DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Newmont
Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) (Newmont or the Company) has achieved
commercial production at its Twin Creeks Underground expansion project,
adding higher-grade, lower-cost gold production at its Twin Creeks
operation in Nevada. The project was completed on schedule for $42
million, slightly below guidance of between $45 and $55 million.
The Twin Creeks Underground mine will add between 30,000 and 40,000
ounces of gold production per year at all-in sustaining costs1
of between $650 and $750 per ounce for its first five years of
production. This new ore will also allow Newmont to process stockpiled
ore that had previously been classified as waste, and extend processing
life to 2030.
“The expansion extends profitable production and improves recoveries at
Twin Creeks, and serves as a platform to further explore the deposit,
which remains open along strike and at depth,” said Gary Goldberg,
President and Chief Executive Officer. “This project marks the sixth
that Newmont has completed on or ahead of schedule and at or below
budget over the last five years, and generates an internal rate of
return of about 20 percent.”
The Twin Underground mine is mechanized, featuring remotely-operated
loaders to improve safety and efficiency. Twin Underground ore will also
be blended with ore from Turquoise Ridge. In early 2018, Newmont and
Barrick Gold Corporation approved the Turquoise Ridge Mine Optimization
project, which involves sinking a production shaft to access the richest
part of the deposit. The new shaft is expected to increase ventilation
capacity and lower unit costs by more than 20 percent, while increasing
ore production rates to at least 1.1 million tons per annum when it
comes on line in 2022.
Over the last five years, Newmont has built six new mines and expansions
on four continents, including Akyem and the Phoenix Copper Leach in
2013, Merian and Long Canyon in 2016, and Tanami in 2017. The Company
also completed a value-accretive acquisition of Cripple Creek and Victor
in 2015 and delivered a profitable expansion at the mine in 2016.
About Newmont
Newmont is a leading gold and copper producer. The Company’s operations
are primarily in the United States, Australia, Ghana, Peru and Suriname.
Newmont is the only gold producer listed in the S&P 500 Index and was
named the mining industry leader by the Dow Jones Sustainability World
Index in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The Company is an industry leader in value
creation, supported by its leading technical, environmental, social and
safety performance. Newmont was founded in 1921 and has been publicly
traded since 1925.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended
to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other
applicable laws. Such forward-looking statements may include, without
limitation: (i) estimates of future production, including additions to
production at Twin Creeks, and increases to production rates at
Turquoise Ridge; (ii) estimates of future costs applicable to sales and
all-in sustaining costs; (iii) expectations regarding extension of
processing life; (iv) estimates of future cost reductions and
efficiencies; and (v) expectations regarding future operating and
financial results and rates of return. Where the Company expresses or
implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such
expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a
reasonable basis. However, estimates or expectations of future events or
results are based upon certain assumptions, which may prove to be
incorrect. Such assumptions include, but are not limited to: (i) there
being no significant change to current geotechnical, metallurgical,
hydrological and other physical conditions; (ii) permitting,
development, operations and expansion of the Company’s operations and
projects being consistent with current expectations and mine plans;
(iii) certain price assumptions for gold, copper and oil; (iv) prices
for key supplies being approximately consistent with current
expectations; (v) the accuracy of our current mineral reserve and
mineralized material estimates; and (vi) other assumptions. Such
assumptions and related forward looking statements are subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to
differ materially. Other risks relating to forward looking statements in
regard to the Company’s business and future performance may include, but
are not limited to, gold and other metals price volatility, currency
fluctuations, increased production costs and variances in ore grade or
recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans, operational risks,
community relations risks, governmental regulation and political and
judicial outcomes. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and
other factors, see the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and available at www.newmont.com,
as well as the Company’s other SEC filings. The Company does not
undertake any obligation to publicly release revisions to any
“forward-looking statement” to reflect events or circumstances after the
date of this news release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated
events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously
issued “forward-looking statement” constitutes a reaffirmation of that
statement. Continued reliance on “forward-looking statements” is at
investors' own risk.
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All-in sustaining costs or AISC as used in this press release are
forward-looking non-GAAP metrics defined as the sum of costs
applicable to sales (including all direct and indirect costs
related to current gold production incurred to execute on the
current mine plan), reclamation costs (including operating
accretion and amortization of asset retirement costs), G&A,
exploration expense, advanced projects and R&D, treatment and
refining costs, other expense, net of one-time adjustments and
sustaining capital. Costs applicable to sales is expected to be
between $525 and $625 per ounce for the same period. A
reconciliation has not been provided in reliance on Item
10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K because such reconciliation is
not available without unreasonable efforts. For illustrative
purposes, a reconciliation of historical AISC and 2018 AISC gold
outlook on a consolidated basis can be found on pages 15 to 19 of
the Company’s Q1 2018 Earnings Release available at www.newmont.com.
See also the Cautionary Statement for additional information
regarding forward looking statements.
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Newmont Mining Corporation
Media Contact
Omar
Jabara, 303.837.5114
omar.jabara@newmont.com
or
Investor
Contact
Jessica Largent, 303.837.5484
jessica.largent@newmont.com
Source: Newmont Mining Corporation