For immediate release

2 November 2017

 

 

 

Centamin plc ("Centamin" or "the Company")

(LSE:CEY, TSX:CEE)

 

Centamin plc Results for the Third Quarter and Nine Months Ended 30 September 2017

 

Centamin plc ("Centamin", the "Group" or "the Company") (LSE: CEY, TSX: CEE) is pleased to announce its results for the third quarter and nine months ended 30 September 2017.

 

Q3 2017 Operational Highlights ^(1),(2)

·       Record quarterly gold production of 156,533 ounces was a 26% increase on Q2 2017 and 5% higher than Q3 2016.

·       Q3 2017 cash cost of production and all-in sustaining costs (AISC) remain well controlled resulting in unit cash cost of production of US$483 per ounce produced and unit AISC of US$732 per ounce sold.

·       Full year 2017 guidance maintained at 540,000 ounces, with US$580 per ounce cash cost of production and US$790 per ounce AISC.

·       Quarterly throughput of 3.0 million tonnes from Sukari process plant, a slight decrease of 2% on Q2 2017 and an increase of 7% on Q3 2016 performance.

·       Amun / Ptah underground operations delivered 302kt at a grade of 7.98g/t to the ROM pad with mill feed from underground of 305kt at 8.07g/t during the period.

·       Third successive record quarterly open-pit material movement of 18.6 million tonnes.

·       Continued positive results from underground exploration drilling at Sukari at both Amun / Ptah and Cleopatra and further encouraging drill results received from Côte d'Ivoire.

·       Development of the Cleopatra exploration decline, located in the north-east of Sukari Hill, advanced 153 metres.

 

Financial Highlights ^(1),(2)

·        Q3 2017 EBITDA of US$103.6 million up 57% from Q2 2017 due to an increase in both sales volumes and average realised gold price.

·        Strong cash flow generation with free cash flow generation of US$45 million in the third quarter, US$96 million year to date.

·        Cash at bank, bullion on hand, gold sales receivable and available-for-sale financial assets as at 30 September 2017 of US$345.8 million, following an interim dividend payment of US$29.0 million.

·        The Egyptian state has benefitted directly from profit share payments to EMRA of US$76.6 million during the first nine months of 2017 in addition to US$14.5 million in royalties.

·        Quarterly basic earnings per share (after profit share) of 3.41 US cents, an increase from 1.10 US cents in Q2 2017, due primarily to higher EBITDA offset by higher profit share payments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

		Q3 2017	Q2 2017	Q3 2016
Gold produced	ounces	156,533	124,641	148,674
Gold sold	ounces	150,273	120,912	150,201
Cash cost of production	US$/ounce	483	609	466
AISC	US$/ounce	732	829	644
Average realised gold price	US$/ounce	1,283	1,249	1,335
Revenue	US$'000	193,092	151,282	200,845
EBITDA	US$'000	103,598	65,958	122,032
Profit before tax	US$'000	75,446	37,819	93,716
EPS (before profit share)	US cents	6.47	3.18	8.11
EPS (after profit share)	US cents	3.41	1.10	5.62
Cash generated from operations	US$'000	109,471	77,582	139,822
Free cash flow	US$'000	45,213	31,104	105,443

⁽¹⁾        Cash cost of production, AISC, EBITDA, free cash flow and cash, bullion on hand, gold sales receivables and available-for-sale financial assets are non-GAAP measures and are defined at the end of the Financial Statements. AISC is defined by the World Gold Council, the details of which can be found at www.gold.org.

⁽²⁾        Basic EPS, EBITDA, AISC, cash cost of production reflects a provision against prepayments, recorded since Q4 2012, to reflect the removal of fuel subsidies which occurred in January 2012 (see Note 6 of the financial statements).

 

Andrew Pardey, CEO, commented: "Sukari enjoyed an excellent quarter with all parts of the mine continuing to perform well.  Open pit mining rates reached another record, with ore production from high grade areas allowing a significant increase in open pit plant feed grade. The underground operations delivered another quarter of good grades at an annualised 1.2 million tonne rate and the process plant again achieved a quarterly throughput of approximately 3 million tonnes. The resulting increase in overall plant feed grade led to record quarterly gold production. Mine production costs increased slightly on Q2 due to higher mining rates and higher reagent usage, but remain well controlled.  As a result, Centamin generated cash flow from operating activities of US$109.2 million and recorded free cash flow of US$45.2 million, or US cents 3.9 per share, for the quarter."

 

Centamin will host a conference call on Thursday 2^nd November 2017 at 9.00am (London, UK time) to update investors and analysts on its results. Participants may join the call by dialling one of the following three numbers, approximately 10 minutes before the start of the call.

 

UK Toll Free:                                          0808 237 0040

International Toll number:                +44 20 3428 1542

Participant code:                                 21451666#

 

A recording of the call will be available four hours after the completion of the call on:

 

UK Toll Free:                                         0808 237 0026

International Toll number:                +44 20 3426 2807

Playback Code:                                    692951#

Via audio link at http://www.centamin.com/media/press-releases/2017

 

 

For more information, please contact:

Centamin plc Andrew Pardey, Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Stephens, Chief Development Officer (info@centamin.com)  +44 (0) 1534 828700

Buchanan Bobby Morse Chris Judd Patrick Hanrahan + 44 (0) 20 7466 5000

 

________________________________

 

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT

 

Third quarter gold production from Sukari of 156,533 ounces was a 26% increase on Q2 2017, mainly driven by a 26% increase in the average processed grade and a 2% increase in average recovery rates, offset by a 2% decrease in ore processed. 

