29 April 2021
KAZ MINERALS GROUP Production Report
for the first quarter Ended 31 march 2021
l Highlights
§ Group copper production1 of 72.4 kt (Q4 2020: 75.7 kt), on track to achieve annual guidance of 275-295 kt
§ Gold production2 of 39.9 koz (Q4 2020: 35.9 koz) as Bozymchak contributed for the full quarter following the restart of operations in December 2020
§ Net debt of
l Covid-19 update
§ Ensuring the safety, health and wellbeing of employees and contractors remains the Group's priority
§ Comprehensive measures, including testing and isolation, remain in place to protect staff and mitigate the risk of disruption to operations
§ These measures ensured that there was no major impact to the Group's operations in Q1 resulting from
Covid-19, other than minor delays to shipments across the
l Aktogay
§ Q1 copper production1 rose to 33.9 kt (Q4 2020: 31.9 kt) due to increased ore throughput and a higher average recovery rate
§ Copper cathode production from oxide ore decreased to 3.3 kt (Q4 2020: 4.6 kt) due to lower ambient temperatures and maintenance
l Bozshakol
§ Copper production2 reduced to 26.3 kt (Q4 2020: 31.3 kt) due to a lower ore throughput as a result of maintenance at the concentrators combined with lower average grades and recovery rate
§ Gold production2 of 26.2 koz (Q4 2020: 31.4 koz) impacted by reduced ore processed volumes and lower average grades and recovery rate
l East Region and Bozymchak
§ Copper production2 of 12.2 kt (Q4 2020: 12.5 kt) as lower grade material was processed
§ Gold production2 of 13.7 koz (Q4 2020: 4.5 koz) following the restart of operations at the Bozymchak mine
§ Silver production of 431 koz (Q4 2020: 362 koz) and zinc in concentrate output of 9.6 kt (Q4 2020: 10.2 kt)
Group production summary3 |
|
Q1 2021 |
Q4 2020 |
Q1 2020 |
Copper production1 |
kt |
72.4 |
75.7 |
74.9 |
Aktogay |
kt |
33.9 |
31.9 |
33.3 |
Bozshakol |
kt |
26.3 |
31.3 |
29.8 |
East Region & Bozymchak |
kt |
12.2 |
12.5 |
11.8 |
Gold production2 |
koz |
39.9 |
35.9 |
55.4 |
Silver production2 |
koz |
763 |
732 |
793 |
Zinc in concentrate |
kt |
9.6 |
10.2 |
9.0 |
1 Payable metal in concentrate and copper cathode from Aktogay oxide ore.
2 Payable metal in concentrate.
3 See appendix for metal production by asset.
Andrew Southam, Chief Executive Officer, said: "The Group has delivered another strong quarter, with copper production of 72 kt, and is on track to achieve the full year guidance for all metals."
For further information please contact:
KAZ Minerals PLC |
|
|
Ed Jack |
Investor Relations, |
Tel: +44 20 7901 7882 |
Anna Mallere |
Investor Relations, |
Tel: +44 20 7901 7814 |
Maksut Zhapabayev |
Corporate Communications, |
Tel: +7 727 244 03 53 |
Brunswick Group |
|
|
Carole Cable, Charlie Pretzlik |
|
Tel: +44 20 7404 5959 |
REGISTERED OFFICE
6th Floor, Cardinal Place, 100 Victoria Street,
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
The Group's major operations at Aktogay and Bozshakol have delivered industry leading production growth and transformed KAZ Minerals into a company dominated by world class, open pit copper mines.
Aktogay is a large scale, open pit mine with a remaining mine life of around 25 years (including the expansion project) at an average copper grade of 0.27% (oxide) and 0.33% (sulphide). Aktogay commenced production of copper cathode from oxide ore in December 2015 and copper in concentrate from sulphide ore in February 2017. The operating sulphide concentrator has an annual ore processing capacity of 25 million tonnes and the sulphide processing capacity is expected to be doubled to 50 million tonnes with the addition of a second concentrator by the end of 2021. Aktogay is competitively positioned on the global cost curve and is expected to produce an average of 100 kt of copper per year from sulphide ore until 2021, increasing to 170 kt per year from 2022 to 2027, after the second concentrator commences operations. Copper production from oxide ore is expected to be in the region of 20 kt per annum until 2024.
