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Endeavour Silver Provides 2021 Production and Cost Guidance, Forecasting 3.6-4.3 Million oz Silver and 31,000-35,500 oz Gold, or 6.1-7.1 Million oz Silver Equivalent

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Endeavour Silver Provides 2021 Production and Cost Guidance, Forecasting 3.6-4.3 Million oz Silver and 31,000-35,500 oz Gold, or 6.1-7.1 Million oz Silver Equivalent

 

 

 

 

 

Endeavour Silver Corp. (TSX: EDR) (NYSE: EXK) released the 2021 production and cost guidance for its three silver-gold mines in Mexico, the Guanacevi mine in Durango state, the Bolanitos mine in Guanajuato state and the El Compas mine in Zacatecas state. The Company also provides its 2021 capital and exploration budgets for the three mines and several exploration and development projects (all dollar amounts in US$).

 

2021 Production and Cost Guidance Highlights

 

In 2021, silver production is expected to range from 3.6 to 4.3 million ounces (oz) and gold production is anticipated to be in the 31,000 to 35,500 oz range. Silver equivalent production is forecasted to total 6.1-7.1 million oz at an 80:1 silver:gold ratio.

 

Consolidated cash costs and all-in sustaining costs in 2021 are estimated respectively to be $7.00-8.00 per oz silver and $19.00-20.00 per oz silver, net of gold by-product credits. Costs are anticipated to be higher than 2020 due to higher royalty and mining duty payments expected in 2021. Metal price assumptions for 2021 are $22 per oz silver and $1,760 per oz gold.

 

Bradford Cooke, Endeavour CEO, commented, “Having completed the operational turn arounds at our Guanacevi and Bolanitos mines in 2020, we are forecasting relatively steady state performance from our operating mines in 2021, with slightly higher consolidated production offset by slightly higher operating costs at the three mines.

Advancing our Terronera mine project through the feasibility study and project financing will be a key focus during the first half of the year.”

 

Dan Dickson, Endeavour CFO, discusses the outlook for 2021 in a short video which can be accessed (here) and will be available on the Company’s website under the Investor Relations, Webcast section.

 

 

  Guanacevi Bolanitos El Compas Consolidated
Tonnes per Day (TPD) 1,000 – 1,200 1,000 – 1,200 200 – 250 2,400 – 2,650
Silver Production (M oz) 3.1 – 3.7 0.4 – 0.5 0.1 – 0.1 3.6 – 4.3
Gold Production (K oz) 8.0 -10.0 21.0 – 23.0 2.0 – 2.5 31.0 – 35.5
Silver Eq Production (M oz) 3.7 – 4.5 2.1 – 2.3 0.2 – 0.2 6.1 – 7.1
Cash Costs, net of gold by- product credits (US$/oz)       $7.00 – 8.00
AISC, net of gold by-product credits (US$/oz)       $19.00 – 20.00
Sustaining Capital Budget (US$M)       $30.8
Development Budget (US$M)       $9.0
Exploration Budget (US$M)       $10.2

(1)   2021 silver equivalent production is calculated using an 80:1 silver:gold ratio

 

Operating Mines

 

At Guanaceví, production will range between 1000 tonnes per day (tpd) to 1200 tpd and average 1100 tpd from the Milache, SCS and P4E orebodies. A significant portion of production will be mined from the Porvenir Cuatro extension on the El Curso concessions. The El Curso concessions were leased from a third party with no upfront costs but with significant royalty payments on production. As a result, the cash cost per ounce will increase in 2021, although direct operating costs per tonne should be similar to 2020.

 

At Bolanitos, production will range between 1000 tpd to 1200 tpd and average 1,050 tpd from the Plateros-La Luz, Lucero-Karina and Bolanitos-San Miguel vein systems. Ore grades are expected to be similar to 2020 mined grades and the cash cost per oz and direct cost per tonne should be similar to 2020.

 

At El Compas, production is forecast to continue into Q2, 2021 from the El Compas mine. New resources discovered in the Calicanto and Misie veins on the Calicanto property are currently being evaluated for possible addition to the mine plan.

