Buenaventura Announces First Quarter 2024 Results for Production and Volume Sold per Metal

Compañía de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. (“Buenaventura” or “the Company”) (NYSE: BVN; Lima Stock Exchange: BUE.LM), Peru’s largest publicly-traded precious metals mining company, today announced 1Q24 results for production and volume sold.

Production per Metal

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

2024 Guidance (1)

Gold ounces produced

 

 

 

El Brocal

6,675

17.0k - 20.0k

Orcopampa

19,026

70.0k - 75.0k

Tambomayo

9,124

28.0k - 32.0k

Julcani

281

2.8k - 3.2k

La Zanja

1,390

5.0k - 7.0k

Total Direct Operations (2)

36,495

122.8k - 137.2k

Coimolache

22,795

38.0k - 43.0k

Total incl. Associated (3)

43,060

131.5k - 146.7k

 

Silver ounces produced

 

 

 

 

El Brocal

873,021

1.4M - 1.7M

Uchucchacua

507,052

2.2M - 2.5M

Yumpag (4)

964,996

6.5M - 7.2M

Orcopampa

7,988

-

Tambomayo

329,066

1.7M - 1.9M

Julcani

386,340

1.7M - 1.9M

La Zanja

2,311

-

Total Direct Operations (2)

3,070,773

13.5M - 15.2M

Coimolache

103,958

0.1M - 0.2M

Total incl. Associated (3)

2,775,730

13.0M - 14.6M

 

Lead metric tons produced

 

 

 

 

Uchucchacua

3,910

13.0k - 15.0k

Tambomayo

1,028

2.4k - 2.7k

Julcani

249

0.9k - 1.0k

Total Direct Operations (2)

5,187

16.3k - 18.7k

 

Zinc metric tons produced

 

 

 

 

El Brocal

1,985

3.1k - 3.5k

Uchucchacua

5,494

17.0k - 19.0k

Tambomayo

1,335

4.0k - 4.4k

Total Direct Operations (2)

8,814

24.1k - 26.9k

 

Copper metric tons produced

 

 

 

 

El Brocal

15,441

55.0k - 60.0k

Total Direct Operations (2)

15,441

55.0k - 60.0k

1. 2024 projections are considered to be forward-looking statements and represent management’s good faith estimates or expectations of future production results as of April 2024.
2. Considers 100% of Buenaventura’s operating units, 100% of La Zanja and 100% of El Brocal.
3. Considers 100% of Buenaventura’s operating units, 100% of La Zanja, 61.43% of El Brocal and 40.094% of Coimolache.
4. Considers ore from the pilot stope approved within Yumpag EIA-sd

Volume Sold per Metal

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

Gold ounces sold

 

El Brocal

4,572

Orcopampa

18,831

Tambomayo

8,444

Julcani

325

La Zanja

1,413

Total Direct Operations (1)

33,585

Coimolache

21,701

Total incl. Associated (2)

40,523

Silver ounces sold

 

El Brocal

740,867

Uchucchacua

436,313

Yumpag (3)

1,104,128

Orcopampa

7,912

Tambomayo

289,380

Julcani

383,373

La Zanja

6,052

Total Direct Operations (1)

2,968,025

Coimolache

97,891

Total incl. Associated (2)

2,721,521

Lead metric tons sold

 

El Brocal

72

Uchucchacua

3,489

Tambomayo

916

Julcani

230

Total Direct Operations (1)

4,707

Zinc metric tons sold

 

El Brocal

1,592

Uchucchacua

4,535

Tambomayo

1,067

Total Direct Operations (1)

7,194

Copper metric tons sold

 

El Brocal

14,566

Julcani

22

Total Direct Operations (1)

14,588

1. Considers 100% of Buenaventura’s operating units, 100% of La Zanja and 100% of El Brocal.
2. Considers 100% of Buenaventura’s operating units, 100% of La Zanja, 61.43% of El Brocal and 40.094% of Coimolache.
3. Considers ore from the pilot stope approved within the Yumpag EIA-sd

Average realized prices(1)(2)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

Gold (US$/Oz)

2,111

Silver (US$/Oz)

23.44

Lead (US$/MT)

2,012

Zinc (US$/MT)

2,336

Copper (US$/MT)

8,258

1. Considers Buenaventura consolidated figures.
2. Realized prices include both provisional sales and final adjustments for price changes.

Commentary on Operations

Tambomayo:

• Gold, lead and zinc production exceeded 1Q24 projections due to a change in mining sequence, prioritizing higher-margin prepared areas with higher gold, lead and zinc grades, partially offset by lower silver production.

Orcopampa:

• 1Q24 gold production was in line with expectations.

Coimolache:

• 1Q24 gold production was in line with expectations. Environmental permitting delays reduced available space on the leach pads, adversely impacting the volume of fresh ore which could be placed on the pad, as was previously announced.
• Silver production exceeded 1Q24 projections due to higher grade silver ore processed from the Tantahuatay NW-Ext, which was placed on the leach pad during 4Q23.

Julcani:

• Silver and lead production was in line with expectations for 1Q24.

Uchucchacua:

• Silver, lead and zinc in line with expectations for 1Q24.
• Uchucchacua production increased to an average 1,000 tpd during 1Q24 from 800 tpd reported during the 4Q23, aligned with the Company’s plan to reach 1,500 tpd by the end of 2024.

Yumpag:

• In January 2024, Yumpag successfully completed processing 124,600 tonnes of ore from its pilot stope.
• Yumpag received final operating permitting approval on March 18, 2024, enabling uninterrupted mining of up to 1,000 tons per day.
• Silver production exceeded 1Q24 projections as ore processing was initiated earlier than expected due to the operating permit approval. Processing had previously been expected to start during the 2Q24.

El Brocal:

• Copper production was in line with expectations for 1Q24.
• Silver production exceeded 1Q24 projections due to higher than anticipated grades from the open pit’s remaining stockpiled inventories. This was partially offset by lower than anticipated zinc grades during the quarter.
• As was previously reported, El Brocal’s lead and zinc open pit mine has been placed under care and maintenance for up to three years until the Company receives the approval of the mine’s Modification of Environmental Impact Assessment.
• El Brocal’s 1Q24 underground mine exploitation rate reached 10,500 tpd, in line with the Company’s target to reach 11,000 tpd by the end of 2024.

Company Description

Compañía de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. is Peru’s largest, publicly traded precious and base metals Company and a major holder of mining rights in Peru. The Company is engaged in the exploration, mining development, processing and trade of gold, silver and other base metals via wholly-owned mines and through its participation in joint venture projects. Buenaventura currently operates several mines in Peru (Orcopampa*, Uchucchacua*, Julcani*, Tambomayo*, La Zanja*, El Brocal and Coimolache).

The Company owns 19.58% of Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde, an important Peruvian copper producer (a partnership with Freeport-McMorRan Inc. and Sumitomo Corporation).

(*) Operations wholly owned by Buenaventura.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking information (as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainties, including those concerning Cerro Verde’s costs and expenses, results of exploration, the continued improving efficiency of operations, prevailing market prices of gold, silver, copper and other metals mined, the success of joint ventures, estimates of future explorations, development and production, subsidiaries’ plans for capital expenditures, estimates of reserves and Peruvian political, economic, social and legal developments. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s view with respect to Cerro Verde’s future financial performance. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors discussed elsewhere in this Press Release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240416802844/en/

Contacts in Lima: Daniel Dominguez, Chief Financial Officer [phone]

Gabriel Salas, Head of Investor Relations [phone] [e-mail]

Contact in NY: Barbara Cano, InspIR Group [phone] [e-mail]