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KAZ Kaz Minerals Plc

849.00
0.00 (0.00%)
Last Updated: 01:00:00
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Kaz Minerals Plc LSE:KAZ London Ordinary Share GB00B0HZPV38 ORD 20P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 849.00 849.00 849.40 0.00 01:00:00
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
0 0 N/A 0

KAZ Minerals PLC Q4 and Full Year 2016 Production Report (1432V)

26/01/2017 7:00am

UK Regulatory


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TIDMKAZ

RNS Number : 1432V

KAZ Minerals PLC

26 January 2017

 
 
     KAZ MINERALS 
     PLC 
     6(TH) FLOOR 
     CARDINAL PLACE 
     100 VICTORIA 
     STREET 
     LONDON SW1E 5JL 
     Tel: +44 (0) 
     20 7901 7800 
  ================== 
 

26 January 2017

KAZ MINERALS GROUP Production Report for 12 months and THE fourth QUARTER Ended 31 December 2016

l Full year copper guidance met and by-product guidance exceeded in 2016

l Copper cathode equivalent production(1) of 140 kt (guidance 135-145 kt)

-- Copper output growth of 73% year-on-year (FY 2015: 81 kt)

-- New projects Bozshakol and Aktogay contributed 63 kt of new copper cathode equivalent production in 2016

-- Q4 copper cathode equivalent production of 43 kt (Q3 2016: 45 kt)

l Bozshakol copper cathode equivalent output of 20 kt in Q4 (Q3 2016: 17 kt)

-- Ramp up on track, ore throughput averaged above 75% in Q4

-- 50 kt of copper in concentrate and 45 kt copper cathode equivalent output in 2016

l Aktogay oxide Q4 output of 6 kt, full year copper cathode output of 18 kt

-- 6 kt of copper cathode output in Q4 2016 (Q3 2016: 7 kt), despite colder weather

-- Testing in progress at main sulphide concentrator, first copper production expected in Q1 2017

l East Region and Bozymchak Q4 copper cathode equivalent output of 17 kt (Q3 2016: 21 kt)

-- Q3 output benefited from a release of work in progress

l By-product output exceeds full year guidance ranges

-- Stronger than anticipated by-product grades in the East Region in Q4 2016

-- Bozymchak operated at design capacity throughout 2016

-- Bozshakol 2016 gold bar equivalent output of 60 koz supported by elevated gold grades

(1) The Group's finished goods "equivalent" production includes both finished metals produced and the finished metal equivalent of concentrate sold in the period.

Oleg Novachuk, Chief Executive, said: "I am pleased that we have achieved our copper and by-product guidance for 2016, a 73% increase in copper output on the prior year, as we successfully ramped up Bozshakol and the Aktogay oxide plant. Operating costs at Bozshakol have temporarily benefited from lower than anticipated maintenance requirements during the ramp up period, and full year gross cash costs are expected to be in the region of 20% below the bottom of the previously guided range of 140-160 USc/lb. Our growth will continue in 2017 as Bozshakol reaches capacity and we commence production from sulphide ore at Aktogay."

For further information please contact:

 
 KAZ Minerals 
  PLC 
====================  ==========================  ================= 
 Chris Bucknall        Investor Relations,         Tel: +44 20 7901 
                        London                                 7882 
                       Investor Relations,         Tel: +44 20 7901 
 Anna Mallere           London                                 7814 
 Maksut Zhapabayev     Corporate Communications,    Tel: +7 727 244 
                        Almaty                                03 53 
====================  ==========================  ================= 
 Instinctif Partners 
====================  ==========================  ================= 
                                                   Tel: +44 20 7457 
 David Simonson                                                2020 
====================  ==========================  ================= 
 

REGISTERED OFFICE

6th Floor, Cardinal Place, 100 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5JL, United Kingdom.

NOTES TO EDITORS

KAZ Minerals PLC ("KAZ Minerals" or "the Group") is a high growth copper company focused on large scale, low cost, open pit mining in Kazakhstan. It operates three mines and three concentrators in the East Region of Kazakhstan, the Bozymchak copper-gold mine in Kyrgyzstan, the Bozshakol open pit copper mine in the Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan and the Aktogay open pit copper mine in the East Region of Kazakhstan. In 2016, total copper cathode equivalent output was 140 kt with by-products of 75 kt of zinc in concentrate, 120 koz of gold bar equivalent and 3,103 koz of silver bar equivalent.

