ALPHAMIN ANNOUNCES
RECORD ANNUAL TIN PRODUCTION AND
EBITDA GUIDANCE/
DECLARATION OF FINAL
FY2022 DIVIDEND
MAURITIUS – January 30, 2023 – Alphamin
Resources Corp. (AFM:TSXV, APH:JSE AltX)( “Alphamin” or the
“Company”), a producer of 4% of the world’s mined tin1 from its
high grade operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is
pleased to provide the following update for the year and quarter
ended December 2022:
- Record
FY2022 tin production of 12,493 tonnes, up
14% from the prior year
- Q4 tin
production of 3,113
tonnes exceeds market guidance of
3,000 tonnes
- FY2022
EBITDA3,4
of US$222m at an
average tin price of US$30,636/t (Current tin price:
~US$30,000/t)
- Q4
EBITDA3,4 of
US$27.1m
represents a 41%
EBITDA margin3,4
at a weak average tin price of US$21,436/t
- Final dividend for
FY2022 of CAD$0.03
per share declared (FY2022 total dividends:
CAD$0.06 per share)
Operational and Financial
Summary for the Year
and Quarter ended
December
20222
Description |
Units |
|
|
Description |
Units |
Year ended December 2022 |
Year ended December 2021 |
Change |
Quarter ended December 2022 |
Quarter ended September 2022 |
Change |
Ore Processed |
Tonnes |
436,400 |
416,173 |
5% |
106,087 |
112,179 |
-5% |
Tin Grade Processed |
% Sn |
3.82 |
3.57 |
7% |
4.00 |
3.90 |
2% |
Overall Plant Recovery |
% |
75 |
74 |
1% |
73 |
72 |
2% |
Contained Tin Produced |
Tonnes |
12,493 |
10,969 |
14% |
3,113 |
3,139 |
-1% |
Contained Tin Sold |
Tonnes |
12,764 |
11,521 |
11% |
3,119 |
3,080 |
1% |
EBITDA3,4 (FY2022 and Q4 2022 guidance) |
US$'000 |
222,215 |
198,592 |
12% |
27,105 |
30,001 |
-10% |
AISC3, 4 (FY2022 and Q4 2022 guidance) |
US$/t sold |
14,289 |
14,173 |
1% |
13,420 |
13,089 |
3% |
Net Cash4 (Cash less debt) |
US$'000 |
109,335 |
68,233 |
60% |
109,335 |
111,996 |
-2% |
Dividends paid, including minorities |
US$'000 |
71,518 |
5,555 |
1187% |
0 |
35,379 |
n/a |
Average Tin Price Achieved |
US$/t |
30,636 |
30,629 |
0% |
21,436 |
22,380 |
-4% |
__________________________________________________________________________________________
1Data obtained from International Tin
Association Tin Industry Review 2022 2Information is disclosed on a
100% basis. Alphamin indirectly owns 84.14% of its operating
subsidiary to which the information relates. 3FY2022 and Q4 2022
EBITDA represents management’s guidance. 4This is not a
standardized financial measure and may not be comparable to similar
financial measures of other issuers.See “Use of Non-IFRS Financial
Measures” below for the composition and calculation of this
financial measure. Operational and
Financial Performance
Alphamin achieved record tin production of
12,493 tonnes for the year ended December 2022, exceeding market
guidance of 12,000 tonnes. Underground mining performed
particularly well with both volumes and tin grades exceeding
expectations. The processing plant achieved good recoveries at an
average of 75%. A highly mineralised area underground, not
previously included in the mineral resource or mine plan due to its
structurally complex nature, was successfully mined and processed
during Q3 and Q4 2022. This area delivered ore at good tin grades
but contained high levels of sulphides which impacted processing
recoveries.
Contained tin production of 3,113 tonnes for Q4
2022 was in line with the previous quarter and above market
guidance of 3,000 tonnes.
Sales volumes for FY2022 and Q4 were in line
with production at an average achieved tin price of US$30,636/t and
US$21,436/t, respectively. We expect contained tin production and
sales of approximately 12,000 tonnes for the year ending December
2023.
AISC per tonne of tin sold remained relatively
flat year-on-year at US$14,289/t in FY2022.
EBITDA for FY2022 and Q4 2022 is estimated at
US$222m (2021: US$198.6m) and US$27.1m (Q3: US$30m), respectively.
The record estimated FY2022 EBITDA saw an average tin price
achieved of US$30,636/t, in line with current tin prices of around
US$30,000/t. The Company remains of the opinion that global tin
supply is likely to be constrained during the next five years while
demand for tin is expected to increase. In light of these market
fundamentals, the development of the Mpama South project and
consequent planned production expansion to approximately 20,000
tonnes of contained tin per year bodes well for future cash flow
generation. The Mpama South project development remains on track
for commissioning in December 2023.
The Alphamin consolidated Net Cash position of
US$109 million at year-end is after dividend payments of US$71.5m
to Alphamin shareholders and minority shareholders of the operating
mine, US$30m cash applied towards the development of the Mpama
South project, US$16.7m spent on exploration activities and DRC
taxes paid of US$49.4m. Capital allocation during FY2023 will be
prioritised towards the development of the Mpama South project, DRC
income tax payments and shareholder distributions.
Alphamin’s audited consolidated financial
statements and accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis
for the year and quarter ended 31 December 2022 are expected to be
released on or about March 13, 2023.
