Metals Exploration PLC Quarterly Update To 31 March 2020 (5690L)

TIDMMTL

RNS Number : 5690L

Metals Exploration PLC

01 May 2020

METALS EXPLORATION PLC

QUARTERLY UPDATE TO 31 MARCH 2020

Metals Exploration plc (AIM: MTL) ("Metals Exploration", the "Company" or the "Group"), the natural resources exploration and development company with assets in the Pacific Rim region, today provides a quarterly update on matters relating to the operations of its Runruno gold project ("Runruno" or the "Project") in the Philippines.

COVID-19 Impact

-- Operations have been reduced to comply with Philippine government guidance and staff reduced to operational minimums.

   --      No COVID-19 cases reported at the mine site to date. 

-- Necessary preventative quarantine and medical steps taken to best protect mine site employees and contractors.

-- Certain key senior personnel, especially senior maintenance managers, have been unable to return to the mine site due to travel restrictions.

-- Interruptions to the supply chain have impacted on the delivery of key spares and certain consumables, especially impacting on BIOX performance.

-- Gold production has continued although production rates have dropped from March onwards for various reasons. A new international refinery has been sourced to continue with gold sales.

   --      Remote mine location minimises the risk of local COVID-19 infections. 

Finance and corporate

-- 17,213 ounces of gold were sold during Q1 2020 at an average realised gold price of US$1,581 per ounce.

   --      US$27.2 million in gold receipts received in Q1 2020. 

-- The Company's two mezzanine lending groups (which also comprise the Company's two major shareholders) acquired the Group's US$69.3 million senior debt facility from HSBC and BNP Paribas.

-- Discussions with these lenders on the terms of a restructuring of the Group's overall debt position continue.

-- Any restructuring is expected to include a debt:equity swap as the current debt structure is unsustainable.

-- Total interest bearing liabilities as at 31 March 2020 were, in aggregate, US$129.8 million (US$69.3 million in senior debt and US$60.5 million in mezzanine debt).

   --    Cash available for use as at 31 March 2020 was US$5.2 million. 

Mining Operations

-- Mining for Q1 2020 of 3.1Mt of ore and waste with total ore mined of 557kt, slightly in excess of budget.

-- Key mobile fleet equipment rebuilds that commenced in Q3 2019 are progressing, although further delayed into Q2 2020, due to delays in replacement parts being delivered due to COVID-19.

   --      In Q2 2020 mining activities have been significantly reduced as a result of COVID-19. 

-- On-ground activities in relation to access development to mine plan Stages 3 & 4, and resettlement of illegal miners away from mine plan Stages 3 & 4 continue. Further actions in relation to the access development and resettlement activities will be made in the forthcoming quarter s.

   --      No loss time injuries during the period. 

Processing Operations

   --      16,794 ounces of gold poured during Q1 2020. 
   --      Throughput for Q1 2020 of 495kt was below budget due to significant unplanned downtime. 
   --      Gold recovery for Q1 2020 was 68.3%. 

-- Significant maintenance issues during Q1 2020 included BIOX agitator shaft failures/repairs, a failed attempt to install a variable speed control to the SAG mill, tails line failures and a significant power outage.

-- BIOX performance has been affected and impacted at quarter end due to a power failure on the incoming transmission line.

