POLY.L Regulatory News (POLY)

Polymetal International plc

Q3 2018 production results

Polymetal International plc reports its production results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

"We quickly and efficiently ramped up Kyzyl to full capacity", said Vitaly Nesis, Group CEO of Polymetal, commenting on the results. "The other assets in our portfolio demonstrated a steady performance which leaves us well placed to outperform our original production guidance".

HIGHLIGHTS

· Polymetal produced 447 Koz of gold equivalent (GE) in the third quarter of 2018, down 5% year-on-year as large volumes of concentrate produced at Kyzyl (36 Koz of gold) and Mayskoye (34 Koz of gold) are to be shipped and booked as production in the fourth quarter. Gold production for the quarter was 356 Koz, down 4% year-on-year, while silver production decreased by 10% to 6.7 Moz as a result of planned grade declines at Dukat. GE production for the first nine months of 2018 was 1,066 Koz, a 4% increase year-on-year and in line with production guidance.

· Kyzyl successfully ramped up to full throughput capacity of 150 Kt per month with a recovery rate of 86%. Concentrate shipments to Amursk POX and to off-takers in China commenced and are expected to match production once the new railway spur is commissioned in October. Since the start-up Kyzyl delivered 47 Koz of gold in concentrate of which 10 Koz was booked in production, and is likely to exceed its production guidance of 80 Koz of payable gold shipped for 2018. The Company will be hosting a site visit at Kyzyl on October 18-19, 2018.

· Q3 revenue was down 16% year-on-year to US$ 459 million on the back of lower metal prices and lower sales volumes due to the build-up of working capital in the form of concentrate. Gold sales volumes totalled 321 Koz, while silver sales totalled 5.3 Moz.

· Net debt increased to US$ 1.8 billion due to the build-up of working capital as the company paid US$ 78 million in regular dividends for 1H 2018 (US$ 0.17 per share). The Company expects to generate the bulk of free cash flow in 2018 in the fourth quarter on the back of de-stockpiling at Kyzyl and Mayskoye. Consequently, a meaningful reduction in net debt is expected to be recorded in Q4.

· Polymetal had no fatalities in Q3 and recorded a meaningful improvement in the Group's LTIFR for the second consecutive quarter and year-on-year.

· Effective from 24 September, Polymetal was the first Russian company to join the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, ranking 8th among other mining companies in the index series. The Company also improved its Sustainalytics rating, coming in 1st among 47 mining companies worldwide, which made it eligible for the highest available discount on the interest rate on its ING US$ 80 million sustainability performance-linked loan.

· Polymetal is likely to exceed its FY 2018 production guidance of 1.55 Moz of GE by up to 50 koz of GE. The Company reiterates its production guidance of 1.7 Moz for 2019 and 1.8 Moz for 2020 and notes that the guidance will be revised in the event of non-core asset disposals.

· Given the recent weakness of the Rouble and Tenge against the US dollar, it is likely that the Company will outperform its cost guidance of US$ 650-700/GE oz for Total Cash Costs ("TCC") and US$ 875-925/GE oz for All-in Sustaining Cash Costs ("AISC").

· The Company will host an Analyst and its inaugural ESG Day on 12 November 2018 in London to provide an update on key development projects and a comprehensive overview of Polymetal's ESG approach and practices.

PRODUCTION BY MINE

Notes: (1) Based on 1:80 Ag/Au, 5:1 Cu/Au and 2:1 Zn/Au conversion ratios.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Polymetal will hold a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, 16 October 2018 at 11:00 London time (13:00 Moscow time).

To participate in the call, please dial:8 800 500 98 63 access code 92230744# (free from Russia), or

44 203 009 24 75 (free from the UK), or

1 646 722 49 11 (free from the US), or

follow the link: http://polymetal161018-live.audio-webcast.com. Please be prepared to introduce yourself to the moderator or register.

Webcast replay will be available on Polymetal's website (www.polymetalinternational.com) and at http://polymetal161018-live.audio-webcast.com. A recording of the call will be available immediately after the call at +44 20 3364 5147 (from within the UK), 1 646 722 4969 (USA Toll Free) and +7 495 249 16 71 (from within Russia), access code 418793738#, from 13:30 Moscow time Tuesday, 16 October, till 13:30 Moscow time Tuesday, 23 October, 2018.

