Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 20, 2017) - Amerigo Resources Ltd. (TSX: ARG) ("Amerigo" or the "Company") announced today production results for the first quarter of 2017 from Minera Valle Central ("MVC"), the Company's operation located near Rancagua, Chile.
Operational Highlights for Q1-2017:
In Q1-2017, MVC produced 15.1 million pounds of copper at a cash cost of $1.71 per pound, pursuant to a tolling agreement with Codelco's Division El Teniente and a toll processing agreement with Minera Maricunga.
Plant recoveries returned to normal following completion of repairs to the concentrate regrind mill in February 2017. Copper production from the historic Cauquenes deposit has increased steadily since the Phase One Expansion project was completed in 2015.The Phase Two Expansion project is planned to improve flotation recovery efficiency and expand the existing facilities to an output of 85 to 90 million pounds of copper per year.Detailed engineering work is proceeding at MVC and Amerigo is finalizing plans for debt financing in order to complete the construction of the $30 million project in the second half of 2018.
Amerigo's production guidance for 2017 is maintained at 60 to 65 million pounds of copper at an annual cash cost of $1.60 to $1.75 per pound.MVC also expects to produce 1.5 million pounds of molybdenum.
Summary of Production Results for the Most Recent Five Quarters:
| Q1-2017 | Q4-2016 | Q3-2016 | Q2-2016 | Q1-2016 |
Fresh tailings | | | | | |
Tonnes processed | 10,566,171 | 9,782,870 | 11,373,542 | 10,620,849 | 10,617,420 |
Copper grade | 0.120% | 0.116% | 0.113% | 0.117% | 0.117% |
Copper recovery | 16.6% | 18.4% | 19.7% | 21.3% | 19.2% |
Copper produced (millions of pounds) | 4.651 | 4.608 | 5.571 | 5.640 | 5.270 |
Historic tailings | | | | | |
Tonnes processed | 5,813,239 | 4,935,260 | 5,435,474 | 5,149,732 | 5,087,765 |
Copper grade | 0.254% | 0.239% | 0.236% | 0.224% | 0.228% |
Copper recovery | 29.4% | 31.1% | 34.4% | 32.2% | 26.4% |
Copper produced (millions of pounds) | 9.594 | 8.065 | 9.756 | 8.191 | 6.734 |
Maricunga toll processing | | | | | |
Copper produced (millions of pounds) | 0.896 | 0.918 | 0.700 | 0.524 | 0.851 |
Total copper produced (millions of pounds) | 15.141 | 13.591 | 16.027 | 14.355 | 12.855 |
Total copper delivered (millions of pounds) | 15.175 | 13.417 | 15.599 | 14.509 | 12.746 |
Cash cost ($/pound copper) | 1.71 | 1.87 | 1.60 | 1.65 | 1.81 |
Release of Financial Results for Q1-2017:
The Company will release Q1-2017 financial results at market open on Wednesday May 3, 2017, followed by an investor conference call on Thursday May 4, 2017 at 11:00 am Pacific Daylight Time/2:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time.
Conference Call Participation:
To participate in the call, please dial 1-866-225-0198 (Toll-Free North America) and let the operator know you wish to participate in the Amerigo Resources conference call. Media are invited to attend on a listen-only basis. Following management's discussion of the quarterly results, the analyst and investment community will be invited to ask questions.
About the Company:
Amerigo Resources Ltd. is an innovative copper producer with a long-term relationship with Codelco, the world's largest copper producer. Amerigo produces copper concentrate at the MVC operation in Chile by processing fresh and historic tailings from Codelco's El Teniente mine, the world's largest underground copper mine. Tel: (604) 681-2802; Fax: (604) 682-2802; Web: www.amerigoresources.com; Listing: TSX: ARG.
For further information, please contact:
Rob Henderson, President and CEO (604) 697-6203
Aurora Davidson, Executive Vice-President and CFO (604) 697-6207
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains certain forward-looking information and statements as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "should", "believe" and similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Company's control, the Company cannot assure that it will achieve or accomplish the expectations, beliefs or projections described in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These forward-looking statements include but are not limited to, statements concerning:
Inherent in forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties beyond our ability to predict or control, including risks that may affect our operating or capital plans; risks generally encountered in the permitting and development of mineral projects such as unusual or unexpected geological formations, negotiations with government and other third parties, unanticipated metallurgical difficulties, delays associated with permits, approvals and permit appeals, ground control problems, adverse weather conditions, process upsets and equipment malfunctions; risks associated with labour disturbances and availability of skilled labour and management; fluctuations in the market prices of our principal commodities, which are cyclical and subject to substantial price fluctuations; risks created through competition for mining projects and properties; risks associated with lack of access to markets; risks associated with availability of and our ability to obtain both tailings from DET's current production and historic tailings from tailings deposit; risks with respect to completion of all phases of the Cauquenes expansion, the ability of the Company to draw down funds from the Bank Facility and the Standby LOC, all as described in Description of the Business, below;the availability of and ability of the Company to obtain adequate funding on reasonable terms for expansions and acquisitions, including all phases of the Cauquenes expansion; mine plan estimates; risks posed by fluctuations in exchange rates and interest rates, as well as general economic conditions; risks associated with environmental compliance and changes in environmental legislation and regulation; risks associated with our dependence on third parties for the provision of critical services; risks associated with non-performance by contractual counterparties; title risks; social and political risks associated with operations in foreign countries; risks of changes in laws affecting our operations or their interpretation, including foreign exchange controls; and risks associated with tax reassessments and legal proceedings.Many of these risks and uncertainties apply not only to the Company and its operations, but also to Codelco and its operations.Codelco's ongoing mining operations provide a significant portion of the materials the Company processes and its resulting metals production, therefore these risks and uncertainties may also affect their operations and in turn have a material effect on the Company.
Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about:
Future production levels and cost estimates assume there are no adverse mining or other events which significantly affect budgeted production levels.
We caution you that the foregoing list of important factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Other events or circumstances could cause our actual results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, our forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of factors, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise.