KOLWEZI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng “Miles” Sun are pleased to announce that Kamoa Copper SA – the operating company of the joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining Group, Crystal River and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – has signed copper concentrate and blister copper off-take agreements on competitive arm's-length commercial terms, for 100% of Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 copper output, which is projected to be approximately 200,000 tonnes of copper per year.
Kamoa Copper began producing copper concentrate on May 25, 2021, and made its first delivery of concentrates to the nearby Lualaba Copper Smelter, outside of Kolwezi, on June 1, 2021.
Watch a new video showcasing Kamoa-Kakula’s milling, flotation and recovery processes involved in producing the ultra-high grade, clean copper concentrate: https://vimeo.com/560814916/6db2333083
Kamoa Copper has signed off-take agreements with CITIC Metal (HK) Limited (CITIC Metal) and Gold Mountains (H.K.) International Mining Company Limited, a subsidiary of Zijin, for 50% each of the copper products from Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 production. The off-take agreements are evergreen for the production volumes from Phase 1, including copper concentrate and blister copper resulting from processing of copper concentrates at the Lualaba Copper Smelter.
The off-take agreements contain standard, international commercial terms, including copper payables and treatment and refining charges based on the annual benchmark across the copper industry. The ultra-high-grade, clean concentrate produced by Kamoa-Kakula is expected to contain approximately 57% copper and very low levels of impurities.
CITIC Metal and Zijin will purchase the copper concentrate at the Kakula Mine and the blister copper at the Lualaba Copper Smelter on a free-carrier basis, meaning the buyers will be responsible for arranging freight and shipment to the final destination, initially via the port of Durban, South Africa.
CITIC Metal and Zijin each will provide an advance payment facility of up to US$150 million (US$300 million in total) to be drawn at the election of Kamoa Copper from June 10, 2021, until May 31, 2023. The facility will bear an annual interest rate of 8% and will be offset against provisional payments due to Kamoa Copper from product deliveries. Payment terms include an option to receive a provisional payment on a 100%-basis within three business days of invoicing, at the end of each delivery month.
Agreement signed with nearby Lualaba Copper Smelter to produce 99% blister copper in the Democratic Republic of Congo
On May 31, 2021, Kamoa Copper signed a 10-year agreement with the Lualaba Copper Smelter, located outside the town of Kolwezi, for the processing of a portion of Kamoa’s copper concentrate production. Kamoa Copper delivered its first copper concentrates to the Lualaba smelter on June 1, and will receive first blister copper ingots within 30 days of delivery.
The Lualaba Copper Smelter is 60%-owned by China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group (CNMC) of Beijing, China. Yunnan Copper of Kunming, China, owns the remaining 40%.
The smelter, which began operations in early 2020, will treat up to 150,000 wet metric tonnes of copper concentrates from Kamoa-Kakula, in return for a treatment charge and market-based realization fee, and produce blister copper containing approximately 99% copper that will be returned to Kamoa Copper, and collected by CITIC Metal and Zijin from a dedicated storage area at the Lualaba Copper Smelter.
The Lualaba Copper Smelter is the first modern, large, pyro-metallurgical copper smelter built in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is approximately 40 kilometres from Kamoa-Kakula via the recently-constructed, dedicated by-pass road.
Marna Cloete, Ivanhoe Mines President and CFO, commented: “We are very pleased to have reached agreements with our partners CITIC Metal and Zijin at internationally-competitive terms. The agreements reflect the great partnership we have with CITIC Metal and Zijin, and the advance payment facilities significantly reduce the mine’s working capital requirements as Phase 1 production ramps up.
“We also are pleased to secure a long-term tolling agreement with the local Lualaba Copper Smelter, in keeping with our commitment to in-country beneficiation that includes Kamoa Copper’s longer-term plan to construct its own direct-to-blister smelter.
“We have all necessary authorizations in place and will commence exports of clean, hydro-electricity-produced copper products from the Kamoa-Kakula mine to meet the burgeoning international demand for electrification of the global economy.”
Copper production guidance for 2021
Ivanhoe’s guidance for contained copper in concentrate expected to be produced by the Kamoa-Kakula Project for the balance of 2021 assumes a ramp-up from first production in line with published technical disclosures, and is as follows:
Contained copper in concentrate 80,000 to 95,000 tonnes
All figures are on a 100%-project basis. Metal reported in concentrate is prior to refining losses or deductions associated with smelter terms. Cost guidance is expected to be provided once the Kamoa-Kakula Project’s Phase 1 plant has reached steady-state production.