The Group's major growth projects at Bozshakol and Aktogay are expected to deliver one of the highest growth rates in the industry and transform KAZ Minerals into a company dominated by world class, open pit copper mines.

Bozshakol is a first quartile asset on the global cost curve and will have an annual ore processing capacity of 30 million tonnes when fully ramped up, with a mine life of 40 years at a copper grade of 0.36%. The mine and processing facilities will produce 100 kt of copper cathode equivalent and 120 koz of gold in concentrate per year over the first 10 years of operations.

Aktogay is a large scale, open pit mine similar to Bozshakol, with a mine life of more than 50 years and average copper grades of 0.37% (oxide) and 0.33% (sulphide). Aktogay commenced production of copper cathode from oxide ore in December 2015 and copper in concentrate production from sulphide ore is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2017. The sulphide concentrator will have an annual ore processing capacity of 25 million tonnes when fully ramped up. Aktogay is competitively positioned on the global cost curve and will produce an average of 90 kt of copper cathode equivalent from sulphide ore and 15 kt of copper cathode from oxide ore per year over the first 10 years of operations.

KAZ Minerals is listed on the London Stock Exchange, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and employs around 13,000 people, principally in Kazakhstan.

This announcement contains inside information.

GROUP PRODUCTION SUMMARY

 
                                                                12m      12m       Q4       Q3      Q4 
                                                               2016     2015     2016     2016    2015 
 =========================================================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
 Ore extraction                             kt               49,022   14,537   13,258   13,665   8,040 
==============================  ==========================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
 Average copper 
  grade                                          %             0.66     1.10     0.67     0.67    0.88 
================================  ========================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
 Copper in 
  ore mined                                      kt           324.2    160.3     88.6     91.0    70.7 
=================================  =======================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
 
 Copper in concentrate                             kt         131.3     89.4     40.8     37.2    23.0 
==================================  ======================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
 
 Copper cathode 
  equivalent (1)                                      kt      140.3     81.1     43.2     44.5    22.7 
===================================  =====================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
     Bozshakol                                          kt     44.8        -     20.1     16.9       - 
===================================  =====================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
     Aktogay                                            kt     18.1      0.4      6.1      6.6     0.4 
===================================  =====================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
     East Region & Bozymchak                            kt     77.4     80.7     17.0     21.0    22.3 
===================================  =====================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
 
 Zinc in concentrate                                    kt     75.4     94.3     19.2     16.6    21.0 
===================================  =====================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
 Gold bar equivalent 
  (1)                                                  koz    119.7     34.6     39.7     40.9     6.4 
===================================  =====================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
 Silver bar equivalent 
  (1)                                                  koz    3,103    3,135      867      806     686 
===================================  =====================  =======  =======  =======  =======  ====== 
 

(1) Includes finished metals produced and the finished metal equivalent of concentrate sold in the period.

Copper cathode equivalent output in the fourth quarter of 43.2 kt resulted in full year production of 140.3 kt, in line with guidance of 135-145 kt and representing a 73% increase from 2015. The production growth from 2015 reflects the ramp up of the sulphide concentrator at Bozshakol which added 44.8 kt of new copper cathode equivalent in 2016 and the oxide operations at Aktogay which contributed 18.1 kt of cathode.

Total ore extraction in 2016 grew to 49.0 million tonnes from 14.5 million tonnes in 2015, as mining operations at Aktogay and Bozshakol stepped up to support processing activities at both sites. The average copper grade reduced in 2016 compared to 2015, reflecting the incremental ore extraction from the new lower grade open pit mines at Bozshakol and Aktogay.

In Q4 2016, copper cathode equivalent production decreased by 1.3 kt or 3% compared to Q3 2016, despite higher underlying copper in concentrate output, as the East Region's Q3 figures benefited from a release of work in progress at the Balkhash smelter. Copper output also decreased by 0.5 kt at the Aktogay oxide operations in Q4, as expected during the winter period. The combined 4.5 kt reduction in output from the East Region, Bozymchak and Aktogay mines was partially offset by continued progress in the ramp up of Bozshakol, where copper cathode equivalent production increased by 3.2 kt or 19% compared to Q3 2016.