 

Higher head grades were delivered from the open pit and grades delivered from underground were in line with the respective mine plans. During the third quarter, mining in the open pit continued in the higher grade areas of stage 3B, which provided open pit mill feed. In addition, mining targeted the northern section of stage 4, which will provide continuity of mill feed once stage 3B is completed.

 

The open pit delivered record quarterly total material movement of 18,602kt, a 6% increase on the previous quarter, with 4,825kt of ore, an increase of 58% on the previous quarter. This included 1,222kt @ 0.29g/t delivered to the dump leach pads. The average head grade to the plant from the open pit was 1.11g/t, up 37% from Q2 2017.  

 

The underground mine delivered 302kt of ore, a 3% increase on Q2 2017 and an annualised rate of just over 1.2Mtpa, at a grade of 7.98g/t.

 

Processing rates were 2% lower than the prior quarter at 3.0 million tonnes, an annualised rate of above the target 11.75Mtpa forecast rate for 2017. Recoveries of 88.3% were below our forecast average of 89.5% for the full year but improved from the 86.7% achieved in Q2 2017.  A strong focus on improving overall metallurgical recoveries while processing higher tonnes through the plant is continuing. A number of initiatives to improve recoveries were progressed in Q3 and should see improved recoveries in Q4 as the projects are completed.

 

Sukari will install a fourth secondary crusher during the fourth quarter, addressing an identified bottleneck in the comminution circuit and having the potential to allow processing rates above the 12 million tonnes per annum currently being achieved.

 

Mine production costs increased by 6% over Q2 2017 to US$ 80.7 million largely as a result of higher mining rates in the open pit and higher reagent costs in the process plant.  Allowing for movement in inventory charges, total cash cost of production decreased by 0.4% compared to Q2 2017 and, with higher gold production, unit cash cost of production decreased by US$126 per ounce to US$483 per ounce produced.

 

Total all-in sustaining costs excluding movement in inventory adjustments increased by US$12.2 million during  Q3 2017 compared to Q2 2017 due primarily to the higher mine production costs and increased sustaining capital expenditure for the open pit mining fleet midlife and full life rebuilds as well as underground development.  Including movement in inventory adjustments, all-in sustaining costs increased by US$9.8 million to US$109.9 million. Together with a 24% increase in volume of gold sold compared to Q2 2017, this resulted in a US$97 per ounce decrease in AISC to US$732 per ounce sold.

 

Revenues were 28% higher than the previous quarter, due to a 24% increase in gold sales volumes and a 3% rise in realised gold prices. The increase in revenue and decrease in production costs after movements in inventory lead to an increase in EBITDA to US$103.6 million which was 57% higher than in Q2 2017.

 

Centamin's balance sheet ended the period with US$345.8 million of cash, bullion on hand, gold sales receivable and available-for-sale financial assets.  This marked an increase of US$12.2 million since 30 June 2017 with the interim dividend of US$29.0 million being paid during the quarter. Centamin remains debt-free and committed to its policy of being 100% exposed to the gold price through its un-hedged position.

 

There were two lost time injuries in Q3 2017, with a LTIFR of 0.29. No lost time injuries were recorded in Q2 2017.  We continue to review and address training requirements to ensure we achieve our long term target of zero LTIs on a consistent basis.

 

We maintain our full year production forecast of 540,000 ounces at a cash cost of production of US$580 per ounce and AISC of US$790 per ounce sold. Productivity rates in the open pit, underground and process plant achieved during Q3 2017 demonstrate the potential for Sukari to grow production from existing operations.

 

As a result of the significant cash generation from Sukari, profit share was US$35.4m for the quarter, with advance distributions to EMRA totalling US$76.6m during the nine months to 30 September 2017.  Both EMRA and our subsidiary, Pharaoh Gold Mines ("PGM") will continue to benefit from advance distributions of profit share on a proportionate basis, in accordance with the terms of the Concession Agreement.  Profit share payments will be reconciled in full, in consultation with EMRA, against Sukari Gold Mining Company's ("SGM") audited June 2018 financial statements, which will be the second year that profit share payments have been paid.

 

An updated reserve and resource statement for Sukari is in the process of being finalised and will be released during Q4 2017. Beyond current resources, further support for the longer-term potential and the sustainability of high-grade underground production at Sukari continues to be provided by results from on-going exploration drilling, as highlighted in the following pages of this report. 

 

During August 2016 we began development of a new exploration decline within the north-eastern Cleopatra zone of Sukari Hill. The initial phase of development was focused on the establishment of drill platforms from which to conduct detailed exploration.  Development of 153m during the third quarter produced 12,896 tonnes of mineralised development ore, at an average grade of 1.40g/t.

