LUNDIN GOLD UNDERGROUND MINE DEVELOPMENT INTO HARD ROCK AT FRUTA
DEL NORTE
January 10, 2018 (Vancouver, Canada)
Lundin Gold Inc. ("Lundin Gold" or the "Company") (TSX:
LUG, Nasdaq Stockholm: LUG) is pleased to announce that soft
tunneling was completed in December 2017 and mine development is
now into hard rock at its Fruta del Norte gold project (“Fruta del
Norte” or the “Project”) in Ecuador.
Further Highlights
- Award of all major process plant equipment packages
- Mobile equipment packages, including underground mine scoop
trams and haul trucks, have been awarded
- Process plant excavation is progressing ahead of schedule
- 1,000-person construction camp is nearing completion
- Approval of powerline Environmental Impact Assessment
(“EIA”)
“Tunneling through soft clay was a significant
risk factor to underground mine development due to the potential
for ground failure. We were able to get through this
challenging task, and the mine development is now advancing at a
quicker pace,” said Ron Hochstein, President and CEO of Lundin
Gold. “We are also ramping up other major projects, including
the process plant and powerline.”
Mine Development
The Company transitioned from soft tunneling to
hard rock tunneling in December 2017, working through 77 metres of
saprolite (soft clay) in the first decline and 69 metres in the
second. Drilling and blasting in hard rock commenced on
December 7th in the first decline and December 17th in the second,
and currently the advance in hard rock reached 100 metres and 78
metres, in the first and second declines, respectively.
Process Plant Equipment Procurement
In October 2017, Lundin Gold awarded the
long-lead time grinding equipment packages, including the SAG and
ball mills (complete with motors) and the flotation and filtration
packages to Outotec Chile S.A.
The gravity mill, CIL and detox tanks, and ADR
plant and gold room packages were recently awarded to FLSmidth USA
Inc. TelSmith Inc. will provide the crushing packages for both the
process plant and aggregate quarry crushers. ABB Inc. has
been awarded switchgear and substation equipment and transformers
packages.
Mobile Equipment
Most of the mobile mine equipment orders have
been placed. Importadora Industrial Agricola S.A./Caterpillar
will provide the underground mine scoop trams and trucks, as well
as the surface earthworks and quarry equipment. Orders for
the mine jumbos and bolters are expected to be awarded this
quarter.
Powerline
The EIA for the powerline received final
approval at the end of 2017. Easement agreements have been
reached with 91% of affected landholders, and the Company expects
the remaining easements to be obtained this quarter. Detailed
engineering and procurement is well underway, and the engineering,
procurement and construction contractor is on track to begin
building the powerline this quarter.
Major Earthworks
Regardless of difficult ground conditions, site
earthworks are on schedule. Earthworks on the process plant is 13%
complete with concrete mill foundations planned to start this
quarter.
The North Access Road is progressing well, and
32% of the road has been built. A second earthworks
contractor was mobilized at El Pindal, where the North Access Road
will link to the national highway system. Approximately six
kilometres needs to be built to connect the North Access Road from
either side.
Construction Camp
All other construction disciplines are actively
working on the 1,000-person construction camp which is nearing
completion, with over 60% of the units currently available for
occupancy. Combined with the existing camp, there are more
than 1,200 beds available. During the last month,
approximately 800 people were at site, including contractors.
About Lundin Gold
Lundin Gold, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada,
is developing its wholly-owned Fruta del Norte gold project in
southeast Ecuador. Fruta del Norte is one of the
highest-grade and largest gold projects currently under
construction. The Company’s board and management team have
extensive expertise in mine construction and operations, and are
dedicated to advancing this project through to first gold
production in 2019.
The Company operates with transparency and in
accordance with international best practices. Lundin Gold is
committed to delivering value to its shareholders, while
simultaneously providing economic and social benefits to impacted
communities, fostering a healthy and safe workplace and minimizing
the environmental impact. The Company believes that the value
created through the development of Fruta del Norte will benefit its
shareholders, the Government and the people of Ecuador.
This press release has been reviewed and
approved by Ron Hochstein, P. Eng., a metallurgical engineer and
the Company's President and CEO, who is a Qualified Person under
Canadian National Instrument 43-101.
Additional Information
The information in this release is subject to
the disclosure requirements of Lundin Gold under the EU Market
Abuse Regulation and the Swedish Securities Markets Act. This
information was publicly communicated at 5:00 am Pacific Time on
January 10, 2018.
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Caution Regarding Forward-Looking
Information and Statements
Certain of the information and statements in
this press release are considered “forward-looking information” or
“forward-looking statements” as those terms are defined under
Canadian securities laws (collectively referred to as
“forward-looking statements”). Any statements that express or
involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations,
beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future
events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words
or phrases such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “is
expected”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “pending”, “intends”, “plans”,
“forecasts”, “targets”, or “hopes”, or variations of such words and
phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results
“may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, “should” “might”, “will be taken”,
or “occur” and similar expressions) are not statements of
historical fact and may be forward-looking statements.
By their nature, forward-looking statements and
information involve assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties,
many of which are difficult to predict, and are usually beyond the
control of management, that could cause actual results to be
materially different from those expressed by these forward-looking
statements and information. Lundin Gold believes that the
expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are
reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations
will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information should
not be unduly relied upon. This information speaks only as of
the date of this press release, and the Company will not
necessarily update this information, unless required to do so by
securities laws.
This press release contains forward-looking
information in a number of places, such as in statements pertaining
to the timing of first gold production, the timing and progress of
the development, construction and operation of FDN, the timing and
progress of the development and construction the powerline, the
timing and success of permitting and regulatory approvals and the
award of certain purchase orders and contracts and the acquisition
of easements. Lundin Gold’s actual results could differ
materially from those anticipated. Management has identified
the following risk factors which could have a material impact on
the Company or the trading price of its shares: the ability
to arrange financing and the risk to shareholders of dilution from
future equity financings; risks related to carrying on business in
an emerging market such as possible government instability and
civil turmoil and economic instability; volatility in the price of
gold; the timely receipt of regulatory approvals, permits and
licenses; risks associated with the performance of the Company’s
contractors; risks inherent in the development of an underground
mine; deficient or vulnerable title to mining concessions and
surface rights; shortages of resources, such as labour, and the
dependence on key personnel; risks associated with the Company’s
community relationships; unreliable infrastructure and local
opposition to mining; volatility in the market price of the
Company’s shares; uncertainty with the tax regime in Ecuador;
measures required to protect endangered species; difficulty
complying with changing government regulations and policies,
including without limitation, compliance with environment, health
and safety regulations, and the cost of compliance or failure to
comply with applicable laws; exploration and development risks; the
accuracy of the Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates for FDN and
the Company’s reliance on one project; the Company’s lack of
operating history in Ecuador; illegal mining; uncertainty as to
reclamation and decommissioning; adverse global economic
conditions; risks associated with the Company’s information
systems; the inadequacy of insurance; risks of bribery or
corruption; the potential for litigation; limits of disclosure and
internal controls; and the potential influence of the Company’s
largest shareholders.
There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be
accurate, as Lundin Gold's actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking
information as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk
Factors" section in Lundin Gold's Annual Information Form for the
financial year ended December 2016 and the Prospectus dated
December 21, 2017, both of which are available on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com.
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