VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asanko Gold Inc. (“Asanko” or the “Company”) (TSX, NYSE American: AKG) reports its second quarter (“Q2”) 2018 operating and financial results. The Company released its production and revenue results for Q2 on July 12, 2018. All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise stated. Management will host a conference call and webcast today at 9am Eastern Time, further details below.
Q2 2018 Highlights:
Commenting on the quarter Peter Breese, President and CEO, said: “The mine’s solid operational performance for the quarter, predominantly the mill’s fantastic performance and Nkran resuming steady-state operations, enabled us to beat the top end of our guidance for the first half of 2018, producing 101,731 ounces at AISC3 of $1,145/oz. We are well positioned to meet our H2 2018 and full year guidance.
AISC3 decreased by 13% to $1,068/oz quarter on quarter, as the Eastern portion of the Nkran Cut 2 pushback was completed ahead of schedule, resulting in a 32% reduction in deferred stripping costs. Processing costs also dropped again this quarter as a result of the mill’s record throughput, posting a 23% decrease since we commissioned the P5M volumetric plant upgrade in Q4 2017. We maintained profitable operations this quarter, reporting an adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders of $2.3 million or $0.01 per common share.
This quarter pre-production work at Esaase got underway in anticipation of commencing mining operations in Q1 2019. The focus was primarily on additional infill exploration drilling and an extensive core re-logging exercise to improve the understanding of the geology and controls to mineralization within the Esaase pit. In addition, we also received an amended Environmental Permit that includes a trucking operation to transport ore from Esaase to the central processing facility, which completes the permitting process for Esaase. We expect an initial development decision to be made by the Joint Venture management committee in Q4 2018.”
This news release should be read in conjunction with Asanko’s Management Discussion and Analysis and the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, which are available at www.asanko.com and filed on SEDAR. |
Key Operating and Financial Highlights | |||||||
Asanko Gold Mine 100% Basis | |||||||
Q2 2018 | Q1 2018 | Q2 2017 | |||||
Waste Mined (‘000t) | 9,814 | 11,976 | 6,457 | ||||
Ore Mined (‘000t) | 945 | 767 | 1,049 | ||||
Average Gold Grade Mined (g/t) | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | ||||
Strip Ratio (W:O) | 10.4:1 | 15.7:1 | 6.2:1 | ||||
Mining Cost ($/t mined) | 3.65 | 3.23 | 3.22 | ||||
Ore Treated (‘000t) | 1,374 | 1,269 | 887 | ||||
Gold Feed Grade (g/t) | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.7 | ||||
Gold Recovery (%) | 94 | 93 | 94 | ||||
Processing Cost ($/t treated) | 9.95 | 11.17 | 12.80 | ||||
Gold Production (oz) | 53,501 | 48,229 | 46,017 | ||||
Gold Sales (oz) | 51,785 | 48,899 | 48,461 | ||||
Average Realized Gold Price ($/oz) | 1,286 | 1,314 | 1,238 | ||||
Operating Cash Costs2 ($/oz) | 582 | 571 | 572 | ||||
Total Cash Costs2 ($/oz) | 646 | 637 | 634 | ||||
All-in Sustaining Costs3 ($/oz) | 1,068 | 1,226 | 930 | ||||
All-in Sustaining Margin1 ($/oz) | 218 | 88 | 308 | ||||
Revenue ($m) | 66.8 | 64.4 | 60.2 | ||||
Production Costs, including Royalties ($m) | 33.8 | 31.6 | 31.3 | ||||
Income from Mine Operations ($m) | 16.1 | 19.5 | 14.5 | ||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders ($m) | (142.3) | 2.1 | 0.6 | ||||
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders | ($0.63) | $0.01 | $0.00 | ||||
Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders ($m) 1 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.6 | ||||
Adjusted net income per share attributable to common shareholders1 | $0.01 | $0.01 | $0.00 | ||||
Cash provided by operating activities ($m) | 13.4 | 19.1 | 33.7 | ||||
Cash provided by operating activities before working capital changes ($m) | 28.6 | 30.5 | 26.7 | ||||
Cash provided by operating activities per common share1 | $0.06 | $0.09 | $0.17 | ||||
Q2 2018 Operating Results
• The Company produced 53,501 ounces of gold for Q2 2018 and 101,731 ounces of gold for the half year, exceeding the upper end of H1 2018 guidance of 90,000 – 100,000 ounces.
• Ore mining rates for Q2 2018 averaged 315,000 tonnes per month (“tpm”) at an average mining grade of 1.5g/t and a strip ratio of 10.4:1. Ore tonnes and average grade mined increased from Q1 2018 as steady state mining operations resumed at Nkran in June.
• During the quarter, the Asanko Gold Mine (“AGM”) sourced ore from Nkran, Akwasiso, Dynamite Hill and on-surface stockpiles:
• There were no lost time injuries (“LTI”) reported during the quarter, and the AGM has now achieved over fifteen months and more than 7.7 million man hours worked without a single LTI.
