Interim Results

Glencar Mining PLC 16 October 2000 GLENCAR MINING PLC ('Glencar') Report for the six months ended 30 June 2000 Glencar announces * Maiden profit of US$737,000 for first half of 2000 * Wassa back on track * Wassa 2000 production forecast 105,000 ounces * Wassa exploration success Dear Shareholder We announce the interim results for the six month period ending June 30th 2000 which show our first operating profit since the commencement of commercial production at Wassa. We also report on the considerable progress being made on mining operations at Wassa and also on the exploration front in Ghana and Ireland. Wassa During the first half of 2000, we made considerable strides in improving production at our Wassa mine. We also successfully concluded negotiations with our Senior and Subordinated Lenders for a more favourable repayment schedule for the Senior Debt at Wassa and the capitalisation of approximately US$3 million of accumulated interest payable to CDC in 2000. Operations During the first six months of 2000 we mined a total of 1.578 million tonnes of ore at an average gold grade of 1.48 grams/tonne together with approximately 1.425 million BCMs of waste for an overall stripping ratio for the period of 2.01:1. Gold production for the period was 49,234 ounces compared to 30,035 ounces for the same period last year. We are currently mining from three pits, Main 1 and Main 2 and the recently commenced Mideast pit. This will open up additional reserves of oxide ore which can then be blended with the predominantly fresh ore from the Main 1 pit. Jan-Jun 00 Jan-Jun 99 Jan-Dec 99 Tonnes Ore Mined 1,578,000 1,617,000 3,185,000 BCMs Waste Mined 1,425,000 1,948,000 3,130,000 Ore Grade (grams/tonne) 1.48 1.85 1.75 Gold Poured (oz) 49,234 30,035 87,033 Cash Op. Cost per Ounce (US$) 223 186 200 TABLE 1 - WASSA PRODUCTION Gold leaching efficiencies have improved following the commissioning of the newly constructed Phase 2 leach pad. The new leach pad has been designed to allow improved solution control and management which, in turn, has contributed to better recoveries and increased production. Gold recoveries from the heaps are now meeting target on a consistent basis. This has been achieved following extensive adjustment and improvements in the area of ore processing and further optimisation is expected to lead to even better recoveries. We have installed a second carbon column train which allows the ADR plant to treat almost double the volume of solution. This provides greater flexibility in solution management and will be particularly beneficial during periods of high rainfall. Our production target for the year is approximately 105,000 ounces, 20% higher than production last year. A total of 77,000 ounces has been produced in the first 9 months of 2000, 19,700 ounces of which were produced in August and September. Cash operating cost for the first six months of 2000 was US$223 per ounce, higher than forecast, due in part to the increased costs associated with the remedial efforts and additional testwork involved in resolving the operational problems at Wassa. In particular, reagent and cement consumption was considerably higher in the first half of the year than will be the case in the second half. In addition, a greater proportion of the ore treated was fresh ore with inherent lower recovery rates, contributing to higher cash operating costs per ounce than is the case in oxide ore. Cash operating costs are currently at approximately US$207 per ounce and we expect the average for the year to be close to US$215 per ounce. Continuing efforts are being made to reduce operating costs still further, especially in the areas of cement and reagent consumption. The greater proportion of oxide ore scheduled to be mined in 2001 will lead to lower cash operating costs per ounce next year. Reserves A revised ore reserve estimation will be carried out at the year end and published early next year. It is expected that significant additions to reserves will result from the current drilling programme referred to below. Reserve Definition and Extension A drilling programme is nearing completion at Wassa, whose initial objective is to increase the proven and probable mineable reserve by some 190,000 ounces through conversion of existing resources into reserve. Much of this additional reserve will be in oxide material which will yield better overall gold recoveries than those from fresh rock. These new reserves occur in areas contiguous with or at the margins of the existing pits in the areas known as Deadman's Hill, South East Zone and 419 Zone (see Table 2 below for significant results). These results are very encouraging and support our view that the current programme will lead to the significant increase in ore reserve referred to above, prior to year end. Hole No. From To Width Grade 419 Zone 419-1 6m 21m 15m @ 2.9 grams/tonne 419-1 27m 40m 13m @ 1.6 grams/tonne 419-2 0m 9m 9m @ 1.3 grams/tonne 419-7 45m 54m 9m @ 5.6 grams/tonne South East Zone SE2 0m 6m 6m @ 2.0 grams/tonne SE10 9m 21m 12m @ 3.2 grams/tonne SE13 0m 12m 12m @ 1.4 grams/tonne SE16 0m 15m 15m @ 2.0 grams/tonne SE16 27m 33m 6m @ 2.5 grams/tonne SE16 51m 65m 14m @ 3.0 grams/tonne SE17 36m 42m 6m @ 2.9 grams/tonne SE37 54m 65m 11m @ 4.1 grams/tonne SE39 0m 15m 15m @ 5.9 grams/tonne SE41 12m 24m 12m @ 1.7 grams/tonne SE41 30m 42m 12m @ 2.0 grams/tonne SE43 0m 12m 12m @ 5.2 grams/tonne SE45 0m 18m 18m @ 1.4 grams/tonne Deadman's Hill DMH15 54m 66m 12m @ 1.5 grams/tonne DMH17 24m 30m 6m @ 2.8 grams/tonne DMH26 0m 30m 30m @ 1.2 grams/tonne DMH47 24m 30m 6m @ 2.1 grams/tonne TABLE 2 - SOME SIGNIFICANT RESULTS FROM RESERVE DEFINITION DRILLING Exploration Exploration has been accelerated on the other exploration targets within the Mining Lease area but away from the current pit limits. Trenching programmes are already well advanced at the Ballyebo, Bawdia