Kakula is projected to be the world’s highest-grade major copper mine, with an initial mining rate of 3.8 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), ramping up to 7.6 Mtpa in Q3 2022. Phase 1 is expected to produce approximately 200,000 tonnes of copper per year, and Phases 1 and 2 combined are forecast to produce approximately 400,000 tonnes of copper per year. Based on independent benchmarking, the project’s phased expansion scenario to 19 Mtpa would position Kamoa-Kakula as the world’s second-largest copper mining complex, with peak annual copper production of more than 800,000 tonnes.
Given the current copper price environment, Ivanhoe and its partner Zijin are exploring the acceleration of the Kamoa-Kakula Phase 3 concentrator expansion from 7.6 Mtpa to 11.4 Mtpa, which may be fed from expanded mining operations at Kansoko, or new mining areas at Kamoa North (including the Bonanza Zone) and Kakula West.
A 2020 independent audit of Kamoa-Kakula's greenhouse gas intensity metrics performed by Hatch Ltd. of Mississauga, Canada, confirmed that the project will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of copper produced.
The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines (39.6%), Zijin Mining Group (39.6%), Crystal River Global Limited (0.8%) and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (20%).
Loading copper concentrate for bulk transportation to the nearby Lualaba Copper Smelter, outside of Kolwezi.
Samples of Kamoa Copper’s copper concentrate being collected before it is shipped to the Lualaba Copper Smelter.
Trucks transporting bulk copper concentrate from the Kamoa-Kakula Project to the Lualaba Copper Smelter via the recently-completed by-pass road connecting Kamoa-Kakula to Kolwezi. The new 220-kilovolt powerline carrying clean hydro-generated electrity to Kamoa-Kakula is on the right.
A blister copper ingot produced at the Lualaba Copper Smelter, containing approximately 99% copper, ready for export to international markets.
Qualified Persons
Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature regarding development scenarios at the Kamoa-Kakula Project in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Steve Amos, who is considered, by virtue of his education, experience and professional association, a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. Mr. Amos is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is the Head of the Kamoa Project. Mr. Amos has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release.
Ivanhoe has prepared an independent, NI 43-101-compliant technical report for the Kamoa-Kakula Project, which is available on the company’s website and under the company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com:
- Kamoa-Kakula Integrated Development Plan 2020 dated October 13, 2020, prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd., China Nerin Engineering Co., Ltd., DRA Global, Epoch Resources, Golder Associates Africa, KGHM Cuprum R&D Centre Ltd., Outotec Oyj, Paterson and Cooke, Stantec Consulting International LLC, SRK Consulting Inc., and Wood plc.
The technical report includes relevant information regarding the assumptions, parameters and methods of the mineral resource estimates on the Kamoa-Kakula Project cited in this news release, as well as information regarding data verification, exploration procedures and other matters relevant to the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release.
About Ivanhoe Mines
Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal joint-venture projects in Southern Africa: the development of major new, mechanized, underground mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discoveries in the DRC and at the Platreef palladium-rhodium-platinum-nickel-copper-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC.
Kamoa-Kakula began producing copper in May2021 and, through phased expansions, is positioned to become one of the world's largest copper producers. Kamoa-Kakula and Kipushi will be powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity and will be among the world’s lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of metal produced. Ivanhoe Mines has pledged to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine when large-scale electric, hydrogen and hybrid underground mining equipment become commercially available. Ivanhoe also is exploring for new copper discoveries on its Western Foreland exploration licences in the DRC, near the Kamoa-Kakula Project.
Information contacts
Investors: Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834 / Media: Matthew Keevil +1.604.558.1034
Forward-looking statements
Certain statements in this release constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “predict” and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company’s current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.
Such statements include without limitation, the timing and results of: (i) statements regarding the ultra-high-grade, clean concentrate produced by Kamoa-Kakula is expected to contain approximately 57% copper and very low levels of impurities; (ii) statements regarding Ivanhoe’s guidance for contained copper in concentrate expected to be produced by the Kamoa-Kakula Project for the balance of 2021 of 80,000 to 95,000 tonnes; (iii) statements regarding Kakula is projected to be the world’s highest-grade major copper mine, with an initial mining rate of 3.8 Mtpa, ramping up to 7.6 Mtpa in Q3 2022; (iv) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 is expected to produce approximately 200,000 tonnes of copper per year, and Phases 1 and 2 combined are forecast to produce approximately 400,000 tonnes of copper per year; (v) statements regarding that, based on independent benchmarking, the project’s phased expansion scenario to 19 Mtpa would position Kamoa-Kakula as the world’s second-largest copper mining complex, with peak annual copper production of more than 800,000 tonnes; (vi) statements regarding that based on a 2020 independent audit of Kamoa-Kakula's greenhouse gas intensity metrics performed by Hatch Ltd., the Kamoa-Kakula Project will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of copper produced; and (vii) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula and Kipushi will be powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity and will be among the world’s lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of metal produced.