Ore extraction reduced by 407 kt in Q4 versus Q3 2016 due to planned lower extraction at Aktogay in line with heap leaching requirements, with the Group copper grade remaining stable at 0.67%.

Following strong by-product output in Q4 2016, in particular as the Artemyevsky mine reported higher than anticipated by-product content and Yubileyno-Snegirikhinsky continued mining until the end of December, the Group's zinc, gold and silver output in 2016 met or exceeded the top end of the Group's guidance ranges for the year.

The Yubileyno-Snegirikhinsky mine ceased operations at the end of 2016, having contributed production of 5.5 kt of copper in concentrate, 0.8 koz of gold in concentrate, 53.0 koz of silver in concentrate and 0.5 kt of zinc in concentrate during the year.

BOZSHAKOL

Mining

 
                                                   12m     12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
                                                  2016    2015    2016    2016    2015 
===  ========================================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Ore extraction                            kt   28,272   7,099   8,790   8,466   6,070 
===========================  ================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Average copper 
  grade                                     %     0.58    0.69    0.58    0.62    0.69 
===========================  ================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Copper in 
 ore mined                            kt         164.6    48.7    51.0    52.1    41.8 
=========================  ==================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Average gold 
  grade                                   g/t     0.30    0.31    0.29    0.32    0.32 
==========================  =================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Gold in ore mined                      koz      270.1    70.0    81.5    88.1    62.8 
==========================  =================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Average silver 
  grade                                   g/t      1.5     2.1     1.4     1.5     2.0 
==========================  =================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Silver in ore 
  mined                                 koz      1,361     469     388     405     381 
==========================  =================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Average molybdenum 
  grade(1)                                  %    0.005   0.005   0.005   0.005   0.005 
==========================  =================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Molybdenum in 
  ore mined(1)                              t      714      25     246     210      25 
==========================  =================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 

(1) Molybdenum mined in sulphide ore. Production of molybdenum concentrate has not yet commenced.

Ore output continued to increase at Bozshakol during Q4 2016 to support the ramp up of operations. The average copper grade of 0.58% was below the previous quarter (0.62%) as lower grade clay areas were mined for processing during the commissioning phase of the clay plant, which began on 29 September 2016. Total ore mined in Q4 of 8,790 kt consisted of 4,493 kt of sulphide ore with a grade of 0.58% and 4,297 kt of clay ore also with a grade of 0.58%. As at 31 December 2016, a total of 21,266 kt of clay ore was stockpiled at Bozshakol with an average copper grade of 0.63%.

Ore extraction in 2016 rose to 28.3 million tonnes from 7.1 million tonnes in 2015, and copper in ore mined to 164.6 kt from 48.7 kt, as mining operations commenced at Bozshakol in May 2015 and increased in 2016 to support the ramp up of the sulphide concentrator. The pace of mining activity is now approaching the level required to supply the maximum ore processing capacity at Bozshakol of 30 million tonnes per annum.

The grade of gold remained high at 0.29 g/t in Q4 2016 compared to the measured and indicated resource grade of 0.14 g/t, supporting gold production at Bozshakol in 2016.

Processing

 
                                       12m     12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
                                      2016    2015    2016    2016    2015 
 =================================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Copper in concentrate          kt    50.3       -    22.2    17.5       - 
===========================  =====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Copper cathode 
  equivalent(1)                 kt    44.8       -    20.1    16.9       - 
===========================  =====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Gold in concentrate           koz    68.0       -    28.4    26.6       - 
===========================  =====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Gold bar equivalent(1)        koz    59.6       -    25.6    24.9       - 
===========================  =====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Silver in concentrate         koz   338.0       -   162.3   110.8       - 
===========================  =====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Silver bar equivalent(1)      koz   285.8       -   139.3   102.6       - 
===========================  =====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 

(1) The finished metal equivalent of concentrate sold in the period.

