VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 14, 2020 /CNW/ - Orca Gold Inc.
(TSXV: ORG) ("Orca" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a
Revised Feasibility Study indicating a material improvement in
operating costs on the Company's 70%-owned Block 14 Gold Project in
the Republic of the Sudan. The
Revised Feasibility Study incorporates updated costs and other
economics from the original Feasibility Study released on
November 7, 2018.
REVISED FEASIBILITY STUDY HIGHLIGHTS (100% BASIS):
Probable
Reserves
|
79.94Mt @ 1.11g/t
for 2.85 Moz
|
Average Annual
production:
|
|
First 7
Years
|
5.8Mtpa @ 1.49g/t
averaging 228,000oz Au/year
|
Life of Mine
("LOM") LOM
|
167,000oz
Au/year
|
Mine
Life
|
13.6
years
|
Cash
Costs:
|
|
LOM
|
$676/oz
|
All-in Sustaining
Costs ("AISC")
|
$751/oz
|
Base Case Gold
Price
|
$1,350/oz
|
After-Tax Net
Present Value ("NPV")
Discount rate:
5%
|
$607
million
|
After-Tax Internal
Rate of Return ("IRR")
|
33.3%
|
Payback
Period
|
2.9
years
|
Pre-Production
Capital
|
$321
million
|
Sustaining
Capital
|
$179
million
|
FINAL
PERMITTING
|
In
Progress
|
Note: All amounts stated are in US
Dollars. Economic parameters are shown on a 100%
basis
"The Revised Feasibility Study clearly demonstrates the improved
economics and scope of the proposed development and operation at
Block 14 following the early works engineering and selection of LNG
to fuel the power station. At a production rate of almost
230,000 ounces of gold per annum for the first seven years, a low
production cash cost per ounce and a significant exploration
upside, this project stands out on an international scale,"
commented Richard P. Clark, Chief
Executive Officer of Orca. "With positive political change in
Sudan progressing, the Company is
confident of securing development financing in the coming months;
discussions are ongoing."
Key Operating Parameters:
|
Revised
Feasibility
Study (Sep 2020)
|
Feasibility
Study (Nov
2018)
|
Milling
Capacity
|
6.0Mtpa
|
6.0Mtpa
|
Probable
Reserves:
|
|
|
Tonnes
(000)
|
79,943
|
79,943
|
Grade (Au
g/t)
|
1.11
|
1.11
|
Mine
Life
|
13.6
years
|
13.6 years
|
LOM:
|
|
|
Average Annual
Production (oz)
|
167,000
|
167,000
|
Recovery
(%)
|
82
|
82
|
Cash Costs
($/oz)
|
676
|
707
|
AISC
($/oz)
|
751
|
783
|
Strip
Ratio
|
1.49:1
|
1.49:1
|
Years
1-7:
|
|
|
Average Annual
Production (oz)
|
228,000
|
228,000
|
Grade
(g/t)
|
1.49
|
1.49
|
Cash Costs
($/oz)
|
673
|
697
|
AISC
($/oz)
|
759
|
792
|
Note: All amounts stated are in US
Dollars. Economic parameters are shown on a 100%
basis.
Mineral Resources:
Mineral Resource
Statement – September 19, 2018
|
Classification
|
Tonnes
(million)
|
Grade (g/t
Au)
|
Contained Ounces
(000)
|
Indicated
|
79.9
|
1.30
|
3,342
|
Inferred
|
18.5
|
1.2
|
711
|
1. CIM Definition Standards were followed for the
classification of Mineral Resources
2. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral
Reserves
3. Mineral Resources are reported above a
cut-off grade of 0.6g/t
Technical Report
The results of the Revised Feasibility Study will be published
in a Technical Report prepared pursuant to Canadian Securities
Administrators' National Instrument 43-101 which can be viewed on
the Company's website at www.orcagold.com and posted under the
Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) today.