Enquiries

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

THIS RELEASE MAY INCLUDE STATEMENTS THAT ARE, OR MAY BE DEEMED TO BE, "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS". THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SPEAK ONLY AS AT THE DATE OF THIS RELEASE. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY THE USE OF FORWARD-LOOKING TERMINOLOGY, INCLUDING THE WORDS "TARGETS", "BELIEVES", "EXPECTS", "AIMS", "INTENDS", "WILL", "MAY", "ANTICIPATES", "WOULD", "COULD" OR "SHOULD" OR SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS OR, IN EACH CASE THEIR NEGATIVE OR OTHER VARIATIONS OR BY DISCUSSION OF STRATEGIES, PLANS, OBJECTIVES, GOALS, FUTURE EVENTS OR INTENTIONS. THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ALL INCLUDE MATTERS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS. BY THEIR NATURE, SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS BEYOND THE COMPANY'S CONTROL THAT COULD CAUSE THE ACTUAL RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE COMPANY TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED ON NUMEROUS ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING THE COMPANY'S PRESENT AND FUTURE BUSINESS STRATEGIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE COMPANY WILL OPERATE IN THE FUTURE. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEES OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE. THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE EXPRESSED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THE COMPANY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING TO DISSEMINATE ANY UPDATES OR REVISIONS TO ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN TO REFLECT ANY CHANGE IN THE COMPANY'S EXPECTATIONS WITH REGARD THERETO OR ANY CHANGE IN EVENTS, CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH ANY SUCH STATEMENTS ARE BASED

DUKAT OPERATIONS

Note: Nachalny-2 mining is included in Dukat, Terem mining is included in Lunnoye (1) Technological recovery, includes gold and silver within work-in-progress inventory (concentrate, precipitate)

Underground mining at Dukat and Goltsovoye continued to operate at full capacity.

Gold production at Dukat increased by 34% year-on-year as the Omsukchan concentrator continued to process ore from gold-rich veins at the deeper levels of Dukat and from Lunnoye. Silver production fell 12% year-on-year on the back of planned grade declines at the underground mine.

A new thickener was commissioned at the Omsukchan concentrator, enabling the production of a separate product (flash flotation concentrate) with low silica and high metal content that will result in improved payability for lead, zinc and copper. This is an important development ahead of Perevalnoye ore being introduced to the feed.

At Lunnoye, processing volumes remained relatively flat, while gold production increased by 8% year-on-year as higher grade material was processed through the mill, making up for the decline in recovery levels. Silver production on the other hand, was down 16% to 1.1 Moz, which is mostly attributable to depletion of high-grade areas of Zone 7.

ALBAZINO-AMURSK

Notes: (1) To concentrate

(2) For information only; not considered as gold produced and therefore not reflected in the table representing total production. Included in total production upon completion of downstream processing at the Amursk POX

At Albazino, ore mining at the new Ekaterina open pit is fully operational, while underground mine productivity continued to improve as a result of the full transition to partially cemented waste backfill. The new mining method had a positive impact on grades that offset lower recovery levels driven by near-surface partially oxidized ore from Ekaterina.

At Amursk POX, gold production decreased slightly as less third t-party material was processed. The POX plant is currently undergoing a 20-day maintenance shutdown for final circuit modifications and is expected to start up at full expanded capacity by 25 October.

KYZYL 

Note:  (1) For information only; not considered as gold produced and therefore not reflected in the table representing total production. It will be included in total production upon sale to off-taker or internal downstream processing to saleable metal product

The 3-month ramp up period has been successfully completed with the operation achieving design throughput and recoveries of 86% in October.

Gold grades and ore tonnage mined demonstrated positive reconciliation to the resource model due to the presence of small high-grade ore pods within mineralization.

Railway shipments of concentrate to end users are under way with the pace of deliveries expected to reach full capacity after the commissioning of the new railway spur in October.

 OMOLON OPERATIONS

Note: (1) Technological recovery, includes gold and silver within work-in-progress inventory

In Q3, Omolon delivered a strong set of results with gold production up 19% year-on-year on the back of a significant contribution to production from the Birkachan heap leach operation.

Birkachan underground mine is ramping up while Tsokol is beginning to wind down ahead of the expected pillar removal operations in 2019-2020.

MAYSKOYE

Notes: (1) To concentrate

(2) For information only; not considered as gold produced and therefore not reflected in the table representing total production. Included in total production upon sale to off-taker or internal downstream processing to saleable metal product

(3) Work in progress. For information only; not considered as gold produced and therefore not reflected in the table representing total production

Underground development at Mayskoye continued to increase at the new mine level (400 m below surface) where stoping will start in Q1 2019.

Oxide ore processing through the combined float-leach circuit has demonstrated broadly positive results. Recoveries were largely in line with metallurgical test work and, given very high grades of oxide material, gold in carbon has increased more than three-fold year-on-year. Due to the arrival of cold season, the plant switched over from oxide to sulphide ore treatment in late September.

Shipments of Mayskoye concentrate to Chinese off-takers commenced in August and will continue until November. Accordingly, most of production at Mayskoye will be booked in Q4.

