Palmarejo Mine, Coeur d'Alene Mines (ASX:CXC)
Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, April 1, 2009 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation (NYSE:CDE)(TSX:CDM)(ASX:CXC) announced today that it has started producing silver and gold at its new 100%-owned Palmarejo mine in northern Mexico, where the first gold/silver doré was poured Saturday evening.
"We are extremely pleased with the on-time commencement of production at Palmarejo, Coeur's newest mine project and one of the largest new silver/gold mines in the world," said Dennis Wheeler, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coeur. "We are proud of the work accomplished by our Palmarejo team, including the local workforce, who completed construction on schedule and on budget. Combined with production from our other new silver mine - San Bartolomé in Bolivia - Coeur expects silver production to increase 66% this year to approximately 20 million ounces."
The mine recently was awarded the Socially Responsible Business Distinction for 2008 by the Centro Mexicano para la Filantropia (CEMEFI) for the mine's demonstrated excellence in social responsibility. The award is a national recognition of Coeur Mexicana and its ongoing contributions to community and strategies and policies in this area. The award also recognized the way Coeur personnel conducts its business in Mexico, and the positive working environment for employees and contractors.
The predominantly Mexican construction and operations workforce has surpassed 1.2 million man hours without a lost time accident. The total size of the workforce peaked at 1,750 workers in December, which included 424 operating personnel. Going forward, the operations workforce is expected to total 454 personnel.
In 2009, Palmarejo is expected to produce 5.3 million ounces of silver and 72,000 ounces of gold at an average cash operating cost of approximately ($0.50) per silver ounce1. Based on an initial eleven year mine plan, Palmarejo has the capacity to produce an average of 9 million ounces of silver and 120,000 ounces of gold annually.
Recent photos of projects and other information can be accessed through company website at http://www.coeur.com
Cautionary Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States, Canada, and Australia, including statements regarding anticipated operating results. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of Coeur. Operating, exploration and financial data, and other statements in this presentation are based on information that Coeur believes is reasonable, but involve significant uncertainties affecting the business of Coeur, including, but not limited to, future gold and silver prices, costs, ore grades, estimation of gold and silver reserves, mining and processing conditions, construction schedules, currency exchange rates, and the completion and/or updating of mining feasibility studies, changes that could result from future acquisitions of new mining properties or businesses, the risks and hazards inherent in the mining business (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically related conditions), regulatory and permitting matters, risks inherent in the ownership and operation of, or investment in, mining properties or businesses in foreign countries, as well as other uncertainties and risk factors set out in filings made from time to time with the SEC, the Canadian securities regulators, and the Australian Securities Exchange, including, without limitation, Coeur's reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Actual results, developments and timetables could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coeur disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, Coeur undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by fourth parties in respect of Coeur, its financial or operating results or its securities.
Contact
For Additional Information:
Investors
Director of Investor Relations
Karli Anderson
TEL: +1-208-665-0345
Director of Investor Relations Australia and Asia
John Blue
TEL: +61-2-8249-4543
Media
Director of Corporate Communications
Tony Ebersole
TEL: +1-208-665-0777
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