Production and Finance Summary

 
 Runruno Project 
  Report                                     Quarter     Quarter     FY 2020     FY 2019 
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 FY 2020                                     Actual      Actual      Actual      Actual 
                                           ----------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
        PHYSICALS              Units         Q1 2020     Q1 2019    3 Months    3 Months 
                           -------------               ----------              ---------- 
 Mining 
                           -------------               ----------              ---------- 
   Ore Mined                   Tonnes         557,165     573,300     557,165     573,300 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   Waste Mined                 Tonnes       2,557,703   2,358,474   2,557,703   2,358,474 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   Total Mined                 Tonnes       3,114,868   2,931,775   3,114,868   2,931,775 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   Au Grade Mined              g/tonne           1.41        1.54        1.41        1.54 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   Strip Ratio                                   4.59        4.11        4.59        4.11 
                                                       ----------              ---------- 
 Processing 
                           -------------               ----------              ---------- 
   Ore Milled                  Tonnes         494,826     413,606     494,826     413,606 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   Au Grade                    g/tonne           1.54        1.70        1.54        1.70 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   S(2) Grade                     %              1.38        1.12        1.38        1.12 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   Au Milled (contained)       ounces          24,575      22,585      24,575      22,585 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   Recovery                       %              68.3        66.7        68.3        66.7 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   Au Recovered/Poured         ounces          16,794      14,892      16,794      14,892 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
 Sales 
                           -------------               ----------              ---------- 
   Au Sold                     ounces          17,213      15,293      17,213      15,293 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   Au Price                    US$/oz           1,581       1,309       1,581       1,309 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
  FINANCIALS (Unaudited) 
-------------------------  -------------               ----------              ---------- 
 Revenue 
                           -------------               ----------              ---------- 
   Gold Sales                (US$000's)        27,222      19,996      27,222      19,996 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
 Operating Costs 
  - Summary 
                           -------------               ----------              ---------- 
   Mining                    (US$000's)         5,263       5,986       5,263       5,986 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   Processing                (US$000's)        7.,732       6,041      7.,732       6,041 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   G&A                       (US$000's)         2,824       1,955       2,824       1,955 
                           --------------              ---------- 
 Total Operating 
  Costs                      (US$000's)        15,819      13,982      15,819      13,982 
                           --------------              ---------- 
   Excise Duty               (US$000's)         1,096         800       1,096         800 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
   UK/Philippine G&A         (US$000's)         1,367         952       1,367         952 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
 Total Direct Production 
  Costs                      (US$000's)        18,282      15,734      18,282      15,734 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
 Net Cash Income             (US$000's)         8,940       4,263       8,940       4,263 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
 Total Capital Costs         (US$000's)         3,777         753       3,777         753 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
 Total non-cash costs        (US$000's)         4,163       8,036       4,163       8,036 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
 Free Cashflow               ( US$000's)        5,163       3,510       5,163       3,510 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
 Cash Cost / oz Sold 
  - C1                         US$/oz             961         961         961         961 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
 Cash Cost / oz Sold 
  - AISC                       US$/oz           1,323       1,125       1,323       1,125 
                           --------------              ----------              ---------- 
 

Note: AISC includes all UK Corporate costs.

Review of Operations

After a strong start to the year the operational performance of the Runruno mine deteriorated over the second half of the quarter as maintenance issues and COVID-19 measures impacted operational integrity.

Notwithstanding these issues Q1 2020 resulted in gold sales of US$27.2 million, producing a positive free cash flow of US$5.1 million.

To comply with the Philippine government COVID-19 guidelines the Company has as far as possible restricted the movement of personnel to and from the mine site. Travel restrictions have resulted in a number of senior personnel being unable to return to site. In particular senior maintenance managers have been unable to return which, together with the delays in sourcing appropriate spare parts, has placed pressure on the Company's operations and maintenance procedures.

Interruptions to the Company's supply chain of operational consumables and spare parts have occurred. Power failures in the national grid and the inability to secure new supplies of bacteria culture for the BIOX process has had a significant impact on production towards the end of March and into April 2020.

The Runruno mine is located in a relatively remote mountainous region on the island of Luzon where there have been no recorded cases of COVID-19. Nonetheless, the Company has implemented various on-site procedures to test for and quarantine for potential COVID-19 cases to ensure, as far as possible, the safety of its employees and contractors. These procedures have ensured that the Company continues to be compliant with relevant government directives.

