Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2022) - First Majestic Silver Corp. (TSX: FR) (NYSE: AG) (FSE: FMV) ("First Majestic" or the "Company") is pleased to announce fourth quarter production reached a new quarterly record of 8.6 million silver equivalent ounces, consisting of 3.4 million silver ounces and 67,411 gold ounces, representing a 17% increase compared to the prior quarter. Additionally, full year 2021 production reached a new Company record of 26.9 million silver equivalent ounces, consisting of 12.8 million silver ounces and 192,353 gold ounces, or a 32% increase over 2020.
The Company is also pleased to announce its 2022 guidance of producing between 32.2 to 35.8 million silver equivalent ounces, consisting of 12.2 to 13.5 million ounces of silver and 258,000 to 288,000 ounces of gold, with AISC cost guidance of between $16.79 to $18.06 per silver equivalent ounce.
Q4 2021 HIGHLIGHTS
FY 2021 HIGHLIGHTS
"First Majestic ended the year with its strongest production quarter in the Company's 20-year history," said Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO. "During the fourth quarter, production at our San Dimas and Santa Elena mines exceeded expectations and reached new records due to a significant improvement in productivity and in silver and gold grades. Consolidated gold production also reached a new record of 192,353 ounces in 2021 due to the acquisition of the Jerritt Canyon mine and the start of production and first pour from the Ermitaño mine at Santa Elena in November."
Mr. Neumeyer continues, "In 2022, total production is expected to increase between 20% to 33% compared to 2021 primarily due to higher production expected at San Dimas, Santa Elena and a full year of production at Jerritt Canyon. In addition, we are planning to invest significantly in exploration and underground development in 2022 in order to prepare a clear path to achieving our goal of producing over 40 million silver equivalent ounces by 2024."
FY2021 Mine by Mine Production Table:
Mine | Ore Processed | Tonnes per Day | Ag Grade (g/t) | Au Grade (g/t) | Ag Recovery | Au Recovery | Ag Oz Produced | Au Oz Produced | AgEq Oz Produced |
San Dimas | 822,791 | 2,254 | 305 | 3.19 | 95% | 96% | 7,646,898 | 81,237 | 13,525,049 |
Jerritt Canyon | 633,400 | 2,575 | - | 3.84 | - | 84% | - | 68,567 | 5,013,999 |
Santa Elena | 879,059 | 2,408 | 77 | 1.58 | 90% | 94% | 1,954,491 | 42,088 | 5,041,937 |
La Encantada | 1,004,144 | 2,751 | 130 | 0.02 | 77% | 90% | 3,241,556 | 460 | 3,274,798 |
Total | 3,339,394 | 9,149 | 135 | 1.94 | 89% | 91% | 12,842,944 | 192,353 | 26,855,783 |
*Certain amounts shown may not add exactly to the total amount due to rounding differences.
*Jerritt Canyon production was over a 246 day period from April 30, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
*The following prices were used in the calculation of silver equivalent ounces: Silver: $25.14 per ounce; Gold: $1,801 per ounce.
Production Details Table:
Q4 | Q3 | Q/Q | FY | FY | Y/Y | |
2021 | 2021 | Change | Consolidated Production Results | 2021 | 2020 | Change |
955,810 | 943,126 | 1% | Ore processed/tonnes milled | 3,339,394 | 2,213,953 | 51% |
8,561,023 | 7,319,441 | 17% | Total production - Silver equivalent ounces | 26,855,783 | 20,379,010 | 32% |
3,358,809 | 3,302,086 | 2% | Silver ounces produced | 12,842,944 | 11,598,380 | 11% |
67,411 | 54,525 | 24% | Gold ounces produced | 192,353 | 100,081 | 92% |
QUARTERLY REVIEW
Total ore processed during the quarter at the Company's mines amounted to 955,810 tonnes, representing a 1% increase compared to the previous quarter. The slight increase in tonnes processed was primarily due to Jerritt Canyon processing higher volumes of lower grade surface material and underground ore partially offset by slightly lower throughput rates at San Dimas, Santa Elena and La Encantada.