 

Drilling to date has been encouraging and has confirmed and defined the geometry of the high-grade zones on the eastern contact of the porphyry. Drill testing of the western contact of the porphyry commenced during Q2 2017 and results remain outstanding. As was the case with the Amun and Ptah declines, the initial Cleopatra project is being developed with infrastructure capable of supporting mining rates of up to 1 million tonnes per annum from this area. Ultimate production rates will depend on future results from the programme and further development, and would be in addition to the current underground ore production from the Amun and Ptah declines.

 

During the quarter, exploration activities in Côte d'Ivoire focused on the Kalamon, Danoa, Gogo and Tehini 1 permits which are within the Doropo Project (where we previously announced the 0.3Moz Indicated 1.0Moz inferred resource, see the 31 December 2016 annual report for more information), as well as the Kona permit which is within the ABC project. A total of 108 drill holes were completed for a combined total of 14,578 metres, 13,896 m RC and 682m DD core. The bulk of the resource metres were focused on the development of the Souwa-Nokpa-Chegue (SNC) trend. A number of new proximal resource targets were identified in Q2 2017 which are scheduled for resource in-fill in Q4 2017.

 

During the quarter, exploration in Burkina Faso continued to focus on anomaly development and extension proximal to the main resource areas within the Napelepera, Konkera, Kpere Batie and Tonior permits. Focus has been on the generation of new air core and RC targets for Q4 2017 and 2018-H2 resource growth delivery.

 

There were no developments during the quarter in the two litigation actions, the Diesel Fuel Oil and Concession Agreement, which are described in further detail in Note 8 to the financial statements.

 

OPERATIONAL REVIEW

 

Sukari Gold Mine:

	Q3 2017	Q2 2017	Q3 2016
OPEN PIT MINING
Ore mined (1) ('000t)	4,825	3,060	2,936
Ore grade mined (Au g/t)	0.76	0.76	1.06
Ore grade milled (Au g/t)	1.11	0.81	1.14
Total material mined ('000t)	18,602	17,493	16,191
Strip ratio (waste/ore)	2.86	4.72	4.51
UNDERGROUND MINING
Ore mined from development ('000t)	113	119	103
Ore mined from stopes ('000t)	189	174	153
Ore grade mined (Au g/t)	7.98	8.79	8.97
Ore processed ('000t)	2,996	3,056	2,806
Head grade (g/t)	1.82	1.44	1.83
Gold recovery (%)	88.3	86.7	89.7
Gold produced - dump leach  (oz)	1,692	1,738	1,897
Gold produced - total (2) (oz)	156,533	124,641	148,674
Cash cost of production(3) (4)  (US$/oz)	483	609	466
Open pit mining	180	234	163
Underground mining	33	41	38
Processing	244	296	222
G&A	26	38	43
AISC(3) (4)  (US$/oz)	732	829	644
Gold sold (oz)	150,273	120,912	150,201
Average realised sales price (US$/oz)	1,283	1,249	1,335

 

(1)  Ore mined includes 1,222kt delivered to the dump leach pad in Q3 2017 (0kt in Q3 2016).

(2)  Gold produced is gold poured and does not include gold-in-circuit at period end.

(3)  Cash cost of production exclude royalties, exploration and corporate administration expenditure. Cash cost of production and AISC are non-GAAP financial performance measures with no standard meaning under GAAP. For further information and a detailed reconciliation, please see "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below.

(4)  Cash cost of production and AISC reflect a provision against prepayments to reflect the removal of fuel subsidies which occurred in January 2012 (refer to Note 6 to the financial statements for further details).

 

Health and safety - Sukari

 

There were two lost time injuries in Q3 2017, with a 0.29 lost time injury (LTI) frequency rate per 200,000 man hours. This compares to zero LTIFR in Q2 2017 and 0.46 LTIFR for Q3 2016. A total of 1,376,081 man-hours were worked in Q3 2017 (1,290,907 in Q3 2016, 1,369,939 in Q2 2017). We continue to develop the health and safety culture onsite and address training requirements to ensure we achieve our long term target of zero LTIs on a consistent basis.

 

Open pit

 

The open pit delivered total material movement of 18,602kt for the quarter, an increase of 6% on Q2 2017 and a 15% increase on the prior year period. Improvements on fleet availability and utilisation drove the improvement. The waste to ore strip ratio was 2.86 compared with 4.72 in the previous quarter. Mining continued to focus on the Stage 3B and 4A (north) areas of the open pit.

 

Ore production from the open pit was 4,825kt at 0.76g/t. The head grade delivered to the process plant was 1.11 g/t. This was up 37% from Q2 2017.  The run of mine ore stockpile balance increased by 904kt to 1,274kt at the end of the period.

 

Mining has progressed to the lower benches of stage 3B, with higher average grades, and upper portions of stage 4 of pit development.  We continue to expect to mine higher grades from the open pit for the balance of 2017.

 

Underground mine

 

Ore production from the underground mine was 302kt for Q3 2017, above the forecast annualised rate of 1Mt. The ratio of stoping-to-development ore remained constant with 63% of ore from stoping 189kt and 37% of ore from development 113kt.  Ore tonnages from stopes increased by 9% on Q2 2017.

