The technical report that will be prepared in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"), which will be based on the full Feasibility Study, will be filed on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com
and on the Company's website at
www.yellowheadmining.com
, within 45 days of this release. The full condensed consolidated interim financial statements and management discussion & analysis for the second financial quarter ended
CEO Remarks
"Yellowhead has spent the last year working on a series of design improvements to both optimize the mine site footprint and general arrangement of Harper Creek, but more importantly, to both reduce and further mitigate the potential environmental impacts resulting from the development of Harper Creek. Consideration of the implications of design alternatives from an environmental management perspective, was an integral part of this process" noted Mr.
"The completion of the updated Feasibility Study is a critical milestone in the preparation of Yellowhead's application ("EA Application") for an environmental assessment certificate for the Project, which we are currently targeting submitting to the
Highlights
(All amounts in US$ unless otherwise specified)
Highlights of the Feasibility Study (on a 100% equity basis) include:
-
Proven and Probable mineral reserves of 716 million tonnes (Mt) @ 0.26% Cu, 0.029 g/t Au and 1.2 g/t Ag representing a total of approximately 4.077 billion pounds of contained copper
-
Measured and Indicated mineral resources of 1,300 Mt @ 0.25% Cu, 0.028 g/t Au and 1.2 g/t Ag, representing a total of approximately 7.253 billion pounds of contained copper
-
A 28 year mine life, a mill throughput rate of 70,000 tpd, and a Life of Mine ("LOM") average annual copper concentrate production of 231,000 dry metric tonnes
-
Initial capital cost of approximately
C$1 billion and LOM sustaining capital ofC$335.8 million
-
C1 cash operating costs, net of precious metals credits, of
US$1.82 /lb Cu
-
Net present value
8
("NPV
8
") before tax of
US$684 million , and a NPV 8 ofUS$355 million after tax assuming metal prices ofUS$3.00 /lb Cu,US$1,250.00 /oz Au andUS$20.00 /oz Ag
-
Internal rate of return ("IRR") before tax of 16.8%, and an IRR after tax of 13.4%, on a 100% equity basis
- Payback period of 5.4 years after tax, on a 100% equity basis
Feasibility Study
The Feasibility Study was completed using engineering and consulting firms experienced in the
Design Improvements
Since the last feasibility study of Harper Creek was completed in
Mining and Production Profile
The Feasibility Study contemplates that Harper Creek will operate at a mill throughput rate of 70,000 tpd, with a LOM strip ratio of 0.76:1, for a mine life of 28 years based on proven and probable mineral reserves of 716.2 Mt. Active mining operations will continue for 24 years, during which low grade material will be stockpiled. After active mining operations cease in year 24, the low grade stockpiles will be processed during years 24 to 28 of operations. Mining will be conventional truck and shovel open pit methods, gyratory crushing, SAG-ball mill grinding, followed by conventional flotation. LOM average annual production of 231,000 dry metric tonnes of 25.5% copper concentrate will be trucked from the Project site approximately 25km to Yellowhead's rail load-out facility in the town of
The first five years of operations will see increased ore grades and lower operating costs, as near surface higher grade zones are targeted and lower grade material is stockpiled for processing at the end of the mine life. The average grade processed for the first five (5) years is 0.31% Cu, compared to the LOM average of 0.26% Cu. Average cash operating costs for the first five years will be
Key metrics of the processing facility are shown below:
Harper Creek Development Plan |
Years 1 to 5 |
Life of Mine |
|
28 Years |
28 Years |
Available mill operating days per year |
365 days |
365 days |
Strip Ratio |
1.4:1 |
0.76:1 |
Production Rate (average) |
70,000 tpd |
70,000 tpd |
