27
June 2024
Atalaya Mining
Plc.
("Atalaya" or "the Company")
2024 Annual General Meeting
Statement
Atalaya Mining Plc (LSE: ATYM) is
hosting its 2024 Annual General Meeting ("AGM") today at 11.00 a.m.
BST at Hamilton House, 1 Temple Avenue, London, England EC4Y 0HA.
At the AGM, Roger Davey, non-executive Chair of the Company, will
read the below statement.
Shareholders should note that the
statement was contained in the Company's 2023 Annual Report,
therefore certain language may no longer reflect current
circumstances or Company guidance.
Letter from the Chair from Atalaya's 2023 Annual
Report
"Dear Shareholder,
Despite the effects of the continuing external geopolitical
tensions, the Atalaya executive team have, once more, delivered
consistent operational performance, in a safe and environmentally
responsible manner, at Proyecto Riotinto. At the same time,
work has continued on the asset portfolio for operational
sustainability and the continued growth potential for the
company.
At
Riotinto, mining and processing continued its excellent track
record, with throughput again exceeding plant nameplate capacity,
processing 15.8 million tonnes of ore at an average process plant
feed grade of 0.38% copper that was consistent with reserve
estimates and slightly below budgeted figures.
Contained Copper production, at 51,667 tonnes was slightly
below guidance as a result of lower grades but this was partly
offset by high plant availability and ore throughput plus an
improved recovery rate of approximately 87%.
Cash Costs and All-in Sustaining Costs for 2023 of $2.79/lb
and $3.09/lb respectively were lower than the $3.16/lb and $3.37/lb
in 2022 mainly due to the continuing normalisation of the
electricity price and other external cost
pressures.
Revenue for 2023 was €340.3 million, compared to €361.8
million in 2022, with the reduction essentially due to the lower
production volumes. EBITDA for 2023 was €73.1 million,
compared to €55.3 million in 2022 with the increase mainly due to
the reduction in costs, spearheaded by a decrease in the
electricity prices.
In
keeping with our dividend policy, a final dividend of US$0.04 per
share has been proposed for approval by shareholders at the Annual
General Meeting. This would give a total dividend in respect
of 2023 of US$0.09 per share, whilst maintaining a strong Balance
Sheet for continued investment in sustainable production through
reserve replacement as well as our longer-term growth
projects.
Progress continues at the E-LIX processing plant. The
first copper cathodes were produced in December 2023, resulting
from the early partial commissioning of sections of the
plant. Full commissioning and ramp-up of the facility is
expected during the year with the aim of producing high-purity
copper and zinc metals on site, higher metal recoveries from
complex polymetallic ores, a reduced carbon footprint, and lower
transportation and concentrate treatment charges.
In
the north of Spain, the Company remains fully committed to the
development of the Touro copper project that has the potential to
become a new significant source of copper production for Atalaya
and, indeed, for Europe. In this respect, the company
continues to focus on numerous initiatives related to the social
licence and water treatment in the zone in parallel with the
permitting process.
As
part of the Company's ongoing efforts to reduce costs and carbon
footprint, construction is nearing
completion at the 50 MW solar plant at
Riotinto. The first section was commissioned early in the
year, with the ramp-up of the remaining areas expected in the
following months. When fully operational, the solar plant is
expected to provide approximately 22% of the Riotinto project's
current electricity needs. The solar plant combined with the
long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), announced last year, will
provide over 50% of the current electricity requirements at a rate
well below historical prices in Spain. The Company continues
wind-speed testing and evaluation for the potential installation of
wind turbines at Riotinto, which could supply additional low cost
and carbon-free electricity.
In
April 2023 Proyecto Riotinto was granted a substantial modification
to the existing Unified Environmental Authorisation (AAU)) by the
Junta de Andalucía that allows for the expansion of the mine
footprint and the tailings capacity, an important step towards
developing the previously reported contiguous deposits such as San
Dionisio and San Antonio. Work continues on the preparatory
work and necessary permitting applications associated with the
first target, the on-strike San Dionisio deposit, which forms a key
component of the integrated mine plan, as outlined in the 2023
Riotinto PEA, to provide an early increase in the blended plant
feed grade.
In
other areas of potential growth, the exploitation permits for the
Masa Valverde and Majadales deposits were officially granted In
November 2023, following the granting of the AAU in March
2023. Various optimisation workstreams are
ongoing.
Following the Extraordinary General Meeting held in December
2023, the Company commenced a re-domiciliation process,
transferring its registered office from the Republic of Cyprus to
the Kingdom of Spain.
I
would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for
the continued dedication and commitment of the management and
staff. At the same time, I would like to thank all board
members for their support, guidance, and continued engagement with
all aspects of the Company's activities, and also our valued
shareholders for their continued and appreciated
support."
Contacts:
SEC Newgate UK
|
Elisabeth Cowell / Tom Carnegie /
Matthew Elliott
|
+44 20
3757 6882
|
Atalaya Mining
|
Michael Rechsteiner
|
+34 959 59
28 50
|
About Atalaya Mining Plc
Atalaya is a European copper
producer that owns and operates the Proyecto Riotinto complex in
southwest Spain. Atalaya's shares trade on the London Stock
Exchange's Main Market (Premium Segment) under the symbol
"ATYM".
Atalaya's operations include the
Cerro Colorado open pit mine and a modern 15 Mtpa processing plant,
which has the potential to become a central processing hub for ore
sourced from its wholly owned regional projects around Riotinto,
such as Proyecto Masa Valverde and Proyecto Riotinto East. In
addition, Atalaya has a phased earn-in agreement for up to 80%
ownership of Proyecto Touro, a brownfield copper project in the
northwest of Spain, as well as a 99.9% interest in Proyecto Ossa
Morena. For further information, please visit
www.atalayamining.com