As well, all of the results of the Kakula definitive feasibility study, the Kakula-Kansoko pre-feasibility study and the Kamoa-Kakula preliminary economic assessment, constitute forward-looking statements or information, and include future estimates of internal rates of return, net present value, future production, estimates of cash cost, proposed mining plans and methods, mine life estimates, cash flow forecasts, metal recoveries, estimates of capital and operating costs and the size and timing of phased development of the projects. Furthermore, with respect to this specific forward-looking information concerning the development of the Kamoa-Kakula Project, the company has based its assumptions and analysis on certain factors that are inherently uncertain. Uncertainties include: (i) the adequacy of infrastructure; (ii) geological characteristics; (iii) metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization; (iv) the ability to develop adequate processing capacity; (v) the price of copper; (vi) the availability of equipment and facilities necessary to complete development; (vii) the cost of consumables and mining and processing equipment; (viii) unforeseen technological and engineering problems; (ix) accidents or acts of sabotage or terrorism; (x) currency fluctuations; (xi) changes in regulations; (xii) the compliance by joint venture partners with terms of agreements; (xiii) the availability and productivity of skilled labour; (xiv) the regulation of the mining industry by various governmental agencies; (xv) the ability to raise sufficient capital to develop such projects; (xvi) changes in project scope or design; and (xvii) political factors.
Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed below and under “Risk Factors”, and elsewhere in this release, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.
The company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors set forth below in the “Risk Factors” section in the company’s 2021 Q1 MD&A and its current annual information form.
刚果民主共和国科卢韦齐 — 艾芬豪矿业 (TSX: IVN; OTCQX:IVPAF) 联席董事长罗伯特·弗里兰德 (Robert Friedland) 与孙玉峰 (Miles Sun) 于今日欣然宣布，卡莫阿铜业已按照公平竞争条款，就卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期100%产量签署了铜精矿及粗铜的包销协议，预计年产约20万吨铜金属。
卡莫阿铜业于2021年5月25日正式启动铜精矿生产，并于2021年6月1日向邻近的、位于科卢韦齐近郊的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂交付第一批铜精矿。
点击观看卡莫阿-卡库拉超高品位、清洁铜精矿生产流程: https://vimeo.com/560814916/6db2333083
卡莫阿铜业已就卡莫阿-卡库拉I期生产的铜产品，与中信金属香港有限公司 (以下简称"中信金属") 和金山(香港)国际矿业有限公司 (紫金矿业的子公司) 签署各50%产量的包销协议。包销协议为常青协议，涵盖 I 期全矿山服务期限生产的所有产量，包括铜精矿以及在卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂加工生产的粗铜。