Average Process Recovery (Cu) |
90.6% |
89.2% |
Average Process Recovery (Ag) |
59.9% |
55.8% |
Average Process Recovery (Au) |
58.4% |
57.7% |
Average Annual Copper Concentrate Production |
276,000 dmt |
231,000 dmt |
Average Copper Concentrate Grade |
25.5% |
25.5% |
Total Copper Produced |
0.78 bn lbs |
3.64 bn lbs |
Total Gold Produced |
0.09 M ozs |
0.37 M ozs |
Total Silver Produced |
2.87 M ozs |
15.6 M ozs |
Mineral Resources Estimate
Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources |
Contained Metal |
||||||
|
tonnes
|
% Cu |
g/t Au |
g/t Ag |
Cu lbs (M's) |
Au ounces (000's) |
Ag ounces (000's) |
Measured (M) |
564,361 |
0.27 |
0.029 |
1.2 |
3,359 |
526 |
21,769 |
Indicated (I) |
735,877 |
0.24 |
0.027 |
1.2 |
3,894 |
639 |
28,385 |
Total M + I |
1,300,238 |
0.25 |
0.028 |
1.2 |
7,253 |
1,165 |
50,154 |
Inferred Mineral Resources |
|
|
|
||||
|
tonnes
|
% Cu |
g/t Au |
g/t Ag |
|
|
|
Inferred |
119,743 |
0.25 |
0.025 |
1.2 |
660 |
96 |
4,619 |
Notes:
- CIM definitions were followed for mineral resources and are inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
- Mineral resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.15% Cu, which is considered consistent with other mineral deposits of similar characteristics, scale and location.
- Mineral resources are amenable to open pit mining methods and have been constrained using a Lerchs‐Grossman optimized pit.
-
Mineral resources were estimated using a copper price of
US$3.50 /lb Cu. - Totals may not add due to rounding.
The mineral resources and reserves included drill and assay information up to March 2014. A total of 90,778 metres of drilling in 353 drill holes, comprise the data base for the mineral resource and reserve estimates.
Mineral Reserves Estimate
Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves |
Contained Metal |
||||||
|
tonnes
|
% Cu |
g/t Au |
g/t Ag |
Cu lbs (M's) |
Au ounces (000's) |
Ag ounces (000's) |
Proven |
457,227 |
0.27 |
0.030 |
1.2 |
2,706 |
439 |
17,465 |
Probable |
258,948 |
0.24 |
0.026 |
1.2 |
1,371 |
220 |
9,636 |
Proven + Probable |
716,175 |
0.26 |
0.029 |
1.2 |
4,077 |
659 |
27,101 |
Notes:
- CIM definitions were followed for mineral reserves.
- Mineral reserves were estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.14% Cu.
-
Mineral reserves were estimated using a copper price of
US$2.25 /lb., a gold price ofUS$1,250.00 /oz and a silver price ofUS$20.00 /oz. - Totals may not add due to rounding.
- The mineral reserve estimate may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical and other relevant issues.
Capital Cost Estimate
Initial Capital Costs
The updated estimate of initial and sustaining capital has benefited from additional design and engineering work undertaken on the Project since completion of the 2012 FS. Coupled with the design improvements relating to environmental mitigation referred to above, such additional work has resulted in a greater degree of accuracy with respect to estimating mine equipment requirements, material movement quantities, and the design of ancillary facilities and power supply and distribution. General escalation in prices of mine and process equipment since 2012 have also been reflected in the updated capital cost estimates.
An estimate of BC provincial sales tax, and additional reclamation bonding requirements, which were not included in the 2012 FS, have been included in the updated estimate. In addition to those two items, the other major components of the increase in the estimate of initial capital costs include:
- increased mine development and pre-stripping costs as a result of longer haul profiles and consumable costs due to the design changes from an environmental perspective;
- escalation in the cost of mining equipment and process equipment;
- escalation in construction labour rates of approximately 9%, reflecting the current state of the construction industry in BC; and
-
re-allocation of mining equipment from sustaining capital into initial capital, to facilitate mining requirements in Year 1 of operations.