Finance (Unaudited)

During the quarter Runruno Holdings Ltd and MTL (Guernsey) Ltd, (an associated company of MTL Luxembourg SARL), the Company's two major shareholders and mezzanine lenders, completed a sale agreement with HSBC and BNP Paribas to purchase all the rights and obligations under Runruno Facility Agreement (the "Senior Facility"). This purchase was completed on 30 January 2020. The Senior Facility was acquired 70.6% by MTL Guernsey Ltd and 29.4% by Runruno Holdings Ltd. The total debt now owing under this facility is US$69.3 million.

On 9 March 2020, the Company announced that it had been unable to reach agreement on the continuation of the Standstill Agreement in respect of the Senior Facility and, due to the material uncertainty of the Company's financial condition, its shares were suspended from trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Whilst there can be no guarantee an agreement can be reached, discussions and negotiations with the Company's lenders in relation to restructuring of the Group's overall debt position continue. It is expected that the outcome is likely to require shareholder approval, as the restructuring is expected to include a debt:equity swap component of part of the US$129.8 million of Group debt.

In the meantime all relevant interest and fees continue to be accrued on both the Senior Facility and the mezzanine loans. The t otal interest-bearing liabilities as at 31 March 2020 were, in aggregate US$129.8 million.

G old sold during Q1 2020 was 17,213 ounces, at an average realised gold price of US$1,581 per ounce.

Cash at bank available for use as at 31 March 2020 was US$5.2 million.

Mining Operations

Mining production of ore and waste was 3.1Mt for Q1 2020 and the total ore mined for Q1 2020, of 557kt, was slightly in excess of budget.

Mining activity has been significantly reduced at the beginning of Q2 2020 as the operations have been scaled back to compensate for the impact of the continuing COVID-19 government measures. However, the reduced mining activity will result in certain cost savings, including from reduced contract machinery usage.

The long over-due critical fleet maintenance programme that commenced in Q3 2019 continues as delays in delivery of replacement parts have occurred. Completion of this programme is expected during Q2 2020.

The programme of infill resource and mine plan drilling that commenced in Q3 2019 is expected to be completed by the end of Q2 2020.

Process Plant

Throughput for Q1 2020 of 495kt was under budget due to unplanned downtime that incurred mainly in the second half of the quarter. Production for the quarter was also under budget at 16,794 ozs at a recovery rate of 68.3%.

Unplanned process downtime impacting on production during Q1 2020 included: power outages, compressor failures, blocked SAG mill discharge gates, tails line failures, BIOX agitator shaft failures/repairs and conveyor belt repairs.

On 29 March 2020, an external power line earth fault resulted in a site power failure. On site back-up generators subsequently came on line. However a further cable failure on the backup power system resulted in a 12 hour loss of air to the BIOX system. Unfortunately, this lack of air to BIOX led to a collapse of the BIOX bacteria culture and the BIOX oxidation process. The Company has been unable to source new bacteria from its South African suppliers due to COVID-19 restrictions and on-site bacterial inoculation is underway. This failure in BIOX will impact production until sufficient active bacteria is re-introduced into the process and the oxidation process re-activates. Based on past experience it could take up to six weeks before BIOX performance reaches previously achieved rates of oxidation.

Notwithstanding an increase in sulphur feed tonnes during Q1 2020, oxidation in BIOX remained relatively stable at 64%, well below design oxidation of 92%. The sulphur units fed to BIOX have increased from an average of 67.8tpd in January 2020 to 85.3tpd in March 2020, achieving an average of 124% of the 69tpd design. This increased sulphur feed has affected CIL recovery with CIL recovery dropping from the 2019 year average of 84% to 75% for Q1 2020.

Notwithstanding the lower levels of CIL recovery, net cash flow and production economics are enhanced by increasing this sulphur feed, and hence available gold ounces for leaching within the CIL circuit. Studies of all parameters in BIOX are ongoing with the aim of ensuring that optimum conditions can be achieved with the available air and retention capacity.

