Bema Gold Corporation: 2005 First Quarter Results/Drilling Commences at Kupol
Bema Gold Corporation (TSX:BGO) (AMEX:BGO)(AIM:BAU) ("Bema" or the "Company") reports the results from its operations for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005. All dollar figures are in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Financial Results
The Company reported a net loss of $14.8 million, or $0.037 per share, for the first quarter of 2005. The loss for the quarter was due mainly to a write down of the carrying value of the Company's net smelter royalty interest in the Lo Increible property in Venezuela (see press release dated September 13, 2000) and $4.2 million of Refugio mine start-up costs, which were expensed prior to the scheduled recommencement of mine operations in the second quarter of 2005. Excluding the write down of the net smelter royalty interest and the Refugio mine start up costs would reduce the net loss to $7.5 million, or $0.019 cents per share.
Gold Revenue
Gold revenue in the first quarter of 2005 increased by 9%, over the first quarter of last year, to $21.5 million on sales of 51,792 ounces at an average realized price of $415 per ounce. The Julietta Mine accounted for $5.5 million from the sale of 14,084 ounces of gold at an average price of $392 per ounce, while approximately $16.0 million was contributed by the Petrex Mines from 37,708 ounces of gold sold at an average price of $423 per ounce. Gold revenue during the first quarter of 2004 totaled $19.7 million on sales of 49,989 ounces at an average realized price of $393 per ounce.
Operations
Bema's consolidated gold production in the first quarter of 2005 increased by 5% to 55,343 ounces with an operating cash cost of $346(1)(2)(3) and total cash cost of $361 per ounce(1)(2)(3). For the same period of 2004, Bema produced 52,497 ounces of gold with an operating cash cost of $307(3)(4) and total cash cost of $322 per ounce(3)(4). Operating costs remain high mainly as a result of the strength of the South African rand verses the US dollar and lower grade ore being processed at the Julietta mine during the first quarter of 2005. (for details see "Petrex Mines" and "Julietta Mine" sections).
(1) In the first quarter of 2005, consolidated production cash costs are adjusted to reflect a cash gain of $59 per ounce gold from the exercise of South African rand denominated gold put options. At Petrex, cash gain from the puts was $82 per ounce gold.
(2) Julietta costs are net of silver by-product credit.
(3) Operating cash costs are calculated in accordance with the Gold Institute Production Cost Standard and include direct mining, smelting, refining and transportation costs, less silver by-product credits. Total cash costs, calculated in accordance with this Standard, include operating cash costs, royalties and production taxes.
(4) Adjusted for rand denominated put option gains from first quarter of 2004.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company ended the quarter with $40.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $87.1 million at the end of 2004. Working capital at the quarter end was $45.6 million compared to working capital of $85.6 million at the end of December 2004. The decrease in working capital is mainly due to supply purchases and transportation costs for Kupol development totaling $24.6 million in the quarter. Also contributing to the decrease was $9.2 million in capitalized Refugio construction costs, as well as $4.2 million in Refugio start-up costs that were expensed.
Subsequent to the quarter end, Bema increased the Kupol bridge loan facility with Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG ("HVB") from $60 million to $100 million. As of March 31, 2005, $50 million of this facility had been utilized.
Julietta Mine, Russia (Bema 79%)
During the quarter, Julietta processed 40,307 tonnes of ore at an average grade of 14.67 grams per tonne, producing 16,300 ounces of gold at an operating cash cost of $270 per ounce and a total cash cost of $323 per ounce. Julietta had a mine operating loss of $1.6 million for the period, but generated cash from operations of approximately $700,000. The high operating costs during the quarter were a result of lower than budgeted gold and silver grades being processed, higher fuel charges and mine equipment availability being low, causing delays in backfilling and subsequently stope availability.
Higher grade ore is being mined in the second quarter and in order to improve productivity and equipment availability, additional supervision has been added to the underground and maintenance departments. Furthermore, additional underground equipment ordered in the fourth quarter of 2004 has been received and is now operating. As a result, Julietta has exceeded budget thus far in the second quarter.
For the same period last year, Julietta milled 37,171 tonnes of ore at an average grade of 19.5 grams per tonne gold, producing 20,314 ounces of gold at an operating cash cost of $184 per ounce and a total cash cost of $224 per ounce.
Exploration continues at Julietta where a total of approximately 24,000 metres in 179 surface and underground holes have been completed thus far, this year. Significant near surface results in V-5 vein has resulted in some adjustment in the mine plan to mine near surface material. Drill results from a 75 metre long zone in the V-5 vein contained up to 48.3 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 245 g/t silver over 5.95 metres (hole 1141), 40.3 g/t gold and 568 g/t silver over 3.85 metres (hole 1172), and 32.5 g/t gold and 547.3 g/t silver over 4.6 metres (hole 1176). At 60 meters below surface in the same zone, hole 1149 contained 56.4 g/t gold and 103 g/t silver over 4.4 metres. Julietta's mining department is currently reviewing these results to evaluate scheduling of production from this zone.
