PR Newswire
(All dollar amounts expressed in US dollars unless otherwise noted)
Revenue of
$52.1 million
on total production of 27,722 gold equivalent ounces; resumption of mining at UCS will see higher-grade ore mined in upcoming quarters
TSX:
GPR
| NYSE American:
GPL
VANCOUVER, BC
,
Aug. 4, 2021
/PRNewswire/ – Great Panther Mining Limited (TSX: GPR) (NYSE-A: GPL) (“Great Panther” or the “Company”), a growing diversified gold and silver producer focused on the Americas, announces unaudited consolidated financial results for the three months ended
June 30, 2021
, from its three wholly-owned mines: Tucano in
Brazil
, and
Topia
and the Guanajuato Mine Complex (“the GMC”) in
Mexico
.
“The temporary suspension of mining at Tucano’s Urucum Central South pit resulted in lower gold production and higher costs in the second quarter of 2021. We are pleased to have safely recommenced mining at depth in UCS early in July, ahead of our original plan,” stated
Rob Henderson
, Great Panther’s President & CEO. “While this is a positive development, we will continue to have significant additional waste removal in Q3 related to UCS pushback activity. We have also revised our production guidance downward to account for lower than expected production in Q2 and uncertainty around production from our GMC complex in
Mexico
given the lack of progress on permits. The higher costs combined with lower production have caused us to further revise our cost guidance upward for 2021.”
“Looking forward, we are excited by the positive exploration results we have seen in our Tap C pit and the recent promising results from the Urucum North deposit at Tucano,” continued Mr. Henderson. “We believe the investments we have made in Urucum Central South as well as in our exploration programs will allow us to grow our production for the balance of 2021 and beyond.”
Gold production at Tucano for Q2 2021 was lower as a result of halting ore production from the Urucum Central South (“UCS”) open pit due to the detection of movement in the west wall of the south-central portion of the pit. With the objective of improving the wall’s stability, approximately 1.4 million tonnes of waste material has been removed from the upper west wall of the UCS pit, with a further 1.2 million tonnes planned to be removed in Q3 2021. During the designed pushback at UCS, the mill at Tucano received lower grade ore from stockpiles and the Urucum North (“URN”) open pit. Compared with the same period last year, revenue was
$52.1 million
compared with
$67.0 million
and production costs increased to
$45.0 million
from
$31.4 million
.
The Company has revised production and cost guidance for 2021 as detailed under the heading
Revised 2021 Consolidated Guidance
Second Quarter 2021 Highlights
- UCS pit pushback activities ahead of schedule and production ramping up with higher-grade ore to be mined in upcoming quarters
- Metal production of 27,722 gold equivalent ounces (“Au eq oz”), inclusive of 22,804 gold ounces and 334,423 silver ounces
-
All-in-sustaining-costs (“AISC”) , excluding corporate G&A, of
$2,201
per gold ounce sold compared with
$1,027
for the same period in 2020 -
Revenue of
$52.1 million
, a 22% decrease when compared with the same period in 2020 -
Mine operating loss of
$0.6 million
compared with mine operating earnings of
$23.9 million
in Q2 2020 -
Net loss of
$10.1 million
compared with net income of
$8.6 million
in Q2 2020 -
Adjusted net loss
1
of
$9.5 million
compared with an adjusted net income of
$16.7 million
in Q2 2020 -
EBITDA
1
and Adjusted EBITDA1 of negative
$1.0 million
and
$0.5 million
compared with
$22.1 million
and
$30.2 million
, respectively, for Q2 2020
Financial Highlights
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Summary of Select Financial Results
Cash cost per gold ounce sold increased to
$1,508
for the second quarter of 2021 from
$729
for the second quarter of 2020. This increase in production costs together with the impact on costs of a stronger BRL were partially offset by increases in average realized prices for gold and silver resulting in mine operating loss of
$0.6 million
for the second quarter of 2021 compared with mine operating earnings of
$23.9 million
for the second quarter of 2020. Average realized prices for gold and silver increased to
$1,818
and
$27.45
, respectively, for the second quarter of 2021 from
$1,728
and
$18.59
for the second quarter of 2020. After accounting for G&A and exploration, evaluation and development expenditures, operating loss for the second quarter of 2021 was
$8.2 million
compared with an operating income of
$17.4 million
for the second quarter of 2020. Net loss for the second quarter of 2021 was
$10.1 million
after accounting for interest and financing charges, foreign exchange and derivative losses and income taxes compared with a net income of
$8.6 million
for the second quarter of 2020. After making adjustments for derivative losses, foreign exchange losses and share-based compensation, the adjusted net loss for the second quarter of 2021 was
$9.5 million
compared with an adjusted net income of
$16.7 million
for the second quarter of 2020. Net working capital at
June 30, 2021
, was
$9.8 million
compared to
$6.8 million
at
June 30, 2020
. The Company is well progressed in credit facility negotiations that are expected to close in the third quarter and boost the Company’s working capital balance.