Consolidated silver and gold grades in the quarter averaged 125 g/t and 2.42 g/t, respectively, compared to 122 g/t and 2.00 g/t, respectively, in the previous quarter. The increase in consolidated silver and gold grades were primarily due to processing higher grade ore within the Jessica vein at San Dimas and the introduction of Ermitaño's ore into the Santa Elena plant in November.
Consolidated silver and gold recoveries averaged 88% and 91%, respectively, during the quarter. The Company continues to work towards optimizing the metallurgical recoveries of Ermitaño's ore which achieved 61% for silver and 91% for gold during the fourth quarter. The Company plans to modify the Santa Elena processing plant to facilitate finer grinding and improve metallurgical recoveries with the commissioning of a new tailing filter-press, an additional leaching tank and a fourth CCD thickener in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Quarterly Mine by Mine Production Table:
Mine | Ore Processed | Tonnes per Day | Ag Grade (g/t) | Au Grade (g/t) | Ag Recovery | Au Recovery | Ag Oz Produced | Au Oz Produced | AgEq Oz Produced |
San Dimas | 206,738 | 2,247 | 347 | 3.71 | 94% | 96% | 2,174,353 | 23,795 | 4,015,346 |
Jerritt Canyon | 256,374 | 2,787 | - | 3.41 | - | 84% | - | 23,660 | 1,821,331 |
Santa Elena | 224,459 | 2,440 | 72 | 2.97 | 82% | 92% | 426,870 | 19,810 | 1,955,550 |
La Encantada | 268,239 | 2,916 | 117 | 0.02 | 75% | 90% | 757,586 | 146 | 768,796 |
Total | 955,810 | 10,389 | 125 | 2.42 | 88% | 91% | 3,358,809 | 67,411 | 8,561,023 |
*Certain amounts shown may not add exactly to the total amount due to rounding differences.
*The following prices were used in the calculation of silver equivalent ounces: Silver: $23.33 per ounce; Gold: $1,795 per ounce.
At the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine:
At the Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine:
At the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine:
At the La Encantada Silver Mine:
2022 GUIDANCE
The Company expects 2022 total production from its four operating mines to range between 32.2 to 35.8 million silver equivalent ounces consisting of 12.2 to 13.5 million ounces of silver and 258,000 to 288,000 ounces of gold. Based on the midpoint of the guidance range the Company expects silver equivalent ounces to increase 27% when compared to 2021. Silver production is expected to remain consistent with 2021 rates whereas gold production is expected to increase by 42% year-over-year. The increase in gold production is primarily due to the ramp up of production at Ermitaño which is known to contain higher amounts of gold and a full year worth of production from Jerritt Canyon.
A mine-by-mine breakdown of the 2022 production guidance is included in the table below. The Company reports cost guidance to reflect cash costs and all-in sustaining cost per ounce ("AISC") on a per silver equivalent payable ounces. For 2022, the Company is using a 78:1 silver to gold ratio compared to a 72:1 silver to gold ratio in its revised 2021 guidance. Metal price and foreign currency assumptions for calculating equivalents are silver: $22.50/oz, gold: $1,750/oz, MXN:USD 20:1.
GUIDANCE FOR FULL YEAR 2022
Silver Oz (M) | Gold Oz (k) | Silver Eqv Oz (M) | Cash Cost | AISC | |
Silver: | ($ per AgEq oz) | ($ per AgEq oz) | |||
San Dimas, Mexico | 7.4 - 8.2 | 81 - 91 | 13.7 - 15.2 | 8.59 - 9.13 | 11.75 - 12.65 |
Santa Elena, Mexico | 1.9 - 2.1 | 61 - 68 | 6.6 - 7.4 | 13.06 - 13.86 | 15.58 - 16.66 |
La Encantada, Mexico | 2.9 - 3.2 | - | 2.9 - 3.2 | 14.82 - 15.74 | 17.89 - 19.15 |
Mexico Total: | 12.2 - 13.5 | 142 - 159 | 23.2 - 25.8 | 10.65 - 11.31 | 15.18 - 16.35 |
Gold: | ($ per AuEq oz) | ($ per AuEq oz) | |||
Jerritt Canyon, USA | - | 116 - 129 | 9.0 - 10.0 | 1,259 - 1,334 | 1,503 - 1,607 |
Total Production | ($ per AgEq oz) | ($ per AgEq oz) | |||
Consolidated | 12.2 - 13.5 | 258 - 288 | 32.2 - 35.8 | 12.20 - 12.94 | 16.79 - 18.06 |
* Certain amounts shown may not add exactly to the total amount due to rounding differences.
