CDPR Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results and Provides 2023 Guidance

Cerro de Pasco Resources Inc. (CSE: CDPR) (OTCPK: GPPRF) (Frankfurt: N8HP) is pleased to announce selected financial information and production results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2022.  The Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, and Management Discussion and Analysis thereon can be viewed under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com. Production results are from the Company’s wholly owned Santander Mine, located in Peru. All amounts are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.

Selected 2022 Highlights

• Production for 2022 was 32.7 million pounds of zinc, 1.94 million pounds of lead, and 120,000 ounces of silver.
• Revenue for 2022 of $40.6M on payable production of 31.7 million pounds of zinc, 1.58 million pounds of Lead, and 120,00 ounces of silver
• Achieved lower end of full year production guidance in payable zinc and lead while meeting upper end of cost guidance.
• Achieved 2022 target goals to stabilize and ramp-up the operations, starting from 12 thousand tonnes milled in April to 63 thousand tonnes average in Q4 2022.
• 2022 C1 cash cost ⁽⁴⁾ of $1.62, and AISC ⁽⁵⁾ $1.81 per pound of zinc produced remain in-line with the Company’s projections; AISC was influenced in 2022 by significant capital expenditures including, exploration, production ramp-up, pumping & power infrastructure, and development in preparation for Pipe production.
• Achieved a total inventory of 240,000 tonnes of ore developed, or a total of 4 months of production. In April 2022 this number was less than 20,000 tonnes.
• Positive mine operating cash flow ⁽³⁾ of over $8.5 million.
• Over 80% of the net loss for 2022 comprises either non-cash or one-time items ⁽⁶⁾; net loss for the year totaled $18.1M.
• As of December 31, 2022, the Company had cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash of $5.5 million.

Q4 2022 Highlights

• Production in Q4 2022 was 10.1 million pounds of zinc, 440 thousand pounds of lead, and 34.4 thousand ounces of silver.
• Revenue for Q4 2022 was $9.9 million on payable production of 9.6 million pounds of zinc, 180,000 thousand pounds of lead, and 34.4 thousand ounces of silver.
• C1 cash cost ⁽⁴⁾ per pound of zinc produced in Q4 2022 was $1.46.
• Total All-in sustaining cost (“AISC”) ⁽⁵⁾ per pound of zinc produced in Q4 2022 was $1.68.
• Net loss for Q4 2022 was $9.9 million or ($0.03) per share.
• Santander mine operating cash flow ⁽³⁾ for Q4 2022 was positive $9.2 million.
• Q4 2022 average mill production was 2,100 tonnes per day. This was a 19.6% improvement over throughput achieved in Q3 2022.  This is the highest quarterly production average since 2020.
• Average mine development of 850 meters per month for Q4 2022. November achieved 920 meters, a record for 2022 and the highest since 2020.
• Subsequent to quarter-end:
  • On January 18, 2023, the Company announced that it has been granted by INGEMMET three additional mining concessions adjacent to its Santander Mine.  The new concessions cover an additional 2,094.103 ha.
  • On February 21, 2023, the Company announced the results of Preliminary Economic Assessment for its brownfield Pipe Project .
  • On February 22, 2023, the Company announced the extension of the surface right contract between CDPR and the community of Quiulacocha for the first phase of the Quiulacocha Tailings Project.
  • On March 7, 2023, the Company announced that the Quiulacocha Tailings Reprocessing Project is included in the 2023 Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) Specialized Projects List for the Promotion of Investment.
  • On March 21, 2023, the Company announced that signed a Memorandum of Understanding Volcan Compania Minera S.A.A., setting out shared objectives and a framework for collaboration with regards to first phase of development and exploration of CDPR’s Quiulacocha Tailings Project. In addition, the Company announced that Glencore International AG will provide CDPR a $2 Million term loan to cover the costs associated with the first phase of the QT Project
  • On April 4, 2023, the Company announced the closing of a CA$2,519,500 private placement.

Guy Goulet, CDPR’s CEO commented, “In the fourth quarter, we achieved our year-end goal to stabilize operations at the Santander mine by delivering strong operating performance and meeting our full year 2022 Guidance. Our committed investment in the operation has transformed Santander from an operation that was expected to wind-down in March of 2022, to a future multi-year operation.”

