TORONTO, CANADA ‒ Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) today announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2021. Ivanhoe Mines is a leading Canadian mining company developing and expanding its four principal mining and exploration projects in Southern Africa: the Kamoa-Kakula copper mining complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that began commercial operations in July 2021; the Platreef palladium, rhodium, nickel, platinum, copper and gold discovery in South Africa; the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-lead-germanium mine in the DRC; and the expansive exploration program for new copper discoveries on Ivanhoe’s Western Foreland exploration licences, near Kamoa-Kakula. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Ivanhoe Mines recorded a profit of $48.2 million for Q4 2021, compared to a loss of $10.9 million for the same period in 2020. Ivanhoe Mines’ share of profit from the Kamoa-Kakula copper joint venture (Kamoa Holding) and finance income of $103.9 million were the principal contributors to the profit recorded in the fourth quarter.
  • The Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex produced 54,481 tonnes of copper in concentrate in Q4 2021, compared to 41,545 tonnes produced in Q3 2021.
  • Kamoa-Kakula produced a total of 105,884 tonnes of copper in concentrate in 2021, significantly exceeding the initial 2021 production guidance range of 80,000 to 95,000 tonnes, as well as the increased guidance of 92,500 to 100,000 tonnes for 2021.
  • Kamoa-Kakula’s copper recoveries increased from an average of 81% in July 2021 to a record of 88.5% in December 2021. The Phase 1, steady-state-design copper recovery is approximately 86%, depending on ore feed grade.
  • During Q4 2021, Kamoa-Kakula sold 53,165 tonnes of payable copper and recognized revenue of $488.5 million, with operating profit of $198.9 million and EBITDA of $357.6 million.
  • Kamoa-Kakula’s cost of sales per pound (lb) of payable copper sold was $1.12/lb for Q4 2021, while cash costs (C1) per pound of payable copper produced totalled $1.28/lb; compared to $1.08/lb and $1.37/lb in Q3 2021, respectively. Cash costs are expected to continue to trend down as the Phase 2 concentrator plant is commissioned and the mine’s fixed operating costs are spread over increased copper production.
  • Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 2 concentrator plant is on track to begin operations in April 2022, which will see a doubling of Kamoa-Kakula’s nameplate milling capacity throughput to 7.6 million tonnes of ore per annum (Mtpa).
  • A de-bottlenecking program is underway to expand processing capacity of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators by 21%, to a combined total of 9.2 million tonnes of ore per year. The de-bottlenecking program is projected to boost copper production from Kamoa-Kakula’s first two phases to more than 450,000 tonnes per year by Q2 2023, positioning Kamoa-Kakula as the world's fourth largest copper producer.
  • Ivanhoe Mines has a strong balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents of $608.2 million as at December 31, 2021, and expects that the majority of Kamoa-Kakula’s expansion capital expenditures on Phase 2 and Phase 3 will be funded from copper sales and project facilities already in place. Based on current market conditions, it is expected that Ivanhoe Mines will start to receive shareholder loan repayments from Kamoa-Kakula in 2022.
  • During Q4 2021, Ivanhoe continued its copper exploration program on its Western Foreland licences that cover approximately 2,550 square kilometres in close proximity to Kamoa-Kakula. An extensive drilling program is planned for 2022, commencing with the onset of the dry season in the DRC, which will build upon Ivanhoe Mines’ 2021 work program that was focused on airborne and ground-based geophysics, soil sampling and road construction.
  • Exploration models that successfully led to the discoveries of Kakula, Kakula West, and the Kamoa North Bonanza Zone on the Kamoa-Kakula joint-venture mining licence are being applied to the extensive Western Foreland land package by the team of exploration geologists responsible for the previous discoveries.
  • In December 2021, the Platreef Project secured a $200-million gold stream financing and additional $100-million palladium and platinum stream financing, with the first prepayment of $75 million received in December 2021.
  • In February 2022, Ivanhoe Mines announced the outstanding results of a new independent feasibility study for the Platreef Project that builds on the alternate scenario to expedite production, based on a steady-state production rate of 5.2 Mtpa, confirming the viability of a new phased-development pathway to fast-track Platreef into production in Q3 2024.
  • Platreef feasibility study’s sensitivity analysis at current metal prices of approximately $1,121/oz platinum, $2,979/oz palladium, $22,200/oz rhodium, $1,995/oz gold, $4.84/lb copper and $13.12/lb nickel (March 7, 2022), results in an after-tax NPV8% of $5.1 billion with an after-tax real IRR of 33%.
  • In February 2022, Ivanhoe Mines and Gécamines signed a new agreement to return the ultra-high-grade Kipushi Mine back to commercial production.
  • In February 2022, Ivanhoe Mines announced the positive findings of an independent feasibility study for the planned resumption of commercial production at Kipushi based on a two-year construction timeline. Kipushi feasibility study’s sensitivity analysis at current zinc prices of approximately $1.84/lb (March 7, 2022), results in an after-tax NPV8% of $3.0 billion with an after-tax real IRR of 86%.
  • At the end of 2021, Kamoa-Kakula had reached 2.7 million work hours free of a lost-time injury, Kipushi had reached approximately 4.0 million work hours free of a lost-time injury, and Platreef had reached 677,450 work hours free of a lost-time injury.

Principal projects and review of activities

1. Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex
39.6%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines
Democratic Republic of Congo

The Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex, a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines and Zijin Mining, has been independently ranked as the world’s fourth-largest copper deposit by international mining consultant Wood Mackenzie. The project is approximately 25 kilometres west of the town of Kolwezi and about 270 kilometres west of Lubumbashi. Kamoa-Kakula began producing copper in May 2021 and achieved commercial production on July 1, 2021.

Ivanhoe sold a 49.5% share interest in Kamoa Holding Limited (Kamoa Holding) to Zijin Mining and a 1% share interest in Kamoa Holding to privately owned Crystal River in December 2015. Kamoa Holding holds an 80% interest in the project. Since the conclusion of the Zijin transaction, each shareholder has been required to fund expenditures at Kamoa-Kakula in an amount equivalent to its proportionate shareholding interest. Ivanhoe and Zijin Mining each hold an indirect 39.6% interest in the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex, Crystal River holds an indirect 0.8% interest and the DRC government holds a direct 20% interest.

Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants at dusk.

Health and safety at Kamoa-Kakula

At the end of December 2021, Kamoa-Kakula reached 2,696,794 work hours free of a lost-time injury. One lost-time injury occurred in Q4 2021. The project continues to strive toward its workplace objective of zero harm to all employees and contractors.

Kamoa-Kakula has successfully focused on prevention, preparation, and mitigation in managing the risks associated with COVID-19. Large-scale testing, combined with focused preventative measures, ensured that positive cases were quickly identified, isolated, and treated, with cross contamination kept to a minimum. Kamoa-Kakula also continues to focus intensively on rolling out vaccinations across the workforce and local communities. Maintaining this high standard of risk management remains a daily focus, to prevent future cases. More than two thousand employees have at minimum received their first dose of the vaccine.

The Kamoa Hospital continues to treat COVID-19 patients when required, as construction progresses well for the expansion and upgrade of the primary healthcare wing. Kamoa-Kakula’s highly experienced doctors and nurses apply the latest medical treatments, supported by a world-leading emergency response and paramedic team.

As the pandemic evolves, the medical team at the Kamoa Hospital continues to review and update risk-mitigation protocols, while ensuring that new medical advances are investigated and applied to protect the health and safety of employees and community members.

The new Kamoa Hospital is a world-class medical facility featuring state-of-the-art equipment and highly-experienced doctors, nurses and paramedics.

John Botomwito, Kamoa Copper’s Superintendent of Health, in the ICU ward of the new hospital.

Kamoa-Kakula summary of operating and financial data

 Q4 2021Q3 2021
Ore tonnes milled (000’s tonnes)1,059 861
Copper ore grade processed (%)5.96%5.89%
Copper recovery (%) 86.40%83.40%
Copper in concentrate produced (tonnes) 54,48141,545
Payable Copper sold (tonnes)53,165 41,490
Sales revenue ($'000)488,536 342,584
Cost of sales per pound ($ per lb)1.121.08
Cash cost (C1) ($ per lb) 1.28 1.37
EBITDA ($'000)357,619 233,212

Prior to the start of commercial production on July 1, 2021, 9,858 tonnes of copper in concentrate was produced in Q2 2021, bringing the total tonnes produced for the year ending December 31, 2021, to 105,884.

C1 cash costs are prepared on a basis consistent with the industry standard definitions by Wood Mackenzie cost guidelines, but are not measures recognized under IFRS. In calculating the C1 cash cost, the costs are measured on the same basis as the company's share of profit from the Kamoa Holding joint venture that is contained in the financial statements. C1 cash costs are used by management to evaluate operating performance and include all direct mining, processing, and general and administrative costs. Smelter charges and freight deductions on sales to final port of destination, which are recognized as a component of sales revenues, are added to C1 cash cost to arrive at an approximate cost of delivered, finished metal. C1 cash costs exclude royalties and production taxes and non-routine charges as they are not direct production costs.

C1 cash cost per pound of payable copper produced can be further broken down as follows:

  Q4 2021Q3 2021
Mining($ per lb)0.270.36
Processing($ per lb)0.170.16
Logistics charges (delivered to China)($ per lb)0.370.35
Treatment, refining and smelter charges($ per lb)0.240.21
  General and administrative expenditure($ per lb)0.230.29
C1 cash cost per pound of payable copper produced($ per lb)1.281.37

All figures in the above tables are on a 100%-project basis. Metal reported in concentrate is prior to refining losses or deductions associated with smelter terms.

Copper concentrate production from the initial 3.8-Mtpa Kakula concentrator plant commenced in May 2021; commercial production achieved on July 1, 2021

First ore was introduced into the Phase 1, 3.8-Mtpa concentrator on May 20, 2021, and the first saleable concentrate was filtered on May 25, 2021, marking the start of concentrate production of the project’s Phase 1 concentrator plant and associated facilities.

The Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex was deemed to have reached commercial production on July 1, 2021, after achieving a milling rate exceeding 80% of design capacity and recoveries close to 70% for a continuous, seven-day period. Revenue recognition, as well as depreciation of Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 concentrator plant and milling operation, commenced on this date.

Copper recoveries progressively increased from an average of approximately 81% in July 2021 to approximately 85% in September 2021. Copper flotation recoveries averaged approximately 86% in Q4 2022 and achieved a record 88.5% in December 2021. The Phase 1, steady-state-design copper recovery is approximately 86%, depending on ore feed grade.

The Phase 1 concentrator currently is running at a throughput that is in excess of its design capacity of 3.8 Mtpa by more than 15%, with 117% of design throughput achieved in December.

54,481 tonnes of copper in concentrate were produced in Q4 2021, up from 41,545 in Q3 2021, for a total of 105,884 tonnes for the year ending December 31, 2021, for delivery to either the Lualaba Copper Smelter near Kolwezi, or to international markets.

Spot price of copper (US$/lb) over the last 12 months.

The Phase 2 high-pressure-grinding-rolls (HPGR) stockpile feed conveyor (on the right) began commissioning in February 2022. The Phase 1 HPGR feed conveyor and stockpile are on the left.

One of Kamoa-Kakula’s talented Congolese mining crews at the entrance to the Kakula Mine’s northern decline.

Project completion of Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 2 processing plant almost complete; Phase 3 engineering studies and early works advancing well

Construction of Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 2, 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant almost is complete with early stage commissioning activities now underway. Hot commissioning of the concentrator with first ore and initial copper concentrate production are both on track for April 2022.

Engineering and early works for the Phase 3 expansion, including a new box cut and twin declines to access new mining areas, are progressing quickly. The third, significantly larger concentrator is being designed and is expected to be commissioned in Q4 2024. Phase 3 is expected to be fed from a combination of the established mine at Kansoko Sud, together with the new mines at Kamoa 1 and Kamoa 2. An updated pre-feasibility study, including the Phase 3 expansion, is expected in Q3 2022.

After successfully operating the Phase 1 concentrator for more than eight months, the Kamoa-Kakula team identified a number of relatively minor modifications that are expected to increase ore throughput from the current design of 475 tonnes per hour to 580 tonnes per hour. These modifications include increasing the diameter of a number of pipes, replacing a number of motors and pumps with larger ones and installing additional flotation, concentrate-thickening, concentrate-filtration and tailings-disposal capacity.

These modifications will allow the team to consistently operate the concentrator plant at the increased throughput without compromising plant availability, copper recovery or copper concentrate grade. Engineering design is underway and procurement of long-lead items already has started. This de-bottlenecking project is expected to cost approximately $50 million and will increase Kamoa-Kakula’s combined processing capacity to 9.2 Mtpa by Q2 2023.

Riaan Vermeulen, Kamoa Copper’s incoming Managing Director (middle-left) and Mark Farren, Kamoa Copper’s CEO (middle-right), with members of Zijin Mining’s senior management team during a recent Zijin site visit.

Members of Kamoa-Kakula’s diverse, multi-national team that has delivered the first two phases ahead of schedule, inside one of the new Phase 2 ball mills.

Excellent progress is being made on the excavation of Kamoa-Kakula’s new box cut that will provide access to the Kamoa 1 and Kamoa 2 mines, part of the project’s Phase 3 expansion.

Kamoa-Kakula smelter basic engineering underway

Early works on the planned direct-to-blister flash smelter at Kamoa-Kakula adjacent to the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants is underway. The smelter is designed to use technology supplied by Outotec Oyj of Helsinki, Finland, and has been sized to process the bulk of the copper concentrate forecast to be produced by the Phase 1, 2 and 3 concentrator plants, with a production capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum of blister copper.

China Nerin Engineering Company Co., Ltd. has been appointed to carry out the basic engineering design and develop a control budget estimate for the smelter; work is progressing well.

Ore stockpiles now hold more than 4.6 million tonnes grading 4.58% copper, containing more than 212,000 tonnes of copper at the end of February 2022

Kamoa-Kakula’s total high- and medium-grade ore surface stockpiles totalled approximately 4.65 million tonnes at an estimated grade of 4.58% copper as of the end of February 2022. The operation mined 1.70 million tonnes of ore grading 5.44% copper in Q4 2021, which was comprised of 1.52 million tonnes grading 5.60% copper from the Kakula Mine, including 0.81 million tonnes grading 6.68% copper from the mine’s high-grade centre, and 0.18 million tonnes grading 4.05% copper from the Kansoko Mine.

Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants and the ore stockpiles at the Kakula Mine’s northern decline. The direct-to-blister flash smelter is being constructed adjacent to the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants.

Kamoa-Kakula delivering Phase 1 blister copper and copper concentrate under off-take agreements

Kamoa Copper’s off-take agreements are 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 nearby Lualaba Copper Smelter.

CITIC Metal and Zijin are purchasing the copper concentrate at the Kakula Mine and the blister copper at the Lualaba Copper Smelter on a free-carrier basis, meaning the buyers are responsible for arranging freight and shipment to the final destination, initially via the port of Durban, South Africa.

Kamoa-Kakula delivered its first bulk copper concentrates to the Lualaba Copper Smelter on June 1, 2021. The smelter is expected to treat up to 150,000 wet metric tonnes of copper concentrates from Kamoa-Kakula annually. Kamoa-Kakula began exporting its copper concentrate internationally in July 2021. The first truckloads of copper concentrate destined for smelters outside of the DRC departed from the mine site on July 17, 2021.

Mwadingusha hydropower plant fully operational and providing 78 MW of clean electricity for Kamoa-Kakula’s phases 1 and 2; focus now shifted to upgrading turbine 5 at the Inga II hydropower plant to provide power for expansions

All six new turbines at the Mwadingusha hydropower plant were synchronized to the national electrical grid in August 2021, with each generating unit producing approximately 13 megawatts (MW) of power, for a combined output of approximately 78 MW.

In August 2021, Kamoa-Kakula’s energy company signed an extension of the existing financing agreement with La Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL) to upgrade turbine 5 at the Inga II hydropower complex. Since June 2021, rehabilitation scoping works and technical visits have been conducted by Stucky Ltd. of Renens, Switzerland, and Voith Hydro of Heidenheim, Germany, a leading engineering group. Voith Hydro, the contractor for upgrading turbine 5, has successfully rehabilitated two turbine generators at the adjoining Inga I hydropower plant, a project that was financed by the World Bank.

Turbine 5 is expected to produce 162 MW of renewable hydropower, providing the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex and the planned, associated smelter with abundant, sustainable electricity for future expansions.

Kamoa-Kakula aiming to be first net-zero carbon emitter among top-tier copper mines by electrifying mining fleet with state-of-the-art equipment powered by electric batteries or hydrogen fuel cells

In May 2021, Ivanhoe Mines announced its pledge to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) at the industry-leading Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine.

In support of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and in the spirit of the commitments at the April 2021 Leaders Summit on Climate by the Chinese and American governments to sharply cut emissions, Ivanhoe Mines has committed to working with its joint-venture partners and leading underground mining equipment manufacturers to ensure that Kamoa-Kakula becomes the first net-zero operational carbon emitter among the world’s top-tier copper producers.

Since the Kamoa-Kakula mines and concentrator plants are powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity, the focus of the company’s net-zero commitment will be on electrifying the project’s mining fleet with new, state-of-the-art equipment powered by electric batteries or hydrogen fuel cells.

Kamoa-Kakula is working closely with its mining equipment suppliers to decrease the use of fossil fuels in its mining fleet, and evaluate the viability, safety and performance of new electric, hydrogen and hybrid technologies. The mine plans to introduce them into its mining fleet as soon as they become commercially available.