 

The average mined grade was 7.98 g/t, comprising ore from stoping at 8.21 g/t and ore from development at 7.57 g/t.

 

Total development during the quarter, including the Ptah and Horus declines (lower Amun), was 1,705 metres.  The Horus and Ptah declines continued towards accessing the lower Amun / Osiris zones and Ptah zone respectively. Development within mineralised areas of Amun accounted for 945 metres and took place between the 770 and 620 levels, 310 to 460 vertical meters below the underground portal.  The Horus decline is approaching the take-off position for the 605 Amun level. Ptah development in mineralised porphyry totalled 518 metres on the P770 to P660 levels.  Combined Amun and Ptah mineralised development ore achieved 112,790 tonnes at an average grade of 7.57g/t.

 

Work on the exhaust ventilation circuits for the Amun levels and Ptah declines progressed, ensuring sufficient ventilation as the decline continues to extend deeper into the orebody. The base of the exhaust system is developed to 620 level on the Amun side and 645 on the Ptah side.

 

A total of 1,795 metres of grade control diamond drilling were completed, aimed at short-term stope definition, drive direction optimisation and underground resource development.  Positive results continue and support extensions of development drives and stoping blocks.  A further 10,479 metres of drilling continued to test for extensions of the orebody at depth, below the current Amun zones and from the Cleopatra exploration drill cuddies targeting the main western and northern contacts and extension of the Cleopatra lodes to the east. Results are discussed in the exploration section.

 

Processing

 

Quarterly throughput at the Sukari process plant was 2,996kt. This is a 2% decrease on Q2 2017 and a 7% increase on the prior year period. Plant productivity of 1,430 tonnes per hour (tph) was a 5% decrease on Q2 2017 and a 0.1% decrease on the prior year period. During the quarter the SAG02 mill motor was replaced over a 24 hour period with the onsite spare motor. The replaced motor is currently being repaired in Cairo and is due back onsite in January 2017. An additional new motor has also been ordered and is expected onsite late in Q1 2018 to provide additional resilience in the future.

 

Plant metallurgical recovery at 88.3% was 2% higher compared to Q2 2017 at 86.7% and was 2% lower than the 89.7% achieved in the prior year period. A strong focus on improving overall metallurgical recoveries while processing increased tonnes through the plant is continuing.  A second acid wash column was commissioned while several other projects are due for completion in Q4 2017. These include: the commissioning of the VisioFroth; an automated control monitoring system that aims to increase the floatation mass pull; an expansion of the elution circuit by installing a third elution column with supporting infrastructure and an extra electro winning cell, reducing the CIL tailings losses with improved carbon management and carbon monitoring techniques. The fourth secondary crusher installation is also progressing with installation expected to be completed late in Q4 2017.

 

The dump leach operation produced 1,692oz, 3% lower than Q2 2017 and 11% lower than the prior year period.

 

 

Exploration

 

Centamin's "explore to develop" strategy is focussed on defining, through the exploration process, the optimal path to development for projects which can provide material returns on shareholder capital. The Company aims to undertake systematic exploration programmes over large-area licence packages within geologically prospective regions and will only operate within stable jurisdictions offering a fiscally-attractive framework for mining investment. Development decisions are made on the basis that Centamin will take a self-performing, self-funding and staged approach to project construction and operation.

 

Sukari

 

Resource and reserve definition drilling on underground targets remains the focus of exploration at Sukari. Drilling during the quarter prioritised on the Amun decline drill platform from the 655RL, targeting the high grade structures at the intersection of the Osiris thrust and the top of Horus Porphyry in lower Amun. A further two underground mobile carrier rigs (MCR) were used for exploration work in Ptah (labelled PUD holes), Amun (UGD holes) and Cleopatra, (CUD holes) as grade control priorities allowed.  Two LM90 rigs were drilling from drill platforms in the Cleopatra development, exploring for high grade mineralisation on the western and northern contacts of the porphyry.  A total of 10,479m of exploration drilling was completed for the quarter.

 

Significant results received during the quarter from the underground drilling programmes in Amun and Ptah region are summarised as follows.

 

Amun Drill Intersections - with holes UGRSD0810 to UGRSD0813 intercepts highlighting the growing reserve potential within the Osiris Thrust proximal to the Horus Porphyry apex.  The detailed 3D structural modelling of this high grade zone indicates the continuity is open up and down plunge of the current discovery.  Drill targeting is on-going and significant results from Q3 include:

 

Hole Number	From	Interval	Grade
	(m)	(m)	(Au g/t)
UGRSD0810	103	4.0	31.9
UGRSD0812	212	4.1	8.5
	255	3.0	7.0
UGRSD0813	199	6.9	8.8
UGD3524	10	4.0	70.1
UGD3510	32	4.1	71.8

 

 

Ptah Drill Intersections - with drill hole UGRSD0577 intercepts in the "Ptah Keel" zone and UGRSD0135 and UGRS0829 intercepts highlighting the on-going resource growth consolidating the "Amun Ptah Gap".  Significant results reported in Q3 include:

 

