K92 Mining Inc. (“
K92” or the
“
Company”) (TSX
: KNT;
OTCQX
: KNTNF) is pleased to announce that it has
published its 2023
Sustainability Report. This is K92’s fifth annual
sustainability report, outlining the Company’s environmental,
social and governance (“ESG”) practices and
performance.
The report was prepared in accordance with the
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”)
Metals and Mining Standard for the fifth consecutive year and
includes continued progression of providing climate disclosures in
alignment with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial
Disclosures (“TCFD”) recommendations.
The 2023 Sustainability Report is available on
the K92 website at the following link:
https://k92mining.com/responsible-mining/
Environmental, Social and Governance
Highlights:
• 1,687 employees and contractors employed in Papua
New Guinea. • ~94% of workforce (employees
plus contractors) are PNG Nationals with priority hiring
from local communities. • $105.0 million in
procurement to PNG companies, a 29% increase from 2022,
representing 56% of K92’s total procurement spend.
• $26.8 million in taxes and royalties paid in
PNG, with K92 remaining the second-largest taxpayer in
PNG’s mining industry. • $24.5 million invested in
local Joint Ventures. • $6.6 million approved
for the Company’s first PNG Tax Credit Scheme project, in
addition to $0.8 million in other direct community investments.
• Outstanding Community Humanitarian
Initiative awarded for the second consecutive year by the
PNG Chamber of Resources and Energy (“CORE“) for
K92’s Women in Mining Program. • Human Rights Policy,
Supplier Code of Conduct, and Employment Standard
developed as part of ongoing work related to Canadian
modern slavery legislation.• 43% of Board Directors
are female, surpassing the 30% target established in K92’s
Board Diversity Policy. In addition, 29% of the Board is racially
or ethnically diverse.• Alignment with TCFD
recommendations with progress advanced on local hydropower
improvements in support of the Company’s energy and greenhouse gas
(“GHG”) emissions reduction
target.• Lost-time injury frequency rate (“LTIFR”) of
0.92 with various operational and cultural improvement
initiatives ongoing.• Sustainability and ESG strategy
developed as part of operations and Board-level strategic
planning process.• K92 Values Framework
developed outlining the Company’s core values, including a
clear commitment to responsible mining practices and a culture of
respect for others.• Continued commitment to local
skills development, including 43 total tertiary
scholarships awarded; 150 graduates from the K92 Adult Literacy
Program; and multiple Memoranda of Understanding implemented with
PNG universities to help develop a robust pipeline of skilled mine
workers in the country.
Note: All amounts are in U.S. Dollars unless
otherwise noted.
John Lewins, K92 Chief Executive Officer and
Director, stated, “K92 is very pleased to release our fifth annual
Sustainability Report, which continues to demonstrate K92’s
commitment to robust ESG performance, reporting, and disclosure.
The report also highlights many of the initiatives undertaken by
our teams across the Company to deliver sustainable value that we
can all be proud of.
During the year, we achieved several operational
and financial records as we continue to transform the Kainantu Gold
Mine into one of the next world-class, Tier-1 gold mines. We also
received continued recognition for our enduring commitment to
sustainable development and gender diversity, including receiving
the Outstanding Community Humanitarian Initiative from the PNG
Chamber of Resources and Energy for the second consecutive year,
which was awarded in 2023 for K92’s Women in Mining Program.
We are very proud of the contributions we
continued to make to the PNG economy throughout the year, including
employing nearly 1,700 people, approximately 94% of whom are PNG
Nationals. We also procured $105.0 million from PNG-based companies
and remained the second-largest taxpayer among mining companies in
the country with $26.8 million in taxes and royalties paid.
While we realized many achievements during the
year, it was undoubtedly not without its challenges. Regrettably,
we experienced two tragic incidents in 2023 that resulted in
multiple fatalities. In the Health and Safety section of the
Sustainability Report, we provide transparent disclosures related
to these incidents, including our ongoing safety improvement
measures.
The safety of our employees and contractors is,
has, and always will be our highest priority. Safety is a core
value that forms part of who we are as a Company, and we will
remain vigilantly committed to living this value as part of our
everyday behaviour.