Jorge Lozano, CDPR’s COO commented, “In 2023, our focus is to continue to establish our operations track record, fast-track our cost optimization plans and construction of key infrastructure projects necessary for the Pipe project which we believe will unlock the full value of the Santander mine. Following the independent validation demonstrated in our PEA Study on the Santander Pipe, the Company is in advanced discussions with different institutions and is confident in its ability to finance the project.”

Summary of Operating Results at Santander

2022 Santander Development and Exploration Highlights

• Completed phase-1 equipment reconditioning program.
  • Support equipment overhaul is 100% complete.
  • Shotcrete fleet is 100% new.
  • Scooptram loaders overhaul at 50%.
  • Scaler´s overhaul is 100% complete.
  • Mining-trucks fleet overhaul is 100% complete.
  • Production drills overhaul (Simba´s) 50% competed and face drilling (Jumbo´s) at 33%.
• Optimization of grinding circuit at processing plant (ore target: 70% ore passing 200 mesh) and operating controls in the concentrator plant resulted in:
  • Achieving recoveries above 90% for Zinc
  • Average concentrate quality for Zinc of 48%
  • Average concentrate quality for Lead of 50%
  • Average moisture in concentrates of 8.5% or under.
• Executed $ 4.1 million in extensive exploration drilling campaign and project studies resulting on:
  • Discovery of Pipe North Extension
  • Definition of Santander Pipe resource
  • Increased resources at Magistral
  • Increased potential at targets: Puajanca & Blanquita
  • Update on NI 43-101 Model Resource Estimate (MRE) on Magistral
  • New NI 43-101 Model Resource Estimate (MRE) on Santander Pipe
  • New NI 43-101 PEA on Santander Pipe (Jan-2023)

Santander Mineral Resource Inventory

Magistral

The Mineral Resources Inventory for the Magistral Mine was declared in CDPR´s technical Report NI 43-101 by DRA Global in 2021. This report was updated in 2022 by DRA Global-Information Memorandum Report as of the 9th of September of 2022.:

Santander Pipe

The Mineral Resources Inventory for the Pipe Project effective date of the report declared in Preliminary Economic Assessment (DRA, 2023) as of the 31st of January of 2023:

2023 Production Guidance & Outlook

The Santander Advantage

The operating assets that Cerro de Pasco Resources owns at the Santander mine are held on the books for approximately $9.1M having been discounted when the former operator looked to close down the operation.  As the Company works to expand the mine life and resources at Santander, it will enjoy a significant production advantage due to the potential replacement value of its operating assets and therefore avoid capex associated with building a new mill.  The assets are in first-class condition and include a 2,500 tonne per day sulfide milling and flotation plant originally commissioned in 2013, as well as buildings, communications equipment, underground infrastructure, support facilities, furniture, fixtures and other equipment. Likewise, social licenses as well as operating permits are, for the most part, already in place for future brownfield expansions.

Positive Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Santander Mine

• On February 21, 2023, the Company announced the results of Preliminary Economic Assessment for its brownfield Pipe Project. The Project forms a strategic cornerstone for CDPR’s 100% owned Santander Mine, located in central Peru.
• The Santander Pipe demonstrates positive financial returns, with a pre-tax net present value at 6% discount rate of $ 71.3 million, generating an estimated internal rate of return of 46.6%.
• The PEA considers the Project as a standalone operation with zinc concentrate production estimated at 313,600 dry metric tonnes (“dmt”) over a 5-year schedule.
• Project cash cost and all-in sustaining cost of $ 0.82/lb Zn and $ 1.05/lb Zn, respectively, generating revenues of $ 388.6 million and pre-tax free cash flow of $ 99.6 million.
• Considered in the Project are synergies to be realized from the existing 2,500 tpd sulfide concentrator, electrical power grid, pumping station, water treatment plant, tailings facility, and other infrastructure from the existing Santander Magistral operation.  Current on-going Magistral operation—mining and ore processing—is not considered in the PEA study.
• The mineral resource estimate (“MRE”) to be mined considers Indicated Mineral Resource of 3.23 Mt with 6.94% Zn and Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.78 Mt with 5.95% Zn; while the industrial circuit plans to process an average of 770,000t of mineralized material per year (with peak production at 900,000 tonnes year), with an average grade of 4.7% of Zn, 89% recovery and 51% in Zn concentrate grade.
• The Project is also set to benefit from significant potential resources, such as the Santander Pipe mineralization above the 4020 level, estimated to contain some 3 to 4 million tonnes averaging 4 to 6% Zn, and the newly discovered Pipe North zone.

