JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA ‒ Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) today announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2022. Ivanhoe Mines is a leading Canadian mining company that is advancing its four principal mining and exploration projects in Southern Africa: the Phase 3 expansion of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that commenced commercial operations in July 2021; the construction of the Platreef palladium, nickel, platinum, rhodium, copper and gold project in South Africa, scheduled for first production in the third quarter of 2024; the restart of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-lead-germanium mine in the DRC, also scheduled for first production in the third quarter of 2024; and the exploration for new copper discoveries on Ivanhoe’s 2,407-square-kilometre Western Foreland exploration project, which is adjacent to Kamoa-Kakula. All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- Ivanhoe Mines reported a record profit of $434 million for 2022, compared with a profit of $45 million for 2021. Ivanhoe’s profit in Q4 2022 was $37 million compared to a profit of $24 million in Q3 2022.
- Kamoa-Kakula sold 323,733 tonnes of copper in 2022, and recognized record revenue of $2.15 billion, record operating profit of $1.27 billion and record EBITDA of $1.39 billion.
- During Q4 2022, Kamoa-Kakula sold 92,208 tonnes of payable copper and recognized record revenue of $673 million, record operating profit of $418 million and record EBITDA of $451 million.
- Kamoa-Kakula’s cost of sales per pound (lb.) of payable copper sold was $1.08/lb. for Q4 2022 compared with $1.05/lb. in Q3 2022. Cash costs (C1) per pound of payable copper produced in Q4 2022 totalled $1.42/lb., compared to $1.43/lb. in Q3 2022.
- Ivanhoe Mines presents adjusted EBITDA for the group of $489 million for 2022, and $162 million for Q4 2022, which includes an attributable share of EBITDA from Kamoa-Kakula.
- Since entering Phase 1 commercial production on July 1, 2021, the Kamoa-Kakula joint venture has generated $1.22 billion of net cash from operating activities, which has funded both the Phase 2 and Phase 3 expansion activities to date.
- Ivanhoe Mines has a strong balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents of $597 million on hand as at December 31, 2022, and total debt of $739 million, the majority of which relates to the $575 million of unsecured 2.5% convertible notes that mature in April 2026, unless redeemed earlier.
OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
- Production at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex for the fourth quarter of 2022 was 92,761 tonnes of copper in concentrate.
- The debottlenecking program of Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators was completed ahead of schedule, increasing nameplate processing capacity by 22% to a combined total of 9.2 million tonnes of ore per annum. The final installation and commissioning of a fourth Larox filter press are now also complete, increasing copper production capacity to 450,000 tonnes per annum.
- Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 3 expansion, 500,000-tonne-per-annum on-site, direct-to-blister copper smelter and refurbishment of Turbine #5 at the Inga II hydroelectric facility are all advancing on schedule and are expected to be complete in late 2024. At current copper prices, it is expected that cashflow from Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 operations will be sufficient to fund the 2023 and 2024 expansion capital cost requirements of $2.53 billion.
- In January 2023, Ivanhoe Mines announced outstanding economic results of an updated, independent Integrated Development Plan (2023 IDP) for the world-leading Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. The Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for a phased expansion from 9.2 to 19.2 million tonnes per annum yields an after-tax NPV8% of approximately $19 billion, over a 33-year mine life. Kamoa-Kakula to rank as the fourth largest copper producer globally from 2025, with lowest-quartile C1 cash costs.
- Ivanhoe continues its expansive copper exploration program on its Western Foreland licences that cover approximately 2,407 square kilometres adjacent to Kamoa-Kakula. The 2023 exploration program is budgeted at approximately $19 million and includes up to 70,000 metres of total drilling.
- In mid-2023, Ivanhoe plans to release a maiden Mineral Resource estimate for its Makoko and Kiala high-grade copper discoveries in the Western Foreland, to be followed by a Preliminary Economic Assessment.
- Ivanhoe has commenced an optimization study at its Tier-One Platreef palladium, nickel, platinum, rhodium, copper and gold mine in South Africa to potentially accelerate production from the Phase 2 expansion. The study will consider the implications of converting the 5.1-metre-diameter ventilation shaft (Shaft 3), which is under construction, to a production shaft with the capability to hoist.
- Underground development work at Platreef continues to focus on establishing underground infrastructure on the 750-metre, 850-metre and 950-metre levels around Shaft 1, as well as developing towards the first reef and stoping areas on all three levels. Mine development across all three levels has progressed well, with more than 750 metres of lateral development completed to date. The first concentrate is scheduled for Q3 2024.
- The pilot drilling required for the raise-boring of Platreef's Shaft 2 commenced in February 2023. Headgear construction began in November 2022 with more than 70 metres of the 104-metres completed to date. In addition, raise boring of Shaft 3 also commenced in February 2023.
- Surface earthworks and civil works for the Kipushi concentrator continue on schedule, with over 1,700 cubic metres of foundation concrete poured to date. First concentrate is on track for Q3 2024.
- Underground mine development around Kipushi’s Big Zinc orebody is advancing ahead of schedule. Development waste, as well as low-grade mineralized rock from the advancement of the perimeter and access drives surrounding the Big Zinc orebody, is being hoisted to the surface and stockpiled.
- At the end of December 2022, Kamoa-Kakula achieved 1.53 million work hours free of a lost-time injury. Zero lost time injuries have been recorded on the construction projects of the Phase 3 expansion, smelter construction and Inga II Turbine #5 refurbishment. In addition, the Platreef Project reached 408,360 hours worked free of a lost-time injury, and the Kipushi Project reached 658,142 hours worked free of a lost-time injury.
- According to estimates by the United States Geological Survey, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is now the World’s second-largest copper-producing country, tied with Peru, having produced 2.2 million tonnes in 2022. This achievement would not be possible without Kamoa-Kakula, the fastest-growing major copper mine on the planet.
Watch an updated, detailed timeline on the history of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex: https://vimeo.com/806783775/fa83ffbb7c
Read Ivanhoe's Fourth Quarter 2022 Sustainability Update: https://bit.ly/3l95VGI
Conference call for investors on Monday, March 13
Ivanhoe Mines will hold an investor conference call to discuss its 2022 fourth quarter and annual financial results at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time / 7:30 a.m. Pacific time on Monday, March 13. The conference call will conclude with a question-and-answer (Q&A) session. Media are invited to attend on a listen-only basis.
To view the webcast please use the following link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/vcbrd72a
Analysts are invited to join by phone for the Q&A using the following link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI2a229263d9634c82ab5ad144f57d6398
An audio webcast recording of the conference call, together with supporting presentation slides, will be available on Ivanhoe Mines’ website at www.ivanhoemines.com.
After issuance, the Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis will be available at www.ivanhoemines.com and www.sedar.com.
Principal projects and review of activities
1. Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex
39.6%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex operated as the Kamoa Holding 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 from 2025. The project is approximately 25 kilometres southwest of the town of Kolwezi and about 270 kilometres west of Lubumbashi. Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex’s Phase 1 concentrator began producing copper in May 2021 and achieved commercial production on July 1, 2021. The Phase 2 concentrator, which doubled nameplate production capacity, was commissioned in April 2022.
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 Kamoa-Kakula, Crystal River holds an indirect 0.8% interest, and the DRC government holds a direct 20% interest.
Kamoa-Kakula summary of operating and financial data
All figures in the above tables are on a 100%-project basis. Metal reported in concentrate is before refining losses or deductions associated with smelter terms. This release includes “EBITDA”, “Adjusted EBITDA”, “EBITDA margin” and "Cash costs (C1)” which are non-GAAP financial performance measures. For a detailed description of each of the non-GAAP financial performance measures used herein and a detailed reconciliation to the most directly comparable measure under IFRS, please refer to the non- GAAP Financial Performance Measures section of the company’s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022.
C1 cash cost per pound of payable copper produced can be further broken down as follows:
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 the 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.
Kamoa-Kakula produced 333,497 tonnes of copper in 2022, an increase of 215% compared with 2021
Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 1 and 2 concentrator plants milled approximately 2.0 million tonnes of ore during the fourth quarter at an average feed grade of 5.4% copper, for a total of 7.1 million tonnes at an average grade of 5.5% copper for the year ended December 31, 2022. This included high-grade, run-of-mine ore from the Kakula Mine, supplemented with ore from the surface stockpiles to meet the throughput over design capacity. In line with design parameters, copper recoveries averaged approximately 86% for the year.
The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex produced 92,761 tonnes of copper in concentrate in the fourth quarter of 2022, for a total of 333,497 tonnes of copper in concentrate for the year. This represents an increase of 215% compared with 2021 due to the successful commissioning of the Phase 2 concentrator in April 2022 and achieved the upper end of 2022 guidance.
All figures are on a 100% project basis and metal reported in concentrate is before refining losses or deductions associated with smelter terms.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 debottlenecking program to boost throughput to 9.2 million tonnes of ore per year is complete
In late February 2023, the debottlenecking of Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 and 2 concentrators was completed ahead of schedule. The program increases the combined design processing capacity of the Phase 1 and 2 concentrator plants by 22%, from 7.6 to 9.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa).
Commissioning of the fourth filter press took place on March 4, 2023. The debottlenecking program boosts Kamoa-Kakula's annual production capacity to approximately 450,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate.
Since the completion of the debottlenecking, the concentrator has achieved record daily throughput of 27,796 tonnes and a record daily copper production of 1,505 tonnes.
However, since December and persisting during the first quarter of 2023, Kamoa-Kakula has experienced intermittent grid stability issues in the DRC, impacting the ability to run the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators continuously. The issues have been prevalent across the southern grid power system in the DRC Copper Belt.
Kamoa Copper is liaising with the DRC’s state-owned power company La Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL), to identify the issues and assist with potential solutions, as well as evaluate options to insulate Kamoa-Kakula from future disruptions.
Representatives from DRA Global and Outotec standing in front of the first batch of concentrate produced from the newly installed fourth Larox filter press. The commissioning of the filter press ahead of schedule marks the completion of the debottlenecking program.
Outstanding economic results of updated, independent Integrated Development Plan (2023 IDP) for world-leading Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex
After the end of the quarter on January 30, 2023, Ivanhoe Mines announced the results of an updated independent Integrated Development Plan (2023 IDP) for the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. The 2023 IDP consists of a Pre-Feasibility Study (Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS) for the Phase 3 and Phase 4 expansions of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex over a 33-year mine life, as well as an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PEA) that includes a life-of-mine extension case to 42 years overall.
The Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS (Phase 3 and 4 expansion) plans for a staged increase in nameplate processing capacity from the current combined capacity of 9.2 Mtpa, up to a total of 19.2 Mtpa. The Phase 1 and 2 concentrators will continue to process ore from the Kakula Mine, as well as the new adjacent Kakula West mine from 2029. The Phase 3, 5.0 Mtpa concentrator, which is under construction and on target for the first concentrate in Q4 2024, will be fed with ore from the existing Kansoko Sud Mine (formerly Kansoko Mine), as well as new mines currently under development in the Kamoa area, known as Kamoa 1 and 2. The Phase 4 expansion consists of an additional 5.0 Mtpa concentrator that will take the total processing capacity of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex up to 19.2 Mtpa. The Phase 4 concentrator will be fed by new mines in the Kamoa area.
The completion of the Phase 3 expansion in Q4 2024 is planned to coincide with the commissioning of an on-site, direct-to-blister flash copper smelter capable of producing 500,000 tonnes per annum of copper anode.
Highlights of the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS (Phase 3 and 4 expansion) include:
- Phase 1 and 2 at steady-state production (9.2 Mtpa) for the first two years, following the completion of the debottlenecking program by Q2 2023, generating cash flow to fund the ongoing capital expenditures.
- Phase 3 expansion to 14.2 Mtpa processing capacity from late 2024 drives a significant increase in copper production, which is forecast to average 620,000 tonnes during the first ten years.
- Commissioning of the 500,000 tonne-per-annum smelter in conjunction with Phase 3 results in a significant improvement in operating cost.
- A significant period of cash flow generation in the first five years following Phase 3 (2025 to 2029) with copper production averaging approximately 650,000 tonnes at a cash cost (C1) of $1.15/lb.
- Phase 4 expansion, ramping up 19.2 Mtpa production capacity after 2030, will allow sustained copper production of over 500,000 tonnes per year through 2047.
The remaining Phase 3 capital cost, including contingency, is $3.04 billion, excluding $255 million already spent through December 2022. Of the $3.04 billion, $2.53 billion is spent during 2023 and 2024 up to the commissioning of the Phase 3 concentrator, with the remaining capital cost for the continuing ramp-up of the mining operations thereafter.
After-tax NPV, at an 8% discount rate, of $19.1 billion and a mine life of 33 years at a long-term copper price of $3.70/lb.
The Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PEA (Life-of-mine extension case) projects a nine-year mine life extension of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, in addition to the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS. This case includes the addition of four new underground mines in the Kamoa area (called Kamoa 3, 4, 5 and 6) to maintain the overall production rate of up to 19.2 Mtpa.
Highlights of the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PEA (Life-of-mine extension case) include:
- Life-of-mine extension case shows the potential to maintain the production rate at up to 19.2 Mtpa for an additional 9 years beyond the 33 years in the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS.
- The sequential ramp-up of four new underground mines in the Kamoa area (called Kamoa 3, 4, 5 and 6) providing an additional 181.2 Mt of feed to the Kamoa and Kakula concentrators at an average grade of 3.1% copper, producing an additional 4.8 Mt of contained copper in concentrate.
- After-tax NPV, at an 8% discount rate, of $20.2 billion and mine life of 42 years.
The Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PEA is preliminary and includes an economic analysis that is based, in part, on Inferred Mineral Resources. Inferred Mineral Resources are considered too speculative geologically for the application of economic considerations that would allow them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves – and there is no certainty that the results will be realized. Mineral Resources do not have demonstrated economic viability and are not Mineral Reserves.
The Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS and Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PEA were independently prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd. Of Adelaide, Australia; China Nerin Engineering Co., Ltd., of Jiangxi, China; DRA Global of Johannesburg, South Africa; Epoch Resources of Johannesburg, South Africa; Golder Associates Africa of Midrand, South Africa; Metso-Outotec Oyj of Helsinki, Finland; Paterson and Cooke of Cape Town, South Africa; SRK Consulting Inc. of Johannesburg, South Africa; and MSA Group of Johannesburg, South Africa.
