Endeavour Silver Corp.
(“Endeavour” or the
“Company”) (NYSE: EXK; TSX: EDR)
announces its consolidated production and cost guidance for
Guanaceví and Bolañitos, and its capital and exploration budgets
for 2025. The Company will provide 2025 production and cost
guidance for the Terronera project in a separate news release once
commissioning is complete. All dollar amounts are in US dollars
(US$).
2025 Production and Cost Guidance
Highlights
In 2025, silver production is expected to range
from 4.5 to 5.2 million ounces (oz) and gold production is expected
to be between 30,500 oz and 34,000 oz, bringing total silver
equivalent production to between 7.0 and 7.9 million oz1.
Consolidated cash costs2 and all-in sustaining
costs2 (AISC) for Guanaceví and Bolañitos in 2025 are estimated to
be $16.00-$17.00 per oz silver and $25.00-26.00 per oz silver,
respectively, net of gold by-product credits. Consolidated cash
costs excluding Terronera on a per ounce basis are expected to be
higher in 2025 compared to 2024, primarily due to lower silver
production from these mines as they enter their final years of
production, and a lower estimated gold price. AISC are expected to
be slightly higher in 2025 than realized in 2024 as higher levels
of sustaining capital will be required with costs being borne by
lower silver production.
"As we look ahead to 2025, our strategic focus
remains firmly on advancing the commissioning of our Terronera
project and integrating it into our production profile,” commented
Dan Dickson, Chief Executive Officer. “This will bring us one step
closer to realizing our goal of becoming a senior silver producer.
Additionally, we are fortunate to be in a strong position with not
only Terronera nearing production but also with Pitarrilla offering
significant potential for organic growth, providing further
opportunities to drive value to our shareholders as we continue to
expand our portfolio.”
2025 Production Guidance
Summary (3)
|
|
Guanaceví |
Bolañitos |
Consolidated |
Tonnes per day |
Tpd |
1,000 – 1,100 |
1,100 – 1,200 |
2,100 – 2,300 |
Silver production |
M oz |
3.9 – 4.4 |
0.6 – 0.8 |
4.5 – 5.2 |
Gold production |
k oz |
11.0 – 13.5 |
19.5 – 20.5 |
30.5 – 34.0 |
Silver Eq production1 |
M oz |
4.8 – 5.5 |
2.2 – 2.4 |
7.0 – 7.9 |
Operating Mines
At Guanaceví, 2025 plant throughput is estimated
to range from 1,000 tonnes per day (tpd) to 1,100 tpd and average
1,060 tpd with material mined mainly from the Porvenir Cuatro
extension on the El Curso concessions. The El Curso concessions
were leased from a third party with no upfront costs, but with
significant royalty payments on production. Mine grades in 2025 are
expected to be slightly lower and recoveries are expected to be
similar to 2024. Cash costs per ounce, AISC per ounce and direct
costs2 on a per tonne basis are expected to be slightly higher in
2025 compared to 2024 due to the lower metal production and lower
gold by-product credits from the lower gold price
estimate.
In 2025, plant throughput at Bolañitos is
expected to range from 1,100 tpd to 1,200 tpd and average 1,170 tpd
sourcing material from the Plateros-La Luz, Lucero-Karina and
Bolañitos-San Miguel vein systems. Mine grades are expected to be
higher for silver and lower for gold and recoveries are expected to
be similar to 2024. Cash costs per oz, AISC and direct costs2 on a
per tonne basis are expected to be higher in 2025 compared to 2024
due to lower gold by-product credits driven by the lower gold price
estimate.
Consolidated Operating Costs (Excluding
Terronera)
|
|
Guanaceví & Bolañitos |
Cash costs, net of gold by-product credits2 |
$/oz |
$16.00 - $17.00 |
AISC, net of gold by-product credits2 |
$/oz |
$25.00 - $26.00 |
Sustaining capital2 budget |
$M |
$33.6 |
Exploration & Corporate capital budget |
$M |
$2.6 |
2025 cash costs, net of gold by-product credits,
are estimated to be $16.00-$17.00 per oz of silver produced.