Sustaining Capital
LOM sustaining capital, which is comprised mainly of mining and mobile equipment replacement, ongoing tailings management facility embankment construction, and estimated closure and reclamation cost requirements, is estimated to be
Initial capital costs and LOM sustaining capital estimates are set forth below.
Harper Creek Capital Costs |
||||
Initial /
|
2014 FS (C$millions) |
2012 FS (C$millions) |
Difference (%) |
|
Mining &
|
298.0 |
209.2 |
42 |
|
|
Mine Equipment |
205.1 |
146.8 |
40 |
|
Mine Pre-Production Stripping |
92.9 |
62.4 |
49 |
Plant Site Infrastructure |
9.5 |
10.4 |
(9) |
|
|
13.4 |
9.6 |
40 |
|
Process Facilities |
279.6 |
257.6 |
||
|
Primary Crushing |
56.7 |
49.2 |
15 |
|
Grinding and Classification |
109.3 |
104.4 |
|
|
Flotation & Regrind |
53.1 |
48.7 |
|
|
|
60.5 |
55.3 |
|
Ancillaries |
27.4 |
23.8 |
15 |
|
|
Truck Shop |
21.0 |
18.5 |
14 |
|
Warehouse, Administrative Buildings,
|
6.4 |
5.3 |
21 |
Power Supply & Distribution |
47.7 |
40.1 |
19 |
|
|
Transmission Line |
4.3 |
4.8 |
(10) |
|
Site Power Distribution |
43.3 |
35.4 |
22 |
Tailings Management Facility & Water Reclaim |
54.0 |
55.3 |
(2) |
|
Total Direct Costs: |
729.5 |
606.0 |
20 |
|
EPCM Costs |
56.7 |
53.9 |
||
Equipment and Construction Camp |
105.4 |
88.0 |
20 |
|
Owner's Costs |
25.6 |
14.6 |
75 |
|
Contingency (10%) |
90.7 |
76.4 |
19 |
|
Total Indirect Costs: |
278.4 |
232.9 |
20 |
|
BC Provincial Sales Tax |
10.0 |
|||
Initial Reclamation Bonding |
7.9 |
|||
TOTAL INITIAL CAPITAL COST: |
1,025.8 |
838.9 |
22 |
|
|
||||
Sustaining Capital |
|
|
|
|
Operations (including Working Capital) |
298.0 |
313.2 |
(5) |
|
Closure and Reclamation Bonding 2 |
37.8 |
4.8 |
688 |
|
|
335.8 |
318.0 |
||
|
||||
TOTAL PROJECT COST: |
1,361.5 |
1,156.9 |
18 |
Notes:
- Totals may not add due to rounding.
-
Total reclamation bonding of
US$104.5 million , less recaptured bonding ofUS$66.7 million .
Operating Cost Estimates
C1 cash operating costs are estimated at
The updated estimate of C1 cash operating costs has also benefited from the additional design and engineering work undertaken on the Project since completion of the 2012 FS. This work has also resulted in a greater degree of accuracy with respect to estimating blasting requirements, hauling profiles, manning levels and manning rates, as well as increased maintenance and fuel requirements. In addition, updates to transportation, treatment and refining charges, which fluctuate on the basis of supply and demand and refining capacity, have also been included in the updated estimate.
Major components of the increase in the estimate of C1 cash operating costs initial capital costs include increased:
- tonnages and haul profiles for stockpiles and waste dumps
- manning levels and manning rates
- transportation, treatment and refining costs
- fuel consumption and power costs
The LOM C1 cash operating cost estimates are set forth below.