A National Instrument 43-101 technical report will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Ivanhoe Mines website at www.ivanhoemines.com on March 16, 2023.
Figure 1: World’s projected top 20 copper mines in 2025, by key metrics.
Notes: Kamoa-Kakula production and grade are based on average paid copper production and average copper feed grade during the first 10 years as detailed in the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS. Kamoa-Kakula resource is based on the contained copper in the Measured & Indicated category in the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS. The ‘Copper Head Grade’ reflects the average reserve grade. 2025 Measured & Indicated resources take into account 2023-2024 production figures (which have been subtracted from the starting 2023 M&I resources balance). Measured & Indicated resources are inclusive of reserves and are on a 100% basis.
Source: Wood Mackenzie (based on public disclosure, the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS has not been reviewed by Wood Mackenzie).
Figure 2: Kamoa-Kakula 2023 IDP life-of-mine development plan by deposit
Figure by OreWin, 2023.
Surface earthworks for the Phase 3 concentrator plant and associated infrastructure are well advanced with civil works advancing on schedule
The Phase 3 expansion includes a new 5.0 Mtpa concentrator at Kamoa, which is located approximately 10 kilometres north of the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators.
The process design of the Phase 3 concentrator is very similar to that of the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators, only larger. The front end of the concentrator (stockpile, crushing and screening) will be built to a capacity of 10 Mtpa, double the required capacity for Phase 3, in anticipation of the future Phase 4 expansion. This follows the same construction philosophy as that of Phase 1 and Phase 2. The bulk of the equipment is the same or similar to that installed in the Phase 1 and 2 concentrators, resulting in a commonality of spare parts, while leveraging prior operational and maintenance experience.
Detailed design and procurement activities are on schedule with all major equipment ordered and the first steel erection expected around June 2023. Earthworks are essentially complete and civil construction is well-advanced.
Following the commissioning of Phase 3, expected by the end of 2024, Kamoa-Kakula will have a total processing capacity of over 14 million tonnes per annum. The completion of Phase 3 is expected to increase annualized copper production to an average of approximately 620,000 tonnes per year over the next ten years, which will position Kamoa Copper as the world’s fourth-largest copper mining complex, and the largest copper mine on the African continent.
Construction of the concentrate foundations for the flotation cells on the Phase 3 concentrator.
Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 3 expansion also includes the replacement of Turbine #5 at the Inga II hydroelectric power station. The turbine replacement will supply an additional 178 megawatts (MW) of clean hydroelectric power to the national grid and provide power for Phase 3.
Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 3 expansion includes a direct-to-blister flash copper smelter that will incorporate leading-edge technology supplied by Metso Outotec of Espoo, Finland. It is projected to be one of the largest, single-line copper flash smelters in the world, and the largest in Africa, with a production capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum of blister copper anodes. The 100-hectare smelter complex is being constructed adjacent to the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants and is designed to meet the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) emissions standards.
The smelter will have a processing capacity of approximately 1.2 Mtpa of dry concentrate feed and is designed to run on a blend of concentrate produced from the Kakula (Phase 1 and 2) and Kamoa (Phase 3 and future Phase 4) concentrators. Under the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS, the smelter is projected to accommodate approximately 80% of Kamoa-Kakula’s total concentrate production, including that from Phase 3 and the future Phase 4 expansion. Kamoa-Kakula will continue to toll-treat concentrates under the 10-year agreement with the Lualaba Copper Smelter, located near the town of Kolwezi approximately 50 kilometres from Kamoa-Kakula, which is expected to account for approximately 150,000 tonnes of copper concentrate annually. The balance of copper production will be exported as concentrate.
As a by-product, the smelter will also produce between 650,000 and 800,000 tonnes per annum of high-strength sulphuric acid that is expected to be sold in the domestic DRC market.
3D rendered image of the on-site, 500,000 tonnes per annum direct-to-blister flash copper smelter. It is projected to be one of the largest, single-line copper flash smelters in the world, and the largest in Africa.
The bulk of the terracing earthworks for the smelter complex were completed in 2022 and the civil construction is now well advanced with all piling complete and foundations for the direct-to-blister flash smelting furnace and downstream electric slag cleaning furnace nearing completion. The erection of structural steel and the furnace is due to start in March 2023. The first batch of furnace steel arrived on site in January 2023. All major equipment has been ordered and is now being manufactured, while construction is on schedule to commission the smelter by the end of 2024.
Aerial view of the smelter construction site. Civil works and foundation construction are well underway. There will be approximately four times more steel used in the construction of the smelter compared with the Phase 1 concentrator.
Civil construction for Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 3 direct-to-blister flash smelter is advancing well, including the foundation for the direct-to-blister furnace pictured below.
Decline development for the Kamoa 1 and 2 mines progressing well
Construction of the twin declines to the Kamoa 1 and Kamoa 2 underground mines and excavation to access the Phase 3 mining areas is advancing well. The Kamoa 1 and Kamoa 2 mines share a single box cut with twin declines (service and conveyor). Construction of the declines is well advanced, with over 1,300 metres of development completed to date. Underground mining activities are expected to commence at Kamoa 1 in 2023 and Kamoa 2 in 2025, which will both involve the same mechanized drift-and-fill mining methods employed at the Kakula mine.
Kamoa-Kakula’s Inbound Logistics Team receiving the new 450-tonne crane in their yard. (L-R) Ruddy Mutombo, Marc Muteba, Marc Kafwata, David Kara, Richard Yatha, and Salis Kayumba.
Draw-down of surface ore stockpiles continues as required; stockpiles hold approximately 4.1 million tonnes grading 4.05% copper, containing more than 165,000 tonnes of copper
Kamoa-Kakula’s high- and medium-grade ore surface stockpiles totaled approximately 4.1 million tonnes at an estimated grade of 4.05% copper as of the end of December 2022. The operation mined 1.89 million tonnes of ore grading 5.39% copper in Q4 2022, which was comprised of 1.80 million tonnes grading 5.51% copper from the Kakula mine, including 0.71 million tonnes grading 6.80% copper from the mine’s high-grade centre.
While the ongoing expansion of underground infrastructure at the Kakula Mine takes place, ore will be drawn as required from the stockpile to maximize copper production.
Ongoing rehabilitation of Turbine #5 at Inga II hydropower will provide clean, green hydropower for Phase 3
Like the existing Phase 1 and Phase 2 operations, future expansions of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex will be powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity which is developed in partnership with the DRC’s state-owned power company La Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL).
Rehabilitation work is ongoing at turbine #5 of the existing Inga II hydropower facility on the Congo River, to generate an additional 178 megawatts (MW) of renewable hydropower, which underpins the Phase 3 power requirement, including the smelter. The refurbishment is scheduled for completion in Q4 2024, to align with the commissioning of the Phase 3 concentrator and smelter.
Rehabilitation works at the Inga II facility are advancing well, with the team from lead-contractor Voith Hydro mobilized to the Inga II site in Q4 2022. Dismantling works on the existing alternator are ongoing, as well as the fabrication of a new runner. Study work is also progressing well to upgrade the transmission capacity of the existing grid infrastructure between the Inga II hydropower facility and the Kamoa site.
In response to recent grid stability issues, Kamoa-Kakula is actively evaluating options to insulate operations from grid instability. The current installed backup generation capacity on-site is approximately 32 MW for emergency power. Over time there is a plan to increase this to 132 MW in a phased roll-out, with an additional 11 MW expected in Q2 2023 and a further 73 MW to be installed towards the end of 2023. Ultimately this will be sufficient for emergency power for Phases 1, 2 and 3, as well as enough to run one of the concentrators at Kakula.
Discussions have also commenced to secure additional power via the Zambian interconnector. Study work is underway on further options for additional on-site backup power capacity, including additional generators, as well as renewable options, such as solar and hydro, together with battery storage.
Kakula substation and backup generator farm, adjacent to the Phase 1 and 2 Concentrators. On the right-hand side are 16 generators of backup power capacity totaling 22 MW. On the left side are 8 new generators being installed with a capacity of 11 MW, to be commissioned in Q2 2023.
(L-R) Chris Tshibanda, Control Room Supervisor; Rachelle Museka, Mill Operator; Linda Malumda, Senior Operator Larox, at the Kamoa-Kakula Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants, which recently reached a throughput rate of 9.2 Mtpa.
COPPER PRODUCTION AND CASH COST GUIDANCE FOR 2023
The figures are on a 100%-project basis and metal reported in concentrate is before refining losses or deductions associated with smelter terms. Kamoa-Kakula’s 2023 guidance is based on several assumptions and estimates and involves estimates of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially.
Production guidance is based on assumptions about the timing for the completion of the debottlenecking program, among other things.
Cash costs (C1) per pound of payable copper amounted to $1.42 for the fourth quarter of 2022 and $1.39 for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Cash cost (C1) guidance factors in an increase in the grid power tariff supplied by DRC state-owned utility, Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL), which was increased from approximately $0.06 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to $0.10 per kWh in December 2022. This marks the first increase by the predominantly hydro-powered grid in over 10 years. Kamoa-Kakula, via its energy subsidiary, continues to receive a 40% rebate on the power invoices payable, which repays the loan made to SNEL to rehabilitate state-owned hydroelectric power generation capacity and associated electrical infrastructure. The loan balance as at end of February 2023 was $255 million. Based on the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS, the loan is anticipated to be amortized over approximately nine years.
Cash cost (C1) guidance is based on assumptions including, among other things, prevailing logistics costs based on estimated regional trucking capacity, particularly as regional idled operations are expected to come online, as well as increased benchmark treatment and refining charges, and inflation in consumables and other inputs.
C1 cash cost is a non-GAAP measure used by management to evaluate operating performance and includes all direct mining, processing, stockpile rehandling charges, and general and administrative costs. Smelter charges and freight deductions on sales to the 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.
For historical comparatives, see the non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures section of the company’s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022.
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. 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 is primarily hosted within the Platreef, a mineralized sequence traced for more than 30 kilometres along the 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. With Shaft 1, the initial access to the deposit, now in operation and hoisting development rock from underground, Ivanhoe is focusing on construction activities to bring Phase 1 of Platreef into production by Q3 2024.
Platreef development is currently funded by $300-million stream financing, with efforts to finalize additional senior debt facility targeted for completion in the first half of 2023.
Surface construction activities are underway, while lateral underground mine development is progressing well
Underground development work has been focused on the vertical development of waste passes between the 750-metre, 850-metre and 950-metre levels, and lateral development towards the orebody, as well as lateral development required for underground infrastructure on each level including access to the bottom of Shaft 3 on the 950-metre level. Shaft 3 is currently being reamed and is planned to be complete in Q4 2023. More than 750 metres of lateral development has been completed across all three levels, as well as over 200 metres of vertical development between the three levels.
Construction for Platreef’s Phase 1 concentrator has commenced, with the first production on schedule for Q3 2024. Earthworks construction is now underway, with mill foundation civil activities advancing well. Long-lead equipment orders were placed with the majority of items to be delivered during the third quarter of 2023. The structural steel, piping and plate work (SMPP) contractor has been appointed and mobilization to the site is expected in mid-March 2023. Over 650 tonnes of structural steel are in fabrication, with over 150 tonnes ready for delivery.
Concrete pouring for Platreef’s Phase 1 concentrator is underway, showing foundations for the concentrate thickener and tailings thickener in the foreground and flotation cells in the background.
Construction of Platreef’s first solar-power plant commenced in Q3 2022 with commissioning expected in 2023. The solar-generated power from the plant will be used for mine development and construction activities.
The 10-metre diameter Shaft 2, which is required for the Phase 2 expansion, will be among the largest hoisting shafts on the African continent and is currently under construction. Construction during the quarter included the 104-metre-tall headframe, which commenced in December 2022 on schedule. Shaft 2’s headframe will be equipped with up to 8 Mtpa of hoisting capacity. The headgear concrete slide construction commenced in November 2022 with more than 70 metres of the 104 metres in total completed to date.
Shaft 2 headgear slide under construction (on the right), next to Shaft 1 headgear (on the left), which has been used for hoisting since February 2022. More than 70 metres of the 104-metre Shaft 2 headgear have been completed to date.
Ivanhoe Mines executive team members, together with investors, on the 950-metre-level standing in front of the 5.1-metre reamer head that recently commenced the raise boring of Shaft 3.
Underground mining crew working on lateral development on the 950-metre level.
Marna Cloete, President of Ivanhoe Mines, joined by executive management and investors, starting the pilot drill hole for the raise boring of Shaft 2 (in the background). Shaft 2 will have a hoisting capacity of up to 8 Mtpa.
The drilling of the pilot drill in Shaft 2 down to the mine’s workings commenced in the first quarter of 2023 and is on schedule to finish during the second quarter, whereafter reaming of a 3.1-metre diameter hole is planned. Raise-boring of the 5.1-metre-diameter ventilation shaft (Shaft 3) also commenced in the first quarter of 2023. Reaming is expected to be completed in Q4 2023.
Construction of the Masodi Wastewater Treatment Plant is on schedule for completion in Q3 2023. Treated water from the facility available for offtake will be sufficient for Platreef’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 water requirements.
Ivanhoe Mines commences optimization work to potentially accelerate Platreef’s Phase 2 expansion
Ivanhoe has initiated optimization work to identify value-accretive options for installing hoisting capacity in Shaft 3. Shaft 3, which is currently under construction and was originally planned as a ventilation-only shaft, with a diameter of 5.1 metres, is now planned to be equipped for hoisting which provides an alternative option to remove ore and waste from the underground mine. This has the benefit of de-risking the development and ramp-up of the Phase 1 mine and may be used to accelerate the ramp-up of underground mining activities for Phase 2, in advance of the completion of Shaft 2, which is expected in 2027.
3. Kipushi Project
68%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver-lead mine in the DRC is adjacent to the town of Kipushi, approximately 30 kilometres southwest of Lubumbashi on the Central African Copper Belt. Kipushi is approximately 250 kilometres southeast of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper 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 which is 100%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines. The balance of 32% in the Kipushi Project is held by the state-owned mining company, Gécamines.
