Key Operating and Financial Highlights
Asanko Gold Mine
Q1 2017 | Q4 2016 | ||||
Waste Mined ('000t) | 5,620 | 5,931 | |||
Ore Mined ('000t) | 1,017 | 1,300 | |||
Strip Ratio (W:O) | 5.5:1 | 4.6:1 | |||
Mining Cost ($/t mined) | 3.89 | 3.88 | |||
Ore Treated ('000t) | 908 | 901 | |||
Gold Feed Grade (g/t) | 2.05 | 2.1 | |||
Gold Recovery (%) | 95 | 94 | |||
Processing Cost ($/t treated) | 13.36 | 12.80 | |||
Gold Production (oz) | 58,187 | 57,178 | |||
Gold Sales (oz) | 57,812 | 58,483 | |||
Average Realised Gold Price ($/oz) | 1,199 | 1,199 | |||
Operating Cash Costs2 ($/oz) | 578 | 524 | |||
Total Cash Costs2 ($/oz) | 638 | 584 | |||
All-in Sustaining Costs ("AISC")3 ($/oz) | 956 | 893 | |||
All-in Sustaining Margin ($/oz) 1 | 243 | 306 | |||
Gross Gold Revenue ($m) | 69.3 | 70.1 | |||
Production Costs, including Royalties ($m) | 37.7 | 34.5 | |||
Income from Mine Operations ($m) | 15.1 | 6.3 | |||
Net Income (Loss) ($m) | 7.8 | (8.5 | ) | ||
Net Income (Loss) per Share | $0.04 | $(0.04 | ) | ||
Adjusted Net Income1 (Loss) ($m) | 7.8 | (4.1 | ) | ||
Adjusted Net Income1 (Loss) per Share | $0.04 | $(0.02 | ) | ||
Cash provided by Operating Activities ($m) | 14.4 | 23.4 | |||
Cash provided by Operating Activities b/f working capital ($m) | 28.8 | 29.2 | |||
Cash provided by Operating Activities per share | $0.07 | $0.12 |
Q1 2017 Operating Results
Q1 2017 Financial Performance
Q1 2017 Liquidity and Capital Resources
2017 Outlook and Opportunities
The Company re-iterates its 2017 guidance of 230,000 - 240,000 ounces at AISC of US$880 - US$920 per ounce.
The expansion projects are progressing well. Construction of Project 5 Million recently commenced and is on track for commissioning in Q4 2017, a quarter ahead of the original schedule. We expect to see some partial volumetric increases commencing in early Q3 2017. Ore feed for the upgraded plant will be provided by Nkran, Dynamite Hill (starting in Q3) and Akwasiso. Bush clearing for the conveyor linking Esaase to the processing facility is underway and already nearly 50% complete. The Expansion Definitive Feasibility Study is due to be published in Q2. Importantly Project 5 Million, construction of the conveyor and development of Esaase are expected to be fully funded from current cash resources and cash flow from operations in 2017 and 2018. The Company expects to end the year with available liquidity of between $49 million and $62 million after the 2017 capital program, which will be more than enough to fund the remaining 2018 capital program, amounting to $63 million.
The Akwasiso infill drilling campaign was completed during Q1, resulting in a significant increase in Mineral Resources and Reserves to 322,500 ounces (79%) and 214,500 ounces (62%) respectively. This increase in Akwasiso's reserves further boosts the near-term ore inventory available to support the mine production profile at increased levels through until 2019 as Asanko becomes a multi-pit operator.
Notes:
1Non-GAAP Performance Measures
The Company has included certain non-GAAP performance measures in this press release, including working capital, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) per share, operating cash costs, total cash costs, all-in sustaining costs per ounce of gold produced and all-in sustaining margin. These non-GAAP performance measures do not have any standardized meaning. Accordingly, these performance measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.
2Operating Cash Costs per ounce and Total Cash Costs per ounce
Operating cash costs are reflective of the cost of production, adjusted for share-based payments and by-product revenue for each ounce of gold sold. Total cash costs include production royalties of 5%.
3All-in Sustaining Costs Per Gold Ounce
The Company has adopted the reporting of "all-in sustaining costs per gold ounce" ("AISC") as per the World Gold Council's guidance. AISC include total cash costs, corporate overhead expenses, sustaining capital expenditure, capitalized stripping costs and reclamation cost accretion for each ounce of gold sold.
2017 Q1 Financial Results Conference Call and Webcast Details | |
Thursday 4 May at 9am Eastern Time | |
US/Canada Toll Free: | 1 800 896 6826 |
UK Toll Free: | 0800 496 0825 |
International: | +1 212 231 2910 |
Presentation available here: http://www.asanko.com/ | |
Webcast: | |
Please click on the link: https://cc.callinfo.com/r/z99g68ieotfj&eom | |
Replay | |
A recorded playback will be available approximately two hours after the call until April 16, 2017: | |
US/Canada Toll Free: | 1 800 663 8284 |
International: | +1 406 977 9140 |
Passcode: | #21851179 |
Enquiries:
For further information please visit: www.asanko.com, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
About Asanko Gold Inc.
Asanko's vision is to become a mid-tier gold mining company that maximizes value for all its stakeholders. The Company's flagship project is the multi-million ounce Asanko Gold Mine located in Ghana, West Africa. The mine is being developed in phases. Phase 1 commenced gold production in January 2016 and declared commercial production on April 1, 2016. Ramp-up to steady state production was achieved in Q2 2016.
Asanko is managed by highly skilled and successful technical, operational and financial professionals. The Company is strongly committed to the highest standards for environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighbouring communities.
Forward-Looking and other Cautionary Information
This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address estimated resource quantities, grades and contained metals, possible future mining, exploration and development activities, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices for metals, the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses, the timely renewal of key permits, lower than expected grades and quantities of resources, mining rates and recovery rates and the lack of availability of necessary capital, which may not be available to the Company on terms acceptable to it or at all. The Company is subject to the specific risks inherent in the mining business as well as general economic and business conditions. For more information on the Company, Investors should review the Company's Annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities Commission and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.
Neither Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Note to US Investors Regarding Mineral Reporting Standards:
Asanko has prepared its disclosure in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of US securities laws. Terms relating to mineral resources in this press release are defined in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects under the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") permits mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. Asanko uses certain terms, such as, "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources", "inferred mineral resources" and "probable mineral reserves", that the SEC does not recognize (these terms may be used in this press release and are included in the public filings of Asanko which have been filed with securities commissions or similar authorities in Canada).
Asanko Gold Inc.
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www.asanko.com
Asanko Gold Inc.
Alex Buck
Manager, Investor and Media Relations
Toll-Free (N.America): 1-855-246-7341
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Ryan Walchuck
VP Corporate Development and Investor Relations
+1-778-986-20001
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