY21. 

KCGM have set an FY21 guidance of 440,000 – 480,000oz at AISC of A$1,470 – 1,570/oz3, growth capital budget at A$198m (A$12m on exploration), and an expectation of production to rise to +675,000ozpa.  Further growth is supported by a large quantity of significant drill results across the KCGM portfolio that sit outside of current Reserves, including at Fimiston South open pit, OBH open pit, Fimiston South underground and Mt Charlotte underground.

Saracen Mineral Holdings report a new 7 year group production outlook. It was underwritten by 8.6Moz in Reserves and resources of 320Mt @ 1.7g/t for 17.0Moz as of FY20. Group production guidance for FY21 of 600 – 640,000oz at an AISC of A$1,300 – A$1,400/oz. Saracen Managing Director Raleigh Finlayson said Saracen was on track to continue the Company’s long record of growing its production and expanding its inventory, saying “Saracen’s strategy of making opportunistic acquisitions and then unlocking their full value through exploration and development has created substantial value for shareholders for many years.”

Northern Star Resources report further increases in forecast production and more growth in reserves and resources as a result of the review conducted at its half-owned KCGM joint venture in WA. Production is forecast to rise to 1.15Moz in FY22 and 1.25Moz in FY23. The increased production is expected to drive down AISC by 10 per cent over the next two to three years. Following the inclusion of KCGM, Northern Star’s total Reserves have risen 102 per cent, or 5.5Moz, to 10.8Moz. Resources are up 67 per cent, or 12.7Moz, to 31.8Moz.

FY20 results are in for BHP. US$8.0 billion and Underlying attributable profit of US$9.1 billion broadly in line with the prior year. Net operating cash flow of US$15.7 billion, above US$15 billion for the fourth consecutive year, and free cash flow of US$8.1 billion. Capital and exploration expenditure within guidance at US$7.6 billion. Chief Executive Officer, Mike Henry: “BHP delivered a strong set of results for the 2020 financial year that reflect the strength, resilience and quality of our people and our portfolio. In a year marked by the challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic, social unrest in Chile and commodity price volatility, we were safer, more reliable and lower cost.”

Golden Swan assays confirm exceptional drill intersection, with assays received returning: 9.0m (4.5m true width) @ 10.46% Ni on basal contact including 4.6m (2.3m true width) @ 13.8% Ni. Managing Director and CEO Peter Harold said, “The latest assay and drill results confirm the significance of the Golden Swan discovery. The thick, high grade nickel intersections in combination with favourable geological setting is pointing to something very exciting. Should Golden Swan continue to evolve and prove to be economically viable, the close proximity to the existing Silver Swan decline would allow mining operations be commence in a very short time-frame.”

Morning News Bites – Aug 4

In today’s morning news bites:

Sharemarket has risen 6000 points at open. Wesfarmers announces Bunnings stores in Melbourne metro region will be closed for in-store retail, however trade will remain open while Target, Kmart and Officeworks will be unable to service customers in-store. The Reserve Bank meets today to discuss interest rates.

  • Saracen reports a record increases in reserves of 3.7Moz at 30 June 2020, up 12% from 3.3Moz at 30 June 2019 (an increase of 400,000oz despite 396,000oz depletion). The further increase in reserves strengthens Saracen’s position as a substantial, long-life, low-cost gold miner with 100% of its production from Western Australia. Managing Director Raleigh Finlayson said, “To grow Reserves by 400,000oz in a year despite depletion is a strong result. These ounces are made much more valuable by the fact that they are all in Western Australia and within very close proximity to existing processing facilities. These robust reserves ensure we have long-term, sustainable production in what is almost certainly the best place in the world to be a gold miner.”

  • Renascor has identified multiple drill-ready gold targets at its Carnding Project in South Australia’s Central Gawler Craton. Shallow Gold Drill Intercepts of up to 16 g/t in Central Gawler Craton Highlights, targets include the Soyuz Prospect, where previous drilling intersected shallow gold, with highlights including: 7m @ 5.14g/t Au from 26m to end of hole, including 2m @ 16.42 g/t Au from 30m1 and 6m @ 4.94g/t Au from 14m.
  • The 250-hole auger drilling program has been completed at its Twin Hills Gold Project in the Goldfields of Western Australia, according to eMetals. Drilling has tested almost 2 kilometres of strike of prospective shear zone south of the historical Twin Hills Gold Mine which has recorded historical production of 1,100 tonnes of ore at an average grade of 23.6 g/t and an historical resource of 17,541 tonnes at a grade of 20.86 g/t. Director Mathew Walker was pleased with the progress, saying “Twin Hills is an exciting exploration Project with over 5 kilometers of prospective strike length adjacent to two excised historical high grade gold mines. We are delighted that the recent auger geochemical program has validated our structural modelling and provide us with multiple ready to drill targets.”
  • According to Gladiator Resources, the previously delayed drilling program at the Marymia Gold Project has now been completed. A total of 31 AC holes for 1,922m have been completed, with composite samples to be couriered to Intertek Laboratories for gold analysis. Results are anticipated within the month and will be reported as soon as possible.
  • Apollo Consolidated provide an update on the progress of drilling at its Lake Rebecca Gold Project located 150km east of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. Exploration, infill, and extensional drilling at the Duchess deposit delivers strong true-width mineralisation zones, with highlights of: 5m @ 6.98g/t Au incl. 1m @ 31.48g/t Au and 7m @ 3.90g/t Au.