Harper Creek Operating Costs |
|||||
Area |
|
2014 FS |
2012 FS |
Difference (%) |
|
|
|||||
Mining 1 |
C$/t milled |
3.75 |
3.02 |
24 |
|
Processing |
C$/t milled |
3.65 |
3.12 |
17 |
|
General and Administrative |
C$/t milled |
0.44 |
0.38 |
16 |
|
|
C$/t milled |
0.35 |
0.28 |
25 |
|
Royalties |
C$/t milled |
0.04 |
0.03 |
33 |
|
Total Site Operating Costs: |
C$/t milled |
8.22 |
6.83 |
20 |
|
On-Site Operating Costs: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mining |
US$/lb |
0.66 |
0.50 |
32 |
|
Processing |
US$/lb |
0.65 |
0.52 |
25 |
|
General and Administrative |
US$/lb |
0.06 |
0.05 |
20 |
|
|
US$/lb |
0.07 |
0.06 |
17 |
|
Royalties |
US$/lb |
0.01 |
0.00 |
|
Off-Site Operating Costs: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deductions |
US$/lb |
0.13 |
0.10 |
30 |
|
Transportation |
US$/lb |
0.20 |
0.17 |
18 |
|
Treatment and Refining |
US$/lb |
0.23 |
0.17 |
35 |
|
By-Product Metal Credits |
US$/lb |
(0.19) |
(0.19) |
|
Total C1 Cash Operating Costs 2,3 : |
US$/lb |
1.82 |
1.39 |
31 |
Notes:
- Mining costs exclude pre-stripping, but include stockpile re-handling.
- C1 cash operating costs, for purposes of the Feasibility Study, include the costs of mining, milling and concentrating, onsite administration and general expenses, property and production royalties not related to revenues or profits, metal concentrate treatment charges, and freight and marketing costs, less the net value of the by-product credits. C1 cash operating costs is a non-GAAP financial measure and does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
-
The 2014 FS assumes an exchange rate of
C$1 =US$0.90 , the 2012 FS assumed an exchange rate ofC$1 =US$0.86 . - Totals may not add due to rounding.
Project Economics
The financial analysis in the Feasibility Study utilized the following assumptions.
Parameter |
Inputs |
|
General Assumptions |
|
|
|
Mine Life |
28 Years |
|
Available mill operating days per year |
365 days |
|
Production Rate (average) |
70,000 tpd |
|
Average Process Recovery (Cu) |
89.2% |
|
Average Process Recovery (Ag) |
55.8% |
|
Average Process Recovery (Au) |
57.7% |
|
LOM Average Annual Copper Concentrate Production |
231,000 dmt/yr |
|
Concentrate Grade |
25.5% |
|
Long Term C$:US$ exchange rate |
0.90 |
Market Assumptions |
|
|
|
Equity Basis |
100% |
|
Discount Rate |
8% |
|
Base Case LOM average copper price |
|
|
Base Case LOM average gold price |
|
|
Base Case LOM average silver price |
|
The Project economics on both a before tax and after tax basis, and a 100% equity and a conservative levered basis, are set forth below.
Project Economics (US$) |
||
100% Equity Basis |
Before Tax |
After Tax |
NPV 8 ($millions) 1 |
683.6 |
354.9 |
IRR (%) |
16.8 |
13.4 |
Payback Period (Years) |
4.9 |
5.4 |
Notes:
- Eight (8%) percent discount rate.
-
NPV has been calculated to Year -2, Q2 2016
Sensitivity Analysis
The project economics of Harper Creek are most sensitive to copper price, as set forth below.
Sensitivity Analysis (US$) |
|||||
Parameter |
Value |
Before Tax |
After Tax |
||
|
NPV 8 1 |
IRR |
NPV 8 1 |
IRR |
|
|
($millions) |
(%) |
($millions) |
(%) |
|
|
|||||
Copper Price ($ / lb) |
|||||
+20% |
|
1,475.3 |
25.9 |
877.3 |
20.8 |
+10% |
|
1,079.5 |
21.5 |
617.3 |
17.2 |
Base Case |
|
683.6 |
16.8 |
354.9 |
13.4 |
-10% |
|
287.8 |
11.9 |
89.1 |
9.4 |
-20% |
|
(108.1) |
6.4 |
(187.7) |
4.9 |
Notes:
- Eight (8%) percent discount rate.