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Operational Highlights
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Revised 2021 Consolidated Guidance
Due primarily to the additional pushback activities at UCS and the lower number of ounces produced in Q2 2021 compared to Q2 2020, all-in-sustaining costs (“AISC”) per gold ounce sold (excluding corporate general and administrative expenses (“G&A”)) was
$2,201
compared with
$1,027
for Q2 2020. Based on the results to date as well as expected production and costs for the balance of 2021 including a reduction in gold and silver ounces sold at the GMC due to permitting uncertainty, AISC per gold ounce sold (excluding corporate G&A) is expected to be in the range of
$1,700
–
$1,800
per Au oz sold. This translates into a range of
$1,550
–
$1,675
per Au oz sold for the second half of 2021. Revised 2021 consolidated guidance on costs is stated in the table below:
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Production and AISC guidance here and elsewhere in this news release is forward-looking information that should be read in conjunction with the Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements section at the end of this news release and the Company’s most recently filed Management Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended
June 30, 2021
(the “MD&A”). The Company may revise guidance during the year to reflect actual results to date and those anticipated for the remainder of the year.
Refer to the Company’s MD&A for more details of the financial results and for reconciliations of the Company’s non-GAAP performance measures to the nearest GAAP measure. The full version of the Company’s unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended
June 30, 2021
and 2020 and MD&A can be viewed on the Company’s website at
www.greatpanther.com
, on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
or on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
. All financial information is prepared in accordance with IFRS, except as noted in the
Non-GAAP Measures
section of the Company’s MD&A.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the regions in which the Company operates. Strict health and safety protocols remain in place, and the Company is particularly focused on maintaining top–of–mind awareness about prevention practices within the organization and surrounding communities. Vaccination programs are advancing, albeit slowly, and vigilance is of the utmost importance in order to support health authorities during this time.
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Additional information regarding Great Panther’s COVID-19 response plan, preventive measures taken to date and the potential impact on operations are available in the MD&A, available on the Company’s website at
www.greatpanther.com
, on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
or on EDGAR at
www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
.
WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL
The Company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the results on
Thursday, August 5, 2021
, at
9:00 AM PT
/
12:00 PM ET
. Shareholders, analysts, investors and media are invited to join by logging in or calling in to the details below:
Live webcast and registration:
https://www.greatpanther.com/investors/webcasts/
Canada
and US Toll-Free: + 1 800 319 4610
International Toll: + 1 604 638 5340
A replay of the webcast will be available on the
Webcasts
section of Great Panther’s website approximately one hour after the conference call. Audio replay will be available until
September 5, 2021
, by calling the numbers below using the replay access code 7370.
Canada
and US Toll-Free: + 1 800 319 6413
International Toll: + 1 604 638 9010
Replay Access Code: 7370
ABOUT GREAT PANTHER
Great Panther is a growing gold and silver producer focused on the Americas. The Company owns a diversified portfolio of assets in
Brazil
,
Mexico
and
Peru
that includes three operating gold and silver mines, four exploration projects, and an advanced development project. Great Panther is actively exploring large land packages in highly prospective districts and is pursuing acquisition opportunities to complement its existing portfolio. Great Panther trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange trading under the symbol GPR, and on the NYSE American under the symbol GPL.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
On behalf of Great Panther, Fernando A. Cornejo , M. Eng., P. Eng. and Chief Operating Officer, approved this news release. Mr. Cornejo is a non-independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”).
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (together, “forward-looking statements”). Such forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: (i) expectations of the Company’s 2021 consolidated production and cost guidance in the news release under the heading “Revised 2021 Consolidated Guidance” and elsewhere in this news release, ability to meet its production and cost guidance and the assumptions underlying; (ii) expectations regarding the ongoing drill programs and the ability for positive results to increase the Company’s Mineral Resource inventory; (iv) expectation that the Company’s investments in UCS as well as exploration programs and the related positive results will result in future production growth; (iii) expectations regarding the plans to remove a further 1.2 million tonnes of waste material from the west wall of the UCS pit in Q2 2021; (iv) expectations regarding the future impacts of COVID-19 and the Company’s ability to continue its operations without interruption should the situation not be as anticipated; (v) the Company’s plans to pursue acquisition opportunities to complement its existing portfolio, and (vi) the Company’s plans to close certain credit facility discussions within the third quarter of 2021.
