Aura Minerals Inc. (TSX: ORA, B3: AURA33 and OTCQX: ORAAF)
(“Aura” or the “Company”) announces Q3 2024 preliminary
production results from the Company’s four operating mines:
Aranzazu, Apoena (EPP), Minosa (San Andres), and Almas. Total
production in Q3 2024 reached 68,246 gold equivalent ounces
(“
GEO”)1, 10% above the second quarter of 2024 and
10% above the same period last year at constant metal prices. The
highlights of the quarter were the performance of Almas, where
production stabilized at 15k GEO after a contractor replacement in
Q2 2024, reaching what the Company considers a consistent level for
the operation, and Minosa, which recorded another quarterly
production growth. This quarter, Aura achieved a new record high
LTM production, with 269,953 GEO produced in the period.
For the nine months of 2024, Aura’s total
production was 200,758 GEO at current prices, on track to meet the
2024 Production Guidance of 244,000 – 292,000 GEO.
Q3 2024 Highlights
-
At Aranzazu, Aura recorded another stable quarter, with production
totaling 24,486 GEO, reflecting an 8% increase over Q2 2024 and a
3% decrease compared to Q3 2023, at constant prices, and according
to expectations. The improved recovery rates, driven by higher ore
grades and due to mine sequencing, contributed to this quarterly
increase. Cumulative production for the first nine months of 2024
(9M24) reached 70,492 GEO at constant prices, remaining stable
compared to the same period in 2023 (9M23).
-
At Minosa (San Andres), production totaled 20,750 GEO, reflecting
an 8% increase over the previous quarter and an 18% increase
compared to Q3 2023. This quarterly improvement was largely
attributed to a higher stacking of ounces and better ore grades
during the period. This marks another quarter of production growth,
driven by Aura’s ongoing focus on optimizing operational
efficiency, and due to a rainy season that was weaker than expected
for the period, increasing the productivity at the mine and at the
plant. For the first nine months of 2024 (9M24), cumulative
production reached 59,078 GEO, a 23% increase compared to the same
period in 2023 (9M23).
-
At Almas, production reached 14,975 GEO, representing a 42%
increase compared to the previous quarter. This increase in output
was driven by higher productivity and operational efficiency
following the transition to a new contractor in the prior quarter.
The new contractor achieved the expected ramp up and stabilized
production at an average of 5,000 GEO per month since June 2024.
For the first nine months of 2024 (9M24), cumulative production
totaled 37,450 GEO. This performance further reinforces the
Company’s confidence in achieving its 2024 production
guidance.
-
At Apoena (EPP), production was 8,035 GEO, down 19% from Q2 2024
and 28% from Q3 2023. Production was below the Company’s
expectations due to lower grades processed during the quarter,
along with a reduction in ore recovery caused by a temporary delay
in obtaining the environmental permit to expand the Nosde pit and
access higher-grade ore, which will be recovered in 2025.
Additionally, production in Q3 2024 was affected by lower mill
throughput compared to Q3 2023, driven lower performance in the
mill due to harder rock ore from the mined area — an expected
outcome given the characteristics of the production area. In the
first 9 months of 2024, production totaled 30,052 GEO, 2% lower
than the first 9 months of 2023.
Rodrigo Barbosa, Aura’s President and CEO
commented, "We entered the second half of 2024 maintaining our
growth trajectory, with total production reaching 201K GEO
accumulated in the year, a 20% increase compared to the same period
in 2023, keeping us well-positioned to meet the upper half of our
annual production guidance. Despite the challenges with Apoena,
operations at Aranzazu and Minosa remained strong and consistent,
while production at Almas was successfully stabilized, contributing
to our fifth consecutive LTM production increase. Construction of
Borborema is now above 50% complete, progressing on schedule and
within budget. The ramp-up phase is expected to commence in Q1
2025, setting the stage for a strong and promising year ahead when
we will continue to grow our LTM production through 2025.”
1 Gold equivalent ounces, or GEO, is calculated
by converting the production of silver, copper and gold into gold
using a ratio of the prices of these metals to that of gold. The
prices used to determine the gold equivalent ounces are based on
the weighted average price of gold, silver and copper realized from
sales at the Aranzazu Complex during the relevant period.
