Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) today reported
preliminary Q3 sales of 1.03 million ounces of gold and 101 million
pounds of copper, as well as preliminary Q3 production of 1.04
million ounces of gold and 112 million pounds of copper. Q3
production was higher than Q2, although lower than previous plans
for the quarter, especially at Pueblo Viejo where equipment design
deficiencies contributed to the delayed ramp up of the expansion
project. We continue to expect a significant increase in fourth
quarter production volume.
The average market price for gold in Q3 was $1,928
per ounce while the average market price for copper in Q3 was $3.79
per pound.
Preliminary Q3 gold production was higher than Q2
primarily as a result of higher production at Cortez driven by
higher oxide production from the Crossroads open pit and Cortez
Hills underground. In addition, production was higher at Turquoise
Ridge due to planned autoclave maintenance in the previous quarter
and at Kibali driven by improved grades. This was offset by lower
production at Carlin due to lower grades resulting from an increase
in stockpiled ore processed. Compared to Q2, Q3 gold cost of sales
per ounce2 is expected to be 2% to 4% lower, total cash costs per
ounce3 are expected to be 4% to 6% lower and all-in sustaining
costs per ounce5 are expected to be up to 6% to 8% lower.
Preliminary Q3 copper production was higher than
Q2, driven primarily by Lumwana. Compared to Q2, Q3 copper cost of
sales per pound2 is expected to be 5% to 7% lower, C1 cash costs
per pound3 are expected to be 9% to 11% lower, while all-in
sustaining costs per pound5 are expected to be 2% to 4% higher,
primarily due to an increase in capitalized stripping at
Lumwana.
Barrick will provide additional discussion and
analysis regarding its third quarter 2023 production and sales when
the Company reports its quarterly results before North American
markets open on November 2, 2023.
The following table includes preliminary gold and
copper production and sales results from Barrick's operations:
|
Three months endedSeptember 30, 2023 |
Nine months endedSeptember 30, 2023 |
|
Production |
Sales |
Production |
Sales |
Gold (attributable ounces (000)) |
|
|
Carlin (61.5%) |
230 |
238 |
644 |
645 |
Cortez (61.5%) |
137 |
135 |
387 |
384 |
Turquoise Ridge (61.5%) |
83 |
78 |
232 |
232 |
Phoenix (61.5%) |
26 |
27 |
82 |
81 |
Long Canyon (61.5%) |
2 |
2 |
7 |
7 |
Nevada Gold Mines (61.5%) |
478 |
480 |
1,352 |
1,349 |
Loulo-Gounkoto (80%) |
142 |
145 |
420 |
419 |
Kibali (45%) |
99 |
97 |
250 |
251 |
Pueblo Viejo (60%) |
79 |
77 |
245 |
246 |
North Mara (84%) |
62 |
59 |
194 |
193 |
Veladero (50%) |
55 |
47 |
152 |
136 |
Tongon (89.7%) |
47 |
46 |
141 |
143 |
Bulyanhulu (84%) |
46 |
45 |
139 |
139 |
Hemlo |
31 |
31 |
107 |
106 |
Total Gold |
1,039 |
1,027 |
3,000 |
2,982 |
|
|
|
|
|
Copper (attributable pounds (millions)) |
|
|
Lumwana |
72 |
67 |
187 |
179 |
Zaldívar (50%) |
22 |
21 |
66 |
66 |
Jabal Sayid (50%) |
18 |
13 |
54 |
46 |
Total Copper |
112 |
101 |
307 |
291 |
Third Quarter 2023 Results
Barrick will release its Q3 2023 results before
market open on November 2, 2023. President and CEO Mark Bristow
will host a live presentation of the results that day in London at
11:00 EDT / 15:00 GMT, with an interactive webinar linked to a
conference call. Participants will be able to ask questions.
Go to the webinarUS and
Canada (toll-free), 1 800 319 4610UK (toll-free), 0808 101
2791International (toll), +1 416 915 3239
The Q3 2023 presentation materials will be
available on Barrick’s website at www.barrick.com.
The webinar will remain on the website for later
viewing, and the conference call will be available for replay by
telephone at 1 855 669 9658 (US and Canada toll-free) and +1 604
674 8052 (international toll), access code 0392.
Enquiries:Kathy du
Plessis Investor and Media Relations+44 20 7557
7738barrick@dpapr.com
Website: www.barrick.com
Technical Information
The scientific and technical information contained
in this news release has been reviewed and approved by: Craig
Fiddes, SME-RM, Lead, Resource Modeling, Nevada Gold Mines; Chad
Yuhasz, P.Geo, Mineral Resource Manager, Latin America & Asia
Pacific; and Richard Peattie, MPhil, FAusIMM, Mineral Resources
Manager, Africa and Middle East—each a “Qualified Person” as
defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects.