AISC, net of gold by-product credits are
estimated to be $25.00-$26.00 per oz of silver produced.
Direct operating costs2 per tonne are estimated
to be $130-$140. Direct costs2, which include royalties and special
mining duties, and take account of the impact of the higher Mexico
mining taxes enacted at the start of 2025, are estimated to be in
the range of $175-$185 per tonne.
Management made the following assumptions in
calculating its 2025 cost forecasts: $27.50 per oz silver price,
$2,200 per oz gold price, 18:1 Mexican peso per US dollar exchange
rate, and a 4% Mexican annual inflation rate.
2025 Planned Capital
Expenditures (3)
|
SustainingMine Development |
Sustaining Other Capital |
Total Sustaining Capital |
Growth Capital |
Total Capital |
Guanaceví |
$12.7 million |
$6.6 million |
$19.3 million |
- |
$19.3 million |
Bolañitos |
$9.7 million |
$4.6 million |
$14.3 million |
- |
$14.3 million |
Pitarrilla |
|
|
|
$9.1 million |
$9.1 million |
Exploration |
|
|
|
$2.4 million |
$2.4 million |
Corporate |
|
|
|
$0.2 million |
$0.2 million |
Total |
$22.4 million |
$11.2 million |
$33.6 million |
$11.7 million |
$45.3 million |
Sustaining Capital
Investments
In 2025, Endeavour plans to invest $33.6 million
in sustaining capital at its two operating mines. At assumed metal
prices, the sustaining capital investments are expected to be paid
out of operating cash flow.
At Guanaceví, $19.3 million will be invested in
capital projects, the largest of which is 5.3 kilometres of mine
development at El Curso and Milache for an estimated $12.7 million.
An additional $2.8 million will be invested in mine infrastructure
and equipment. A further $1.8 million will be invested in the plant
and tailings storage facility, including further work on the
tailings facility expansion. A remaining $2.0 million will be spent
on various surface infrastructure or equipment.
At Bolañitos, $14.3 million will be invested in
capital projects, including $9.7 million for 6.7 kilometres of mine
development to access resources in the Plateros-La Luz,
Lucero-Karina, and Bolañitos-San Miguel areas. The additional $4.6
million will go to upgrade the mining fleet, plant improvements and
to support site infrastructure.
The Company also plans to spend $2.6 million to
maintain exploration concessions, acquire mobile exploration
equipment and cover corporate infrastructure.
Pitarrilla
Endeavour has announced its intention to advance
the Pitarrilla project. Plans for work on the project in 2025 are
estimated to cost a total of $25.7 million composed of $16.6
million for feasibility study, development and exploration work,
and $9.1 million of capital spending. The capital spending includes
$6.0 million of buildings, right of way costs, and surface
infrastructure; $2.2 million of mine infrastructure including a
ventilation system; and $0.9 million of mobile equipment. The
Company plans to complete 14,000 m of drilling and 600 m of ramp
development at Pitarrilla in 2025 as it focuses on this project and
advances towards construction.
2025 Planned Exploration
(3)
Project |
Activity |
Drill Metres |
Expenditures |
Guanaceví |
Drilling |
6,000 |
$1.0 million |
Bolañitos |
Drilling |
8,000 |
$1.4 million |
Terronera |
Drilling |
4,000 |
$1.0 million |
Chile |
Drilling |
2,500 |
$1.6 million |
Parral |
Economic Studies |
- |
$0.8 million |
Baxter |
Targeting |
- |
$0.5 million |
Other |
Evaluation |
- |
$0.2 million |
Total |
|
20,500 |
$6.5 million |
Technical Disclosure
The scientific and technical information
contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by
Don Gray, SME-RM, Chief Operating Officer, a Qualified Person as
defined under NI 43-101.
About Endeavour Silver –
Endeavour is a mid-tier precious metals company with a strong
commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices. With
operations in Mexico and the development of the new cornerstone
mine in Jalisco state, the company aims to contribute positively to
the mining industry and the communities in which it operates. In
addition, Endeavour has a portfolio of exploration projects in
Mexico, Chile and the United States to facilitate its goal to
become a premier senior silver producer.
