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North American Palladium Ltd. Announces Operating Performance for Fourth Quarter
2003
Website: www.napalladium.com
TORONTO, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- During the fourth quarter of 2003,
the Lac des Iles mill processed 1,500,684 tonnes of ore or an average of 16,312
tonnes per day with a palladium head grade of 2.60 grams per tonne, producing
94,114 ounces of palladium at a recovery rate of 75.1%. By-product metal
production during the fourth quarter of 2003 included 7,354 ounces of platinum,
7,722 ounces of gold, 1,405,730 pounds of nickel and 2,294,259 pounds of copper.
This compares to the third quarter of 2003 when the mill processed 1,307,822
tonnes of ore or 14,215 tonnes per day with a palladium grade of 2.47 grams per
tonne, producing 76,729 ounces of palladium at a recovery rate of 74.0%.
In 2003, the mill processed 5,159,730 tonnes of ore or 14,136 tonnes per day
with a palladium head grade of 2.31 grams per tonne, producing 288,703 ounces of
palladium at a recovery rate of 75.5%. By-product metal production in 2003
included 23,742 ounces of platinum, 23,536 ounces of gold, 4,070,785 pounds of
nickel and 7,142,674 pounds of copper. The final 2003 metal production
quantities are subject to assay adjustments with the smelters.
The fourth quarter marked the second consecutive quarter the Company operated
under normal conditions with the new primary crusher fully operational. This
resulted in continued improvement in mill throughput and palladium production in
the fourth quarter of 2003 with key operating rates in excess of budgeted
levels. Metal production was higher than budget as a result of higher palladium
head grades, improved mill availability and throughput. With continued mill
circuit optimization, and normal availability in 2004, the mill is expected to
operate at an average rate of 15,000 tonnes per day.
The following table outlines the operating results for the past six quarters:
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2002 2003
---------------- ------------------------------
Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
------------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Mill Throughput
(tonnes per day) 13,161 12,667 13,292 12,692 14,215 16,312
------------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Palladium Recovery (%) 71.9 74.0 76.9 76.6 74.0 75.1
------------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Mill Availability (%) 92.6 87.5 92.7 84.4 92.6 94.8
------------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Palladium Production (ozs) 51,168 52,067 58,791 59,069 76,729 94,114
------------------------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Exploration Agreement with Inco Limited
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In December 2003, North American Palladium entered into an option and joint
venture agreement with Inco Limited on various mining claims in the immediate
vicinity of Inco's Shebandowan mine. The Inco properties are known as Haines and
Conacher, with the former being adjacent to North American Palladium's precious
and base metals properties in the Haines Township west of Thunder Bay, Canada.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Company can earn a 50% interest in the
Inco properties by spending C$2.0 million and making payments to Inco totaling
C$100,000 over the next four years. North American Palladium will be operator
during the initial option period and thereafter so long as the Company has a 50%
interest in the properties.
Exploration work on the combined Haines and Conacher properties will figure
prominently in the Company's 2004 exploration program. This activity is expected
to include significant geological mapping, deep penetrating geophysics and
follow up drilling on last year's surface discoveries on the adjoining North
American Palladium property.
North American Palladium continues to advance its strategy of acquiring and
exploring mineral properties with the potential to host world-class base and
precious metal deposits, and seeks joint venture partners having mineral
properties mainly in Canada and North America.
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North American Palladium's Lac des Iles Mine is Canada's only primary producer
of platinum group metals and is one of the largest open pit bulk mineable
palladium reserves in the world. Palladium use in the auto industry continues to
be an important component in controlling exhaust emissions as mandated by more
stringent hydrocarbon emissions standards for cars, particularly in the United
States, Europe and Japan. In addition, palladium is consumed in the dental,
electronics, jewellery and chemical sectors.
Forward-Looking Statements - Certain statements included in this news release
are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They include estimates and statements
that describe the Company's future plans, objectives and goals, including words
to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or
result to occur. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results or performance
to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those currently anticipated are described in the Company's most recent Annual
Report under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Results" and
Annual Information Form under "Risk Factors" on file with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission and Canada provincial securities regulatory authorities.
The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise.
DATASOURCE: North American Palladium Ltd.
CONTACT: Andre J. Douchane - President & CEO, Tel: (416) 360-2656,
E-mail: ; George D. Faught - Vice President
Finance & CFO, Tel: (416) 360-2650, E-mail: ;
Douglas H. Bache - Treasurer, Corporate Development & Investor Relations, Tel:
(416) 360-2651, E-mail: ; Toronto Office: 130
Adelaide Street West, Suite 2116, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3P5, Tel:
(416) 360-7590, Fax: (416) 360-7709