Doré Copper Mining Corp. (the "
Corporation" or
"
Doré Copper") (TSXV: DCMC; OTCQX: DRCMF; FRA:
DCM) is pleased to report positive results from its Preliminary
Economic Assessment (“PEA“) for the restart of the Chibougamau
mining camp. The PEA supports a hub-and-spoke operation with the
high-grade Corner Bay copper-gold deposit as its main underground
mine along with the Devlin copper deposit and the former Joe Mann
gold mine providing feed to its Copper Rand mill (collectively, the
”Project”). The PEA demonstrates attractive project economics with
optionality for expansion into a significantly larger operation,
re-establishing the Chibougamau mining camp as a long-life copper
and gold producer.
All values in this news release are reported in
Canadian dollars (C$) unless otherwise noted.
Doré Copper will be hosting a webinar to review
the PEA results on Tuesday, May 10 at 10:00AM
EST:https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yaoTJLNPTcGccp-PlAceIA
PEA Highlights
-
Attractive project economics:
- Base
case metal prices of US$3.75/lb Cu and US$1,820/oz
Au:Pre-tax NPV8%
of C$367 million and 30.7% IRRAfter-tax
NPV8% of C$193 million and 22.1%
IRR
- Spot
metal prices of US$4.20/lb Cu and US$1,854/oz Au:
Pre-tax NPV8% of C$555
million and 40.1% IRRAfter-tax
NPV8% of C$303 million and 29.4%
IRR
- Mine
life of 10.5 years: Metal production of 492 Mlbs Cu, 142,000
oz Au
- Average
cash operating costs of US$1.35/lb CuEq and all-in sustaining costs
of US$2.24/lb CuEq
- Light
capital intensity: Initial capital of C$180.6 million
(including C$24 million contingency), translating to a Tier 1
Capital Intensity Index (initial capital / annual CuEq produced) of
US$2.64/lb CuEq or US$0.25/lb CuEq LOM
-
Scalable operation: Mill has 25% excess
grinding capacity (over the maximum annual throughput) providing
opportunities to add, discover, or acquire other properties in the
Chibougamau mining camp
- Long
life tailings storage option with minimal environmental
impact: Implementation of dry stack tailings and ore
sorting technology provides for a maximum capacity of 12 Mt on the
existing Copper Rand tailings management facility (“TMF”)
-
Modernization of the mill and TMF: PEA study
modernizes the existing Copper Rand mill and TMF so that they are
productive and cost efficient and minimizes impact on the
environment
-
Opportunities for mine life extension: Corner Bay
and Joe Mann deposits remain open at depth with strong potential to
add additional resources and extend the mine life. Potential for
additional mill feed during mine life with the advancement of its
exploration projects in Chibougamau mining camp.
Ernest Mast, President and CEO commented, “The
completion of the PEA is a major accomplishment from our team and
gets us closer to our near-term objective of restarting the
Chibougamau mining camp. This achievement has come with the
excellent exploration results from Corner Bay over the last few
years where we have been able to significantly grow the mineral
resources. The PEA represents today’s status of the projects but we
envision scaled expansions and future growth at both Corner Bay and
Joe Mann while eventually sequencing in other deposits across our
large land package in the Chibougamau mining camp. With three
projects in the PEA, the average annual production over the mine
life is approximately 50 Mlbs of copper equivalent, with a high of
90 Mlbs of copper equivalent. Our vision is to operate a viable
sustainable hub-and-spoke operation over multi-decades to become a
significant copper producer in Québec.”
“Our next steps include commencing a feasibility
study and submitting permit application with the provincial
government. We look forward to working with Ouje-Bougoumou
Cree Nation and the towns of Chibougamau and Chapais with the
support of the government to advance the restart of the Chibougamau
mining camp.”
PEA Study Approach
The PEA envisions a hub-and-spoke model
operation starting first with the underground development of the
Devlin deposit via a ramp and secondly with the underground
development of the Corner Bay deposit (main asset) via a ramp. Once
the Devlin deposit is mined out (approximately 4 years), production
at the Joe Mann mine would start and be funded out of cash flow
from operations. Joe Mann benefits from an existing headframe and
shaft, including all surface infrastructures.
A fixed crushing circuit and ore sorter plant
(XRT) would be installed at Corner Bay and would reject the
low-grade and dilution material from the Devlin and Corner Bay
mines. The high-grade material would be transported by trucks to
the refurbished and optimized Copper Rand mill. The filtered
tailings would be transported to a dry stack tailings facility,
which uses part of the footprint at the existing TMF.