• During Q2 2018, the processing plant achieved another quarterly record milling performance of 1.37 million tonnes (“Mt”), which exceeds the design throughput rate of the recently upgraded 5Mtpa processing plant. In order to meet the higher-than-planned throughput, mined ore was supplemented with lower-grade stockpiled ore, resulting in lower plant feed grades (1.4g/t), compared to the average grade that was mined during the period.
• Completed the commissioning of the recovery circuit upgrades and installation of the new upgraded mill motor on the SAG mill. In addition, a secondary cone crusher was installed during the quarter, which contributed to a finer product being delivered to the SAG mill. The addition of this crusher to the circuit contributed to the significant improvement in processing throughput rate for the quarter.
• Gold recovery continued to exceed design at 94% despite the elevated mill throughput rates and lower feed grade.
• Completed the commissioning of the P5M recovery circuit upgrades.
• On July 31, 2018, the Company announced the completion of the $185.0 million JV Transaction with Gold Fields under which Gold Fields acquired a 50% interest in all of Asanko’s Ghanaian interests, including the AGM. Asanko to remain operator and manager of the AGM.
• The Company received an amended Esaase Environmental Permit, which allows for a trucking operation to haul ore from the large-scale Esaase deposit to the central processing facility at the AGM. With the receipt of the amended permit, the Esaase mine is now fully permitted.
• In support of commencing mining operations at Esaase in January 2019, an extensive pre-production program got underway at Esaase, including additional infill exploration drilling and an extensive core re-logging exercise to improve the definition of the geology and controls to mineralization within the proposed pit and to facilitate a more robust resource model. All the new data will be incorporated to enhance the Mineral Resource Estimate and associated mine plan for Esaase which is targeted to be completed during Q4 2018.
Q2 2018 Financial Performance
Q2 2018 Liquidity and Capital Resources
2018 Guidance
The Company is on track to meet its 2018 guidance of 200,000 - 220,000 ounces at AISC3 of $1,050 - 1,150/oz for 2018.
For H1 2018, the Company exceeded guidance producing 101,731 ounces at AISC3 of $1,145/oz against a forecast of 90,000 - 100,000 ounces at AISC3 of $1,200 - 1,300/oz.
In H2 2018, with Nkran Cut 2 pushback yielding steady-state levels of ore production, guidance is expected to be 110,000 - 120,000 ounces at AISC3 $950 - 1,050/oz.
Notes:
1 Non-GAAP Performance Measures
The Company has included certain non-GAAP performance measures in this press release, including working capital, operating cash costs, total cash costs, all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold produced, all-in sustaining margin and operating cash flow per common share. These non-GAAP performance measures do not have any standardized meaning. Accordingly, these performance measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
2 Operating Cash Costs per ounce and Total Cash Costs per ounce
Operating cash costs are reflective of the cost of production, adjusted for share-based payments and by-product revenue per ounce of gold sold. Total cash costs include production royalties of 5%.
3 All-in Sustaining Costs Per Gold Ounce
The Company has adopted the reporting of “all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce” (“AISC”) as per the World Gold Council’s guidance. AISC include total cash costs, corporate overhead expenses, sustaining capital expenditure, capitalized stripping costs and reclamation cost accretion per ounce of gold sold.
Qualified Person Statement
Frederik Fourie, Asanko Senior Mining Engineer (Pr.Eng) is the Asanko Qualified Person, as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Mineral Disclosure), who has approved the preparation of the technical contents of this news release.
Q2 2018 Operating & Financial Results Conference Call & Webcast today at 9am ET US/Canada Toll Free: 800 954 0629 UK Toll Free: 0800 496 0445 International: +1 212 231 2933 Webcast: Please click on the link: https://cc.callinfo.com/r/1l06ddgf0g2fx&eom Replay: A recorded playback will be available approximately two hours after the call until September 1, 2018: US/Canada Toll Free: 800 558 5253 UK Toll Free: 0800 692 0831 International: +1 416 626 4100 Passcode: 21891372 |
About Asanko Gold Inc.
Asanko’s vision is to become a mid-tier gold mining company that maximizes value for all its stakeholders. The Company’s flagship project is the multi-million ounce Asanko Gold Mine located in Ghana, West Africa. Asanko is managed by highly skilled and successful technical, operational and financial professionals. The Company is strongly committed to the highest standards for environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighbouring communities.
Forward-Looking and other Cautionary Information
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address estimated resource quantities, grades and contained metals, possible future mining, exploration and development activities, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices for metals, the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses, the timely renewal of key permits, lower than expected grades and quantities of resources, mining rates and recovery rates and the lack of availability of necessary capital, which may not be available to the Company on terms acceptable to it or at all. The Company is subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general economic and business conditions. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company’s most recent AIF and 40-F filings, available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
Neither Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Enquiries: For further information please visit: www.asanko.com, email: info@asanko.com or contact: Alex Buck - Manager, Investor and Media Relations Toll-Free (N.America): 1-855-246-7341 Telephone: +44-7932-740-452 Email: alex.buck@asanko.com Rob Slater – Executive, Corporate Development and Strategy Telephone: +27-11-467-2758 Email: rob.slater@asanko.com