La empresa Luna Gold (BVL:LGC) anunció sus resultados operativos y financieros correspondiente al período de tres meses finalizado el 30 de 2012 (3T2012).
Resultados operativos y financieros:
- Producción récord de 19.391 oz de oro en el trimestre y aproximadamente 52.723 onzas en lo que va del año (hasta la fecha);
- El costo unitario medio de producción fue de $749 por onza en el trimestre, y $ 763 por onza en lo que va del año (hasta la fecha);
- La utilidad bruta en la mina de oro Aurizona de $ 6,9 millones en el trimestre y $ 22.7 millones en lo que va del año (hasta la fecha);
- Flujo de efectivo de operación antes de trabajar con los movimientos de capital de $5.0 millones para el trimestre y $15.2 millones en lo que va del año (hasta la fecha);
- Los ingresos netos de $3.5 millones en el trimestre, y $10.8 millones en lo que va del año (hasta la fecha); y
- Las ganancias por acción de $0.03 para el trimestre y $0.10 en lo que va del año (hasta la fecha).
Por otro lado, en cuanto a la evolución de la empresa, se indica que se aprobó el objetivo de aumentar la producción anual de oro de 125.000 onzas en el 2014 la Fase I del proyecto de expansión de la mina de oro Aurizona. Se ha logrado un acuerdo con Sandstorm Gold Ltd. por el cual esta empresa aportará el 17% del capital necesario para la Fase I de ampliación Aurizona, correspondiente a gastos de capital del proyecto, hasta por un monto máximo de $10.0 millones.
Luna Gold Corp. Announces Results for the Third Quarter of 2012
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Nov. 13, 2012) - Luna Gold Corp. (TSX:LGC)(OTCQX:LGCUF)(LMA:LGC) ("Luna" or the "Company") today announced its operational and financial results for the three-month period ended September 30, 2012 ("third quarter of 2012").
THIRD QUARTER OF 2012 AND YEAR TO DATE HIGHLIGHTS
Company Developments
Aurizona Gold Mine ("Aurizona") Phase I expansion project approved to increase target annual gold production to 125,000 ounces in 2014
Agreement reached with Sandstorm Gold Ltd. ("Sandstorm") whereby Sandstorm will contribute 17% of the required Aurizona Phase I expansion project capital expenditures, up to a maximum of $10.0 million
Drill programs completed with positive results at Aurizona's Piaba deposit and Boa Esperança, Ferradura, and Conceição near mine targets
Commencement of a six to eight hole diamond drill program at the Touro target in Luna Greenfields
Piaba deep drill program completed and extension of mineralization intersected to below 600 metres vertical depth
Cachoeira Gold Project sold to Brazil Resources Inc. for a gain of approximately $7.3 million
The Company graduated to the main boards of both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Lima Stock Exchange
Bill Lindqvist appointed as a Director and Mark Halpin appointed as Vice President Corporate Development of the Company
Operational and Financial Results
Record gold production of 19,391 ounces in the quarter and approximately 52,723 ounces in the year to date
Average unit cash cost of production of $749 per ounce for the quarter and $763 per ounce for the year to date
Gross profit at the Aurizona Gold Mine of $6.9 million for the quarter and $22.7 million for the year to date
Operating cash inflow before working capital movements of $5.0 million for the quarter and $15.2 million for the year to date
Net income of $3.5 million for the quarter and $10.8 million for the year to date
Earnings per share of $0.03 for the quarter and $0.10 for the year to date
STRATEGIC OUTLOOK
Aurizona Project Development
In October, the Company announced an update to the gold production guidance for the full year of 2012, increasing the full year target from 60,000 ounces to between 68,000 and 70,000 ounces. This production upgrade was the result of the increase in plant operating availability, improved blend control, and plant debottlenecking, which allowed for more ore throughput in the mill than originally planned. The Company expects the average unit cash cost of production for 2012 to be between $750 and $760 per ounce. Cash costs could rise slightly in the fourth quarter of 2012, as compared to the third quarter of 2012, due to drought conditions being experienced at Aurizona and the resulting purchase of additional water resources required to maintain production. With the exception of these additional water purchases, the average unit cash cost of production remains on target as originally planned at $750 per ounce.