The copper and gold concentrate produced would
be transported to the port of Québec City for onward shipping to
international smelters, or to a local smelter. Ocean Partners Ltd.
has the off-take agreement (treatment and refining charges terms
are within standard market rates).
Table 1: PEA Summary of Key
Metrics
Description |
Unit |
Base Case124-month
Trailing Avg |
Spot PricesMay 9, 2022 |
Metal Prices/FX |
|
|
|
Copper (Cu) |
US$/lb |
3.75 |
4.20 |
Gold (Au) |
US$/oz |
1,820 |
1,854 |
Currency Exchange Rate |
USD/CAD |
1.28 |
1.30 |
Production Data |
|
|
|
Resource Tonnes |
T |
9,150,710 |
9,150,710 |
Copper Equiv. Grade |
% |
2.98 |
2.98 |
Daily Mill Throughput |
Tpd |
1,350 |
1,350 |
Annual Processing Rate |
Ktpa |
490 |
490 |
Mine Life |
Years |
10.5 |
10.5 |
Avg Annual Production(in concentrate) |
Mlbs CuEq |
53 |
53 |
Operating Costs (LOM avg) |
|
|
|
Total Operating Costs2 |
C$/t mined |
106 |
106 |
|
C$/t milled |
186 |
186 |
All-in Sustaining Costs3,4 |
US$/lb CuEq |
2.24 |
2.24 |
Capital Costs5 |
|
|
|
Initial Capital |
C$M |
180.6 |
180.6 |
LOM Sustaining Capex |
C$M |
402.4 |
402.4 |
Financial Analysis (unlevered) |
|
|
|
Pre-Tax NPV 8% |
C$M |
367 |
555 |
Pre-Tax IRR |
% |
30.7 |
40.1 |
After-Tax NPV 8% |
C$M |
193 |
303 |
After-Tax IRR |
% |
22.1 |
29.4 |
Payback Period (Production Start) |
years |
5.5 |
4.2 |
- Base case metal prices based on
24-month trailing average from March 31, 2022.
- Total operating costs include
mining, processing, tailings, surface infrastructures, transport,
and G&A costs. See Table 3.
- AISC includes cash operating costs,
sustaining capital expenses to support the on-going operations,
concentrate transport and treatment charges, royalties and closure
and rehabilitation costs divided by copper equivalent pounds
produced. See Table 3.
- AISC is a non-IFRS financial
performance measures with no standardized definition under IFRS.
Refer to note at end of this news release.
- See Table 2.
Capital Cost
The PEA for the Project outlines an initial
(pre-production) capital cost estimate of C$180.6 million and
sustaining capital costs over the life of mine (“LOM”) of C$402.4
million, which includes the capital to restart Joe Mann and overall
closure costs of C$53.6 million. Initial underground capital costs
include the rehabilitation of the portals at Corner Bay and Devlin,
facilities for water capture and treatment at both locations,
construction of a powerline (16 km, 34 kV powerline to Corner Bay,
and 3.25 km, 34 kV powerline to Devlin), a crushing circuit and ore
sorter at Corner Bay, improvements to existing roads and 4 km of
new roads connecting Corner Bay and Devlin, a new feed material
reception and mill feed conveyor, ball milling and gravity circuit,
rehabilitated flotation and concentrate filtration circuit and new
tailings filtration circuit at the mill, and preparation of an area
on the existing TMF for the placement of filtered tailings and a
water treatment facility.
Table 2: Capex
Estimates
Cost Element |
Initial Capital (C$M)1 |
Sustaining Capital
(C$M)1,3 |
Mine Costs |
|
|
Corner Bay |
14.8 |
247.3 |
Devlin |
7.0 |
0.4 |
Joe Mann2 |
0.0 |
51.9 |
Processing (including Ore Sorting) |
54.2 |
1.1 |
Infrastructure |
34.5 |
15.5 |
Tailings |
13.8 |
16.7 |
EPCM and Indirect Costs4 |
22.8 |
5.5 |
Owner’s Costs4 |
9.9 |
3.1 |
Subtotal Capex |
$157.1 |
$341.6 |
Contingency5 |
23.6 |
7.2 |
Reclamation and Closure |
0.0 |
53.6 |
Total Capex |
$180.6 |
$402.4 |
- All values stated are undiscounted.
