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2014 Production and Sales; 2015 Outlook

27th Jan 2015 07:00

RNS Number : 1936D
First Quantum Minerals Ld
27 January 2015
 



 

NEWS RELEASE

15-01

January 26, 2015

www.first-quantum.com

 

 

 

 

FIRST QUANTUM MINERALS ANNOUNCES ITS 2014 PRODUCTION AND SALES AND

2015 PRODUCTION AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OUTLOOK

 

 

First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("First Quantum", TSX Symbol "FM", LSE Symbol "FQM") today announced its production and sales for the three months and year ended December 31, 2014 and production and capital expenditure outlook for the full year 2015.

 

CEO'S COMMENTS 

 

"Overall our operations performed well in 2014 recording the highest annual copper production in the Company's history. Limited local smelter capacity in Zambia persisted and affected Kansanshi's performance and sales; and a structural failure in an atmospheric leach tank at Ravensthorpe suspended operations there in mid-December. The spill from the failure was contained within the plant's protective area, there were no environmental effects or injuries and we anticipate the mine will be back in production shortly.

 

"2015 is an important year for First Quantum. Our smelter in Zambia is being commissioned with first anodes poured during December 2014. First concentrate was also successfully produced at Sentinel during the fourth quarter 2014. The smelter's ramp up will influence the rate of production build-up of our new Sentinel mine. This will also influence, as more acid becomes available, the level and mix of operations and unit cost of production at Kansanshi.

 

"The financial and commodity markets have started 2015 with high volatility on concerns about the global economy, demand for natural resources and companies' liquidity positions. As a result, our share price, along with others in the sector, has been materially affected. While we have high confidence in the mid to long-term outlook for copper, we are mindful of the current concerns. As always, we pay close attention to the Company's financial position to make sure there is sufficient flexibility despite having an active project development pipeline. At Cobre Panama, we have substantially reduced the planned capital expenditure for 2015 to $600 million without compromising the project's progress. We also maintain strong and supportive relationships with our principal banks that have worked with us throughout the development of the Company and through several economic and commodity cycles," noted Philip Pascall, First Quantum's CEO and Chairman.

 

FULL YEAR 2014 HIGHLIGHTS

· Production for copper, nickel, gold and zinc were all within the Company's previously-announced market guidance range while platinum and palladium were above

- Copper increased 4% to 427,655 tonnes

- Nickel decreased 3% to 45,879 tonnes 

- Gold decreased 7% to 229,813 ounces

- Zinc increased 12% to 55,980 tonnes

- Platinum increased 12% to 34,090 ounces

- Palladium increased 5% to 25,990 ounces

 

· Sales of copper and zinc higher while nickel and gold lower compared to 2013

- Copper increased 7% to 411,203 tonnes

- Nickel decreased 3% to 47,749 tonnes

- Gold decreased 6% to 214,104 ounces

- Zinc increased 8% to 56,268 tonnes

 

FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR PRODUCTION SUMMARY

 

Q4

2014

Q4

2013

Year

2014

Year

2013

Copper (tonnes)

105,176

114,791

427,655

412,281

Nickel (contained tonnes)

9,934

12,634

45,879

47,066

Gold (ounces)

57,480

63,199

229,813

248,078

Zinc (tonnes)

12,557

15,393

55,980

49,933

Platinum (ounces)

9,311

7,993

34,090

30,403

Palladium (ounces)

7,234

6,600

25,990

24,639

 

FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR SALES SUMMARY

 

Q4

2014

Q4

2013

Year

2014

Year

2013

Copper (tonnes)

94,836

95,598

411,203

386,057

Nickel (contained tonnes)

12,189

13,795

47,749

49,105

Gold (ounces)

48,608

50,399

214,104

228,962

Zinc (tonnes)

12,663

17,866

56,268

51,925

Platinum (ounces)

8,330

11,375

33,898

28,930

Palladium (ounces)

6,256

8,167

25,846

23,420

 

FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR PRODUCTION AND SALES SUMMARIES BY MINE

 

KANSANSHI

Q4

2014

Q4

2013

Year

2014

Year

2013

Production

Copper (tonnes)

61,924

72,602

262,287

270,724

Gold (ounces)

36,705

43,508

154,431

167,395

Sales

Copper (tonnes)

52,721

57,692

247,312

248,746

Gold (ounces)