Final FY2022
Dividend Declared
The Board has declared a final FY2022 cash
dividend of CAD$0.03 per share on the common shares (approximately
US$28.7m in the aggregate) (the “Dividend”). The Dividend will be
payable on 10 March 2023 to shareholders of record as of the close
of business on 24 February 2023. Together with the interim FY2022
dividend of CAD$0.03 per share declared on 5 July 2022, the total
FY2022 dividends declared amount to CAD$0.06 per share.
Mpama South project
progress
Works completed since the Company’s announcement
of the development decision on 29 March 2022 are as follows:The
underground mine design has been finalised and approximately 580
metres of underground development on 2 levels connecting Mpama
North and Mpama South has been completed. Development remains
ongoing and on schedule.
The Mpama South portal geotechnical
investigation has been completed and the design finalised. Surface
excavation and adit development infrastructure have been completed
with underground portal development having commenced in January
2023.
Several units of the underground mechanised
fleet have arrived on site with regular deliveries scheduled in the
coming months. Full fleet mobilisation is expected by the end of
July 2023.
Progress on the processing plant is as
follows:
- EPCM, bulk earthworks, civils, and
SMPPEI contracts have been awarded;
- Design and engineering is 75%
complete;
- Procurement is 96% complete;
- Fabrication of structures and
platework is 50% complete; and
- 11% of the processing plant has
been moved to site.
The bulk earthworks and civils teams have
mobilised to site with 50% of the bulk earthworks and 10% of the
civil works having been completed. The SMPPEI construction team
mobilisation and training has commenced. An advance team has
started the erection of the concentrate drying and product storage
building. The main team mobilisation is scheduled for March
2023.
The owner’s team has commenced with operational
readiness preparation.
A new self-contained 500 room accommodation camp
is being commissioned with 144 rooms ready for occupation.
The Mpama South development project is currently
forecasted to complete within the budget of US$116m with
commissioning targeted in December 2023.
External laboratory assays on the last batch of
in-fill drill holes are expected imminently whereafter the updated
Mpama South Resource will be finalised and announced to the
market.
Qualified Person
Mr. Clive Brown, Pr. Eng., B.Sc. Engineering
(Mining), is a qualified person (QP) as defined in National
Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and
technical information contained in this news release. He is a
Principal Consultant and Director of Bara Consulting Pty Limited,
an independent technical consultant to the
Company._________________________________________________________________________________________
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Maritz
Smith CEO Alphamin
Resources
Corp. Tel:
+230 269 4166E-mail: msmith@alphaminresources.com
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING
STATEMENTS
Information in this news release that is not a
statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking
information. Forward-looking statements contained herein include,
without limitation, statements relating to expected EBITDA, EBITDA
margin and AISC guidance for FY2022 and Q4 2022 and contained tin
production and sales guidance and capital allocation priorities for
the financial year ending December 31, 2023; planned production
expansion resulting from Mpama South; and the timing for
commissioning and total development cost of the Mpama South
project. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions
management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements
are made. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove
to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. Although Alphamin 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. Factors that may cause actual results to differ
materially from expected results described in forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to: uncertainties regarding
estimates of the expected mined tin grades, processing plant
performance and recoveries, uncertainties regarding global supply
and demand for tin and market and sales prices, uncertainties with
respect to social, community and environmental impacts,
uninterupted access to required infrastructure and third party
service providers, adverse political events, uncertainties
regarding the legislative requirements in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo which may result in unexpected fines and penalties,
impacts of the global Covid-19 pandemic on mining operations and
commodity prices as well as those risk factors set out in the
Company’s Management Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure
documents available under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com.
Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date
of this news release and Alphamin disclaims any obligation to
update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or results or otherwise, except as
required by applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its
regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
USE OF NON-IFRS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
MEASURES
This announcement refers to the following
non-IFRS financial performance measures:
EBITDA
EBITDA is profit before net finance expense,
income taxes and depreciation, depletion, and amortization. EBITDA
provides insight into our overall business performance (a
combination of cost management and growth) and is the corresponding
flow driver towards the objective of achieving industry-leading
returns. This measure assists readers in understanding the ongoing
cash generating potential of the business including liquidity to
fund working capital, servicing debt, and funding capital
expenditures and investment opportunities.
This measure is not recognized under IFRS as it
does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and is
therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented
by other issuers. EBITDA data is intended to provide additional
information and should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with
IFRS.
EBITDA MARGIN
EBITDA margin is EBITDA divided by gross
revenue.
NET CASH
Net cash is defined as cash and cash equivalents
less total current and non-current portions of interest-bearing
debt and lease liabilities.
AISC
This measures the costs to produce and sell a
tonne of contained tin plus the capital sustaining costs to
maintain the mine, processing plant and infrastructure. AISC
includes mine operating production expenses such as mining,
processing, administration, indirect charges (including surface
maintenance and camp and tailings dam construction costs), smelting
costs and deductions, refining and freight, distribution, royalties
and product marketing fees and corporate costs. AISC does not
include depreciation, depletion, and amortization, reclamation
expenses, borrowing costs and exploration expenses.
Sustaining capital expenditures are defined as
those expenditures which do not increase contained tin production
at a mine site and excludes all expenditures at the Company’s
projects and certain expenditures at the Company’s operating sites
which are deemed expansionary in nature.
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