Interim Results

GLENCAR MINING PLC 31 August 1999 GLENCAR MINING PLC ('Glencar') Interim Results for the Six Month Period ending 30 June, 1999 We announce the interim results for the six month period ending 30 June, 1999, the period in which Glencar's Wassa Mine in Ghana came to production and poured its first gold bar. THE WASSA GOLD MINE Our efforts during the period under review were firmly focussed on the Wassa Gold Mine in Ghana where we achieved our target of producing our first gold bar in January 1999. The mine was constructed on schedule and on budget and is now in full production. OPERATIONS Overview By 30 June, we had mined approximately 1.97 million tonnes of ore at an average gold grade of 1.8 grams per tonne. The mine produced a total of 30,035 fine ounces of gold during that period at a cash operating cost of US$186 per ounce. The average price received for our gold production during the first six months of 1999 was US$320 per ounce against an average price on the spot market for the same period of US$274. Mining During the start-up period some not unusual commissioning problems were encountered and overcome. The mining operation is now going very well with good tonnages and grades being mined from the upper levels of the Main 1 and Main 2 pits. We are crushing approximately 300,000 tonnes of ore per month, some 20% more than forecast and the crushing system is operating satisfactorily. The stripping ratio (the ratio of waste mined to ore mined) at 2.6:1, was higher than forecast in the first six months. We expect the stripping ratio during the second half of 1999 to be much lower and the average for the year as a whole should be approximately 2.1:1. Processing Testwork shows that ultimate gold recovery will be in excess of 80% and possibly as high as 88%. Some dilution has been experienced during periods of high rainfall. Operational modifications relating to solution management, recently undertaken, are expected to contribute to more rapid recovery during the second half of 1999. Production in August will be approximately 12,000 ounces. Our revised forecast of gold production for 1999 is 95,000 ounces. Costs Cash operating costs for the first six months were US$186 per ounce while the outcome for the year as a whole is expected to be lower as the mine is now operating at full production and the stripping ratio will be lower. Cash operating cost for the months of July and August will be approximately US$162 per ounce. RESERVES AND RESOURCES Pit delineation drilling has been carried out both in and around the Wassa pit area. A total of 12,180 metres of drilling has been carried out in 216 holes. The results of this drilling are being incorporated in the new block model and mining schedule which is currently being finalised by our geological and mining staff. These results will be independently audited by the technical consultants to the lending Banks and will be published in due course. In the next period, it is intended to focus on exploration targets along strike from, and parallel to, the currently known orebody. KANYANKAW - ASHEBA We are currently finalising discussions with Moydow Limited, our joint venture partners on the Kanyankaw-Asheba Licence in Ghana on a new arrangement whereby the existing licence will be divided into two parts each of which will be owned and managed by either Glencar or Moydow. Glencar and Moydow will each have the right to buy back into a reduced percentage of the other's licence at predetermined prices. The new arrangement will mean that there will be two aggressive exploration programmes carried out on each of two deposits on the property which have seen significant past gold production - at the Asheba mine and the Kanyankaw mine on the west and east sides of the concession respectively. Successful exploration on either target would benefit Glencar. Recent exploration work on the property has been very encouraging SOUTH EAST UGANDA PROJECT Progress on the South East Uganda Project has been good to date. We have completed detailed follow up geochemical surveys over the extensive target areas in EPL4332 highlighted by the reconnaissance exploration program on the project. These surveys have confirmed the extent and tenor of the anomalies. Further geological mapping and ground geophysics will be completed over the next few months and a trenching program is planned for the final quarter of the year. We hope to be in a position to drill on the resulting targets during next year. IRISH ZINC/LEAD We have been active on our zinc/lead properties at Kildare and Navan. At Kildare, our earlier exploration had delineated a well defined anomalous zone which showed geological and structural similarities to the Galmoy and Lisheen areas to the southwest. We carried out a shallow, diamond drilling programme consisting of seventeen holes totalling 870 metres of drilling. The purpose of the programme was to elucidate the geological and structural features in the anomalous area to direct a deeper drilling programme which will test for ore development. The drilling programme provided useful structural data but perhaps more importantly, we found extensive dolomite development together with pervasive zinc mineralisation. Dolomitisation is usually associated with Irish zinc orebodies and its presence in the Kildare property associated with zinc mineralisation is particularly encouraging. We are currently evaluating our drilling data and conducting further testwork on the cores. We expect to commence a deep diamond drilling programme in 2000. At Navan, we are currently diamond drilling on the northern part of the licence area. Approximately 1,000 metres of drilling will be completed in this programme which is directed at deeper, structural targets. FINANCIAL Our unaudited Profit and Loss Account for the six months ending 30 June, 1999 shows earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation of US$3.4m (1998 US$0.12m loss) on turnover of US$9.6m. After allowing for depreciation, amortisation and a reclamation provision together totalling US$4m, bank interest payable of US$1.6m and the minority interests' share of losses of US$0.72m, the loss for the financial period is US$1.5m (1998:US$2.2m loss). At the year end, your Directors intend to review the carrying value of the Company's interest in the Wassa mine, taking into account the then current price of gold and the level of reserves. In March, we agreed the issuance of a five year Convertible Loan Note for US$3 million to Standard Bank London Limited. The funding was sought to further our exploration activities in Ghana and Ireland. The loan note is convertible into Glencar shares at 70 Eurocents per share (Stg£0.46 at current exchange rates). CONCLUSION We have achieved a lot during the first half of 1999 - our first six months of production. Although gold recoveries were initially slower than anticipated, we now believe that we have overcome almost all of the start-up problems which are common to most new mines. We look forward to a very successful second half in 1999. We have been fortunate enough to have sold forward a significant proportion of our gold production over the next four years at prices considerably in excess of the current depressed market price but the project remains exposed to the spot market on the unhedged portion of its production. We believe that the strong demand for physical metal, which in the second quarter of 1999 was the highest demand ever recorded, will eventually lead to higher gold prices and a more orderly bullion market. The timing of this recovery, however, remains uncertain. CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT (UNADUITED) FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 1999 6 Months ended 6 Months ended 30 June, 1999 30 June, 1998 US$ US$ TURNOVER - GOLD SALES 9,623,871 - CASH OPERATING COSTS (5,662,007) - ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (604,038) (118,338) ------------------------------ EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INTEREST, TAXATION DEPRECIATION, AMORTISATION AND RECLAMATION 3,357,826 (118,338) DEPRECIATION, AMORTISATION AND RECLAMATION (4,015,751) - ------------------------------ OPERATING LOSS (657,925) (118,338) BANK INTEREST RECEIVABLE 23,020 32,075 BANK INTEREST PAYABLE (1,579,752) - EXCHANGE GAIN 9,741 - ------------------------------ (2,204,916) (86,263) EXCEPTIONAL ITEM - (2,078,629) ------------------------------ LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION (2,204,916) (2,164,892) TAXATION - - ------------------------------ LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION (2,204,916) (2,164,892) MINORITY INTEREST 721,995 (4,968) ------------------------------ LOSS FOR THE FINANCIAL PERIOD (1,482,921) (2,169,860) ============================== LOSS PER SHARE (CENTS) (2.28) (3.33) DILUTED LOSS PER SHARE (CENTS) (2.27) (3.29) For further information contact: Hugh McCullough or Philip O'Quigley Glencar Mining plc Tel: 353 1 661 9974 Fax: 353 1 661 1205
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