TIDMCAML
RNS Number : 2440C
Central Asia Metals PLC
10 October 2022
10 October 2022
CENTRAL ASIA METALS PLC
('CAML' or the 'Company')
Q3 2022 Operations Update
Central Asia Metals plc (AIM: CAML) today provides a Q3 2022
operations update for the Kounrad dump leach, solvent extraction
and electro-winning ('SX-EW') copper recovery plant in Kazakhstan
('Kounrad') and the Sasa zinc-lead mine in North Macedonia
('Sasa').
Summary
-- No lost time injuries ('LTIs') at either Kounrad or Sasa during Q3 2022
-- Kounrad
o Q3 2022, 4,067 tonnes of copper produced
o First nine months of 2022, 10,685 tonnes of copper
produced
-- Sasa
o Q3 2022 zinc in concentrate, 5,746 tonnes produced
o Q3 2022 lead in concentrate, 6,899 tonnes produced
o First nine months of 2022 zinc in concentrate, 16,211 tonnes
produced
o First nine months of 2022 lead in concentrate, 20,726 tonnes
produced
Outlook
-- On course to achieve increased 2022 guidance for Kounrad's
copper production (13,500 to 14,000 tonnes)
-- On course to meet Sasa 2022 production guidance
o Zinc in concentrate, 20,000-22,000 tonnes
o Lead in concentrate, 27,000-29,000 tonnes
CAML production summary
Metal production
(tonnes) Q3 2022 Q2 2022 Q1 2022 9m 2022 9m 2021
Copper 4,067 3,593 3,024 10,685 10,360
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Zinc 5,746 5,225 5,240 16,211 17,033
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Lead 6,899 7,091 6,736 20,726 20,734
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Nigel Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"I am pleased to report safe and strong production from both of
our operations during Q3 2022, with zero LTIs. At Kounrad, we
announced increased 2022 production guidance with our H1 2022
results, and we are on track to deliver this and meet our
production targets at Sasa.
"Since recently announcing that we had received approval of the
Cut and Fill Project Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
('ESIA'), we have now begun construction of the paste backfill
plant. Construction of this part of Sasa's Cut and Fill Project
therefore remains on schedule to be completed in H1 2023.
"In August, we made our final repayment of the $187 million debt
which we secured to acquire Sasa less than five years ago. These
repayments have been made while we remained consistently among the
sector leading dividend payers, delivered value for all our
stakeholders, and invested in our operations."
Health and Safety
There were no LTIs at either Kounrad or Sasa during Q3 2022.
Kounrad
Production and sales update
Kounrad Q3 2022 copper production of 4,067 tonnes brings output
for the first nine months of 2022 to 10,685 tonnes. Copper sales
during Q3 2022 were 4,093 tonnes, bringing the total for the first
nine months of the year to 10,499 tonnes.
Sasa
Production and sales update
In Q3 2022, mined and processed ore were 200,379 tonnes and
200,087 tonnes respectively, bringing the total for the first nine
months of 2022 to 602,587 tonnes of ore mined and 604,478 tonnes of
ore processed. The average head grades for the quarter were 3.34%
zinc and 3.67% lead, and for the first nine months of the year were
3.16% and 3.66% respectively.
Sasa produces a zinc concentrate and a separate lead
concentrate. In Q3 2022, 11,364 tonnes of concentrate containing
50.6% zinc and 9,665 tonnes of concentrate containing 71.4% lead
were produced. Total production for the first nine months of the
year was 32,323 tonnes of zinc concentrate at an average grade of
50.2% and 29,172 tonnes of lead concentrate at an average grade of
71.0%.
Sasa typically receives from smelters approximately 84% of the
value of its zinc in concentrate and approximately 95% of the value
of its lead in concentrate. Accordingly, Q3 2022 payable production
of zinc was 4,837 tonnes and of lead was 6,554 tonnes, bringing
total payable production for the nine-month period to 13,625 tonnes
of zinc and 19,690 tonnes of lead.
Given that deliveries from Sasa to the smelters occur on a
regular basis, payable base metal in concentrate sales for the
nine-month period were similar at 13,539 tonnes of zinc and 19,470
tonnes of lead.
During the first nine months of 2022, Sasa sold 237,636 ounces
of payable silver to Osisko Gold Royalties, in accordance with its
streaming agreement.
Units Q3 2022 9m 2022 9m 2021
Ore mined t 200,3 79 602,587 614,807
--------- --------- -------- --------
Plant feed t 200,08 7 604,478 626,906
--------- --------- -------- --------
Zinc grade % 3.34 3.16 3.19
--------- --------- -------- --------
Zinc recovery % 85.9 84.9 85.1
--------- --------- -------- --------
Lead grade % 3.67 3.66 3.54
--------- --------- -------- --------
Lead recovery % 94.0 93.7 93.4
--------- --------- -------- --------
Zinc concentrate t (dry) 11,364 32,323 34,003
--------- --------- -------- --------
* Grade % 50.6 50.2 50.1
--------- --------- -------- --------
* Contained zinc t 5,746 16,211 17,033
--------- --------- -------- --------
Lead concentrate t (dry) 9,665 29,172 28,856
--------- --------- -------- --------
* Grade % 71.4 71.0 71.9
--------- --------- -------- --------
* Contained lead t 6,899 20,726 22,300
--------- --------- -------- --------
Cut and Fill Project update
The permits required to begin construction of the paste backfill
plant have been received and, in September, initial earthworks
began. Construction of the paste backfill plant is on schedule to
be completed in H1 2023, with the dry stack tailings component
scheduled for completion during H2 2023. Development of the central
decline continues to progress well, with 711 metres developed
during the first nine months of 2022, and 1,218 metres in
total.
For further information contact:
Central Asia Metals Tel: +44 (0) 20 7898 9001
Nigel Robinson
CEO
Gavin Ferrar
CFO
Louise Wrathall louise.wrathall@centralasiametals.com
Director of Corporate Development
Emma Chetwynd Stapylton emma.chetwyndstapylton@centralasiametals.com
Investor Relations Manager
Peel Hunt (Nominated Advisor and Tel: +44 (0) 20 7418 8900
Joint Broker)
Ross Allister
David McKeown
BMO Capital Markets (Joint Broker) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236 1010
Thomas Rider
Pascal Lussier Duquette
BlytheRay (PR Advisors) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7138 3204
Tim Blythe
Megan Ray
Rachael Brooks
Note to editors:
Central Asia Metals, an AIM-listed UK company based in London,
owns 100% of the Kounrad SX-EW copper project in central Kazakhstan
and 100% of the Sasa zinc-lead mine in North Macedonia.
For further information, please visit www.centralasiametals.com
and follow CAML on Twitter at @CamlMetals and on LinkedIn at
Central Asia Metals Plc.
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END
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