FEASIBILITY STUDY DETAIL:
Mineral Reserves:
Mineral Reserve
Statement – November 7, 2018
|
Classification
|
Tonnes
(million)
|
Grade (g/t
Au)
|
Contained Ounces
(000)
|
Probable
Reserves
|
79.943
|
1.11
|
2,853
|
1. CIM Definition Standards were followed for the
classification of Mineral Reserves
2. Mineral Reserves
were optimised using a gold price of $1,100.
3. Mining Cut-off grades vary
between 0.32g/t and 0.90g/t
Capital Costs:
Pre-production capital costs are estimated at $321 ($328 Nov '18)
million including $34 ($36 Nov '18) million in contingency and
$179 ($181 Nov '18) million for LOM Sustaining
Capital.
The construction period is estimated at 27 months. The pipeline
and generator supply fall on the critical path.
|
September
2020
|
November
2018
|
|
Pre-Production
Capital
|
Sustaining
Capital
|
Pre-Production
Capital
|
Sustaining Capital
|
Mine
|
15
|
-
|
15
|
-
|
Process
Plant
|
169
|
35
|
164
|
35
|
Generator
|
7
|
63
|
4
|
66
|
Water
Pipeline
|
12
|
-
|
26
|
-
|
TSF
|
17
|
54
|
17
|
54
|
Camp
|
3
|
14
|
3
|
14
|
Infrastructure
|
12
|
-
|
12
|
-
|
EPCM
|
27
|
-
|
31
|
-
|
Owner
|
25
|
-
|
21
|
-
|
Closure
|
-
|
13
|
-
|
12
|
Contingency
|
34
|
-
|
36
|
-
|
Total
|
321
|
179
|
328
|
181
|
Generator and camp will be financed via BOOT contracts.
Mining and Processing:
The preferred mining option for Block 14 is a conventional truck
and shovel open pit operation feeding a mineral processing circuit
incorporating primary crushing, SAG and Ball mill grinding followed
by carbon-in-pulp leaching, stripping and electrowinning.
Pre-production will enable the training of the mining crews and
is estimated to produce 0.90Mt of waste stripping and 0.35Mt of
ore, which will be stockpiled. The mining will be completed in
eight years at an average mining rate of 22Mtpa. A low-grade
stockpile (average 0.71g/t) will be created which enables
processing of higher grade ore for the first 7 years of the mine
life with an average grade of 1.49g/t. The stockpiled ore will be
treated over the last 6.6 years.
77.3MT @ 1.07g/t will be mined from the GSS group of pits
adjacent the processing plant. 2.6Mt @ 2.36g/t will be mined from
the Wadi Doum satellite deposit and trucked 65km to the processing
plant during the first five years of the mine life.
Operating costs are based on assumed fuel prices of $0.60/l ($0.70/l -
Nov '18) for diesel and LNG price $9.70/MMTU delivered to site ($0.525/l for HFO380 - Nov '18). LOM power costs
used equate to $0.1083/kWhr
($0.136/kWhr – Nov '18).
All-in Sustaining Costs:
|
September
2020
|
November
2018
|
|
LOM
($/oz)
|
LOM
($/tonne)
|
LOM
($/oz)
|
LOM
($/tonne)
|
Mining
|
233
|
6.81
|
237
|
6.94
|
SP
Re-handle
|
15
|
0.44
|
15
|
0.44
|
Processing
|
279
|
8.16
|
311
|
9.12
|
G &
A
|
59
|
1.71
|
59
|
1.72
|
Refining
|
6
|
0.18
|
6
|
0.18
|
Silver
Credit
|
(10)
|
(0.29)
|
(9)
|
(0.26)
|
Royalties
|
952
|
2.77
|
883
|
2.57
|
Total Cash
Costs
|
676
|
19.78
|
707
|
20.69
|
Sustaining
Capital
|
71
|
2.08
|
72
|
2.11
|
Closure
|
4
|
0.13
|
4
|
0.12
|
All-in Sustaining
Costs1
|
751
|
21.99
|
783
|
22.92
|
1. Quoted All-in Sustaining Costs are presented
as defined by the World Gold Council and include Total Cash Costs,
G&A, Sustaining Capital and Closure
Costs.