In Q1 2022, Kipushi Holding and Gécamines signed a new agreement to return the ultra-high-grade Kipushi Mine to commercial production. 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 Kipushi for years to come and is subject to execution of definitive documentation. Once the agreement is concluded, it is anticipated that Ivanhoe Mines’ ownership in the Kipushi Project will reduce to 62%, with Gécamines holding the balance of 38%.
Kipushi will be the world’s highest-grade major zinc mine, with an average head grade of 36.4% zinc over the first five years of production.
Surface construction activities are advancing on schedule to return Kipushi to production in Q3 2024
Detailed design for the Kipushi concentrator and associated surface infrastructure is effectively complete, with procurement activities well advanced. Orders for all twelve long lead items of equipment have been placed, as well as the contract for the supply and installation of structural steel, piping and plate work (SMPP). Long lead order equipment packages are expected to commence delivery to the site in late summer. This includes the ball mill, currently being fabricated by CITIC in China. Construction work on site is advancing on schedule, with earthworks effectively complete and civil work advancing well. First concentrate is on schedule to occur during Q3 2024.
Civil work on the foundations for Kipushi’s processing plant is progressing on schedule. Shaft 5, its head frame in the background, will haul ore to the surface and an overland conveyor will stockpile it on a new run-of-mine (ROM) pad (left of picture).
Underground development work at Kipushi advancing ahead of schedule, access drive development focused around the top of the Big Zinc orebody
Underground mine development around Kipushi’s Big Zinc orebody is advancing ahead of schedule. Stope perimeter drives are being developed on the 1,245m, 1,260m, 1,290m and 1,320m levels, with stope access development at the 1,335-metre level advancing well. Waste rock and low-grade mineralized rock from the advancement of the perimeter and access drives are being hoisted to the surface through Shaft 5 and stockpiled.
Shaft 5 is planned to be the main production shaft once operations commence, with a maximum hoisting capacity of up to 1.8 Mtpa. The bottom of Shaft 5 provides primary access to the lower levels of the mine, including the Big Zinc orebody, along the 1,150-metre haulage level.
Mining will be conducted using highly productive, mechanized methods. Cemented rock fill will be utilized to backfill open stopes, with tailings from the surface, to reduce surface tailings and maximize ore extraction. Ore is crushed underground, and conveyed to the base of the P5 shaft, where it will be hoisted to the surface and conveyed to the nearby run-of-mine stockpile, adjacent to the 800,000-tonne-per-annum concentrator.
Stoping of the Big Zinc orebody is expected to commence no later than early 2024, to build a high-grade ore stockpile ahead of processing plant commissioning in Q3 2024.
Bernice Monga Mutombo, Drill Operator, operating a drilling rig at the 1,220-metre level.
New commercial border crossing to provide a significant advantage to the Kipushi Mine and the local region
Ivanhoe signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the provincial government of Haut-Katanga to study options for upgrading the DRC-Zambia border crossing in the town of Kipushi for commercial imports and exports. As part of the MOU, Ivanhoe agreed to complete a scoping study investigating various border options. The study has been completed and issued to the provincial government for consideration .
Results of the scoping study were presented and adopted by Ivanhoe Mines and Haut-Katanga, identifying a preferred option for the construction of a new border crossing and the rehabilitation of the existing border crossing. Further studies are underway on the Zambian road network to identify the preferred route to link Kipushi and facilitate efficient export to international ports.
A new commercial border crossing will provide a significant advantage to the Kipushi Mine as a direct means of importing materials and consumables, clearing customs, and will provide socio-economic benefits to the town and Province of Haut-Katanga. The border crossing will also benefit logistics for Kamoa-Kakula’s operations.
Work continues to improve processes for clearing copper and zinc products for export and to open alternative export border crossings between the DRC and Zambia, to alleviate congestion at the existing border crossings at Kasumbalesa and Sakania in Haut-Katanga Province.
4. Western Foreland Exploration Project
90%- to 100%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines
Democratic Republic of Congo
Ivanhoe’s DRC exploration group is targeting Kamoa-Kakula-style copper mineralization on its Western Foreland exploration licences. The 17 licences in the Western Foreland cover a combined area of approximately 2,407 square kilometres to the north, south and west of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex. The exploration group is using models that successfully led to the discoveries of Kakula, Kakula West, and the Kamoa North Bonanza Zone on the Kamoa-Kakula mining licence. The group is composed of a mixture of the same exploration geologists responsible for these previous discoveries as well as others with experience exploring the greater Central African Copper Belt.
At the Lupemba target area in the far southwest of Western Foreland, ground gravity and a large 800-metre-spaced air core grid continued in the fourth quarter. 69 holes were completed in the fourth quarter, for a total of 150 air-core holes completed in 2022. The air core drilling programs collect samples below the exotic Kalahari sands for geochemistry and lithology identification. Kalahari sands have been moved from great distances and overlay the rocks of interest by as much as 40 metres, thereby acting as a barrier to traditional surface exploration methods such as soil sampling. Air core samples are analyzed in the same way as soil samples are collected from residual environments, indicating geochemical anomalies for follow-up.
In the Makoko area, exploration focused on testing the six-kilometre western extension of the growth fault corridor that was previously identified by wide-spaced drill sections in 2021. The 2022 drill program consisted of step-out and in-fill drilling, totalling 8,000 metres across 41 holes. Continuity of mineralization was proven with a current strike length identified to be approximately 11 kilometres. These results will be incorporated into the Mineral Resource estimate for Makoko, planned for mid-year.
Ground gravity geophysical surveys have started on regional, basin-wide traverses, aimed at strengthening the existing airborne gravity data used to identify basin architecture. Previous seismic survey data has recently been re-processed and preliminary results were reviewed in the fourth quarter.
Diamond drilling in the fourth quarter continued with three contractor diamond drill rigs and an Ivanhoe Land Cruiser-mounted diamond drill rig. East of Makoko, a deep drill hole was started on the Kakula-Monwezi trend and will continue drilling in 2023. The hole, located between the Kakula and Makoko deposits, is targeting the host stratigraphy at depth for the continuity of the mineralization system. At Kakula East, another deep hole was drilled orientated back towards the Kakula deposit from southeast of the Western Forelands decollement. The hole was drilled to understand the geology across the decollement and for targeting any easterly extension of the Kakula deposit’s mineralization across the major tectonic divide. In the Mushiji area, three kilometres north of the Kamoa-Kakula licence, a deep hole was drilled to define the northern extent of the Roan stratigraphy, the hole confirmed the northern limit of the Roan basin but failed to intersect any significant mineralization.
After quarter end, the company announced in February that an independent Mineral Resource estimate for Western Foreland’s Makoko and Kiala high-grade copper discoveries is targeted for mid-2023, followed by a Preliminary Economic Assessment. Concurrently, Western Foreland’s 2023 exploration program is budgeted at approximately $19 million, including up to 70,000 metres of drilling.
Figure 3. Map highlighting Ivanhoe Mines’ current exploration target areas across the Western Foreland licences.
5. The Mokopane Feeder Exploration Project
100%-owned by Ivanhoe Mines
South Africa
Three new 100%-owned exploration rights were granted on the Northern Limb of the Bushveld complex in South Africa during Q4 2022. The three new exploration rights (Blinkwater 244KR, Moordrift 289KR and Lisbon 288KR) cover 80 square kilometres, forming a continuous block situated on the southwest border of the existing Platreef Project’s mining rights.
The three new exploration rights, together with Ivanhoe’s existing properties, cover a large geophysical gravity anomaly that was previously identified from a widely spaced regional ground gravity survey. Academic studies based on historical data hypothesize that the anomaly represents a primary feeder zone to the Rustenburg Layered Suite of the Northern Limb of the Bushveld Complex. Significant thickening of the Rustenburg Layered Suite, particularly of the more-dense Lower Zone units, is necessary to explain the large gravity anomaly. The proximity of the proposed feeder to the regional-scale crustal faults (the Ysterberg-Planknek and the Zebediela faults), as well as the anomalously thick zones of platinum-group metals mineralization at the Platreef Deposit, lead Ivanhoe to believe there is significant potential for mineralization to be associated with this gravity feature.
To better understand the conceptual target, a detailed high-resolution airborne-magnetic and gradiometer-gravity geophysical survey commenced over the project area in Q1 2023, with the view to conducting diamond drilling later in the year.
Figure 4. Image of the Platreef and Mokopane Feeder licences overlaid on the gravity geophysics anomaly.
Safety and sustainability
At the end of December 2022, Kamoa-Kakula had reached 1.53 million work hours free of a lost-time injury with a Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) (total injuries recorded per 1,000,000 hours worked) of 1.54 for the year ended December 31, 2022. Zero lost time injuries have been recorded on the construction of the Phase 3 expansion, smelter construction and Inga II Turbine #5 refurbishment. The Platreef Project reached 408,360 hours worked free of a lost-time injury with a TRIFR of 4.23 for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the Kipushi Project reached 658,142 hours worked free of a lost-time injury with a TRIFR of 1.8 for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Ivanhoe mines has published its Fourth Quarter 2022 Sustainability Update on the Company’s website. This can be viewed here: https://bit.ly/3l95VGI
Ivanhoe Mines will issue its sixth annual Sustainability Report in March 2023, highlighting the company’s commitment to ESG and illustrating how it mines with a greater purpose. The report will detail Ivanhoe Mines’ sustainability programs and initiatives in 2022, including significant accomplishments achieved at its three principal development projects, and outline targets and benchmarks for current and future activities.
SELECTED ANNUAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
This selected financial information is per 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 Kamoa-Kakula 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, 2022, vs. December 31, 2021
The company recorded a profit for the year of $434 million and total comprehensive income of $433 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to a profit of $45 million and total comprehensive income of $17 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The main contributor to the profit for 2022 was the company’s share of the profit from the Kamoa Holding joint venture.
The company recognized income in aggregate of $405 million from the joint venture in 2022, which can be summarized as follows:
The company’s share of profit from the Kamoa Holding joint venture was $254 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to a profit of $106 million for the same period in 2021, the breakdown of which is summarized in the following table:
Of the $295 million (2021: $151 million) finance costs recognized in the Kamoa Holding joint venture for 2022, $254 million (2021: $134 million) relates to shareholder loans where each shareholder funded Kamoa Holding in an amount equivalent to its proportionate shareholding interest before generating sufficient operational cashflow. Of the remaining finance costs, $34 million (2021: $14 million) relates to the provisional payment facility available under Kamoa-Kakula’s offtake agreements, while $7 million (2021: $3 million) relates to the equipment financing facilities.
Exploration and project evaluation expenditure amounted to $34 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, and was $18 million less than for the same period in 2021 ($52 million). Exploration and project evaluation expenditure related to exploration at Ivanhoe’s Western Foreland exploration licences and amounts spent at the Kipushi Project until June 30, 2022, when project development recommenced.
Finance income amounted to $175 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, and $102 million for the same period in 2021. Included in finance income is the interest earned on loans to the Kamoa Holding joint venture to fund operations that amounted to $151 million for 2022, and $94 million for 2021. No additional loans were advanced in 2022 with joint venture cashflow funding its operations and expansions. Interest increased due to higher LIBOR rates and due to the higher accumulated loan balance.
As explained in the accounting for the convertible notes section in the MD&A, the company recognized a gain on fair valuation of the embedded derivative financial liability of $23 million for 2022 (2021: loss of $94 million).
Deferred tax recovery (income) amounted to $113 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, and $75 million for the same period in 2021. The deferred tax recovery in 2022 is related mainly to the Kipushi Project, while the deferred tax recovery in 2021 is related to the Platreef Project.
With the agreement of the development plan by the shareholders of Kipushi and the approval of the development budget consistent with the Kipushi 2022 Feasibility Study in June 2022, it was deemed probable that future taxable profit will be available from the Kipushi 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 June 2022, resulting in a deferred tax recovery (income) of $113 million in 2022.
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 was 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 million in 2021.
The total comprehensive income for 2022, included an exchange loss on translation of foreign operations of $1.2 million, compared to an exchange loss on translation of foreign operations recognized for the same period in 2021 of $28 million resulting mainly from the weakening of the South African Rand by 7% from December 31, 2021, to December 31, 2022.
Financial position as at December 31, 2022, vs. December 31, 2021
The company’s total assets increased by $751 million, from $3,218 million as at December 31, 2021, to $3,969 million as at December 31, 2022. The main reason for the increase in total assets was attributable to the increase in the company’s investment in the Kamoa Holding joint venture by $405 million, the increase in property, plant and equipment of $162 million as project development continued at the Platreef and Kipushi projects, as well as the increase in deferred tax assets by $135 million.
The company’s investment in the Kamoa Holding joint venture increased by $405 million from $1,642 million as at December 31, 2021, to $2,047 million as at December 31, 2022. The company’s share of profit from the Kamoa Holding joint venture for 2022, amounted to $254 million, while the interest on the loan to the joint venture amounted to $151 million. The company’s investment in the Kamoa Holding joint venture can be broken down as follows:
The company’s share of net assets in the Kamoa Holding joint venture can be broken down as follows:
Before 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 Copper Complex through investing in development costs and other property, plant and equipment. No additional shareholder loans were advanced in 2022 with joint venture cashflow funding its operations and expansions. The joint venture had a healthy cash position at the end of December 2022 with cash and cash equivalents of $366 million in hand.
The Kamoa-Kakula’s Phase 1 and 2 operations are anticipated to generate significant operating cash flow to fund Phase 3 capital cost requirements at current copper prices and the joint venture is arranging short-term financing facilities should a shortfall occur due to a significant decrease in copper prices.
The cash flows of the Kamoa Holding joint venture can be summarized as follows:
The Kamoa Holding joint venture’s net increase in property, plant and equipment from December 31, 2021, to December 31, 2022, amounted to $732 million and can be further broken down as follows:
Ivanhoe’s cash and cash equivalents decreased by $11 million, from $608 million as at December 31, 2021, to $597 million as at December 31, 2022. The company spent $159 million on project development and acquiring other property, plant and equipment and generated $177 million from operating activities, which includes the receipt of the second and final prepayment of $225 million under the Ivanplats stream financing agreements.
