Good
morning!
Please
find enclosed a news release issued this morning. If you have any questions or
require further information, please do not hesitate to call.
Best
regards,
Sophia Shane
Ph.
604-689-7842
NEWS RELEASE
LUNDIN MINING PLANS TO QUADRUPLE ITS ZINC PRODUCTION AT
NEVES-CORVO
AND COMMENCE COPPER PRODUCTION AT ZINKGRUVAN
October 5, 2007
(TSX: LUN; OMX: LUMI; NYSE: LMC) Lundin Mining Corporation (“Lundin
Mining” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the
Company’s Board of Directors has approved major expansion programmes at
the Neves-Corvo copper-zinc mine in southern Portugal and at the Zinkgruvan
mine, in central Sweden.
·
Production of zinc
in concentrate from the recently discovered Lombador massive sulphide zone at the
Neves-Corvo mine is scheduled to start in 2011 following a feasibility study to
be completed in the second half of 2008. This is expected to increase zinc ore
production at Neves Corvo from 400,000 tpa to 2,400,000 tpa, significantly
increasing the Company’s overall annual zinc and lead production.
·
At Zinkgruvan, ore
production is planned to increase by 33% to 1.2 million tonnes per annum by
2010 with the commencement of copper concentrate production. These projects are
consistent with the Company’s growth strategy and its aim of maximizing
long term shareholder value and reducing operating cash costs.
Lombador Zinc Expansion
The project plans for a production
start-up of zinc-rich massive sulphides in early 2001, from the significant
resources identified in the Lombador zone at Neves-Corvo in early 2011. At
full capacity the annual production from the Lombador zone is anticipated to be
130,000 tonnes of contained zinc, 20,000 tonnes of contained lead and 300,000
ounces of contained silver. Production will be maintained over a
period of at least ten years.
Management at Somincor will begin a
feasibility study of the Lombador project during the fourth quarter of 2007.
The feasibility study, which is expected to be completed during the fourth
quarter 2008, will determine the optimal position for the new vertical shaft
and the engineering design for the processing plant and associated
infrastructures. In the meantime, the drilling programme will be ongoing to
upgrade resources to reserves.
Total capital expenditure for the project is estimated
to be US$250 million, of which approximately $180 million is required to
achieve the first zinc production from Lombador. The investment will be
financed through internally generated cash-flow.
In 2007, the Neves-Corvo mine is forecast to produce
approximately 87,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate, 25,000 tonnes of zinc in
concentrate and 850,000 ounces of silver in concentrate. The Lombador project
will add significantly to the present production rate of zinc in concentrate
from the mine, making it not only Europe’s
largest copper mine but also its largest zinc mine.
Zinkgruvan
Expansion
The Zinkgruvan Expansion Programme
includes a significant increase in ore production from the current level of
900,000 tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes per annum, with the first production of
copper in concentrate planned for 2010. At full capacity, the annual copper
production will be approximately 7,200 tonnes in concentrate and run for at
least 12 years.
The current Zinkgruvan copper indicated resources
(December 31, 2006) of 2.8 million tonnes will be upgraded to reserves by
definition drilling. The construction phase of the project includes a
ramp from surface to the 350 m level, a dedicated underground ore bin and
crusher infrastructure system for copper ore and a copper processing line in
the mill. Project preparation activities are not expected to affect current
production rates. The capital expenditure for the project is US$37 million of which
approximately $22 million is required to achieve first copper production. The
project will be financed through internally generated cash-flow.
In 2007, the Zinkgruvan mine will produce
approximately 70,000 tonnes of zinc in concentrate, 35,000 tonnes of lead in
concentrate and 1.8 million ounces of silver in concentrate.
The investment at the Zinkgruvan mine will also
increase the flexibility of the current operations as the ramp will also
access future lead-zinc orebodies in the western zone of the mine.
Karl-Axel Waplan, CEO and President of Lundin Mining, commented, “The expansion programmes in two of our prime assets, the
Neves-Corvo and Zinkgruvan mines, clearly demonstrate the Company’s great
potential for organic growth. Once these projects have been completed, together
with the Aljustrel production from the end of this year and the start-up of the
Ozernoe mine development project in 2011, our production of zinc in concentrate
will more than double from the current level of 155,000 tonnes per annum.
Furthermore, the commencement of copper production in Zinkgruvan demonstrates
that the mine, despite its already long period of production, will continue to
contribute to cash flow for a long period of time. The Company’s copper
production will also dramatically increase with the start-up of the Tenke
Fungurume project in the fourth quarter 2008/early 2009.”
About Lundin Mining
Lundin Mining is a rapidly
growing mining and exploration company engaged internationally in the
extraction, development, acquisition and discovery of base metal deposits. The
company currently owns five operating mines, extracting copper, zinc, lead,
nickel and silver: Neves-Corvo in Portugal,
the Zinkgruvan and Storliden mines in Sweden,
the Galmoy mine in Ireland
and the recently acquired Aguablanca mine in Spain. A further mine, the
Aljustrel mine in Portugal,
is under development and will be brought into production in the fourth quarter
2007. In addition, Lundin Mining holds an extensive exploration portfolio,
including interests in international ventures and development projects such as
the world class Tenke Fungurume copper/cobalt project in the Democratic
Republic of Congo, which is currently under construction and the Ozernoe zinc project under detailed
feasibility study in Russia.
For
further information, please contact:
Karl-Axel Waplan, CEO
and President: +46-70-510 4239
Catarina Ihre,
Manager, Investor Relations: +46-70-607-9263
Sophia Shane, Investor
Relations, North America: 1-604-689-7842
Certain of the statements made and
information contained herein is “forward-looking information”
within the meaning of the Ontario Securities Act or “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 of the United
States. Forward-looking statements are
subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events
or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements,
including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to foreign
currency fluctuations; risks inherent in mining including environmental
hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological formations,
ground control problems and flooding; risks associated with the estimation of
mineral resources and reserves and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral
deposits; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining
results will not be consistent with the companies’ expectations; the
potential for and effects of labour disputes or other unanticipated
difficulties with or shortages of labour or interruptions in production; actual
ore mined varying from estimates of grade, tonnage, dilution and metallurgical
and other characteristics; the inherent uncertainty of production and cost
estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price
fluctuations; uncertain political and economic environments; changes in laws or
policies, foreign taxation, delays or the inability to obtain necessary
governmental permits; and other risks and uncertainties, including those
described under Risk Factors Relating to the Company’s Business in the
Company’s Annual Information Form and in each management discussion and
analysis. Forward-looking information is in addition based on various assumptions
including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, the
assumed long term price of copper and zinc; that the companies can access
financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour and that the political
environment where the Companies operate will continue to support the
development and operation of mining projects. Should one or more of these risks
and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in
forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements.