Further analysis on today's RNS16 Apr 2021 01:26
1. The production from Avshancli 1 and 3 planned for 2022 remains in current plans.
2. The difference in gold production from the Hartman report forecasts is around 10,000 ounces less than estimated for 2021. 2,000 ounces fall arises in processing more copper in the coming year which may contain less gold than the the copper ore stocks used in the past. The pattern of starting the year with low grading of ore used in Q1 is similar to what was done in Q1 of 2020. The remainder of the shortfall in gold forecast by Hardman was an overestimate of Ugur gold ounces remaining.
3. The amount of dry ore processed was 11% less than in Q4 of 2020. It may have been weather related but quite possibly down to maintenance schedules at the mine as many companies have more of this activity in Q1 than in the later quarters and this can slow production.
4. Silver production remains constant and slightly higher over 2020.
5. Although copper production beats Q1 of 2020 by 14% it is less than Q4 2020 output. This is due to selection of lower grade and processing a lower volume of dry ore.
6. The Hardman was broadly correct on the cash position of AAZ as of 31 December last year but tax bills etc fell in Q1. Hartman has AAZ with a cash total of $60M by end of 2021. So lets assume the gold price is $1665 on a production of 51,000 ounces of gold. This gives $84.9M revenue. The copper revenue is likely to be at least $23M. Silver $2.5M. Total is $110M which is $1M less revenue than in 2020. These figures give a figure of $55M in the bank if costs were the same as in 2020.
7. The cost issue for the AISC and administration costs and how they compare with 2020 is still unknown and these are usually measured in the H1 report. If the gold price average was $1750 for the same 51,000 gold production than $4.5M additional revenue is earned. If the company alternatively hit the top end of guidance for $1665 gold price average than $5M additional revenue is earned.
In conclusion the company needs high gold and copper prices for all or most of 2021. It needs to be striving to hit the top end of guidance. If all these elements come together an increase in production costs of up to 8% in 2021 would still deliver the Hardman projected forecast.