Coeur Reports Strong Second Quarter Production Results and Reaffirms Full-Year Production Guidance
Palmarejo's silver and gold production rose 24% and 23%,
respectively, versus prior quarter
Coeur Mining, Inc. (the “Company” or “Coeur”) (NYSE: CDE) (TSX: CDM) announced it produced 4.6 million ounces of silver and 60,757 ounces of gold during the second quarter of 2013. These production levels represent increases of 21% for silver and 7% for gold compared to the first quarter. Palmarejo's silver and gold production increased 24% and 23%, respectively, over the first quarter of 2013.
The Company also reaffirmed its full-year 2013 consolidated production guidance of 18.0-19.5 million ounces of silver and 250,000-265,000 ounces of gold.
Coeur will report its full second quarter operating and financial results on August 8, 2013.
Table 1: Operational Highlights: Production
(silver ounces in thousands) | ? | ? | ? | 2Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? | 1Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? |
| |||||||||||||
? | ? | ? | ? | Silver | ? | ? | ? | Gold | ? | ? | ? | Silver | ? | ? | ? | Gold | ? | ? | ? | Silver | ? | ? | ? | Gold | ? |
Palmarejo | 2,045 | ? | ? | ? | 28,191 | ? | ? | ? | 1,646 | ? | ? | ? | 22,965 | ? | ? | ? | 24 | % | ? | ? | 23 | % | |||
San Bartolom? | 1,523 | ? | 1,391 | ? | 9 | % | n.a. | ||||||||||||||||||
Rochester | 844 | 9,404 | 648 | 8,742 | 30 | % | 8 | % | |||||||||||||||||
Kensington | ? | 23,162 | ? | 25,206 | n.a. | (8 | %) | ||||||||||||||||||
Endeavor | ? | ? | ? | 221 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 150 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 47 | % | ? | ? | n.a. | |
Total | ? | ? | ? | 4,633 | ? | ? | ? | 60,757 | ? | ? | ? | 3,835 | ? | ? | ? | 56,913 | ? | ? | ? | 21 | % | ? | ? | 7 | % |
? |
2013 Outlook
The Company's 2013 production guidance remains unchanged. Coeur
anticipates higher than planned silver production from San Bartolom? and
higher than planned gold production from Palmarejo to offset lower than
planned silver and gold production from Rochester.
Table 2: 2013 Production Outlook
(silver ounces in thousands) | ? | ? | ? | Country | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Silver | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Gold |
Palmarejo | ? | ? | ? | Mexico | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 7,700-8,300 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 104,000-109,000 |
San Bartolom? | Bolivia | 5,600-5,900 | ? | |||||||||||||
Rochester | Nevada, USA | 4,100-4,500 | 38,000-42,000 | |||||||||||||
Kensington | Alaska, USA | ? | 108,000-114,000 | |||||||||||||
Endeavor | ? | ? | ? | Australia | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 600-800 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
Total | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 18,000-19,500 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 250,000-265,000 |
? |
Mitchell Krebs, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, 'Our
second quarter operating performance improved significantly compared to
this year's first quarter and last year's fourth quarter. Operating
consistency is a key priority for Coeur and I believe we're making solid
progress.
'Since late last year, Coeur has been pursuing a four-prong strategy
designed to maximize the Company's operating cash flow: (1) identifying
and implementing revenue enhancement opportunities at existing
operations such as process recovery improvements; (2) reducing
operating costs, including third party services, overtime wages, and
usage rates of certain consumables; (3) completing existing capital
projects on-time and on-budget and targeting significantly lower
capital expenditures in 2014; and (4) effectively managing
working capital, including drawing down inventory levels of certain
operating supplies.
'Since May, the management team has been pursuing other initiatives in
response to lower silver and gold prices. We have eliminated 40 current
or open positions from the organization, several capital projects have
been deferred, a review of all general and administrative costs is
underway, nearly 15% of our 2013 generative exploration budget has been
reallocated to nearer-term, higher-grade targets, and our mine plans at
each operation are currently being reviewed and optimized,? Mr. Krebs
added.