Hole Number	level	Interval	Grade
	(rl)	(m)	(Au g/t)
UGRSD0577	413	11.0	8.0
	370	8.9	9.1
UGRSD0123	839	1.8	86.8
UGRSD0139	837	5.0	11.8
PUD7523	655	4.0	116.6
PUD7526	682	8.0	7.8
	641	6.7	8.0
PUD7527	681	4.7	47.0
PUD7528	687	16.0	8.6
UGRSD0135	733	1.9	419.0
	652	3.3	71.5
	635	2.0	163.2
	628	2.0	163.7
UGRSD0829	653	4.0	82.1

 

 

Cleopatra Exploration Decline

 

The existing underground operations at Sukari have demonstrated that the western contact zone between the main porphyry and the surrounding meta-sedimentary rock units is highly prospective for high-grade gold mineralisation.  This contact has received limited drilling in the north western portion of Sukari Hill, where the porphyry is approximately three hundred metres wide and access for surface drill rigs is limited.

 

Historic high grades have been observed from limited surface drilling along the north-eastern flank of Sukari Hill, where an interpreted stacked set of three mineralised thrusts dip uniquely to the northwest, named north to south as Cleopatra, Julius and Antoine. Cleopatra outcrops as two distinct quartz veins within a broader mineralised shear which has been mined historically through small historical workings, visible on the north eastern flank of Sukari Hill.  Julius and Antoine are repeated NW dipping thrust further south and above the main Ptah Buthinae Thrust.  Drill targeting on the grade development and continuity of these three parallel, stacked gold thrusts as they interact with each other and the main Sukari porphyry contacts in the under explored north porphyry, embodies the Cleopatra Mine exploration strategy.

 

This project is designed to commence development along strike within the upper Cleopatra zone. In addition to providing geological information, exploration drilling will be carried out from this central drive. The project has been developed in two phases, with 1,370 metres of development and 96,422 tonnes of mined material movement in phase 1, which was completed during Q1 2017, and 1,210 metres of development and 69,467 tonnes of mined material in phase 2.  US$7.2m has been spent on the initial project to date, before any credit for ore production.

 

Phase 2 continued during Q3 2017 with 406.5 metres of development and production of 29,902 tonnes of mineralised development ore, at an average grade of 2.26g/t.  During the quarter a total of 12,896t of mineralised development ore from Cleopatra was fed to the process plant at an average grade of 1.40g/t.

 

A total of 6,735m of exploration drilling was completed from 1130mRL, in addition to 876 metres of shorter exploration drill holes utilising the MCR drill rig. Drilling to date has confirmed and defined the geometry of the high-grade zones on the eastern side of the porphyry.

 

Drill testing of the western contact of the porphyry was commenced during Q2, drilling to target the extension of Antoine zone near the western contact.

 

Selected results received during the third quarter from Cleopatra include the following, which are internal in the porphyry on the Cleopatra, Antoine and Julius structures:

 

Hole Number	From	Interval	Grade
	(m)	(m)	(Au g/t)	Rig
CRSD035	23	2.0	9.7	LM90
CRSD039	120	1.0	8.0	LM90
CUD061	1.6	3.6	8.2	MCR
CUD062	32.4	16.6	4.4	MCR
CUD067	15.5	0.9	18.5	MCR
CUD086	7.3	3.4	6.9	MCR
CUD088	19.2	2.5	5.2	MCR
CUD090	0	2.0	6.7	MCR

 

Other prospects

 

Whilst exploration remains focused on Sukari Hill, there are seven other prospects that have been identified within the 160km² Sukari tenement area which are close enough such that ore could be trucked to the existing processing plant. No exploration drilling was completed on these prospects this quarter, however a thorough in-house prospectivity review has commenced with the objective of outlining new exploration plans for 2018.

 

Resource and Reserve

 

An updated reserve and resource statement for Sukari is in the process of being finalised and will be released during Q4 2017.

 

Côte d'Ivoire

 

Centamin has currently nine granted permits in Côte d'Ivoire, encompassing some 2,832 km². Ten new permits covering a further 3,349 km² are also under application.

 

During the quarter, exploration activities focused on the Kalamon, Danoa, Gogo, Tehini 1 and Tehini 2 permits (within the Doropo Project), and on the Kona and Farako Nafana permits (within the ABC project).

 

Doropo Project

 

Generative exploration focussed on regional target generation on the newly granted permits of Gogo, Tehini 1 and Tehini 2, principally through systematic grid mapping, prospecting, soil sampling and auger drilling. Resource Discovery focused in Kalamon and Danoa permits expanding on the current Doropo resource cluster. Resource Development focused in Kalamon extending the main Nokpa. Souwa and Chegue South deposits.

 

A total of 108 drill holes were completed for a combined total of 14,578 metres, 13,896 m RC and 682m DD core. The bulk of the resource metres were focused on the development of the Souwa-Nokpa-Chegue (SNC) trend. A number of new proximal resource targets were identified in Q2 2017 which are scheduled for resource in-fill in Q4 2017.

 

Ten RC-DD drill holes were completed on Nokpa prospect, with assays currently pending for the majority of the drill holes, and extending significantly the mineralisation at depth (new targets tested in between 150 and 200 metres vertical depth). The structure appears to strengthen down-dip with the development of a significant dip-jog lode appearing.