Endnote 1
Porgera has been on temporary care and maintenance
since April 2020 and is not currently included in our full year
2023 guidance. On April 9, 2021, the Government of Papua New Guinea
(“PNG”) and Barrick Niugini Limited (“BNL”), the operator of the
Porgera joint venture, signed a Framework Agreement in which they
agreed on a partnership for Porgera’s future ownership and
operation. On February 3, 2022, the Framework Agreement was
replaced by the more detailed Porgera Project Commencement
Agreement (the “Commencement Agreement”). On March 31, 2023, PNG,
BNL, and New Porgera Limited, the new Porgera joint venture
company, entered into the New Porgera Progress Agreement, which
confirmed that all parties are committed to reopening the mine, in
line with the terms of the Commencement Agreement and the
Shareholders' Agreement for the new Porgera joint venture company,
both concluded in 2022. We expect to update our guidance to include
Porgera following the execution of all of the definitive agreements
to implement the binding Commencement Agreement, the satisfaction
of all other conditions precedent, and the finalization of a
timeline for the resumption of full mine operations.
Endnote 2
Gold cost of sales per ounce is calculated as cost
of sales across our gold operations (excluding sites in care and
maintenance) divided by ounces sold (both on an attributable basis
based on Barrick’s ownership share). Copper cost of sales per pound
is calculated as cost of sales across our copper operations divided
by pounds sold (both on an attributable basis based on Barrick’s
ownership share).
References to attributable basis means our 100%
share of Hemlo and Lumwana, our 89.7% share of Tongon, our 84%
share of North Mara and Bulyanhulu, our 80% share of
Loulo-Gounkoto, our 61.5% share of Nevada Gold Mines, our 60% share
of Pueblo Viejo, our 50% share of Veladero, Zaldívar and Jabal
Sayid and our 45% share of Kibali.
Endnote 3
Total cash costs per ounce and all-in sustaining
costs per ounce are non-GAAP financial measures which are
calculated based on the definition published by the World Gold
Council (“WGC”) (a market development organization for the gold
industry comprised of and funded by gold mining companies from
around the world, including Barrick). The WGC is not a regulatory
organization. Management uses these measures to monitor the
performance of our gold mining operations and its ability to
generate positive cash flow, both on an individual site basis and
an overall company basis.
Total cash costs start with our cost of sales
related to gold production and removes depreciation, the
non-controlling interest of cost of sales and includes by-product
credits. All-in sustaining costs start with total cash costs and
include sustaining capital expenditures, sustaining leases, general
and administrative costs, minesite exploration and evaluation costs
and reclamation cost accretion and amortization. These additional
costs reflect the expenditures made to maintain current production
levels.
We believe that our use of total cash costs and
all-in sustaining costs will assist analysts, investors and other
stakeholders of Barrick in understanding the costs associated with
producing gold, understanding the economics of gold mining,
assessing our operating performance and also our ability to
generate free cash flow from current operations and to generate
free cash flow on an overall company basis. Due to the
capital-intensive nature of the industry and the long useful lives
over which these items are depreciated, there can be a significant
timing difference between net earnings calculated in accordance
with IFRS and the amount of free cash flow that is being generated
by a mine and therefore we believe these measures are useful
non-GAAP operating metrics and supplement our IFRS disclosures.
These measures are not representative of all of our cash
expenditures as they do not include income tax payments, interest
costs or dividend payments. These measures do not include
depreciation or amortization.
Total cash costs per ounce and all-in sustaining
costs per ounce are intended to provide additional information only
and do not have standardized definitions under IFRS and should not
be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of
performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures are
not equivalent to net income or cash flow from operations as
determined under IFRS. Although the WGC has published a
standardized definition, other companies may calculate these
measures differently.
C1 cash costs per pound and all-in sustaining costs
per pound are non-GAAP financial measures related to our copper
mine operations. We believe that C1 cash costs per pound enables
investors to better understand the performance of our copper
operations in comparison to other copper producers who present
results on a similar basis. C1 cash costs per pound excludes
royalties and production taxes and non-routine charges as they are
not direct production costs. All-in sustaining costs per pound is
similar to the gold all-in sustaining costs metric and management
uses this to better evaluate the costs of copper production. We
believe this measure enables investors to better understand the
operating performance of our copper mines as this measure reflects
all of the sustaining expenditures incurred in order to produce
copper. All-in sustaining costs per pound includes C1 cash costs,
sustaining capital expenditures, sustaining leases, general and
administrative costs, minesite exploration and evaluation costs,
royalties and production taxes, reclamation cost accretion and
amortization and write-downs taken on inventory to net realizable
value.
