Moneta Provides 2022 Year-End Review & 2023 Plans
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 6, 2023) - Moneta Gold Inc. (TSX: ME) (OTCQX: MEAUF) (FSE: MOPA) ("Moneta" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a summary of the Company's 2022 key achievements in advancing the 100%-owned Tower Gold project (the "Project"), located in the Timmins Gold camp, Ontario.
Mr. Gary O'Connor, President & CEO commented, "2022 was an extremely rewarding year for Moneta Gold. We completed a major resource update and robust Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on our top tier Tower Gold project in September 2022 (see September 07, 2022 press release) and continued to de-risk and advance it towards the Pre-Feasibility ("PFS") stage. The Tower Gold project has the potential to become one of the larger gold producers in Canada for a projected mine life of at least 24 years, and the potential for the discovery of additional deposits. We will build upon this momentum, as we continue with our 190,000 metres ("m") resource upgrade and infill drilling program. Following the drill program, an updated mineral resource estimate ("MRE") will be completed, which will be used as the basis of PFS, expected be completed in 2024."
2022 Accomplishments & 2023 Plans
(All figures in Canadian dollars except as otherwise stated)
Increased mineral resources in 2022 from 4.0 million ounces gold ("Moz Au") indicated & 4.4 Moz Au inferred to 4.5 Moz Au indicated & 8.3 Moz Au inferred, positioning the Tower Gold project amongst the largest undeveloped gold projects in Canada
Completed a robust PEA in 2022 which highlighted an average annual gold production of 261,000 oz Au for the first 11 years at a cash cost of US$811/oz and all-in-sustaining-costs (AISC) of US$1,004/oz, a life of mine annual after-tax cash flow of $1.9 billion, with an after-tax net present value at a 5% discount rate ("NPV5%") of $1.07 billion, an internal rate of return ("IRR") of 31.7%, with a 2.6 year pay back
Expanded Moneta's executive team to progress the PFS, mine planning and operations, Health & Safety, and Environmental, Social & Governance ("ESG") programs
Completed an oversubscribed bought deal financing of $15.4 million ("M") which provides support for our infill drilling and technical studies for the PFS. Several new large institutional investors participated in this financing as did some of our current supportive and long-term investors
Research coverage from three (3) new firms were initiated during the year
Completed 80,000 m of resource upgrade and infill drilling as part of our PFS drilling in 2022
2022 drill program confirmed continuity and extensions of mineralization in several deposits
Currently conducting a drill program of 190,000 m of resource upgrade and infill drilling to support the PFS
Inaugural ESG report to be released in 2023
Continue the Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") Program
Conduct hydrology, geotechnical, and metallurgical work in 2023
Moneta's base case scenario for the Tower Gold project PEA outlined a staged approach for a combined open pit and underground mining operation for a 7.0 million tonnes per annum ("tpa") conventional leach/carbon-in-leach ("CIL") operation. The PEA also outlined several upside opportunities, including:
Expansion of resources through exploration drilling of additional targets within the remaining 8 kilometres ("km") of untested strike length along the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone ("DPFZ") corridor
Expansion of resources from new exploration targets outside of the Tower Gold project area
Expansion of underground resources through additional exploration drilling, notably at Westaway and Garrcon
Increase in production rates from underground to increase mill feed grades
Review the potential for larger scale bulk tonnage underground mining
Sampling of historical core previously unsampled and inclusion of historical drill holes not currently in the database
Infill drilling of open pits to convert waste to resources, notably at 903, Westaway, South West, and Windjammer
Additional test-work for the deposits to refine the process flow sheet to optimize gold recovery and reduce costs
Optimization of plant and overall site layout
In 2023, the scope and focus of the PFS will also consist of geotechnical, metallurgical recovery test work, and hydrological studies. Mine planning studies, process design studies, project lay-out trade-off studies, electricity supply, and ongoing environmental baseline, archaeological, and community engagement studies will progress.