'While we will continue to focus on these initiatives in order to
maximize operating cash flow, we will also seek to take advantage of the
current environment to invest in high-quality, high-return opportunities
- both internal and external - that we believe will strengthen the
Company over the long-term,? he said.
About Coeur
Coeur Mining, Inc. is the largest U.S.-based primary silver producer and
a growing gold producer. The Company has four precious metals mines in
the Americas generating strong production, sales and cash flow. Coeur
produces from its wholly owned operations: the Palmarejo silver-gold
mine in Mexico, the San Bartolom? silver mine in Bolivia, the Rochester
silver-gold mine in Nevada and the Kensington gold mine in Alaska. The
Company also has a non-operating interest in the Endeavor mine in
Australia. In addition, the Company has two silver-gold feasibility
stage projects - the La Preciosa project in Mexico and the Joaquin
project in Argentina. The Company also conducts ongoing exploration
activities in Mexico, Argentina, Nevada, Alaska and Bolivia. The Company
owns strategic investment positions in eight silver and gold development
companies with projects in North and South America.
Cautionary Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of securities legislation in the United States and Canada, including
statements regarding anticipated operating results, production levels,
operating costs, exploration results including efforts to identify
nearer-term, higher-grade targets, and expected results of initiatives
to reduce costs, enhance revenue and maximize operating cash flow. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause Coeur's actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk
that permits necessary for the planned Rochester expansion may not be
obtained, the risks and hazards inherent in the mining business
(including risks inherent in developing large-scale mining projects,
environmental hazards, industrial accidents, weather or geologically
related conditions), changes in the market prices of gold and silver and
a sustained lower price environment, the uncertainties inherent in
Coeur's production, exploratory and developmental activities, including
risks relating to permitting and regulatory delays, ground conditions,
grade variability, any future labor disputes or work stoppages, the
uncertainties inherent in the estimation of gold and silver ore
reserves, changes that could result from Coeur's future acquisition of
new mining properties or businesses, reliance on third parties to
operate certain mines where Coeur owns silver production and reserves,
the loss of any third-party smelter to which Coeur markets silver and
gold, the effects of environmental and other governmental regulations,
the risks inherent in the ownership or operation of or investment in
mining properties or businesses in foreign countries, Coeur's ability to
raise additional financing necessary to conduct its business, make
payments or refinance its debt, as well as other uncertainties and risk
factors set out in filings made from time to time with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Canadian securities
regulators, including, without limitation, Coeur's most recent reports
on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Actual results, developments and timetables
could vary significantly from the estimates presented. Readers are
cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coeur
disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly such
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Additionally, Coeur undertakes no obligation
to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties
in respect of Coeur, its financial or operating results or its
securities.