Bozshakol is a first quartile asset on the global cost curve with an annual ore processing capacity of 30 million tonnes and a remaining mine life of c.40 years at an average copper grade of 0.35%. The mine and processing facilities commenced output in 2016 and are expected to produce an average of 100 kt of copper production and 120 koz of gold in concentrate per year over the first 10 years of operations.
The Peschanka deposit within the Baimskaya licence area in
KAZ Minerals is listed on the
AKTOGAY
|
|
Q1 2021 |
Q4 2020 |
Q1 2020 |
Ore extraction |
kt |
13,381 |
12,513 |
12,556 |
Oxide |
kt |
5,204 |
5,427 |
3,635 |
Sulphide |
kt |
8,177 |
7,086 |
8,921 |
|
|
|
|
|
Oxide |
|
|
|
|
Oxide ore to leach pads |
kt |
5,204 |
5,427 |
3,754 |
Grade |
% |
0.34 |
0.26 |
0.28 |
Copper cathode |
kt |
3.3 |
4.6 |
6.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Sulphide |
|
|
|
|
Sulphide ore processed |
kt |
6,744 |
6,057 |
6,064 |
Average grade processed |
% |
0.55 |
0.56 |
0.57 |
Recovery rate |
% |
86.4 |
84.6 |
82.7 |
Copper in concentrate |
kt |
32.0 |
28.6 |
28.5 |
Copper production1 |
kt |
30.6 |
27.3 |
27.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total copper production |
kt |
33.9 |
31.9 |
33.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Gold production1, 2 |
koz |
- |
- |
0.6 |
Silver production1 |
koz |
146 |
121 |
118 |
1 Payable metal in concentrate.
2 Minimal volume recovered from Aktogay material.
Ore extraction of 13,381 kt increased by 7% compared with the previous quarter (Q4 2020: 12,513 kt) as a further 1.6 Mt of lower grade sulphide material was stockpiled for future processing. Ore extraction was 7% higher than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2020: 12,556 kt) mainly due to increased mining of oxide ore as production in the first quarter of 2020 focused on the re-irrigation of previously extracted material.
The average grade of sulphide ore processed of 0.55% was marginally lower than the previous quarter (Q4 2020: 0.56%), in line with expectations, and lower grade material is expected to be processed over the remainder of 2021. Processing volumes of 6,744 kt (Q4 2020: 6,057 kt) increased by 11% compared to the previous quarter when scheduled maintenance was performed. The average copper recovery rate improved to 86.4% from the previous quarter (Q4 2020: 84.6%) when there was a temporary variation in the ore feed blend. Copper production from sulphide ore of 30.6 kt was 12% higher than the previous quarter (Q4 2020: 27.3 kt) and 13% higher than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2020: 27.2 kt), which were both impacted by scheduled mill maintenance.
Copper cathode production reduced to 3.3 kt from 4.6 kt in the previous quarter due to lower ambient temperatures and maintenance in January and February. Cathode production was 46% lower than the 6.1 kt produced in Q1 2020, also driven by lower temperatures and maintenance in the current year.
Total copper production of 33.9 kt was 6% higher than the previous quarter (Q4 2020: 31.9 kt) and was supported by increased ore throughput and a higher average recovery rate.
BOZSHAKOL
|
|
Q1 2021 |
Q4 2020 |
Q1 2020 |
Ore extraction |
kt |
9,230 |
9,833 |
7,705 |
Sulphide |
kt |
7,282 |
6,824 |
7,370 |
Clay |
kt |
1,948 |
3,009 |
335 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ore processed |
kt |
7,716 |
7,867 |
8,040 |
|
|
|
|
|
Copper |
|
|
|
|
Average copper grade processed |
% |
0.46 |
0.52 |
0.48 |
Copper recovery rate |
% |
76.8 |
79.6 |
80.1 |
Copper in concentrate |
kt |
27.5 |
32.8 |
31.2 |
Copper production1 |
kt |
26.3 |
31.3 |
29.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
Gold |
|
|
|
|
Average gold grade processed |
g/t |
0.21 |
0.24 |
0.28 |
Gold recovery rate |
% |
55.1 |
56.0 |
62.0 |
Gold in concentrate |
koz |
28.0 |
33.5 |
45.2 |
Gold production1 |
koz |
26.2 |
31.4 |
42.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Silver production1 |
koz |
186 |
249 |
232 |
1 Payable metal in concentrate.
Ore extraction of 9,230 kt reduced by 6% compared with the previous quarter (Q4 2020: 9,833 kt). Clay ore extraction reduced, as expected, by 35% to 1,948 kt (Q4 2020: 3,009 kt) as in the prior quarter additional clay volumes were stripped to access sulphide ore. Sulphide ore extraction increased by 7% to 7,282 kt (Q4 2020: 6,824 kt) with some material stockpiled for future processing. Total ore extraction was 20% higher than the prior year comparative period when a limited amount of clay stripping was required.