Petrex Mines, South Africa (Bema 100%)
Petrex produced 39,043 ounces of gold during the quarter at a total cash cost of $379 per ounce(1) from 508,170 tonnes of ore milled at an average grade of 2.39 grams per tonne. Petrex reported a mine operating loss of $3.1 million which was off-set by a gain of $3.2 million from the exercise of rand denominated put options during the period. Total ounces produced were on budget during the quarter, however, operating costs were 10% over budget as the Petrex mines processed more tonnes of lower grade surface ore than planned to supplement shortfalls of higher grade ore from underground operations. Another factor contributing to the higher operating costs compared to budget was that the average exchange rate of 5.97 rand to the dollar for the first quarter of 2005 which was approximately 4% stronger than the Company's budget assumption of 6.2 rand to the dollar.
During the quarter, the principal underground mining contractor was replaced, which affected underground production to some degree. Final changes to the management and operation of all of the shafts were implemented by the end of March.
Bema has entered into discussions with a number of South African companies regarding possible joint ventures or business combinations in an attempt to create a more favorable economic production scenario at Petrex.
During the first quarter of 2004, Petrex produced 32,183 ounces of gold at a total cash cost of $384 per ounce(2) from 466,435 tonnes of ore milled at an average grade of 2.3 grams per tonne.
(1) Total cash costs per ounces are adjusted to reflect a cash gain of $82 per ounce gold from the exercise of South African rand denominated gold put options in the first quarter of 2005.
(2) Total cash costs per ounces are adjusted to reflect a cash gain of $40 per ounce gold from the exercise of South African rand denominated gold put options in the first quarter of 2004.
Refugio Mine, Chile (Bema 50%)
The Refugio mine is in the early stages of commissioning and is expected to reach full production by the third quarter. Bema's share of estimated production for the remainder of the year is projected at approximately 50,000 ounces of gold. Total cash operating costs are projected at $298 per ounce in 2005, slightly higher than the life of mine projections of $250 per ounce, due to the ramp up period.(i) The total capital cost of the expansion was reviewed in late March and now stands at $100 million plus a $34 million lease for the new mining fleet (Bema's share is 50%). The mine plan at Refugio is being updated and is expected to be completed by mid year.
(i) These projections have been estimated by Bema
Kupol Deposit, Russia (Bema 75%)
Bema is pleased to announce that exploration drilling has commenced at the Kupol project using two drill rigs. The first rig is focused on condemnation drilling, while the second has started exploration drilling in the North zone. The remaining four drills will commence when sufficient water flow has started in the creeks, which is expected before the end of May. The 2005 program will consist of 45,000 metres of drilling, with the main focus being the follow up of discoveries made late in the 2004 program, specifically deep drilling in the North zone and the offset vein target in the South zone (for details please refer to press release dated September 23, 2004). The deposit remains open to the north and south and numerous other parallel structures remain largely unexplored.
The feasibility study for Kupol is progressing on schedule and is expected to be completed by the end of May 2005. The 2005 development program has commenced consisting of road construction and site earth works. Development activities in the quarter included the completion of an explosive storage area, site roads and commencement of road construction to the airstrip.
Cerro Casale, Chile (Bema 24%)
In September 2004, Placer Dome issued a certificate (Certificate B) under the Shareholders' Agreement indicating that it has commenced, or is continuing to use reasonable commercial efforts to arrange financing for the Cerro Casale project on commercially reasonable and customary terms in accordance with the financing requirements of the Shareholders' Agreement. Subject to the terms of the Shareholders' Agreement, Placer Dome has until the end of 2005 to arrange such financing. Placer Dome is currently updating the feasibility study for Cerro Casale and is advancing discussions on key commercial contracts and long-term marketing off-take arrangements. If Placer Dome elects not to proceed with the project and it is still deemed financeable under the terms of the Shareholders' Agreement, Placer Dome is required to relinquish its interest in Cerro Casale. The Cerro Casale project is located in Chile and is a joint venture between Placer Dome (51%), Bema (24%) and Arizona Star Resource Corp. (25%).
Bid for Arizona Star
Subsequent to the end of the first quarter, Bema decided not to proceed with a proposed offer to purchase shares of Arizona Star Resource Corp., previously announced on December 20, 2004. In addition, the Company has elected not to renew its management contract with Arizona Star and Roger Richer, Bema's last representative on the Arizona Star Board of Directors, has resigned. Bema reached these decisions due to current market conditions and the Company's desire to focus on its priority growth projects, the Kupol project and the Refugio mine.