The net increase in property, plant and equipment amounted to $162 million, with additions of $175 million to project development and other property, plant and equipment. Of this total, $126 million pertained to development costs and other acquisitions of property, plant and equipment at the Platreef Project, while $48 million pertained to development costs and other acquisitions of property, plant and equipment at the Kipushi Project as set out in the MD&A.
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, 2022, and for the same period in 2021, 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 main components of expenditure at the Kipushi Project for the year ended December 31, 2022, and for the same period in 2021 are set out in the following table:
The increase in the Company’s deferred tax asset is related mainly to the recognition of the previously unrecognized deferred tax asset of the Kipushi Project in June 2022, due to the agreement of the development plan by the shareholders of Kipushi, making it probable that future taxable profit will be available from the Kipushi Project, against which the unused tax losses and unused tax credits can be utilized.
The Company’s total liabilities increased by $287 million to $1,128 million as at December 31, 2022, from $841 million as at December 31, 2021, with the increase mainly due to the additional deferred revenue recognized on the streaming facility of $241 million including a notional finance charge and 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.
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 Kamoa-Kakula 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, 2022, vs. December 31, 2021
The company recorded a profit for Q4 2022 of $37 million compared to a profit of $48 million for the same period in 2021, with the company’s share of the profit from the Kamoa Holding joint venture being a key contributor to the Q4 2022 profit. The total comprehensive income for Q4 2022 was $49 million compared to $30 million for Q4 2021.
The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex sold 92,208 tonnes of payable copper in Q4 2022 realizing revenue of $673 million for the Kamoa Holding joint venture, compared to 53,165 tonnes of payable copper sold for revenue of $489 million for the same period in 2021. The company recognized income in aggregate of $130 million from the joint venture in Q4 2022, which can be summarized as follows:
The company’s share of profit from the Kamoa Holding joint venture was $5 million more in Q4 2022 compared to the same period in 2021 and is broken down in the following table:
Kamoa-Kakula’s other operating data is summarized under the review of operations section of the MD&A.
Finance income for Q4 2022 amounted to $58 million and was $30 million more than for the same period in 2021 ($28 million). Included in finance income is the interest earned on loans to the Kamoa Holding joint venture to fund past development which amounted to $47 million for Q4 2022, and $26 million for the same period in 2021, and increased due to the higher LIBOR rates and accumulated loan balance.
The company recognized a loss on the fair valuation of the embedded derivative financial liability of $67 million for Q4 2022, compared to a loss on the fair valuation of the embedded derivative financial liability of $89 million for Q4 2021, which is further explained in the accounting for the convertible notes section of the MD&A.
Exploration and project evaluation expenditure amounted to $4 million in Q4 2022 and $16 million for the same period in 2021. Exploration and project evaluation expenditure for Q4 2022 related to exploration at Ivanhoe’s Western Foreland exploration licences, while Q4 2021 also included amounts spent at the Kipushi Project, for which expenditure was capitalized in Q4 2022 due to the recommencement of the development of the project.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The company had $597 million in cash and cash equivalents as at December 31, 2022. At this date, the company had consolidated working capital of approximately $611 million, compared to $595 million as at December 31, 2021.
The company’s planned capital expenditure for 2023 and 2024 can be summarized as follows:
All capital expenditure figures are presented on a 100%-project basis. The 2022 capital expenditure figures above are preliminary and subject to final adjustment. The final capital expenditure figures will be confirmed in the company's financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022.
The ranges provided reflect uncertainty in the timing of Kamoa-Kakula Phase 3 expansion, Platreef Phase 2 capital and Kipushi cash flows between calendar years 2023 and 2024. The 2024 capital expenditure guidance for Platreef and Kipushi excludes sustaining capital required in 2024 post-initial production.
As documented in the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 Integrated Development Plan (IDP 2023) announced on January 30, 2023, the remaining capital cost for the total Phase 3 expansion is estimated at $3.0 billion, including the mine, concentrator, smelter, infrastructure and investment in off-site hydropower infrastructure. The Phase 1 and 2 operations are anticipated to generate significant operating cash flow in 2023 and 2024 and are expected to fund capital cost requirements at current copper prices. The joint venture had cash and cash equivalents of $366 million in hand at the end of December 2022.
Construction for Platreef's Phase 1 Mine is underway, with the first production on track for Q3 2024. The planned Phase 2 capital expenditure at Platreef represents mainly the continuation of sinking Shaft 2 and the construction of the Shaft 2 headframe, allowing optionality for possible acceleration in Phase 2, which is currently under review.
Construction of the Kipushi Mine is also underway, with the processing plant scheduled for completion by Q3 2024. Long-lead equipment items have been ordered and manufacturing is underway, and earthworks and civil construction activities are taking place on the surface. Of the $380 million capital budget to completion, approximately $95 million has been committed to date. Offtake discussions, including a proposed $250 million pre-payment financing facility, have now advanced to final draft term sheets, which have been received from shortlisted parties and are currently under review by Kipushi’s shareholders. The agreements are intended to be completed, as well as a final, revised joint venture agreement between Kipushi Holding and Gécamines, during the first half of 2023.
Exploration activities at the Western Foreland exploration project in the DRC and other targets will continue in 2023 with an initial budget of $31 million.
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 Kamoa-Kakula 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 the 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:
Figures in the above table are for the Kamoa-Kakula joint venture on a 100% basis.
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA margin
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. Ivanhoe believes that Kamoa-Kakula’s EBITDA is a valuable indicator of the mine’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 and Adjusted EBITDA are also frequently used by investors and analysts for valuation purposes. Kamoa-Kakula’s EBITDA and the EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the Company are intended to provide additional information to investors and analysts and do not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared per IFRS. EBITDA and Adjusted 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 and Adjusted EBITDA differently.
The EBITDA margin is an indicator of Kamoa-Kakula's overall health and denotes its profitability, which is calculated by dividing EBITDA by revenue. The EBITDA margin is intended to provide additional information to investors and analysts, does not have any standardized definition under IFRS, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute, for measures of performance prepared per IFRS.
Reconciliation of profit after tax to Kamoa-Kakula’s EBITDA:
Figures in the above table are for the Kamoa-Kakula joint venture on a 100% basis.
Reconciliation of profit after tax to Ivanhoe’s EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA:
This news release should be read in conjunction with Ivanhoe Mines’ audited 2022 Financial Statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis report available at www.ivanhoemines.com and at www.sedar.com.
Disclosure of technical information
Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature in this news release regarding the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex (other than stockpiles estimation), the Platreef Project and the Kipushi Project 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 Executive Vice President, Projects, at Ivanhoe Mines. Mr. Amos has verified the technical data related to the foregoing disclosed in this news release.
Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature regarding the Kamoa-Kakula stockpiles in this news release have been reviewed and approved by George Gilchrist, who is considered, by virtue of his education, experience and professional association, a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. Mr. Gilchrist is not considered independent under NI 43- 101 as he is the Vice President, Resources, at Ivanhoe Mines. Mr. Gilchrist has verified the technical data regarding the Kamoa-Kakula stockpiles disclosed in this news release.
Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature regarding the Western Foreland Project 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, at Ivanhoe Mines. Mr. Torr has verified the technical data regarding the Western Foreland Project disclosed in this news release.
Ivanhoe has prepared an independent, NI 43-101-compliant technical report for the Kamoa-Kakula Project, the Platreef Project and the Kipushi Project, each of which is available on the company’s website and under the company’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com:
Kamoa-Kakula Integrated Development Plan 2020 dated October 13, 2020, prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd., China Nerin Engineering Co., Ltd., DRA Global, Epoch Resources, Golder Associates Africa, KGHM Cuprum R&D Centre Ltd., Outotec Oyj, Paterson and Cooke, Stantec Consulting International LLC, SRK Consulting Inc., and Wood plc.
The 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.
The Platreef 2022 Feasibility Study dated February 28, 2022, prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd., Mine Technical Services, SRK Consulting Inc., DRA Projects (Pty) Ltd and Golder Associates Africa.
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 Copper Complex 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 Copper Complex.
The Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS and Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PEA were independently prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd. of Adelaide, Australia; China Nerin Engineering Co., Ltd., of Jiangxi, China; DRA Global of Johannesburg, South Africa; Epoch Resources of Johannesburg, South Africa; Golder Associates Africa of Midrand, South Africa; Metso-Outotec Oyj of Helsinki, Finland; Paterson and Cooke of Cape Town, South Africa; SRK Consulting Inc. of Johannesburg, South Africa; and MSA Group of Johannesburg, South Africa.
For the recently announced Kamoa-Kakula 2023 IDP (including the Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PFS and Kamoa-Kakula 2023 PEA), a new, independent NI 43-101 technical report will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the Ivanhoe Mines website at www.ivanhoemines.com on March 16, 2023.
Information contact
Follow Robert Friedland (@robert_ivanhoe) and Ivanhoe Mines (@IvanhoeMines_) on Twitter.
Investors
Vancouver: Matthew Keevil +1.604.558.1034
London: Tommy Horton +44 7866 913 207
Media
Tanya Todd +1.604.331.9834
Website www.ivanhoemines.com
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 using 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 Phase 3 expansion targeted for Q4 2024 completion, which is expected to increase copper production to a ten-year average of 620,000 tonnes per annum, at C1 cash cost of $1.22/lb; (ii) statements regarding the ultra-high-grade Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine being on track for first production in Q3 2024, and project financing being near completion; (iii) statements regarding the Platreef palladium, nickel, platinum, rhodium, copper and gold project in South Africa being scheduled for first production in Q3 2024; (iv) statements regarding the 2023 exploration program at Western Foreland being approximately $19 million and including up to 70,000 meters of total drilling; (v) statements regarding the planned release of a maiden Mineral Resource estimate for its Makoko and Kiala high-grade copper discoveries in the Western Foreland in mid-2023, which will also be followed by a Preliminary Economic Assessment; (vi) statements regarding the optimization study at its Tier-One Platreef palladium, nickel, platinum, rhodium, copper and gold mine in South Africa potentially accelerating production from the Phase 2 expansion; (vii) statements that the Lualaba Copper Smelter will produce between 650,000 and 800,000 tonnes per annum of high-strength sulphuric acid that is expected to be sold in the domestic DRC market; (viii) statements regarding the Phase 3 concentrator at Kamoa-Kakula being on track for first concentrate in Q4 2024; (ix) statements regarding the Phase 4 expansion of the Kamoa-Kakula concentrator taking total processing capacity up to 19.2 Mtpa; (x) statements regarding the filing of a new technical report with respect to the Kamoa-Kakula project on March 16, 2023; (xi) statements that the completion of Phase 3 is expected to increase copper production capacity to approximately 620,000 tonnes per annum and that this production rate will position Kamoa-Kakula as the world’s fourth-largest copper mining complex, and the largest on the African continent; (xii) statements that the turbine replacement will supply an additional 178-megawatts of clean hydroelectric power to the national grid, and provide power for Phase 3; (xiii) statements regarding the first steel erection with respect to the Kamoa Phase 3 concentrator being expected in June 2023; (xiv) statements that commissioning of Phase 3 at Kamoa-Kakula is expected by the end of 2024 and that Kamoa-Kakula will have a total processing capacity of over 14 million tonnes per annum; (xv) statements regarding the Kamoa-Kakula Phase 3 expansion incorporating leading-edge technology supplied by Metso Outotec, which smelter is projected to be one of the largest, single-line copper flash smelters in the world, with a production capacity of 500,000 tonnes per annum of blister copper anodes; (xvi) statements regarding the Kamoa-Kakula Phase 3 smelter having a processing capacity of 1.2Mtpa of dry concentrate feed and being designed to run a blend of concentrate produced from the Kakula (Phase 1 and 2) and Kamoa (Phase 3 and Phase 4) concentrators; (xvii) statements that Kamoa-Kakula will continue to toll-treat concentrates under a 10-year agreement with the Lualaba Copper Smelter, which is expected to account for approximately 150,000 tonnes of copper concentrate annually; (xviii) statements that construction of the twin declines to the Kamoa 1 and Kamoa 2 underground mines and excavation access to Phase 3 mining areas are advancing well; (xix) statements that underground mining activities at Kamoa 1 are expected to commence in 2023 and at Kamoa 2 in 2025; (xx) statements regarding the future expansions of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex being powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity which will be developed in partnership with the DRC’s state-owned power company SNEL; (xxi) statements that the refurbishment of the Inga II hydropower facility on the Congo River is scheduled for completion in Q4 2024; (xxii) statements regarding plans to update backup power generation capacity at Kamoa-Kakula to 132MW, which is expected to be sufficient for emergency power for Phase 1, 2 and 3, as well as sufficient to run one of the concentrators at Kakula; (xxiii) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula 2023 guidance including contained copper in concentrate of 390,000 to 430,000 tonnes and cash cost (C1) of $1.40 to $1.50 per lb; (xxiv) statements that a senior debt facility for Platreef is targeted for completion in the first half of 2023; (xxv) statements that Shaft 3 at Platreef is scheduled to be completed in Q4 2023; (xxvi) statements that first production at Platreef’s Phase 1 concentrator is scheduled for Q3 2024; (xxvii) statements that the commissioning of Platreef’s first solar-power plant is expected in 2023 and that the solar-generated power from the plant will be used for mine development and construction activities; (xxviii) statements regarding Platreef’s 10-metre diameter Shaft 2, which will be the among the largest hoisting shafts on the African continent; (xxix) statements that Platreef’s Shaft 2’s headframe will be equipped with up to 8Mtpa of hoisting capacity; (xxi) statements regarding the pilot drilling required for the raise bore center hole of Platreef’s Shaft 2 being scheduled to finish during Q2 2023, after which reaming of a 3.1-meter diameter hole is planned; (xxx) statements regarding the raise-boring of the 5.1-meter diameter ventilation shaft (Shaft 3) expected to be completed in Q4 2023; (xxxi) statements that equipping Shaft 3 at Platreef with hoisting capacity will provide alternative option to remove ore and waste from the underground mine, which may accelerate ramp-up of underground mining activities for Phase 2; (xxxii) statements that underground mining activities for Phase 2 at Platreef are expected in 2027; (xxxiii) statements that long lead order equipment packages for Kipushi are expected to commence delivery to the site in late summer 2023; (xxxiv) statements that first concentrate at Kipushi is on schedule to occur during Q3 2024; (xxxv) statements that Shaft 5 at Kipushi is planned to be the main production shaft with a maximum hoisting capacity of 1.8Mtpa; (xxxvi) statements that mining at Kipushi will be performed using highly productive, mechanized methods and that cemented rock fill will be utilized to backfill open stopes with tailings from the surface to reduce surface tailings and maximize ore extraction at Platreef; (xxxvii) statements that stoping at Platreef is expected to commence in January 2024 and that ore stockpiles will increase to approximately 330,000 tonnes ahead of plant commissioning in Q3 2024; (xxxviii) statements that a new commercial border crossing between DRC-Zambia will provide significant advantage to Kipushi Mine as a direct means of importing materials and consumables and clearing customs, and that it will provide socio-economic benefits to the town and Province of Haut-Katanga; (xxxviii) statements that a new commercial border crossing between DRC-Zambia will benefit logistics for Kamoa-Kakula’s operations; (xxxix) statements that diamond drilling is expected to be conducted on the Mokopane Feeder Exploration Project in 2023; (l) statements that Phase 1 and Phase 2 operations at Kamoa-Kakula are anticipated to generate significant operating cash flows in 2023 and 2024, and are expected to fund capital cost requirements at current copper prices; and (li) statements that 2023 exploration activities have an initial budget of $31 million.