No inflation or depreciation of costs were applied.
- Contingency, owner’s costs, EPCM and indirect costs on Joe
Mann’s initial capital also included in the sustaining
capital.
- Sustaining capital does not include
salvage values, estimated at C$17 M for all sites.
- Includes owner’s costs of 8%,
construction indirects of 10%, and EPCM of 12% for mill and
tailings and 4% for mining of direct costs.
- Includes contingency of 15% for all
initial capital, owner’s costs, construction indirects, and
EPCM.
Operating Costs
Operating costs estimates were developed using
first principles methodology, vendor quotes received from Q4 2021
to Q1 2022, and productivities being derived from benchmarking and
industry best practices. Over the LOM, the average operating cost
for the Project is estimated at C$106/t mined and C$186/t
milled.
The average cash operating costs over the LOM is
US$1.35/lb CuEq and the average AISC is US$2.24 /lb CuEq.
Table 3: Operating Cost
Summary
|
Average LOM |
Mining |
C$61/t mined / C$108/t milled |
Processing (including Ore Sorting) |
C$32/t milled |
Tailings1 |
C$7/t milled |
Infrastructure and TransportG&A |
C$28/t milledC$12/t milled |
Total operating costs |
C$186/t milled |
Cash operating costs
2,4,5 |
US$1.35 /lb CuEq |
All-in sustaining costs
3,4,5 |
US$2.24 /lb CuEq |
- Tailings filtration costs are in
processing costs.
- Cash operating cost includes
mining, processing, tailings, surface infrastructures, transport,
and G&A to the point of production of the concentrate at the
Copper Rand site divided by copper equivalent pounds produced. It
excludes off-site concentrate costs, sustaining capital expenses,
closure/rehabilitation and royalties. CuEq calculation assumes
metal base case prices.
- AISC includes cash operating costs,
sustaining capital expenses to support the on-going operations,
concentrate transport and treatment charges, royalties and closure
and rehabilitation costs divided copper equivalent pounds
produced.
- Copper equivalent (CuEq) costs uses
only payable gold in concentrate and is applied as a credit against
costs.
- Cash operating cost and AISC are
non-IFRS financial performance measures with no standardized
definition under IFRS. Refer to note at end of this news
release.
- Numbers may not add up due to
rounding.
Economic Analysis and
Sensitivities
The PEA indicates that the potential economic
returns from the Project justify its further evaluation by
advancing to a feasibility study.
Table 4: Summary of Economic
Analysis1,2
|
Base Case |
Metal Price Assumptions (US$) |
$3.75/lb Cu, $1,820/oz Au |
Exchange Rate (USD/CAD) |
1.28 |
|
Pre-tax |
After-tax |
NPV (8% discount) |
C$366 M |
C$193 M |
IRR |
30.7% |
22.1% |
Payback Period |
4.2 yrs |
5.5 yrs |
EBITDA |
C$1,313 M |
C$1,313 M |
LOM Undiscounted Net Cash Flow |
C$747 M |
C$455 M |
- The analysis assumes that the
Project is 100% equity financed (unlevered).
- Appropriate deductions are applied
to the concentrate produced, including treatment, refining,
transport and insurance costs.
The Project generates cumulative cash flow of
C$455 million on an after-tax basis and C$747 million pre-tax at a
base case of $3.75/lb Cu based on an average mill throughput of
1,350 tpd over 10.5 years. The 2% net smelter return (“NSR”)
royalty over the Joe Mann mine, and the 15% net operating profits
interest (NPI) royalty and the 2% NSR on the gross value of the
mineral products exceeding US$60 million over Devlin have been
applied to the cash flow model for a total of C$13.3 million
undiscounted.
The PEA economic analysis is significantly
influenced by copper prices. At spot metal prices of US$4.20/lb Cu
and US$1,854/oz Au, the Project generates an after-tax Net Present
Value (“NPV”) using an 8% discount rate of $303 million and an
after-tax IRR of 29.4% with a payback period of 4.2 years from the
commencement of production. Outlined below in Table 5 is a detailed
sensitivity analysis across various commodity prices.