The average grade of ore processed in Q1 reduced to 0.46% (Q4 2020: 0.52%), in line with the mine plan. Ore processing volumes reduced by 2% to 7,716 kt (Q4 2020: 7,867 kt) as both the sulphide and clay plants underwent maintenance. The average copper recovery rate reduced to 76.8% (Q4 2020: 79.6%) reflecting higher sulphur content in the main concentrator feed and an increased proportion of oxidised ore from stockpiles processed at the clay plant. Processing volumes were 4% lower than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2020: 8,040 kt) due to the timing of scheduled maintenance.
Copper production decreased by 16% to 26.3 kt compared with the previous quarter (Q4 2020: 31.3 kt) due to reduced ore throughput and lower average grades and recovery rates. Copper production was 12% lower than Q1 2020 due to lower ore throughput, grades and recovery rates.
Gold production of 26.2 koz (Q4 2020: 31.4 koz) was impacted by the lower volume of ore processed as well as lower grades and recoveries of 0.21 g/t (Q4 2020: 0.24 g/t) and 55.1% (Q4 2020: 56.0%) respectively. Average gold recovery rates were negatively impacted by the lower average gold grade as well as a high sulphur content in the sulphide ore feed and the processing of oxidised ore at the clay plant. As a result, gold production was 38% lower than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2020: 42.3 koz).
Silver production of 186 koz was 25% lower than the previous quarter (Q4 2020: 249 koz).
EAST REGION & BOZYMCHAK
|
|
Q1 2021 |
Q4 2020 |
Q1 2020 |
Ore extraction |
kt |
976 |
690 |
1,007 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ore processed |
kt |
852 |
705 |
808 |
|
|
|
|
|
Copper |
|
|
|
|
Average grade processed |
% |
1.67 |
2.07 |
1.69 |
Orlovsky concentrator |
% |
3.36 |
3.26 |
3.15 |
Nikolayevsky concentrator |
% |
1.45 |
1.54 |
1.35 |
Bozymchak concentrator |
% |
0.69 |
0.82 |
0.75 |
Average recovery rate |
% |
90.2 |
91.0 |
91.2 |
East Region |
% |
90.6 |
91.0 |
91.7 |
Bozymchak |
% |
87.2 |
89.5 |
87.9 |
Copper in concentrate |
kt |
12.9 |
13.2 |
12.4 |
Orlovsky concentrator |
kt |
6.4 |
6.8 |
6.8 |
Nikolayevsky concentrator |
kt |
4.8 |
6.1 |
3.9 |
Bozymchak concentrator |
kt |
1.7 |
0.3 |
1.7 |
Copper production1 |
kt |
12.2 |
12.5 |
11.8 |
East Region |
kt |
10.6 |
12.2 |
10.2 |
Bozymchak |
kt |
1.6 |
0.3 |
1.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Gold production1 |
koz |
13.7 |
4.5 |
12.5 |
Silver production1 |
koz |
431 |
362 |
443 |
Zinc in concentrate |
kt |
9.6 |
10.2 |
9.0 |
1 Payable metal in concentrate.
Ore extraction volumes of 976 kt increased by 41% versus the previous quarter (Q4 2020: 690 kt) following the recommencement of operations at the Bozymchak mine from 26 December 2020. Operations at the mine were suspended from 7 October 2020 to ensure employee safety during a period of political instability in
Ore processing volumes increased to 852 kt from 705 kt in Q4 2020 due to the restart of operations at Bozymchak, but were below the mined volumes as throughput at the Orlovsky concentrator in January was impacted by challenging weather conditions. Throughput at the Nikolayevsky concentrator was restricted during commissioning works supporting the transition to the in-pit tailings facility with some unprocessed ore from the Artemyevsky and Irtyshsky mines stockpiled in the quarter for processing over the remainder of the year. Processing volumes were 5% higher in Q1 2021 than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2020: 808 kt) when the Nikolayevsky concentrator was idled for the whole of January.
Copper production of 12.2 kt (Q4 2020: 12.5 kt) was 2% below the previous quarter as a result of lower copper grades, as higher grades at Orlovsky were offset by lower grades at Nikolayevsky. Copper production was 3% higher than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2020: 11.8 kt), when the Nikolayevsky concentrator was idled for a longer period.