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 Copper Complex preliminary economic assessment, the Platreef 2022 feasibility study, 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, concerning 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 after 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 such results will be achieved. Many 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 above and under the “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 outlined in the “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in the company’s MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2022, and its Annual Information Form.
南非约翰内斯堡 — 艾芬豪矿业 (TSX: IVN; OTCQX: IVPAF) 今天公布其截至2022年12月31日止的年度财务业绩。艾芬豪矿业是一家加拿大矿业公司,正在推进旗下位于南部非洲的四大矿业项目﹕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) 铜矿项目的 III 期扩建工程 (项目已于2021年7月实现商业化生产)、位于南非的普拉特瑞夫 (Platreef) 钯-镍-铂-铑-铜-金矿的建设工程 (计划于2024年第三季度投产)、位于刚果 (金) 的久负盛名的基普什 (Kipushi) 锌-铜-铅-锗矿的重启工程 (同样计划于2024年第三季度投产),以及在毗邻卡莫阿-卡库拉的西部前沿 (Western Foreland) 探矿权2,407平方公里范围内进行勘查以寻找新的铜矿资源。除非另有指明,所有货币数字均以美元为单位。
财务业绩重点﹕
- 艾芬豪矿业2022年全年破纪录获得利润4.34亿美元,2021年的利润为4,500万美元。艾芬豪2022年第四季度及第三季度分别录得利润3,700万美元及2,400万美元。
- 卡莫阿-卡库拉于2022年创下全新纪录,共出售32.4万吨铜,录得21.5亿美元收入,营业利润为12.7亿美元,EBITDA为13.9亿美元。
- 2022年第四季度,卡莫阿-卡库拉出售9.2万吨铜,破纪录获得6.73亿美元收入,营业利润为4.18亿美元,EBITDA为4.51亿美元。
- 2022 年第四季度,卡莫阿-卡库拉的销售成本为1.08美元 / 磅,2022 年第三季度的销售成本则为1.05美元 / 磅。2022 年第四季度,现金成本 (C1) 为1.42美元 / 磅,2022年第三季度的C1现金成本则为1.43美元 / 磅。
- 艾芬豪矿业公布集团的经调整的2022年的EBITDA为4.89亿美元,2022年第四季度的为1.62亿美元。
- 卡莫阿-卡库拉合资项目于2021年7月1日正式启动商业化生产,矿山运营至今已产生共计12.2亿美元的净现金收入,强力支持项目 II 期及 III 期扩建。
- 艾芬豪矿业的财政状况稳健。截至2022年12月31日,公司持有现金和现金等价物5.97亿美元,总债务为7.39亿美元,其中大多数与息票率2.5%、2026年4月到期(除非提前赎回) 的5.75亿美元无抵押可转债有关。
经营活动重点﹕
- 卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目2022年第四季度精矿产铜9.3万吨。
- 卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期和 II 期选厂的扩产建设比原计划提前完工,综合设计产能已提升22%至920万吨/年。最后阶段第四台Larox压滤机的装机和试车现已完成,将铜产能提高至45万吨/年。
- 卡莫阿-卡库拉的 III 期扩建、50万吨/年的现场一步炼铜冶炼厂和英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组的升级改造工程均按计划全速推进,预计将于2024年底完工。预计卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期和 II 期运营产生的现金流,以当前铜价计算,将足以支撑2023年和2024年扩建所需25.3亿美元的资本性开支。
- 2023年1月,艾芬豪矿业公布全球领先的卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目的独立综合开发方案更新版 (以下简称“2023 IDP”) 的非凡经济分析结果。预可行性研究 (以下简称“预可研”) 在33年的矿山服务年限内,将设计总产能从920万吨/年分阶段提升至1,920万吨/年,测算的税后净现值 (折现率8%) 为190亿美元。预计卡莫阿-卡库拉将于2025年成为全球第四大铜生产商,在C1现金成本曲线中处于最低四分位。
- 艾芬豪继续在毗邻卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿约2,407平方公里的西部前沿探矿权进行详细勘查。2023年的勘查预算约1,900万美元,包括70,000米的钻探工程。
- 艾芬豪计划于2023年中期发布西部前沿Makoko和Kiala高品位铜矿勘查区的首次矿产资源估算报告,其后发布初步经济评价报告。
- 艾芬豪已对公司位于南非的普拉特瑞夫顶级钯-镍-铂-铑-铜-金矿开展优化方案,以求加快 II 期扩建投产。研究考虑将正在施工的5.1米直径的3号通风井转换为可提升矿石的生产井。
- 普拉特瑞夫的地下开发工作重点是继续在1号竖井附近的750米、850米和950米中段建设地下基础设施,并在三个中段向首个含矿层和初始采场位置推进。三个中段的开拓工程均进展顺利,至今已完成超过750米的水平开拓。项目计划于2024年第三季度实现首批精矿生产。
- 普拉特瑞夫2号竖井反井钻进的先导孔已于2023年2月开始施工。2022年11月开始建造井架,至今已完成70多米 (共计104米)。此外,3号竖井的反井钻进也于2023年2月开始施工。
- 基普什选厂的地表土方工程和土建工程进展顺利,迄今已浇注超过1,700立方米的地基混凝土。项目将按计划于2024年第三季度实现首批精矿生产。
- 基普什大锌矿体的井下开拓工程超计划推进。开拓大锌矿体周边和进场通道采出的废石和低品位矿石,将会被提升到地表堆存。
- 截至2022年12月底,卡莫阿-卡库拉项目已连续255万个工时没有发生失时工伤。迄今为止,III期扩建和冶炼厂的施工以及英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组的升级改造工程并没有任何可记录的工伤事故。此外,普拉特瑞夫项目已连续408,360 个工时没有发生失时工伤,而基普什项目已连续658,142个工时没有发生失时工伤。
- 美国地质调查局估计,刚果(金)是世界第二大铜生产国,2022年铜产量达220万吨,与秘鲁年产量相当。卡莫阿-卡库拉作为全球增长最快速的大型铜矿,绝对是功不可没。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目更新版的详细发展进程的视频﹕
https://vimeo.com/806783775/fa83ffbb7c
阅读2022年第四季度艾芬豪矿业可持续发展更新报告:
3月13日周一召开投资者电话会议
艾芬豪矿业将于3月13日周一北美东岸时间 10:30 am / 太平洋时间7:30 am 召开投资者电话会议,讨论2022年第四季度及2022年全年的财务业绩。电话会议将包括答问环节,被邀媒体将在听众列席。
观看网络直播的链接:https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/vcbrd72a
分析师请使用以下链接参加答问环节﹕https://register.vevent.com/register/BI2a229263d9634c82ab5ad144f57d6398
电话会议的网络广播录音及相关演示材料将在艾芬豪矿业网站上提供﹕www.ivanhoemines.com.
发布后,财务报表和管理层的讨论和分析将在www.ivanhoemines.com和www.sedar.com上提供。
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-卡库拉铜矿项目由艾芬豪矿业与紫金矿业的合资企业卡莫阿控股负责运营,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-卡库拉铜矿项目的 I 期选厂于2021年5月启动生产,并于2021年7月1日正式实现商业化生产。II 期选厂的设计产能翻倍,于2022年4月投产。
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-卡库拉运营和财务数据摘要
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。本新闻稿载述“EBITDA”、“经调整EBITDA”、“EBITDA利润率”和“C1现金成本”为非公认会计准则的财务指标。关于本文载述每项非公认会计准则财务指标的详细说明,以及与国际财务报告准则 (IFRS) 最直接可比的详细对账,请参阅截至2022年12月31日止年度《管理层讨论与分析》的“非公认会计准则财务指标”的部分。
C1 现金成本明细如下 :
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。
卡莫阿-卡库拉2022年共生产33.3万吨铜,与2021年相比增长215%
2022年第四季度,卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期和 II 期选厂共处理约200万吨矿石,平均入选品位5.4%。截至2022年12月31日止年度共计处理约710万吨矿石,平均品位5.5%,主要为来自卡库拉矿山的高品位矿石,但由于选厂处理能力超过设计产能,需从地表矿堆向选厂额外供矿。本年度平均铜回收率约86%,与设计参数一致。
2022年第四季度,卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿精矿产铜9.3万吨,2022年全年精矿产铜共33.3万吨,与2021年相比增长215%,主要由于 II 期选厂于2022年4月成功投产以及达到生产指导目标的上限。
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。
I 期和 II 期提升产能至 920 万吨 / 年的扩产方案现已完工
2023年2月底,卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期和 II 期选厂的扩产建设比原计划提前完工,将 I 期和 II 期选厂的综合设计产能从760万吨/年提升22%至920万吨/年。
第四台压滤机已于2023年3月4日投产。扩产方案将卡莫阿-卡库拉的铜产能提高至约45万吨/年。
扩产方案完成后,选厂刷新单日生产纪录,共处理2.8万吨矿石并生产1,505吨铜。
然而,自12月以来持续到2023年第一季度,刚果(金)电网出现间歇性不稳定,对卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期和 II 期选厂的日常运行造成影响。电力供应问题在刚果(金)铜矿带的南部电网系统普遍存在。
卡莫阿铜业正与刚果(金)国有电力公司 SNEL合作,找出问题所在并协助制定解决方案,同时研究不同方案确保卡莫阿-卡库拉在电网出现电力中断的情况下也能够正常运行。
来自DRA和奥图泰的代表在新安装的第四台Larox压滤机生产的首批精矿前。压滤机比原计划提前投产,标志着扩产建设正式完工。
全球领先的卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目的独立综合开发方案更新版 (2023 IDP) 取得非凡的经济分析结果
2023年1月30日,艾芬豪矿业公布卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿的独立综合开发方案更新版 (2023 IDP) 的非凡经济分析结果。2023 IDP 包括卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目III 期和 IV 期扩建后33年的服务年限内的预可行性研究 (以下简称“卡莫阿-卡库拉2023 预可研”),以及初步经济评价更新版 (以下简称“卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 初步经济评价”),包括将矿山服务年限延长至42年的开发方案。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 预可研 (III 期及 IV 期扩建) 将设计总产能从当前920万吨/年分阶段提升至1,920万吨/年。I 期和 II 期选厂将处理来自卡库拉的矿石,随后自2029年起从毗邻的卡库拉西区补充矿石供应。III 期500万吨/年的选厂正在建设中,计划于2024年第四季度投产,将从卡索科南区现有采区及卡莫阿1区和卡莫阿2区建设中的新采区向选厂供矿。IV 期扩建包括一座500万吨/年的新选厂,将使卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿的综合处理能力提升至1,920万吨/年。IV 期选厂将处理来自卡莫阿矿山新采区的矿石。
III 期扩建和一步炼铜冶炼厂计划将于2024年第四季度同时投产。冶炼厂位于矿山范围内,每年可生产50万吨阳极铜。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 预可研 (III 期及 IV 期扩建) 重点摘要﹕
- 前两年I期和II期达到920万吨/年的矿石处理稳态产能,2023年第二季度完成扩产计划后,产生现金流以支持后续的资本性开支。
- 2024年底 III 期扩建完成后矿山综合矿石处理能力提高至1,420万吨/年,铜产量大幅增加,预计在前10年达到62万吨/年。
- 与III期同步投产的50万吨/年冶炼厂将大幅降低运营成本。
- III期投产后的前5年 (2025-2029) 平均年产65万吨铜,C1现金成本1.15美元/磅,将是产生现金流的重要阶段。
- IV期扩建项目在2030年爬坡至1,920万吨/年的矿石处理产能,将维持50万吨/年的铜产量至2047年。
剩余的III期资本性开支,包括应急费用,共计30.4亿美元,不包括截至2022年12月已经发生的2.55亿美元。这其中25.3亿美元将在2023年和2024年支出,直至III期选厂试车投产,其余的资本性开支继续支持矿山运营其后的爬坡。
按长期铜价3.70美元/磅计算,33年矿山服务年限内的税后净现值 (折现率8%) 为191亿美元。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 初步经济评价 (矿山服务年限延长方案),在卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 预可研之上,将卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目的矿山服务年限再延长9年,包括在卡莫阿矿区建设四座新的井下矿山 (卡莫阿3区、4区、5区和6区),以维持高达1,920万吨/年的综合产能。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 初步经济评价(矿山服务年限延长方案) 重点摘要﹕
- 矿山服务年限延展方案提出了在卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 预可研所载矿山服务年限33年以后的9年内,保持高达1,920万吨/年的综合选矿产能。