Empowering local communities through sustainable development

Ivanhoe Mines founded the Sustainable Livelihoods Program in 2010 to strengthen food security and farming capacity in the host communities near Kamoa-Kakula by establishing an agricultural demonstration garden to support local farmers.

Today, approximately 900 community farmers are benefiting from the Sustainable Livelihoods Program, producing high-quality food for their families and selling the surplus for additional income. The Sustainable Livelihoods Program, which commenced with maize and other vegetable production, now includes fruit, aquaculture, poultry and honey.

Farmer Omba Gertrude Muwana (left) and Benoit Mujinga, Kamoa Copper’s Sustainability Agronomist, at one of the community gardens and fish-farming operations near Kamoa-Kakula.

Construction of 100 new fishponds is complete, bringing the total number of fishponds to 138. The project will significantly contribute toward local entrepreneurship and enhanced regional food security. A group of community participants took part in, and graduated as facilitators for, an adult literacy training program.

Newly constructed fish ponds near Kamoa-Kakula.

Additional non-farming-related activities continued during Q4 2021 and include education programs, enterprise and supplier development programs, and the supply of fresh water to a number of local communities using solar-powered boreholes. The planned community borehole project was completed, with all 35 boreholes drilled using local contractors, providing approximately 12,000 community members with easy access to clean water.

Construction, landscaping and equipping of the Kaponda Primary School was completed, thereby achieving another milestone in the ambition to advance the objectives set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Local community enterprise programs continued including brick-making and sewing, which are planned for project expansion in 2022, as well as landscaping and gardening, which may be reviewed for business efficiency and continued growth.

Construction of resettlement houses for the relocation program is continuing as planned. To date, 129 homes have been relocated, with five households remaining. The remaining families are scheduled for relocation upon completion of the construction of their new homes. Construction of the community church at Kaponda was completed and the new church was officially handed over to the community. The livelihood restoration program focused on the distribution of 758 chickens for all project-affected people, as well as three goats each to all 45 beneficiaries. Additional livelihood restoration efforts included planting of 3,600 orange seedlings to cover nine hectares, 1,000 grafted avocados across 10 hectares and approximately 54 hectares of cassava.

COPPER PRODUCTION GUIDANCE FOR 2022

The Kamoa-Kakula joint venture produced a total of 105,884 tonnes of copper in concentrate for the year ending December 31, 2021. The figures are on a 100%-project basis and metal reported in concentrate is prior to refining losses or deductions associated with smelter terms.

Guidance for 2022 is based on a number of assumptions and estimates as of December 31, 2021, including among other things, assumptions about the timing of the Phase 2 expansion and anticipated costs and expenditures. Production and cost guidance assumes the Phase 2 concentrator plant will commence copper production in Q2 2022 and that ramp-up will be in line with what was achieved with Phase 1. Guidance involves estimates of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different.

Kamoa-Kakula 2022 Guidance 
Contained copper in concentrate (tonnes)290,000 to 340,000
Cash cost (C1) ($ per pound)1.20 to 1.40

Cash costs (C1) per pound of payable copper was $1.37/lb for Q3 2021 and was $1.28/lb for Q4 2021, reflecting the measured ramp-up of production at Kamoa-Kakula to steady state, and is expected to trend downward as the Phase 2 concentrator plant is commissioned and the mine’s fixed operating costs are spread over increased copper production.

C1 cash cost is a non-GAAP measure used by management to evaluate operating performance and includes all direct mining, processing, and general and administrative costs. Smelter charges and freight deductions on sales to final port of destination (typically China), which are recognized as a component of sales revenues, are added to C1 cash cost to arrive at an approximate cost of delivered finished metal.

Cost of sales per pound of payable copper sold for Q4 2021 was $1.12/lb. For historical comparatives, see the Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures section of this news release.

2. Platreef Project
64%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines
South Africa

The Platreef Project is owned by Ivanplats (Pty) Ltd (Ivanplats), which is 64%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines. A 26% interest is held by Ivanplats’ historically-disadvantaged, broad-based, black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) partners, which include 20 local host communities with approximately 150,000 people, project employees and local entrepreneurs. Ivanplats reached Level 4 contributor status in its most recent verification assessment on the B-BBEE scorecard. A Japanese consortium of ITOCHU Corporation, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, and Japan Gas Corporation, owns a 10% interest in Ivanplats, which it acquired in two tranches for a total investment of $290 million.

The Platreef Project hosts an underground deposit of thick, platinum-group metals, nickel, copper and gold mineralization on the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Igneous Complex in Limpopo Province – approximately 280 kilometres northeast of Johannesburg and eight kilometres from the town of Mokopane.

On the Northern Limb, platinum-group metals mineralization primarily is hosted within the Platreef, a mineralized sequence that is traced more than 30 kilometres along strike. Ivanhoe’s Platreef Project, within the Platreef’s southern sector, is comprised of two contiguous properties: Turfspruit and Macalacaskop. Turfspruit, the northernmost property, is contiguous with, and along strike from, Anglo Platinum’s Mogalakwena group of mining operations and properties.

Since 2007, Ivanhoe has focused its exploration and development activities on defining and advancing the down-dip extension of its original discovery at Platreef, now known as the Flatreef Deposit, which is amenable to highly-mechanized, underground mining methods. The Flatreef area lies entirely on the Turfspruit and Macalacaskop properties that form part of the company’s mining right.

Health and safety at Platreef

As at the end of December 2021, the Platreef Project reached a total of 677,450 lost-time, injury-free hours worked.

Kgalalelo Tladi, Chief Safety Officer, conducting a safety inspection of the Shaft 1 underground equipping stage.

COVID-19 protocols are continuously reviewed and optimized; as a result, the company implemented several measures to prevent and mitigate the escalation of infections. Those measures included the mass testing of employees and visitors, provision of transport to employees and a vaccination rollout.

By the end of December 2021, a total of 6,516 COVID-19 tests had been conducted. In support of the National Department of Health’s national vaccine rollout strategy, Ivanplats launched an on-site COVID-19 vaccination campaign that has administered 470 vaccine doses to date. Approximately 70% of the Platreef Project’s employees and contractors working on site have at minimum received their first dose of the vaccine.

Outstanding results of new Platreef feasibility study

On February 28, 2022, Ivanhoe Mines announced the results of a new independent feasibility study for the Platreef Project (Platreef 2022 FS). The Platreef 2022 FS builds on the excellent results of the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for an alternate scenario to expedite production, announced in November 2020, alongside the 2020 feasibility study.

The Platreef 2022 FS is based on a steady-state production rate of 5.2 Mtpa, as well as an accelerated ramp up to steady state through the earlier development of Shaft 2. The Platreef 2022 FS is based on the detailed design and engineering scenario first presented in the 2020 PEA, confirming the viability of a new phased-development pathway to fast-track Platreef into production by Q3 2024.

Highlights of the Platreef 2022 FS include:

  • The Platreef 2022 FS evaluates the phased development of Platreef, with an initial 700-ktpa underground mine and a 770-ktpa capacity concentrator, targeting high-grade mining areas close to Shaft 1, with an initial capital cost of $488 million.
  • First concentrate production for Phase 1 is planned for Q3 2024, with the Phase 2 expansion based on the commissioning of Shaft 2 in 2027, followed by the commissioning of two 2.2-Mtpa concentrators in 2028 and 2029. This would increase the steady-state production to 5.2 Mtpa by using Shaft 2 as the primary production shaft.
  • Expansion capital cost for Phase 2 is estimated at $1.5 billion, which may be partially funded by cash flows from Phase 1 and a project financing package.
  • Ivanplats’ dedicated engineering teams and leading consultants are evaluating optimizations to the sinking methodology for Shaft 2 to further accelerate the availability of the shaft for hoisting, which may accelerate the overall development timeline.
  • Phase 1 average annual production of 113,000 ounces (oz.) of palladium, rhodium, platinum and gold (3PE+Au), plus 5 million pounds of nickel and 3 million pounds of copper.
  • Phase 2 average annual production of 591,000 oz. of 3PE+Au, plus 26 million pounds of nickel and 16 million pounds of copper, which would rank Platreef as the fifth largest primary PGM producer on a palladium equivalent basis.
  • Life-of-mine cash cost of $514 per ounce of 3PE+Au, net of by-products, and including sustaining capital costs, would rank Platreef as the industry’s lowest cost primary PGM producer.
  • After-tax net present value at an 8% discount rate (NPV8%) of $1.7 billion and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 18.5%, based on long-term consensus prices.
  • The sensitivity analysis at current metal prices of approximately $1,121/oz platinum, $2,979/oz palladium, $22,200/oz rhodium, $1,995/oz gold, $4.84/lb copper and $13.12/lb nickel (March 7, 2022), results in an after-tax NPV8% of $5.1 billion with an after-tax real IRR of 33%.

Figure 1: Production and timeline schematic of Platreef 2022 feasibility study.

Figure 2: World’s largest precious metal deposits under development ranked by contained metal in Measured and Indicated Resources.

Source: Company filings, S&P Global Market Intelligence. Notes: Chart ranks the largest undeveloped primary palladium, platinum, gold, silver and rhodium projects from the S&P Global Market Intelligence database based on measured and indicated palladium equivalent resource. Palladium equivalent calculation includes palladium, platinum, gold, silver and rhodium ounces and has been calculated using spot price metal price assumptions (February 23, 2022) of $1,095/oz platinum, $2,480/oz palladium, $18,750/oz rhodium, $1,909/oz gold and $24.55/oz silver. Measured and Indicated resources for Platreef correspond to palladium, platinum, gold and rhodium ounces at a 1 g/t cut-off grade.

Platreef secures $200 million gold stream financing and additional $100 million palladium and platinum stream

In December 2021, Ivanplats entered into a gold, palladium and platinum stream financing with Orion Mine Finance, a leading international provider of customized financing to mining companies, and Nomad Royalty Company, a precious metals royalty company, in which Orion Mine Finance is a significant shareholder (Orion Mine Finance and Nomad Royalty Company, together, the Stream Purchasers). This transaction will fund a large portion of the Phase 1 capital costs, with first concentrate production for Phase 1 planned for Q3 2024.

The stream facilities are a prepaid forward sale of refined metals, with prepayments totalling $300 million, available in two tranches with the first prepayment of $75 million received in December 2021 following the closing of the transaction, and $225 million to be paid upon satisfaction of certain conditions precedent.

Under the terms of the $200 million gold stream agreement, the Stream Purchasers will receive an aggregate total of 80% of contained gold in concentrate until 350,000 ounces have been delivered, after which the stream will be reduced to 64% of contained gold in concentrate for the remaining life of the facility. The expected life of this facility will extend from the effective date of the stream agreement until the date when 685,280 ounces of gold have been delivered to the Stream Purchasers. The Stream Purchasers will purchase each ounce of gold at a price equal to the lower of the market price of gold or $100 per ounce.

Under the terms of the $100 million palladium and platinum stream agreement, Orion Mine Finance will receive an aggregate total of 4.2% of contained palladium and platinum in concentrate until 350,000 ounces have been delivered, after which the stream will be reduced to 2.4% for the remaining life of the facility. The expected life of this facility will extend from the effective date of the stream agreement until the date when 485,115 ounces of palladium and platinum have been delivered to the purchaser, which will pay for each ounce at a price equal to 30% of the market price of palladium and platinum.

Members of the Orion Mine Finance and Nomad Royalty teams, with members of Platreef’s mine development team, on the top platform of Platreef’s Shaft 1 headgear.

Conclusion of the stream agreements allows Ivanplats to focus efforts on finalizing the senior debt facility

Société Générale and Nedbank were appointed as mandated lead arrangers for the project debt facility in early 2021. Both the gold stream facility, and palladium and platinum stream facility, will be subordinated to any senior secured financing.

The senior debt facility is anticipated to be used only after the stream facilities are fully drawn. Ivanplats remains flexible to raise additional debt or equity at a later date, and has pre-agreed with the Stream Purchasers the inter-creditor arrangements for any future senior debt. While the stream facilities are guaranteed by Ivanplats and secured over the assets and Ivanhoe’s shares of Platreef, there is no recourse to Ivanhoe Mines.

Shaft 1 changeover to a production shaft nearing completion

The construction of the 996-metre-level station at the bottom of Shaft 1 was completed in July 2020. Shaft 1 initially will be used to access the orebody and is approximately 450 metres away from a high-grade area of Flatreef that is planned for bulk, mechanized mining. The three development stations that will provide initial, underground access to the high-grade orebody also have been completed on the 750-, 850- and 950-metre levels.

The auxiliary winder has been installed and commissioned. The headgear, both winders, equipping stage, conveyances and control systems comply with the highest current industry safety standards, with proven and tested safety and redundancy systems in place.

The changeover construction at Shaft 1 is progressing to plan and is on schedule to soon commence rock hoisting. All equipment for the shaft changeover has been procured and is on site. The changeover work within the shaft is being performed by Platreef’s experienced owners’ team.

Construction activities at the Platreef Project site, including Shaft 1 on the left, and the hitch-to-collar advancement for Shaft 2 on the right.

The winder that was used to successfully sink Shaft 1 has been converted to function as the main equipping conveyance during the shaft changeover, and will serve as the permanent rock, personnel and material winder following the shaft-equipping phase. The shaft will be equipped with two cages on top of two 12.5-tonne skips with hoisting capacity of 1 million tonnes per year, resulting from an amended configuration that does not require the cage to be interchanged mid-shift, thereby increasing the hoisting time during the initial phase of mining.

Shaft equipping commenced in May 2021 and remains on track to be completed by the end of March 2022. Following the completion of the changeover work in the shaft, underground stations, and establishment of the ore and waste passes, lateral underground mine development will commence toward high-grade ore zones.

Key electric underground mining equipment orders placed

Ivanplats placed an initial order with Epiroc of Stockholm, Sweden, for its primary mining fleet consisting of emissions-free, battery electric jumbo face drill rigs and load haul dump (LHD) vehicles, due for delivery in the next few months. The mine development contract was successfully concluded with Murray & Roberts Cementation, with site on-boarding well advanced, and the first blast on the 950-metre level anticipated in April 2022.

Shaft 2 headgear construction from hitch to collar well underway

Early works surface construction for Shaft 2 began in 2017, including the excavation of a surface box-cut to a depth of approximately 29 metres below surface and construction of the concrete hitch for the 103-metre-tall concrete headgear (headframe), which will house the shaft’s permanent hoisting facilities and support the shaft collar.

The Shaft 2 headframe construction, from the hitch to the collar level, is progressing well with the sixth and seventh headgear lifts completed and the eighth and final lift well advanced. Construction of the eight civil lifts, including a ventilation plenum and personnel access tunnel, is targeted for completion in May 2022.

Long-term supply of bulk water for the Platreef Mine

The water requirement for the Phase 1 operation is projected to peak at approximately three million litres per day, which will then increase to nine million litres per day once the Phase 2 expansion is complete. On January 17, 2022, Ivanhoe announced the signing of new agreements for the rights to receive local, treated water to supply the bulk water needed for the phased development plan at Platreef. These agreements replace those originally signed in 2018.

Under the terms of a new offtake agreement, the Mogalakwena Local Municipality (MLM) has agreed to supply at least three million litres per day of treated effluent, up to a maximum of 10 million litres per day for 32 years, from the date of first production, sourced from the town of Mokopane’s Masodi Waste Water Treatment Works, currently under construction.

Ivanplats also has signed a sponsorship agreement where Ivanplats has undertaken the commitment to complete the partially constructed Masodi Waste Water Treatment Works, which was halted in 2018. Ivanplats anticipates spending approximately ZAR 215 million ($14 million) to complete the works, whereby Ivanplats’ financial contribution will take the form of a sponsorship in favour of the municipality. Ivanplats will purchase the treated water at a reduced rate of ZAR 5 per thousand litres. Arrangements are underway to re-commence the construction works in Q3 2022, which are scheduled to take approximately 18 months.

Development of human resources and job skills

Implementation of the Platreef Project’s second Social and Labour Plan (SLP) is underway, through which Ivanplats plans to build on the first SLP and continue with its training and development suite, including 15 new mentors, internal skills training for 78 staff members, a legends program to prepare retiring employees with new/other skills, community adult education training for host community members, core technical skills training for at least 100 community members, portable skills training, and more.

The Platreef Project also continues to support several educational programs and the provision of free Wi-Fi in host communities. Community climate awareness was promoted through the implementation of a youth climate change action and tree-planting campaign at a local school.

Equipping of the mine’s permanent training academy is continuing, with the official launch being planned for later this year. Classrooms and offices at the training academy have been installed and the training and e-learning program has been instituted. A cadetship program, providing learnership opportunities to 49 local students was launched, offering a national certificate in health and safety, as well as mining competencies, such as utility vehicle operations from the Murray & Roberts Training Academy. The cadetship program seeks to enhance gender diversity, with 54% of the students being female.

Local economic development projects will contribute to community water-source development through the Mogalakwena Municipality boreholes program. Other projects, which will be conducted in partnership with other parties, include the refurbishment and equipping of a health clinic in Tshamahansi Village. In recognition of World Aids Day, a community health intervention to promote awareness and support, was implemented at the Tshamahansi clinic.

The enterprise and supplier development commitments comprise of expanding the existing kiosk and laundry facilities and adding expanded change house facilities to be managed by a community partner in the future. A five-year integrated business accelerator and funding project assists community members to obtain help with development and supplier readiness.

Spot price of palladium (US$/oz) over the past 12 months.

