Lake Shore Gold Announces First Half and Second Quarter 2015
posted on
Jul 14, 2015 07:54AM
Emerging Mid-Tier Gold Company - Timmins
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 14, 2015) - Lake Shore Gold Corp. (TSX:LSG)(NYSE MKT:LSG) -
Lake Shore Gold Corp. ("Lake Shore Gold" or the "Company") today announced preliminary cash operating cost(1) and AISC(2) per ounce sold for the first half ("H1/15") and second quarter ("Q2/15") of 2015. Final numbers for these measures will be available when the Company issues its H1/15 and Q2/15 financial and operating results on July 30, 2015. Cash operating cost per ounce sold in H1/15 is estimated at approximately US$551 (including US$26 per ounce for royalties) compared to US$588 reported in the first half of 2014 ("H1/14"). AISC per ounce sold in H1/15 is estimated at US$810 versus US$862 in H1/14. Total production costs in H1/15 are estimated at approximately $67.0 million versus full-year 2015 guidance of $125 million. All financial numbers are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Based on estimated unit costs in H1/15, the Company announced on July 8, 2015 that it was revising its unit cost guidance for full-year 2015. Cash operating cost per ounce sold is now targeted to be below US$650, which compares to the previous guidance of between $650 and US$700. The target for full-year AISC per ounce sold has been revised to better than US$950 from between US$950 and US$1,000 previously.
For Q2/15, preliminary cost estimates include cash operating costs of US$597 per ounce sold (including US$24 per ounce for royalties) and AISC per ounce sold of US$879. Both unit cost measures were in line with the Company's revised guidance for full-year 2015. Total production costs for Q2/15 are estimated at approximately $34.0 million.
Tony Makuch, President and CEO of Lake Shore Gold, commented: "Our unit cost performance in both H1/15 and Q2/15 was very strong, with cash operating costs and AISC for both periods comparing very favourably to our revised full-year guidance. While a weaker Canadian dollar definitely helped us, another key factor driving our performance was the continued effectiveness of our people in finding ways to improve efficiency and produce ounces at low unit costs. Low-cost production continues to be a key driver of our success and of our strong competitive position within the gold mining industry."
Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | ||||
June 30, 2015 |
Mar. 31, 2015 |
June 30, 2014 |
June 30, 2015 |
June 30, 2014 |
|
Production (oz.) | |||||
Timmins West | 32,000 | 43,000 | 41,900 | 75,000 | 76,000 |
Bell Creek | 10,600 | 10,000 | 10,400 | 20,600 | 20,900 |
Total | 42,600 | 53,000 | 52,300 | 95,600 | 96,900 |
Gold poured (oz.) | 44,400 | 52,000 | 53,500 | 96,400 | 99,200 |
Gold sold (oz.) | 45,900 | 52,600 | 53,500 | 98,500 | 96,500 |
Avg. price (US$/oz.) | 1,197 | 1,219 | 1,289 | 1,208 | 1,291 |
Avg. price ($/oz.) | 1,470 | 1,504 | 1,404 | 1,488 | 1,416 |
Costs (US$/oz. sold) | |||||
Cash operating costs | 597 | 510 | 560 | 551 | 588 |
All-in sustaining costs | 879 | 750 | 784 | 810 | 862 |
Qualified Person
Scientific and technical information contained in this press release related to mine engineering and production has been reviewed and approved by Natasha Vaz, P.Eng., Vice-President, Technical Services, who is an employee of Lake Shore Gold Corp., and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").
Scientific and technical information related to resources, exploration drilling and all matters involving mine production geology contained in this press release, or source material for this press release, was reviewed and approved by Eric Kallio, P.Geo., Senior Vice-President, Exploration. Mr. Kallio is an employee of Lake Shore Gold Corp., and is a "qualified person" as defined by NI 43-101.
About Lake Shore Gold
Lake Shore Gold is a Canadian-based gold producer with operations based in the Timmins Gold Camp of Northern Ontario. The Company produces gold from two mines, Timmins West and Bell Creek, with material being delivered for processing to the Bell Creek Mill. In addition to current mining and milling operations, the Company also has a number of highly prospective projects and exploration targets, all located in and around the Timmins Camp. The Company's common shares trade on the TSX and NYSE MKT under the symbol LSG.
Footnotes
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this press release relating to the Company's expected costs, production levels, production growth, exploration activities, potential for increasing resources, project expenditures and business plans are "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of certain securities laws, including under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws and under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements." The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on current facts and assumptions that management considers reasonable, including that operating and capital plans will not be disrupted by issues such as mechanical failure, unavailability of parts, labour disturbances, interruption in transportation or utilities, or adverse weather conditions, that there are no material unanticipated variations in budgeted costs, that contractors will complete projects according to schedule, and that actual mineralization on properties will be consistent with models and will not be less than identified mineral reserves. The Company makes no representation that reasonable business people in possession of the same information would reach the same conclusions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, delays in development or mining and fluctuations in the price of gold or in currency markets could prevent the Company from achieving its targets. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. More information about risks and uncertainties affecting the Company and its business is available in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and other regulatory filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators, which are posted on sedar at www.sedar.com, or the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 40-F and other regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Lake Shore Gold Corp.
Tony Makuch
President & CEO
(416) 703-6298
Lake Shore Gold Corp.
Mark Utting
Vice-President, Investor Relations
(416) 703-6298
www.lsgold.com