The Bozshakol sulphide concentrator produced 22.2 kt of copper in concentrate in Q4, a 27% increase compared to the previous quarter. Average mill throughput in Q4 was over 75%, with higher levels achieved in October followed by reduced throughput in November due to shutdowns for planned commissioning activities. Total production from the main sulphide concentrator in 2016 was 50.1 kt of copper in concentrate and 44.8 kt of copper cathode equivalent, in line with the bottom end of the full year guidance range of 45-55 kt.

Gold in concentrate output increased by 1.8 koz or 7% quarter on quarter as the higher quantity of ore processed was partially offset by a slightly lower ore grade feed. Bozshakol produced 59.6 koz of gold bar equivalent in 2016, at the top end of full year production guidance of 50-60 koz.

Silver in concentrate production increased by 51.5 koz or 46% in Q4 compared to Q3 2016, with silver bar equivalent output also increasing by 36.7 koz or 36% to 139.3 koz.

On 29 September 2016 commissioning works commenced at the Bozshakol clay plant, with 0.2 kt of copper in concentrate produced during initial testing in Q4. The clay plant will continue its ramp up in 2017.

Subject to smelting capacity availability at Balkhash in 2017, a small quantity of concentrate produced at Bozshakol may be sent for toll processing in Kazakhstan on the same terms as East Region material, with the Group benefiting from savings on transport and logistics costs when compared to concentrate sales to China.

As previously announced, the project was declared commercial in October 2016. In the pre-commercial period from January to October, Bozshakol produced 31.1 kt of copper cathode equivalent, 42.9 koz of gold bar equivalent and 188 koz of silver bar equivalent.

AKTOGAY

Mining and processing

 
                                      12m     12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
                                     2016    2015    2016    2016    2015 
======================  ========  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Ore extraction          kt        16,086   3,003   3,344   4,063     878 
=====================  =========  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Copper grade            %           0.41    0.37    0.43    0.38    0.36 
=====================  =========  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Copper in ore mined          kt     65.7    11.0    14.5    15.5     3.1 
=======================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 
 Copper cathode              kt      18.1     0.4     6.1     6.6     0.4 
=======================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 

Aktogay ore output reduced by 719 kt or 18% in Q4 as lower volumes of ore were required to supply the oxide heap leach pads and as mining activities were focused on exposing sulphide material. A small volume of sulphide ore (97 kt) was mined in December, with significant sulphide material now exposed and ready to supply the concentrator. 3,247 kt of oxide ore with a copper grade of 0.43% was mined in Q4 compared to 4,063 kt in Q3 at a grade of 0.38%.

The quantity of copper in ore mined reduced slightly due to the lower level of ore extracted in Q4 compared to Q3 2016, falling by 1 kt or 6% to 14.5 kt.

In the prior year, mining activies were focused on preparatory works and obtaining the initial oxide ore for placement on the leach pads. Mining activities stepped up in 2016 to support processing, with 16.1 million tonnes of ore extracted in 2016, compared to 3.0 million tonnes in 2015.

Copper cathode production from oxide ore in Q4 reduced compared to Q3 due to seasonally lower temperatures, falling by 0.5 kt or 8% to 6.1 kt. The successful ramp up of the leaching and SX/EW operations during 2016 resulted in full year output of 18.1 kt for 2016.

The Aktogay sulphide concentrator commenced commissioning on 6 December 2016 and is currently undergoing testing. The first production of saleable copper concentrate is expected in Q1 2017.

EAST REGION & BOZYMCHAK

Copper mining

 
                                     12m     12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
                                    2016    2015    2016    2016    2015 
 ===============================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Ore extraction               kt   4,664   4,435   1,124   1,136   1,092 
==========================  ====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Orlovsky                     kt   1,260   1,417     287     294     355 
==========================  ====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
                               %    3.67    3.69    3.89    3.87    4.20 
 ===============================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Artemyevsky                  kt   1,309   1,289     323     340     316 
==========================  ====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
                               %    1.48    1.62    1.34    1.47    1.43 
 ===============================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Irtyshsky                    kt     632     655     159     157     166 
==========================  ====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
                               %    1.54    1.67    1.52    1.59    1.64 
 ===============================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Yubileyno-Snegirikhinsky     kt     528     625     136     129     142 
==========================  ====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
                               %    1.98    1.94    2.44    2.05    1.83 
 ===============================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Bozymchak                    kt     935     449     219     216     113 
==========================  ====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
                               %    0.86    0.97    0.86    0.87    0.98 
 ===============================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Average grade                 %    2.01    2.27    2.06    2.06    2.36 
 Copper in ore 
  mined                       kt    93.9   100.6    23.1    23.4    25.8 
==========================  ====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 