Table 5: Sensitivity
Analysis
Copper Prices (US$/lb) |
3.40 |
Base Case 3.75 |
4.10 |
Spot4.20 |
Gold Prices (US$/oz) |
1,650 |
1,820 |
1,820 |
1,854 |
Pre-tax NPV (8% discount) (C$M) |
228 |
367 |
494 |
555 |
After-tax NPV (8% discount) (C$M) |
107 |
193 |
269 |
303 |
Pre-tax IRR (%) |
23.2 |
30.7 |
37.2 |
40.1 |
After-tax IRR (%) |
16.1 |
22.1 |
27.2 |
29.4 |
Opportunities
- Add Corner Bay’s silver and molybdenum content (currently
excluded for mineral resources)
- Potential to extend mine life by expanding mineral resources at
both Corner Bay and Joe Mann once operation starts
- Surplus grinding capacity at the Copper Rand mill
- Underpins potential for low-cost organic production growth
(other nearby assets, including Cedar Bay and Copper Rand) to be
evaluated during LOM)
- Potential to increase Corner Bay and Devlin concentrate grades
which would decrease treatment charges and shipping costs
- Potential labour cost savings by self-performance for various
mill rehabilitation activities
- Potential to install a 25 kV line from the Québec grid to
Corner Bay (PEA design has a 34 kV line)
- Potential for a carbon neutral operation with PEA design to
utilize power from the Québec grid, minimizing trucked material
with ore sorting technology and implementing trolley-assist hauling
technology at the Corner Bay mine site. In the feasibility study,
the Corporation will attempt to be carbon neutral by the end of
Devlin’s mine life (approximately 4 years).
Mineral Resources
The basis for the PEA uses an updated mineral
resource estimate for the Corner Bay deposit (effective date March
30, 2022) and previously published MRE for Devlin and Joe Mann,
respectively October and July 2021, restated with an updated
effective date of March 30, 2022. The PEA reports on mineral
resources, not mineral reserves.
Table 6: Mineral Resource
Estimates
Deposit |
Category |
Tonnage |
Grade |
Contained |
|
|
000 tonnes |
% Cu |
g/t Au |
M lbs Cu |
000 oz Au |
Corner Bay |
Indicated |
2,675 |
2.66 |
0.26 |
157 |
22 |
|
Inferred |
5,829 |
3.44 |
0.27 |
442 |
51 |
Devlin |
Measured |
121 |
2.74 |
0.29 |
7.3 |
1 |
|
Indicated |
654 |
2.06 |
0.19 |
29.7 |
4 |
|
Measured & Indicated |
775 |
2.17 |
0.20 |
37.0 |
5 |
|
Inferred |
484 |
1.79 |
0.17 |
19.2 |
3 |
Joe Mann |
Inferred |
608 |
0.24 |
6.78 |
3.3 |
133 |
Total |
Measured & Indicated |
3,450 |
2.55 |
0.25 |
194.0 |
27 |
Total |
Inferred |
6,921 |
3.04 |
0.83 |
464.5 |
187 |
Notes:
- CIM (2014) definitions were followed for Mineral
Resources.
- The effective date of the Mineral Resources is March 30,
2022.
- Mineral Resources are estimated using an exchange rate of
US$0.75/C$1.00.
- Mineral
Resources at Joe Mann are estimated using a long-term gold price of
US$1,800/oz Au, and a metallurgical gold recovery of 83%. Mineral
Resources at Corner Bay and Devlin are estimated using a long-term
copper price of US$3.75/lb, and a metallurgical copper recovery of
95%.
- Mineral
Resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 2.60 g/t Au at Joe
Mann, 1.3% Cu at Corner Bay and 1.2% Cu at Devlin.
- A minimum mining
width of 1.2 m was used at Joe Mann and a small number of lower
grade blocks have been included for continuity. A minimum mining
width of 2.0 m was used at Corner Bay, and a minimum height of 1.8
m was applied at Devlin.
- Bulk density
ranges by deposit and vein from 2.84 t/m3 to 3.1 t/m3.
- Mineral Resources that are not
Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic
viability.
- Numbers may not
add up due to rounding.
Mining
Projected mined tonnes from the Project (Corner
Bay, Devlin and Joe Mann) are expected to total 9.15 Mt, ramping up
to a maximum capacity of 3,000 tpd over a mine life of 10.5
years.