27,731

36,844

142,609

152,632

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAS CRUCES

Q4

2014

Q4

2013

Year

2014

Year

2013

Production

Copper (tonnes)

17,525

18,346

71,090

69,304

Sales

Copper (tonnes)

15,594

16,883

71,120

66,806

 

GUELB MOGHREIN

Q4

2014

Q4

2013

Year

2014

Year

2013

Production

Copper (tonnes)

9,768

8,866

33,079

37,970

Gold (ounces)

13,901

13,336

48,948

58,191

Sales

Copper (tonnes)

8,519

6,327

30,095

36,585

Gold (ounces)

13,421

8,281

45,901

56,040

RAVENSTHORPE

 

Q4

2014

Q4

2013

Year

2014

Year

2013

Production

Nickel (contained tonnes)

7,736

10,244

36,445

38,103

Sales

Nickel (contained tonnes)

9,912

10,142

37,981

40,612

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEVITSA

Q4

2014

Q4

2013

Year

2014

Year

2013

Production

Nickel (contained tonnes)

2,197

2,390

9,433

8,963

Copper (tonnes)

4,101

4,015

17,535

14,775

Gold (ounces)

3,093

3,008

12,844

11,723

Platinum (ounces)

9,311

7,993

34,090

30,403

Palladium (ounces)

7,234

6,600

25,990

24,639

Sales

Nickel (contained tonnes)

2,277

3,652

9,768

8,493

Copper (tonnes)

5,545

2,938

19,542

12,652

Gold (ounces)

3,229

1,182

10,876

7,358

Platinum (ounces)

8,330

11,375

33,898

28,930

Palladium (ounces)

6,256

8,167

25,846

23,420

 

ÇAYELI

 

Q4

2014

Q4

2013

Year

2014

Year

2013

Production

Copper (tonnes)

7,820

7,538

29,360

31,510

Zinc (tonnes)

8,513

9,837

36,218

43,097

Sales

Copper (tonnes)

8,419

7,940

29,241

31,370

Zinc (tonnes)

9,362

12,179

37,298

43,354

 

PYHÄSALMI

 

Q4

2014

Q4

2013

Year

2014

Year

2013

Production

Copper (tonnes)

4,038

3,422

14,304

14,854

Zinc (tonnes)

4,043

5,556

19,762

21,679

Sales

Copper (tonnes)

4,038

3,819

13,894

15,221

Zinc (tonnes)

3,300

5,687

18,970

22,339

 

Notes: Production and sales numbers are preliminary and subject to final adjustment. Production and sales numbers for Las Cruces, Çayeli and Pyhäsalmi for Year 2013 are on a pro-forma full year basis.

 

 

FULL YEAR 2015 OUTLOOK

 

 

Copper

(000's tonnes)

Nickel

(000's tonnes)

Gold

(000's ounces)

Zinc

(000's tonnes)

Platinum

(000's ounces)

Palladium

(000's ounces)

Total

410 - 440

32 - 40

218 - 247

40 - 45

25 - 35

26 - 29

Kansanshi

250 - 265

-

150 - 170

-

-

-

Las Cruces

69 - 72

-

-

-

-

-

Guelb Moghrein

40 - 45

-

52 - 57

-

-

-

Ravensthorpe

-

24 - 30

-

-

-

-

Kevitsa

16 - 18

8 - 10

11 - 13

-

25 - 35

26 - 29

Çayeli

24 - 27

-

-

22 - 25

-

-

Pyhäsalmi

 

11 - 13

-

5 - 7

18 - 20

-

-

 

· In addition to the above, total physical production at Sentinel in 2015 is expected to be between 150,000 and 200,000 tonnes of copper. Sentinel is performing well in the commissioning phase and ramping up as planned towards commercial operation midway through 2015.

 

· Total capital expenditure, excluding capitalization of any pre-commercial production costs and capitalized interest, is estimated to be between $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion.

 

 

On Behalf of the Board of Directors 12g3-2b-82-4461

of First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Listed in Standard and Poor's

G. Clive Newall

President

 

For further information visit our website at www.first-quantum.com

 

North American contact: Sharon Loung, Director, Investor RelationsTel: (647) 346-3934 Fax: (604) 688-3818 Toll Free: 1 (888) 688-6577 E-Mail: [email protected] United Kingdom contact: Clive Newall, PresidentTel: +44 140 327 3484 Fax: +44 140 327 3494 E-Mail: [email protected]

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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