Spot price of rhodium (US$/oz) over the past 12 months.

Spot price of nickel (US$/lb) over the past 12 months.

Spot price of platinum (US$/oz) over the past 12 months.

Spot price of gold (US$/oz) over the past 12 months.

3. Kipushi Project
68%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines
Democratic Republic of Congo

The Kipushi copper-zinc-germanium-silver-lead mine in the DRC is adjacent to the town of Kipushi and approximately 30 kilometres southwest of Lubumbashi. It is located on the Central African Copperbelt, approximately 250 kilometres southeast of the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex and less than one kilometre from the Zambian border.

Ivanhoe acquired its 68% interest in the Kipushi Project in November 2011, through Kipushi Holding that is 100%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines. The balance of 32% in the Kipushi Project is held by the state-owned mining company, Gécamines.

Kipushi Holding and Gécamines have signed a new agreement to return the ultra-high-grade Kipushi Mine back to commercial production. Kipushi will be the world’s highest-grade major zinc mine, with an average grade of 36.4% zinc over the first five years of production.

(L-R) Olivier Binyingo (Ivanhoe Mines Vice President, Public Affairs DRC), Marna Cloete (Ivanhoe Mines President), Alphonse Kaputo Kalubi (Chairman of Gécamines), and Louis Watum (General Manager, Kipushi Corporation) discussing the Kipushi partnership during a recent visit to the Kamoa-Kakula mining complex.

The new agreement sets out the commercial terms that will form the basis of a new Kipushi joint-venture agreement, establishing a robust framework for the mutually beneficial operation of the Kipushi Mine for years to come, and is subject to execution of definitive documentation.

Highlights of the new agreement include:

  • Kipushi Holding will transfer 6% of the share capital and voting rights in the Kipushi Project to Gécamines, after which Kipushi Holding and Gécamines will hold 62% and 38%, respectively.
  • From January 25, 2027, 5% of the share capital and voting rights in the Kipushi Project shall be transferred from Kipushi Holding to Gécamines, after which Kipushi Holding and Gécamines will hold 57% and 43%, respectively.
  • In the event that, after the 6% and 5% transfers, part of the Kipushi Project’s share capital is required to be transferred to the State or to any third party pursuant to an applicable legal or regulatory provision, Gécamines shall transfer the number of the Kipushi Project shares required, and Kipushi Holding shall retain 57% ownership in the Kipushi Project.
  • Once a minimum of the current proven and probable reserves and up to 12 million tonnes has been mined and processed, an additional 37% of the share capital and voting rights in the Kipushi Project shall be transferred from Kipushi Holding to Gécamines, after which Kipushi Holding and Gécamines will hold 20% and 80%, respectively.
  • A new supervisory board and executive committee will be established with appropriate shareholder representation.
  • New initiatives will be implemented, focusing on the development of Congolese employees, including individual development, the identification of future leaders, succession planning and the promotion of gender equality across the workforce.
  • A framework for tendering for the offtake of zinc concentrates produced by the Kipushi Mine has been established, which includes Gécamines’ participation.
  • Kipushi Holding will continue to fund the Kipushi Project with the shareholder loan and/or procure financing from third parties for the development of the project. The interest on the shareholder loan will be 6%, which will be applicable from January 1, 2022, on the existing balance and any further advances. Under the terms of the current shareholder loan agreement, the shareholder loan carries interest of LIBOR plus 4%, which is applicable to 80% of the advanced amounts with the remaining 20% interest-free. As of December 31, 2021, the balance of the shareholder loan owing to Kipushi Holding, including accrued interest, was approximately $528 million.

Health and safety at Kipushi

At the end of December 2021, the Kipushi Project reached a total of 3,983,319 work hours free of lost-time injuries. It has been more than two and a half years since the last lost-time injury occurred at the project. 

Since temporarily suspending mine development operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project maintained a reduced workforce to safely and cost-effectively maintain infrastructure and pumping systems and to execute planned projects.

The Kipushi Project has built a new potable water station to provide a free daily supply of water to the municipality of Kipushi. This daily supply to the Kipushi municipality community members includes power supply, disinfectant chemicals, routine maintenance, security and emergency repair of leaks to the primary reticulation to the benefit of an estimated 100,000 people, excluding those from rural areas. Approximately 1,000 cubic metres of potable water is pumped hourly and continuously to consumers on a daily basis.

50 boreholes of potable water are planned to be drilled around the Kipushi district over five years, to reach areas not served by current distribution. To date, 12 solar-powered potable water wells have been drilled and currently are operating throughout the district.

The Kipushi Project continues to support educational initiatives through renovations at the Mungoti School, and the granting of bursaries and scholarships to students from Kipushi. Over the past year, approximately 100 students have been supported through the bursary program. The sewing training centre project established by the Kipushi Project continued producing cloth face masks, donating approximately 2,000 masks a month to host communities. The Kipushi Project also is broadcasting daily COVID-19 awareness messages on a local community radio station, as well as through a motorized caravan.

The pilot of the Sustainable Livelihoods Program, which commenced in 2020 with a poultry farming initiative established for the benefit of a consortium of local women, continued successfully, with plans for expansion around the Kipushi district in 2022. An annual tree-planting initiative was implemented to raise awareness and make a positive impact in respect of climate change mitigation.

Kipushi feasibility study issued, heralding the planned re-start of the historic mine, with a two-year development timeline and exceptional economic results

On February 14, 2022, Ivanhoe Mines announced the positive findings of an independent, feasibility study for the planned resumption of commercial production at Kipushi.

The Kipushi 2022 feasibility study builds on the results of the pre-feasibility study published by Ivanhoe Mines in January 2018. The redevelopment of Kipushi is based on a two-year construction timeline, which utilizes the significant existing surface and underground infrastructure to allow for substantially lower capital costs than comparable development projects. The estimated pre-production capital cost, including contingency, is $382 million.

The 2022 feasibility study focuses on the mining of Kipushi’s zinc-rich Big Zinc and Southern Zinc zones, with an estimated 11.8 million tonnes of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources grading 35.3% zinc. Kipushi’s exceptional zinc grade is more than twice that of the world’s next-highest-grade zinc project, according to Wood Mackenzie, a leading, international industry research and consulting group (see Figure 3).

Figure 3: World’s top 10 zinc projects, by contained zinc.

Source: Wood Mackenzie, January 2022. Note: All tonnes and metal grades of individual metals used in the equivalency calculation of the above-mentioned projects (except for Kipushi) are based on public disclosure and have been compiled by Wood Mackenzie. All metal grades have been converted by Wood Mackenzie to a zinc equivalent grade at Wood Mackenzie’s respective long-term price assumptions.

The 2022 feasibility study envisages the recommencement of underground mining operations, and the construction of a new concentrator facility on surface with annual processing capacity of 800,000 tonnes of ore, producing on average 240,000 tonnes of zinc contained in concentrate.

Highlights of the 2022 feasibility study results for the Kipushi Mine include:

  • The 2022 feasibility study evaluates the development of an 800-ktpa underground mine and concentrator, with an increased resource base compared to the pre-feasibility study, extending the mine life to 14 years.
  • Existing surface and underground infrastructure allows for significantly lower capital costs than comparable development projects, with the principal development activity being the construction of a conventional concentrator facility and new supporting infrastructure on surface in a two-year timeline.
  • Pre-production capital costs, including contingency, estimated at $382 million.
  • Life-of-mine average zinc production of 240,000 tonnes per annum, with a zinc grade of 32%, is expected to rank Kipushi among the world’s major zinc mines (Figure 3), once in production, with the highest grade by some margin.
  • Life-of-mine average C1 cash cost of $0.65/lb of zinc is expected to rank Kipushi, once in production, in the second quartile of the cash cost curve for zinc producers globally.
  • At a long-term zinc price of $1.20/lb, the after-tax net present value (NPV) at an 8% real discount rate is $941 million, with an after-tax real internal rate of return (IRR) of 40.9% and project payback period of 2.3 years.
  • The sensitivity analysis at current zinc prices of approximately $1.84/lb (March 7, 2022), results in an after-tax NPV8% of $3.0 billion with an after-tax real IRR of 86%.

The Kipushi 2022 feasibility study was independently prepared on a 100%-project basis by OreWin Pty. Ltd., MSA Group (Pty.) Ltd., SRK Consulting (Pty) Ltd. and METC Engineering.

Project development and infrastructure

Although development and rehabilitation activities in 2021, as well as in 2020, were limited, significant progress has been made in recent years to modernize the Kipushi Mine’s underground infrastructure as part of preparations for the mine to resume commercial production, including upgrading a series of vertical mine shafts to various depths, with associated headframes, as well as underground mine excavations and infrastructure.

A series of crosscuts and ventilation infrastructure still is in working condition and has been cleared of old materials and equipment to facilitate modern, mechanized mining. The underground infrastructure also includes a series of high-capacity pumps to manage the mine’s water levels, which now are easily maintained at the bottom of the mine.

Shaft 5 is eight metres in diameter and 1,240 metres deep and has been upgraded and re-commissioned. The main personnel and material winder has been upgraded and modernized to meet international industry standards and safety criteria. The Shaft 5 rock-hoisting winder also is fully operational, with new rock skips, new head- and tail-ropes, and attachments installed. The two newly manufactured rock conveyances (skips) and the supporting frames (bridles) have been installed in the shaft to facilitate the hoisting of rock from the main ore and waste storage silos feeding rock on the 1,200-metre level.

Since temporarily suspending mine development operations, priority engineering tasks still continued, including new winder installations as a second means of egress on the cascade side, and repairs, as well as replacement of main critical pump columns in Shaft 5 to ensure reliable and continued pumping of water from the mine.

Patrick Mwanza Wa Kabongo operating the modern, new hoist at Kipushi’s main production shaft (Shaft 5).

Spot price of zinc (US$/lb) over the past 12 months.

Recently upgraded underground mine with easy access to stopes allows for rapid production ramp-up

Mining at Kipushi historically has been carried out from the surface to a depth of approximately 1,220 metres. Shaft 5 (P5) is planned to be the main production shaft with a maximum hoisting capacity of 1.8 Mtpa and provides the primary access to the lower levels of the mine, including the Big Zinc Zone, through the 1,150-metre haulage level.

Mining will be performed using highly productive, mechanized methods and cemented rock fill will be utilized to fill open stopes. Material generated underground will be trucked to the base of the P5 shaft, crushed and hoisted to surface. Personnel and equipment access also are via the P5 shaft. The Big Zinc Zone will be accessed via the existing decline, without significant new development required. As the existing decline already is below the first planned stoping level, it is relatively quick to develop the first zinc stopes for the ramp up of mine production.

Figure 4: Schematic section of Kipushi Mine. Shaft 5 (P5) is planned to be the main production shaft with a maximum hoisting capacity of 1.8 Mtpa.

4. Western Foreland Exploration Project
90%- and 100%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines
Democratic Republic of Congo

Ivanhoe’s DRC exploration group is targeting Kamoa-Kakula-style copper mineralization through a regional exploration and drilling program on its Western Foreland exploration licences, located to the north, south and west of the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex. Ivanhoe’s Western Foreland Exploration Project consists of 17 licences that cover a combined area of approximately 2,550 square kilometres.

Exploration models that successfully led to the discoveries of Kakula, Kakula West, and the Kamoa North Bonanza Zone on the Kamoa-Kakula joint-venture mining licence are being applied to the extensive Western Foreland land package by the same team of exploration geologists responsible for the previous discoveries.

Exploration drilling in Q4 2021 was focused on wide-scale regional dip sections along the axis of the Western Foreland permits at approximately 10km intervals. The drilling was designed to provide detailed stratigraphic and structural information ahead of processing and interpreting the geophysical surveys. The drill holes currently are being surveyed with downhole geophysical tools to provide density, conductivity and velocity information.

Surface soil and stream-sediment sampling focused on the southwest permits. 18 stream samples and 462 soil samples were collected during Q4 2021. The mapping of the southwest permits continued, with interpretation ongoing. 

Construction of the access spine road across the western permits now has reached a total length of 69 kilometres. Container-based bridges were installed along the entire length of the road to provide all season access to the full extent of the southwest foreland. Some additional wet season access roads were completed to allow additional drilling during the wet season.

Geophysical airborne surveys such as magnetics, gravity and electromagnetics recommenced in Q4 2021. This new geophysical data will enhance the target delineation program for drill testing and soil sampling, as well as provide a better understanding of the structural domains of the area. Magnetics and gravity were completed by the end of the year with the electromagnetic survey and additional gravity survey 46% completed by the end of the year. Ground gravity survey work commenced during Q4 2021 and will be used in conjunction with the airborne gravity to provide increased definition where required.

Ivanhoe’s 2022 Western Foreland exploration expenditure is provisionally planned at $25 million. The main component of this expenditure is exploration drilling, with more than 50,000 metres of shallow (depth of less than 150 metres), air core, reverse circulation and diamond drilling focussed on defining sub-outcrop positions and obtaining bed-rock samples under the Kalahari sand cover. In addition, up to 45,000 metres of deeper regional drilling covering the entire 2,550-square-kilometre land package also is provisionally planned, some of which is dependent upon exploration success.

South Africa-based New Resolution Geophysics conducting an airborne electro-magnetic survey over Ivanhoe’s Western Foreland exploration licences in February 2022. The electro-magnetic survey is the last of three geophysical surveys to be completed over the Western Foreland licences, providing geologists with ultra-high resolution data for the 2022 drilling campaign.

SELECTED ANNUAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

This selected financial information is in accordance with IFRS as presented in the annual consolidated financial statements. Ivanhoe had no operating revenue in any financial reporting period. All operating revenue from commercial production at the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex is recognized within the Kamoa Holding joint venture. Ivanhoe did not declare or pay any dividend or distribution in any financial reporting period.

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Review of the year ended December 31, 2021 vs. December 31, 2020

The company recorded total comprehensive income of $17.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to a total comprehensive loss of $45.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The main contributor to the profit for 2021 was the company’s share of the profit from the Kamoa Holding joint venture.

The Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex reached commercial production on July 1, 2021 and sold 94,655 tonnes of payable copper in 2021 realizing revenue of $831.1 million for the Kamoa Holding joint venture. The company recognized income in aggregate of $199.6 million from the joint venture in 2021, which can be summarized as follows:

The company’s share of profit from the Kamoa Holding joint venture was $105.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to a loss of $26.8 million for the same period in 2020, the breakdown of which is summarized in the following table:

Of the $150.6 million finance costs recognized in the Kamoa Holding joint venture for 2021, $133.8 million (2020: $79.8 million) relates to shareholder loans where each shareholder is required to fund Kamoa Holding in an amount equivalent to its proportionate shareholding interest. Of the remaining finance costs, $13.5 million relates to the $300 million advance payment facility and provisional payment facility available under Kamoa-Kakula’s offtake agreements, while $3.3 million relates to the equipment financing facilities.

Exploration and project evaluation expenditure amounted to $52.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 and was $7.5 million more than for the same period in 2020 ($44.7 million). Exploration and project evaluation expenditure related to exploration at Ivanhoe’s Western Foreland exploration licences and amounts spent at the Kipushi Project which was on reduced activities and incurred limited cost of a capital nature during 2021 and 2020.

The main classes of expenditure at the Kipushi Project for the year ended December 31, 2021, and for the same period in 2020 are set out in the following table:

Finance income amounted to $102.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, and $80.8 million for the same period in 2020. Included in finance income is the interest earned on loans to the Kamoa Holding joint venture to fund operations that amounted to $93.9 million for 2021, and $70.4 million for 2020. Interest increased as the accumulated loan balance increased.

The company recognized a loss on fair valuation of the embedded derivative financial liability of $93.7 million for 2021.

With the completion of the stream financing facilities in December 2021, which will fund a large portion of the Platreef Project’s Phase 1 capital costs, and supported by the excellent results of the Platreef 2022 FS, it is now deemed probable that future taxable profit will be available from the Platreef Project, against which the unused tax losses and unused tax credits can be utilized. As a result, the company recognized the previously unrecognized deferred tax asset in December 2021, resulting in a deferred tax recovery (income) of $75.0 million.

The total comprehensive income for 2021, included an exchange loss on translation of foreign operations of $28.2 million, resulting from the weakening of the South African Rand by 9% from December 31, 2020, to December 31, 2021, compared to an exchange loss on translation of foreign operations recognized for the same period in 2020 of $6.9 million.

Financial position as at December 31, 2021 vs. December 31, 2020

The company’s total assets increased by $801.1 million, from $2,417.1 million as at December 31, 2020, to $3,218.2 million as at December 31, 2021. The main reason for the increase in total assets was the receipt of the net proceeds from the convertible senior notes that closed on March 17, 2021. The net proceeds from the convertible notes, after deducting the expenses of the offering that related to the host liability of $10.5 million, was $564.5 million.

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $345.4 million, from $262.8 million as at December 31, 2020, to $608.2 million as at December 31, 2021 due to the receipt of the convertible note proceeds, as well as the first draw down of the stream facilities in aggregate of $75 million. The company utilized $7.1 million of its cash resources in its operations and advanced loans of $152.7 million to the Kamoa Holding joint venture during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021.

The company’s total liabilities increased by $760.6 million to $841.2 million as at December 31, 2021, from $80.6 million as at December 31, 2020, with the increase mainly due to the private placement offering of $575.0 million of 2.50% convertible senior notes described in the company’s 2021 Year-End MD&A, as well as the deferred revenue recognized on the stream facility of $69.6 million after transaction costs. The deferred revenue represents the prepayment for the future sale of refined gold and palladium and platinum to be delivered by the Platreef Project in the future and will be amortized as ounces are delivered to the Stream Purchasers.

