Announces Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Los Azules Copper Project
Toronto, Sep 24, 2013 AEST (ABN Newswire) - McEwen Mining Inc. (
NYSE:MUX) (TSE:MUX) is pleased to announce the results of an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on its 100% owned Los Azules Copper Project (the "Project") in San Juan Province, Argentina. The results from the PEA demonstrate that Los Azules has the potential to become one of the largest, lowest cost copper mines in the world. In addition, there remains excellent exploration potential to further expand the size of the existing mineral resource. Highlights from the PEA are shown below:
PEA Study Highlights*
($3.00/lb Copper and $1,300/oz Gold)
- Pre-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") of $3.0 billion (8% discount rate) and an Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 17.6%.
- After-tax NPV of $1.7 billion (8% discount rate) and an IRR of 14.3%.
- Annual copper production during years 1-5 to average 255,000 tonnes (563 million lbs), which would have placed it in the top 3%(See Note 1) of copper mines in the world during 2012. Life of mine ("LOM") annual copper production to average 171,000 tonnes (377 million lbs) over 35 years.
- Cash operating costs during years 1-5 to average $0.87/lb copper (net of gold by-product), placing it in the bottom 14%(See Note 1) in the world during 2012. Cash operating costs over entire mine life to average $1.08/lb copper (net of gold by-product).
- Indicated resource of 5.4 billion pounds of copper and 0.8 million ounces of gold and Inferred resource of 14.3 billion pounds of copper and 2.6 million ounces of gold (please see Table 2 below for resource details).
- Initial capital costs to construct the mine and a 120,000 tonnes per day ("tpd") process plant have been estimated at $3.9 billion.
- Capital payback on a pre-tax basis has been estimated at 3.8 years at $3.00/lb copper and $1,300/oz gold
Note 1: Based on internal market data.
"Our updated PEA is the result of a very successful exploration program which has significantly increased our resources. Combined with a change in the process method the estimated mine life has increased by 37%, total copper production by 44%, and production costs per pound of copper remain low. The new PEA includes plans for producing a copper cathode at site, which will greatly reduce export taxes and project risk by eliminating the need for a slurry pipeline," stated Rob McEwen, Chief Owner.
The updated PEA contemplates the construction of a mine and process plant operating over a 35 year mine life at a throughput of 120,000 tonnes per day. The mine would produce a copper cathode via a pressure oxidative leach process, in addition to heap leaching the lower grade mineralized material. Compared to the previous PEA released in December 2010, there have been two significant improvements to the project:
1. Resource Size: Indicated and Inferred resources have increased by 184% and 55% respectively, which were slightly offset with decreases in respective grades of 14% and 12%. Overall, this has led to a 37% increase in mine life and 44% increase in total copper production.
2. Process Methodology: The current PEA plans to produce copper cathode at site whereas the 2010 PEA contemplated producing copper concentrate and transporting it via pipeline through Chile. The main advantages of producing copper cathode at site are that it eliminates this previously planned pipeline through Chile, which was a substantial risk for the project, as well as an overall increase in recovered metal, both copper and gold. Additional benefits include: i) a reduction in export taxes (5% payable on cathode versus 10% on concentrate) and, ii) the removal of treatment and refining charges from the smelting process.
Table 1: Pertinent Details of the PEA
--------------------------------------------------------Pre-tax NPV ($3.00/lb Cu, 8% discount rate) $3.02 billionAfter-taxNPV $1.68 billionPre-tax IRR 17.6%After-tax IRR 14.3%Initial Capital Expenditure $3.92 billionLOM Sustaining Capital $1.47 billionLOM Average Operating Costs $8.65/t oreFirst 5 Years Average C-1(Note 2) Cash Costs (net of by-product credits) $0.87/lb CuLOM Average C-1 Cash Costs (net of by-product credits) $1.08/lb CuNominal Mill Capacity 120,000 tpdAverage Tonnes of Mineralized Material Processed Annually - Mill 43 million tonnesAverage Tonnes of Mineralized Material Processed Annually - Heap Leach 6 million tonnesMine Life 34.9 yearsLOM Strip Ratio 0.76LOM average annual copper production 171,000t or 377m lbsFirst 5 years average annual copper production 255,000t or 563m lbs-------------------------------------------------------------
Note 2: C-1 cash costs include at-mine cash operating costs, treatment and refining charges, mine reclamation and
closure costs, and copper cathode and gold dore transportation and freight costs.
In comparing the economics to the 2010 PEA, the pre-tax NPV discounted at 8% has increased from $2.8 billion to $3.0 billion and the IRR has decreased from 21.4% to 17.6%. In addition, the payback of pre-production capital has increased from 3.1 years to 3.8 years from the start of production. The previous PEA did not include economics that were calculated on an after-tax basis.
The PEA contains a cash flow model based upon the geological and engineering work completed to date and technical and cost inputs developed by Samuel Engineering, Inc., Ausenco Vector, WLR Consulting, Inc., and MTB Project Management Professionals, Inc. The base case was developed using long term forecast metal prices of $3.00/lb for copper and $1,300/oz for gold. The Canadian National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report summarizing the results of the updated PEA will be filed on SEDAR and the Company's website within 45 days of this press release.
Table 2: Los Azules Mineral Resource Estimate
-----------------------------------------------------------------Cut-off Grade Tonnage Cu Grade Cu lbs Au Grade Au Oz(Cu%) (million tonnes) (%) (billions) (g/t) (millions)-----------------------------------------------------------------Indicated Resource 0.35 389 0.63 5.39 0.07 0.84Inferred Resource0.35 1,397 0.46 14.3 0.06 2.58-----------------------------------------------------------------
* The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes the use of inferred resources which are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Thus, there is no certainty that the results of the PEA will be realized. Actual results may vary, perhaps materially. The level of accuracy for the estimates contained within the PEA is approximately +/- 35%.
To view tables and charts, please visit:
http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/75955-mux_20130923.pdf
About McEwen Mining Inc
McEwen Mining (NYSE:MUX) (TSE:MUX) is a gold and silver producer with operations in Nevada, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. McEwen Mining also holds a 48.3% interest in McEwen Copper, which is developing the large, advanced-stage Los Azules copper project in Argentina. The Company's goal is to improve the productivity and life of its assets with the objective of increasing the share price and providing a yield. Rob McEwen, Chairman and Chief Owner, has a personal investment in the Company of US$225 million.
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