2. Gold Price $1,350
3. Gold Price
$1,250
Production Profile:
|
|
Total
|
-1
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
Mined
|
Mt
|
79.9
|
0.4
|
7.5
|
9.8
|
9.9
|
10.3
|
12.2
|
12.2
|
13.1
|
4.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grade
|
Au g/t
|
1.11
|
1.38
|
1.10
|
1.08
|
1.13
|
1.14
|
1.15
|
1.06
|
1.08
|
1.18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Processed
|
Mt
|
79.9
|
|
4.8
|
5.8
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
3.3
|
Grade
|
Au g/t
|
1.11
|
|
1.43
|
1.44
|
1.45
|
1.51
|
1.64
|
1.48
|
1.49
|
1.14
|
0.74
|
0.68
|
0.68
|
0.62
|
0.55
|
0.49
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recovered
|
Au koz
|
2,341
|
|
193
|
229
|
230
|
235
|
251
|
227
|
232
|
175
|
116
|
109
|
109
|
100
|
89
|
47
|
|
Ag koz
|
1,195
|
|
26
|
79
|
122
|
164
|
168
|
129
|
124
|
100
|
60
|
69
|
68
|
53
|
27
|
6
|
Gold Price Sensitivity Analysis:
|
Low
|
Base
|
3-Yr
Trailing
|
Spot (31/08/2020)
|
Gold
Price
($/oz)
|
1,250
|
1,350
|
1,410
|
1,950
|
Post Tax NPV
5% ($M)
|
467
|
607
|
691
|
1,445
|
Post Tax
IRR
(%)
|
27.5%
|
33.3%
|
36.8%
|
66.0%
|
Cash
Cost
($/oz)
|
669
|
676
|
679
|
713
|
AISC
($/oz)
|
745
|
751
|
755
|
789
|
The Feasibility Study was completed by Lycopodium Minerals Pty
Limited, Australia, with inputs
from discipline specific Qualified Persons (QPs). The QPs are
independent and have reviewed and approved this news release. The
areas of responsibility for each QP involved in preparing the
Revised Feasibility Study are:
Project Manager QP
Study Manager: Dr. Geoff
Duckworth: Lycopodium Minerals Pty. Ltd.
Discipline Specific QPs:
Mineral Resource: Nicholas
Johnson: Consulting Geologist, MPR Geological Consultants
Pty Ltd.
Mining: Chris Reardon: Country
Manager, Orca Gold (previously Consultant, Deswik Europe Ltd.)
Metallurgy: Mike Hallewell:
Consultant, MPH Minerals Consultancy Ltd.
Hydrogeology: Pieter
Labuschagne: Consultant, GCS (Pty) Ltd.
Environment: Carl Nicholas:
Consultant, Mineesia Ltd.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
"Richard P. Clark"
Richard P. Clark | CEO &
Director | Orca Gold Inc. | 604.689.7842
ABOUT ORCA GOLD INC.
Orca Gold Inc. (TSXV: ORG) is a Canadian resource company
focused on exploration and development opportunities in
Africa. Led by a board of
directors made up of industry experts and a management team with a
track record of discovering and building significant mines
globally, Orca is developing one of the leading gold projects in
Africa. The Company is currently
focused on its 70%-owned Block 14 Gold Project in the Republic of
the Sudan on which a Feasibility
Study was completed in November 2018 and updated on
September 14, 2020.