Production Results
Preliminary GEO2,3 production volume for the
three months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the previous
quarter and the same period in the previous year is presented
below:
|
Q3 2024 |
Q2 2024 |
Q3 2023 |
% change vs. Q2 2024 |
% change vs. Q3 2023 |
Ounces produced
(GEO1) |
|
|
|
|
|
Aranzazu |
24,486 |
24,692 |
27,933 |
-1% |
-12% |
Apoena (EPP) Mines |
8,035 |
9,912 |
11,185 |
-19% |
-28% |
Minosa (San Andres) |
20,750 |
19,142 |
17,543 |
8% |
18% |
Almas |
14,975 |
10,580 |
8,214 |
42% |
82% |
Total GEO produced - current prices |
68,246 |
64,326 |
64,875 |
6% |
5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total GEO produced - constant prices |
68,246 |
62,209 |
62,141 |
10% |
10% |
[1] Includes
ounces produced and which were capitalized for projects at
pre-commercial production stages. |
|
|
|
|
|
Production in the last twelve months ("LTM") up
to September 30, 2024, was 269,953 GEO, increasing for the fifth
consecutive quarter, as a result of production from Almas and
consistent improvements in Minosa's production. This was the
highest LTM production in the Company's history. The chart below
displays the consolidated quarterly GEO production measured at
current and constant prices since Q3 2022, as well as the LTM at
the end of each reporting period:
Consolidated GEO Production per Quarter
and LTM(000’s GEO, current and constant prices as
reported)
2 The total may not add due to rounding.3
Applies the metal sale prices in Aranzazu realized during Q3 2024
to the previous quarters in all operations, being: Copper price =
US$4.18/lb; Gold Price = US$2,498/oz; Silver Price =
US$29.68/oz.
The table below shows production by each type of
metal at Aranzazu. Production increased in Q3 2024 for all types of
metals and was in line with the Company’s expectations.
|
Q3 2024 |
Q2 2024 |
Q3 2023 |
% change vs. Q2 2024 |
% change vs. Q3 2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold Production
(oz) |
6,898 |
6,175 |
7,433 |
12% |
-7% |
Silver Production
(oz) |
137,414 |
120,447 |
137,000 |
14% |
0% |
Copper Production
(klbs) |
9,511 |
8,932 |
9,631 |
6% |
-1% |
Total GEO produced - current prices |
24,486 |
24,692 |
27,933 |
-1% |
-12% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total GEO produced - constant prices |
24,486 |
22,575 |
25,199 |
8% |
-3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information
contained within this news release has been reviewed and approved
by Farshid Ghazanfari, P.Geo. Mineral resources and Geology
Director for Aura Minerals Inc. and serve as the Qualified Person
as defined in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure
for Mineral Projects.
About Aura 360° Mining
Aura is focused on mining in complete terms –
thinking holistically about how its business impacts and benefits
every one of our stakeholders: our company, our shareholders, our
employees, and the countries and communities we serve. We call this
360° Mining.
Aura is a mid-tier gold and copper production
company focused on operating and developing gold and base metal
projects in the Americas. The Company has 4 operating mines
including the Aranzazu copper-gold-silver mine in Mexico, the
Apoena (EPP) and Almas gold mines in Brazil, and the Minosa (San
Andres) mine in Honduras. The Company’s development projects
include Borborema and Matupá both in Brazil. Aura has unmatched
exploration potential owning over 630,000 hectares of mineral
rights and is currently advancing multiple near-mine and regional
targets along with the Carajas (Serra da Estrela) copper project in
the prolific Carajás region of Brazil.
Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains “forward-looking
information” and “forward-looking statements”, as defined in
applicable securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking
statements”) which may include, but is not limited to, statements
with respect to the activities, events or developments that the
Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future.
Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified
by the use of words and phrases such as “plans,” “expects,” “is
expected,” “budget,” “scheduled,” “estimates,” “forecasts,”
“intends,” “anticipates,” or “believes” or variations (including
negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that
certain actions, events or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “might”
or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.
Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s ability to predict
or control, could cause actual results to differ materially from
those contained in the forward-looking statements. Specific
reference is made to the most recent Annual Information Form on
file with certain Canadian provincial securities regulatory
authorities for a discussion of some of the factors underlying
forward-looking statements, which include, without limitation,
volatility in the prices of gold, copper and certain other
commodities, changes in debt and equity markets, the uncertainties
involved in interpreting geological data, increases in costs,
environmental compliance and changes in environmental legislation
and regulation, interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations,
general economic conditions and other risks involved in the mineral
exploration and development industry. Readers are cautioned that
the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive of the factors that
may affect the forward-looking statements.
All forward-looking statements herein are
qualified by this cautionary statement. Accordingly, readers should
not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any
forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information
or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. If
the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no
inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with
respect to those or other forward-looking statements.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4d1aa647-68b0-4962-80e8-9f43c0477175
For more information, please contact:
Investor Relations
ri@auraminerals.com
www.auraminerals.com
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