- 卡莫阿3-6区四座新矿山的分期爬坡为卡莫阿-卡库拉的选厂提供1.8亿吨矿石,平均入选品位3.10%,以生产精矿含铜480万吨。
- 税后净现值为202亿美元 (折现率8%),矿山服务年限42年。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 初步经济评价只是初步研究,包括部分基于推断资源量的经济分析。推断资源量在地质学上被视为具有一定程度的推测成分,因此并不适用于经济分析且不允许将其转化为矿产储量。矿产资源量不是矿产储量,不具有论证的经济潜力。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 预可研和卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 初步经济评价,由澳大利亚阿德莱德的OreWin Pty Ltd.、中国江西的中国瑞林工程技术有限公司、南非约翰内斯堡的DRA Global、南非约翰内斯堡的Epoch Resources、南非米德兰的Golder Associates Africa、芬兰赫尔辛基的美卓奥图泰、南非开普敦的Paterson and Cooke、南非约翰内斯堡的SRK Consulting Inc.以及南非约翰内斯堡的MSA集团联合独立编撰。
NI 43-101技术报告将于2023年3月16日上载于SEDAR网址 (www.sedar.com) 以及艾芬豪矿业网站 (www.ivanhoemines.com)。
图1﹕2025年世界20大铜矿排名预测
注:卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿的产量和品位引自卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 预可研前10年的平均可售铜产量和平均入选铜品位。卡莫阿-卡库拉的资源量引自卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 预可研探明和控制资源量的铜金属量。 "铜入选品位” 反映了矿产储量的平均品位。2025年的探明和控制资源量充分考虑了2023年至2024年的生产数据 (已从2023年的探明和控制资源量余额中扣除)。报告的探明和控制资源量包括矿产储量。
信息来源﹕伍德曼肯兹 (根据公开披露而作出,伍德曼肯兹未审核卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023预可研)。
图2﹕卡莫阿-卡库拉2023 IDP服务年限内的开发计划
图表由OreWin编制 (2023年)
III 期选厂的土方工程和地表基础设施建设顺利,土建工程正如期推进
III 期扩建包括一座位于卡莫阿矿山的500万吨/年新选厂,位于 I 期和 II 期选厂以北约10公里处。
III 期选厂的工艺设计与 I 期和 II 期选厂相似,但产能更大。选厂前端流程 (矿堆、初碎和筛分) 的设计产能高达1,000万吨/年 (III 期矿石处理产能的两倍),以配合后续的 IV 期扩建。选厂的建设理念与 I 期和 II 期相同,大部分设备与 I 期和 II 期选厂相同或类似,因此可以使用相同的备件,并可利用之前汲取的操作和维护方面的经验。
详细设计和采购活动正如期进行,所有大型设备的采购订单已经完成,预计首批钢结构将于2023年6月进行安装。土方工程即将完成,且土建工程进展顺利。
2024年底III期投产后,卡莫阿-卡库拉的综合矿石处理能力将提高至1,400万吨/年以上。III 期扩建完成后,预计在未来10年内将平均铜产量提升至约62万吨/年,将使卡莫阿铜矿成为全球第4大铜矿山以及非洲大陆最大的铜矿。
III 期选厂浮选设施的地基建设
卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期扩建还包括英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组的升级改造。水电站涡轮机组升级完成后,将为国家电网增容178兆瓦清洁水电,可以满足 III 期的电力需求。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期扩建将包括一座一步炼铜冶炼厂,采用芬兰美卓奥图泰公司的顶尖技术,预计将成为全球最大的单系列一步炼铜冶炼厂,以及非洲最大的冶炼厂之一,每年可生产50万吨阳极铜。冶炼厂占地100公顷,毗邻 I 期和 II 期选厂,按照国际金融公司 (IFC) 制订的排放标准建造。
冶炼厂的精矿处理能力达1,200万吨/年,将处理I 期和 II期来自卡库拉 和III期及后续IV期来自卡莫阿 选厂的精矿。卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 预可研显示,冶炼厂将处理卡莫阿-卡库拉约80%的精矿,包括 III 期和后续 IV 期扩建后的产量。卡莫阿-卡库拉根据与卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂签订的为期十年的协议,继续将部分精矿送往距离卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿约50公里、靠近科卢韦齐镇的卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂进行处理加工,预计每年处理约15万吨铜精矿。剩余的铜精矿直接出口。
此外,冶炼厂每年将生产65万至80万吨的浓硫酸副产品,预计在刚果(金) 境内市场销售。
卡莫阿铜冶炼厂三维示意图,预计将成为全球最大的单系列一步炼铜冶炼厂之一以及非洲最大的冶炼厂。
冶炼厂的清表和土方工程已于2022年完工,土建工程进展顺利,所有桩基工程都已完成,一步炼铜炉和电炉的地基即将建成。钢结构和一步炼铜炉的安装将于2023年3月开展。第一批炼铜炉钢结构已于2023年1月运抵现场。所有大型设备的采购订单已经完成,目前正在制造中。冶炼厂的建设工程正在进行中,将按计划于2024年底投产。
冶炼厂施工现场的鸟瞰图,土建工程和地基建设进展顺利。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期一步炼铜冶炼厂的土建工程进展顺利,下图为一步炼铜炉的地基建设。
卡莫阿1区和卡莫阿2区的斜坡道建设工程进度理想
卡莫阿1区和卡莫阿2区的双斜坡道建设和III 期采区的进出场通道掘进工程进度理想。卡莫阿1区和卡莫阿2区将使用同一井口的双向斜坡道 (人员出入口及输送带) 进场。双向斜坡道的建设工程进展顺利,至今已完成超过1,300米的开拓工程。卡莫阿1区将于2023年内开始采矿,其后卡莫阿2区将于2025年开展,将采用与卡库拉矿山同样的机械化分层充填采矿法。
卡莫阿-卡库拉物流团队接收重载450吨的新起重机。从左至右﹕Ruddy Mutombo、Marc Muteba、Marc Kafwata、David Kara、Richard Yatha和Salis Kayumba。
从地表堆场继续拉运矿石,地表堆存约410万吨矿石,铜品位4.05% ,含超过16.5万吨铜
截至2022年12月底,卡莫阿-卡库拉地表堆存约410万吨高品位和中品位矿石,平均铜品位约4.05%。2022年第四季度共采出189万吨矿石,铜品位5.39%,包括在卡库拉矿山采出的180万吨矿石,铜品位5.51% (包括矿床高品位中心采出的71万吨矿石,铜品位高达6.80%)。
卡库拉矿山正进行地下基础设施扩建,因此将从地表矿堆向选厂供矿以满足产量最大化。
英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组的升级改造正在进行,将为 III 期提供清洁的环保水电
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目的后续扩建与 I 期和 II 期一样,将会使用公司与刚果(金)国有电力公司SNEL合作开发的可再生清洁水电。
位于刚果河下游的英加二期水电站正进行5号涡轮机组的升级改造,预计将产生额外的178兆瓦可再生水电,为 III 期和冶炼厂供电。升级改造将于2024年第四季度完工,以配合III 期选厂和冶炼厂的投产。
英加二期水电站的升级改造进展顺利,2022年第四季度牵头承包商福伊特水电 (Voith Hydro) 的工作团队已进驻营地,目前正进行新转轮的焊接和组装工作,同时正研究升级英加二期水电站和卡莫阿营地之间的现有电网基础设施的传输能力。
为了应对最近电网出现的稳定性问题,卡莫阿-卡库拉正积极研究不同方案以确保矿山在电网不稳定的情况下也能够正常运行。目前,矿山范围内的备用电能约32兆瓦,用于应急电力,并计划随着项目发展分阶段增加到132兆瓦,预计在2023年第二季度增容11兆瓦,并且在2023年底增容73兆瓦,最终将为 I 期、 II 期和 III 期提供充足的应急电力,并为卡库拉其中一座选厂提供运行所需的足够电力。
目前正讨论通过赞比亚外部输电增容电力,并研究安装额外的备用供电设施,包括发电机组以及电池储能的太阳能和水力发电的可再生能源。
靠近I 期和 II 期选厂的卡库拉变电站和备用发电机组,图右为16台备用发电机,总容量32兆瓦;图左为8台新建的发电机,容量 11兆瓦,将于2023年第二季度投产。
从左至右﹕控制室主管Chris Tshibanda、选厂操作员Rachelle Museka及Larox高级操作员Linda Malumda 在卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期和 II 期选厂前,两座选厂最近达到920万吨/年的综合年化产能。
2023年生产及现金成本指导目标
上述数字均以100%项目权益统计。报告的精矿含铜未考虑冶炼协议中的损失或扣减。卡莫阿-卡库拉2023年的指导目标以各项假设和估算为基础,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。
生产指导目标以扩产方案完成时间及其它假设为基础。
2022 年第四季度,每磅可售铜的 C1 现金成本为1.42美元/磅,截至2022年12月31日止年度则为1.39美元/磅。
C1现金成本的指导目标,考虑到刚果(金)国有电力公司SNEL电网的供电价格自2022年12月起从每千瓦小时约0.06美元增加到每千瓦小时0.10美元,是以水电为主的电网10多年来首次加价。卡莫阿-卡库拉的能源子公司继续享受40%电费折扣,作为向SNEL贷款以修缮国有水电站和相关电力基础设施的回报。截至2023年2月底,贷款余额为2.55亿美元。根据卡莫阿-卡库拉2023 预可研,贷款将于9年内摊销。
C1现金成本的指导目标以各项假设为基础,包括基于区域货运能力估算的运输成本 (特别是闲置企业可能仍在运行)、粗炼和精炼费用的增加,以及消耗品等的通货膨胀。
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、堆矿处理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) 的运费被列作销售收入的一部分,将计入C1现金成本,以得出交付最终结算金属产品的粗略成本。
关于过往成本的对比,请参阅截至2022年12月31日止年度《管理层讨论与分析》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。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Ivanplats10%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。1号竖井用于初步进场通道,现已正式运行并从井下提升矿石。目前,艾芬豪正全力进行建设工程,以推进普拉特瑞夫 I 期于2024年第三季度实现投产。
普拉特瑞夫项目目前由 3 亿美元的金属流融资提供开发资金,正集中推进落实高级债务融资,计划于2023年上半年达成协议。
地表建设工程进行中,井下水平巷道开拓进展顺利
地下开发工作重点是建设从750米和850米中段到950米中段的废石运输通道垂直开拓工程、向矿体推进的水平开拓,以及各个中段建设地下基础设施所需的水平开拓,包括在950米中段建设进出3号竖井底部的通道。3号竖井正进行扩孔工程,计划于2023年第四季度完工。目前,三个中段已完成共计750米以上的水平开拓及200米以上的垂直开拓工程。
普拉特瑞夫 I 期选厂的建设工程启动,将按计划于2024年第三季度投产。土方工程建设正在进行中,选厂地基的土木工程进度理想。长周期设备的采购订单已完成,大部分设备将于2023年第三季度交付。项目已签订钢结构 (SMPP) 合同,承包商团队将于2023年3月中进驻现场。超过650吨的钢结构正在加工生产,另有超过150吨准备交付。
普拉特瑞夫 I 期选厂正在浇注混凝土,前方为精矿浓密机和尾矿浓密机的地基,背景为浮选设施。
普拉特瑞夫的光伏电厂于2022年第三季度开始施工,预计于2023年投产。光伏发电将用于矿山开发和建设活动。
直径10米的2号竖井是非洲大陆最大型的提升竖井之一,是 II 期扩建项目的关键路径。第四季度的建设活动包括按计划在2022年12月开始建造104米高的井架。2号竖井的井架将用于支撑竖井800万/吨年的提升设备。混凝土井塔于2022年11月开始施工,至今已完成超过70米 (共计104米)。
2号竖井的井塔正在施工中 (右),旁为 1 号竖井的井架,自2022年2月起已用于提升矿石。 2号竖井104米高的井架至今已完成70多米。
艾芬豪矿业的高管团队与投资者在950米中段、最近开始施工的3号竖井反井钻进的5.1米扩孔钻头前。
地下采矿班组在950米中段进行水平开拓工程。
艾芬豪矿业总裁玛娜·克洛特 (Marna Cloete) 在高管团队和投资者的见证下,启动 2号竖井(背景)反向钻进的先导孔钻探。2号竖井的提升能力将高达800万吨/年。
2号竖井的先导孔钻进于2023年第一季度开展,将按计划于第二季度完工,完工后计划进行掘进直径3.1米的扩孔作业。直径5.1米的通风井 (3号竖井) 的反向钻进也将于2023年第一季度开始施工。扩孔作业预计于2023年第四季度完工。
Masodi 废水处理厂的建设按计划将于2023年第三季度完工,经处理的中水将以包销形式供应,足够满足普拉特瑞夫 I 期和 II 期的需求。
艾芬豪矿业开展优化方案,力求加快普拉特瑞夫 II 期扩建
艾芬豪已启动优化工作,研究在 3 号竖井安装提升设备的优化方案。施工中的3号竖井直径5.1米,原计划用作通风井,现正研究配备提升设备,可从井下移除矿石和废石。这个方案有利于降低 I 期矿山建设和产量爬坡的风险,并可在 2 号竖井于2027年投产前加快 II 期井下开采作业的产量爬坡。
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)的基普什锌-铜-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。
2022年第一季度,基普什控股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。新框架协议规定的商业条款将构成基普什新合资项目协议的基础,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。达成协议后,艾芬豪矿业所占基普什项目的股权将减少至62%,杰卡明将持有余下的38%股权。
基普什将成为全球品位最高的大型锌矿,投产前5年的平均原矿锌品位达36.4%。
地表建设工程正如期推进,为基普什在2024年第三季度复产做好准备
基普什选厂和地表基础设施的详细设计快将完成,采购工作进展顺利。所有长周期设备 (共12台) 的采购订单已经完成,并已签订钢结构(SMPP) 的供应和安装合同。长周期设备将在第二季度末期抵达现场,其中包括中信重工正在中国厂房制造的球磨机。现场施工正按计划推进,土方工程快将完成,土建工程进展顺利。项目将按计划于2024年第三季度实现首批精矿生产。
基普什选厂地基的土建工程正在按计划进行。5号竖井(背景为井架) 将从井下提升矿石,输送到新的矿石堆场 (图左)。
基普什的地下开拓工程超前推进,现正集中建设大锌矿体顶部的进场通道
基普什大锌矿体范围的地下开拓工程比原计划提前推进,现正在1245米、1260米、1290米和1320米中段建设采场周边设施,并在1335米中段建设采场进场交通道。掘进过程采出的废石和低品位矿石,将由 5 号竖井提升至地表堆存。
计划用作主要生产井的5号竖井,投产后提升能力可达180万吨/年。5号竖井底部用于主要进场通道,沿1150米中段进入矿山的深部(包括大锌矿带)。
