(Great Panther, 12.May.2022) — Great Panther Mining Limited (TSX: GPR) (NYSE-A: GPL) announces consolidated financial results for the three months ended 31 March 2022, from its three wholly-owned mines: the Tucano Gold Mine in Brazil, and Topia and the Guanajuato Mine Complex (“the GMC”) in Mexico, both primarily silver mines.
“First quarter 2022 results were in line with expectations and good progress was made on numerous fronts as we build back steady-state production at Tucano,” stated Alan Hair, Chair and Interim CEO. “The first half of 2022 is focused on capital intensive programs required to safeguard production in the back-half of the year. Stripping of the TAP AB, TAP C and Urucum North pits is advancing in preparation for ore production in the third quarter, as is mobilization of the new mining contractor. Although still on the road to recovery, I believe we are turning a corner and expect to see improving results as the year progresses.”
During the first quarter of 2022 (“Q1 2022”), progress was made in stripping the TAP AB, TAP C and Urucum North (“URN”) pits despite rain levels being over 30% higher in the quarter than historical averages. The combination of significant stripping against anticipated low production of gold ounces in Q1 2022 resulted in higher unit costs than the comparative quarter in 2021, however these costs are expected to normalize in the second half of 2022.
Selected Q1 2022 Highlights
- Consolidated metal production of 17,913 gold equivalent ounces (“Au eq oz”), inclusive of 14,319 gold ounces (“Au oz”) and 173,698 silver ounces (“Ag oz”)
- Consolidated cash costs of $1,725 per gold ounce sold compared with $954 in the first quarter of 2021 (“Q1 2021”)
- Consolidated all-in-sustaining-costs (“AISC”)1, excluding corporate G&A, of $2,740 per gold ounce sold compared with $1,557 for the same period in 2021
- Revenue of $33.4mn compared with $52.6mn in the same period in 2021
- Mine operating loss of $3.4mn compared with mine operating earnings of $11mn in Q1 2021
- Net loss of $8.9mn compared with net loss of $0.3mn in Q1 2021
- EBITDA1 of negative $1.2mn compared with EBITDA of $10.3mn for Q1 2021
- Updated Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource (“MRMR”) estimate for the Tucano gold mine successfully replaced mining depletion and extended mine life by 1.5 years
- New mining contractor, MINAX, on track to be fully mobilized during Q2
- Reported positive exploration results for the Coricancha development project in Peru that confirm the potential of the Escondida vein
- Recognized for executive gender diversity by The Globe and Mail’s “Women Lead Here” benchmark
- Both Topia and the GMC received “Socially Responsible Company” distinctions, awarded by CEMEFI (the Mexican Center for Philanthropy).
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| 1 2 | – Throughout this news release and the accompanying MD&A, Great Panther has included the non-GAAP performance measures cash costs per gold oz sold, cash costs per payable silver oz, AISC per gold oz sold excluding corporate G&A expenditures, AISC per gold oz sold, AISC per payable silver oz, mine operating earnings (loss) before non-cash items, and EBITDA throughout this news release and the accompanying MD&A. Refer to the Non-GAAP Measures section of the company’s MD&A for an explanation of these measures and reconciliation to the company’s financial results reported in accordance with IFRS. As these are not standardized measures, they may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by others and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. – Average realized gold and silver prices are prior to smelting and refining charges. |
As previously disclosed, the additional pushback of the UCS pit was postponed until the second half of 2022 following the rainy season. In Q1 2022, geotechnical studies were completed by the company with the assistance of SRK Consulting that confirmed the value of ore in the UCS pit will support the pushback design. The pushback is estimated to total 8.5 million tonnes of waste removal.
During Q1 2022, 4,912 meters were drilled completing the 11,000-metre infill drilling program to support technical studies for the URN underground project. Final assays are being received and will be reported this quarter. Final results are also being received for more than 700 line-kilometers of multi-element soil geochemistry sampling carried out in 2021. This geochemical database will be interpreted to define and prioritize targets for follow-up and drilling in the second half of 2022.
Summary of Select Financial Results
For Q1 2022, the company recorded a net loss of $8.9mn compared with net loss of $0.3mn for Q1 2021. Lower metal sales volumes due to low production, as explained above, offset partially by higher realized prices for gold, lead and zinc, resulted in a decrease in revenue to $33.4mn and mine operating loss of $3.4mn compared with revenue of $52.6mn and mine operating earnings of $11mn for Q1 2021.
Net working capital declined $18.4mn in Q1 2022 to negative $18.1mn. For Q1 2022, the Company incurred cash outflows from operating and investing activities of $20.1mn. The company expects to generate positive cash flows from its mining operations in 2022 prior to capital investments, debt repayment obligations, and exploration and evaluation and development costs. The company has determined that it will require further financing and will consider additional equity financing (including through use of the ATM facility) and debt financing, in order to meet long-term objectives, improve working capital, fund planned capital investments and exploration programs for its operating mines, pursue acquisitions and meet scheduled debt repayment obligations.
