EUROPEAN GOLDFIELDS LTD.Detailed Chart...European Goldfields Limited Results for Q3 2009
MAJOR PERMITTING SUCCESS IN GREECE
SKOURIES CONTRACT COMPLETED
STRONG GOLD SALES
WHITEHORSE, Financial highlights:
- Strong base metal concentrate sales, up by 21% against Q2 2009
- Operating profits of $3.6 million for the period, up 12% on Q2 2009
- Working capital of $146 million
- US$ 23 million invested in projects during the quarter
Operational highlights:
- Greece: PEIS covering all projects and operations has been approved
by the Greek State
- Martyn Konig appointed Executive Chairman. Bruce Burrows joins board
of Directors
- Skouries: Equipment deliveries continue from Outotec
- Olympias: Strong gold sales. Rehabilitation studies on the Mine and
Process Plant have commenced
- Stratoni: Mine infrastructure essentially complete, Process Plant
operating well
- Certej: Basic Engineering for the Process Plant completed
- Certej: Commencement of Technical Study for application for
Construction Permit
Commenting on the results, Martyn Konig Executive Chairman of European Goldfields, said: "We have entered an exciting period for this Company. We aim to deliver the right valuation and performance for our Company through achieving the twin objectives of permitting and financing with a renewed and realistic approach in the coming months."
European Goldfields will host a conference call at From North America: (toll free) 1 888 935 4575
From UK, Participant pass code: 5323840
A live audio webcast of the call will be available on the following link, and a replay will be available on the same link from http://mediaserve.buchanan.uk.com/2009/eg101109/registration.asp
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
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Quarter ended 30 September
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(in thousands of US dollars, 2009 2008
except per share amounts) $ $
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Statement of profit and loss
Sales 17,037 16,101
Gross profit 3,563 1,393
(Loss)/Profit before income tax (1,332) (4,859)
Income taxes (1,847) (451)
(Loss)/Profit after income tax (3,179) (5,310)
Non-controlling interest 56 267
Profit for the period (3,123) (5,043)
Earnings per share (0.02) (0.03)
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30 September 31 December
2009 2008
(in thousands of US dollars) $ $
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Balance sheet
Working capital 146,158 192,675
Total assets 749,870 766,095
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European Goldfields' unaudited consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the three month periods ended Q3 base metals showed a strong improvement over Q2 2009 as a result of continued improvements in base metal prices. Gold revenues fell as sales volumes declined, but the Company managed to increase gross profits compared to Q2 2009. Stratoni production remained behind budget but all significant capital expenditures have now been completed at the mine, securing its future operational capacity. The Company's lead hedging programme will remain in place until the end of 2009 and generated income of US$1.0 million for the quarter. Working capital declined as the Company continued its capital expenditure programmes at its operating mine and development projects, but the Company's balance sheet remains strong.
CORPORATE ACTIVITY
Board and Management Changes
On
At the same time
Following the watershed event of PEIS approval in Directors Dealings
Effective upon his appointment as Executive Chairman and President of the Company, Martyn Konig was granted 600,000 Restricted Share Units ("RSUs"), and 1,300,000 options, having a five year term and an exercise price of C$6.00 each. The 600,000 RSU's vest in three equal tranches if certain performance criteria are met and 1,000,000 of the options are also subject to various performance vesting criteria, with the balance being vested immediately. New appointments The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of three new Vice Presidents.
Dimitris Dimitriadis has been promoted to Vice
PERMITTING PROCESS - GREECE
In late September the then Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, completed the Preliminary Environmental Assessment and Evaluation based on the Preliminary Environmental Impact Study ("PEIS") submitted by the Company's 95%-owned subsidiary Hellas Gold SA, and issued a pre-approval of the construction and operation of the Project ("the Pre-Approval") in the province of Halkidiki, in North-Eastern The "Project", consists of:
- The development of mining and processing at the Skouries project.
- The next stages of the Olympias project, namely the mining and
processing of ore and metallurgical treatment of the concentrate, in
accordance with the business plan as originally submitted.
- Continuation of operations at the Mavres Petres deposit of the
Stratoni Mine.