During the third quarter 2012, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved a planned Phase 1 expansion program at Aurizona to increase that facility's annual production capacity to a targeted 125,000 ounces of gold.
The cost of the expansion is estimated at $43.2 million of capital expenditures as well as a $6.5 million contingency, for a total cost estimate of $49.7 million. The Phase 1 expansion is now targeted at an annual gold production rate of 100,000 ounces in 2013 and 125,000 ounces in subsequent years, which is an increase over the previous guidance of 100,000 ounces per year. The expansion is targeting low capital cost improvements to the existing Aurizona Mine process plant with minimal impact to the plant's established footprint or current operations, while further expansion studies are being completed. This expansion project is expected to reach completion in Q4 2013. In Q1 2013, the Company is targeting to publicly release a reserve update National Instrument ("NI") 43-101 technical report for Aurizona.
Luna is currently negotiating an EPCM contract with an international engineering company that has proven capabilities globally and in Brazil. Aurizona's increased capacity will be facilitated with the commissioning of an intense leach reactor, a carbon regeneration kiln, and four electrowinning cells in the first half of 2013, and the remainder of the equipment in the second half of 2013.
The Company cautions that both the potential increased production target for both the expansion program and the Phase 1 expansion's associated costs are estimates, and that there is currently insufficient work to support these statements with a NI 43-101 compliant technical report. Permitting approval to construct the Phase 1 expansion is expected in December 2012.
The Brazilian refiner that the Company contracts to refine its gold shut down for maintenance in late September 2012, which delayed gold shipments to October and resulted in an increased quantity of finished gold inventory at period end. Third quarter of 2012 finished goods inventory has now been sold into the market, and revenue will be recognized during the fourth quarter of 2012.
Exploration
The third quarter of 2012 Aurizona exploration activities were focused on the completion of the infill drill program at the three near mine targets, Boa Esperança, Ferradura, and Conceição. Eight new drill holes were also completed at the Piaba deposit. A total of 87 diamond and reverse circulation drill holes consisting of 7,478 metres were drilled. These results are being incorporated into an updated Aurizona resource, which the Company expects to release during the first quarter of 2013.
During the third quarter of 2012, the Company commenced an initial six to eight diamond drill hole program at the Touro target. The Company will also continue its exploration programs at Luna Greenfields that include soil sampling, ground geophysical surveys, structural mapping, auger drilling, and trenching. The Company expects to announce these drill results during the first quarter of 2013.
COMMENTARY
"Luna's third quarter of 2012 provides evidence of not only our current success, but also our promising future," stated John Blake, Luna's President and CEO. "At the beginning of 2012, we outlined a challenging annual production target of 60,000 ounces. We have nearly achieved that target after just three quarters, and I am confident that we will deliver upon our revised annual goal of 68,000 to 70,000 ounces. Aurizona is cashflow positive, allowing Luna to return value to shareholders through both the Phase 1 expansion and drilling in the Luna Greenfields."
"While Luna's production results have exceeded expectations, we are only just beginning to realize our considerable potential. Aurizona's Phase 1 expansion will more than double that mine's production capacity, and we look forward to releasing an updated resource estimate for that property. We have also begun diamond drilling at Luna Greenfields, our largest property, and will soon deliver the results of that initiative."
Mr. Blake concluded, "Our goal is to establish Luna as a mid-tier gold producer. Our progress at both Aurizona and Greenfields gives me great confidence that this goal is well within our reach."
For the full version of Luna's third quarter of 2012 Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis, please visit www.lunagold.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
LUNA GOLD CORP.
John Blake - President and CEO
Fuente: http://tmx.quotemedia.com/article.php?newsid=55838032&qm_symbol=LGC
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