项目将采用高效的、机械化的开采方式,将使用废石混凝土及尾矿进行采空区回填,以减少地表尾矿量并最大化开采矿石。矿石在井下破碎后将运送到5号竖井的底部,提升至地表及输送到靠近80万吨/年选厂的矿石堆场。
预计于2024年初或之前开采大锌矿体,以储备高品位的矿石堆场,为选厂在2024年第三季度投产前做好准备。
钻机操作员 Bernice Monga Mutombo 在1,220米中段施工。
新设商业口岸将为基普什矿山及当地区域创造显着优势
艾芬豪与上加丹加省政府已签署谅解备忘录,研究对基普什镇的刚果(金)-赞比亚口岸进行升级改造的方案。根据谅解备忘录,艾芬豪同意开展概略研究,对口岸升级改造的不同方案进行评估。目前已完成研究并交由省政府进行审议。
艾芬豪矿业与上加丹加省政府已采纳概略研究的结果,并选定最可行的方案,建设新跨境口岸和升级现有口岸。目前正就赞比亚公路系统作进一步研究,以选定连接基普什的最可行路线,更有效地出口到国际市场。
新设的商业口岸将为基普什矿山创造显着的优势,方便直接进口材料和消耗品、清关以及为基普什镇和上加丹加省创造社会经济效益,同时将有利于卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的物流安排。
目前正改善出口铜产品和锌产品的清关流程,并计划在刚果(金)和赞比亚之间开设新的出口过境口岸,以缓解上加丹加省 Kasumbalesa 和Sakania 现有口岸的交通拥挤问题。
4. 西部前沿勘查项目
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)勘探团队在西部前沿探矿权内,重点勘查卡莫阿-卡库拉类型的铜矿化。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包括17个探矿证,总面积约2,407平方公里。之前在中非铜矿带取得重大发现和勘查经验的原班地质团队,在西部前沿探矿权内,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。
2022年第四季度,在西部前沿西南端的Lupemba勘查区开展了大地重力测量以及800米间距的空气钻钻探并完成了69个钻孔,2022年全年共完成了150个空气钻钻孔。空气钻计划旨在Kalahari砂层采集下伏岩石样品,用于地球化学和岩性分析。Kalahari 砂层经远距离运移至此,覆盖在岩石之上深厚度超过40米,对于土壤采样等传统地表勘查方法造成障碍。空气钻样品和从残余环境中采集的土壤样品采用同样的分析方法,能够圈定地球化学异常情况以指导后续勘查。
2021大间距钻探工作发现的同生断层带,在Makoko勘查区的勘查工作主要集中在该断层带6 公里长的西部延伸范围内。2022年的圈边和加密钻探共完成41个钻孔,累计 8,000 米。钻探结果证实了矿化的连续性,走向上超过11公里。这些勘查成果将纳入Makoko 矿产资源估算报告,预计于今年中期发布。
在区域盆地范围内开展大地重力物探测量,旨在整合现有的航测数据,用于盆地构造分析研究。近期工作还包括重新分析过去收集的地震勘测数据,并于第四季度审查初步分析结果。
第四季度的金刚石钻探,继续使用三台承包商的金刚石钻机以及一台艾芬豪持有的巡洋舰车载金刚石钻机进行。在Makoko以东的卡库拉-Monwezi走向上开始施工一个深孔,并将于2023年继续钻进。该孔位于卡库拉和Makoko矿床之间,目的是穿过赋矿地层以研究矿化系统的连续性。在卡库拉东区,从西部前沿推覆构造东南面施工一个走向朝向卡库拉矿床的另一个深孔,旨在了解推覆构造范围的地质条件,并在主要构造分区内寻找卡库拉矿床的矿化带东部延伸。在卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿以北三公里处的Mushiji勘查区进行深孔钻探,以界定罗安群地层的北缘。该钻孔圈定了罗安盆地的北界范围,但没有打到任何显着的矿化带。
西部前沿Makoko和Kiala高品位铜矿勘查区的独立矿产资源估算报告将于2023年中期发布,其后发布初步经济评价报告。西部前沿探矿权2023年的勘查预算约1,900 万美元,包括70,000米的钻探工程。
图3﹕艾芬豪矿业在西部前沿探矿权内的勘查区分布
5. 莫科菲德 (Mokopane Feeder) 勘查项目
艾芬豪矿业全资拥有
位于南非
2022年第四季度,公司获发位于布什维尔德杂岩带北部的三宗新探矿权,由艾芬豪矿业全资拥有。Blinkwater 244KR 、Moordrift 289KR 和 Lisbon 288KR 三个新的探矿权涵盖总面积 80 平方公里,是普拉特瑞夫项目现有矿权向西南的扩界。
三个新的探矿权与艾芬豪现有矿权,覆盖了区域内特征鲜明的物探重力异常,是之前进行的大线距大地重力测量时发现的。基于历史数据分析,学术研究假设该异常代表了布什维尔德杂岩北部 Rustenburg 层状岩套的主要供矿构造带 (feeder zone)。Rustenburg 层状岩套的厚度显著增加,特别是在高密度的下部带,这可以很好的解释异常的原因。解译的供矿构造靠近区域断层 (Ysterberg-Planknek 及 Zebedelia 断层) ,同时考虑到在普拉特瑞夫矿床厚大异常的铂族金属矿化,艾芬豪据此认为与这些特征相关的矿化前景非常乐观。
2023年第一季度将在项目范围内开展高分辨率、高精度航磁和梯度重力物探测量,以进一步研究概念性的靶区,有望于下半年开展金刚石钻探。
图 4﹕普拉特瑞夫项目及莫科菲德探矿权重力异常的位置。
职业安全与可持续发展
截至 2022年12月底,卡莫阿-卡库拉项目录得255万个零失时工伤工时。截至2022年12月31日止年度的可记录工伤频率 (TRIFR) (即每100万个工时内发生可记录的工伤事故) 为1.54。迄今为止,III期扩建和冶炼厂的施工以及英加二期水电站5号涡轮机组的升级改造工程并没有任何可纪录的工伤事故。普拉特瑞夫项目已连续408,360 个工时没有发生失时工伤,截至2022年12月31日止年度的可记录工伤频率为4.23。基普什项目连续658,142个工时没有发生失时工伤,截至2022年12月31日止年度的可记录工伤频率为1.8。
艾芬豪矿业公司已在公司网站上发布了2022年第四季度可持续发展更新报告。可在此处查看: https://bit.ly/3l95VGI
艾芬豪矿业将于2023年3月发布第六份年度可持续发展报告,重点阐述公司对于ESG的承诺以及如何保持高标准的采矿作业。报告将会详述艾芬豪矿业于 2022 年实施的可持续发展规划和举措,包括公司三大主要项目取得的重大成就,并概述当前和未来企业经营的目标和基准。
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。
截至12月31日止年度
经营业绩讨论
2022年12月31日止的年度回顾 (对比 2021年12月31日)
相比截至 2021年12月31日则录得4,500万美元年度利润及1,700万美元年度综合收益,公司在截至 2022年12月31日录得4.34亿美元年度利润及4.33亿美元年度综合收益。公司2022年的利润主要源自卡莫阿控股合资企业的利润份额。
2022年公司从合资企业的获得的总收入为4.05亿美元,摘要如下:
截至12月31日止年度
2022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2.54亿美元,2021年同期的应收利润为1.06亿美元,明细详见下表里的汇总:
截至12月31日止年度
2022年,卡莫阿控股合资企业的融资成本为2.95亿美元 (2021年﹕1.51亿美元) ,其中2.54亿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 (2021年﹕1.34亿美元),直至项目产生足够的经营现金流。其它的融资成本中,3,400万美元与卡莫阿-卡库拉包销协议下的短期贷款有关 (2021年﹕1,400万美元),其余的700万美元则与设备融资有关 (2021年﹕300万美元)。
2022年度截至12月31日,勘查及项目评价开支为3,400万美元,较2021年同期 (5,200万美元) 減少1,800万美元。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 (不包括2022年6月30日项目重启开工后的开支)。
截至2022年12月31日止的年度财务收入达1.75亿美元,2021年同期为1.02亿美元。财务收入已计入2022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1.51亿美元以及2021年所得的利息收入9,400万美元。2022年,合资企业利用其现金流为运营和扩产供资,公司于年内没有向合资企业提供额外贷款。利息收入随着LIBOR息率上升和累计贷款余额增加。如《管理层讨论与分析》“可转债”部分所述,公司于2022年的嵌入式衍生金融负债的公允价值录得2,300万美元的收益 (2021年﹕9,400万美元损失)。
截至 2022 年 12 月 31 日止年度产生了1.13亿美元的递延所得税回收 (收入),2021年同期产生了7,500万美元。2022年的递延所得税回收主要与基普什项目有关,而2021年的递延所得税回收则与普拉特瑞夫项目有关。
鉴于基普什股东已就开发方案达成协议,并根据2022年6月公布的基普什2022可行性研究批准了开发预算,现在认为基普什项目很可能获得应税利润,可以计入未使用的税收损失和未使用的税收抵免。因此,公司于2022年6月确认了先前未确认的递延所得税资产,从而在2022年产生了1.13亿美元的递延所得税回收 (收入)。
2021 年 12 月完成的金属流融资,将为普拉特瑞夫项目I期的大部分资本性开支提供资金,鉴于2022年可行性研究出色的经济分析结果,现在认为普拉特瑞夫项目很可能获得应税利润,可以计入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,从而在2021年产生了 7,500 万美元的递延所得税回收 (收入)。
2022年的综合收益,包括由于南非兰特从2021年12月31日至2022年12月31日期间贬值7%而导致外汇损失1,200万美元,2021年同期因为换算海外业务而导致外汇损失2,800万美元。
截至2022年12月31日的财务状况 (对比截至2021年12月31日)
截至2022年12月31日,公司的总资产为39.69亿美元,相比截至2021年12月31日的32.18亿美元上升7.51亿美元。总资产的增长主要是向卡莫阿控股合资企业的投资增加了4.05亿美元及随着普拉特瑞夫和基普什项目继续开发,物业、厂房和设备增加了1.62亿美元,以及递延所得税资产增加了1.35亿美元。
公司向卡莫阿控股合资企业的投资,从截至2021年12月31日的16.42亿美元增加4.05亿美元到截至2022年12月31日的20.47亿美元。2022年,公司应占卡莫阿控股合资企业的利润为2.54亿美元,向合资企业提供贷款所得的利息收入为1.51亿美元。公司对卡莫阿控股合资企业的投资明细如下﹕
公司应占卡莫阿控股合资企业净资产的份额可分解如下﹕
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贷款,用于建设支出、不动产、厂房和设备来推进卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的发展。2022年,合资企业利用其现金流支持项目运营和扩产,公司于年内没有向合资企业提供额外贷款。合资企业的财务状况稳健。截至2022年12月底,合资企业持有现金和现金等价物3.66亿美元。
预计卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期和 II 期运营将产生大量的现金流,以当前铜价计算,将足以支撑 III 期的资本性开支。合资企业正安排短期融资贷款,避免万一铜价大跌时导致资金短缺。
卡莫阿控股合资企业的现金流情况摘要如下:
截至12月31日止年度
卡莫阿控股合资企业的不动产、厂房和设备从2021年12月31日增长至2022年12月31日,达到7.32亿美元,可进一步分解如下:
截至12月31日止年度
截至2022年12月31日,艾芬豪拥有5.97亿美元的现金和现金等价物,相比截至2021年12月31日的6.08亿美元减少1,100万美元。公司动用了1.59亿美元用于项目开发以及不动产、厂房及设备的购置,并从运营活动产生1.77亿美元,其中包括根据Ivanplats金属流协议收到第2期的预付款 2.25 亿美元。
不动产、厂房和设备的净增长为1.62亿美元,共计1.75亿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,1.26亿美元及4,800万美元分别用于普拉特瑞夫项目和基普什项目的开发成本及其它不动产、厂房及设备的购置,详见《管理层讨论与分析》。
截至2022 年12月31日止年度及2021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,增长的主要细目详见下表:
截至12月31日止年度
普拉特瑞夫项目产生的成本被视为对于项目迈向商业化生产而言是必需的,因此也资本化为不动产、厂房和设备。
截至2022 年12月31日止年度及2021年同期的基普什项目开支的主要细目详见下表:
截至12月31日止年度
鉴于基普什股东已就开发方案达成协议,公司于2022年6月确认了先前未确认的递延所得税资产。基普什项目很可能获得应税利润,可以计入未使用的税收损失和未使用的税收抵免。
截至2022年12月31日,艾芬豪的总负债为11.28亿美元,相比截至2021年12月31日的8.41亿美元增加了2.87亿美元,主要由于金属流融资的递延收入2.41亿美元 (已计入名义财务收费并扣除交易成本) 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,并将在交付时摊销。
季度财务信息精选
下表总结了八个季度滚动的财务信息摘要。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计入卡莫阿控股合资企业。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 2022 年 12 月 31 日止三个月 ( 对比 2021 年12 月 31 日 ) 的回顾
公司于2022年第四季度录得3,700万美元的利润,2021年同期录得4,800万美元利润。公司在卡莫阿控股合资企业的利润份额是2022年第四季度利润的重要来源。公司于2022年第四季度录得4,900万美元的综合收益,2021年第四季度则录得3,000万美元。
卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目于2022年第四季度销售9.2万吨铜,为卡莫阿控股合资企业创造6.73亿美元的收入。2021年第四季度则销售5.3万吨铜,收入4.89亿美元。2022年第四季度,公司录得来自合资企业的总收入1.30亿美元,总结如下:
截至12月31日止三个月
2022年第四季度,公司在卡莫阿控股合资企业的应收利润相比2021年同期增加了500万美元,明细详见下表里的汇总:
截至12月31日止三个月
卡莫阿-卡库拉的其它运营数据在《管理层讨论与分析》中运营回顾的部分概述。
2022年第四季度的财务收入为5,800万美元,与2021年同期 (2,800万美元) 相比增加了3,000万美元。其中包括向卡莫阿控股合资企业提供贷款 (为过去运营出资) 的利息,2022年第四季度的利息收入4,700万美元,2021年同期所得的利息收入为2,600万美元。利息收入随着LIBOR息率上升和累计贷款余额增加。
公司在2022年第四季度嵌入式衍生金融负债的公允价值录得6,700万美元的损失,2021年第四季度嵌入式衍生金融负债的公允价值则录得8,900万美元的损失,详见《管理层讨论与分析》中可转债的部分。
2022年第四季度的勘查及项目评价开支为400万美元,2021年同期为1,600万美元。2022年第四季度的勘查及项目评价开支用于西部前沿探矿权的勘查活动,2021年第四季度还包括用于基普什项目的开支,但由于项目重启开工因此在2022年第四季度将其开支予以资本化。
流动资金来源
截至2022年12月31日,公司拥有5.97亿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6.11亿美元,而截至 2021年12月31日则为5.95亿美元。
2023年及2024年计划资本性开支明细如下:
所有资本性开支的数值均以100%项目权益统计。上述2022年资本性开支的数值只是初步数值,最终可能会进行调整。最终的资本性开支将在公司截至2022年12月31日止的第四季度和年度财务业绩披露中予以确认。
