SilverCrest Metals Inc. (TSX: SIL) (NYSE American: SILV) is pleased to announce its 2024 guidance for the Company’s Las Chispas Operation located in Sonora, Mexico. All amounts expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.

54. Eric Fier, CEO, commented, “2023 marked a successful first year of commercial production with Las Chispas exceeding its inaugural sales guidance, leading to full repayment of our debt and a $54.4 million or 107% increase in treasury assets. Despite continued cost pressures we are proud to be delivering sales and cost guidance that is in line with our 2023 Technical Report (the “Technical Report”). In 2024 we will continue to pursue capital allocation opportunities including exploration, share buybacks, and growth of our bullion holdings. Our new underground mining contractor recently began mobilization and will be fully mobilized to allow for an increase in underground mining rates in Q3, 2024. Working alongside the contractor, we will continue to prioritize a safe and measured ramp-up of the underground operation with a focus on delivering high margin tonnes for processing. This feed will continue to be supplemented by our sizable surface stockpiles through the end of 2025, when the mine is planned to be fully ramped up. We continue to explore at Las Chispas with a focus on converting inferred resources to indicated for reserve consideration in the vicinity of existing or planned infrastructure. In H2, 2024, we will return our exploration focus to discovering, defining, and advancing Las Chispas and regional targets which could extend the mine life.”

2024 Sales and Cost Guidance Highlights

SilverCrest has set its full year 2024 guidance as follows:

The Las Chispas underground will continue its ramp-up through 2024 with a target to exit the year at over 1,050 tonnes per day, in line with the Technical Report. The new mining contractor, Dumas Contracting Ltd. arrived at site in early February 2024 to begin mobilization, which is expected to continue through Q3, 2024.  2024 guidance incorporates assumptions related to the transition of contractors and ramp-up of Dumas. A total of $4.5 million in mobilization charges will be paid over the mobilization period with the expense recognized over the life of the five year contract and reflected in AISC during this time.

In 2024, the processing plant will operate at an average of 1,200 tpd except in Q1, 2024 when there is planned maintenance downtime which will reduce plant availability to approximately 85%. This downtime is not expected to impact production in the quarter as ore blending from the underground mine and high-grade stockpile will offset this downtime.

Cash Costs are expected to be $9.50 to $10.00/oz AgEq sold. This compares to 2024 cash costs forecast in the Technical Report of $9.80/oz AgEq sold and 2023 guidance of $7.50 to $8.50/oz AgEq sold. The major variance from 2023 is the inclusion of Dumas mobilization and demobilization of the outgoing contractor.  Cash costs are expected to remain relatively consistent throughout 2024.

Sustaining Capital of $40.0 to $44.0 million will be largely related to underground development and underground infrastructure.  2024 guidance marks a $4.0 million improvement from the Technical Report. The amount of lateral and vertical development has been reduced as part of a more efficient mine plan which still allows mine ramp-up targets to be met.

AISC is expected to be $15.00 to $15.90/oz AgEq sold, which is inline with the 2024 AISC forecast based on the Technical Report of $15.08/oz (inclusive of 2024 mine level AISC of $13.48/oz AgEq sold and an estimate of $1.60/oz AgEq sold of corporate level costs) and 2023 guidance of $12.75 to $13.75/oz AgEq. The major variance is inclusion of Dumas mobilization and demobilization of outgoing contractor which is offset somewhat by the reduction in underground development planned in 2024. AISC is expected to be higher in H1, 2024 than in H2, 2024.

Financial Items

The Company utilized all of its tax loss carryforwards in 2023 as a result of its strong financial performance. As a result, 2024 cash flow will be impacted by payment of Q4, 2023 taxes, 2023 special mining duties, and 2024 quarterly tax payments. In Q1, 2024 SilverCrest expects to make a payment of approximately $28.0 to $30.0 million for 2023 taxes and duties.

Quarterly cash flow in 2024 will include scheduled tax payments with taxes for 2024 estimated to be within a range of $28.0 to $33.0 million. Special mining duties are paid in the first quarter following the end of each fiscal year in accordance with the mandated annual schedule.

A $7.5 million advance was made in Q1, 2024 to support equipment purchases as part of the mobilization of Dumas. This advance will result in estimated savings of $1.5 million over the life of the five year contract. This advance to Dumas will be credited towards mining services for SilverCrest over 24 months starting in Q3, 2024.

Corporate General and Administrative expenses (G&A), before share-based compensation is expected to be within a range of $13.0 to $14.0 million.

Exploration

An exploration budget within a range of $12.0 to $14.0 million has been approved for 2024 with a focus on converting inferred resources to indicated for reserve consideration in proximity to existing or planned infrastructure, return to early stage exploration at Las Chispas, and regionally define new targets that could benefit mine life extensions.

Qualified Persons Statement 

The Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for this news release is N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng, CEO for SilverCrest, who has reviewed and approved its contents.

ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC.

SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals producer headquartered in Vancouver, BC, with an ongoing initiative to increase its asset base by expanding current resources and reserves, acquiring, discovering, and developing high value precious metals projects and ultimately operating multiple silver-gold mines in the Americas. The Company’s principal focus is its Las Chispas Operation in Sonora, Mexico. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production.