Gold production of 13.7 koz (Q4 2020: 4.5 koz) was significantly higher than the previous quarter as Bozymchak operations were sustained throughout the period with output in Q1 2021 of 11.0 koz (Q4 2020: 1.5 koz).
Silver production increased to 431 koz (Q4 2020: 362 koz), in line with higher processing volumes, and was 3% lower than the prior year comparative period (Q1 2020: 443 koz).
Zinc in concentrate output of 9.6 kt declined by 6% compared with the previous quarter mainly due to the processing of lower grade Nikolayevsky ore of 1.37% (Q4 2020: 1.40%) which more than offset higher average grades at Orlovsky of 4.43% (Q4 2020: 4.14%).
SALES VOLUMES, COMMODITY PRICES AND NET DEBT
Sales volumes
The following table sets out the sales volumes of the Group's major products, compared with production.
|
|
Q1 2021 |
Q1 2021 |
Q1 2020 |
Q1 2020 |
|
|
Sales |
Production |
Sales |
Production |
Copper |
kt |
67.8 |
72.4 |
69.0 |
74.9 |
Copper cathode1 |
kt |
26.6 |
22.4 |
28.0 |
30.9 |
Copper in concentrate2 |
kt |
41.2 |
50.0 |
41.0 |
44.0 |
Gold3 |
koz |
32.5 |
39.9 |
54.4 |
55.4 |
Silver3 |
koz |
641 |
763 |
846 |
793 |
Zinc in concentrate |
kt |
8.3 |
9.6 |
8.2 |
9.0 |
1 Copper cathode from Aktogay oxide ore and toll processed metal.
2 Payable metal in concentrate, excluding material sent for toll processing.
3 Payable metal in concentrate and toll processed metal.
Total copper sales volumes of 67.8 kt were below production of 72.4 kt due to the timing of copper in concentrate shipments, with delays due to Covid-19 restrictions at the
Provisionally priced copper in concentrate
At 31 March 2021, the Group's provisionally priced copper in concentrate volumes were 20.5 kt at an average provisional price of
Commodity hedging
At 31 March 2021, there were no commodity price hedges in place.
Net debt
Net debt decreased to
Total cash and cash equivalents and current investments at 31 March 2021 amounted to