We look forward to another transformative year
for the Company in 2024 as we continue to build on our strong
momentum in delivering the Stage 3 and Stage 4 Expansions.
Critically, our efforts will continue to be guided by our core
values and our unwavering commitment to delivering sustainable
value for generations to come.”
About K92
K92 Mining Inc. is engaged in the production of
gold, copper and silver at the Kainantu Gold Mine in the Eastern
Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, as well as exploration and
development of mineral deposits in the immediate vicinity of the
mine. The Company declared commercial production from Kainantu in
February 2018 and is in a strong financial position. A maiden
resource estimate on the Blue Lake copper-gold porphyry project was
completed in August 2022. K92 is operated by a team of mining
company professionals with extensive international mine-building
and operational experience.
On Behalf of the Company,
John Lewins, Chief Executive Officer and
Director
For further information, please contact David
Medilek, P.Eng., CFA, President and Chief Operating Officer at
+1-604-416-4445
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION: This news release includes certain “forward-looking
statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such
forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (i) the
results of the Kainantu Mine Definitive Feasibility Study, and the
Kainantu 2022 Preliminary Economic Assessment, including the Stage
3 Expansion, a new standalone 1.2 mtpa process plant and supporting
infrastructure; (ii) statements regarding the expansion of the mine
and development of any of the deposits; (iii) the Kainantu Stage 4
Expansion, operating two standalone process plants, larger surface
infrastructure and mining throughputs; and (iv) the potential
extended life of the Kainantu Mine.
All statements in this news release that address
events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
statements that are not historical facts and are generally,
although not always, identified by words such as “expect”, “plan”,
“anticipate”, “project”, “target”, “potential”, “schedule”,
“forecast”, “budget”, “estimate”, “intend” or “believe” and similar
expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or
conditions “will”, “would”, “may”, “could”, “should” or “might”
occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the
opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements
are made. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on
estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are
beyond our ability to control, that may cause our actual results,
level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
information. Such factors include, without limitation, Public
Health Crises, including the COVID-19 virus; changes in the price
of gold, silver, copper and other metals in the world markets;
fluctuations in the price and availability of infrastructure and
energy and other commodities; fluctuations in foreign currency
exchange rates; volatility in price of our common shares; inherent
risks associated with the mining industry, including problems
related to weather and climate in remote areas in which certain of
the Company’s operations are located; failure to achieve
production, cost and other estimates; risks and uncertainties
associated with exploration and development; uncertainties relating
to estimates of mineral resources including uncertainty that
mineral resources may never be converted into mineral reserves; the
Company’s ability to carry on current and future operations,
including development and exploration activities; the timing,
extent, duration and economic viability of such operations,
including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the
accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts,
studies and assessments; the Company’s ability to meet or achieve
estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of
inputs; the availability and costs of achieving the Stage 3
Expansion or the Stage 4 Expansion; the ability of the Company to
achieve the inputs the price and market for outputs, including
gold, silver and copper; failures of information systems or
information security threats; political, economic and other risks
associated with the Company’s foreign operations; geopolitical
events and other uncertainties, such as the conflicts in Ukraine,
Israel and Palestine; compliance with various laws and regulatory
requirements to which the Company is subject to, including
taxation; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable
terms when required; the current and future social, economic and
political conditions, including relationship with the communities
in Papua New Guinea and other jurisdictions it operates; other
assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining
industry; and the risks, uncertainties and other factors referred
to in the Company’s Annual Information Form under the heading “Risk
Factors”.
Estimates of mineral resources are also
forward-looking statements because they constitute projections,
based on certain estimates and assumptions, regarding the amount of
minerals that may be encountered in the future and/or the
anticipated economics of production. The estimation of mineral
resources and mineral reserves is inherently uncertain and involves
subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral resources
that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic
viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the
quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made
and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation,
Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future
performance, and actual results and future events could materially
differ from those anticipated in such statements. Although we have
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause
actual results to differ materially from those that are
anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that
such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and
future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except as required by law.
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