Randgold Resources Ld - 3rd Quarter Results
07.11.2013 | Marketwired
JERSEY, CHANNEL ISLANDS--(Marketwired - Nov 7, 2013) -
Randgold Resources Ltd.
Incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands
Reg. No. 62686
LSE Trading Symbol: RRS
NASDAQ Trading Symbol: GOLD
RANDGOLD SHINES IN GOLD PRICE GLOOM
London, 7 November 2013 - A strong performance by its flagship
Loulo-Gounkoto complex in Mali powered Randgold to an 80% quarter on
quarter profit increase for the three months ended September despite a
3% drop in the average gold price received over that period.
In a quarter that also saw the early commissioning at its giant Kibali
project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Randgold increased group
production by 19% to 233676ounces and reduced its total cash cost per
ounce by 17% to US$662/oz on the back of the production rise. Despite
its capital expenditure, mainly on Kibali, peaking during the quarter,
the company remained net cash positive.
Kibali poured its first gold in September, well ahead of the original
target date, and has since started commercial production from its open
pit mine. It is expected to exceed its 30000 ounce production
forecast for the fourth quarter of this year and is on track to meet
its target of 550000 ounces for 2014. It is currently ramping up to
full capacity on the plant's oxide circuit with the completion of the
remaining plant and hydropower stations, and the commissioning of the
sulphide circuit, scheduled for next year. The development of the
underground mine is progressing well.
Chief executive Mark Bristow said the successful start-up of Kibali
represented a considerable feat of geology, metallurgy, engineering and
logistics, as well as negotiation and diplomacy."The Randgold team only
moved on site in January 2010 and in less than
four years it has built a world-class gold mine in one of Africa's
remotest regions, in the process more than doubling its reserves to
11.6million ounces and increasing its resources to 21million ounces.
And while doing this, we have also completed or progressed major
performance-enhancing capital projects at Loulo-Gounkoto and Tongon,"
he said.
At Loulo-Gounkoto, an increase in the grade coupled with a substantial
improvement in recoveries delivered a 36% increase in production to a
record 165146ounces over the previous quarter, while total cash cost
per ounce dropped by 23% to US$616/oz. The improvement in the recovery
rate was achieved through the commissioning of a milling circuit
recycle crusher and a new oxygen plant. Other projects completed
during the quarter included the conversion of the mine's generators to
heavy fuel oil and the expansion of the CIL tank.
At Tongon in Cote d'Ivoire, mining performance improved in line with
plan, with mill throughput rising significantly as a result of the
commissioning of a number of throughput-related capital projects. A
further mill tonnage ramp-up is scheduled for the fourth quarter with
the commissioning of new crushers and a cyclone pump upgrade. The
increase in throughput was offset in the third quarter by a drop in the
recovery rate, but this will be brought in line with plan through the
installation of recovery enhancing unit processes and ongoing focus on
operational efficiencies. Total cash cost per ounce was reduced by 6%
quarter on quarter through tighter cost control and improved
efficiencies."Our focus now is on securing steady-state production at
Kibali while
completing the rest of the development, and on achieving the full
benefit of the performance-enhancing projects at Loulo-Gounkoto and
Tongon. But we're also still maintaining a strong emphasis on
exploration, which has traditionally been the driver of Randgold's
growth. At Kibali, where an upgrade of the underground mine plan has
already delivered an interim increase in reserves, continued
exploration points to a further upside, and in West Africa, our
geologists are moving back into the field after the rainy season to
follow up identified targets," he said.
RANDGOLD ENQUIRIES:
Chief Executive Financial Director Investor & Media Relations
Mark Bristow Graham Shuttleworth Kathy du Plessis
+447880711386 +441534735333 +442075577738
+447797752288 +447797711338 Email:randgold@dpapr.com
Website: www.randgoldresources.com
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REPORT FOR THE THIRD QUARTER ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2013
* Kibali pours first gold and starts commercial production
* 80% increase in profit quarter on quarter despite 3% decrease in gold
price
* 19% increase in group production quarter on quarter
* 17% decrease in total cash cost per ounce quarter on quarter
* Net cash positive despite peak capital spend
* Loulo-Gounkoto record production following higher grades and improved
recoveries
* Tongon increases throughput and improves cost control,
notwithstanding lower recoveries
* Continued review of model and upgrade of mine plan delivers interim
increase in reserve at Kibali
* Kibali exploration continues to show promise
* Exploration team prepares to follow up on identified targets in West
Africa after the rainy season
* B+ GRI application level confirmed with external assurance
Randgold Resources Ltd. ('Randgold') had 92.2 million shares in
issue as at 30 September 2013.
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