The net increase in property, plant and equipment amounted to $17.6 million, with additions of $52.7 million to project development and other property, plant and equipment. Of this total, $49.2 million pertained to development costs and other acquisitions of property, plant and equipment at the Platreef Project.

The main components of the additions to property, plant and equipment – including capitalized development costs – at the Platreef Project for the year ended December 31, 2021, and for the same period in 2020, are set out in the following table:

Costs incurred at the Platreef Project are deemed necessary to bring the project to commercial production and are therefore capitalized as property, plant and equipment.

The company’s investment in the Kamoa Holding joint venture increased by $352.3 million from $1,289.5 million as at December 31, 2020, to $1,641.8 million as at December 31, 2021. The company’s portion of the Kamoa Holding joint venture cash calls amounted to $152.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, while the company’s share of profit from the joint venture amounted to $105.7 million.

The company’s investment in the Kamoa Holding joint venture can be broken down as follows:

Prior to commencing commercial production in July 2021, the Kamoa Holding joint venture principally used loans advanced to it by its shareholders to advance the Kamoa-Kakula Project through investing in development costs and other property, plant and equipment. This can be evidenced by the movement in the company’s share of net assets in the Kamoa Holding joint venture which can be broken down as follows:

Going forward, all Phase 1 operating costs and the majority of Phase 2 and Phase 3 capital expenditures are expected to be funded from copper sales and facilities in place at Kamoa-Kakula. Cash generated in excess of operational and expansion requirements is expected to be utilized to commence shareholder loan repayments. Based on current market conditions, it is anticipated that shareholder loan repayments from Kamoa-Kakula will commence in 2022.

The Kamoa Holding joint venture completed the draw-down of EUR 45 million (approximately $56 million) of the equipment financing and $9 million of the down-payment facilities in late December 2020.  Additional drawdowns on the equipment financing of EUR 22.7 million were made in 2021 bringing the total amount drawn to EUR 67.2 million (approximately $76.1 million) at December 31, 2021. The equipment finance is secured only by the equipment that is being financed and has an effective interest rate of 8.96%. The down-payment facility is unsecured and has an effective interest rate of 11.58%.

The Kamoa Holding joint venture’s net increase in property, plant and equipment from December 31, 2020, to December 31, 2021, amounted to $684.1 million and can be further broken down as follows:

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following table summarizes selected financial information for the prior eight quarters. Ivanhoe had no operating revenue in any financial reporting period. All revenue from commercial production at the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex is recognized within the Kamoa Holding joint venture. Ivanhoe did not declare or pay any dividend or distribution in any financial reporting period.

Review of the three months ended December 31, 2021 vs. December 31, 2020

The company recorded a profit for Q4 2021 of $48.2 million compared to a loss of $10.9 million for the same period in 2020, with the company’s share of the profit from the Kamoa Holding joint venture being a key contributor to the Q4 2021 profit. The total comprehensive income for Q4 2021 was $30.4 million compared to $31.8 million for Q4 2020.

The Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex sold 53,165 tonnes of payable copper in Q4 2021 realizing revenue of $488.5 million for the Kamoa Holding joint venture. The company recognized income in aggregate of $103.9 million from the joint venture in Q4 2021, which can be summarized as follows:

The company’s share of profit from the Kamoa Holding joint venture was $78.4 million in Q4 2021 compared to a loss of $6.2 million in Q4 2020. The following table summarizes the company’s share of profit (loss) of the joint venture for the three months ended December 31, 2021, and for the same period in 2020:

Of the $55.6 million finance costs recognized in the Kamoa Holding joint venture for Q4 2021, $45.7 million (Q4 2020: $21.3 million) relates to shareholder loans where each shareholder funded Kamoa Holding in an amount equivalent to its proportionate shareholding interest. Of the remaining finance costs, $8.0 million relates to the $300 million advance payment facility and the provisional payment facility available under Kamoa’s offtake agreements and $1.8 million relates to the equipment financing facilities.

The company recognized a loss on fair valuation of the embedded derivative financial liability of $88.5 million for Q4 2021. Finance cost increased from $1.5 million for Q4 2020 to $10.5 million for the same period in 2021, $10.2 million of which related to the interest on the convertible notes at the effective interest rate.

With the completion of the stream financing facilities in December 2021, which will fund a large portion of the Platreef Project’s Phase 1 capital costs, and supported by the excellent results of the Platreef 2022 FS, it is now deemed probable that future taxable profit will be available from the Platreef Project, against which the unused tax losses and unused tax credits can be utilised. As a result, the company recognized the previously unrecognized deferred tax asset in Q4 2021, resulting in a deferred tax recovery (income) of $75.0 million in the period.

Finance income for Q4 2021 amounted to $28.0 million and was $7.0 million more than for the same period in 2020 ($21.0 million). Included in finance income is the interest earned on loans to the Kamoa Holding joint venture to fund operations that amounted to $25.5 million for Q4 2021, and $19.7 million for the same period in 2020, and increased as the accumulated loan balance increased.

Exploration and project evaluation expenditure amounted to $15.8 million in Q4 2021 and $13.8 million for the same period in 2020. Exploration and project evaluation expenditure related to exploration at Ivanhoe’s Western Foreland exploration licences and amounts spent at the Kipushi Project which was on reduced activities and incurred limited cost of a capital nature during these periods. The main classes of expenditure at the Kipushi Project in Q4 2021 and Q4 2020 are set out in the following table:

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The company had $608.2 million in cash and cash equivalents as at December 31, 2021. At this date, the company had consolidated working capital of approximately $654.8 million, compared to $308.0 million as at December 31, 2020.

The Platreef Project entered into a gold, palladium and platinum stream financing in December 2021 that will fund a large portion of the Phase 1 capital costs. The stream facilities are a prepaid forward sale of refined metals, with prepayments totalling $300 million, available in two tranches with the first prepayment of $75 million received in December 2021 following the closing of the transaction and $225 million to be paid upon satisfaction of certain conditions precedent.

The company’s main objectives for 2022 at the Platreef Project are the continued development of the project towards the completion of its first phase currently scheduled for Q3 2024, as well as the continuation of the construction of the Shaft 2 headframe to allow optionality for possibly bringing Phase 2 forward. At Kipushi, with the finalization of the feasibility study and the development plan agreed, Ivanhoe expects to proceed with the ordering of long-lead equipment and other construction activities once the revised joint venture agreement is signed and financing arrangements are in place. With first production achieved at the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex and construction of the Phase 2 concentrator expansion expected to be complete in April 2022, the focus at Kamoa-Kakula will be operational efficiency and de-bottlenecking the Phase 1 and 2 operations, as well as progressing the Phase 3 expansion.

The company has forecast to spend $168 million on further development at the Platreef Project; $80 million on development at the Kipushi Project; and $35 million on corporate overheads for 2022. Exploration activities at the Western Foreland exploration project in the DRC and other targets will continue in 2022 with an initial budget of $32 million.

At the Kamoa Holding joint venture, all operating costs and the majority of Phase 2 and Phase 3 capital expenditures are expected to be funded from copper sales and facilities in place at Kamoa.

The planned capital expenditure for 2022 can be broken down as follows:

Notes: (1) Amounts in the above table for the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex are on a 100%-project basis. (2) The amount for phase 3 and smelter early works are initial budgets only and will be augmented on completion of the updated pre-feasibility study expected in Q3 2022.

On March 17, 2021, the company closed a private placement offering of $575 million of 2.50% convertible senior notes maturing in 2026. The convertible senior notes are senior unsecured obligations of the company which will accrue interest payable semi-annually in arrears at a rate of 2.50% per annum and will mature on April 15, 2026, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. The notes will be convertible at the option of holders, prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding October 15, 2025, only under certain circumstances and during certain periods, and thereafter, at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. Upon conversion, the notes may be settled, at the company’s election, in cash, common shares or a combination thereof. The carrying value of the host liability was $437.4 million and the fair value of the embedded derivative liability was $244.2 million as at December 31, 2021.

The company has an implied commitment in terms of spending on work programs submitted to regulatory bodies to maintain the good standing of exploration and exploitation permits at its mineral properties. The following table sets forth the company’s long-term obligations:

Debt in the above table represents the mortgage bond owing to Citibank and loan payable to ITC Platinum Development Limited, as described above.

The company is required to fund its Kamoa Holding joint venture in an amount equivalent to its proportionate shareholding interest.

Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures

Kamoa-Kakula’s C1 cash costs and C1 cash costs per pound

C1 cash costs and C1 cash costs per pound are non-GAAP financial measures. These are disclosed to enable investors to better understand the performance of the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex in comparison to other copper producers who present results on a similar basis.

C1 cash costs are prepared on a basis consistent with the industry standard definitions by Wood Mackenzie cost guidelines but are not measures recognized under IFRS. In calculating the C1 cash cost, the costs are measured on the same basis as the company's share of profit from the Kamoa Holding joint venture that is contained in the financial statements. C1 cash costs are used by management to evaluate operating performance and include all direct mining, processing, and general and administrative costs. Smelter charges and freight deductions on sales to final port of destination, which are recognized as a component of sales revenues, are added to C1 cash cost to arrive at an approximate cost of finished metal. C1 cash costs and C1 cash costs per pound, exclude royalties and production taxes and non-routine charges as they are not direct production costs.

Reconciliation of Kamoa-Kakula’s cost of sales to C1 cash costs, including on a per pound basis:

All figures above are on a 100% basis.

EBITDA

EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, which excludes income tax, finance costs, finance income and depreciation from net profit.

Ivanhoe believes that Kamoa-Kakula’s EBITDA is a valuable indicator of the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex’s ability to generate liquidity by producing operating cash flow to fund its working capital needs, service debt obligations, fund capital expenditures and distribute cash to its shareholders. EBITDA also is frequently used by investors and analysts for valuation purposes. EBITDA is intended to provide additional information to investors and analysts and does not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. EBITDA excludes the impact of cash costs of financing activities and taxes, and the effects of changes in operating working capital balances, and therefore are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate EBITDA differently.

Reconciliation of profit and loss to EBITDA:

All figures above are for the Kamoa Holding joint venture on a 100% basis.

This news release should be read in conjunction with Ivanhoe Mines’ audited 2021 Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis report available at www.ivanhoemines.com and at www.sedar.com.

Qualified Persons and NI 43-101 Technical Reports

Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature regarding the revised capital expenditure and 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.

Other disclosures of a scientific or technical nature in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Stephen Torr, who is considered, by virtue of his education, experience and professional association, a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. Mr. Torr is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is the Vice President, Geosciences. Mr. Torr has verified the other technical data disclosed in this news release.

Ivanhoe has prepared a current, independent, NI 43-101-compliant technical report for each of the Kipushi Project and the Kamoa-Kakula Project, which are available under the company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com:

  • The 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., covering the company’s Kamoa-Kakula Project; and
  • The Kipushi 2022 Feasibility Study dated February 14, 2022, prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd., MSA Group (Pty) Ltd., SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, and METC Engineering, covering the company’s Kipushi Project.

Ivanhoe also has prepared and filed a technical report for the Platreef Project:

  • The Platreef Integrated Development Plan 2020 dated December 6, 2020, prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd., Wood plc (formerly Amec Foster Wheeler), SRK Consulting Inc., Stantec Consulting International LLC, DRA Global, and Golder Associates Africa, covering the company’s Platreef Project.

A new current technical report for the Platreef Project including disclosures regarding the Platreef 2022 FS will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com within the time required under NI 43-101.

These technical reports include relevant information regarding the effective dates and the assumptions, parameters and methods of the mineral resource estimates on the Platreef Project, the Kipushi Project and 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 in respect of the Platreef Project, Kipushi Project and Kamoa-Kakula Project.

Information contacts

Investors
Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834

Media
Matthew Keevil +1.604.558.1034

Website www.ivanhoemines.com

Forward-looking statements

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this news 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 news release.

Such statements include without limitation, the timing and results of: (i) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula’s costs expected to trend downward as the Phase 2 concentrator plant is commissioned and the mine’s fixed operating costs are spread over increased copper production; (ii) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 2 concentrator plant is on track to begin operations in April 2022, which will see a doubling of Kamoa-Kakula’s nameplate milling throughput to 7.6 million tonnes of ore per annum (Mtpa); (iii) statements regarding the expected increase in processing capacity resulting from the planned de-bottlenecking program and the cost thereof; (iv) statements regarding copper production from Kamoa Copper’s first two phases are projected to exceed 450,000 tonnes per year by Q2 2023; (v) statements regarding the expectation that the majority of Kamoa-Kakula’s expansion capital expenditures on Phase 2 and Phase 3 will be funded from copper sales and facilities in place at Kamoa; (vi) statements that based on current market conditions, it is anticipated that shareholder loan repayments from Kamoa-Kakula will commence in 2022; (vii) statements regarding Ivanhoe’s 2022 Western Foreland exploration expenditure is provisionally planned at $25 million and that the main component of this expenditure is exploration drilling, with more than 50,000 metres of shallow (depth of less than 150 metres), air core, reverse circulation and diamond drilling as well as up to an additional 45,000 metres of deeper regional drilling covering the entire 2,550-square-kilometre land package, some of which is dependent upon exploration success; (viii) statements regarding the planned resumption of commercial production at Kipushi based on a two-year construction timeline; (ix) statements regarding a third, significantly larger concentrator is being designed for Kamoa-Kakula and is expected to commissioned in Q4 2024 and is expected to be fed from a combination of the established mine at Kansoko Sud, together with the new mines at Kamoa 1 and Kamoa 2; (x) statements regarding an updated pre-feasibility study, including the Phase 3 expansion, is expected in Q3 2022; (xi) statements regarding relatively minor modifications to the Kamoa-Kakula Phase 1 concentrator that is expected to increase ore throughput from the current design of 475 tonnes per hour to 580 tonnes per hour; (xii) statements regarding Turbine 5 is expected to produce 162 MW of renewable hydropower, providing the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex and the planned, associated smelter with abundant, sustainable electricity for future expansions; xii) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula aiming to become the first net-zero carbon emitter among the top-tier copper mines by electrifying its mining fleet with state-of-the-art equipment powered by electric batteries or hydrogen fuel cells and that the mine plans to introduce them into its mining fleet as soon as they become commercially available; (xiv) statements regarding production guidance of between 290,000 and 340,000 tonnes of contained copper in concentrate for 2022 from the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex; (xv) statements regarding cash cost guidance of between $1.20 to $1.40 per pound for 2022 from the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex; (xvi) statements regarding cost of sales per pound of payable copper sold and C1 cash costs per pound of payable copper produced expected to trend downward as the Phase 2 concentrator plant is commissioned and the mine’s fixed operating costs are spread over increased copper production; (xvii) statements regarding new independent feasibility study for the Platreef Project and statements confirming the viability of a new phased development pathway to fast-track Platreef into production by Q3 2024; (xvii) statements regarding the senior debt facility for the Platreef Project including that it is anticipated to be used only after the stream facilities are fully drawn; (xxi) statements regarding the changeover construction at Platreef Shaft 1 being on schedule for commencement of rock hoisting early in 2022; (xix) statements that Platreef’s shaft will be equipped with two cages on top of two 12.5-tonne skips with hoisting capacity of 1 million tonnes per year and that an amended configuration does not require the cage to be interchanged mid-shift, thereby increasing the hoisting time during the initial phase of mining; (xx) statements regarding Shaft equipping at Platreef being on track to be completed by the end of March 2022; (xxi) statements regarding the first blast on the 950-metre level at Platreef’s shaft 1 is anticipated in April 2022; (xxii) statements regarding Platreef’s shaft 2 eight civil lifts to be constructed, including a ventilation plenum and personnel access tunnel, is targeted for completion in May 2022; (xxiii) statements regarding the water requirement at Platreef for the Phase 1 operation is projected to peak at approximately three million litres per day, which will then increase to nine million litres per day once the Phase 2 expansion is complete; (xxiv) statements regarding Ivanplats purchasing the treated wastewater from the Masodi Treatment Works at a reduced rate of R5 per thousand litres; (xxv) statements that arrangements are underway to re-commence the construction works of the Masodi Treatment Works in Q3 2022 and that it will take approximately 18 months; (xxvi) statements regarding implementation of the Platreef Project’s second Social and Labour Plan (SLP); (xxvii) statements regarding equipping of the Platreef’s permanent training academy is continuing, with the official launch being planned for 2022; (xxviii) statements regarding the new agreement signed between Kipushi Holding and Gécamines to return the ultra-high-grade Kipushi Mine back to commercial production; (xxix) statements that Kipushi Holding will continue to fund the Kipushi Project with the shareholder loan and/or procure financing from third parties for the development of the project; (xxx) statements regarding 50 boreholes of potable water are planned to be drilled around the Kipushi district over five years, to reach areas not served by the current distribution reticulation; and (xxxi) statements regarding the main objectives for 2022, the 2022 budget and the planned capital expenditure for 2022.

As well, all of the results of the feasibility study for the Kakula copper mine, the Kakula-Kansoko 2020 pre-feasibility study and the updated and expanded Kamoa-Kakula Project preliminary economic assessment, the Platreef 2022 feasibility study, the Platreef 2020 preliminary economic assessment, the pre-feasibility study of the Kipushi Project, and the Kipushi 2022 feasibility study, 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 operation and development of the Kamoa-Kakula, Platreef and Kipushi projects, 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, nickel, zinc, platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold; (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; (xvii) recoveries, mining rates and grade; (xviii) political factors; (xviii) water inflow into the mine and its potential effect on mining operations, and (xix) the consistency and availability of electric power.