Figure 1 accompanying this
announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/32d731e6-44b7-4733-b63c-3e2e2b4ba225
Corner Bay Mine
Underground mining at Corner Bay would use the
existing single portal and two kilometers of development to three
levels down to 115 meters. The development would extend the decline
ramps to a depth of 1,326 meters. Most of the material would be
mined by longhole open stoping with pillars then backfilled and
AVOCA, a longitudinal longhole retreat mining method. A fleet of
nine battery electric haul trucks with trolley assist and six
loaders would be required at maximum capacity. Trade off studies
were completed to evaluate between a shaft, 42 tonne battery
electric trucks with BaaS (Battery as a Service) technology and 50
tonne diesel trucks and it was concluded that the use of 42 tonne
battery electric trucks was the best economic option. In addition,
the electric truck technology will provide benefits related to less
ventilation requirements, better air quality and lower diesel
consumption.
The mined material would be transported to
surface and crushed at site with an integrated XRT (X-ray
transmission) ore sorting circuit. Test work on material selected
from the development mineralized material stockpiled at surface,
which was extracted during the preparation of the 2008 bulk sample,
indicated that the average grade of the mineralized material is
upgraded 1.54 times and 47% of the crushed mined material would be
rejected. The high-grade material pre-concentrate would be
transported by trucks to the Copper Rand mill located approximately
47 km from the mine site.
Total projected mined tonnes from Corner Bay are
expected to be 7.60 Mt ramping up to a maximum capacity of 2,600
tpd over a mine life of 10.5 years.
Devlin Mine
Access to the shallow Devlin deposit would
require the enlargement of the existing decline ramp (305 meters)
and existing drifts (364 meters). Underground mining would use a
combination of room and pillar and drift and fill mining methods.
Devlin will produce 951,000 tonnes of material over a mine life of
four years and reach a maximum mining rate of 760 tpd. Mining and
surface activities at Devlin will be done by a contractor.
The mined tonnes would be trucked 15.6 km to the
Corner Bay site for crushing and sorting in combination with the
Corner Bay mined tonnes. With the mineralized material having a
thickness of 1 to 2 meters and the wall rock being essentially
barren, ore sorting technology is expected to work well.
Preliminary test work on core from drilling simulating a 2.3 meter
mining height resulted in upgrading the grade by 65% and rejecting
40% of the material.
Joe Mann Mine
As the Devlin mine become depleted, the Joe Mann
mine would be restarted. Once the mine would be dewatered, the
Corporation would start an underground exploration program with the
objective of augmenting the mineral resources to increase the mine
life beyond the PEA study.
Longhole mining method was chosen for Joe Mann
with the mined material to be brought to surface using the existing
shaft and hoist. The mined material would be transported by trucks
to the Corner Bay site (total of 43.5 km) for crushing and then
transported by trucks to the Copper Rand mill for processing.
In the PEA, the Joe Mann mine has a mine life of
four years with maximum production of 590 tpd. It is anticipated
that additional mineral resource can be defined to increase mine
life.
Metallurgy and Processing
The PEA relies on the metallurgical results of
the operational data from the processing of a Corner Bay bulk
sample in 2008 at the Copper Rand mill, historical flotation tests
done on Corner Bay mineralized material, recent material sorting
test results completed by Corem on Corner Bay and Devlin
mineralized material, recent flotation tests on Devlin completed by
SGS Canada Inc., and historical operational data from Joe Mann when
it was treated in the Copper Rand mill. The expected metal
recoveries for the three proposed mines are shown in Table 7.
Table 7: LOM Recovery Rates
Project |
Cu Recovery % |
Au Recovery, % |
Cu Grade in Concentrate, % |
Corner Bay |
93.2 |
78.0 |
24.7 |
Devlin |
95.5 |
72.5 |
20.5 |
Joe Mann |
93.9 |
83.6 |
15.9 |
The PEA proposes to refurbish the Copper Rand
mill, which closed in 2008 after approximately 50 years of
operation. The mill was constructed in 1959 and expanded twice in
the early 1980s and again in 2001. Historically, the mill operated
with a mixture of local ores at an instantaneous rate of 2,700
tpd.
