RE: Recent RNS Resource & Reserve update2 Apr 2024 07:40
Continues
TAVSAN: They also say the exploration potential at Tavsan on the periphery of the system could yield c. 1.4Mt which they suggest would give an additional Reserve of c. 42,800/61,500 ozs
NUMBERS - RESERVES - JORC + POTENTIAL
Kiziltepe: JORC 47,700 ozs
Kiziltepe: Exploration potential: (Av.) 31,500 ozs - Co. Est. at this stage
Tavsan: JORC 200,900 ozs
Tavsan: Exploration potential: (Av) 51,500 ozs - Co. Est. at this stage
TOTAL: 331,600 ozs
THAT WOULD SUGGEST A MORE ACCEPTABLE 7.4 yr Mine Life at 45,000 ozs p.a. , OR 10 years at 33,000 ozs p.a.
(Gold-silver projects via 23.5% ownership of Zenit Madencilik (and affiliates).
CONCLUSION:
The Co. has been under pressure to complete this essential Resource and Reserve work, as the only all important Reserve was the depleted Kiziltepe one, which was suggesting a very short Life of Mine left.
Releasing the Tavsan numbers (the first ever Reserve numbers for Tavsan) appears to have been expedited out of necessity, even though further imminent results from 450 metres of core drill are still awaited. These will enhance the overall Resource and Reserve further and present, no doubt, an even more encouraging picture with a very respectable production and Life of Mine expectation.
This new “Interim” Reserve of 248,600 ozs is well up on what the Market was currently living with, as the Market only had a fast reducing Reserve at Kiziltepe.
So the Co. has told the Market it can keep it’s highly efficient Kiziltepe mine operative for a good number of years using higher grade ore from other feed sources, including Tavsan, our satellite mines like Kepez, Kizilcukur, Karakavak and Ivrindi and hopefully from other local mines, given its higher Recovery rate (CIL plant - 90% plus) whilst also commencing to produce alongside in parellel from the Heap Leach plant at Tavsan.
I think it is reasonable to expect as much as 20,000 ozs p.a. plus throughput at Kiziltepe and up to say 30,000 ozs, p.a , but probably less, through Tavsan from 2025. (45,000/50,000 ozs p.a. as we originally expected).
This year remains a bit of an unknown until the Co. is able to start trucking ore to Kiziltepe (but why can’t they start this soon?) and process lower grade ore through the Heap Leach at Tavsan. Heap Leach start up can take time.
A seven year plus mine life, with good production numbers looks very feasible, with hopefully Kiziltepe kept in operation throughout all of this period. That makes economic sense and maintains high levels of output.
NOTE: The Brokers continue to maintain their 5.5p share price targets.
CAVEAT: These are my interpretation of the numbers and the messages released.
I feel confident that they give a good reflection of the current position as communicated by the Co’s recent RNS.
Recent production performance at Kiziltepe:
28,421 ozs - 2022
20,737 ozs - 2021
18,914 ozs - 2020
Operational cash cost: US$650/oz