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 2023:
- FY2023 tin production of
12,568 tonnes, up 1% from the prior year
- Q4 tin production of 3,126
tonnes
- Q4 tin sales of 2,046
tonnes impacted by poor road conditions, which have
subsequently improved
- FY2023
EBITDA3,4
guidance of US$136m at an average tin price of
US$26,009/t, with EBITDA negatively affected by a temporary delay
in Q4 tin sales volumes
- US$50 million tin
prepayment arrangement and lower marketing commission
secured
Operational and Financial Summary for the
Year and Quarter ended December 20232
Description |
Units |
Year ended December 2023 |
Year ended December 2022 |
Change |
Quarter ended December 2023 |
Quarter ended September 2023 |
Change |
Ore Processed |
Tonnes |
400,691 |
436,400 |
-8% |
105,510 |
100,395 |
5% |
Tin Grade Processed |
% Sn |
4.15 |
3.82 |
9% |
3.98 |
4.08 |
-3% |
Overall Plant Recovery |
% |
75 |
75 |
1% |
75 |
76 |
-2% |
Contained Tin Produced |
Tonnes |
12,568 |
12,493 |
1% |
3,126 |
3,104 |
1% |
Contained Tin Sold |
Tonnes |
11,385 |
12,764 |
-11% |
2,046 |
3,110 |
-34% |
EBITDA3,4 (FY2023 and Q4 2023 guidance) |
US$'000 |
135,541 |
222,215 |
-39% |
20,321 |
38,429 |
-47% |
AISC3, 4 (FY2023 and Q4 2023 guidance) |
US$/t sold |
14,259 |
14,237 |
0% |
14,645 |
14,625 |
0% |
Dividends paid (cents per share) |
C$ cps |
6 |
6 |
0% |
0 |
3 |
n/a |
Average Tin Price Achieved |
US$/t |
26,009 |
30,636 |
-15% |
25,157 |
26,557 |
-5% |
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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. 3FY2023 and Q4 2023
EBITDA and AISC represent 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
Contained tin production of 3,126 tonnes for the
quarter ended December 2023 was in line with the previous quarter.
Tin production of 12,568 tonnes for the year ended December 2023
exceeded market guidance of 12,000 tonnes. The Mpama North
underground mine continues to deliver ore at tin grades and volumes
in line with expectations. The Mpama North processing facility
performed well, achieving overall recoveries of 75% during FY2023
(FY2022: 75%).
As previously reported, poor road conditions
resulting from record heavy rainfall, had a negative impact on
truck transit times and export revenue receipts during Q4 2023. The
rains have subsided significantly from mid December 2023 with
rainfall now averaging ~10% of that recorded in October/November
2023. As a result of increased truck transit times, Q4 2023
contained tin sales of 2,046 tonnes was 1,080 tonnes less than the
quarter’s production and resulted in high levels of tin in stock.
The delay in tin sales should catch-up during Q1 2024 and
accordingly only then report to EBITDA and revenue receipts.
Guidance for AISC per tonne of tin sold is
US$14,259 and US$14,645 for the year and quarter ended December
2023 respectively. This is in line with that of the prior periods.
On-mine operating expenditure increased by 5% compared to the prior
year mainly due to a 32% increase in underground development metres
at Mpama North and higher diesel prices. Additional Mpama North
underground development has resulted in increased developed
reserves, higher run-of-mine ore stockpiles and improved future
operational flexibility.
EBITDA for FY2023 and Q4 2023 is estimated at
US$136m (FY2022: US$222m) and US$20m (Q3 2023: US$38m),
respectively. The EBITDA variance compared to prior periods is
attributable to lower tin prices and a delay in tin sales in Q4
2023 (Q4 sales delay has a ~US$14 million impact on EBITDA for the
quarter and year ended December 2023).
Alphamin’s audited consolidated financial
statements and accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis
for the year and quarter ended 31 December 2023 are expected to be
released on or about March 14, 2024.
Mpama South update and production
guidance for the year ending December 2024
The initial development of the Mpama South
underground mine has been completed on time. In addition, the
underground development should ensure sufficient developed mineral
resources to ensure adequate stockpiles ahead of the processing
plant’s commissioning. This should allow for a rapid ramp-up of tin
production following plant commissioning. As was previously
reported, logistical delays due to poor inbound road conditions
have deferred the commencement of processing to the end of March
2024. The processing plant mechanical erection and installation is
essentially complete with the main outstanding work relating to
completion of the installation of electrical cabling, the
installation of instrumentation and the commissioning of the
plant.
On the basis of incremental tin production from
the Mpama South plant from 1 April 2024, we expect contained tin
production of between 17,000 tonnes and 18,000 tonnes for the year
ending December 2024 (FY2023: 12,568 tonnes).
The Mpama South capital expenditure cost to
steady state production, including operational readiness costs, are
expected to exceed the US$116 million budget by approximately 10%
primarily as a result of weather-related delays, higher logistical
and import costs as well as minor scope changes.
Figure 1: Mpama South portal – ore being trammed
to surface
Please click here to view image
Figure 2: Gravity processing plant
Please click here to view image
Figure 3: Crushing plant
Please click here to view image
US$50 million tin prepayment arrangement
secured
Alphamin is pleased to announce that it has
secured a four-year extension (1 October 2024 to 30 September 2028)
to its current off-take agreement with the Gerald Group on the
basis of a ~60% reduction in tin marketing costs and an up to US$50
million tin prepayment arrangement. The tin prepayment arrangement
is effective immediately and may be utilised for tin concentrates
in transit but not yet exported as well as up to US$10 million for
tin concentrates produced not yet loaded for departure. The
facility carries an interest rate of CME 3M Term SOFR plus 5%
(calculated at 10,3% currently).
Capital allocation
Alphamin’s vision is to become one of the
world’s largest sustainable tin producers. From a capital
allocation perspective, the Board considers the combination of
investment in growth, ongoing exploration, and a high dividend
yield a robust value proposition. The funding of the Mpama South
expansion project, shareholder distributions and DRC income tax
payments were a priority during the year ended December 2023. The
allocation of capital in FY2024 will be prioritised towards
completion of the Mpama South project in Q1 2024, significantly
lower DRC income taxes on the basis of large advance provisional
payments made during FY2023 and ongoing shareholder distributions.
As previously reported, the Company intends to make a final FY2023
dividend decision in April 2024 to align with the timing of holding
the annual general meeting of Alphamin Bisie Mining SA (ABM), the
Company’s DRC subsidiary, to approve ABM’s annual financial
statements and consideration of the declaration of a dividend for
distribution to the Company and other minority shareholders.
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 and AISC
guidance for Q4 and financial year 2023; annual production guidance
for 2024; planned incremental production resulting from Mpama
South; the timing for commissioning of the Mpama South processing
plant; timing and plans regarding underground development and the
total development cost of the Mpama South project; the expected
allocation of capital during the 2024 financial year; and expected
reversal of the temporary Q4 2023 sales lag by Q1 2024.
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
Mpama North and Mpama South estimates of the expected mined tin
grades, processing plant performance and recoveries, uncertainties
regarding the underground conditions for development, uncertainties
regarding supply chain and logistics for purposes of Mpama South
equipment deliveries and the impact on the timing thereof,
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 and risks of security related incidents which may impact the
operation or safety of its people, 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 or other health crises on mining
operations and commodity prices as well as those risk factors set
out in the Company’s annual Management Discussion and Analysis and
other disclosure documents available under the Company’s profile at
www.sedarplus.ca. 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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