包销协议包括国际标准的商业条款，以及基于年度行业基准的铜产品应付款、加工费和精炼费。卡莫阿-卡库拉生产的超高品位、清洁铜精矿，预计铜品位高达57%，有害元素的含量极低。
中信金属和紫金矿业将以FCA (货交承运人)方式购买卡库拉矿山的铜精矿以及在卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂加工生产的粗铜，买方将负责由交货点经由南非德班港至最终目的地的货运。
中信金属和紫金矿业将各自向卡莫阿铜业提供1.5亿美元 (合共3亿美元) 的预付款，卡莫阿铜业可选择于2021年6月10日至2023年5月31日期间提取。预付款将从产品交付的应付款中抵扣。主要的支付条件包括：在每个货物交付月末，销售方可选择在开出货款发票三个工作日内收到100%为基准的临时货款。
卡莫阿铜业与邻近的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂签订协议，在刚果民主共和国生产99%粗铜
2021年5月31日，卡莫阿铜业与位于科卢韦齐近郊的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂签署一份为期10年的协议，该冶炼厂将负责卡莫阿部分铜精矿的冶炼加工。卡莫阿铜业已于6月1日向卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂交付第一批铜精矿，并将于30天内收回第一批粗铜。
卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂由北京的中国有色矿业集团 (以下简称“中国有色”) (占股60%)及昆明的云南铜业 (占股40%) 持有。
该冶炼厂2020年初开始投产，将为卡莫阿-卡库拉高达15万湿吨的铜精矿进行粗炼加工，收取加工费和基于市场的变现费作为回报；生产含铜99%的粗铜，粗铜将由中信金属和紫金从卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂的仓库提取。
卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂是刚果 (金) 第一座先进的大型火法铜冶炼厂，经由最近建成的专用道路行驶约40公里即可到达卡莫阿-卡库拉。
艾芬豪矿业总裁兼首席财务官玛娜·科洛特 (Marna Cloete) 表示﹕“ 我们十分高兴与合作伙伴中信金属和紫金矿业按照具备国际竞争力的条款达成协议。协议体现了我们与中信金属和紫金矿业之间的良好合作关系，而且预付款贷款还将有助于大幅降低 I 期生产爬坡所需的矿山运营资本投入。”
“ 我们也很高兴与当地的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂达成长期冶炼加工协议，践行我们对于在刚果(金)境内进行冶炼加工的承诺，同时我们还在推进卡莫阿铜业建设粗铜冶炼厂的长远计划。”
“ 我们已获得所有必要的铜精矿出口许可，并将从卡莫阿-卡库拉矿山出口使用清洁水电能源生产的铜产品，以满足全球经济对于电气化日益增长的需求。”
2021年铜生产指导目标
根据艾芬豪的生产指导目标，预计卡莫阿-卡库拉项目在2021年生产精矿的含铜金属量 (假设项目投产后能够按照此前披露的技术报告，逐步提升产量至稳产) 如下﹕
精矿含铜金属量 80,000至95,000吨
所有数字均以100%项目为基础。报告的精矿含铜金属量未考虑冶炼协议中的损失或扣减。在卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的第一序列选厂实现稳产后，将会提供成本的指导目标。
预计卡库拉将成为全球品位最高的大型铜矿山，初期年开采矿石380万吨，其后于2022年第三季度提升产能至760万吨/年。I 期投产后预计每年将生产约20万吨铜金属，而 I 期和 II 期投产后每年将累计生产高达40万吨铜金属。根据独立研究机构排名，一旦项目扩大产能至处理1,900万吨矿石/年，卡莫阿-卡库拉将成为全球第二大铜矿山，最高年产80多万吨铜金属。
鉴于当前的铜价走势，艾芬豪及其合作伙伴紫金矿业正积极研究加快卡莫阿-卡库拉的 III 期扩建，将选厂产能从760万吨/年提升至1,140万吨/年，并将通过扩建卡索科矿山或建设卡莫阿北部 (包括富矿带) 及卡库拉西部的新采区供给矿石。
2020年，加拿大Hatch有限公司对卡莫阿-卡库拉的温室气体强度指标进行了独立审核，确认项目将会成为全球单位铜温室气体排放最低的矿山之一。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目是艾芬豪矿业 (占股39.6%)、紫金矿业集团 (占股39.6%)、晶河全球 (占股0.8%) 及刚果民主共和国政府 (占股20 %) 的合资项目。
装载铜精矿后运输到科卢韦齐近郊的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂。
SGS 员工在卡莫阿铜业运送铜精矿往卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂之前进行取样。 SGS是全球领先的检验、验证、测试和认证机构，总部位于瑞士日内瓦。
车队从卡莫阿-卡库拉项目经连接卡莫阿-卡库拉与科卢韦齐的新建道路，运送散装铜精矿前往阿拉巴铜冶炼厂。图右则的220千伏新输电线路，为卡莫阿-卡库拉输送清洁的水电能源。
在卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂生产的粗铜锭，含铜约99%，准备发往国际市场。
合资格人