* Cash Costs and AISC are non-GAAP measures and are not standardized financial measures under the Company's financial reporting framework. The Company calculates cash costs and consolidated AISC in the manner set out in the table below. These measures have been calculated on a basis consistent with historical periods.
The Company is projecting its 2022 AISC to be within a range of $16.79 to $18.06 on a per consolidated payable silver equivalent ounce basis. Excluding non-cash items, the Company anticipates its 2022 AISC to be within a range of $16.34 to $17.56 per payable silver equivalent ounce. An itemized AISC cost table is provided below:
All-In Sustaining Cost Calculation | FY 2022 ($ /AgEq oz) | |
Total Cash Costs per Payable Silver Ounce | 12.20 - 12.94 | |
General and Administrative Costs | 1.04 - 1.16 | |
Sustaining Development Costs | 1.29 - 1.44 | |
Sustaining Property, Plant and Equipment Costs | 0.86 - 0.96 | |
Sustaining Exploration Costs | 0.13 - 0.15 | |
Profit Sharing | 0.49 - 0.54 | |
Share-based Payments (non-cash) | 0.34 - 0.38 | |
Lease Payments | 0.33 - 0.37 | |
Accretion of Reclamation Costs (non-cash) | 0.11 - 0.13 | |
All-In Sustaining Costs: (Ag Eq Oz) | 16.79 - 18.06 | |
All-In Sustaining Costs: (Ag Eq Oz excluding non-cash items) | 16.34 - 17.56 |
INVESTING FOR FUTURE GROWTH
In 2022, the Company plans to invest a total of $207.8 million on capital expenditures consisting of $86.3 million for sustaining investments and $121.5 million for expansionary projects. This represents a 1% increase compared to the revised 2021 capital budget and is aligned with the Company's future growth strategy of investments in fine grinding technology, processing plant modernizations (including the dual-circuit project installation and expansion of the LNG generation plant at Santa Elena), and to increase underground and plant processing rates at Jerritt Canyon and Santa Elena's Ermitaño mine.
2022 Capital Budget ($millions) | Sustaining | Expansionary | Total |
Underground Development | 46.2 | 41.8 | 88.0 |
Exploration | 9.2 | 36.0 | 45.2 |
Property, Plant and Equipment | 27.4 | 24.5 | 51.9 |
Corporate Projects | 3.4 | 19.3 | 22.7 |
Total | $86.2 | $121.6 | $207.8 |
The 2022 annual budget includes total capital investments of $88.0 million to be spent on underground development; $51.9 million towards property, plant and equipment; $45.2 million in exploration; and $22.7 million towards corporate innovation projects. Management may revise the guidance and budget during the year to reflect actual and anticipated changes in metal prices or to the business.
The Company plans to increase underground development in 2022 to approximately 53,700 metres compared to 50,559 metres completed in 2021. The 2022 development program consists of approximately 29,100 metres at San Dimas; 4,950 metres at Jerritt Canyon; 14,900 metres at Santa Elena (including Ermitaño) and 4,750 metres at La Encantada. At San Dimas, the Company is planning to bring the Perez and San Jose Veins, located in the Sinaloa Graben block, into production in the second half of 2022. At Santa Elena, underground development is expected to continue to focus on the Ermitaño mine to continue ramp up procedures to achieve approximately 1,000 tonnes per day of underground ore extraction throughout all of 2022 and further increasing to 2,000 tonnes per day in 2023. At Jerritt Canyon, higher development rates are planned to prepare the SSX/Smith mines for increased ore extraction over the next two years. In addition, the Company is planning to begin underground production in the West Generator mine at the end of 2022. At La Encantada, the Company is continuing to develop towards the Ojuelas orebody to prepare for initial production in the second half of 2022.