Barrick will provide a full reconciliation of these
non-GAAP financial measures when the Company reports its quarterly
results on November 2, 2023.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Preliminary
Third Quarter Production, Sales and Costs for 2023, and
Forward-Looking Information
Barrick cautions that, whether or not expressly
stated, all third quarter figures contained in this press release
including, without limitation, production levels, sales and
associated costs are preliminary, and reflect our expected third
quarter results as of the date of this press release. Actual
reported third quarter production levels, sales and associated
costs are subject to management’s final review, as well as review
by the Company’s independent accounting firm, and may vary
significantly from those expectations because of a number of
factors, including, without limitation, additional or revised
information, and changes in accounting standards or policies, or in
how those standards are applied. Barrick will provide additional
discussion and analysis and other important information about its
third quarter production levels, sales and associated costs when it
reports actual results on November 2, 2023. For a complete picture
of the Company’s financial performance, it will be necessary to
review all of the information in the Company’s third quarter
financial report and related MD&A. Accordingly, readers are
cautioned not to rely solely on the information contained
herein.
Finally, Barrick cautions that this press release
contains forward-looking statements with respect to: (i) Barrick’s
production and full year gold and copper guidance; (ii) costs per
ounce for gold and per pound for copper; and (iii) Barrick's second
quarter realized copper price.
Such factors include, but are not limited to:
fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper, or
certain other commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural
gas, and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral
exploration and development; changes in mineral production
performance, exploitation, and exploration successes; the duration
of the temporary suspension of operations at Porgera and the
timeline for the execution of definitive agreements to implement
the Commencement Agreement, and recommence operations at Porgera;
risks associated with projects in the early stages of evaluation,
and for which additional engineering and other analysis is
required; disruption of supply routes which may cause delays in
construction and mining activities; whether benefits expected from
recent transactions are realized; quantities or grades of reserves
will be diminished, and that resources may not be converted to
reserves; increased costs, delays, suspensions and technical
challenges associated with the construction of capital projects;
operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or
development activities, including geotechnical challenges, tailings
dam and storage facilities failures, and disruptions in the
maintenance or provision of required infrastructure and information
technology systems; risks that exploration data may be incomplete
and considerable additional work may be required to complete
further evaluation, including but not limited to drilling,
engineering and socioeconomic studies and investment; failure to
comply with environmental and health and safety laws and
regulations; increased costs and physical risks, including extreme
weather events and resource shortages, related to climate change;
timing of, receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits
and approvals; non-renewal of key licenses by governmental
authorities; uncertainty whether some or all of targeted
investments and projects will meet the Company’s capital allocation
objectives and internal hurdle rate; the impact of inflation,
including global inflationary pressures driven by supply chain
disruptions caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and global
energy cost increases following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia;
the impact of global liquidity and credit availability on the
timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based
on projected future cash flows; fluctuations in the currency
markets; changes in national and local government legislation,
taxation, controls or regulations and/or changes in the
administration of laws, policies and practices; expropriation or
nationalization of property and political or economic developments
in Canada, the United States, and other jurisdictions in which the
Company or its affiliates do or may carry on business in the
future; lack of certainty with respect to foreign legal systems,
corruption and other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of
law; damage to the Company’s reputation due to the actual or
perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative
publicity with respect to the Company’s handling of environmental
matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; the
possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent
with the Company’s expectations; risk of loss due to acts of war,
terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; risks associated with
artisanal and illegal mining; risks associated with diseases,
epidemics and pandemics, including the effects and potential
effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic; litigation and legal and
administrative proceedings; contests over title to properties,
particularly title to undeveloped properties, or over access to
water, power and other required infrastructure; business
opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, the Company;
our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions or complete
divestitures; risks associated with working with partners in
jointly controlled assets; employee relations including loss of key
employees; and availability and increased costs associated with
mining inputs and labor. Barrick also cautions that its 2023
guidance may be impacted by the ongoing business and social
disruption caused by the spread of Covid-19. In addition, there are
risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral
exploration, development and mining, including environmental
hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations,
pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or
gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate
insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these
risks).
Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can
affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking
statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this
press release are qualified by these cautionary statements.
Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual
Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial
securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of
some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the
risks that may affect Barrick’s ability to achieve the expectations
set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press
release.
Barrick disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required
by applicable law.
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