This news release also contains references to estimates of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. The estimation of Mineral Resources is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Estimates of Mineral Reserves provide more certainty but still involve similar subjective judgments. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation (including estimated future production from the company’s projects, the anticipated tonnages and grades that will be mined and the estimated level of recovery that will be realized), which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that ultimately may prove to be inaccurate. Mineral Resource or Mineral Reserve estimates may have to be re-estimated based on: (i) fluctuations in copper, nickel, zinc, platinum group elements (PGE), gold or other mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling; (iii) metallurgical testing and other studies; (iv) proposed mining operations, including dilution; (v) the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates and/or changes in mine plans; (vi) the possible failure to receive required permits, approvals and licences; and (vii) changes in law or regulation.

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 news 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 news 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 news 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 news 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 Year-End MD&A.

加拿大多伦多 — 艾芬豪矿业 (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) 今天公布其截至 2021 年 12 月 31 日 止的年度财务业绩。艾芬豪矿业是一家加拿大的领先矿业公司,正在开发和扩建旗下位于南部非洲的四个主要采矿和勘查矿业项目:位于刚果民主共和国(以下简称"刚果(金)")的卡莫阿-卡库拉 (Kamoa-Kakula) 铜矿,已于2021年7月开始商业化生产;位于南非的普拉特瑞夫 (Platreef) 钯-铑-镍-铂-铜-金矿;同样位于刚果(金)、久负盛名的基普什 (Kipushi) 锌-铜-铅-锗矿;以及毗邻卡莫阿-卡库拉的西部前沿铜矿大规模勘查项目。除非另有指明,所有货币数字均以美元为单位。

重点﹕

  • 相比2020年同期亏损1,090万美元,艾芬豪矿业2021年第四季度录得利润4,820万美元。第四季度的利润主要来自艾芬豪矿业应占卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿合资企业 (以下简称“卡莫阿控股")的利润份额以及财务收入(共计1.039亿美元)。
  • 卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目于2021年第四季度生产精矿含铜金属54,481吨,第三季度生产精矿含铜金属41,545吨。
  • 卡莫阿-卡库拉2021年共生产精矿含铜金属105,884吨,远高于最初预期的生产指导目标的80,000至95,000吨,也高于上调后的2021年指导目标的92,500至100,000吨。
  • 卡莫阿-卡库拉的铜回收率从2021年7月份平均约81%上升至2021年12月份约88.5%。I期选厂设计稳产的铜回收率约86%,视入选品位有所浮动。
  • 2021年第四季度,卡莫阿-卡库拉出售53,165吨铜,获得4.885亿美元收入,录得营业利润1.989亿美元,EBITDA为3.576亿美元。
  • 2021年第四季度,卡莫阿-卡库拉每磅铜的销售成本为1.12美元/磅,每磅铜的现金成本 (C1) 为1.28美元/磅,2021年第三季度则分别为1.08美元/磅和1.37美元/磅。随着II期选厂即将投产,矿山的固定运营支出将随铜产量增长而分摊,预计现金成本将会继续下降。
  • 卡莫阿-卡库拉II期选厂将按计划于2022年4月投产,将提升项目总设计产能至年处理矿石760万吨。
  • 将使I期和II期选厂产能提高21%的技改研究正在进行,目标是每年合计处理矿石920万吨。技改方案实施后,预计到2023年第二季度,卡莫阿-卡库拉I期和II期的年产铜超过45万吨,使卡莫阿-卡库拉成为全球第四大铜矿山。
  • 艾芬豪矿业的财政状况稳健。截至2021年12月31日,公司持有现金和现金等价物6.082亿美元,预计卡莫阿-卡库拉II期和III期扩建的大部分资本性开支将由铜销售和现有的项目信贷融资支持。基于当前的市场条件,预计艾芬豪矿业将于2022年开始偿还卡莫阿-卡库拉的股东贷款。
  • 2021年第四季度,艾芬豪继续在毗邻卡莫阿-卡库拉的、约2,550平方公里的西部前沿 (Western Forealand) 探矿权内开展勘查。2022年将开展大规模钻探,计划在刚果(金)旱季到来时开始,以2021年的工作为基础,主要集中在航空和重力物探、土壤采样以及道路建设。
  • 之前取得重大发现的原班地质团队,在西部前沿广阔的勘查区内,采用相同的勘查模型;该模型成功指导了卡库拉、卡库拉西区和卡莫阿北区富矿带的发现。
  • 2021年12月,普拉特瑞夫项目获得2亿美元黄金金属流和1亿美元钯-铂金属流融资,并于2021年12月收取第一期预付款7,500万美元。
  • 普拉特瑞夫可行性研究敏感性分析,采用2022年3月7日的时点金属价格:铂1,121美元/盎司、钯2,979美元/盎司、铑22,200美元/盎司、金1,995美元/盎司、铜4.84美元/磅和镍13.12美元/磅,项目税后NPV为51亿美元(折现率8%),税后内部收益率为33%。
  • 2022年2月,艾芬豪矿业公布普拉特瑞夫项目新可行性研究的非凡结果,基于520万吨/年的稳态产能,充分论证新分期开发方案的可行性以加快推进普拉特瑞夫项目于2024年第三季度投产。
  • 2022年2月,艾芬豪矿业与杰卡明 (Gécamines) 签署新框架协议,推进基普什超高品位矿山重启商业化生产。
  • 2022年2月,艾芬豪矿业公布基普什重启商业化生产计划的独立可行性研究的乐观结果,复产建设为期两年。基普什可行性研究敏感性分析,采用2022年3月7日的时点锌价1.84美元/磅,项目税后NPV为30亿美元(折现率8%),税后内部收益率为86%。
  • 截至2021年底,卡莫阿-卡库拉项目已连续270万个工时没有发生失时工伤、基普什项目已连续约400万个工时没有发生失时工伤,而普拉特瑞夫已连续677,450个工时没有发生失时工伤。

主要项目及活动回顾

1. 卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目        
艾芬豪矿业持有 39.6% 权益
位于刚果民主共和国

卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿是艾芬豪矿业与紫金矿业的合资项目,被国际矿业咨询公司伍德曼肯兹 (Wood Mackenzie) 评为全球第 4 大铜矿床。该项目位于科卢韦齐 (Kolwezi)以西约 25 公里,卢本巴希 (Lubumbashi) 以西约 270 公里处。卡莫阿-卡库拉项目于2021年5月启动铜生产,并于2021年7月1日正式实现商业化生产。

2015年12月,艾芬豪向紫金矿业出售卡莫阿控股有限公司 (以下简称 "卡莫阿控股") 49.5% 的权益,并向私营企业晶河全球出售卡莫阿控股 1% 的权益。卡莫阿控股持有项目 80% 权益。与紫金矿业的交易完成后,每位股东须按其持有卡莫阿控股的股权比例承担对卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的出资。艾芬豪与紫金矿业各自间接持有卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目39.6% 的权益,晶河全球间接持有0.8% 权益,而刚果(金)政府则直接持有20% 权益。

卡莫阿-卡库拉I期和II期选厂

卡莫阿-卡库拉的职业健康与安全

截至 2021年12月底,卡莫阿-卡库拉项目录得2,696,794个零失时工伤工时。2021年第四季度发生了一起工伤事故。项目将继续致力为所有员工和承包商提供零伤害的工作环境。

卡莫阿-卡库拉矿山成功以防疫、防控及降低风险为重点,应对COVID-19疫情。项目进行大规模的检测,加上重点实施防疫措施,确保能够尽早发现确诊个案并即时进行隔离和治疗,以降低交叉感染的风险。同时,卡莫阿-卡库拉继续全力为员工和当地社区接种疫苗。项目将继续保持高水平的日常风险管理,以防止后续感染。项目二千多名员工已接种了至少一剂疫苗。

卡莫阿医院的主医疗大楼正在扩建升级且进展顺利,在有需要时继续为患者提供治疗。卡莫阿-卡库拉经验丰富的医生和护士,在世界领先的紧急响应及医护团队的支援下,利用最新技术进行治疗。

随着疫情的变化,卡莫阿医院的医疗队伍将继续审核和更新其疫情防控方案,并确保在应用新医疗技术之前进行审查,以保护员工和社区成员的安全和健康。

新建成的卡莫阿医院是世界级的医疗设施,配备丰富的医生、护士和医护人员和先进的设备。

卡莫阿铜业的健康总监John Botomwito在新医院的重症监护病房。

卡莫阿-卡库拉的运营和财务数据摘要

 

 2021年第四季度

2021年第三季度

矿石处理量 (千吨)

                    1,059

                    861

处理矿石铜品位 (%)

5.96%

5.89%

铜回收率 (%)

86.40%

83.40%

生产精矿含铜金属 (吨)

               54,481

               41,545

已销售铜 (吨)

               53,165

               41,490

销售收入 (千美元)

             488,536

             342,584

每磅销售成本 (美元/磅)

1.12

1.08

C1现金成本 (美元/磅)

1.28

1.37

EBITDA (千美元)

    357,619

    233,212

2021年7月1日商业化生产之前,2021第二季度生产精矿含铜金属9,858吨,截至2021年12月31日共生产105,884吨铜。

C1 现金成本的计算基准与伍德曼肯兹成本指南制定的行业标准定义一致,但并非国际财务报告准则 (IFRS) 认可的方式。在计算 C1 现金成本时,成本的计量基准与财务报表中所述的公司应占卡莫阿控股合资企业的收益份额相同。管理层以C1 现金成本评估经营业绩,其中包括所有直接采矿、选矿以及管理和行政成本。冶炼费和销售至最终港口的运费扣减被列作销售收入的一部分,将计入C1现金成本,以得出交付成品金属的粗略成本。权益金、产品税和非经常性费用并非直接生产成本,因此不会计入C1现金成本。

生产每磅交付铜的C1现金成本明细如下﹕

 

 

2021年

第四季度

 2021年

第三季度

采矿

(美元/磅)

              0.20

              0.36

选矿

(美元/磅)

              0.18

              0.16

运费 (运往中国)

(美元/磅)

              0.37

              0.35

粗炼、精炼和冶炼费

(美元/磅)

              0.24

              0.21

管理和行政成本

(美元/磅)

0.29

0.29

生产每磅交付铜的C1现金成本

(美元/磅)

1.28

1.37

上述数字均以100%项目权益统计。报告的精矿含铜金属量未考虑冶炼协议中的损失或扣减。

卡库拉380万吨/年I期选厂已于2021年5月启动铜精矿生产;并于2021年7月1日正式实现商业化生产

首批矿石于2021年5月20日供给选厂,而首批可销售的精矿已于2021年5月25日通过压滤,标志着项目I期选厂及相关设施启动铜精矿生产。

卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目连续7 天超过设计产能的80%,回收率接近70%,已于2021年7月1日正式实现商业化生产。卡莫阿-卡库拉I期选厂的收入以及折旧自该日起入帐。

铜回收率从2021年7月份平均约81%上升至2021年9月份约85%。2021年第四季度,铜浮选平均回收率约86%,并于2021年12月破纪录达到88.5%。I期选厂设计稳产的铜回收率约86%,视入选品位有所浮动。

I期选厂的产能相比其380万吨/年设计产能已高出15%以上,并于12月份达到设计产能的 117%。 

2021年第四季度共生产精矿含铜金属54,481吨,2021年第三季度则为41,545吨。截至2021年12月31日,本年度总共生产精矿含铜金属达105,884吨,运至位于科卢韦齐近郊的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂或出口到国际市场。

过去12个月现货铜价(美元/磅)

II期高压辊料堆给矿传送带(图右)2022年2月开始试车,I期高压辊给矿传送带和料堆在图左侧

一群才华横溢的卡莫阿-卡库拉刚果(金)采矿班组在卡库拉矿山北斜坡道入口前

卡莫阿-卡库拉II期选厂建设基本完工;III期的工程设计和前期工作进展顺利

卡莫阿-卡库拉II期380万吨/年选厂的建设基本完成,正在推进前期试车工作。选厂按计划将于2022年4月开展首批矿石的带料试车以及首批铜精矿的生产。

III期扩建的工程设计和前期工作进展迅速,其中包括新采区进场通道的井口和双斜坡道。第三座选厂规模更大,目前正进行设计工作,预计于2024年第四季度实现投产。III期选厂将处理来自卡索科南部的矿石以及卡莫阿一区和卡莫阿二区新矿山提供的矿石。更新版预可行性研究将涵盖III期扩建计划,预计于2022年第三季度发布。

I期选厂已成功运行了8个多月,卡莫阿-卡库拉团队发现通过一些相对微小的调整,可使选厂的矿石处理量加大,从当前的设计生产率每小时475吨提升至每小时580吨。这些调整包括扩大一些管道的直径、替换较大型的电机和水泵,以及扩大浮选机、精矿浓密机、过滤机和尾矿处理系统的产能。

这些调整使团队能够以较高的产能持续选厂作业,而不会对选厂的可用性、铜回收率或铜精矿品位造成影响。工程设计正在进行中,并已开展长周期设备的采购。技改方案的成本约为5,000万美元,到2023年第二季度,卡莫阿-卡库拉的联合矿石处理能力将提升至920万吨/年。

卡莫阿铜业新任总经理瑞安·魏美伦 (Riaan Vermeulen) (左中)和卡莫阿铜业首席执行官马克·法伦 (Mark Farren) (右中) 与紫金矿业的高管团队现场考察。

卡莫阿-卡库拉来自世界各地、多样化的团队成员在新建的II期球磨机前。在他们的努力下,I期和II期选厂得以提前投产。

卡莫阿-卡库拉新的斜坡道开口建设进展非常顺利,作为III期扩建的一部分,将提供卡莫阿1矿山和卡莫阿2矿山的进场通道。

卡莫阿-卡库拉冶炼厂的基础工程设计正在进行中

卡莫阿-卡库拉规划中的直接粗铜冶炼厂将建设在I期和II期选厂附近,利用芬兰Outotec公司研发的技术;设计规模适合处理I期、II期和III期选厂生产的大部分铜精矿,粗铜生产设计产能为50万吨/年。

中国瑞林工程技术有限公司获委任负责冶炼厂的基础工程设计以及制定概算,工作进展顺利。

2022年2月底,矿石堆场已储备约460万吨矿石,铜品位4.58%,含有超过21.2万吨铜

截至2022年2月底,卡莫阿-卡库拉的地表堆场已储备约460万吨高品位和中品位矿石,平均铜品位约4.58%。2021年第四季度采出170万吨矿石,铜品位 5.44%,包括在卡库拉矿山采出的152万吨矿石,铜品位5.60% (其中包括在矿床高品位中心采出81万吨矿石,铜品位高达6.68%) 以及在卡索科矿山采出的18万吨矿石,铜品位4.05%。

卡莫阿-卡库拉I期和II期选厂,以及卡库拉矿山北斜坡道的矿石堆场。直接粗铜冶炼厂将建设在I期和II期选厂附近。

卡莫阿-卡库拉根据包销协议交付I期生产的粗铜及铜精矿

卡莫阿铜业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) 就卡莫阿-卡库拉I期生产的铜产品签署各50%产量的包销协议。包销协议为常青协议,涵盖 I 期矿山服务年限内的所有产品,包括铜精矿以及在邻近的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂加工生产的粗铜。

中信金属和紫金矿业以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。

卡莫阿-卡库拉于2021年6月1日向卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂交付第一批铜精矿,预计每年将为卡莫阿-卡库拉约15万湿吨的铜精矿进行粗炼加工。卡莫阿-卡库拉于2021年7月开始出口铜精矿。装载第一批铜精矿的车队已于2021年7 月17日从矿山出发,将产品发往刚果(金) 境外的冶炼厂。

Mwadingusha水电站已全面运行,为卡莫阿-卡库拉I期和II期提供78兆瓦的清洁电能;英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组的升级工程是下一步工作重点,将为卡莫阿-卡库拉后续扩建提供电力保障

Mwadingusha水电站的6台新涡轮机组已于2021年8月与国家电网并网,每台发电机组可产生约13兆瓦的电力,总发电容量约78兆瓦。

卡莫阿-卡库拉的能源公司于2021年8月与刚果(金)国有电力公司SNEL扩展现有的融资协议,在英加二期水电站进行5号涡轮机组的升级工程。瑞士洛桑的Stucky公司和行业领先的工程集团德国海登海姆的福伊特水电 (Voith Hydro) 从2021年6月起负责研究确定项目的修缮范围并开展技术性考察。5号涡轮机组升级的承包商福伊特水电曾成功改造了英加一期水电站的两台涡轮发电机,该项目由世界银行提供资金。

5号涡轮机组管道清淤的前期工作正在进行中,完工后将使福伊特水电、Stucky和SNEL的工程团队能够顺利完成项目范围的工作。

预计5号涡轮机组将产生162兆瓦的可再生水电,为卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目和规划中的冶炼厂提供长期的稳定电力以配合日后扩建计划。

旨在成为首个实现净零碳排放的顶级铜矿山,卡莫阿-卡库拉项目将使用电池或氢燃料电池驱动的先进设备,全力推进电气化采矿作业

2021年5月,艾芬豪矿业公开作出承诺,其领先行业的卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿将会致力实现净零运营温室气体排放 (范围一和范围二)。