Bosso and Lower Southwest zones. At the Bawdia Bosso prospect the target area is centered on extensive colonial era open pit workings 2km west of the current Main 2 pit limit. Results from trench FT6, which tested the structure mined in one of the larger open cuts, included 3 significant mineralised zones - 28-35m (7m) at 1.57 g/t, 39-53m (14m) at 1.94 g/t and 94-110m (16m) at 2.95 g/t. At Ballyebo the mineralised zone incorporates an area of extensive artisanal shafts approximately 1.5 km southwest of the current Main 1 pit. Drilling at Ballyebo and Bawdia Bosso will begin shortly on completion of the reserve definition programme. Approximately 2km further southwest in the Lower Southwest Zone trench FT-1 has returned assays including a section from 146-166m (20m) at 1.22 g/t. Asheba/Kanyankaw We are awaiting ratification by the Ghanaian authorities of the subdivision of the Asheba/Kanyankaw licence held by Glencar and Moydow in equal parts. The terms of the agreement between Glencar and Moydow provide that Glencar shall own and operate the western portion of the licence at Asheba, while Moydow will own and operate the eastern portion at Kanyankaw, subject to a reciprocal option to buy back a minority interest in the other's property. We have continued our geochemical sampling programme on the Asheba portion of the licence and the results are very encouraging. We intend to commence a drilling programme, following the ratification of the subdivision of the licence. We have a firm belief that our exploration at Asheba will be successful in discovering a new gold deposit in this very promising area. South East Uganda Project Follow up geochemical sampling in the Buinja area was carried out during the period under review. We intend to drill the resulting targets during the first half of 2001. Kildare Zinc/Lead Project We commenced our second drilling programme on our Kildare property and have completed the first hole to a total depth of approximately 100 metres. After some delay while awaiting the availability of a drill rig capable of drilling deep holes, we are now drilling our second, and much deeper hole. This is the first hole of a series which is designed to test the potentially mineralised target horizon. Navan Zinc/Lead Project Further drilling will be carried out next year on this licence following the re-evaluation of our existing drill core in the light of recent discoveries by Outokumpu Tara Mines Limited on their adjoining Mining Lease. Mayo Court Case The hearing of our appeal to the Supreme Court has been fixed for 13th February 2001. Financial Turnover for the first six months was US$16,034,000 (1999 - US$9,624,000) and the average sales price achieved during the period was US$312 per ounce. This compares very favourably with the average spot price during the same period of US$285 per ounce. The Profit and Loss Account for the period is given below. Operating profit was US$2,886,000 (1999 - loss of US$54,000). After allowing for administration costs for the period of US$442,000 (1999 - US$594,000) the profit on ordinary activities was US$737,000 (1999 - loss of US$2,205,000). Bank interest payable on the Wassa project finance for the six months was US$1,726,000 equivalent to 7.3% total rate of interest (including the banks' margin), reflecting the significant interest savings resulting from the US$27.5 million Senior Loan being drawn down as a gold loan rather than a dollar loan. Board Changes Sam McCormick has retired from the Board after more than 12 years service. We are very grateful to Sam for his considerable contribution to our progress over this period. Kieran Harrington, our Chief Geologist has been appointed to the Board and serves as Chief Operating Officer. We are delighted to welcome Kieran to the Board. Rights Issue On the 23rd June 2000 the company announced a one for two Rights Issue to raise approximately US$5.35m net of expenses. To facilitate the issuing of 32,601,489 new ordinary shares the company increased its authorised share capital from 90,000,000 to 130,000,000 shares. The Rights Issue which was fully underwritten by Davy Corporate Finance and Williams de Broe was concluded on 24 July 2000. Conclusion Production continues to improve at Wassa. Reserve definition drilling at Wassa has been successful in intersecting extensive mineralisation which we expect to lead to a significant increase in ore reserve. Drilling continues at Kildare and is expected to commence soon at Asheba in Ghana. I look forward to a productive and positive period of growth ahead. Richard Hooper Chairman 16 October 2000 CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT (UNAUDITED) FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2000 6 months 6 months ended ended 30-Jun-00 30-Jun-99 US$ US$ TURNOVER - GOLD SALES 16,033,654 9,623,871 COST OF SALES Operating Costs (11,965,641) (5,662,007) Depreciation, amortisation and reclamation (1,182,484) (4,015,751) --------------------------- (13,148,125) (9,677,758) --------------------------- OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS) 2,885,529 (53,887) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (441,715) (594,297) BANK INTEREST RECEIVABLE 19,727 23,020 BANK INTEREST PAYABLE (1,726,410) (1,579,752) PROFIT (LOSS) ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION 737,131 (2,204,916) TAXATION (510) 0 -------------------------- PROFIT (LOSS) ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION 736,621 (2,204,916) MINORITY INTEREST (445,325) 721,995 -------------------------- PROFIT (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD 291,296 (1,482,921) ========================== PROFIT (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE (CENTS) 0.45 (2.3) -------------------------- DILUTED PROFIT (LOSS) PER SHARE (CENTS) 0.45 (2.3) --------------------------
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