HIGHLIGHTS

  • Colombia Exploration
  • Completed C$4.0 million (US$3.2 million) financing in August 2017 to fund drilling in Colombia
  • Drilling of the planned 15,000m resource definition campaign commenced on October 12, 2017
  • Gold production of 8,626 oz, in Q1 18 at the San Gregorio mine in Uruguay on the higher end of the Company’s 30,000 – 35,000 oz guidance for the full year (Q1 17: 9,950 oz)

Q1 2018 Results

  • Cash operating costs of US$901/oz, as expected for a full year guidance of between US$800 to US$900/oz (Q1 17: US$693/oz)
  • All-In-Sustaining costs (“AISC”) of US$1,348/oz (Q1 17: US$989/oz) as the Company increased capital expenditures to US$2.9M and exploration to US$1.6M (US$1.9M and $0.5M, respectively, in Q1 17) with objective to increase production and/or mine life in Uruguay
  • Cash generated from operations of US$1.5M (Q1 17: US$4.8M)
  • Total cash balance of US$4.5M at the end of Q1 18

Ignacio Salazar, CEO of Orosur, said: “Q1 18 marks the 20th consecutive quarter of meeting internal production and cash operating cost guidance. We are very pleased with our team’s commitment to delivery and optimistic that our recent push in exploration and development activities will shortly begin delivering new reserves and resources. These advances will allow the Company to exploit the potential that exists in both of our core areas, by growing production and mine life in Uruguay and expanding the mineralized potential of our assets in Colombia. We are also excited to announce the recent commencement of drilling at our highly prospective Anza project in Colombia and look forward to updating the market with assay results in the coming months.”

FY18 Outlook & Guidance

The Company's forecast production guidance at San Gregorio for FY18 remains between 30,000 -35,000 oz of gold at operating cash costs of between US$800 – US$900/oz.

At current gold prices this is expected to allow the Company to continue to focus on expanding its resource base in Uruguay from both underground and surface operations, with the aim of increasing its mine life and increasing production by utilising existing spare capacity at the San Gregorio plant. As in the past, variations in production and unit costs will occur quarter on quarter as the mine plan draws ore from several sources at varying grades and stages of development or stripping. Still, the Company plans to achieve its production and cost targets over the course of the year.

Following completion of the recent private placement, the Company commenced a 15,000m drilling campaign on October 12, 2017 at its highly prospective Anzá project in the mid-Cauca belt of Colombia,. The Company expects first results to be announced during its fiscal third quarter, before end of February 2018.

Q1 18 Operational and Financial Summary

Over the quarter, despite the mine drawing ore from lower grade sources, gold production totaled 8,626 oz, at cash operating costs of US$901/oz. These results exceeded expectations and are. a promising start to the year, boding well for the Company achieving its 30,000 – 35,000 oz production guidance and US$800 – US$900/oz operating cash cost guidance for the full year.

The Company increased capital expenditures to US$2.9M and exploration spending to US$1.6Min Q1 18 compared with US$1.9M and $0.5M respectively in Q1 17, with the objective to increase production and/or mine life in Uruguay. As a consequence, AISC increased to US$1,348/oz.

Initial results of the enhanced exploration program in Uruguay were announced on September 21, 2017, following which, exploration drilling continued at Veta A, the potential new UG development in the area.

Follow-up drilling and geological work is underway on these areas to further test their potential. 

Cash flow from operations before working capital was US$1.5M compared to US$4.8M for Q1 17. Net loss after tax was US$0.3M compared with a profit of US$2.8M in Q1 17.

As previously mentioned, the Company increased its capital and exploration expenditures in Q1 18 compared to Q1 17. During Q1 17, most of the UG development was from Arenal which was in its final stage of production and there was very little development associated with SGW UG. During Q1 18, the additional development capex is associated with the SGW UG mine, including ramp, access and ventilation shaft work and an increase in brownfield exploration. The increase in brownfield expenditures was the result of expanding the Company’s resource base in Uruguay with the aim of increasing its mine life and production for the year.

The cash balance at the end of the Quarter was US$4.5M compared with US$3.4M at the fourth quarter ended May 31, 2017 (“Q417”). The Company’s debt balance, comprised largely of equipment leases, was US$0.3M compared to US$0.4M atQ417.