SGZ14 Jan 2022 07:44
Q4 2021 production to 31 December 2021 ('Q4 2021') totalled 1,508 ounces of gold
· Highest gold concentrate production recorded in December 2021 since first gold pour - 101 tonnes of concentrate produced equating to c.700 ounces of contained gold (c.60% increase to Company's previous best monthly concentrate production)
· November production negatively impacted by covid related supply of explosives for the mine - short-term supply issue resolved in November and ore extraction now continues in line with the Company's mine plan
· Q4 2021 gold concentrate gold and shipments totalled 231.5 tonnes with a sales value of over £2.6m
· Phase 1 Ramp-up nearly completed as of 31 December 2021 with the processing plant achieving 2,500 tonnes feed rate for the month of December
· Q1 2022 gold production guidance range is for 1,400 to 2,200 ounces of gold
· Low-capex optimisation initiatives, primarily the addition of a thickener into the tailings circuit, are underway to achieve Optimisation Phase Production run rate of c 16,000 - 17,500 ounces p.a. run rate of gold.
· Phase 2/Expansion Phase targeted for Q1 2023 hereto achieve 23,500 ounces p.a. run rate of gold
· 2022 strategy focused on continuing to optimise Cononish processing plant and mining efficiencies to increase production profile whilst building a multi-asset gold production company in Scotland through targeted exploration
· Renegotiated the tranches of the Bridge Barn Loan that were repayable in 2022
· Additional loan of £500,000 to provide buffer through Q1 2022 short term mine plan grade variability