The existing crushing and conveying circuit at
the Copper Rand mill will not be used or upgraded since it is more
efficient to install a new crushing circuit and ore sorting plant
at Corner Bay. The sorted pre-concentrate will be trucked to the
Copper Rand site and stockpiled by the mill building where it will
be reclaimed in a hopper and fed via a single conveyor to a new
1,500 kW ball mill (4.0 meters diameter by 7.15 meters long) to be
located in the 1984 expansion area of the existing mill. This new
ball mill will replace the existing 1950’s rod mill and four ball
mills in the circuit. This will result in significantly less
project execution risk and a mill that will require less manpower
and be superior in terms of energy efficiency, process control and
safety. The ball mill discharge will be pumped to a new
hydro-cyclone in closed circuit. The hydro-cyclone underflow will
flow to a screen and the undersize will feed two gravity
concentrators. The hydro-cyclone overflow, at an 80% passing size
of 100 µm, will flow by gravity to the existing flotation area
where sequential rougher and scavenger flotation will recover the
copper. The rougher concentrate treated by regrinding and cleaner
flotation will produce a copper concentrate with an average grade
of 23.7% Cu over LOM. The gravity gold bearing concentrate will be
blended into the copper concentrate. The concentrate is considered
very clean as it does not contain any elevated deleterious
elements. The moisture content of the concentrate will be reduced
to approximately 8% before being transported to the port of Québec
City for onward shipping to international smelters, or to a local
smelter.
Figure 2 accompanying this
announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e03038b7-ec2c-4b42-b462-9ae5d37dd075
Infrastructure and TMF
The Project benefits greatly from substantial
infrastructure in place, including the mill facility, all weather
access roads, 25 kV powerline and a 10.5 MW substation sufficient
for the mill power requirements, TMF, office building, core shack
and water supply.
A 16 km forestry road from Québec Highway 167
will be upgraded and constructed to access the Corner Bay mine
site, decreasing the distance between Corner Bay and Copper Rand
mill by over 9 km one way. The Devlin mine site will be accessed
via a 3.25 km upgraded road branching off from the Corner Bay road.
Both mine sites are designed to be compact with required
infrastructure near the portal. A substation connected to the
Québec grid and a 34 kV powerline will supply power to the Corner
Bay and Devlin mines. The Joe Mann mine will utilize the existing
logging roads and powerline to site.
The TMF is located 1.5 km by road from the
Copper Rand mill within the existing Copper Rand TMF. The tailings
will be thickened and pumped to a newly constructed filtration
plant at the mill site. The filtered tailings will then be trucked
1.5 km, placed and compacted to the targeted density. The dry stack
tailings facility (filtered tailings) will be built within the
footprint of the existing Copper Rand TMF. A liner will be used to
separate the filtered tailings from the in-situ tailings. The
run-off water from the filtered tailings facility will be treated
in a water treatment plant and discharged into the existing Copper
Rand TMF polishing pond. Water will flow by gravity from the
polishing pond into Lac Doré as it presently occurs. The proposed
TMF has capacity to be expanded to approximately 12 Mt of tailings,
representing an increase of 7.5 Mt from the current design of 4.5
Mt.
Workforce
The Project plans to source most of its
workforce locally. The peak workforce during operations is
estimated at approximately 320 persons.
Next Steps
Doré Copper is currently completing a 45,000
meter exploration drilling program at Corner Bay, which will be
followed by a 5,000 meter exploration drilling program at Devlin.
This exploration drilling program is focused on upgrading the
Inferred Resource to Indicated Resource for the feasibility study,
which is expected to commence during Q3. Doré Copper has engaged
Englobe, based in Québec City, to assist the Corporation in
submitting a provincial environmental impact study later this year.
Baseline work is already underway and community consultation is
expected to commence in Q2.
Technical Report and Qualified
Persons
The PEA was prepared by BBA Inc. (“BBA”) with
several consulting firms contributing to sections of the study. BBA
Inc., the leading consulting firm for this study, recently
completed the refurbishment of Eldorado Gold’s Sigma mill that
included upgrading most of the existing mechanical equipment and
preparing a detailed commissioning strategy.
Consulting Firms |
Area of Responsibility |
Qualified Person1 |
BBA
Inc. |
Mine and plant design, mines capital costs and operating costs |
Priyadarshi Hem, M.Eng, P.Eng |
|
Infrastructure |
David Willock P.Eng |
|
Metallurgy, processing and process plant operating costs |
Patrica Dupuis P.Eng |
|
Process plant and infrastructure capital cost |
Mathieu Bélisle, P.Eng |
|
Financial analysis |
Colin Hardie P.Eng (ON), M.Eng, MBA |
SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. |
Mineral Resource Estimate Geological technical informationQA/QC
review of drilling and sampling data |
Luke Evans, M.Sc., P.Eng, ing.,Valerie Wilson, M.Sc., P.Geo,
andMarie-Christine Gosselin, B.Sc., P.Geo |
SRK Consulting |
Tailings design and water management |
Jean-François St-Laurent, ing., P.Eng (ON), M.Sc. |
WSP |
Environmental studies and permittingRestauration and closure |
Simon Latulippe, P.Eng |
1. The Qualified Persons are independent as
defined by Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument
43-101 (“NI 43-101”) “Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects”. The Qualified Persons are not aware of any
environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-economic,
marketing, political, or other relevant factors that could
materially affect the PEA.