Ore extraction in the East Region and Bozymchak in Q4 2016 was in line with the previous quarter. In 2016 ore output increased compared to 2015 as Bozymchak operated at full capacity throughout the year, more than offsetting lower output from the East Region mines.

Copper in ore mined in Q4 was stable compared to Q3 2016, with the lower grade at Artemyevsky offset by an increase in copper content at Yubileyno-Snegirikhinsky. Copper in ore mined decreased in 2016 by 6.7 kt or 7% compared to the prior year, due to lower copper grades at all mines other than Yubileyno-Snegirikhinsky and reduced ore output from Orlovsky.

At the Orlovksy mine the introduction of a six day week in the second half of the year to allow for essential maintenance work to a ventilation shaft resulted in a 157 kt or 11% decrease in ore extraction to 1,260 kt for the full year. The works will continue in 2017 and into 2018.

The Yubileyno-Snegirikhinsky mine was expected to cease operations in the second half of 2016 and mining activities ended in December 2016 with all mineral reserves fully exploited after 15 years. Ore stockpiled at the site will be processed in the first half of 2017. 118 employees have either been redeployed within the Group or accepted redundancy, whilst 40 employees will remain on site to supervise the process of decommissioning and rehabilitation.

Copper processing

 
                                                       12m     12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
                                                      2016    2015    2016    2016    2015 
===  =============================================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Copper in concentrate                          kt    81.0    89.4    18.6    19.7    23.0 
===================================  =============  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Orlovsky concentrator                          kt    41.7    47.2    10.4     9.9    13.5 
===================================  =============  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Nikolayevsky concentrator                      kt    22.5    29.0     4.2     5.6     5.9 
===================================  =============  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Belousovsky concentrator                       kt     8.6    10.1     2.1     2.1     2.6 
===================================  =============  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Bozymchak concentrator                         kt     8.2     3.1     1.9     2.1     1.0 
===================================  =============  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 
 Copper cathode equivalent(1)                  kt     77.4    80.7    17.0    21.0    22.3 
====================================  ============  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 

(1) Includes finished metal produced and the finished metal equivalent of concentrate sold in the period.

Copper in concentrate output reduced in Q4 2016 by 1.1 kt or 6% compared to Q3 due to lower grades and restricted ore deliveries to the Nikolayevsky concentrator due to poor weather conditions and road repairs, partially offset by higher production from Orlovsky.

In 2016 copper in concentrate declined by 8.4 kt or 9% compared to the prior year as reduced output from the two largest concentrators, Orlovsky and Nikolayevsky, more than offset higher production from the optimised Bozymchak. Orlovsky processed a lower quantity of ore as the mine moved to a six day week in the second half of the year, whilst a lower copper grade from Artemyevsky reduced the feed grade at the Nikolayevsky concentrator.

Copper cathode equivalent output in Q4 decreased by 4 kt or 19% compared to Q3 2016 as the previous quarter benefited from a large release of work in progress at the Balkhash smelter and due to 1.1 kt lower copper in concentrate production.

2016 copper cathode equivalent production reduced by 3.3 kt or 4% year on year, mainly due to the lower copper in concentrate output. Maintenance work at the Balkhash smelter in Q4 2016 resulted in some work in progress being carried forward into 2017.

Full year copper cathode equivalent production of 77.4 kt includes 0.9 kt recognised following the sale of copper concentrate produced at Bozymchak in 2015 to a third party processor in Q1 2016 and 1.7 kt of material that was sold as copper concentrate from the East Region to a third party processor in China in the second half of 2016. Limited volumes of East Region concentrate may continue to be sold to China in 2017.