"We are very proud of the many achievements we accomplished over 2022 and we look forward to a productive 2023 and progressing the Tower Gold project," Mr. O'Connor concluded.
About Moneta Gold
Moneta is a Canadian-based gold exploration company focused on advancing its 100% wholly owned Tower Gold project, located in the Timmins region of Northeastern Ontario, Canada's most prolific gold producing camp. The September 2022, Preliminary Economic Assessment study outlined a combined open pit and underground mining and a 7.0 million tonne per annum conventional leach/CIL operation over a 24-year mine life, with 4.6 Moz of recovered gold, generating an after-tax NPV5% of $1,066M, IRR of 31.7%, and a 2.6-year payback at a gold price US$1,600/oz. Tower Gold hosts an estimated gold mineral resource of 4.5 Moz indicated and 8.3 Moz inferred. Moneta is committed to creating shareholder value through the strategic allocation of capital and a focus on the current resource upgrade drilling program, while conducting all business activities in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
Jason Dankowski, P.Geo. V.P. Technical Services & Geology for Moneta, who is a QP as defined by NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this press release.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Gary V. O'Connor, CEO
416-357-3319
Linda Armstrong, Investor Relations
647-456-9223
The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com. For further information on the Company, please visit our website at www.monetagold.com or email us at info@monetagold.com.
Certain statements in this press release including certain information about Moneta's business outlook, objectives, strategies, plans, strategic priorities and results of operations, as well as other statements which are not current statements or historical facts, constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (without limitation, statements regarding exploration programs, potential mineralization, future plans and objectives of the Company, updated to the mineral resources, and the timing and results thereof) are forward-looking statements. Sentences and phrases containing words such as "believe", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan", "will", "intend", "predict", "outlook", "goal", "target", "forecast", "project", "scheduled", "proposed", "expect", "potential", "strategy", and the negative of any of these words, or variations of them, or comparable terminology that does not relate strictly to current or historical facts, are all indicative of forward-looking statements. These forward- looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company.
Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from Moneta's expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements and that Moneta's business outlook, objectives, plans and strategic priorities may not be achieved. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or events, and Moneta cautions you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are provided in this press release for the purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding Moneta's objectives, strategic priorities and business outlook, and in obtaining a better understanding of Moneta's anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Examples of forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: information with respect to the future performance of the business, its operations and financial performance and condition; statements relating to Moneta's plans for the Project; the Corporation's drilling program and the timing and results thereof; the timing and scope and focus of the Corporation's pre-feasibility study ("PFS"); statements regarding the environmental impact assessment and community engagement activities; and the Corporation's financing initiatives.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Important risk factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to: uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; changes in commodity prices; changes in equity markets; changes to regulations affecting the Company's activities; the uncertainties involved in interpreting exploration results and other geological data and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration industry; the impact of COVID-19 related disruptions in relation to the Corporation's business operations including upon its employees, suppliers, facilities and other stakeholders; uncertainties and risk that have arisen and may arise in relation to travel, and other financial market and social impacts from COVID-19 and responses to COVID 19 and the ability of the Corporation to finance and carry out its anticipated goals and objectives; international conflicts and other geopolitical risks, including war, military action, terrorism, trade and financial sanctions, which have historically led to, and may in the future lead to, uncertainty or volatility in global commodity and financial markets and supply chains; and the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the widespread international condemnation has had a significant destabilizing effect on world commodity prices, supply chains, inflation risk, and global economies more broadly, may adversely affect the Corporation's business, financial condition, and results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to Moneta or that Moneta currently deems to be immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on Moneta's financial position, financial performance, cash flows, business or reputation.
Forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on a number of assumptions that Moneta believed were reasonable at the time it made each forward-looking statement. The assumptions, although considered reasonable by Moneta on the day it made the forward-looking statements, may prove to be inaccurate. Accordingly, our actual results could differ materially from our expectations. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
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