Donald J. Birak, Coeur's Senior Vice President of Exploration and a
qualified person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101, supervised
the preparation of the scientific and technical information concerning
Coeur's mineral projects in this news release. For a description of the
key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate mineral
reserves and resources, as well as data verification procedures and a
general discussion of the extent to which the estimates may be affected
by any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation,
socio-political, marketing or other relevant factors, please see the
Technical Reports for each of Coeur's properties as filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||||||
Table 3: Results of Operations by Mine - Palmarejo | ||||||||||||||||||||
? | ||||||||||||||||||||
2Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? | 1Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? | 4Q 2012 | ? | ? | ? | 3Q 2012 | ? | ? | ? | 2Q 2012 | ||||
Underground Operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tons mined | 183,267 | 151,232 | 139,925 | 143,747 | 162,820 | |||||||||||||||
Average silver grade (oz/t) | 4.59 | 4.22 | 4.70 | 6.13 | 8.91 | |||||||||||||||
Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.11 | 0.09 | 0.08 | 0.09 | 0.14 | |||||||||||||||
Surface Operations: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tons mined | 363,758 | 388,651 | 465,498 | 424,380 | 321,758 | |||||||||||||||
Average silver grade (oz/t) | 4.95 | 3.45 | 2.62 | 2.79 | 4.14 | |||||||||||||||
Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.03 | 0.04 | |||||||||||||||
Processing: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total tons milled | 570,322 | 573,170 | 563,123 | 532,775 | 489,924 | |||||||||||||||
Average recovery rate ? Ag | 76.5% | 78.8% | 84.2% | 90.0% | 84.2% | |||||||||||||||
Average recovery rate ? Au | 81.2% | 90.1% | 91.4% | 102.5% | 92.0% | |||||||||||||||
Silver production - oz (000's) | 2,045 | 1,646 | 1,555 | 1,833 | 2,365 | |||||||||||||||
Gold production - oz | 28,191 | 22,965 | 19,998 | 23,702 | 31,258 | |||||||||||||||
? | ||||||||||||||||||||
? |
? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||||||
Table 4: Results of Operations by Mine - San Bartolom? | ||||||||||||||||||||
? | ||||||||||||||||||||
2Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? | 1Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? | 4Q 2012 | ? | ? | ? | 3Q 2012 | ? | ? | ? | 2Q 2012 | ||||
Tons milled | 424,310 | 374,985 | 363,813 | 344,349 | 391,005 | |||||||||||||||
Average silver grade (oz/t) | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 4.3 | |||||||||||||||
Average recovery rate | 90.3% | 90.6% | 88% | 90.3% | 88.3% | |||||||||||||||
Silver production (000's) | 1,523 | 1,391 | 1,343 | 1,526 | 1,470 | |||||||||||||||
? | ||||||||||||||||||||
? |
? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||||||
Table 5: Results of Operations by Mine - Rochester | ||||||||||||||||||||
? | ||||||||||||||||||||
2Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? | 1Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? | 4Q 2012 | ? | ? | ? | 3Q 2012 | ? | ? | ? | 2Q 2012 | ||||
Tons mined | 2,457,423 | 2,924,472 | 3,031,428 | 3,170,129 | 2,585,914 | |||||||||||||||
Average silver grade (oz/t) | 0.58 | 0.52 | 0.51 | 0.52 | 0.63 | |||||||||||||||
Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.003 | 0.003 | 0.005 | 0.004 | 0.005 | |||||||||||||||
Silver production (000's) | 844 | 648 | 828 | 819 | 713 | |||||||||||||||
Gold production | 9,404 | 8,742 | 12,055 | 10,599 | 10,120 | |||||||||||||||
? | ||||||||||||||||||||
? |
? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||||||
Table 6: Results of Operations by Mine - Kensington | ||||||||||||||||||||
? | ||||||||||||||||||||
2Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? | 1Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? | 4Q 2012 | ? | ? | ? | 3Q 2012 | ? | ? | ? | 2Q 2012 | ||||
Tons mined | 135,123 | 116,747 | 140,626 | 113,770 | 84,632 | |||||||||||||||
Tons milled | 127,987 | 129,057 | 129,622 | 123,428 | 97,794 | |||||||||||||||
Average gold grade (oz/t) | 0.18 | 0.20 | 0.23 | 0.21 | 0.23 | |||||||||||||||
Average recovery rate | 98.2% | 96.2% | 96.9% | 95.9% | 94.2% | |||||||||||||||
Gold production | 23,162 | 25,206 | 28,718 | 24,391 | 21,572 | |||||||||||||||
? | ||||||||||||||||||||
? |
? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||||||
Table 7: Results of Operations by Mine - Endeavor | ||||||||||||||||||||
? | ||||||||||||||||||||
2Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? | 1Q 2013 | ? | ? | ? | 4Q 2012 | ? | ? | ? | 3Q 2012 | ? | ? | ? | 2Q 2012 | ||||
Silver Production (000's) | 221 | 150 | 105 | 140 | 240 |
Coeur Mining, Inc.
Bridget Freas, Director, Investor Relations
(312)
268-5784
www.coeur.com