Zinc

 
                                  12m     12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
                                 2016    2015    2016    2016    2015 
=======================  ====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Zinc bearing 
  ore mined                kt   3,729   3,986     905     920     979 
======================  =====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Grade                      %    2.98    3.23    3.38    2.75    3.09 
======================  =====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Zinc in ore mined         kt   111.3   128.9    30.6    25.3    30.2 
======================  =====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Zinc in concentrate       kt    75.4    94.3    19.2    16.6    21.0 
=====================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 

Zinc in ore mined increased by 5.3 kt or 21% in Q4 compared to Q3 2016 due to higher zinc grades across all East Region mines (3.38% from 2.75% in Q3). The zinc grade at the Yubileyno-Snegirikhinsky mine was 3.93% in its last quarter of operations, compared to 1.22% in the previous quarter.

Zinc in concentrate output increased by 2.6 kt or 16% in Q4 2016 versus the previous quarter, driven by the higher grades, but fell by 18.9 kt or 20% in 2016 compared to the prior year as the volume of ore mined and grade in the East Region reduced in line with expectations.

Full year zinc in ore mined reduced by 17.6 kt or 14% as both ore output and grade were lower year on year. The largest zinc producing mine, Orlovsky, moved to a six day week in the second half of the year for maintenance works and the zinc grade in the second largest mine, Artemyevsky, reduced to 2.10% from 2.96% in 2015.

Gold

 
                                     12m     12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
                                    2016    2015    2016    2016    2015 
=========================  =====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Gold bearing 
  ore mined                   kt   4,664   4,435   1,124   1,136   1,092 
========================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Grade                       g/t    0.74    0.75    0.72    0.68    0.73 
========================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Gold in ore mined           koz   111.2   106.6    26.1    25.0    25.7 
========================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Gold in concentrate         koz    67.6    42.1    16.5    16.3    11.5 
========================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Gold bar equivalent(1)      koz    60.1    34.6    14.1    16.0     6.4 
========================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 

(1) Includes finished metal produced and the finished metal equivalent of concentrate sold in the period.

Gold bearing ore output in Q4 2016 of 1,124 kt was stable compared to the previous quarter. However, the average gold grade increased from 0.68 g/t in Q3 to 0.72 g/t in Q4 due to an almost doubling of gold content at Artemyevsky, from 0.27 g/t to 0.50 g/t, as mining moved through a by-product rich area. Gold in concentrate output was stable from Q3 into Q4 2016, increasing by 1% to 16.5 koz.

Gold bar equivalent output in Q4 of 14.1 koz represented a decrease of 1.9 koz or 12% compared to Q3, due to a small build up of work in progress at the Balkhash smelter whereas Q3 2016 had benefited from a release of work in progress.

In 2016 gold bearing ore output increased by 229 kt or 5% compared to 2015, to 4,664 kt. The ramp up of mining at Bozymchak added 486 kt of additional gold bearing ore, more than offsetting the reduction in output in the East Region. The gold grade in 2016 was stable compared to 2015, but gold in concentrate output increased significantly, by 25.5 koz or 61%, reflecting the operation of the Bozymchak concentrator at its design capacity throughout 2016. Gold bar equivalent output for the full year consequently increased by 25.5 kt or 74% to 60.1 koz, ahead of full year guidance of 45-55 koz.

Silver

 
                                        12m     12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
                                       2016    2015    2016    2016    2015 
============================  =====  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Silver bearing 
  ore mined                      kt   4,664   4,435   1,124   1,136   1,092 
===========================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Grade                          g/t    37.8    43.3    41.0    34.2    41.6 
===========================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Silver in ore 
  mined                         koz   5,660   6,168   1,483   1,248   1,460 
===========================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Silver in concentrate          koz   3,224   3,229     922     680     801 
==========================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Silver bar equivalent(1)       koz   2,817   3,135     728     703     686 
===========================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 

(1) Includes finished metal produced and the finished metal equivalent of concentrate sold in the period.