The Company is planning to significantly increase exploration drilling in 2022 by 41% to approximately 320,200 metres compared to 227,845 metres which were completed in 2021. The 2022 drilling program is expected to consist of:
APPOINTMENT OF INTERIM CFO
The Company has appointed Andrew Poon, Vice-President of Finance to be the Interim Chief Financial Officer following the retirement of Raymond Polman on December 31, 2021. Mr. Poon has over 30 years of progressive financial experience and has been a valued member of the leadership team at First Majestic for 13 years and will provide a seamless transition for the business while the Company continues to advance candidates in its search for a permanent replacement. Mr. Poon will assume full leadership of the finance team and will work closely with Keith Neumeyer, President and CEO, and Steve Holmes, COO, to ensure the Company's business plan is supported.
Q4 2021 EARNINGS AND DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT
The Company is planning to release its fourth quarter 2021 unaudited financial results, and to announce the fourth quarter dividend payment, and shareholder record and payable dates on March 10, 2022.
CONFERENCE CALL
The Company will be holding a conference call and webcast today, January 18, 2022 at 8:00 am PT (11:00 am ET) to discuss the quarterly production results as well as its 2022 production, cost and capital guidance. To participate in the conference call, please dial the following:
Toll Free Canada & USA: 1-800-319-4610
Outside of Canada & USA: 1-604-638-5340
Toll Free Germany: 0800 180 1954
Toll Free UK: 0808 101 2791
Participants should dial in 10 minutes prior to the conference.
Click on "January 18, 2022 Webcast Link" on the First Majestic homepage as a simultaneous audio webcast of the conference call will be posted at www.firstmajestic.com.
The conference call will be recorded and you can listen to an archive of the conference by calling:
Canada & USA Toll Free: 1-800-319-6413
Outside Canada & USA: 1-604-638-9010
Access Code: 8334 followed by the # sign
The replay will be available approximately one hour after the conference and will be available for seven days following the conference. The replay will also be available on the Company's website for one month.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
First Majestic is a publicly traded mining company focused on silver and gold production in Mexico and the United States. The Company presently owns and operates the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine, the Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine, the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine and the La Encantada Silver Mine.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION contact info@firstmajestic.com, visit our website at www.firstmajestic.com or call our toll free number 1.866.529.2807.
FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP.
"signed"
Keith Neumeyer, President & CEO
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward‐looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws (collectively, "forward‐looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; commercial mining operations; cash flow; budgets; capital expenditures; the timing and amount of estimated future production; ore grades; recovery rates; mine plans and mine life; the future price of silver and other metals; costs; costs and timing of the development of new deposits; and capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof; a permanent replacement CFO; and timing of release of fourth quarter financial statements. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, guidance cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon guidance and forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward‐looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable mineral reserves and mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward‐looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as and if the property is developed, and in the case of measured and indicated mineral resources or proven and probable mineral reserves, such statements reflect the conclusion based on certain assumptions that the mineral deposit can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward‐looking statements".
Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the duration and effects of the coronavirus and COVID-19, and any other pandemics or public health crises on our operations and workforce, and the effects on global economies and society, actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; commodity prices; variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; actual performance of plant, equipment or processes relative to specifications and expectations; accidents; fluctuations in costs; labour relations; availability and performance of contractors; relations with local communities; changes in national or local governments; changes in applicable legislation or application thereof; delays in obtaining approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; government regulation; environmental risks; reclamation expenses; outcomes of pending litigation including appeals of judgments; resolutions of claims and arbitration proceedings; negotiations and regulatory proceedings; limitations on insurance coverage as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Description of the Business - Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form, available on www.sedar.com, and Form 40-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although First Majestic has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.
The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward‐looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward‐looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/110558