- The port facilities at Stratoni in service of the above projects'
operations.
This Pre-Approval of the Project, successfully concludes the major stage of assessment by the authorities and will lead to the preparation and submission of the Environmental Impact Study ("EIS") and supporting studies required by Greek and European Legislation. The EIS will be based on terms of reference as now defined by the Pre-Approval. The EIS will be submitted to the relevant authorities for review and the normal European Union public consultation requirements in the near future. The Company is confident that the extensive detail of the successful Pre-Approval process will in turn now optimise approval of the EIS.
SKOURIES PROJECT (GREECE)
Highlights
- Outotec equipment contract complete
- Basic Engineering package delivered to schedule
- Outotec continues to advance their Detailed Engineering package
Outotec equipment contract complete
During the quarter, the final payments were made to Outotec in respect of the technology package for the Skouries project, which consists of the SAG and ball mills, motors and thickeners. All fabrication of this equipment is therefore complete, which represents the bulk of the process plant for the project. Process equipment deliveries to Basic Engineering package delivered to schedule The Greek engineering group ENOIA has issued the Basic Engineering package including an initial draft of an updated budget cost estimate for the process plant and associated infrastructure to Hellas Gold. The Basic Engineering package comprises plant design by ENOIA and Outotec; the mine and roads design by Geotechnical Consultants Omicron Kappa; architectural design by KION and the civil structures and works by MHXME. Basic and Detailed level Engineering studies are currently underway for the tailings facility, infrastructure and dump design and once completed then revised project capital and operating costs will be published. A hydrogeological study by IGME, the Greek geological survey, has been also been completed and detailed design of the tailings management facility ("TMF") is currently being undertaken by Omikron Kappa. Outotec continues to advance their Detailed Engineering package Outotec continues to advance their Detailed Engineering of instrumentation and control systems for the Concentrator plant. ENOIA are coordinating the overall control package including equipment outside of Outotec's supply to provide a fully integrated system. Equipment orders which fall outside the scope of Outotec's supply contract such as the open pit cone crusher, pebble crushers, pumps and flotation cells are also well advanced.
OLYMPIAS PROJECT (GREECE)
Highlights
- Sale of gold concentrates up by 71% over Q3 2008
- Approval of EIS for re-treatment of tailings anticipated
- The audit for the plant rehabilitation has commenced
- A study for refurbishment of underground workings is in progress
Sale of gold concentrates up by 71% over Q3 2008
The Olympias project benefits from an existing stockpile of gold-bearing pyrite concentrates which represented, at Hellas Gold completed 16 shipments of Olympias concentrates in Q3 2009 (Q3 2008 - 8). This translates into 21,734 tonnes of pyrite concentrates sold. Sales of pyrite concentrates were as follows:
Q3 2009 Q3 2008 YTD end Q3 YTD end Q3
2009 2008
Sales
Gold concentrate (dry
tonnes) 21,734 12,710 80,700 44,967
Re-processing of the existing tailings will yield further high-grade gold concentrates of approximately 350,000 tonnes. Plant and Underground Rehabilitation at Olympias The engineering study for the Olympias Mill rehabilitation has been awarded to the Greek engineering company "Renewables".
A study to outline the rehabilitation works and associated costs for the underground infrastructure is being completed by
STRATONI OPERATIONS (GREECE)
Highlights
- All major mine infrastructure in place with the completion of the
upper adit
- Improvement in geotechnical conditions
Production
The Stratoni mine consists of a lead-zinc-silver deposit and lies approximately four kilometres from the coastal town of Stratoni in northern Hellas Gold has completed 19 shipments for the year to end Q3 2009 (to end Q3 2008 - 20), twelve shipments of zinc and seven of lead/silver.