Also during the quarter the Company's planned shutdown to install a variable speed system on the SAG mill was unsuccessful. The shutdown extended beyond the planned time due to issues with the installation resulting from the quality of power being delivered to site. It has been determined that there is too much variability to the quality of the power (harmonics) coming to site for this important component to be installed. Various studies are underway to assess the necessary filters that could resolve this issue such that the variable speed system can successfully be installed.

Residual Storage Impoundment ("RSI")

Construction of the next raise of the RSI continues without incident with a current dam water freeboard level of in excess of five metres. The staged RSI development is in compliance with local guidelines and the development requirements.

Occupational Health & Safety

Runruno continues to record an exceptional safety record with in excess of 10 million man hours without a reportable injury as at period end.

Environment and Compliance

Compliance matters continue to be successfully monitored and the mine remains compliant, with no outstanding material issues.

Community & Government Relations

The Company adopts a positive focus on maintaining productive relations with both the community and the government. The Company continues its consultations with government agencies in relation to the removal of illegal miners, including their infrastructure and dwellings, from those areas scheduled to be mined as part of mine plan Stages 3 and 4. Access development to mine plan stages 3 & 4 has continued during Q1 2020. Further actions in relation to access development and the resettlement activities will be made in the forthcoming quarters.

Reserve Estimate Statement Clarification

The Company wishes to clarify the use of a US$1,200/oz gold price in calculating its updated gold Reserve Estimate as published in an RNS on the 27 April 2020. The analysis to determine the optimum reserve ounces for the Runruno project reviewed gold prices from US$600/oz through to US$1560/oz on an unconstrained basis. Unconstrained means that no pit limits are applied so that the model software can maximise available economic ounces at a given gold price. The exercise showed that there was no material increase in the Reserve estimate by utilising a gold price higher than US$1,200/oz, which is also the gold price at which the net present value of the minable reserves plateaus.

This Announcement contains inside information as defined in Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation No. 596/2014 ("MAR"). Upon the publication of this Announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

   -    - 

For further information please visit or contact www.metalsexploration.com

 
                           METALS EXPLORATION PLC 
    Darren Bowden (Chief Executive Officer)           [phone] 
 
    Michael Langoulant (Chief Financial Officer)      [phone] 
 
 
 
    Nominated & Financial Adviser and Broker: STRAND HANSON LIMITED 
    James Spinney, James Dance                        [phone] 
 
 
 
   Financial Adviser: HANNAM & PARTNERS 
   Andrew Chubb                                       [phone] 
 
 
 
    Public Relations: TAVISTOCK 
    Barnaby Hayward, Jos Simson                       [phone] 
 
 

Competent Person's Statement

Mr Darren Bowden, a director of the Company, a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and who has been involved in the mining industry for more than 25 years, has compiled, read and approved the technical disclosure in this regulatory announcement in accordance with the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements relating to the estimated or expected future production, operating results, cash flows and costs and financial condition of Metals Explorations, planned work at the Company's projects and the expected results of such work contained herein are forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the potential returns of the Group, industry and markets in which the Group operates in, the Directors' beliefs and assumptions made by the Directors . Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by words such as the following: "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "forecasts", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "assumes", "potential" or variations of such words and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements also include reference to events or conditions that will, would, may, could or should occur. Information concerning exploration results and mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to be forward-looking statements, as it constitutes a prediction of what might be found to be present when and if a project is actually developed.

These statements are not guarantees of future performance or the ability to identify and consummate investments and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, qualify or quantify. Among the factors that could cause actual results or projections to differ materially include, without limitation: uncertainties related to raising sufficient financing to fund the planned work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; changes in planned work resulting from logistical, technical or other factors; the possibility that results of work will not fulfil projections/expectations and realize the perceived potential of the Company's projects; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and other tests and the estimation of gold reserves and resources; risk of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of environmental issues at the Company's projects; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in work programs; the need to obtain permits and comply with environmental laws and regulations and other government requirements; fluctuations in the price of gold and other risks and uncertainties.

The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based unless required to do so by applicable law or the AIM Rules.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [e-mail] or visit www.rns.com.

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May 01, 2020 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)