Processing of loaded carbon from Mayskoye at the Amursk POX started in late September and is expected to lead to a significant year-on-year increase in gold production from the asset in Q4.

VARVARA

Note: (1) Technological recovery, includes gold and copper within work-in-progress inventory. Does not include toll-treated ore

(2) To be further processed at Amursk POX.

In Q3, Varvara delivered a 15% increase in gold production year-on-year. This was primarily driven by growing processing volumes and improved head grades at the leaching circuit as Komar ore railing capacity reaches new record levels. Gold recovery rates in the leaching circuit also continued to improve both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year thanks to the detailed geo-metallurgical mapping of Komar ore followed by the introduction of flexible reagent additions.

Open pit mining volumes continued to shift away from Varvara towards Komar given its higher-margin ore tonnes. In order to further improve productivity and cut haulage costs, Polymetal has decided to acquire a main-line locomotive for railing Komar ore to Varvara and is expected to be commissioned in Q1 2019.

Varvara continued to toll-treat higher volumes of third-party refractory gold ore, resulting in the decrease in ore processed and production at the flotation circuit. The produced gold concentrate will be processed at the Amursk POX facility and production will be booked following dore production.

VORO

Note: (1) Technological recovery, includes gold within work-in-progress inventory 

Gold production at Voro in Q3 decreased by 21% year-on-year, largely driven by lower ore grades and smaller contributions from the heap leach operation that shifted to residual leaching.

Mining volumes continued to decline as the open pit nears depletion in Q3 2019. However, exploration drilling has identified substantial high-quality mineralization below the open pit with technical studies currently underway to determine the feasibility of underground mining.

The Company's strategy at Voro is increasingly focused on extending the life of mine through nearby exploration targets with the potential addition of a flotation circuit to the existing processing plant. In August 2018, the Company consolidated 100% interest in Saum polymetallic deposit with resources of 435 Koz of gold equivalent at 9.7 g/t which can provide an additional low-cost feed. Saum's oxide ore is free-milling and will be processed through the existing CIP plant at Voro. Sulfide ore is amenable to conventional flotation followed by cyanide leaching of flotation tails. The Company plans to prepare an initial reserve estimate in Q1 2019. Oxide ore mining is expected to start in 2H 2020.

SVETLOYE

Svetloye delivered a 3% year-on-year production increase at 59 Koz of gold on the back of higher stacking volumes that more than offset grade declines from above-reserve levels observed during the last year.

Successful step-out drilling at the Emy pit and positive metallurgical test work for the material from the nearby Levoberezhny property indicate potential to extend the life-of-mine of Svetloye by approximately 4 years to 2028.

OKHOTSK OPERATIONS

Note: (1) Technological recovery, includes gold and silver within work-in-progress inventory (precipitate)

At Okhotsk, gold production levels improved by 6% as higher grade ore from Avlayakan was processed through the mill.

Underground mining at Avlayakan is now complete with the residual resources to be sold to a 3rd party. This will be replaced with ore from Khotorchan where mining will be completed in Q4 with ore trucked by winter road to the Khakanja mill in Q1 2019.

KAPAN 

Gold production for Q3 decreased 13% year-on-year due to lower head grades and recoveries. Access to some of high-grade areas continues to be restricted due to safety concerns.

Ore mined volumes continued to grow, reflecting the positive results of ongoing improvement measures to debottleneck the underground mine, especially as mine personnel completed a full transition from manual to mechanized drilling. The processing volumes grew in line with mining.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Polymetal had no fatalities in the quarter, with a Group Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate ("LTIFR") of 0.07 versus 0.11 in Q3 2017

Furthermore, we fully revised our corporate occupational health and safety system (OHSAS), which is now certified under OHSAS18001 after the successful completion of external audits. As a next step, we are now aiming to receive ISO 45001:2018 accreditation after a series of external audits carried out at our Russian operations in December 2018.

In order to improve the use of our Shift Risk Assessment (SRA) model that was set up to raise employee awareness of workplace dangers, manage risks promptly, and control the accuracy of our risk assessments, we have implemented a new mobile app to make communication between employees more efficient and accessible. The app will also provide distance-learning courses, which we believe will have a positive impact on the safety culture at all operations. As a result, the SRA has been moved online from the traditional paper based method.

Safety remains a top priority for Polymetal and the Company reaffirms its commitment to further improvement across health and safety metrics to achieve our zero‑harm target. Polymetal continues to invest in digital technologies and innovative practices to achieve greater levels of safety, efficiency, and productivity. Details of the implemented safety and employee welfare initiatives are set out in the Sustainability Report, which can be found on our website.