Hecla Resumes Lucky Friday Mine Operations and Production
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL)
today announced that its Lucky Friday mine in Idaho′s Silver Valley has
resumed operations and production, and is expected to produce
approximately two million ounces of silver in 2013.
'Hecla is pleased to report that with rehabilitation work complete on
the Silver Shaft at the Lucky Friday mine, and with necessary clearance
from MSHA, the mine has resumed operations, with initial production of
silver concentrates expected in February. Production levels are expected
to ramp up during the first half of the year, and we expect to reach
normal production levels by mid-year,? said Hecla's President and Chief
Executive Officer Phillips S. Baker, Jr. 'For the full year 2013, silver
production from Lucky Friday is projected at approximately two million
ounces.
'The 12 months of down time at Lucky Friday allowed work crews to
improve many aspects of the mine′s operations. Besides cleaning and
improving the efficiency of the main Silver Shaft, we upgraded mining
methods; conducted supplementary training; hired additional safety
experts, mine management and engineering staff; and purchased $2.3
million in new equipment, including mechanized rock bolters, which will
be used to implement new ground control measures. In all Lucky Friday
working areas, as well as at all of Hecla′s other operations, we strive
to meet or exceed the National Mining Association′s CORESafety Program,
which is the industry benchmark for operations and safety implemented in
2009, as well as all MSHA-approved guidelines. I′d like to thank
everyone who played a role in the Lucky Friday rehabilitation for their
hard work, dedication and attention to detail,? Mr. Baker added.
The Company has recalled all employees necessary for Lucky Friday to
reach full production. All employees, both returning and new, have
received supplemental safety training, with enhanced procedures for risk
assessment and accident prevention designed to improve existing safe
work practices. Work crews have completed the bypass drift at the 5900
foot level, around an area impacted by a rock burst in December 2011.
Ground support has been upgraded for over 7.5 miles of underground
workings; these upgrades include, in appropriate areas, the
incorporation of recently developed ground support bolting products.
Current production is coming from #10 stope and #11 stope, located on
the intermediate-vein package and 30-vein, respectively.
Hecla has spent a total of $29.8 million on the rehabilitation of the
Silver Shaft and an additional $26.2 ?million on other Lucky Friday
capital projects unrelated to the shaft renovation.
Crews at Lucky Friday resumed work in the first quarter on the #4 ?Shaft
project, designed to access extensions to reserves, resources and
additional exploration targets with a goal to increase annual silver
production to approximately 5 million ounces from Lucky Friday. To date,
$90 million has been invested on the estimated $200 million project,
with completion estimated in early 2016.
As previously reported in December, the Lucky Friday mine was notified
of potential PPOV (Potential Pattern of Violations) status by MSHA for
citations issued in late 2011 and early 2012, prior to the Silver Shaft
rehabilitation and other work done at the mine in the past year. The
Company continues to work with MSHA and expects to work through the PPOV
process.
About Hecla Mining Company
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL)
is a leading low-cost U.S. silver producer with operating mines in
Alaska and Idaho and exploration and pre-development properties in four
world-class silver mining districts in the U.S. and Mexico.
Cautionary Statements
Statements made which are not historical facts, such as anticipated
payments, litigation outcome, production, sales of assets, exploration
results and plans, prospects and opportunities including reserves,
resources, and mineralization, costs, and prices or sales performance
are 'forward-looking statements? within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as 'may,? 'will,?
'should,? 'expects,? 'intends,? 'projects,? 'believes,? 'estimates,?
'targets,? 'anticipates? and similar expressions are used to identify
these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those projected, anticipated, expected or
implied. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to,
metals price volatility, volatility of metals production and costs,
environmental and litigation risks, operating risks, project development
risks, political and regulatory risks, labor issues, ability to raise
financing and exploration risks and results. Refer to the company's Form
10-K and 10-Q reports for a more detailed discussion of factors that may
impact expected future results. Hecla undertakes no obligation and has
no intention of updating forward-looking statements other than as may be
required by law.
Hecla Mining Company
Jim Sabala, 1-800-HECLA91 (1-800-432-5291)
Investor
Relations
hmc-info@hecla-mining.com
www.hecla-mining.com
