Ascot Announces Care & Maintenance of Operations in Order to Focus on Mine Development Activities
September 06 2024 - 5:00AM
Ascot Resources Ltd. (
TSX: AOT;
OTCQX: AOTVF) (“
Ascot” or the
“
Company”) today announced that over the period of
the past two months, mill operations at the Company’s Premier Gold
Mine have poured 3,430 oz of gold, which is 418% above the amount
recorded over the entire second quarter. Additionally, in August,
the mill has operated near or above its design capacity.
The mill operations have progressed well;
however, we believe that the amount of mine development at the Big
Missouri mine has fallen behind schedule by approximately one to
two months, and with the delay in the start of the Premier Northern
Lights (“PNL”) ramp from July to December last
year, PNL production is also delayed. As a result, the number of
stoping areas is not sufficient to provide enough production to
adequately feed the mill. Although the Company is on track for
first development ore at PNL this month, further development is
required to access deeper ore than was initially planned, which
will extend the timing to complete the development and ramp up of
the PNL mine.
After careful consideration, the Company has
decided that, to enable sufficient mine development, it will
suspend operations. Ascot will focus on mine development until the
combination of the Big Missouri and PNL mines can sustainably
deliver enough ore feed to profitably run the operation. The
Company’s intention is to seek funding to complete the necessary
mine development.
The Company’s initial estimate is that
approximately three to six months of development will be required
to be undertaken, primarily at the PNL mine, subject to further
investigation and cost determinations.
At the end of August, the Company had a cash
resource of approximately C$15 million. This amount is expected to
be sufficient to undertake proper suspension of operations for the
oncoming winter season and ensure that the Company maintains all
its environmental compliance programs. The Company is in
discussions with its secured creditors regarding its obligations
during the suspension period.
There is no certainty the Company will be able
to raise the funds required to complete the necessary mine
development work and to restart operations. While the Company
expects that operations will be sustained once restarted following
development work, there is no certainty that this will be the
case.
Derek White commented: “This is difficult news
for all of our stakeholders, and especially all of our employees
and contractors who have worked extremely hard during the
commissioning period. The Company believes we need to focus on mine
development to prioritize asset value and ensure we have the best
path forward to sustainable and profitable operations.”
Qualified PersonJohn Kiernan,
P.Eng., Chief Operating Officer of the Company is the Company’s
Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and
has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news
release.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Ascot Resources Ltd.
“Derek C. White”President & CEO,
Director
For further information
contact:
Kristina Howe VP, Communications
khowe@ascotgold.com 778-725-1060 ext. 1019
About Ascot
Ascot is a Canadian mining company headquartered
in Vancouver, British Columbia and its shares trade on the TSX
under the ticker AOT and on the OTCQX under the ticker AOTVF. Ascot
is the 100% owner of the Premier Gold Mine
(“Premier”), which poured first gold in April 2024
and is located on Nisga’a Nation Treaty Lands, in the prolific
Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia.
For more information about the Company, please
refer to the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca or
visit the Company’s web site at www.ascotgold.com.
The TSX has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Information
All statements and other information contained
in this press release about anticipated future events may
constitute forward-looking information under Canadian securities
laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are
often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as
"seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect",
"targeted", "outlook", "on track" and "intend" and statements that
an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could", “would” or
"might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All
statements, other than statements of historical fact, included
herein are forward-looking statements, including statements in
respect of the proposed care and maintenance operations of the
Company; timing of future plans, development and operations at Big
Missouri and PNL, and the ability of such plans, development and
operations to sustain the Company; the Company’s future intentions
to seek funding and the ability to raise such funding; and the
sufficiency of the Company’s cash to fund its proposed operations.
These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ
materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking
statements, including risks related to business and economic
conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in
commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainty of
estimates and projections relating to development, production,
costs and expenses, and health, safety and environmental risks;
uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the
geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; the need for
cooperation of government agencies and indigenous groups in the
exploration and development of Ascot’s properties and the issuance
of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to
finance operations and uncertainty as to the availability and terms
of future financing; the possibility of delay in future plans and
uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty
as to timely availability of permits and other governmental
approvals; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time in
Ascot's filings with Canadian securities regulators, available on
Ascot's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca including the Annual
Information Form of the Company dated March 25, 2024 in the section
entitled "Risk Factors". Forward-looking statements are based on
assumptions made with regard to: the estimated costs associated
with the care and maintenance plans; the ability to maintain
throughput and production levels at Big Missouri and PNL; the tax
rate applicable to the Company; future commodity prices; the grade
of mineral resources and mineral reserves; the ability of the
Company to convert inferred mineral resources to other categories;
the ability of the Company to reduce mining dilution; the ability
to reduce capital costs; the ability of the Company to raise
additional financing; compliance with the covenants in Ascot’s
credit agreements; and exploration plans. Forward-looking
statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the
date the statements are made. Although Ascot believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or
information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on
forward-looking statements since Ascot can give no assurance that
such expectations will prove to be correct. Ascot does not
undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements,
other than as required by applicable laws. The forward-looking
information contained in this news release is expressly qualified
by this cautionary statement.
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