数值范围反映了卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期扩建的时间点、普拉特瑞夫 II 期的资本和基普什项目的现金流在2023年至2024年两个历年期间存在的不确定性。普拉特瑞夫和基普什项目2024年资本性开支的指导目标未计入2024年首产后所需的维持性资本。
正如2023年1月30日公布的卡莫阿-卡库拉2023年综合开发方案 (2023 IDP) 所述,III 期扩建的剩余资本性开支约30亿美元,将会用于矿山、选厂、冶炼厂、基础设施和场外水电基础设施的投资。预计 I 期和 II 期运营将在2023年和2024年产生大量的现金流,以当前铜价计算,将足以支撑上述资本性开支。截至2022年12月底,合资企业持有现金和现金等价物3.66亿美元。
普拉特瑞夫 I 期矿山建设正在进行,按计划将于2024年第三季度投产。普拉特瑞夫 II 期的资本性开支主要用于2号竖井后续凿井工程和井架建造,这有可能为 II 期生产计划提前提供契机。
基普什矿山的建设工程也在进行中,选厂将于2024年第三季度完工。长周期设备的采购订单已完成,并已开展制造生产。地表的土方工程和土建工程也在进行中。剩余的资本性开支为3.8亿美元,至今已落实约9,500万美元。包括2.5亿美元预付款融资在内的包销协议谈判进展顺利,已收到各竞标单位的最终方案,提交至基普什股东进行审批。包销协议与基普什控股和杰卡明的合资协议最终修订版将于2023年上半年落实。
2023年将继续在刚果(金)的西部前沿探矿权及其它靶区內进行勘查活动,初步预算为3,100万美元。
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、选矿以及管理和行政成本。冶炼费和销售至最终港口的运费被列作销售收入的一部分,将计入C1现金成本,以得出交付最终结算金属产品的粗略成本。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现金成本及每磅C1现金成本。
卡莫阿 - 卡库拉平衡后的销售成本与 C1 现金成本:
上述数字均以卡莫阿-卡库拉合资企业100%权益统计。
EBITDA 、经调整EBITDA和 EBITDA 利润率
EBITDA和经调整EBITDA为非公认会计准则的财务指标。艾芬豪认为卡莫阿-卡库拉的EBITDA是衡量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和经调整EBITDA进行估值。卡莫阿-卡库拉的EBITDA以及公司的EBITDA和经调整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和经调整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和经调整EBITDA 的方法可能与其他公司有所不同。
EBITDA利润率是衡量卡莫阿-卡库拉整体经济性的指标,反映了其盈利能力,计算方法是将息税折旧及摊销前利润除以收入。EBITDA利润率旨在向投资者和分析师提供额外信息,根据IFRS没有任何标准化定义,不应单独考虑,也不应作为根据IFRS编制的业绩指标的替代品。
卡莫阿-卡库拉的税后利润与EBITDA的对账如下﹕
上述数字均以卡莫阿-卡库拉合资企业100%权益统计。
艾芬豪的税后利润与EBITDA及经调整EBITDA的对账如下﹕
本新闻稿应当与艾芬豪矿业《2022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.com 和 www.sedar.com 获取。
技术信息披露
本新闻稿中关于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目(矿堆估算除外) 、普拉特瑞夫项目及基普什项目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。由于阿莫斯先生是艾芬豪矿业的项目执行副总裁,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。
本新闻稿中关于卡莫阿-卡库拉矿堆的科学或技术性披露已经由乔治·吉尔克里斯特 (George Gilchrist) 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。由于吉尔克里斯特先生是芬豪矿业资源部副总裁,因此他并不符合NI 43-101 对独立人士的界定。吉尔克里斯特先生已核实本新闻稿所披露关于卡莫阿-卡库拉矿堆的技术数据。
本新闻稿中关于西部前沿项目的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。由于托尔先生是芬豪矿业地球科学副总裁,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关于西部前沿项目的技术数据。
艾芬豪已经为卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目、普拉特瑞夫项目和基普什项目分别编制了一份符合NI 43-101 标准的独立技术报告,这些报告可在艾芬豪网站以及SEDAR 网站上的艾芬豪页面获得,网址为www.sedar.com﹕
· 2020年10月13日发布的2020年卡莫阿-卡库拉综合开发方案,由OreWin Pty Ltd.、中国瑞林工程技术有限公司、DRA Global、Epoch Resources、Golder Associates Africa、KGHM Cuprum R&D Centre Ltd.、Outotec Oyj、Paterson and Cooke、Stantec Consulting International LLC、SRK Consulting Inc.以及Wood plc编制。
· 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。
· 2022年2月28日发布的普拉特瑞夫2022可行性研究,由OreWin Pty Ltd.、Mine Technical Services、SRK Consulting Inc. 、DRA Projects (Pty) Ltd 以及 Golder Associates Africa编制。
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-卡库拉铜矿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-卡库拉铜矿项目的科学和技术性披露的数据验证、勘查程序和其他事项的信息。
卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 预可研和卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 初步经济评价,由澳大利亚阿德莱德的OreWin Pty Ltd.、中国江西的中国瑞林工程技术有限公司、南非约翰内斯堡的DRA Global、南非约翰内斯堡的Epoch Resources、南非米德兰的Golder Associates Africa、芬兰赫尔辛基的美卓奥图泰、南非开普敦的Paterson and Cooke、南非约翰内斯堡的SRK Consulting Inc.以及南非约翰内斯堡的MSA集团联合独立编撰。
为最近公布的卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 IDP (包括卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 预可研及卡莫阿-卡库拉 2023 初步经济评价) 编制的一份 NI 43-101 独立技术报告将于2023年3月16日上载于SEDAR网址 (www.sedar.com) 及艾芬豪矿业网站 (www.ivanhoemines.com)。
联系方式
请即关注罗伯特·弗里兰德 (@robert_ivanhoe) 和艾芬豪矿业(@IvanhoeMines_)的Twitter帐号。
投资者
温哥华﹕马修·基维尔 (Matthew Keevil),电话﹕+1.604.558.1034
伦敦﹕托米·霍顿 (Tommy Horton) ,电话﹕+44 7866 913 207
媒体
坦尼娅·托德 (Tanya Todd) ,电话﹕+1.604.331.9834
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、不确定性和其他因素,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) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期扩建将于2024年第四季度完工,预计将10年平均铜产量提高至62万吨,C1 现金成本1.22美元/磅的陈述;(ii) 关于基普什超高品位锌-铜-锗-银矿将按计划于2024年第三季度投产,项目融资快将完成的陈述;(iii) 关于南非普拉特瑞夫钯-镍-铂-铑-铜-金矿将于2024年第三季度投产的陈述;(iv) 关于西部前沿探矿权2023年的勘查预算约1,900万美元,包括70,000米钻探工程的陈述;(v) 关于西部前沿Makoko和Kiala高品位铜矿发现的首次矿产资源估算报告将于2023年中期发布,其后发布初步经济评价报告的陈述;(vi) 关于南非普拉特瑞夫顶级钯-镍-铂-铑-铜-金矿正研究优化方案,以求加快 II 期扩建投产的陈述;(vii) 关于卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂每年将生产65万至80万吨的浓硫酸副产品,预计在刚果(金) 境内市场销售的陈述;(viii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期选厂将按计划于2024年第四季度投产的陈述;(ix) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉IV 期扩建的选厂将使综合处理能力提升至1,920万吨/年的陈述;(x) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉项目最新NI 43-101技术报告将于2023年3月16日提交的陈述;(xi) 关于III 期扩建完成后,预计将平均铜产量提升至约62万吨/年,使卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿成为全球第4大铜矿山以及非洲大陆最大铜矿的陈述;(xii) 关于涡轮机组升级完成后,将为国家电网增容178兆瓦清洁水电,可以满足 III 期电力需求的陈述;(xiii) 关于卡莫阿 III 期选厂的第一批钢结构将于2023年6月安装的陈述;(xiv) 关于2024年底III期投产后,卡莫阿-卡库拉的综合矿石处理能力将提高至1,400万吨/年以上的陈述;(xv) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期扩建将包括一座冶炼厂,采用美卓奥图泰公司的顶尖技术,预计将成为全球最大的单系列一步炼铜冶炼厂,每年可生产50万吨阳极粗铜的陈述;(xvi) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉 III 期冶炼厂的精矿处理能力达1,200万吨/年,将处理来自卡库拉 (I 期和 II期) 和卡莫阿 (III期及IV期) 选厂的精矿的陈述;(xvii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉根据与卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂签订的十年期协议,继续将部分精矿送往卢阿拉巴铜冶炼厂进行处理加工,预计每年处理约15万吨铜精矿的陈述;(xviii) 关于卡莫阿1区和卡莫阿2区的双斜坡道建设和III 期采区的进出场通道掘进工程进度理想的陈述;(xix) 关于卡莫阿1区将于2023年内开始采矿,其后卡莫阿2区将于2025年开展的陈述;(xx) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目的后续扩建将会使用公司与刚果(金)国有电力公司SNEL合作开发的可再生清洁水电的陈述;(xxi) 关于刚果河下游的英加二期水电站的升级改造将于2024年第四季度完工的陈述;(xxii) 关于计划将卡莫阿-卡库拉矿山的备用电能增加到132兆瓦,将为 I 期、 II 期和 III 期提供充足的应急电力,并为卡库拉其中一座选厂提供运行所需的足够电力的陈述;(xxiii) 关于卡莫阿-卡库拉2023年的指导目标为精矿产铜39万至43万吨,C1现金本为1.40至1.50美元/磅的陈述;(xxiv) 关于普拉特瑞夫的高级债务融资将于2023年上半年达成协议的陈述;(xxv) 关于普拉特瑞夫的3号竖井将于2023年第四季度完工的陈述;(xxvi) 关于普拉特瑞夫 I 期选厂将按计划于2024年第三季度投产的陈述;(xxvii) 关于普拉特瑞夫的太阳能发电厂预计于2023年投产,将为矿山开发和建设活动供电的陈述;(xxviii) 关于普拉特瑞夫直径10米的2号竖井将会是非洲大陆最大型的提升竖井之一的陈述;(xxix) 关于普拉特瑞夫2号竖井的井架将用于支撑竖井800万吨/年的提升设备的陈述;(xxi) 关于普拉特瑞夫2号竖井的先导孔钻探将按计划于2023年第二季度完工,完工后计划进行掘进直径3.1米的扩孔作业的陈述;(xxx) 关于普拉特瑞夫直径5.1米的通风井 (3号竖井) 的反向成井预计于2023年第四季度完工的陈述;(xxxi) 关于普拉特瑞夫3号竖井配备提升设备,可从井下移除矿石和废石,有利于加快 II 期井下开采作业的产量爬坡的陈述;(xxxii) 关于普拉特瑞夫 II 期的井下开采作业将于2027年开展的陈述;(xxxiii) 关于基普什的长周期设备将在2023年夏季后期抵达现场的陈述;(xxxiv) 关于基普什项目将按计划于2024年第三季度实现首批精矿生产的陈述;(xxxv) 关于基普什的5号竖井计划用作主要生产井,提升能力可达180万吨/年的陈述;(xxxvi) 关于基普什项目将采用高效的、机械化的开采方式,将使用废石混凝土及地表尾矿进行采空区回填,以减少地表尾矿量并最大化开采矿石的陈述;(xxxvii) 关于基普什项目将于2024年1月开展采矿作业,估计在2024年第三季度选厂投产前,堆场的矿石量将增加到约33万吨的陈述;(xxxviii) 关于在刚果(金)和赞比亚之间开设新的商业口岸将为基普什矿山创造显着的优势,方便直接进口材料和消耗品、清关以及为基普什镇和上加丹加省创造社会经济效益的陈述;(xxxviii) 关于在刚果(金)和赞比亚之间的新商业口岸将有利于卡莫阿-卡库拉项目的物流安排的陈述;(xxxix) 关于预计于2023年在波特希特斯供矿构造勘查项目进行金刚石钻探的陈述;(l) 关于预计卡莫阿-卡库拉 I 期和 II 期运营将在2023年和2024年产生大量的现金流,以当前铜价计算,将足以支撑资本性开支的陈述;以及(li) 关于2023年勘查活动的初步预算为3,100万美元的陈述。
此外,卡库拉铜矿可行性研究、卡库拉-卡索科2020预可行性研究、更新和扩展的卡莫阿-卡库拉铜矿项目初步经济评价、普拉特瑞夫2022 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、普拉特瑞夫及基普什项目开发有关的特定前瞻性信息,公司是基于某些不确定因素而作出假设和分析。不确定因素包括:(i) 基础设施的充足性;(ii) 地质特征;(iii) 矿化的选冶特征;(iv) 发展充足选矿产能的能力;(v) 铜、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) 在矿山计划的任何估算及/或变更日期之后作出的矿山计划评估; (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;以及勘查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查、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2022年12月31日止年度的《管理层讨论与分析》和当前年度信息表中 “风险因素” 及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。