为支持应对气候变化的《巴黎协定》以及本着中美两国政府2021年4月全球气候会议中承诺大幅减排的精神,艾芬豪矿业将致力与其合作伙伴及领先的地下采矿设备制造商紧密合作,确保卡莫阿-卡库拉将会成为首个实现净零运营碳排放的世界顶级铜矿生产项目。

卡莫阿-卡库拉矿山和选厂已获得清洁、可再生的水电能源供应,公司的净零承诺重点将通过引入电池或氢燃料电池驱动的先进设备,来全力推进项目的电气化采矿作业。

卡莫阿-卡库拉项目与其采矿设备供应商紧密合作,以减少采矿作业中的化石燃料使用,同时对于新的电、氢和混合技术的可行性、安全性和性能作出评估,在它们可供商业使用时尽快引入项目的采矿作业。

可持续发展促进社区繁荣

艾芬豪矿业于2010年创立“可持续民生计划”,旨在通过建立农业园以及为当地农民提供支持,提升卡莫阿-卡库拉项目社区的食品安全和农作物生产。迄今,约有 900位社区农民正受益于“可持续民生计划”,为家人生产优质食品并出售多余的食品以获得额外收入。“可持续民生计划”从最初的玉米和蔬菜种植已发展到目前包括水果、水产养殖、家禽和养蜂。

农民Omba Gertrude Muwana (左)与卡莫阿铜业可持续民生农学家Benoit Mujinga在卡莫阿-卡库拉附近的一个社区种植园和鱼塘

100个新的鱼塘已兴建完成,将鱼塘的数量增加至138个。项目鼓励当地创业以及提高该地区的粮食安全。计划还包括为社区提供成人读写培训课程,部分参加者已毕业并担任课程的助教。

卡莫阿-卡库拉附近新建的鱼塘

2021年第四季度实施的其他非农业相关活动包括教育计划、企业和供应商发展计划以及太阳能水井项目。水井项目现已完工,由当地承包商在社区已钻进完成全部计划的35个水井,为12,000多名社区居民提供清洁的水源。

Kaponda小学的建设、绿化工作和设施配备都已经完成,实现了民生计划的另一里程碑,进一步支持联合国的可持续发展目标。当地社区的企业计划继续推行,包括制砖和缝纫 (计划于2022年扩展项目) 以及绿化和园艺 (或会对于业务效益和持续发展作出评估)。

搬迁计划的安置房建设继续按计划推进,累计129个家庭已乔迁新居,剩余5个家庭。余下的家庭将于安置房建设完成后搬迁。为Kaponda社区建设的教堂已竣工,并正式交予社区居民。民生恢复计划的重点是向所有受项目影响的居民分发758只鸡,并为总计45名受益人每人分发3只羊。民生恢复计划还包括在 9 公顷土地上种植 3,600 株橙苗、在 10 公顷土地上种植 1,000 株嫁接鳄梨树,以及大约 54 公顷的木薯。

2022年铜精矿生产指导目标

截至2021年12月31日止,卡莫阿-卡库拉合资项目本年度已生产精矿含铜金属105,884吨。上述数字均以100%项目权益统计。报告的精矿含铜金属量未考虑冶炼协议中的损失或扣减。

2022年的指导目标以截至2021年12月31日的假设和估算为基础,包括II期扩建的时间点以及估计的成本和支出。生产和成本指导假设II期选厂将于2022年第二季度投产,并将与I期选厂的产量爬坡情况一致。指导目标涉及对已知和未知风险、不确定性和其它因素的估计,可能与实际业绩出现重大差异。

卡莫阿-卡库拉2022年指导目标

 

精矿含铜金属量(吨)

290,000 至 340,000

C1现金成本 (美元/磅)

1.20 至 1.40

2021年第四季度,每磅铜的C1现金成本为1.37美元/磅,2021年第三季度则为1.28美元/磅,反映了卡莫阿-卡库拉的产量爬坡已达到稳产作业。随着II期选厂即将投产,矿山的固定运营支出将按铜产量增长而分摊,预计成本将会继续下降。

C1 现金成本为非公认会计准则的财务指标。管理层以C1 现金成本评估经营业绩,其中包括所有直接采矿、选矿以及管理和行政成本。冶炼费和销售至最终港口 (通常是中国港口) 的运费扣减被列作销售收入的一部分,将计入C1现金成本,以得出交付成品金属的粗略成本。

2021年第四季度,每磅铜的销售成本为1.12美元/磅。关于过往成本的对比,请参阅本新闻稿中“非公认会计准则财务指标”的部分。

2. 普拉特瑞夫项目
艾芬豪矿业持股64%
位于南非

普拉特瑞夫项目由 Ivanplats (Pty) Ltd. (以下简称 "Ivanplats") 持有,艾芬豪矿业持有Ivanplats公司64%的权益。《全面提高黑人经济实力法案》(B-BBEE) 的南非受益人持有项目26%的权益,这些受益人包括 20 个当地社区,约150,000 位居民、项目雇员和当地企业主。 Ivanplats 在最近 B-BBEE 评分核实评估中达到 4 级贡献者标准。另外,伊藤忠商事株式会社、日本石油天然气和金属国家公司和日本天然气公司组成的日本财团通过 2 轮投资 (共 2.9 亿美元) 持有 Ivanplats 10% 的权益。

普拉特瑞夫是一个地下开采矿山,铂族金属、镍、铜和金矿体厚大,位于林波波省的布什维尔德岩浆杂岩带北部,距离约翰内斯堡东北约280公里,距离波特希特斯镇约8公里。

在布什维尔德北翼,铂族金属矿化主要赋存在普拉特瑞夫层位,是一套走向延伸30多公里的矿化序列。艾芬豪的普拉特瑞夫项目位于普拉特瑞夫层位的南部,由Turfspruit及Macalacaskop两个相连的矿权组成。最北部的Turfspruit 矿权,邻近且位于英美铂金 (Anglo Platinum) Mogalakwena 矿山的走向延伸上。

自2007年以来,艾芬豪重点推进普拉特瑞夫的勘查和开发活动,以圈定和扩大早期发现的Flatreef矿床的深部延伸,以开展高度机械化的地下开采。整个Flatreef 矿区位于 Turfspruit 和 Macalacaskop 采矿权范围内。

普拉特瑞夫的职业健康与安全

截至2021 年12月底,普拉特瑞夫项目共录得677,450个零失时工伤工时。

首席安全官 Kgalalelo Tladi在1号竖井的地下装配工作平台进行安全检查

普拉特瑞夫项目继续审核和优化其COVID-19疫情防控方案,实行各项措施以控制并降低传播风险,包括对员工和访客进行大规模检测、为员工提供交通接送以及推行疫苗接种计划。

截至2021年12月底,普拉特瑞夫项目共进行了6,516次COVID-19 检测。为配合国家卫生部推行的全国疫苗接种计划,Ivanplats 在矿山现场为员工接种COVID-19 疫苗,至今已完成470剂疫苗接种。普拉特瑞夫项目约 70% 的现场员工和承包商已接种了至少一剂疫苗。

普拉特瑞夫新可行性研究成果斐然

2022年2月28日,艾芬豪矿业公布普拉特瑞夫项目新的独立可行性研究 (以下简称“2022可行性研究”)的结果。 2022可行性研究,是以2020年11月发布的初步经济评价  (以下简称“初步经济评价”) 以及2020年可行性研究的出色结果为基础。

普拉特瑞夫2022可行性研究基于520万吨/年的稳态产能,以及2号竖井加速爬坡达产的方案而编制。普拉特瑞夫2022可行性研究以2020初步经济评价所提出的详细设计和工程方案为基础,充分论证新分期开发方案的可行性以加快推进普拉特瑞夫项目于2024年第三季度投产。

普拉特瑞夫2022可行性研究要点﹕

  • 普拉特瑞夫2022可行性研究对于普拉特瑞夫的分期开发方案进行了评估,初期70万吨/年的地下采矿能力及77万吨/年的选矿能力,以1号竖井附近的高品位矿带为目标采区,初期资本开支为4.88亿美元。
  • I 期计划于2024年第三季度实现首批精矿的生产,II 期扩建计划于2号竖井在2027年投产后展开,其后建造两座220万吨/年的选厂,计划分别于2028年及2029年投产。2号竖井将用作首采井,以提升稳态产能至520万吨/年。
  • 估计II 期扩建资本性开支为15亿美元,将由 I 期的现金流和项目融资方案提供部分资金。
  • Ivanplats勤勉尽责的工程团队及高级顾问团队正在评估优化2号竖井的凿井方法,以求大幅提前2号竖井的提升作业,加快整体开发进程。
  • I 期平均年产3.5吨(11.3万盎司)的钯、铑、铂金和黄金 (以下简称“3PE+Au”) 以及2300吨(500万磅)镍和1400吨(300万磅)铜。
  • II 期平均年产18.4吨(59.1万盎司)的3PE+Au金属以及11,800吨(2,600万磅)镍和7,300吨(1,600万磅)铜;这将使普拉特瑞夫成为世界第五大主要铂族金属矿山 (以钯金属当量排名)。
  • 矿山服务年限内的现金成本为每盎司3PE+Au 514美元 (扣除副产品,并已计入维持性资本开支)。这将使普拉特瑞夫成为行业成本最低的主要铂族金属矿山。
  • 以长期共识价格计算,税后净现值为17亿美元 (折现率8%),内部收益率为18.5%。
  • 可行性研究敏感性分析,采用2022年3月7日的时点金属价格:铂1,121美元/盎司、钯2,979美元/盎司、铑22,200美元/盎司、金1,995美元/盎司、铜4.84美元/磅和镍13.12美元/磅,项目税后NPV为51亿美元(折现率8%),税后内部收益率为33%

图1﹕普拉特瑞夫2022可行性研究分期开发方案

图2﹕全球规模最大、开发中的贵金属矿床 (按探明和控制资源含金属量排名)

信息来源﹕公司文件、标准普尔全球市场情报。根据标准普尔全球市场情报数据库中最大规模的未被开发钯、铂金、黄金、银和铑金属项目进行排名 (以探明和控制的钯当量金属为标准)。钯当量计算包括钯、铂、黄金、银和铑盎司,并根据以下现货金属价格 (2022年2月23日) 假设计算﹕铂1,095美元/盎司、钯2,480美元/盎司、铑18,750美元/盎司、黄金1,909美元/盎司和银24.55美元/盎司。普拉特瑞夫的探明和控制资源量,以1克/吨边界品位估算钯、铂、黄金和铑金属量。

普拉特瑞夫落实2亿美元黄金金属流融资及1亿美元钯-铂金属流融资

2021年12月,Ivanplats就黄金、钯及铂金属流融资与猎户座矿业金融及Nomad Royalty Company 达成协议。猎户座矿业金融是世界领先的金融集团,为矿业公司提供定制化的融资。 Nomad Royalty Company是一家拥有贵金属特许使用权的公司,猎户座是该公司的大股东之一 (猎户座矿业金融及Nomad Royalty Company统称为"金属流买方")。交易将为I期大部分的资本性开支提供资金,项目将于2024年第三季度实现首批精矿生产。

金属流融资是指买方以预付金额购买预售的精炼金属,预付款总额为 3 亿美元,分两期支付,第一期预付款7,500万美元于2021年12月份交易结束时收取,剩余的2.25亿美元将在满足若干先决条件后支付。

根据 2 亿美元黄金金属流协议的条款,金属流买方将获得精矿所含黄金的80%,直至交付量达35万盎司,其后将减少至协议剩余有效期生产精矿所含黄金的64%。协议有效期将从金属流协议的生效日期,直至向金属流买方提供的交付量达685,280盎司黄金当日结束。金属流买方将按相等于黄金市价或100美元/盎司 (以较低者为准) 的价格购买每盎司黄金。

根据 1 亿美元钯-铂金属流协议的条款,猎户座矿业金融将获得精矿所含钯及铂金的4.2%,直至交付量达35万盎司,其后将减少至协议剩余有效期相关产量的2.4%。协议有效期将从金属流协议的生效日期,直至向买方提供的交付量达485,115盎司钯和铂金当日结束。买方将按相等于钯及铂金市价30%的价格购买每盎司钯及铂金。

猎户座矿业金融与Nomad Royalty团队和普拉特瑞夫开发团队在1号井架平台

达成金属流协议使Ivanplats可集中推进高级债务融资

Ivanplats于2021年初已委托法国兴业银行和莱利银行担任项目债务融资的受托牵头安排行。黄金金属流融资及钯-铂金属流融资都将顺从于高级债务融资的安排。

预计高级债务融资仅在金属流融资全额提取后才能使用。Ivanplats仍可在其后筹集额外的债务或股权融资,并就未来任何高级债务的债权人安排与金属流买方预先达成协议。虽然金属流融资由Ivanplats作保证并以普拉特瑞夫的资产和艾芬豪矿业在普拉特瑞夫的股份担保,对艾芬豪矿业并没有任何追索权。

1号竖井的转换工作即将完成

1号竖井底部的996米中段工作站已于2020年7月顺利竣工。1号竖井早期将用作进场通道,距离 I 期规划开采的Flatreef高品位采区约450米,适合进行大规模的机械化开采作业。位于750米、850米和950米中段的三个工作站均已完工,将为早期进入高品位矿区提供便利条件。

辅助卷扬机已完成安装和试车。竖井的井架、两座卷扬机、装配平台以及输送和控制系统,符合行业的最高安全标准,并经过安全验证和测试,且设有备援系统。

1号竖井转换为生产井的工程按计划进行中,即将开始提升矿石。竖井转换所需的设备已经完成订购并已送达现场。竖井的转换工作由普拉特瑞夫的资深业主团队负责。

普拉特瑞夫项目的施工现场,包括下图左边的1号竖井以及下图右边的2号竖井井架 (从地基至井口) 的建设工程

在1号竖井成功完成凿井工程的卷扬机将被改造装配,在竖井转换工程期间用于运送主要设备,以及在竖井进行装配期间用于永久提升矿石、运送工作人员和物料。竖井将配备两个12.5吨的箕斗,提升能力达100万吨/年,由于设置更改后不需要中转罐笼,因此增加了开采初期的提升作业时间。

竖井于2021年5月开始进行装配,按计划将于2022年3 月底完工。在竖井和地下工作站完成转换及矿石和废石通道建成后,将会启动井下水平巷道开拓,向高品位矿区推进。

主要地下电动采矿设备已下订单

Ivanplats初步已为其主要采矿设备向瑞典斯德哥尔摩的 Epiroc公司下订单,包括零排放的电动凿岩台车和铲运机,将于 2022 年3月交付。矿山开拓工程合同已授予 Murray & Roberts Cementation,进场情况顺利,预计于2022年4月在950米中段进行首次爆破。

2号竖井井架 (从地基至井口) 的建设工程进度理想

2号竖井的前期地表工程已于2017年展开,包括地表以下约 29 米深的开口以及建造103 米高的混凝土井架的地基。该井架将设有竖井的永久提升设施并将用于支撑井口。

2号竖井井架 (从地基至井口) 的建设工程进度理想,第6和第7部井架升降机已完工,第8部 (即最后一部) 升降机的施工进展顺利。计划共建设8部升降机,包括通风和工作人员通道,并计划于2022年5月完工。

普拉特瑞夫矿山的长期供水

预计 I 期生产的用水需求最高约300万公升/天,II 期扩建完工后将提高至900万公升/天。2022年1月17日,艾芬豪公布已签署新协议,将获得当地经处理后的中水,以供应普拉特瑞夫分期开发所需的生产用水。这份协议取代了最初于2018年签署的协议。

根据新包销协议的条款,Mogalakwena当地政府 (以下简称“MLM”) 同意,自项目投产后的32年间由波特希特斯的 Masodi 废水处理厂每天供应不少于300万公升且不多于1,000万公升经处理的中水。Masodi 废水处理厂的施工正在进行中。

同时,Ivanplats已签署资助协议,承诺将会完成Masodi废水处理厂2018年中断后的未完成工程。Ivanplats将向市政府提供经济援助,预计投入约2.15亿南非兰特 (约1,400万美元) 以完成Masodi处理厂的建设。Ivanplats将以5南非兰特每1,000公升的较低价格购买中水。计划2022年第三季度重新启动建设工程,为期约18个月。

人力资源和职业技能发展

普拉特瑞夫项目的第二个社会和劳动计划 (SLP) 已获得批准。在第二个SLP中,Ivanplats计划以第一个SLP为基础,继续专注于培训和开发计划,其中包括﹕增加15名新培训师、向78名员工提供内部技术培训、延续向即将退休的员工提供新/其他技术的培训计划、为项目社区成员提供社区成人教育,以及向最少100名社区成员提供核心技术培训以及常用技能等。

普拉特瑞夫项目继续支持多个教育计划,以及在运营社区提供免费无线上网。项目实施青年气候变化行动,并于当地一所学校推行植树活动,以提升社区对于气候变化的意识。

矿山的常设培训学院继续添置设备,计划于今年晚些时候正式开学。培训学院的教室和办公室已完工,并已制定培训和电子学习计划。项目推行的学员计划,为49名当地学员提供学习机会,包括职业安全以及采矿技能 (例如Murray & Roberts培训学院提供的工程车操作培训) 的国家认可证书课程。学员计划旨在促进性别多样化,其中54%的学员都是女性。

当地经济发展项目包括Mogalakwena市水井计划以提供社区水源。其他项目将与各方合作进行,包括翻新Tshamahansi村的一家诊所并添置设备。为响应世界艾滋病关注日,Tshamahansi诊所举行社区卫生干预活动以提高社区意识并提供支持。