Contact Information:Allison PettitDirector,
Investor RelationsEmail: apettit@edrsilver.com Website:
www.edrsilver.com
Endnotes
1 Silver equivalent is calculated using an 80:1 silver:gold
ratio.
2 Non-IFRS Financial Measures
The Company has included certain performance
measures that are not defined under International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS). The Company believes that these
measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in
accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to
evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The non-IFRS
measures are intended to provide additional information and should
not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of
performance prepared in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of
performance. These measures do not have any standardized meaning
prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other
issuers with similar descriptions.
Cash costs and cash costs per
ounce
Cash costs per ounce is a non-IFRS measure. In
the silver mining industry, this metric is a common performance
measure that does not have a standardized meaning under IFRS. Cash
costs include direct costs (including smelting, refining,
transportation and selling costs), royalties and special mining
duty and changes in finished goods inventory net of gold credits.
Cash costs per ounce is based on ounces of silver produced and is
calculated by dividing cash costs by the number of ounces of silver
produced.
Direct operating costs and direct
costs
Direct operating costs per tonne include mining,
processing (including smelting, refining, transportation and
selling costs) and direct overhead at the operation sites. Direct
costs per tonne include all direct operating costs, royalties and
special mining duty.
All-in sustaining costs (AISC) and AISC
per ounce
This measure is intended to assist readers in
evaluating the total cost of producing silver from operations.
While there is no standardized meaning across the industry for AISC
measures, the Company’s definition conforms to the definition of
AISC as set out by the World Gold Council and used as a standard of
the Silver Institute. The Company defines AISC as the cash costs
(as defined above), plus reclamation cost accretion, mine site
expensed exploration, corporate general and administration costs
and sustaining capital expenditures. AISC per ounce is based on
ounces of silver produced and is calculated by dividing AISC by the
number of ounces of silver produced.
Sustaining capital
Sustaining capital is defined as the capital
required to maintain operations at existing levels. This
measurement is used by management to assess the effectiveness of an
investment program.
For further information on reconciliations of
Non-GAAP measures, refer to the Non-IFRS Measures section of the
Company’s Management’s Discussion & Analysis for the three and
nine months ending September 30, 2024, beginning on page 25.
(3) Totals may not add due to rounding
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the United States private
securities litigation reform act of 1995 and “forward-looking
information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein
include but are not limited to statements regarding Endeavour’s
anticipated performance in 2025; changes in mining operations;
forecasts of Endeavour’s production levels, cash costs, AISC,
direct costs, capital expenditures, mine grades, recoveries and
sustaining capital investments; Endeavour’s future production and
cost guidance announcements; exploration plans, the expansion of
Endeavour’s portfolio and the timing and results of various
activities. The Company does not intend to and does not assume any
obligation to update such forward-looking statements or
information, other than as required by applicable law.
Forward-looking statements or information
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause the actual results, level of activity, production
levels, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations
to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such
statements. Such factors include but are not limited changes in
production and costs guidance; the ongoing effects of inflation and
supply chain issues on mine economics; national and local
governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and
political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; financial
risks due to precious metals prices; operating or technical
difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining
activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development
and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and
development; risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits;
fluctuations in the prices of silver and gold, fluctuations in the
currency markets (particularly the Mexican peso, Chilean peso,
Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar); and challenges to the Company’s
title to properties; as well as those factors described in the
section “risk factors” contained in the Company’s most recent form
40F/Annual Information Form filed with the S.E.C. and Canadian
securities regulatory authorities.
Forward-looking statements are based on
assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not
limited to: the continued operation of the Company’s mining
operations, no material adverse change in the market price of
commodities, forecast mine economics as of 2025, mining operations
will function and the mining products will be completed in
accordance with management’s expectations and achieve their stated
production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set
out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify
important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or
information, there may be other factors that cause results to be
materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated,
assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any
forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate
as actual results, and future events could differ materially from
those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements or information.
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