Silver grades increased in Q4 2016 to 41.0 g/t from 34.2 g/t in Q3 as Artemyevsky benefited from the mining of a by-product rich area, with silver content rising from 24.6 g/t in Q3 to 56.1 g/t in Q4 2016. Higher grades drove growth in silver in ore mined of 235 koz, a 19% increase on Q3 2016. Silver in concentrate production benefited from the increase in silver in ore mined, but silver bar equivalent output only increased by 4% to 728 koz in Q4 due to a build up of work in progress at the Balkhash precious metal smelter, compared to a release of work in progress in Q3 2016.

Silver in ore mined reduced by 8% in 2016 compared to 2015, but silver in concentrate production remained stable as concentrator recovery rates improved. Silver bar equivalent output in 2016 of 2,817 koz represents a decrease of 10% compared to the prior year, but exceeded guidance for the East Region and Bozymchak of 2,250-2,500 koz. Silver grades were expected to fall in the East Region mines in 2016, but were stronger than anticipated at Artemyevsky and Irtyshsky (which also assisted concentrator recovery rates) and the Yubileyno-Snegirikhinsky mine was able to sustain operations until December 2016, when mining operations ceased.

APPIX - GROUP PRODUCTION SUMMARY

Copper processing

 
                                         12m     12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
 East Region                            2016    2015    2016    2016    2015 
===================================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Copper concentrate           kt    366.4   441.4    86.3    84.5   117.3 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Copper in concentrate        kt     72.8    86.3    16.7    17.6    22.0 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Bozymchak 
===================================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Copper concentrate           kt     33.9    13.2     8.2     9.0     3.9 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Copper in concentrate        kt      8.2     3.1     1.9     2.1     1.0 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Bozshakol 
===================================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Copper concentrate           kt    214.4       -    97.1    72.1       - 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Copper in concentrate        kt     50.3       -    22.2    17.5       - 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Total copper concentrate        kt    614.7   454.6   191.6   165.6   121.2 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Total copper in concentrate     kt    131.3    89.4    40.8    37.2    23.0 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Aktogay oxide 
===================================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Ore to leach pads            kt   15,989   3,003   3,247   4,063     878 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Grade                         %     0.41    0.37    0.43    0.38    0.36 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 
 Copper cathode                  kt     92.9    81.1    22.9    26.1    22.7 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Copper cathode equivalent       kt    140.3    81.1    43.2    44.5    22.7 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    East Region(1)               kt     70.2    78.5    15.7    18.9    21.8 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozymchak(1)                 kt      7.2     2.2     1.3     2.1     0.5 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Aktogay oxide                kt     18.1     0.4     6.1     6.6     0.4 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozshakol(1)                 kt     44.8       -    20.1    16.9       - 
=============================  ====  =======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 

(1) Includes finished metal produced and the finished metal equivalent of concentrate sold in the period.

Zinc

 
                                        12m     12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
                                       2016    2015    2016    2016    2015 
 ==================================  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Zinc bearing ore 
  mined                          kt   3,729   3,986     905     920     979 
==========================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
                              grade 
 Orlovsky                       (%)    4.38    4.52    4.39    4.18    5.03 
==========================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
                              grade 
 Artemyevsky                    (%)    2.10    2.96    2.25    1.84    2.11 
==========================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
                              grade 
 Irtyshsky                      (%)    3.12    3.13    3.39    3.33    3.06 
==========================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
                              grade 
 Yubileyno-Snegirikhinsky       (%)    1.68    0.98    3.93    1.22    0.43 
==========================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
                              grade 
 Average                        (%)    2.98    3.23    3.38    2.75    3.09 
==========================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Zinc in ore mined               kt   111.3   128.9    30.6    25.3    30.2 
==========================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Zinc in concentrate             kt    75.4    94.3    19.2    16.6    21.0 
==========================  =======  ======  ======  ======  ======  ====== 
 