Operational Highlights
| Q1 2022 | Q1 2021 | Q4 2021 | ||||||
| Total material mined – Tucano (tonnes) | 4,372,726 | 6,898,581 | 6,260,316 | |||||
| Ore mined – Tucano (tonnes) | 232,213 | 347,466 | 303,845 | |||||
| Ore mined – Mexico (tonnes)1 | 16,258 | 56,975 | 46,305 | |||||
| Tonnes milled – Tucano | 873,133 | 796,035 | 883,222 | |||||
| Tonnes milled – Mexico1 | 16,232 | 58,669 | 42,404 | |||||
| Tonnes milled – consolidated operations | 889,365 | 854,704 | 925,626 | |||||
| Plant gold head grade (g/t) – Tucano | 0.57 | 0.90 | 0.77 | |||||
| Plant head grade (g/t Ag eq) – Mexico1 | 425 | 324 | 303 | |||||
| Gold oz produced – Tucano | 14,037 | 22,996 | 19,330 | |||||
| Gold oz produced – consolidated operations | 14,319 | 24,978 | 20,850 | |||||
| Au eq oz produced2 | 17,913 | 30,556 | 24,284 | |||||
| Gold oz sold | 14,614 | 24,881 | 20,306 | |||||
| Au eq oz sold2 | 17,798 | 29,635 | 24,047 | |||||
| Cash costs per gold oz sold – Tucano3 | $ | 1,817 | $ | 983 | $ | 1,671 | ||
| AISC per gold oz sold – Tucano3 | $ | 2,606 | $ | 1,549 | $ | 2,128 | ||
| Cash costs per gold oz sold3 | $ | 1,725 | $ | 954 | $ | 1,637 | ||
| AISC per gold oz sold, excluding corporate G&A3 | $ | 2,740 | $ | 1,557 | $ | 2,216 | ||
| AISC per gold oz sold3 | $ | 2,965 | $ | 1,738 | $ | 2,358 |
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| 1 | Includes Topia for all periods and the GMC for periods prior to November 30, 2021. |
| 2 | Gold equivalent oz are referred to throughout this document. For 2022, Au eq oz were calculated using a 1:75 Au:Ag ratio, and ratios of 1:0.0005 and 1:0.0007 for the price/oz of gold to price/pound of lead and zinc, respectively, and applied to the relevant metal content of the concentrates produced, expected to be produced, or sold from operations. The ratios are reflective of average metal prices for 2022. Comparatively, Au eq oz for 2021, Au eq oz were calculated using a 1:85 Au:Ag ratio, and ratios of 1:0.0005 and 1:0.0006 for the price/oz of gold to price/pound of lead and zinc, respectively, and applied to the relevant metal content of the concentrates produced, expected to be produced, or sold from operations. The ratios are reflective of average metal prices for 2021. |
| 3 | Throughout this news release and the accompanying MD&A, Great Panther has included the non-GAAP performance measures cash costs per gold oz sold, cash costs per payable silver oz, AISC per gold oz sold excluding corporate G&A expenditures, AISC per gold oz sold, AISC per payable silver oz, mine operating earnings (loss) before non-cash items, and EBITDA throughout this news release and the accompanying MD&A. Refer to the Non-GAAP Measures section of the Company’s MD&A for an explanation of these measures and reconciliation to the Company’s financial results reported in accordance with IFRS. As these are not standardized measures, they may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures used by others and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. |
The company’s operations are on track to meet previously announced consolidated production guidance for 2022 of 100,000 to 119,000 Au eq. As disclosed in the company’s news release dated January 19, 2022, the second half of 2022 is expected to account for a least 65% of annual production guidance. The mine plan for Tucano reflects more stripping in the first half of 2022 and therefore consolidated AISC is expected to be higher in the first half and offset by increased production rates in the second half of 2022.
Production and AISC guidance here and elsewhere in this news release is forward-looking information that should be read in conjunction with the Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements section at the end of this news release and the company’s most recently filed Management Discussion and Analysis for the year ended 31 December 2021. The company may revise guidance during the year to reflect actual results to date and those anticipated for the remainder of the year.
Refer to the company’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended 31 March 2022 (“MD&A”) for more details of the financial results and for reconciliations of the Company’s non-GAAP performance measures to the nearest GAAP measure. The full version of the company’s unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 and MD&A can be viewed on the company’s website at www.greatpanther.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. All financial information is prepared in accordance with IFRS, except as noted in the Non-GAAP Measures section of the company’s MD&A.WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL
The company will host a conference call and webcast to discuss Q1 2022 financial and operating results on Friday, 13 May 2022, at 9:00 AM PT/12:00 PM ET.
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