 

The new Chegue South splay from the SNC, discovered during Q2 2017, has been drilled during Q3 2017 along 750 metres strike length.  This is still open in both directions and to approximately 150 metres vertical depth. The mineralisation there is different from the other prospects with the fact that quartz veining is not as abundant. The gold mineralisation is associated to abundant disseminated pyrite within the sheared granite and the alteration mineral assemblage is silica-hematite dominant. The structure has a North-South orientation and dips towards the East. Further drilling planned during Q4 2017 will step back testing at depth and along strike.

 

Reconnaissance aircore (AC) drilling was temporarily suspended during the quarter to focus all efforts on resource growth delivery by year end.

 

The DD core metallurgical sampling program was completed and freighted to Perth in Q3. The program was designed to provide fresh material for comminution and diagnostic leach testing at AMMTEC PTY Ltd (Perth). A full suite of geotechnical hardness test work, logging and Rock Mass Classification will be completed on the main resource deposits in H2 2017. This data will feed into preliminary pit optimisation studies planned for Q1 2018.

 

Table of the significant RC intercepts reported from the Doropo drilling during the quarter:

 

Prospect	HoleID	Type	From (m)	To         (m)	Interval                       (m)	Grade                             (Au g/t)
Nokpa	DPRD1377	DD	146	162	17	3.0
			182	189	7	1.5
	DPRD1379	DD	112	139	27	1.2
	DPRD1380	DD	231	234	3	8.3
			246	254	8	13.2
Chegue	DPRC0736	RC	78	91	13	5.2
	DPRC0740	RC	141	143	2	32.7
	DPRC0741	RC	44	52	8	2.9
	DPRC0742	RC	79	89	10	1.9
	DPRC0743	RC	115	127	12	1.9
	DPRC0744	RC	139	151	12	5.6
	DPRC0745	RC	111	117	6	2.1
			121	130	9	1.4
	DPRC0747	RC	68	71	3	4.8
	DPRC0750	RC	69	76	7	6.5
	DPRC0754	RC	110	118	8	1.0
			125	138	13	1.3
	DPRC0757	RC	100	102	2	12.8
	DPRC0758	RC	101	113	12	3.0
	DPRC0764	RC	107	109	2	9.7
	DPRC0770	RC	79	89	10	2.1
	DPRC0773	RC	78	90	12	2.9
	DPRC0774	RC	120	128	8	2.9
	DPRC0776	RC	12	24	12	1.6
	DPRC0783	RC	18	26	8	1.2
			29	34	5	2.0
	DPRC0789	RC	71	75	4	6.8
			92	94	2	3.3

 

ABC Project

 

A comprehensive mapping and grid rock chip sampling program was completed across the Lolosso Prospect on the Kona permit during Q2. Results to date demonstrate a coherent 12km x 200m anomalous trend. The mineralisation is hosted by fine grained volcano-sediments and felsic volcanics along a major structural contact.

 

The Lolosso GAIP survey was completed as planned in Q3. It covered the whole 12km strike length of the mineralised trend and successfully mapped the underlying structural architecture which we are actively targeting within our current October first-pass RC 5,000m program.

 

Burkina Faso

 

During the quarter, exploration in Burkina Faso continued to focus on anomaly development and extension proximal to the main resource areas within the Napelepera, Konkera, Kpere Batie and Tonior permits. Focus has been on the generation of new air core and RC targets for Q4 2017 and 2018-H2 resource growth delivery.

 

Two auger rigs drilled full-time completing a total of 2,371 holes, comprising 12,276 meters, generating 2,445 samples principally from the Napelepera West, Tonior NE and Granite contact prospects.

 

Q3 2017 results have confirmed and extended the new Tonior SE prospect with the gold anomaly hosting grades >20ppb extending over 3.6km linking into our Tonior Main prospects. The gradient array induced polarisation (GAIP) survey is 67% complete with 137.8 km of lines being completed in Q3. The GAIP survey has successfully mapped the subjacent structural architecture and clearly identified the new air core targets for October.

 

An air core drill program will commence in October focusing on the 3.6km trend of Tonior SE, Tonior Main, Napelepera West, Konkera FW and HW targets and Granite Contact trends.

 

RC and RC-DD drilling will recommence at Konkera FW, HW, Tonior SE and Tonior Main during Q4 and run concurrently to June 2018 targeting new aircore targets as they are discovered.

 

The Kpere Permit reconnaissance stream sediment survey was completed during the quarter. 49 samples were taken and ICPMS results are pending from ACME Vancouver.

 

Centamin currently holds 11 exploration permits and 1 exploitation permit, totalling some 1,428 km². A further 14 permits, representing a further 1,472 km², have been applied for and are awaiting approval.

 

The Konkera mining license renewal has been lodged which extends the permits validity for a further two years.

 

 

FINANCIAL REVIEW

In its eighth year of production, the Sukari Gold Mine is highly cash generative as reflected in the Group's financial results for the quarter ended 30 September 2017:

 

·       EBITDA of US$103.6 million down 15% from Q3 2016 due to a decrease in revenue and an increase in cost of sales.

·       Strong cash flow generation with US$45.2 million of free cash flow generated in Q3 2017, down 57% on the prior year period due largely to the impact of profit share.