Gold

 
                                                      12m      12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
                                                     2016     2015    2016    2016    2015 
===============================  ===============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Gold bearing ore 
  mined                          kt                32,936   11,534   9,914   9,602   7,162 
==============================  ================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Orlovsky                    grade (g/t)             1.02     1.18    0.88    1.05    1.14 
==========================  ====================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Artemyevsky                 grade (g/t)             0.37     0.38    0.50    0.27    0.37 
==========================  ====================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Irtyshsky                   grade (g/t)             0.29     0.28    0.32    0.29    0.29 
==========================  ====================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
                               grade 
 Yubileyno-Snegirikhinsky       (g/t)                0.27     0.28    0.32    0.25    0.19 
============================  ==================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
                               grade 
 Bozymchak                      (g/t)                1.46     1.77    1.39    1.37    1.82 
============================  ==================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
                               grade 
 Bozshakol                      (g/t)                0.30     0.31    0.29    0.32    0.32 
============================  ==================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
                               grade 
 Average                        (g/t)                0.36     0.48    0.34    0.37    0.38 
============================  ==================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Gold metal in 
  ore mined                    koz                  381.3    176.6   107.6   113.1    88.5 
============================  ==================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    East Region               koz                    67.3     81.1    16.3    15.4    19.1 
===========================  ===================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozymchak                 koz                    43.9     25.5     9.8     9.6     6.6 
===========================  ===================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozshakol                 koz                   270.1     70.0    81.5    88.1    62.8 
===========================  ===================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Gold in concentrate               koz              135.6     42.1    44.9    42.9    11.5 
================================  ==============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    East Region                    koz               21.8     24.3     5.9     4.4     5.9 
================================  ==============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozymchak                      koz               45.8     17.8    10.6    11.9     5.6 
================================  ==============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozshakol                      koz               68.0        -    28.4    26.6       - 
================================  ==============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Gold bar equivalent                koz             119.7     34.6    39.7    40.9     6.4 
=================================  =============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    East Region(1)              koz                  21.8     22.1     4.7     5.0     3.3 
=============================  =================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozymchak(1)                koz                  38.3     12.5     9.4    11.0     3.1 
=============================  =================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozshakol(1)                koz                  59.6        -    25.6    24.9       - 
=============================  =================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 

(1) Includes finished metal produced and the finished metal equivalent of concentrate sold in the period.

Silver

 
                                                      12m      12m      Q4      Q3      Q4 
                                                     2016     2015    2016    2016    2015 
===============================  ===============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Silver bearing 
  ore mined                        kt              32,936   11,534   9,914   9,602   7,162 
================================  ==============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Orlovsky                    grade (g/t)             58.0     64.4    45.9    61.9    62.3 
==========================  ====================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Artemyevsky                 grade (g/t)             38.9     35.1    56.1    24.6    33.5 
==========================  ====================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
                                grade 
 Irtyshsky                       (g/t)               53.6     62.2    59.7    52.4    59.6 
=============================  =================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
                                grade 
 Yubileyno-Snegirikhinsky        (g/t)               17.5     16.4    25.3    16.5    12.3 
=============================  =================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
                                  grade 
 Bozymchak                         (g/t)              9.5     10.0     8.8     8.8     9.2 
===============================  ===============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
                                  grade 
 Bozshakol                         (g/t)              1.5      2.1     1.4     1.5     2.0 
===============================  ===============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
                                  grade 
 Average                           (g/t)              6.6     17.9     5.9     5.4     8.0 
===============================  ===============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Silver in ore 
  mined                           koz               7,021    6,637   1,871   1,653   1,841 
===============================  ===============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    East Region               koz                   5,376    6,024   1,421   1,187   1,427 
===========================  ===================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozymchak                    koz                  284      144      62      61      33 
==============================  ================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozshakol                    koz                1,361      469     388     405     381 
==============================  ================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Silver in concentrate           koz                3,562    3,229   1,084     791     801 
==============================  ================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    East Region                  koz                2,928    3,110     862     607     765 
==============================  ================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozymchak                    koz                  296      119      60      73      36 
==============================  ================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozshakol                    koz                  338        -     162     111       - 
==============================  ================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 Silver bar equivalent              koz             3,103    3,135     867     806     686 
=================================  =============  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    East Region(1)             koz                  2,565    3,052     668     629     665 
============================  ==================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozymchak(1)               koz                    252       83      60      74      21 
============================  ==================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
    Bozshakol(1)               koz                    286        -     139     103       - 
============================  ==================  =======  =======  ======  ======  ====== 
 

(1) Includes finished metal produced and the finished metal equivalent of concentrate sold in the period.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 26, 2017 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)

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