Q3 2009 Q3 2008 YTD end Q3 YTD end Q3
2009 2008
Production
Ore mined (wet tonnes) 57,235 69,847 174,150 201,191
Sales
Zinc concentrate (tonnes) 7,937 14,033 28,889 34,017
- Containing payable:
Zinc (tonnes)* 3,325 5,818 11,904 16,780
Lead concentrate (tonnes) 4,736 5,475 12,269 16,009
- Containing payable:
Lead (tonnes)* 3,042 3,495 7,837 10,580
Silver (oz)* 228,574 263,464 595,530 803,875
Inventory (end of period)
Ore mined (wet tonnes) 8,097 6,489 8,097 6,489
Zinc concentrate (tonnes) 607 2,078 631 2,078
Lead/silver concentrate
(tonnes) 901 1,294 886 1,294
* Net of smelter payable deductions
The completion of a new upper adit marks the finalisation of major mine infrastructure which has been ongoing over the last four years and includes a new lower decline, new surface workshops, new backfill plants, two filter presses and a new water treatment plant. Internal development, including ramp extensions and access drives, is essentially complete for the year. Production was under budget for the quarter due to the continuation of the poor geotechnical conditions which compounded mining cycle conflicts. The mine has experienced an improvement in the geotechnical conditions as mining has moved away from the Stratoni Fault and the mining cycle issues have eased as new levels entered into production late in the quarter. Process plant performance Zinc and lead metal recoveries are being maintained on budget at a consistent 92% and silver at 87%. A circuit to improve the quality of the lead concentrate is in the final design stage and installation is planned for early 2010. Working conditions in the plant were improved by capturing gases from reagent tanks and filtering impurities. Fatality in the mine
On the 14th of
EXPLORATION IN GREECE
An airborne electromagnetic (EM) survey has proved highly effective in confirming an anomaly extending eight km of strike at the Piavitsa massive sulphide target. Two km of this strike length have historic massive sulphide drill intercepts which correspond exactly with the EM anomaly. The footprint of the target is larger than that of the Company's Olympias project. In addition, the magnetic component of the airborne survey has already identified a 17 km by six km belt of porphyry intrusives over which a three-dimensional inversion model has been completed defining two other major targets. Follow-up reconnaissance mapping has confirmed the presence of porphyry style mineralisation on all targets outlined by the magnetic survey. An EIS is now being considered by the local authorities to allow access to drill sites on both the massive sulphides and porphyry targets in the near future.
CERTEJ PROJECT (ROMANIA)
Highlights
- Basic engineering of the Process Plant completed
- Commencement of Technical Study for application for Construction
Permit
- Permitting process continues to advance, public consultation
completed
The Certej project in Ore processing will comprise the production of a flotation concentrate, followed by the extraction of gold and silver into doré on site, incorporating an oxidation stage using the Albion Process. The Albion Process is a combination of ultra-fine grinding of concentrates and oxidative leaching at atmospheric pressure. The liberated gold and silver is then recovered as doré by the conventional Carbon in Leach process. Basic engineering completed
The Basic Engineering ("BE") contract for the Certej project process plant and associated infrastructure awarded to Aker Solutions Engineering & Construction was completed in The Romanian contractor Cepromin has been appointed to prepare the Technical Project Report which involves advancing the BE level studies. They have started the work to generate the Technical Project Report, which together with the environmental permits will be required for issuing the Construction Permit. The Technical Project Report is due for completion in H1 2010. Golder Associates UK completed the DFS of the TMF designs in Q1 2009 and has now commenced to assist Cepromin with the Technical Project Report. Permitting process continues to advance
The Certej project had already received all the technical mining approvals by A public consultation process in respect of the environmental permit for the Zonal Urbanisation Plan ("PUZ") has also been successfully concluded: the public consultation involved four public hearings in the communities most directly affected by the Certej project. No adverse comments were raised during the public notice period, during the meetings themselves or subsequently to the authorities. The PUZ process is almost complete with 16 of the 17 constituent permits required being obtained, including that relating to water. A positive final-outcome of the process is expected in the near future. In anticipation of the approval of the PUZ, the Ministry of the Environment has invited the Company to file its EIS application, which will also then be subject to the last requirement for public consultation prior to the issuance of the environmental permit. These, together with the construction permit, are the final approvals required for the construction and operation of the plant, the tailings design and other related infrastructure. Certej financing progresses As part of the project financing process, an internationally recognised engineering group has been appointed as Independent Technical Consultant for the Certej Project. A site visit has already been conducted and a review of the Certej Definitive Feasibility study and all its supporting documents is nearing completion. The shortlisted group of financing institutions have been sent a draft term sheet and detailed banking model with a target of agreeing commercial terms and securing lending commitments over the coming months, subject to final documentation. The Company aims to have completed the project finance process in the first part of 2010. As part of the proposed structure, the Company has stated its intention not to hedge any upside participation in the gold price.