The technical contents of this release have been approved by
Kevin Ross, BSc, MBA, a Qualified
Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Ross is the
Chief Operating Officer of the Company, a European Engineer and a
Member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
The Mineral Resource estimate was carried out by Nicholas Johnson of MPR Geological Consultants
of Perth, Western Australia who is considered to be
independent of Orca Gold Inc. Mr. Johnson is a member in good
standing of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and has
sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of
mineralization under consideration and activity which he is
undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National
Instrument 43–101. Mr. Johnson consents to the inclusion in this
press release of the information, in the form and context in which
it appears. Samples used for the results described herein are
prepared and analyzed by fire assay using a 50 gram charge at the
ALS Chemex facility at Rosia Montana in Romania in compliance with industry standards.
Field duplicate samples were taken and blanks and standards are
added to every batch submitted.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION
This press release contains forward-looking
information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of
applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements regarding
Orca's (the "Company", the "Corporation", "we" or "our") plans and
expectations relating to the Block 14 project ("Block 14") in
northern Sudan and the Revised
Feasibility Study ("RFS"). These statements relate to analyses and
other information that are based on forecasts of future results,
estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of
management. Statements concerning mineral resource estimates may
also be deemed to constitute "forward-looking statements" to the
extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will
be encountered if the property is developed. The assumptions, risk
and uncertainties outlined below are non-exhaustive. Should one or
more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should
underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results, performance
or achievements of the Corporation, or industry results, may vary
materially from those described in this presentation.
Any statements that express or involve discussions with
respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections,
objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but
not always, identified by words or phrases such as "expects",
"anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates",
"assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives",
"potential", "possible" or variations thereof or stating that
certain actions, events, conditions or results "may", "could",
"would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be
achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar
expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be
forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information
are not guarantees of future performance and are based upon a
number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the
statements are made including without limitation, assumptions about
the following (the "Forward-Looking Factors"): future prices of
gold and other metals; successful exploration, development, and
production of Block 14; the timing and completion of the RFS;
performance of contractual obligations by counterparties; operating
conditions; political stability; obtaining governmental approvals
and financing on time; financial projections and budgets; obtaining
licenses and permits; government regulation of the Corporation's
mining activities; environmental risks and expenses; market
conditions; the securities market; price volatility of the
Corporation's securities; currency exchange rates; foreign mining
tax regimes; insurance and uninsured risks; financial projections
and results; competition; availability of sufficient capital,
infrastructure, equipment and labour; dependence on key personnel;
dependence on outside parties; conflicts of interest; litigation;
land title issues; local community issues; estimation of mineral
resources; realization of mineral resources; timing and amount of
estimated future production; the life of Block 14; reclamation
obligations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be
evaluated; and anticipated costs and expenditures and our ability
to achieve the Corporation's goals. While we consider these
assumptions to be reasonable, the assumptions are inherently
subject to significant business, social, economic, political,
regulatory, competitive and other risks and uncertainties,
contingencies, many of which are based on factors and events that
are not within the control of the Corporation and there is no
assurance they will prove to be correct.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause
actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the
forward-looking statements, including, without limitation known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the
Forward-Looking Factors above, and those factors disclosed under
the heading "Risk Factors" in the Corporation's documents filed
from time to time with the securities regulators in the provinces
of Canada.
In addition, a number of other factors could cause the actual
results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to differ
materially from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, and there
is no assurance that the actual results, performance or
achievements of the Corporation will be consistent with them. For
further details, reference is made to the risk factors discussed or
referred to in the Corporation's annual and interim management's
discussion and analyses on file with the Canadian securities
regulatory authorities and available electronically on the SEDAR
website at www.sedar.com. Although the Corporation has attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events,
results, performance or achievements to differ materially from
those described in forward-looking statements and forward-looking
information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events,
results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking statements or information will prove to be
accurate, as actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such statements. Such
forward-looking statements and information are made or given as at
the date of this presentation and 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 under applicable securities
law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements or forward-looking information.
Neither the 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 release.
SOURCE Orca Gold Inc.