All scientific and technical data contained in
this presentation has been reviewed and approved by Ernest Mast,
P.Eng., President and CEO, a Qualified Person for the purposes of
NI 43-101. The Qualified Persons mentioned above have reviewed and
approved their respective technical information contained in this
news release.
The Company cautions that the results of the PEA
are preliminary in nature and include inferred mineral resources
that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic
considerations applied to them to be classified as mineral
reserves. There is no certainty that the results of the PEA will be
realized.
A NI 43-101 technical report supporting the PEA
will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days of this news release and will
be available at that time on the Corporation’s
website. Readers are encouraged to read the Technical Report
in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions and
exclusions that relate to the details summarized in this news
release. The Technical Report is intended to be read as a whole,
and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.
A presentation that summarizes the PEA results
of the Project is available on the Corporation website.
Town Hall Webinar
Ernest Mast, President and CEO of Doré Copper
will discuss the results of the PEA at a webinar on Tuesday, May
10, 10:00 AM EST.
To participate in the Town Hall Webinar, please
register here with your full
name:https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yaoTJLNPTcGccp-PlAceIA
About Doré Copper Mining
Corp.
Doré Copper Mining Corp. aims to be the next
copper producer in Québec with an initial production target of +50
Mlbs of copper equivalent annually by implementing a hub-and spoke
operation model with multiple high-grade copper-gold assets feeding
its centralized Copper Rand mill. The Corporation has delivered its
PEA in May 2022 and plans to commence a feasibility study and
submit permit applications by mid-year.
The Corporation has consolidated a large land
package in the prolific Lac Doré/Chibougamau and Joe Mann mining
camps that has produced 1.6 billion pounds of copper and
4.4 million ounces of gold1. The land package includes 13
former producing mines, deposits and resource target areas within a
60-kilometre radius of the Corporation’s Copper Rand Mill.
For further information, please contact:
Ernest Mast |
Laurie Gaborit |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
Vice President, Investor Relations |
Phone: (416) 792-2229 |
Phone: (416) 219-2049 |
Email: ernest.mast@dorecopper.com |
Email: laurie.gaborit@dorecopper.com |
Visit: www.dorecopper.com Facebook: Doré Copper MiningLinkedIn:
Doré Copper Mining Corp.Twitter: @DoreCopperInstagram:
@DoreCopperMining
- Sources for historic production
figures: Economic Geology, v. 107, pp. 963–989 - Structural and
Stratigraphic Controls on Magmatic, Volcanogenic, and Shear
Zone-Hosted Mineralization in the Chapais-Chibougamau Mining Camp,
Northeastern Abitibi, Canada by François Leclerc et al. (Lac
Dore/Chibougamau mining camp) and NI 43-101 Technical Report on the
Joe Mann Property dated January 11, 2016 by Geologica
Groupe-Conseil Inc. for Jessie Ressources Inc. (Joe Mann
mine).
Information Concerning Estimates of
Mineral Resources Mineral resources that are not mineral
reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Therefore,
investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an
inferred mineral resource could ever be mined economically. It
cannot be assumed that all or any part of “measured mineral
resources,” “indicated mineral resources,” or “inferred mineral
resources” will ever be upgraded to a higher category. The mineral
resource estimates contained herein may be subject to legal,
political, environmental or other risks that could materially
affect the potential development of such mineral resources. Refer
to the Technical Report, once filed, for more information with
respect to the key assumptions, parameters, methods and risks of
determination associated with the foregoing.
Non-IFRS Financial Measures
Doré Copper has included certain non-IFRS financial measures in
this news release, such as capital intensity index, initial capital
cost, cash operating cost and AISC per pound of copper equivalent
produced, unit operating costs, and EBITDA which are not measures
recognized under IFRS and do not have a standardized meaning
prescribed by IFRS. As a result, these measures may not be
comparable to similar measures reported by other corporations. Each
of these measures used are intended to provide additional
information to the user and should not be considered in isolation
or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with
IFRS.
A description of the significant cost components that make-up
the forward-looking non-IFRS financial measures cash operating cost
and AISC per pound of copper equivalent produced is shown in the
table below.