EXPLORATION IN ROMANIA
In early 2009 the Company acquired two new prospecting licences for 454 square kilometres of prospective terrain, covering the westward extension to the area hosting the Company's Certej deposit and the area containing the Deva Porphyry deposit. These areas are prospective for disseminated gold, porphyry mineralisation as well as the more prolific and higher-grade epithermal deposits.
Work in the quarter has been focused on the Deva Porphyry area, which hosts a volcanic complex, including the historically mined Deva Porphyry pipe, which produced some In addition soil grids, mapping and re-interpretation of existing data have outlined several epithermal gold targets proximal to the historic Brad mines and within the same volcanic belt as the Certej deposit. These targets will be tested with more detailed exploration work and drilling in 2010.
EXPLORATION IN TURKEY
In Mapping and sampling has confirmed that porphyry mineralisation continues to the south of the previously recognised outcrops, and this additional extension increases the size potential of the porphyry system. A high-grade gold zone has also been identified at Salinbas, some three km to the southwest of the Ardala porphyry. Trenching at Salinbas has returned the following bedrock intercepts over a 360m strike length with mineralisation open to the south and at depth:
- Trench 1, 26 m @ 5.4 g/t Au,
- Trench 2, 6 m @ 2.8 g/t Au
- Trench 3, 46 m @ 8.3 g/t Au
- Trench 4, 6 m @ 2.8 g/t Au
- Trench 5, 14 m @ 7.3 g/t Au and 33 m 9.62 g/t Au
- Trench 6, 9 m @ 4.3 g/t Au
Note: These intercepts are calculated at a 0.5g/t Au cut-off, no upper-
cut.
Drilling and further trenching are planned at both Ardala and Salinbas for the near future. The Company continues to consolidate ground to the south of the Ardala licence and finalise paperwork in the next few days with Aldridge Minerals Inc ("Aldridge") for the joint development of Aldridge's Derinkoy properties, which covers an area of 40 square km adjacent to the Company's Ardala Licences. The properties lie within the area of interest of the Company's joint venture with Ariana (the "Pontid JV") and as such will be developed within the Pontid JV vehicle. Mapping and soil sampling over the property will be completed by the end of the year. About European Goldfields
European Goldfields Limited is a resource company involved in the exploration, acquisition, mining and development of mineral properties in
Forward-looking statements Certain statements and information contained in this document, including any information as to the Company's future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, constitute forward-looking information under provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. When used in this document, the words "anticipate", "expect", "will", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "planned" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs and timing of development of new deposits, permitting time lines and expectations regarding metal recovery rates. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies.
The Company cautions the reader that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual financial results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from its estimated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to: changes in the price of gold, base metals or certain other commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; uncertainty of mineral reserves, resources, grades and recovery estimates; uncertainty of future production, capital expenditures and other costs; currency fluctuations; financing and additional capital requirements; the successful and timely permitting of the Company's Skouries, Olympias and Certej projects; legislative, political, social or economic developments in the jurisdictions in which the Company carries on business; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; the speculative nature of gold and base metals exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; the risks normally involved in the exploration, development and mining business; and risks associated with internal control over financial reporting. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and material factors or assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements, see the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended For further information: European Goldfields: Martyn Konig, Executive Chairman, e-mail: info@egoldfields.com, Tel: +44 (0)20 7408 9534; Buchanan Communications: Bobby Morse/Katharine Sutton, e-mail: bobbym@buchanan.uk.com, Tel: +44 (0)20 7466 5000; RBC Capital Markets: Sarah Wharry, e-mail: sarah.wharry@rbccm.com, Tel: +44 (0)20 7653 4804
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