APPENDIX - METAL PRODUCTION
|
|
Q1 2021 |
Q4 2020 |
Q1 2020 |
Copper production1 |
kt |
72.4 |
75.7 |
74.9 |
Aktogay |
kt |
33.9 |
31.9 |
33.3 |
Bozshakol |
kt |
26.3 |
31.3 |
29.8 |
East Region |
kt |
10.6 |
12.2 |
10.2 |
Bozymchak |
kt |
1.6 |
0.3 |
1.6 |
Gold production2 |
koz |
39.9 |
35.9 |
55.4 |
Aktogay |
koz |
- |
- |
0.6 |
Bozshakol |
koz |
26.2 |
31.4 |
42.3 |
East Region |
koz |
2.7 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
Bozymchak |
koz |
11.0 |
1.5 |
9.5 |
Silver production2 |
koz |
763 |
732 |
793 |
Aktogay |
koz |
146 |
121 |
118 |
Bozshakol |
koz |
186 |
249 |
232 |
East Region |
koz |
361 |
353 |
379 |
Bozymchak |
koz |
70 |
9 |
64 |
Zinc in concentrate |
kt |
9.6 |
10.2 |
9.0 |
East Region |
kt |
9.6 |
10.2 |
9.0 |
Molybdenum in concentrate |
t |
125 |
103 |
97 |
Aktogay |
t |
95 |
55 |
55 |
Bozshakol |
t |
30 |
48 |
42 |
1 Payable metal in concentrate and copper cathode from Aktogay oxide ore.
2 Payable metal in concentrate.
TOLL PROCESSING & FINISHED METALS
|
|
Q1 2021 |
Q4 2020 |
Q1 2020 |
Copper cathodes |
kt |
22.4 |
27.0 |
30.9 |
Aktogay sulphide (toll processed) |
kt |
5.6 |
6.9 |
10.0 |
Aktogay oxide |
kt |
3.3 |
4.6 |
6.1 |
Bozshakol (toll processed) |
kt |
4.2 |
2.8 |
5.7 |
East Region (toll processed) |
kt |
8.8 |
11.5 |
7.5 |
Bozymchak (toll processed) |
kt |
0.5 |
1.2 |
1.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Gold bar produced (toll processed) |
koz |
7.2 |
16.7 |
18.3 |
Silver bar produced (toll processed) |
koz |
299 |
592 |
379 |
APPENDIX - EAST REGION & BOZYMCHAK
|
|
Q1 2021 |
Q4 2020 |
Q1 2020 |
Ore extraction |
kt |
976 |
690 |
1,007 |
Orlovsky |
kt |
228 |
233 |
237 |
Artemyevsky |
kt |
294 |
298 |
309 |
Irtyshsky |
kt |
124 |
128 |
131 |
Bozymchak |
kt |
330 |
31 |
330 |
Ore processed |
kt |
852 |
705 |
808 |
Orlovsky concentrator |
kt |
211 |
233 |
236 |
Nikolayevsky concentrator |
kt |
360 |
435 |
319 |
Bozymchak concentrator |
kt |
281 |
37 |
253 |
|
|
|
|
|
Gold |
|
|
|
|
Average grade processed |
g/t |
0.82 |
0.50 |
0.83 |
East Region |
g/t |
0.47 |
0.44 |
0.51 |
Bozymchak |
g/t |
1.54 |
1.57 |
1.52 |
Average recovery rate |
% |
64.7 |
43.2 |
62.0 |
East Region |
% |
33.1 |
34.8 |
35.2 |
Bozymchak |
% |
84.2 |
84.8 |
81.7 |
Gold in concentrate |
koz |
14.6 |
4.9 |
13.3 |
East Region |
koz |
2.9 |
3.3 |
3.2 |
Bozymchak |
koz |
11.7 |
1.6 |
10.1 |
Gold production1 |
koz |
13.7 |
4.5 |
12.5 |
East Region |
koz |
2.7 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
Bozymchak |
koz |
11.0 |
1.5 |
9.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Silver |
|
|
|
|
Average grade processed |
g/t |
29.9 |
31.5 |
31.9 |
East Region |
g/t |
39.7 |
32.7 |
41.8 |
Bozymchak |
g/t |
10.0 |
9.7 |
10.3 |
Average recovery rate |
% |
57.8 |
55.7 |
58.6 |
East Region |
% |
54.4 |
55.2 |
55.8 |
Bozymchak |
% |
84.9 |
85.2 |
83.6 |
Silver in concentrate |
koz |
473 |
397 |
487 |
East Region |
koz |
396 |
388 |
417 |
Bozymchak |
koz |
77 |
9 |
70 |
Silver production1 |
koz |
431 |
362 |
443 |
East Region |
koz |
361 |
353 |
379 |
Bozymchak |
koz |
70 |
9 |
64 |
|
|
|
|
|
Zinc |
|
|
|
|
Average grade processed |
% |
2.50 |
2.35 |
2.36 |
Orlovsky concentrator |
% |
4.43 |
4.14 |
3.32 |
Nikolayevsky concentrator |
% |
1.37 |
1.40 |
1.64 |
Average recovery rate |
% |
67.1 |
65.4 |
68.7 |
Orlovsky concentrator |
% |
69.9 |
71.7 |
69.5 |
Nikolayevsky concentrator |
% |
61.8 |
55.5 |
67.8 |
Zinc in concentrate |
kt |
9.6 |
10.2 |
9.0 |
Orlovsky concentrator |
kt |
6.5 |
6.9 |
5.5 |
Nikolayevsky concentrator |
kt |
3.1 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
1 Payable metal in concentrate.
DEFINITIONS
CAT or Caterpillar
Caterpillar Financial Services (
CAT facility
credit facility agreement with CAT
CDB or China Development Bank
China Development Bank Corporation
DBK
Development Bank of
DBK Aktogay II facility
credit facility agreement with DBK relating to the Aktogay expansion project
gross liquid funds
the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents and current investments less restricted cash
the Group
KAZ Minerals PLC and its subsidiary companies
koz
thousand ounces
kt
thousand metric tonnes
LME
London Metal Exchange
MET
mineral extraction tax
Mt
million metric tonnes
net debt
the excess of current and non-current borrowings over gross liquid funds
ounce or oz
a troy ounce, which equates to 31.1035 grammes
PXF
pre-export finance debt facility
SX/EW
solvent extraction and electrowinning, a two-stage metallurgy process used for the extraction of copper
t
metric tonnes
TC/RCs
treatment charges and refining charges for smelting and refining services
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