 

Operating Costs

 

Cash costs, net of gold by-product credits, are expected to be $7.00-8.00 per oz of silver produced in 2021. Consolidated cash costs on a co-product basis are anticipated to be $13.00-$14.00 per oz silver and $1,000-$1,100 per oz gold.

 

All-in sustaining costs, net of gold by-product credits, in accordance with the World Gold Council standard, are estimated to be $19.00-$20.00 per oz of silver produced. When non-cash items such as stock-based compensation are excluded, AISC are forecast to be in the $18.00-$19.00 range.

 

Direct operating costs are estimated to be in the range of $105-$115 per tonne, including royalties and special mining duties, which are both expected to be significantly higher in 2021 compared to 2020.

 

Management has used a $22 per oz silver price, $1,760 per oz gold price, and 20:1 Mexican peso per US dollar exchange rate for its 2021 cost forecasts.

 

Sustaining Capital Investments

 

In 2021, Endeavour plans to invest $32.8 million on capital projects, mainly as sustaining capital at the three operating mines, including $2.0 million in growth capital to maintain the exploration concessions and cover corporate infrastructure. At current metal prices, the sustaining capital investments should be covered by operating cash flow.

 

At Guanacevi, $16.7 million will be invested on capital projects, the largest of which is the development of 6.8 kilometres (km) of mine access at the Milache, SCS and the P4E orebodies for an estimated $7.2 million. The additional $9.5 million will go to upgrade the mining fleet, support site infrastructure, and expand the tailings dam.

 

At Bolanitos, $14.1 million will be invested on capital projects, including $7.8 million for 5.3 km of mine development to access reserves and resources in the Plateros-La Luz, Lucero-Karina and Bolanitos-San Miguel vein systems. The additional $5.9 million will go to upgrade the mining fleet, support site infrastructure, raise the tailings dam and commence a new portal for the Belen resources.

 

At El Compas, management is evaluating new areas for future production on the Calicanto concessions and below the current working areas of the Orito vein.

 

New Development Investments

 

At Terronera, the feasibility study is currently being prepared which will include the results of additional engineering studies and revised cost estimates at a cost of $1.0 million in 2021. Management has approved a $9.0 million budget to complete the feasibility study, expand the project team, prepare for site-prep and source long lead items required to commence development upon completion of the feasibility study. Following the completion of the feasibility study and board approval, management will release a revised program and budget for the project.

 

 

Mine Mine
Development
Other
Capital
Sustaining
Capital
Growth
Capital
Total Capital
Guanaceví $7.2 million $9.5 million $16.7 million $16.7 million
Bolanitos $8.7 million $5.4 million $14.1 million $14.1 million
El Compas
Corporate $ 2.0 million $ 2.0 million
Total $15.9 million $14.9 million $30.8 million $2.0 million $32.8 million

 

Exploration Budget

 

In 2021, the Company plans to spend $10.2 million drilling 50,000 metres of core on brownfields projects near the three mine-sites, greenfields exploration projects, and development engineering across its portfolio of mines and properties.

 

At the Guanacevi and Bolanitos mines, 11,500 metres of core drilling are planned at a cost of $3.9 million to replace reserves and expand resources.

 

At Terronera, Parral and Paloma, 27,000 metres of core drilling are planned at a cost of $6.3 million and permitting continues for drilling the Aida project in Chile.

 

 

Project 2021 Activity Drill Metres Expenditures
Guanaceví Drilling 11,500 $2.0 million
Bolanitos Drilling 11,500 $1.9 million
Parral Drilling/Economic Study 8,000 $2.0 million
Chile – Paloma Drilling 3,000 $1.2 million
Chile – Other Mapping/Sampling $0.6 million
Terronera Drilling 16,000 $ 2.5 million
Total   50,000 $10.2 million

 

About Endeavour Silver

 

Endeavour Silver Corp. is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that owns and operates three high-grade, underground, silver-gold mines in Mexico. Endeavour is currently advancing the Terronera mine project towards a development decision and exploring its portfolio of exploration and development projects in Mexico and Chile to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer.  Our philosophy of corporate social integrity creates value for all stakeholders.

 

Posted January 28, 2021

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