Morning News Bites – July 15

Woodside has posted a record production, Afterpay launches in store in the US and artist Banksy has been a rat…. painting rats on the London Underground with a COVID-19 flavour.

A worker has died after being involved in an incident at Saracen Minerals Dervish mine at Carosue Dam. Saracen Managing Director Raleigh Finlayson expressed the Company’s deepest sympathy to the worker’s family, friends and colleagues. “This is an extremely tragic accident and all our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time”, Mr Finlayson said. “The health and safety of our people is always our first priority. Saracen is currently working closely with the WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety on the continuing investigation, while working with our contract partners to ensure full support is provided to the family and all Saracen employees and contractors.” Processing operations have recommenced with underground  and open pit to commence imminently. Saracen has announced the Company’s other operations are continuing as normal. Saracen’s FY21 production guidance remains unchanged.

Lynas Corporation’s Kalgoorlie facility is on the way to construction with Metso Outotec awarded the contract for Kiln construction. The 110 metre long, 1500 tonne kiln is the largest and longest lead time piece of equipment required for the plant’s operation. Lynas Corporation Managing Director Amanda Lacaze said “The kiln is the longest lead time item for our Kalgoorlie project and placing this order is an important milestone in the development of our new processing plant in Kalgoorlie. We are making good progress on the project, and we look forward to working with Metso Outotec on the engineering and supply of the kiln.” Construction will begin immediately with components from Australia and Europe. The contract is valued at approximately USD 15 million (AUD 21.6 million), including the discharge housing, combustion chamber and burner, motor control stations and delivery to Kalgoorlie.

GR Engineering Services has been awarded a contract for engineering, procurement and construction for the restart at the Ora Banda Mining Davyhurst Mine. The contract price worth $10.8 million includes refurbishment, optimisation and recommissioning of the existing 1.2 Mtpa Davyhurst Gold Processing Plant, borefields and associated infrastructure. Work will start immediately and Managing Director of GR Engineering Geoff Jones, said the company is excited to be working on the project. “GR Engineering is pleased to have been awarded the EPC contract for the Davyhurst Restart Project. We are excited to be working with Ora Banda’s management team and look forward to Ora Banda becoming Australia’s newest gold producer.” he said.

Stavley Minerals has divested its interests Mathinna/Alberton and Lefroy Goldfields tenements. as well as its Fosterville East tenement in Victoria to Nubian Resources Ltd for A$2.5 million in Nubian shares and cash. Executive Chairman Chris Cairns gave some insight into the divestment “The Fosterville East tenement is located just 10km to the east of the Fosterville mine, while the geology of the Mathinna/Alberton and Lefroy goldfields is the same sequence of sediments as those in central Victoria extending under Bass Strait into north-eastern Tasmania,” he said. “We are fully focused on defining the extents of the exciting Cayley Lode high-grade copper-gold-silver discovery at the Stavely Project, while also unlocking the full potential of this highly prospective, multilayered exploration opportunity for our shareholders,” While Mr Cairns also discussed the upside Stavely will retain significant exposure to the future upside from any exploration success via a significant shareholding in Nubian at a time of significant investor interest in the Victorian gold exploration industry in the North American market.”

Focus Minerals has revealed recent shallow drilling campaigns, which will deliver a 213% increase in total Mineral Resource at Beasley Creek South. The best intersect being 17m at 9.28g/t Au from 168m. This recent campaign has adjusted the total Mineral Resource to  1.014MT at  3.55g/t for a total of 115,761oz. The target for Beasley Creek has now also been adjusted to 1.8Mt to 2.0Mt at 2.6 g/t to 3.6 g/t Au for 150Koz to 243Koz. Focus Minerals’ CEO, Mr Zhaoya Wang said “The combination of Beasley Creek South and Beasley Creek could potentially deliver Focus a low CAPEX and OPEX operation in Laverton, which could accelerate the progress of achieving the Stage 2 production plan in Laverton. With the Stage 1 Laverton pre-feasibility study underway, we are looking forward to seeing what Laverton bring to our stakeholders for the near term.”