These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: the assumptions underlying the Company’s revised 2021 production and cost guidance continuing to be accurate, including the accuracy of the geological, operational and price and exchange rate assumptions on which the guidance is based, all as more particularly outlined in the MD&A; continued operations at all three of the Company’s mines in 2021 without significant interruption, additional costs, workforce or supply shortages due to COVID-19 or any other reason; continued operations at Tucano in accordance with the Company’s revised mine plan, including the expectations regarding the ongoing geotechnical control of UCS and related slope stability and the Company’s ability to successfully access the mineralization in the UCS pit without additional costs or interruption; the Company’s ability to finalize negotiations for certain credit facilities during the third quarter as anticipated; the accuracy of the Company’s Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates and the assumptions upon which they are based; ore grades and recoveries; prices for gold, silver, and base metals remaining as estimated; national and international transportation arrangements to deliver Tucano’s gold doré to international refineries continue to remain available, despite inherent risks due to COVID-19; international refineries that the Company uses continue to operate and refine the Company’s gold doré, and in a timely manner such that the Company is able to realize revenue from the sale of its refined metal in the timeframe anticipated, despite inherent risks due to COVID-19; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; assumptions regarding the cost of capital, decommissioning and reclamation, energy inputs, labour, materials, and supplies and services (including transportation); all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals for the Company’s operations are received in a timely manner on favourable terms, including the granting of permits for the expansion of the GMC tailings storage facility (“TSF”) in time without condition which if not granted or conditioned, could result in an interruption to operations; the sufficiency of the Company’s tailing storage facilities; Tucano will be able to continue to use cyanide in its operations; the ability to procure equipment and operating supplies and that there are no material unanticipated variations in the cost of energy or supplies; operations not being disrupted by issues such as pit-wall failures or instability, mechanical failures, labour disturbances and workforce shortages, illegal occupations or mining, seismic events, and adverse weather conditions; and the Company’s ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive.
These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements to be materially different. Such factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to: potential political, regulatory, and social risks involving Great Panther’s operations in a foreign jurisdiction; developments with respect of COVID-19 that may impact the Company’s ability to operate as anticipated, including the risk for further workforce and supply shortages, and unplanned partial or full shutdown of the Company’s mines and processing plants, whether voluntary or imposed, including the risk that shortages in purchased oxygen supply will decrease recovery rates and throughput; the risk that credit facility negotiations may be discontinued or extend beyond or Q3, 2021; the inherent risk that estimates of Mineral Reserves and Resources may not be accurate and accordingly that mine production will not be as estimated or predicted; risk that dilution and mining recovery estimates used in the Mineral Reserve estimation do not accurately reconcile with the Company’s ability to recover the tonnage, grade and metal content estimated in the Mineral Reserves; as the Company’s mines, including, but not limited to its Mexican operations, do not have established Mineral Reserves, except for Tucano, the Company faces higher risks that anticipated rates of production and production costs, such as those provided in this news release, will not be achieved, each of which risks could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s ability to continue to generate anticipated revenues and cash flows to fund operations from and ultimately achieve or maintain profitable operations; open pit mining operations at Tucano have a limited established mine life and the Company may not be able to extend the mine life for Tucano open pit operations beyond 2023 as anticipated; gold, silver and base metal prices may decline or may be less than forecasted; fluctuations in currency exchange rates (including the U.S. dollar to Brazilian real exchange rate) may increase costs of operations; even though the Company has restarted mining the UCS pit, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to maintain continuous stability necessary for mining and be able to access the UCS Mineral Reserves which may adversely impact the Company’s production plans and future revenues; operational and physical risks inherent in mining operations (including pit wall collapses, tailings storage facility failures, environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather) may result in unforeseen costs, shut downs, delays in production and exposure to liability; planned exploration activities may not result in conversion of existing Mineral Resources into Mineral Reserves or discovery of new Mineral Resources; the potential for unexpected costs and expenses or overruns; employee and contractor relations; relationships with, and claims by, local communities; the Company’s ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner on favourable terms, including the granting of permits for the GMC TSF in time without condition which if not granted or conditioned could result in an interruption to operations at the GMC; the inability to continue to operate the Topia TSF as planned, or to commence stacking at Topia Phase III when Phase II TSF is no longer available; there is no assurance that the Company will be able to identify or complete acquisition opportunities of, if completed, that such acquisitions will be accretive to the Company; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in respect of Great Panther, in the MD&A and its most recent annual information form and material change reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators available at
www.sedar.com
and reports on Form 40-F and Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at
www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
.
There is no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove accurate or that actual results will not vary materially from these forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements and information are designed to help readers understand management’s current views of our near- and longer-term prospects and may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.
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SOURCE Great Panther Mining Limited
