Sabina Gold & Silver releases 43-101 Back River FS
2015-09-14 08:44 ET - News Release
Mr. Bruce McLeod reports
SABINA GOLD & SILVER ANNOUNCES POSITIVE INITIAL PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY ON BACK RIVER GOLD PROJECT, NUNAVUT
Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. has received the results of the initial project feasibility study for its 100-per-cent-owned Back River gold project in Nunavut, Canada.
"We believe this FS demonstrates that Back River is one of the best gold development projects in our sector. At approximately six grams per tonne gold, I believe it contains the highest-grade undeveloped open pits in North America," said Bruce McLeod, president and chief executive officer. "We have completed two feasibility studies on the project focused on two scenarios: a 6,000-tonne-per-day operation (6KFS) and, in this most recent study, a 3,000 tpd operation. Both of these studies delivered very positive economic results which demonstrate the optionality of these high-grade continuous deposits. The 3,000 tpd FS is the most compelling opportunity for Sabina in this current market environment. Utilizing higher cut-off grades it would enable us to mine our initial open-pit reserves while preserving opportunities for future underground expansion in the same deposits along with other existing project resources not in the current mine plan.
"The fit-for-purpose FS delivers significant gold production of approximately 250,000 ounces Au per year through years one to eight and approximately 200,000 ounces per year life of mine with the majority of production coming from three open pits within approximately three kilometres of the process plant. This scenario provides a lower execution risk for the company by simplifying the mine plan and significantly reducing the capital expenditures as we evolve from developer to producer. Back River is a large and emerging mining district controlled 100 per cent by Sabina with significant recent discoveries as well as many years of exploration potential. We are very excited about our path forward."
A unique feature of the Back River project is the combination of high-grade open-pit and underground resources. These resources offer the optionality to selectively mine and process higher-grade zones through the utilization of a higher cut-off grade, providing an opportunity to start smaller at Back River without significantly sterilizing remaining resources in the existing deposits.
The FS was commenced following the completion of the 6KFS entitled "Technical Report and Feasibility Study for the Back River Gold Property, Nunavut," dated June 22, 2015, and filed on SEDAR. This study indicates the project could generate a posttax internal rate of return of 24.2 per cent and net present value (5 per cent) of $480.3-million with a rapid pay back of 2.9 years. The FS is based on a processing rate of 3,000 tpd with an average head grade of 6.3 grams per tonne gold, producing an average of 198,100 ounces Au per year over an 11.8-year mine life at a life-of-mine cash cost of $534 (U.S.)/ounce Au. Initial capital for the project is estimated at $415-million with sustaining capital of $185-million.
Permitting
The Back River project commenced its formal environmental assessment in 2012 and is currently approximately 75 per cent through the process. The company plans on filing its final environmental impact statement to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) in November of this year, following which, after review by all intervenors, final public hearings are anticipated to be held in Cambridge Bay in first quarter 2016. The company anticipates receiving a project certificate from the Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Canada during second quarter 2016. Receipt of a project certificate is the most significant milestone in the project authorizations process in Nunavut.
Back River -- future potential
The Back River gold project is located in the West Kitikmeot region of Nunavut, Canada, one of the world's safest mining jurisdictions. It is situated approximately 75 kilometres from tidewater at Bathurst Inlet. The project is made up of a series of five claim blocks underlain by favourable banded iron formation host rock, of which only two (Goose and George) have been the primary focus of exploration and resource development to date. Of the approximately 80 km of favourable stratigraphy in the district, the existing resources are located on only approximately 10 km.
The significant resource growth that the project has seen in the last five years and the evolving exploration potential, in both the banded iron formation and enveloping sediments at the project, demonstrate that Back River has potential to become a world-class gold-mining district controlled 100 per cent by Sabina.
In contrast to the 6KFS, the FS contemplates mining only at the Goose property within the open pits at the Goose Main, Umwelt and Llama deposits, and the underground at Umwelt. Approximately 72 per cent of the reserves would be mined by open-pit methods. All of these deposits also have considerable inferred ounces currently defined at depth, and all of the deposits are open at depth and along strike. The Echo underground deposit at the Goose property (not in the current mine plan) also offers immediate potential for future mill feed from the Goose property.
The George property, which contains indicated resources of 6.4 million tonnes grading 5.55 g/t Au for 1.1 million ounces and additional inferred resources of 4.8 million tonnes grading 6.32 g/t Au for 980,000 ounces, is located approximately 50 km to the north of Goose (see the table for certain key assumptions and parameters in respect of these resource estimates). These well drilled resources also demonstrate sources for future mining in the district with minimal additional work.
Additionally, exploration work has been continuing to identify new targets for future drilling and Sabina now has over 50 targets that have been developed and prioritized on the George and Goose properties alone. The other claim blocks at Back River, all hosting numerous gold showings, have seen less work and are relatively unexplored.
Initial project feasibility study highlights
The FS was initiated in June, 2015, by the same consultants that completed the 6KFS led by JDS Energy & Mining Inc. (mining, on-site infrastructure, off-site infrastructure, logistics, capital costs, operating costs, financial analysis and report preparation) and contributed to by Hatch Ltd. (processing and layout), Canenco Canada Inc. (metallurgy and gold recoveries), SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. (geotechnical, hydrology, tailings, waste and water management), AMC Mining Consultants (Canada) Ltd. (geology) and Knight Piesold Ltd. (KP) (geomechanical). All consultants have extensive Arctic experience.
The study's highlights include:
The project could generate a posttax internal rate of return of 24.2 per cent and net present value (at a 5-per-cent discount rate) of $480.3-million;
The project could generate LOM posttax net cash flow of $782-million on gross revenues of $3.2-billion with a payback period of 2.9 years (from start of operations);
A processing rate of 3,000 tpd could produce an average of approximately 198,000 ounces Au per year over an 11.8-year mine life (upon commencement of commercial production), with an average of approximately 244,000 ounces Au per year for the first eight years;
The majority of production from open pit (72 per cent LOM), with no underground production scheduled until year three (after payback);
Initial capital estimate of $415-million and sustaining capital estimate of $185-million;
Total LOM cash cost estimate of $534 (U.S.)/ounce Au (including third party royalties, refining and transport). LOM all-in sustaining cash cost estimate of $620 (U.S.)/ounce Au LOM (including sustaining capital and closure costs);
A total of 12.4 million tonnes of ore could be milled over 11.8 years with a LOM average grade of 6.3 grams per tonne Au and metallurgical recoveries of 93 per cent;
Base-case assumptions of delivered diesel price of 91 cents/litre for power generation;
Open-pit strip ratio of 10.5 over LOM.
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