- NPV has been calculated to Year -2, Q2 2016
Permitting - Environmental Assessment
Yellowhead continues to update and revise the EA Application for the Project and is targeting resubmitting the revised EA Application to the BC EAO at the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2014. The updated EA Application will incorporate the design improvements to the Project, reflected in the updated Feasibility Study, to further mitigate the environmental impacts of the development of the Project, as well as to address the deficiencies raised by the BC EAO when the initial EA Application was submitted in
Yellowhead is also continuing its program of public consultation with local First Nations, local communities and other stakeholders, regarding any potential environmental and socio-economic impacts of the development of Harper Creek and the Company's proposed mitigation strategies.
Project Schedule
Yellowhead has designed a five year development program for Harper Creek during the period from the beginning of 2014 through 2018. The initial two and a half years, from 2014 to mid-2016, will be focused on permitting, including environmental permitting and Mines Act (BC) permitting. The subsequent two and a half years, from mid-2016 through 2018, will be focused on construction of the Project, with a target of commencement of commercial production during the second half of 2018. Also included in this five year program is project financing for the development of the Project, and the construction of an upgraded BC Hydro transmission line in the North Thompson valley to provide power to the Project for operations.
Second Quarter Results (Amounts are expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars, except per-share amounts)
|
Three
|
Three
|
|
Six
|
Six
|
Administrative expenses |
$ 498 |
$ 789 |
|
$ 1,017 |
$ 1,774 |
Exploration and evaluation expenses |
1,454 |
447 |
|
2,372 |
2,403 |
Other income |
(15) |
|
(36) |
(126) |
|
Net loss and comprehensive loss for the period |
1,937 |
1,239 |
|
3,353 |
4,050 |
Basic and diluted loss per share for the period |
$ 0.02 |
$ 0.02 |
|
$ 0.03 |
$ 0.06 |
Yellowhead has no revenue from operations. Results can fluctuate significantly from period to period due to the level of engineering and environmental study effort and resource drilling.
Review of Quarterly Results (Three months ended
The loss in Q2 2014 was
Review of Annual Results (Six months ended
The loss in YTD 2014 was
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company had cash and cash equivalents of
The Company's focus going forward is continuing the development of Harper Creek. Major activities include completing the Environmental Assessment process, advancing the Mine Permitting process and pursuing funding activities to increase its working capital to fund the development of the Harper Creek. The Company believes its current working capital is sufficient for the next twelve months of general and administrative activities, however, additional funding will be required by the Company to complete its strategic objectives and to continue as a going concern.
Risk Factors
The development of the Project is subject to a number of risk factors, including but not limited to, government laws and regulations, including environmental and mining laws and regulations, permitting requirements, availability of project financing, commodity prices, and consultation with and accommodation of First Nations by the Federal and Provincial Governments. For a detailed discussion of the risk factors associated with the Company and the Project, please consult the risk factors section of the Company's most recent Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com .
About
For more information on Yellowhead and the
Qualified Persons
The following qualified persons (QPs) have reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release and will be responsible for the preparation of their relevant portion of the Technical Report:
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, including, among others, the accuracy of mineral grades and related assumptions, inherent operating risks, planned expenditures, proposed exploration and development at the
Cautionary Note Regarding Technical Information
This news release includes disclosure of scientific and technical information, as well as information in relation to the calculation of mineral resources and reserves, with respect to the
Non – GAAP Measures
C1 cash operating costs, for purposes of the Feasibility Study, include the costs of mining, milling and concentrating, onsite administration and general expenses, property and production royalties not related to revenues or profits, metal concentrate treatment charges, and freight and marketing costs, less the net value of the by-product credits. C1 cash operating costs is a non-GAAP financial measure and does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
SOURCE