企业和供应商的发展承诺包括进一步扩展现有的小卖店和洗衣设施,以及增设更衣室,未来移交由社区伙伴负责管理。为期5年的综合业务发展和资助项目计划,将会帮助社区成员做好业务发展和作为供应商的准备。

过去12个月的钯金属现货价格(美元/磅)

过去12个月的铑金属现货价格(美元/磅)

过去12个月的镍金属现货价格(美元/磅)

过去12个月的铂金现货价格(美元/磅)

过去12个月的黄金现货价格(美元/磅)

3. 基普什项目
艾芬豪矿业持有68%股权
位于刚果民主共和国

位于刚果(金)的基普什铜-锌-锗-银-铅矿,邻近基普什镇,距离卢本巴希西南约30公里。基普什地处中非铜矿带,位于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目东南约 250 公里,距离赞比亚边境不足一公里。

2011年11月,艾芬豪通过其全资子公司基普什控股,收购了基普什项目 68% 的权益;其余 32% 权益由刚果(金)国有矿业公司杰卡明持有。

基普什控股与杰卡明已签署新框架协议,推进基普什矿山重启商业化生产。基普什将成为全球品位最高的大型锌矿,投产前5年的平均锌品位达36.4%。

(从左至右)﹕ 艾芬豪矿业刚果(金)公共事务副总裁奥利维尔·宾因戈 (Olivier Binyingo)、艾芬豪矿业总裁玛娜·克洛特、杰卡明董事长阿尔方斯·卡普托·卡鲁比 (Alphonse Kaputo Kalubi) 及基普什公司总经理路易斯·瓦特姆 (Louis Watum) 在最近到访卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿期间,就基普什的合作事项进行讨论。

新框架协议规定的商业条款将构成基普什新合资項目协议的基础,为基普什矿山未来的互利运营构建稳固的框架,但尚需完成最终股东协议的签署。

新框架协议要点﹕

  • 基普什控股将向杰卡明转让其在基普什項目持有的6%股权和投票权,其后基普什控股和杰卡明将分别持有62%和38%的股权。
  • 2027年1月25日后,基普什控股应向杰卡明转让其在基普什項目持有的5%股权和投票权,其后基普什控股和杰卡明将分别持有57%和43%的股权。
  • 在完成上述6%和5%的股权转让后,如需按照适用的法律或监管规定将基普什項目的部分股权转让与国家或任何第三方,则应由杰卡明履约转让该等基普什項目股权,而基普什控股将保持項目57%的股权不变。
  • 一旦开采和处理矿石量达到目前估算的证实和可信储量且不超过1,200万吨,则基普什控股应向杰卡明再转让其在基普什項目中持有的37%股权和投票权,其后基普什控股和杰卡明将分别持有基普什項目的20%和80%股权。
  • 成立新的监事会和执行委员会,以及依比例设置的股东代表席位。
  • 实施重点发展刚果 (金) 人才的新举措,包括个人发展、物色未来管理层、人才梯队计划以及员工性别平等。
  • 已制订基普什项目锌精矿产品包销的招标框架,杰卡明全程参与。
  • 基普什控股将继续通过股东贷款及/或第三方融资,为项目开发提供资金。股东贷款的利率为6%,从2022年1月1日起计息,适用于现有余额及任何后续贷款。根据现有股东贷款协议的条款,股东贷款的利率为伦敦同业拆借利率加4%,适用于80%的预付款,其余的20%免息。截至2021年12月31日,基普什控股的股东贷款余额 (已计入应付利息) 约5.28亿美元。

基普什的职业健康与安全

2021年12月底,基普什项目录得3,983,319个零失时工伤工时,距离基普什项目上次失时工伤事件已有两年半以上。

鉴于COVID-19疫情,基普什已暂停了矿山建设作业。项目现场有一支精干的队伍,安全有效地进行维护工作,并保持抽水作业和执行已规划的工作。

基普什项目建设了新的饮用水供应站为基普什市免费供水。基普什市社区成员从免费饮用水得到的日常支持涉及电力、化学消毒剂、日常维护、保安和紧急修复主要管网的泄漏,受惠人数多达十万人 (未计郊区的居民)。日常每小时连续泵送约 1,000 立方米的饮用水供给使用者。

项目计划于未来5年在基普什区域范围建设50个水井,为偏远地区提供水源。至今,在该范围已建设并运行共12个太阳能水井。

作为支持社区教育的举措之一,基普什项目继续为Mungoti学校进行翻新工程,并向基普什的学生提供助学金和奖学金。去年,约100名学生已通过助学金计划获得资助。基普什项目成立的缝纫培训中心继续生产口罩,每月向运营社区捐赠约2,000个口罩。此外,基普什项目通过当地电台及宣传车对社区进行COVID-19防疫广播。

基普什项目于2020年实施"可持续民生计划",使当地的妇女团体受惠,并计划于2022年在基普什继续扩大范围。项目推行年度植树计划,旨在提高社区意识,并在减缓气候变化方面带来积极的影响。

可行性研究报告公布久负盛名的基普什矿山的复产计划、为期两年的建设时间表以及卓越的经济测算结果

2022年2月14日,艾芬豪矿业公布基普什重启商业化生产计划的独立可行性研究。

基普什2022 年可行性研究以艾芬豪矿业于2018年1月发表的预可行性研究为基础。基普什复产开发的建设周期为两年,与同类开发项目比较,利用现有的地表和地下大型基础设施,可大幅降低资本性开支。估计投产前资本性开支(包括应急费用) 为3.82亿美元。

基普什2022可行性研究的重点是大锌矿带和南锌矿带的开采,估算的探明和控制矿产资源量之矿石量达1,180万吨,锌品位35.3%。基普什拥有超级高的锌品位,国际矿业领先的研究咨询集团伍德曼肯兹认为基普什锌品位超过全球第二高项目两倍以上 (见图 3)。

图 3﹕按锌金属量排名的全球十大锌矿

信息来源﹕伍德曼肯兹 (2022年1月)。注:上述项目 (基普什除外) 中各金属矿种的矿石量和金属品位均以公开披露为基础,由伍德曼肯兹编辑整理。伍德曼肯兹根据其对金属的长期价格假设,将各金属品位转换为当量锌品位。

基普什2022可行性研究计划重启地下开采作业,并且在地表建设一座新选厂,年处理矿石80万吨,生产精矿含锌金属约24万吨。

基普什矿山 2022可行性研究概要﹕

  • 2022可行性研究对于80万吨/年地下采矿和选厂的开发方案进行了评价,资源规模较预可行性研究有所提高,矿山服务年限延长至14年。
  • 与同类项目对比,基普什利用现有的地表和地下基础设施,可显着降低资本性开支。主要的建设项目是两年内在地表建造一座常规的浮选厂以及新的配套基础设施。
  • 投产前的资本性开支 (包括应急费用) 约为3.82亿美元。
  • 矿山服务年限内的平均年产量为24万吨锌(精矿含锌金属量),锌品位32%,预计将使基普什跻身世界主要锌矿山之列 (图 3),一旦投产,其品位将远高于其它矿山。
  • 矿山服务年限内的平均C1现金成本为0.65美元/磅。预计基普什投产后在全球锌生产商现金成本曲线中处于第二四分位。
  • 以1.20美元/磅的长期锌价估算,项目具有9.41亿美元的税后净现值(折现率8%)和40.9%的税后内部收益率,项目回报期2.3年。
  • 敏感性分析采用2022年3月7日的时点锌价1.84美元/磅,项目税后NPV为30亿美元(折现率8%),税后内部收益率为86%。

基普什2022可行性研究由OreWin Pty. Ltd. 、MSA Group (Pty.) Ltd. 、SRK Consulting (Pty) Ltd.及METC Engineering按100%项目权益独立编撰。

项目开发和基础设施

尽管2021年及2020年度的开发和重建活动受到影响,基普什矿山近年来的地下基础设施现代化升级进展顺利,为重启商业化生产作好准备。这些工程包括在不同中段修缮升级竖井和地表井架,以及地下矿山的掘进工程和基础设施。

一系列的穿脉巷和通风基础设施仍然运作正常,并已清除陈旧物品和设备,以配合先进的机械化采矿作业。地下基础设施还包括一系列高效水泵,用于控制矿山水位,目前水位很容易保持在矿山底部。

5号竖井的直径为8米、深 1,240 米,现已进行升级和重新试车。主要的工作人员和物料进出场的卷扬机已完成升级改造,以满足全球行业标准和安全标准。5号竖井的提升岩石卷扬机已全面运行,并已安装新的箕斗、钢索以及相关配件。竖井已安装两个新制造的岩石运输工具(箕斗)和支撑框架(控制电缆),以方便从1,200 米中段的主矿石仓和废石仓提升岩石。

尽管矿山开发作业受到阻碍,主要的工程仍继续开展,包括安装新的卷扬机作为第二出口,以及维修和更换 5 号竖井的关键泵站,以确保持续稳定地从井下抽水。

Patrick Mwanza Wa Kabongo在基普什的5 号竖井操作现代化的提升设备

过去12个月的锌金属现货价格 (美元/磅)

地下矿山完成升级改造,提供方便的进场通道以加快实现产量爬坡

在历史上,基普什的开采作业从地表延伸至1,220 米的深度。计划用作主要生产井的5号竖井,提升能力达180万吨/年,并用作主要进场通道,经1,150米运输中段进入矿山的较低中段 (包括大锌矿带)。

项目将采用高效的、机械化的开采方式,将使用废石混凝土进行采空区回填。地下采出的岩石将会运送到P5竖井的底部,破碎后提升至地表。工作人员和设备运送也将经P5竖井出入。采掘班组将经由现有的斜坡道进入大锌矿带,因此无需进行大规模建设。由于现有的斜坡道已低于规划中的首采中段,采掘班组可以更快速地进行首批锌矿的开拓工程以实现产量爬坡。

图4﹕基普什矿山示意图。计划用作主要生产井的5号竖井,提升能力达180万吨/年。

4. 西部前沿勘探项目
艾芬豪矿业全资拥有及持有90%权益
位于刚果民主共和国

艾芬豪的刚果(金)勘探团队通过区域勘查和钻探,在其位于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目以北、以南和以西的西部前沿探矿权内,重点勘查卡莫阿-卡库拉类型的铜矿化。艾芬豪的西部前沿勘查项目包括17个探矿证,总面积约2,550平方公里。

之前取得重大发现的原班地质团队,在西部前沿广阔的勘查区内,采用相同的勘查模型;该模型成功指导了卡库拉、卡库拉西区和卡莫阿北区富矿带的发现。

2021年第四季度的勘查工作,集中在西部前沿探矿权内10公里间距的大比例尺区域剖面上开展钻探;目的是在物探分析和解译之前,提供详细的地层和构造信息。还利用勘查钻孔开展井下物探,以提供密度、传导率和速度等信息。

地表土壤和水系沉积物的采样集中在探矿权的西南部。 2021年第四季度共采集了18个水系和462个土壤样品。在矿权西南部开展填图工作,同时开展地质解译。

项目修建的一条横贯西部许可区的进场主干道路目前已达69公里长,并且在整段道路沿线安装集装箱装卸桥,将可通往西南前沿地区的全部范围。项目建设的雨季进场通道已完工,以便工作人员可在雨季进行钻探工程。

2021年第四季度重新开展磁法、重力和电磁航测。新的地球物理数据将有助于确定钻探和土壤化探的目标靶区,以及进一步了解该区域的构造型式。磁法和重力物探已于年底前完成,电磁物探及附加的重力物探工作已完成46%。 2021年第四季度开展大地地球物理测量,将与航空测量结合使用,在需要时提供更高分辨率。

艾芬豪矿业2022年在西部前沿项目的初步勘查预算为2,500万美元。主要费用集中在勘查钻探,超过50,000米的浅孔(深度小于150米)、空气岩芯钻、反循环钻和金刚石钻探,旨在揭露Kalahari砂层下部的基岩位置并采取基岩样品。另外还初步设计了最高45,000米的区域深孔钻探,覆盖整个2,550平方公里的矿权范围,其中部分工程视前期工作结果而定。

2022年2月,南非公司New Resolution Geophysics在艾芬豪的西部前沿探矿权进行航空电磁物探。电磁物探是设计的三项地球物理勘测中的最后一项,为地质师提供超高分辨率的数据,用于制订2022年钻探计划。

年度财务信息精选

财务信息精选是根据《国际财务报告准则》(IFRS) 编制并且在年度合并财务报表中列报。艾芬豪在任何财务报告期间都没有任何经营收入。卡莫阿-卡库拉项目商业化生产所得的经营收入均被列入卡莫阿控股合资企业计算。艾芬豪在任何财务报告期间都未声明或支付任何股息或股东红利。

经营业绩讨论

2021年12月31日止的年度回顾 (对比 2020年12月31日)

公司在截至 2021年12月31日录得1,710万美元的年度综合收益,相比较截至 2020年12月31日则录得4,550万美元的年度综合亏损。公司2021年的利润主要源自卡莫阿控股合作企业的利润份额。

卡莫阿-卡库拉项目于2021年7月1日正式启动商业化生产,于2021年销售94,655吨铜,为卡莫阿控股合资企业取得8.311亿美元的收入。2021年公司从合资企业的获得的总收入为1.996亿美元,总结如下:

2021年度截至12月31日,公司在卡莫阿控股合资企业的应收利润为1.057亿美元,2020年同期则分担亏损2,680万美元,明细详见下表里的汇总:

2021年,卡莫阿控股合资企业的融资成本为1.506亿美元 (2020年﹕7,980万美元) ,其中1.338亿美元与股东贷款有关,每位股东均需按照其股权比例向卡莫阿控股出资 (2020年﹕7,980万美元)。其它的融资成本中,1,350万美元与卡莫阿-卡库拉包销协议下的3亿美元预付款有关,其余的330万美元则与设备融资有关。

2021年截至12月31日,年度勘查及项目评价开支为5,220万美元,较2020年同期 (4,470万美元) 增加750万美元。勘查及项目评价开支用于艾芬豪的西部前沿探矿权的勘查活动,还包括用于基普什项目的开支,但由于项目于2021年及2020年勘查工作量减少产生的费用较少。

下表列出了截至2021年12月31日止年度和2020年同期基普什项目的主要开支类别﹕

截至2021年12月31日止的年度财务收入达1.023亿美元,2020年同期为8,080 万美元。财务收入已计入2021年向卡莫阿控股合资企业提供贷款以运营所得的利息收入9,390万美元以及2020年所得的利息收入7,040万美元,随着累计贷款余额增加。

2021年的综合收益,包括由于南非兰特从2020年12月31日至2021年12月31日期间贬值9%而导致外汇损失2,820万美元,2020年同期因为换算海外业务而导致外汇损失690万美元。

公司确认了2021年度嵌入式金融负债的公允估值损失为9,370万美元。

2021 年 12 月完成的金属流融资,将为 Platreef 项目的大部分I期资本性开支提供资金,鉴于2022年可行性研究的出色业绩,现在认为普拉特瑞夫项目很可能获得应税利润,可以使用未使用的税收损失和未使用的税收抵免。因此,公司于 2021 年 12 月确认了先前未确认的递延所得税资产,从而产生了 7,500 万美元的递延所得税回收(收入)。

截至2021年12月31日的财务状况 (对比截至2020年12月31日)

截至2021年12月31日,公司的总资产为32.182亿美元,相比截至2020年12月31日的24.171亿美元上升8.011亿美元。总资产的增长主要由于2021年3月17日完成发行高级可转债所得的净收入所致。出售可转债所得的收入 (扣除与主负债相关的发行成本1,050万美元) 为5.645亿美元。

截至2021年12月31日,公司拥有6.082亿美元的现金和现金等价物,相比截至同期的2.628亿美元上升3.454亿美元,主要由于可转债所得的收入5.75亿美元以及提取金属流融资首期预款项7,500万美元所致。截至2021年12月31日止12个月内,公司动用了710万美元现金资源用于运营,并向卡莫阿控股合资企业提供1.527亿美元的贷款。

截至2021年12月31日,公司的总负债为8.412亿美元,相比截至2020年12月31日的8,060万美元增加了7.606亿美元,主要由于上述私募发行总额5.75亿美元、息票率2.50%的高级可转债(见公司的2021年度《管理层讨论与分析》)以及金属流融资的递延收入6,960万美元 (扣除交易成本)所致。递延收入代表金属流买方以预付金额购买普拉特瑞夫项目预售的精炼黄金、钯和铂金,并将在交付时以盎司摊销。

不动产、厂房和设备的净增长为1,760万美元,共计5,270万美元花费在项目开发及其它不动产、厂房及设备的购置。其中,4,920万美元用于普拉特瑞夫项目的开发成本及其他不动产、厂房及设备的购置。

截至2021年12月31日止的年度及2020年同期的普拉特瑞夫项目不动产、厂房和设备,包括已经资本化的开发成本,主要细目详见下表:

普拉特瑞夫项目产生的支出对于项目迈向商业生产而言是必需的,因此也资本化为不动产、厂房和设备。

公司向卡莫阿控股合资企业的投资增加了3.523亿美元,从截至2020年12月31日的12.895亿美元到截至2021年12月31日的16.418亿美元。公司在 12月31日止的2021年度向卡莫阿控股合资企业的现金出资份额达到1.527亿美元,而公司应占的合资企业收益则为1.057亿美元。

公司对卡莫阿控股合资企业的投资明细如下﹕

卡莫阿-卡库拉项目于2021年7月启动商业化生产之前,卡莫阿控股合资企业主要使用股东预付的贷款,通过投资开发支出、不动产、厂房和设备来推进项目的发展。这反映在公司享有的卡莫阿控股合资企业的净资产份额的变化上。该净资产份额可分解如下:

展望未来,项目I期的所有运营支出以及II期和 III期的大部分资本支出将会从铜产品销售收入和卡莫阿-卡库拉现有的信贷出资。满足运营和扩建需求后的现金余额,将用于偿还股东贷款。基于当前的市场条件,预计卡莫阿-卡库拉将于2022年开始偿还股东贷款。

截至2020年12月底,卡莫阿控股合资企业已从设备融资获得4,500万欧元 (约5,600万美元) 以及从首付款贷款中提取900万美元,并于2021年从设备融资获得2,270万欧元,截至2021年12月31日已提取总计6,720万欧元 (约7,610万美元)。设备融资仅以设备作为抵押,实际利率为8.96%。首付款贷款则无抵押,实际利率为11.58%。

卡莫阿控股合资企业的不动产、厂房和设备从 2020年12月31日增长至 2021年12月31日,达到6.741亿美元,可进一步分解如下:

季度财务信息精选

下表总结了前八个季度的财务信息精选。艾芬豪在任何财务报告期间都没有经营收入。卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目商业化生产所得的收入均被列入卡莫阿控股合资企业计算。艾芬豪在任何财务报告期间都未声明或支付任何股息或股东红利。

截至2021年12月31日止三个月 (对比 2020年12月31日) 的回顾

公司于2021年第四季度录得4,820万美元的利润,2020年同期则录得1,090万美元的亏损。公司在卡莫阿控股合作公司中的利润份额是第四季度利润的重要来源。公司于2021年第四季度录得3,040万美元的综合收益,2020年同期则录得3,180万美元。

卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目于2021年第四季度出售53,165吨应付铜,为卡莫阿控股合资企业取得4.885亿美元的收入。 2021年第四季度,公司来自合资企业的应收总收入1.039亿美元,总结如下:

2021年第四季度,公司应占卡莫阿控股合资企业的利润为7,840万美元,2020年第四季度则分担亏损620万美元。下表列出截至2021年12月31日止三个月及2020年同期公司应占卡莫阿控股的利润(亏损)汇总:

2021年第四季度,卡莫阿控股合资企业的融资成本为5,560万美元,其中4,570万美元与股东贷款有关,每位股东均需按照其股权比例进行出资 (2020年第四季度﹕2,130万美元)。在余下的融资成本中,800万美元与卡莫阿包销协议下的3亿美元预付款有关,其余的180万美元则与设备融资有关。

公司在2021年第四季度嵌入式衍生金融负债的公允价值录得8,850万美元的亏损。财务成本从 2020 年第四季度的 150 万美元增加到 2021 年同期的 1,050 万美元,其中1,020万美元与可转债的利息 (按实际利率计算) 有关。

公司于2021年12月签署金属流融资协议,将为普拉特瑞夫项目I期的大部分资本性开支提供资金。同时,普拉特瑞夫2022可行性研究取得非凡的测算结果,普拉特瑞夫项目未来很可能有应课税溢利,可用于抵销未扣减的税项亏损以及未使用的税项抵免。因此,公司在 2021 年第四季度核实了先前未确认的递延税项资产,在该期间产生递延税款回收 (收入) 7,500 万美元。

2021年第四季度的财务收入达2,800万美元,与2020年同期 (2,100万美元) 相比高出700万美元。财务收入中包括向卡莫阿控股合资企业提供的贷款利息,2021年第四季度的利息收入2,550万美元,2020年同期所得的利息收入为1,970万美元,随着累计贷款余额增加。

2021年第四季度的勘查及项目评价开支为1,580万美元,2020年同期为1,380万美元。勘查及项目评价开支用于西部前沿探矿权的勘查活动,还包括用于基普什项目的开支,但由于项目在期内减少作业仅产生了有限的资本性开支。下表列出了2021年第四季度和2020年第四季度基普什项目的主要开支类别﹕

流动资金来源

截至2021年12月31日,公司拥有6.082亿美元的现金和现金等价物。截至该日,公司的综合运营资金约为6.548亿美元,而截至 2020年12月31日则为3.08亿美元。

普拉特瑞夫项目于2021年12月已就黄金、钯及铂金属流融资达成协议,将为I期大部分的资本性开支提供资金。金属流融资是指买方以预付款项购买预售的精炼金属,预付款总额为 3 亿美元,分两期支付,第一期预付款7,500万美元已于12月份交易结束时收取,剩余的2.25亿美元将在满足若干先决条件后支付。

在 2022 年,公司对于普拉特瑞夫项目的主要目标是要继续推进I期的建设工程,计划于2024年第三季度投产,以及继续建设2号竖井的井架以提前II期投产。基普什项目的可行性研究已经完成,且开发方案已达成协议;在合资企业协议修订案签字和融资安排完成后,艾芬豪将开展长周期设备的采购以及其他建设工程。卡莫阿-卡库拉项目已启动首批铜精矿生产,II期选厂扩建将于2022年4月完工。卡莫阿-卡库拉项目将重点提高运营效率,在I期和II期实施技改方案以及推进III期扩建。

2022年预算拟投入1.9亿美元进一步开发普拉特瑞夫项目,8,000万美元用于基普什项目,以及3,500万美元用于公司经常性开支。 2022年将继续在刚果(金) 的西部前沿勘查项目其它靶区进行勘查活动,初步预算为3,200万美元。

在卡莫阿控股合资企业方面,项目的所有运营支出以及II期和III期的大部分资本性开支将会从铜销售收入和卡莫阿现有的信贷出资。

2022年计划资本性开支明细如下:

注:(1)卡莫阿-卡库拉框上的以上数据均以100%权益计算,(2)III期和冶炼厂早期工程的预算仅仅是初步方案,将在2022年第三季度预可行性研究更新完成后予以调整。

2021年3月17日,公司已完成私募发行总额为5.75亿美元、息票率2.50%、2026年到期的高级可转债。高级可转债为本公司的高级无抵押债务,息票率2.50%,每半年付息一次。除非提前回购、赎回或转换,债券将于2026年4月15日到期。在2025年10月15日前一个工作日结束前,仅在某些情况下和特定时间,债券可根据持有人的选择进行兑换,此后,可随时兑换,直至到期日前第二个计划交易日结束。转换债券时,本公司可选择以现金、普通股或其组合方式结算。截至2021年12月31日,主负债的账面值为4.374亿美元,嵌入式衍生负债的公允价值为2.442亿美元。

公司向监管机构提交的工作计划开支带有隐含承诺,以保持其矿权的勘查和采矿许可区良好的信誉。下表列出了公司的长期合约责任﹕

如上所述,上表列出的债务代表应向花旗银行支付的抵押债券以及应付ITC Platinum Development Limited的贷款。

公司需按其持有的股权比例向卡莫阿控股合资企业供资。

非公认会计准则财务指标

卡莫阿-卡库拉的C1现金成本和每磅C1现金成本

C1现金成本及每磅C1现金成本为非公认会计准则的财务指标。这些披露使投资者更清楚了解卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的表现,与其他铜生产商按照类似指标公布的业绩作比较。

C1 现金成本的计算基准与伍德曼肯兹成本指南制定的行业标准定义一致,但并非IFRS 认可的计量。在计算 C1 现金成本时,成本的计量基准与财务报表中所述的公司应占卡莫阿控股合资企业的收益份额相同。管理层以C1 现金成本评估经营业绩,其中包括所有直接采矿、选矿以及行政和管理成本。冶炼费和销售至最终港口的运费扣减被列作销售收入的一部分,将计入C1现金成本,以得出交付成品金属的粗略成本。权益金、生产税和非经常性费用并非直接生产成本,因此不会计入C1现金成本。

卡莫阿-卡库拉的销售成本与C1现金成本的对账,包括以每磅计算:

上述数字均以100%项目权益统计。

EBITDA

EBITDA 为非公认会计准则的财务指标,是指未计所得税、财务成本、财务收入和折旧之前的净利润。

艾芬豪认为,卡莫阿-卡库拉的 EBITDA 是衡量卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目是否有能力产生流动性的重要指标,通过产生运营现金流为其营运所需提供资金、偿还债务、为资本性开支供资,以及向股东派发现金股利。投资者和分析师也经常使用 EBITDA进行估值。EBITDA 旨在向投资者和分析师提供额外信息,但并非由 IFRS 标准定义的,故不应被独立评估或取代按照IFRS制订的表现指标。EBITDA 撇除融资活动的现金成本和税项的影响以及运营资金余额变动的影响,因此并不代表IFRS所定义的营业利润或经营产生的现金流。公司计算 EBITDA 的方法可能与其他公司有所不同。

损益与EBITDA的对账如下﹕

上述数字均以卡莫阿控股合资企业100%权益计算。

本新闻稿应当与艾芬豪矿业《2021年已审计财务报表》和《管理层讨论与分析》报告一起阅读。有关报告可在www.ivanhoemines.comwww.sedar.com获取。

合资格人及NI 43-101 技术报告

本新闻稿中关于卡莫阿-卡库拉项目资本性开支和开发方案修订版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。

本新闻稿中的其它科学或技术性披露已经由斯蒂芬·托尔 (Stephen Torr) 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 条款下的合资格人。由于托尔先生是地球科学副总裁,因此他并不符合NI 43-101 对独立人士的界定。托尔先生已核实本新闻稿所披露的其它技术数据。

艾芬豪已经为基普什项目和卡莫阿-卡库拉项目分别编制了一份符合NI 43-101 标准的最新独立技术报告,这些报告可在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,涵盖公司的卡莫阿-卡库拉项目;以及
  • 2022年2月14日发布的基普什2022可行性研究,由OreWin Pty Ltd.、MSA Group (Pty) Ltd.、SRK Consulting (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd. 和METC Engineering编制,涵盖了公司的基普什项目。

同时,艾芬豪已为普拉特瑞夫项目编制及提交了一份技术报告﹕

  • 2020年12月6日发布的2020 年普拉特瑞夫综合开发方案,由OreWin Pty Ltd.、Wood plc (前为Amec Foster Wheeler)、SRK Consulting Inc.、Stantec Consulting International LLC 、DRA Global以及Golder Associates Africa编制,涵盖公司的普拉特瑞夫项目。

普拉特瑞夫项目的最新技术报告 (包括关于普拉特瑞夫2022可行性研究的披露) 将于NI 43-101规定的时间内在SEDAR网页提交,网址为www.sedar.com。

这些技术报告包括本新闻稿中引用的普拉特瑞夫项目、基普什项目和卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的矿产资源估算的生效日期、假设、参数和方法等信息,以及本新闻稿中关于普拉特瑞夫项目、基普什项目和卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的科学和技术性披露的数据验证、勘探程序和其他事项的信息。

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

网址﹕www.ivanhoemines.com

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、不明朗因素和其他因素,可能导致本公司的实际业绩、表现或成就、其项目或行业的业绩,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﹕(i) 关于随着卡莫阿-卡库拉II期选厂即将投产,矿山的固定运营支出将按铜产量增长而分摊,预计成本将会下降的陈述;(ii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉II期选厂将按计划于2022年4月实现投产,将提升设计产能至年处理矿石760万吨的陈述;(iii) 关于预期的扩大加工产能的技改方案和相关的支出;(iv)关于预计到2023年第二季度,卡莫阿-卡库拉I期和II期的年产量将达到45万吨铜以上的陈述;(v) 关于预计卡莫阿-卡库拉II期和III期扩建的大部分资本支出将会从铜销售和卡莫阿现有的信贷出资的陈述;(vi) 关于基于当前的市场条件,预计将于2022年开始偿还卡莫阿-卡库拉的股东贷款的陈述;(vii) 艾芬豪矿业2022年在西部前沿项目的初步勘查预算为2,500万美元。主要费用集中在勘查钻探,超过50,000米的浅孔(深度小于150米)、空气岩芯钻、反循环钻和金刚石钻探,旨在揭露Kalahari砂层下部的基岩位置并采取基岩样品。另外还初步设计了最高45,000米的区域深孔钻探,覆盖整个2,550平方公里的矿权范围,其中部分工程视前期工作结果而定。;(viii) 关于基普什重启商业化生产计划的复产建设为期两年的陈述; (ix)第三座选厂规模更为庞大,目前正进行设计工作,预计于2024年第四季度实现投产,将处理来自卡索科南部开采的矿石以及新矿山卡莫阿一区和卡莫阿二区提供的矿石的陈述;(x) 关于更新版的预可行性研究将涵盖III期扩建计划,预计于2022年第三季度发布的陈述;(xi) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉I期选厂预期通过一些相对微小的调整,可使选厂的矿石处理量加大,从当前的设计生产率每小时475吨提升至每小时580吨的陈述; (xii) 关于5号涡轮机组预计将产生162兆瓦的可再生水电,为卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目和规划中的冶炼厂提供长期的稳定电力以配合日后扩建计划的陈述;(xiv) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉项目旨在成为首个实现净零碳排放的顶级铜矿山,将使用电池或氢燃料电池驱动的先进设备,在它们可供商业使用时尽快引入项目的采矿作业,全力推进电气化采矿作业的陈述;(xv) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目的2022年生产精矿含铜金属的指导目标为290,000吨至340,000吨的陈述;(xvii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目的2022年现金成本指导目标为1.20至1.40美元/磅的陈述; (xvii) 关于随着II期选厂即将投产,矿山的固定运营支出将按铜产量增长而分摊,预计每磅铜的销售成本和每磅铜的C1现金成本将会继续下降的陈述;(xvii) 关于普拉特瑞夫项目新独立可行性研究确定新分期开发方案的可行性,加快普拉特瑞夫于2024年第三季度投产的陈述;(xvii) 关于普拉特瑞夫项目的高级债务融资,包括仅在金属流融资全额提取后才能使用的陈述;(xxi) 关于普拉特瑞夫1号竖井将按计划于2022年初开始岩石提升的陈述;(xix) 关于普拉特瑞夫竖井将配备两个12.5吨的箕斗,提升能力达100万吨/年,由于设置更改后不需要可转换的罐笼,因此在开采初期可用更多时间进行矿石提升的陈述;(xxiii) 关于普拉特瑞夫竖井的装配工作将按计划于2022年3月底完工的陈述;(xxi) 关于普拉特瑞夫1号竖井预计于2022年4月在950米中段进行首次爆破的陈述;(xxii) 关于普拉特瑞夫2号竖井计划建设8部升降机,包括通风和工作人员通道,并计划于2022年5月完工的陈述;(xxvi) 关于普拉特瑞夫 I 期生产的用水需求预计最高约300万公升/天,II 期扩建完工后将提高至900万公升/天的陈述;(xxiv) 关于Ivanplats以5南非兰特每1,000公升的较低价格向Masodi 废水处理厂购买中水的陈述;(xxv) 关于项目计划2022年第三季度重新启动Masodi废水处理厂的建设工程,将需要18个月的陈述;(xxvi) 关于普拉特瑞夫项目实施第二个社会和劳动计划的陈述;(xxvii) 关于普拉特瑞夫矿山的常设培训学院继续添置设备,计划于2022年正式开幕的陈述;(xxviii) 关于艾芬豪矿业与杰卡明签署新框架协议,推进基普什超高品位矿山重启商业化生产的陈述;(xxix)基普什控股将继续通过股东贷款及/或第三方融资,为基普什项目开发提供资金;(xxx) 关于基普什项目计划于未来5年在基普什区域范围建设50个水井,为偏远地区提供水源的陈述; (xxxi) 关于2022年的主要目标、2022年预算和资本支出的陈述。

此外,卡库拉铜矿可行性研究、卡库拉-卡索科2020年预可行性研究、更新和扩展的卡莫阿-卡库拉项目初步经济评估、普拉特瑞夫2022可行性研究、普拉特瑞夫2020初步经济评估、基普什预可行性研究以及基普什2022可行性研究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、估计矿山服务年限、现金流预测、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、普拉特瑞夫项目和基普什项目运营及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、镍、锌、铂金,钯、铑和黄金的价格;(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;(xvi) 项目范围或设计更变;(xvii) 回收率、开采率和品位;(xviii) 政治因素;(xix) 矿山进水情况及对于开采作业的潜在影响;以及 (xx) 电源的稳定性和供应。

本新闻稿还载有矿产资源和矿产储量估算的参考信息。矿产资源估算未能确定,并涉及对许多有关因素的主观判断。矿产储量的估算提供了更多的确定性,但仍然涉及类似的主观判断。矿产资源不是矿产储量,不具有论证的经济潜力。任何该等估算的准确性是可用数据的数量和质量函数,并根据工程和地质诠释的假设和判断而作出 (包括公司项目的未来产量估算、预期将开采的矿石量和品位,以及估计将实现的回收率),可能被证明是不可靠,在一定程度上取决于钻探结果和统计推论的分析,而最终可能证明是不准确的。矿产资源或矿产储量估算可能需要根据下列因素作出重新估算﹕(i) 铜、镍、锌、铂族金属、黄金或其他矿产价格的波动;(ii) 钻探结果;(iii) 选冶试验和其他研究的结果;(iv) 建议采矿作业,包括贫化;(v) 在任何估算日期后作出的采矿计划评估; (vi) 未能取得所需准许、批准和许可证的可能性;以及(vii) 法律或法规的修订。

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。

基于公司截至2021年度《管理层讨论与分析》的"风险因素"和其他部分所指的因素,公司的实际业绩可能与这些前瞻性陈述所预计的业绩产生重大差异。

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