本新闻稿中关于卡莫阿-卡库拉项目开发方案的科学或技术性披露已经由史蒂夫·阿莫斯 (Steve Amos) 审查和批准，他凭借其教育、经验和专业协会会籍被认为是NI 43-101 标准下的合资格人。由于阿莫斯先 生是卡莫阿项目的负责人，因此他并不符合NI 43-101 对独立人士的界定。阿莫斯先生已核实本新闻稿所披露的技术数据。
艾芬豪已经为卡莫阿-卡库拉项目编制了一份符合NI 43-101 标准的独立技术报告，该报告可在艾芬豪网站以及SEDAR 网站上的艾芬豪页面获得，网址为www.sedar.com：
- 2020 年 10 月 13 日发布的 2020 年卡莫阿-卡库拉综合开发方案，由 OreWin Pty Ltd.、中国瑞林工程技术有限公司、DRA Global、Epoch Resources 、Golder Associates Africa、KGHM Cuprum R&D Centre Ltd.、Outotec Oyj、Paterson and Cooke、Stantec Consulting International LLC、SRK Consulting Inc.以及 Wood plc 编制。
技术报告包括本新闻稿中引用的卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的矿产资源估算的假设、参数和方法等信息， 以及本新闻稿中关于科学和技术性披露的数据验证、勘查程序和其他事项的信息。
关于艾芬豪矿业
艾芬豪矿业是一家加拿大的矿业公司，正在推进旗下位于南部非洲的三大合资项目：位于刚果民主共和国的卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿和位于南非的普拉特瑞夫 (Platreef) 钯-铑-铂-镍-铜-金矿；以及同样位于刚果民主共和国、久富盛名的基普什 (Kipushi) 锌-铜-锗-银矿。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目于2021年5月实现铜生产，未来将分阶段进行扩建，预计将会成为全球最大规模的铜生产商之一。卡莫阿-卡库拉和基普什将使用清洁、可再生的水电，并将成为世界上每单位金属温室气体排放量最低的矿山之一。艾芬豪矿业已作出承诺，卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿将会在电、氢和混合技术的大型地下采矿设备可供商业使用时尽快引入采矿作业，致力实现净零运营温室气体排放 (范围一和二)。同时，艾芬豪正在刚果民主共和国境内其全资拥有的、毗邻卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的西部前沿 (Western Foreland) 探矿权内寻找新的铜矿资源。
联系方式
投资者﹕比尔·特伦曼 (Bill Trenaman)，电话﹕+1.604.331.9834 /
媒体﹕马修·基维尔 (Matthew Keevil)，电话﹕ +1.604.558.1034
前瞻性陈述
本新闻稿载有的某些陈述可能构成适用证券法所订议的“前瞻性陈述”或“前瞻性信息”。这些陈述及信息涉及已知和未知的风险、不明朗因素和其它因素，可能导致本公司的实际业绩、表现或成就、项目或行业业绩与前瞻性陈述或信息所表达或暗示的任何未来业绩、表现或成就产生重大差异。这些陈述可通过文中使用“可能”、“将会”、“会”、“将要”、“打算”、“预期”、“相信”、“计划”、“预计”、“估计”、 “安排” 、“预测”、“预言”及其他类似用语，或者声明“可能”、“会”、“将会”、“可能会”或“将要”采取、发生或实现某些行动、事件或结果进行识别。这些陈述仅反映本公司于本新闻稿发布当日对于未来事件、表现和业绩的当前预期。
该等陈述包括但不限于下列事项的时间点和结果﹕
此外，卡库拉最终可行性研究、卡库拉-卡索科预可行性研究和卡莫阿-卡库拉初步经济评估的所有结果 均构成了前瞻性陈述或信息，并包括内部收益率的未来估算、净现值，未来产量、现金成本估算、建议 开采计划和方法、矿山服务年限、现金流量预测、金属回收率、资本和运营成本估算，以及项目分期开 发的规模和时间点。另外，对于与卡莫阿-卡库拉项目开发有关的特定前瞻性信息，公司是基于某些不确 定因素而作出假设和分析。不确定因素包括：(i) 基础设施的充足性；(ii) 地质特征；(iii) 矿化的选冶特征； (iv) 发展充足选矿产能的能力；(v) 铜价格；(vi) 完成开发所需的设备和设施的可用性；(vii) 消耗品和采矿及选矿设备的费用；(viii) 不可预见的技术和工程问题；(ix) 事故或破坏或恐怖主义行为；(x) 货币波动； (xi) 法例修订；(xii) 合资企业伙伴对协议条款的遵守情况；(xiii) 熟练劳工的人手和生产率；(xiv) 各政府机构对矿业的监管；(xv) 筹集足够资金以发展该等项目的能力；(xiv) 项目范围或设计变更；以及(xv) 政治因素。
前瞻性陈述及信息涉及重大风险和不确定性，故不应被视为对未来表现或业绩的保证，并且不能准确地指示能否达到该等业绩。许多因素可能导致实际业绩与前瞻性陈述或信息所讨论的业绩有重大差异，包括但不限于 “风险因素” 以及本新闻稿其他部分所指的因素，以及有关部门实施的法律、法规或规章或其不可预见的变化；与本公司签订合约的各方没有根据协议履行合约；社会或劳资纠纷；商品价格的变动；以及勘探计划或研究未能达到预期结果或未能产生足以证明和支持继续勘探、研究、开发或运营的结果。
虽然本新闻稿载有的前瞻性陈述是基于公司管理层认为合理的假设而作出，但公司不能向投资者保证实际业绩会与前瞻性陈述的预期一致。这些前瞻性陈述仅是截至本新闻稿发布当日作出，而且受本警示声明明确限制。根据相应的证券法，公司并无义务更新或修改任何前瞻性陈述以反映本新闻稿发布当日后所发生的事件或情况。
由于公司在2021年第一季度的管理层讨论和分析和当前年度信息表中“风险因素”部分所列的因素，公司的实际业绩可能与这些前瞻性陈述中预期的业绩有重大差异。