Torex Gold Resources Inc. (the “Company” or “Torex”) (TSX: TXG) is
pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a commercial
lease agreement with Scatec, a leading, publicly traded (OSC:SCATC)
global renewable energy producer (“Scatec”), using their innovative
and flexible Release solution, to build a new 8.5 megawatt solar
plant at its Morelos property, which includes the El Limon Guajes
(“ELG”) mine and Media Luna project. The new plant is expected to
reduce Scope 2 greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions by up to 8.6% using
2019 as the baseline year.
Jody Kuzenko, President & CEO of Torex,
stated:
“We are very pleased to partner with Scatec on
this new solar plant, our first major foray into renewable energy
at our operations. The new facility will complement our existing
power supply with a renewable energy source that demonstrates we
are serious about reducing our carbon footprint, with a view toward
carbon neutrality over time.
“As is often the case with innovative and
sustainable solutions, in addition to the environmental benefits
the solar plant will provide, there will also be economic upside
and benefits to the local communities. Factoring in the installed
cost of the plant together with the ongoing lease fee, we expect to
save approximately $1 million per year in energy costs over a
20-year lease period, with full payback of the solar plant realized
within approximately 7 years. We also anticipate that the solar
plant will create new job opportunities for daily operation and
maintenance within our host communities, and we see significant
potential to increase the capacity of the solar plant in the
future, including through battery storage, to further increase
savings and reduce emissions.
“As the agreement with Scatec is now finalized,
we have submitted the permitting application to the regulators to
allow for construction of the new facility. We are ready to begin
earthworks and installation of the equipment in the coming months
as soon as we have the necessary approval in hand.
“As a Company that prides itself on limiting the
environmental footprint of our operations and making a positive
difference in society, we are committed to doing our part to combat
climate change. As such, we are currently developing a climate
change strategy with associated targets and metrics and look
forward to disclosing a standalone Climate Report aligned with the
recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial
Disclosures (“TCFD”) later this year.”
Anticipated Reduction in GHG EmissionsThe
Company currently derives 100% of its power supply from Mexico’s
Federal Electricity Commission (“CFE”), which includes a variety of
energy sources including fossil fuels. Using 2019 emissions as the
baseline, the Company estimates that the new solar plant has the
potential to reduce Scope 2 GHG emissions by as much as 8.6% and
overall (Scope 1 + Scope 2) GHG emissions by up to 4.75%.
2019 Electricity Consumption |
MWh |
216,039.19 |
Average Annual Solar Production |
MWh |
18,582.00 |
Estimated Electricity Consumption with Reductions |
MWh |
197,457.19 |
Potential Electricity Consumption Reduction |
% |
8.60% |
2019 Scope 2 Emissions |
tCO2e |
109,099 |
Estimated Scope 2 Emissions with Reductions |
tCO2e |
99,715 |
Potential Scope 2 Emissions Reduction |
% |
8.60% |
2019 total Scope 1 & Scope 2 Emissions without Reductions |
tCO2e |
197,480 |
Estimated total Scope 1 & Scope 2 Emissions with
Reductions |
tCO2e |
188,096 |
Potential overall Scope 1 & Scope 2 Emissions Reduction |
% |
4.75% |
Note that the figures in the table above have
been subject to a third-party review for reasonableness by
accredited GHG verifiers at ESG Global Advisors Inc.
Anticipated Cost Savings & PaybackThe
commercial lease agreement with Scatec is for a period of 10 years
with automatic renewal for successive 5-year periods (unless
terminated by the Company) and options for buy-out starting after
the expiry of year 3. Approximately $5 million in costs associated
with installation of the solar plant (including transportation of
equipment, earthworks, installation and commissioning, and
permitting costs) have been included within the Company’s 2021
sustaining capital guidance of $70 million to $85 million.