·       Cash at bank, bullion on hand, gold sales receivable and available-for-sale financial assets as at 30 September 2017 of US$345.8 million.

·       Quarterly basic earnings per share (after profit share) of 3.41 US cents, a 39% decrease on Q3 2016 due lower revenues, higher cost of sales and the commencement of profit share payments.

·       The Egyptian state has benefitted directly from advance profit share payments to EMRA of US$76.6 million during the nine months ended 30 September 2017 (in line guidance for 2017) in addition to US$14.5 million in royalty payments for the same period.

Revenue

 

Revenue from gold and silver sales for the quarter decreased by 4% to US$193.1 million (US$200.9 million in Q3 2016), with a 4% decrease in the average realised gold sales price to US$1,283 per ounce (US$1,335 per ounce in Q3 2016) and a 0.1% increase in gold sold to 150,273 ounces (150,201 ounces in Q3 2016).

 

Cost of sales

 

Cost of sales represents the cost of mining, processing, refining, transport, site administration, depreciation, amortisation and movement in production inventories. Cost of sales is inclusive of US$12.2 million categorised as fuel pre-payments (refer to Note 6 of the financial statements for further information) and is up 7% compared with Q3 2016 to US$105.5 million, mainly as a result of a:

 

·       6% increase in total mine production costs from US$76.1 million to US$80.7 million, due to a 15% increase in mined tonnes combined with a 7% increase in processed tonnes and an increase in unit costs mainly due to increased fuel and reagent costs; and

·       3% increase in depreciation and amortisation charges from US$28.4 million to US$28.7 million as higher production physicals increased the associated amortisation charges.

Other operating costs

Other operating costs comprises expenditure incurred for communications, consultants, directors' fees, stock exchange listing fees, share registry fees, employee entitlements, general office administration expenses, the unwinding of the restoration and rehabilitation provision, foreign exchange movements and the 3% production royalty payable to the Egyptian government. Other operating costs increased by 46% on the prior year period to US$13 million, as a result of a:

 

·       US$1.8 million decrease in net foreign exchange movements from a US$1.3 million gain to a US$0.5 million loss;

·       US$0.2 million decrease in royalty paid to the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt in line with the decrease in gold sales revenue;

·       US$0.5 million decrease in corporate costs; and

·       US$2.5 million stock obsolescence provision.

 

 

 

Finance income

Finance income reported comprises interest revenue applicable on the Company's available cash and term deposit amounts. The movements in finance income are in line with the movements in the Company's available cash and term deposit amounts.

 

Profit before tax

As a result of the factors outlined above, the group recorded a profit before tax for the quarter ended 30 September 2017 of US$75.5 million (Q3 2016 US$93.7 million).

 

EMRA profit share

During the quarter ended 30 September 2017, US$35.4 million was paid to EMRA.

 

Profit share payments made to EMRA, pursuant to the provisions of the Concession Agreement, are recognised as a variable charge in the income statement (below profit after tax) of Centamin, resulting in a reduction in earnings per share. The profit share payments during the year will be reconciled against SGM's audited June 2017 and June 2018 financial statements.  Any variation between payments made during the year (which are based on the Company's estimates) and the audited financial statements, may result in a balance due and payable to EMRA or advances to be offset against future distributions. SGM's June 2017 financial statements are currently being audited.

 

Earnings per share

Earnings per share of 6.47 US cents (before profit share) has decreased when compared with 8.11 US cents per share for Q3 2016. The decrease was driven by lower gross operating margins and higher operating costs as detailed above.

 

Earnings per share of 3.41 US cents (after profit share) has decreased when compared with 5.62 US cents per share for Q3 2016. The decrease was driven by the factors outlined above combined with a higher rate of profit share accrual which commenced during Q3 2016.

 

Financial position

Centamin has a strong and flexible financial position with no debt, no hedging and cash, bullion on hand, gold sales receivables and available-for-sale financial assets of US$345.8 million at 30 September 2017, down from US$416.9 million at 30 September 2016 following dividend payments of US$184.4 million during the intervening period.

 

	30 September 2017	30 June 2017	30 September 2016
	US$'000	US$'000	US$'000
Cash at Bank	313,003	296,980	388,352
Bullion on hand	14,858	17,116	13,489
Gold sales receivable	17,803	19,407	14,850
Available-for-sale-financial assets	125	125	163
	345,789	333,628	416,854

 

The majority of funds have been invested in international rolling short-term interest money market deposits.

 

 

Current assets have decreased from Q4 2016 to Q3 2017 by US$110 million, or 20%, to US$454 million, as a result of a:

 

·       US$20.5 million decrease in inventory driven by a US$18.5 million decrease in collective stores inventory value to US$83.2 million and a US$1.4 million decrease in overall mining stockpiles and gold in circuit levels to US$32.9 million;

·       US$3.9 million decrease in gold sale receivables; and

·       decrease in net cash of US$86.9 million (net of foreign exchange movements) driven by a US$155.4 million final dividend payment to external shareholders for 2016, a US$29.0 million interim dividend payment to external shareholders for 2017 and a US$76.6 million payment to EMRA as profit share during the period.