Consolidated Mine Plan

• The Company’s overall consolidated mine plan for the Santander operation consists of further development of its current Magistral operation and developing the Santander Pipe as outlined in Santander Pipe PEA study. In addition, the Company will also be looking to develop the potential areas as outlined in the PEA study, the Pipe´s Upper Zone and North Extension.
• The Upper-Zone is considered potential because the depletion solid (previously mined material) could not be verified as the mined area is currently flooded. The Upper-Zone has more than 44% more drilling density than Main Santander Pipe which is where the PEA focused. The actual potential resource of The Upper-Zone is: 3-4 M tonnes at 5-6%+ Zn. Historically, the mine operated under a 9% Zn grade cutoff, offering the opportunity to high-grade un-mined areas as well as recover high grade stope and pillars left over from the historic operation.
• The Pipe North Extension was discovered by the Company last year and it’s an exciting potential zone. CDPR´s has budgeted over 15,000m of underground drilling in 2023 and expects to produce an updated mineral resource estimate by early 2024.
• The Company’s non-NI43-101 compliant consolidated budget plan envisages mining over 10Mt at 4.4% Zn producing 1.1Mt Zn, 15kt Pb and 49kt Cu of concentrate, representing ~560,000kt of payable ZnEq over 13 years at $ 1.00/lb AISC.

2023 Santander Outlook

• 2023 marks the start of the consolidation and expansion phase for the Santander mine, as it ramps up construction of several projects related to the Santander Pipe project.
• The Company´s goal is to develop a muti-deposit operation as considered in its own consolidated model, as described on the company website, it utilizes the Magistral and all other available mineral sources outlined in the PEA report.
• The Company plans to invest over $30 million in capital expenditures over the next 2 years, including $22 million for development of the Santander Pipe project, $9 million for new infrastructure and $3 million in exploration.
• The highlights of an independent 43-101 PEA report were reported in a Company press release dated February 21^st, 2023.
• Projects for Santander Pipe include detailed engineering, permitting, as well as preliminary construction activities related to the Santander Pipe project and water treatment capacity.
• Optimize OPEX by procuring a new partial production fleet and optimizing equipment cost and availability.
• Complete targeted construction of an exploration tunnel from Magistral to the Pipe North Extension. Tunnel is expected to be completed by early Q2 2024 when it reaches the Main Santander Pipe area.
• Complete an underground drilling campaign of the Santander Pipe and Pipe North Extension.
• Initiate and complete surface drilling campaign for Puajanca and Naty exploration targets and define the potential MRE zone.
• Produce an updated NI 43-101 mineral resource statement.
• Further strengthen the balance sheet through obtainment of project financing and working capital.

Corporate objectives for 2023

• Complete Drilling Campaign for Quiulaocha Tailings Project
• Obtain land access agreement (rights of passage) for permission to access the surface land which underlays the El Metalurgista concession
• Obtain Peruvian Government assignment of responsibility to restore and remediate the entire area of the Quiulacocha Tailings and Excelsior stockpile.
• Produce a Resource Estimate on Quiulaochca Tailings
• Complete Geophyscial, Minerolgoical and Metallurgical studies on the Quiulacocha Tailings.
• Advance towards the Santander Pipe.
• Explore and identify for new and additional resource potential at Santander with the focus on a 10 year plus life of mine
• Advance H2-Sphere’s Resarch and Development on converting mine waste into green hydrogen and other by-products
• Strengthen balance sheet

Technical Information

Mr. Jorge Lozano, MMSAQP and Chief Operating Officer for CDPR, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Lozano is a Qualified Person for the purposes of reporting in compliance with NI 43-101.

About Cerro de Pasco Resources

Cerro de Pasco Resources Inc. is a mining and resource management company with unparalleled knowledge of the mineral endowment in the city of Cerro de Pasco and its surroundings. Initially, the Company will unlock the useful life of the mine and extend the concession areas in its Santander mining operation, applying the highest safety, environmental, social and governance standards. The key focus of the growth for the Company is on the development of the El Metalurgista mining concession, one of the world’s largest surface mineralized resources, applying the latest techniques and innovative solutions to process tailings, extract metals and convert the remaining waste into green hydrogen and derivatives.

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