Erdene Announces Q2 2024 Results and Provides Bayan Khundii Gold Project Update
August 08 2024 - 7:00AM
Erdene Resource Development Corp. (TSX:ERD | MSE:ERDN)
(“Erdene” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce
operating and financial results for the three months ended June 30,
2024, and to provide an update on progress at its Bayan Khundii
Gold Project (“BK” or “Project”), being developed with Mongolian
Mining Corporation (“MMC”). This release should be read in
conjunction with the Company’s Q2-2024 Condensed Consolidated
Interim Financial Statements and MD&A, available on the
Company’s website and SEDAR+.
Peter Akerley, Erdene’s President and CEO
stated, “The second quarter of 2024 was another productive period
for Erdene as we made significant progress on both the exploration
and development of our Khundii Minerals District projects in
Southwestern Mongolia.”
He continued, “At the end of June, construction
of the Bayan Khundii Gold Project stood at approximately 30%
completion, with the process plant, the critical path facility,
almost 40% constructed. All major mechanical equipment is now on
site and construction has commenced on non-process infrastructure
including the overhead transmission line. Though we have seen
modest logistical and weather related delays the Project remains
largely on schedule with first gold production projected in
mid-2025.”
Mr. Akerley concluded, “Exploration over the
past few months identified several new gold targets on both the
Khundii and Zuun Mod licenses. Drilling is underway at Bayan
Khundii to test targets west of the economic pit for expansion
opportunities and to increase confidence of high-grade ore
scheduled to be mined in the first year of production. Results of
this work are expected in late Q3 2024.”
Q2-2024 Highlights and Significant Subsequent
Events:
Images: Bayan Khundii Construction Site – August
2024
Bayan Khundii Gold Project
- Reached
approximately 30% construction progress at Bayan Khundii at June
30, 2024
- Approximately US$60
million of total Project expenditures to the end of Q2 2024
- Proceeding largely
to schedule – construction expected to be substantially complete by
the end of 2024 and first gold production in mid-2025
- Process plant, the
critical path facility, was ~40% complete at quarter end with
critical mechanical equipment installation underway, focused on the
SAG and ball mills
- Almost 500
personnel on-site at quarter end achieving ~1,500,000 construction
hours to date without a lost-time or environmental incident
- Advanced community
development and local employment stakeholder programs
- Local Cooperation
Agreement in place to support 2024 community development
programs
- Recruitment and
training of Bayan Khundii mine workforce well advanced with 120
local residents completing mining equipment operator training at
MMC’s UHG mine
- Environmental
Management Plan and the Gobi Bear conservation programs well
progressed
Khundii Minerals District
Exploration
- Conducted surface sampling program
at the Greater Dark Horse area and at Zuun Mod
- Multiple samples
from Greater Dark Horse returned high grade gold (up to 37.7 g/t
Au) and silver (over 100 g/t Ag), providing targets for follow-up
drilling
- Discovered new gold
prospect 4.5km west of the Zuun Mod molybdenum-copper deposit
- Launched 2,400 metre infill and
exploration drill program at Bayan Khundii on July 21
- Program will
increase confidence in high-grade, near-surface zones and confirm
near-pit resources, especially in the Khundii West area, and
potentially expand known gold mineralization
- Added Kelly Cluer as Technical
Advisor to assist exploration team
- Brings more than 30
years’ experience including over a decade in Mongolia where he led
the discovery and definition of two of the Country’s largest gold
deposits
- Most recently held
senior leadership positions with Kinross a leading gold
producer
Corporate
- Recorded a net loss
of $1,868,814 for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to
a net loss of $2,507,581 for the three months ended June 30, 2023
- Exploration and
evaluation expenses totaled $596,590 for the three months ended
June 30, 2024, compared to $478,599 for the same quarter in 2023,
with the increase due to higher staffing and office costs, as these
expenditures were expensed in the current period, but capitalized
to the Zuun Mod license in the comparative period, partially offset
by the timing of annual performance stock option grants, which were
incurred in Q1 2024 versus Q2 2023
- Corporate and
administrative expenses totaled $667,030 for the three months ended
June 30, 2024, compared to $1,391,454 for three months ended June
30, 2023, with the decrease from the prior year comparative quarter
primarily due to the timing of annual staff performance bonuses and
stock option grants, which were incurred in the Q1 2024 compared to
Q2 2023
- Loss from
investment in associate of $644,607 for the three months ended June
30, 2024, compared to $696,325 for the three months ended June 30,
2023, with the period over period change primarily due to an
increase in interest following the February 2024 financing by EM
more than offsetting Erdene’s change in ownership following the
close of the Strategic Alliance
Qualified Person
Peter Dalton, P.Geo. (Nova Scotia), Senior
Geologist for Erdene, is the Qualified Person as that term is
defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved
the technical information contained in this news release.
About Erdene
Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a
Canada-based resource company focused on the acquisition,
exploration, and development of precious and base metals in
underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company has
interests in three mining licenses and an exploration license in
Southwest Mongolia, where exploration success has led to the
discovery and definition of the Khundii Minerals District. Erdene
Resource Development Corp. is listed on the Toronto and the
Mongolian stock exchanges. Further information is available at
www.erdene.com. Important information may be disseminated
exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to
access this information.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information regarding Erdene contained
herein may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning
of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements may
include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts,
projections, guidance, or other statements that are not statements
of fact. Although Erdene believes that the expectations reflected
in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no
assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct.
Erdene cautions that actual performance will be affected by a
number of factors, most of which are beyond its control, and that
future events and results may vary substantially from what Erdene
currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include
the ability to obtain required third party approvals, market
prices, exploitation, and exploration results, continued
availability of capital and financing and general economic, market
or business conditions. The forward-looking statements are
expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
The information contained herein is stated as of the current date
and is subject to change after that date. The Company does not
assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking
statements, except as may be required under applicable securities
laws.
NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR
DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS RELEASE
Erdene Contact Information
Peter C. Akerley, President and CEO, or Robert
Jenkins, CFO
Phone: |
(902)
423-6419 |
Email: |
info@erdene.com |
Twitter: |
https://twitter.com/ErdeneRes |
Facebook: |
https://www.facebook.com/ErdeneResource |
LinkedIn: |
https://www.linkedin.com/company/erdene-resource-development-corp-/ |
|
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available
at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d74250f-022f-49d9-9494-250d8472a7f7
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