Factoring in the total installed cost of the new solar plant in
conjunction with the ongoing lease fee to Scatec for a total of 20
years, yields an average energy cost of $0.078 per kilowatt hour
(“kWh”) and a total accumulated savings of $20 million. The savings
are based on an alternative cost of power of $0.11 per kWh with CPI
indexed at 2% per year. Payback of the solar plant occurs
approximately at year 7.
ABOUT TOREX GOLD RESOURCES
INC.Torex is an intermediate gold producer based in
Canada, engaged in the exploration, development, and operation of
its 100% owned Morelos Gold Property, an area of 29,000 hectares in
the highly prospective Guerrero Gold Belt located 180 kilometers
southwest of Mexico City. The Company’s principal assets are the El
Limón Guajes mining complex (“ELG” or the “ELG Mine Complex”)
comprising the El Limón, Guajes and El Limón Sur open pits, the El
Limón Guajes underground mine including zones referred to as
Sub-Sill and El Limón Deep (“ELD”), and the processing plant and
related infrastructure, which commenced commercial production as of
April 1, 2016, and the Media Luna deposit, which is an advanced
stage development project, and for which the Company issued an
updated preliminary economic assessment in September 2018. The
property remains 75% unexplored.
ABOUT SCATECScatec is a leading
renewable power producer, delivering affordable and clean energy
worldwide. As a long-term player, Scatec develops, builds, owns and
operates solar, wind and hydro power plants and storage solutions.
In the first half of 2021, Scatec will have a total of 3.3 GW in
operation on four continents and more than 500 employees. The
company is targeting 15 GW capacity in operation or under
construction by the end of 2025. Scatec is headquartered in Oslo,
Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker
symbol ‘SCATC’. To learn more about Release by Scatec, visit
www.releasesolar.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE
CONTACT:
TOREX GOLD RESOURCES INC. |
Jody
Kuzenko |
|
Dan
Rollins |
President and CEO |
|
Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor
Relations |
Direct: (647) 725-9982 |
|
Direct: (647) 260-1503 |
jody.kuzenko@torexgold.com |
|
dan.rollins@torexgold.com |
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING
INFORMATION
This press release contains "forward-looking
statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking
information also includes, but is not limited to: the expected
reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions from the operation
of the solar plant; plans to install a new 8.5 megawatt (MW-DC)
solar plant at ELG; the Company’s plan to reduce its carbon
footprint over the coming years, with a view towards achieving
carbon neutrality; the Company’s 2021 sustaining capital guidance
of $70 million to $85 million; the anticipated creation of new job
opportunities within the host communities; the significant
potential to increase the capacity of the solar plant in the
future, including solutions such as battery storage, to further
increase savings and reduce emissions; the expected environmental
benefits and economic upside, including the expected savings in
energy costs over a 20-year lease period, with full payback of the
solar plant realized within approximately 7 years; plan to begin
earthworks and installation of the equipment as soon as the
necessary approval is received; the Company’s development of a
climate change strategy with associated targets and metrics and
plans to disclose a standalone Climate Report aligned with the
recommendations of the TCFD later in 2021. Generally,
forward-looking information can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as “expected” or “anticipated”,
“estimates”, “potential”, “view”, “look forward”, or variations of
such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events
or results “will” or “is expected to" occur. Forward-looking
information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of
activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be
materially different from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking information, including, without limitation, risks
and uncertainties associated with: the assumptions upon which each
of the anticipated reduction in GHG emissions and the anticipated
cost savings and payback, is based, as set out in the news release;
the ability of the Company to obtain required permits; ability of
the solar plant to achieve the expected energy production; and
those risk factors identified in the Company’s annual information
form (“AIF”) and management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”)
or other unknown but potentially significant impacts.
Forward-looking information are based on the assumptions set out in
the news release and such other reasonable assumptions, estimates,
analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience
and perception of trends, current conditions and expected
developments, and other factors that management believes are
relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date such
statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in the forward-looking information,
there may be other factors that cause results not to be as
anticipated. There can be no assurance that such information will
prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such information.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to
update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information or future events or otherwise, except as may be
required by applicable securities laws.
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