Total Sustaining Capital and Closure Costs |
C$402.4M |
|
Total Cash Operating Costs |
C$966.5 M |
|
Historical All-in Sustaining Costs |
C$0.0 M |
|
Commercial Costs |
C$223.9 M |
|
NSR Royalties |
C$13.3 M |
|
Total All-In Sustaining Costs for AISC
Calculation |
C$1,606.1 M |
|
Mill Recovered Copper Equivalent (Mlbs) |
560.8 |
|
Exchange Rate USD/CAD |
1.28 |
|
Cash Operating Costs |
US$1.35/lb CuEq |
|
All-in Sustaining Costs |
US$2.24/lb CuEq |
|
|
|
|
Cautionary Note to United States
Investors Doré Copper prepares its disclosure in
accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in
Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws.
Terms relating to mineral resources in this news release are
defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out
in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral
Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy
and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended ("CIM
Standards"). The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") has adopted amendments effective February 25, 2019 (the "SEC
Modernization Rules") to its disclosure rules to modernize the
mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose
securities are registered with the SEC under the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. As a result of the adoption of the SEC
Modernization Rules, the SEC will now recognize estimates of
"measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and
"inferred mineral resources", which are defined in substantially
similar terms to the corresponding CIM Standards. In addition, the
SEC has amended its definitions of "proven mineral reserves" and
"probable mineral reserves" to be substantially similar to the
corresponding CIM Standards.
U.S. investors are cautioned that while the
foregoing terms are "substantially similar" to corresponding
definitions under the CIM Standards, there are differences in the
definitions under the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM
Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources
that Doré Copper may report as "measured mineral resources",
"indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources"
under NI 43-101 would be the same had Doré Copper prepared the
resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC
Modernization Rules. In accordance with Canadian securities laws,
estimates of "inferred mineral resources" cannot form the basis of
feasibility or other economic studies, except in limited
circumstances where permitted under NI 43-101.
Cautionary Note Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes
certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian
securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include
predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not
always, identified by the use of words such as "seek",
"anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect",
"potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend"
and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should",
"could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar
expressions and includes the negatives thereof. Specific
forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are
not limited to the results of the PEA, including the projected
production, operating costs, capital costs, sustaining costs, metal
price assumptions, cash flow projections, processing mineralized
material, metal recoveries and grades, concentrate grade, mine life
projections, production rates at each project, process capacity,
mining and processing methods, changes to the existing TMF,
proposed PEA production schedule and metal production profile,
estimation of mineral resources, estimated NPV and IRR, payback
period, sensitivities, opportunities outlined in the PEA, potential
to further enhance the economics of the Project, securing the
required permits and licenses for further studies to consider
operation, PEA demonstrating attractive project economics with
optionality for expansion into a significantly larger operation,
re-establishing the Chibougamau mining camp as a long-life copper
and gold producer, existing mill having 25% excess capacity, PEA
study modernizing the existing Copper Rand mill and TMF so that
they are productive and cost efficient and minimizing impact on the
environment, potential for additional mill feed during mine life
with the advancement of the Corporation’s exploration projects in
Chibougamau mining camp, operating a viable hub-and spoke operation
over multi-decades to become a significant copper producer in
Quebec, commencing a feasibility study in Q3, submitting permit
application with the provincial government later this year,
potential labour cost savings by self-performance for various mill
rehabilitation activities, potential for a carbon neutral
operation, Corporation attempting in the feasibility study to be
carbon neutral by the end of Devlin’s mine life (approximately 4
years), aiming to be the next copper producer in Québec with an
initial production target of +50 Mlbs of copper equivalent
annually; implementing a hub-and spoke operation model; and
initiating a feasibility study and permit applications after the
PEA.
All statements other than statements of
historical fact included in this release, including, without
limitation, statements regarding the timing and ability of the
Corporation to receive necessary regulatory approvals, and the
plans, operations and prospects of the Corporation and its
properties are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking
statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause
actual results and future events to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
factors include, but are not limited to, actual exploration
results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be
refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing
on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business
conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or
inability to receive required regulatory approvals, health
emergencies, pandemics and other exploration or other risks
detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the
Corporation with securities regulators. Although the Corporation
has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
actions, events or results to differ from those described in
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
such actions, events or results to differ materially from those
anticipated. There can be no assurance that such statements will
prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. The Corporation 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 law.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its
Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
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