Non-current assets have decreased from Q4 2016 to Q3 2017 by US$10.3 million to US$1,013 million, as a result of:

·       US$50.6 million increase in expenditure for property, plant and equipment;

·       US$81.5 million charge for depreciation and amortisation;

·       US$21.2 million increase in exploration and evaluation assets net of the US$2.6 million impairment, as a result of the drilling programmes in Sukari Hill, Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire.

Current liabilities have decreased from Q4 2016 to Q3 2017 due to a US$3.6 million decrease in payables and accrual balances.

 

Non-current liabilities have increased from Q4 2016 to Q3 2017 by US$0.6 million to US$8.3 million as a result of an increase in the rehabilitation provision.

 

The value of share capital increased from Q4 2016 to Q3 2017 by US$1.3 million which can be attributed to the value of awards granted under the employee share plans for the period.  There has been no change in the number issued shares over the same period.

 

Share option reserves reported have increased from Q4 2016 to Q3 2017 by US$0.5 million to US$3.5 million as a result of the forfeiture and vesting of awards and the resultant transfer to accumulated profits, offset by the recognition of the share-based payments expenses for the period.

 

Accumulated profits decreased from Q4 2016 to Q3 2017 by US$118.9 million as a result of:

 

·       US$141.1 million profit for the period ; offset by a

·       US$75.6 million profit share charge (decrease) to EMRA in the first nine months of the year; and

·       US$155.4 million final dividend payment (decrease) in respect of the year ended 31 December 2016; and a

·       US$29.0 million interim dividend payment to external shareholders in respect of the year to 31 December 2017.

Cashflow

 

Net cash flows generated by operating activities comprise receipts from gold and silver sales and interest income, offset by operating and corporate administration costs. Cash flows from operating activities decreased from Q3 2016 to Q3 2017 by US$30.4 million to US$109.5 million, primarily attributable to a decrease in revenue, due to a lower average realised price offset by a slight increase in gold sold ounces as well as an increase in costs.

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities comprise exploration expenditure and capital development expenditures including the acquisition of financial and mineral assets. Cash outflows have decreased by US$5.6 million from Q3 2016 to Q3 2017 to US$28.8 million. The primary use of the funds in the third quarter was for investment in underground development at the Sukari site in Egypt and exploration expenditures incurred in West Africa.

 

Net cash flows generated by financing activities comprise a US$35.4 million payment to EMRA as profit share and a 2017 interim dividend paid of US$29.0 million during the period.

 

Effects of exchange rate changes have decreased by US$1.4 million as a result of movements of some of the currencies used within the operation in the quarter.

 

Capital Expenditure

A breakdown of capital expenditure for the Group during Q3 2017 is as follows:

 

	US$ million
Underground exploration	1.8
Underground mine development	8.3
Other sustaining capital expenditure	13.5
Total Sustaining Capex	23.7
Cleopatra underground mine development	0.6

Cumulative exploration expenditure for Cleopatra at Sukari is US$7.2 million project to date.

 

Q3 2017 Exploration Expenditure

A breakdown of exploration expenditure for the Group during Q3 2017 is as follows:

 

Exploration Expenditure	US$ million
Burkina Faso	1.4
Côte d'Ivoire	4.0
Sukari Tenement	2.5
Total Exploration Expenditure	7.9

 

Exploration and evaluation assets - impairment considerations

As discussed in note 13 to the financial statements, in consideration of the requirements of IFRS 6, management is not aware of any information that would otherwise suggest that an impairment trigger has occurred which would require a full impairment test to be carried out at 30 September 2017.

 

 

 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

Four non-GAAP financial measures are used in this report:

 

1)    EBITDA: "EBITDA" is a non-GAAP financial measure, which excludes the following from profit before tax:

·      Finance costs;

·      Finance income; and

·      Depreciation and amortisation.

Management believes that EBITDA is a valuable indicator of the Group's ability to generate liquidity by producing operating cash flow to fund working capital needs and fund capital expenditures. EBITDA is also frequently used by investors and analysts for valuation purposes whereby EBITDA is multiplied by a factor or "EBITDA multiple" that is based on an observed or inferred relationship between EBITDA and market values to determine the approximate total enterprise value of a company. EBITDA is intended to provide additional information to investors and analysts and does not have any standardised definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. EBITDA excludes the impact of cash cost of production and income of financing activities and taxes, and therefore is not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate EBITDA differently. The following table provides a reconciliation of EBITDA to profit for the year attributable to the Company.

 

Reconciliation of profit before tax to EBITDA:

 

	Quarter  ended  30 September 2017(1)	Quarter  ended  30 September 2016(1)		Nine months ended  30 September 2017(1)	Nine months ended  30 September 2016(1)
	US$'000	US$'000		US$'000	US$'000
Profit before tax	75,446	93,716		142,732	207,960
Finance income	(607)	(143)		(1,603)	(463)
Depreciation and amortisation	28,759	28,460		81,485	83,626
EBITDA	103,598	122,033		222,615	291,123

 

⁽¹⁾Profit before tax, Depreciation and amortisation and EBITDA includes a charge to reflect the removal of fuel subsidies (refer to Note 6).