AGNICO-EAGLE PROVIDES
THIRD QUARTER OPERATING UPDATE;
ANNOUNCES EXPANDED
ASSESSMENT, MONITORING AND REMEDIATION
PROGRAM AT GOLDEX
Toronto, ON - October 11, 2011 -
Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited (Stock Symbol: AEM (NYSE, TSX))
("Agnico-Eagle" or the �Company�) is providing a quarter over quarter operating update
in advance of the mailing of the bid circular relating to the proposed
acquisition of Grayd Resource Corporation (�Grayd�). It is anticipated
that the circular will be mailed to Grayd shareholders on October 13, 2011.
Third quarter 2011 payable gold
production1 totaled 265,978 ounces, an increase of approximately 11%
over the second quarter 2011 level of 239,328 ounces. The higher level of
production is largely due to improved performance at Kittila and
Meadowbank. Cost data will be announced with the complete third quarter
financial results on October 26, 2011. Further improvements in gold
production and operating performance are anticipated in the fourth quarter of
2011.
For the first nine months of 2011, the
Company produced a record 757,668 ounces of gold. This compares with the
previous nine month record set in the first nine months of 2010 when gold
production was 731,138 ounces. The higher gold production in 2011 is
mainly due to higher mill throughput at Meadowbank, Pinos Altos, Kittila and
Lapa.
Goldex Mine � Program Underway for
Assessment, Monitoring and Remediation of Water Inflow and Subsidence Issue
The Goldex mill processed an average of
8,222 tonnes per day(�tpd�) in the third quarter of 2011 as compared with 8,448
tpd in the second quarter of 2011. The mine and mill continue to run at
capacity.
Gold production in the third quarter of
2011 was 40,224 ounces. This compares with the second quarter of 2011
when the payable gold production was 41,998 ounces. The decrease was
largely due to the slightly lower throughput combined with slightly lower
grades.
As previously announced, the grouting of
a weaker, fractured, volcanic rock unit in the eastern end of the hangingwall
of the deposit is underway. The purpose of the grouting
program is to reduce the water inflow to the underground mine. This water
flow has caused ground settlement issues at the minesite as previously
saturated soils are draining into the mine and lowering the water table.
To date, movement has been observed in the mill building and in the
headframe. However, water flow rates have been controlled as remediation
continues. The mine and processing facility continue to operate normally while
remediation efforts are expanded.
While
the Company�s underground instrumentation shows that the volcanic rock mass
above the Goldex orebody is stable, the Company has received an opinion from a
rock mechanics consultant that suggests that water inflow has negatively
impacted the integrity of the rock mass. As a result, the Company is
undertaking further assessment of the stability of the rock mass and is
increasing its efforts to decrease water inflow and the potential negative
effects of the water on the rock mass. The Company's expanded grouting
and monitoring program includes:
- Drilling from surface to investigate the area around
the eastern end of the deposit for water flow and possible rock subsidence
- Drilling from underground into the volcanic rock unit
to determine whether additional fracturing and movement in the rock mass
has occurred
- Grouting with six larger drills. Targeting the
rock between 80 metres and 100 metres below surface over an area at the
eastern end of the deposit to stop or reduce the water inflow
- Installing additional instrumentation to monitor for
any soil and rock movements
- Installing additional excess pumping capacity to ensure
that increased water flows can be dealt with, should the need arise
The
program will be reassessed on a three month basis to determine whether
additional remediation work or changes in the mining plan are warranted.
The
initial budget for remediation of this subsidence issue was C$20 million
through 2011. As a result of the expanded program, the Company
anticipates that 2011 expenditure will total approximately C$25 million.
It
is currently anticipated that the additional capital for monitoring and
remediation will be approximately C$20 million in 2012.
LaRonde Mine � First Ore from Extension Expected by Year End
The
LaRonde mill processed an average of 6,590 tpd in the third quarter of 2011,
essentially unchanged from the average of 6,587 tpd in the second quarter of
2011.
While
the mine�s supply contract for cyanide remains under force majeure, alternative
suppliers have been contracted and the mine is no longer affected.
Payable
gold production in the third quarter of 2011 was 29,069 ounces, up from the
second quarter of 2011 when the payable gold production was 27,525 ounces,
largely as a result of slightly higher grades.
Kittila Mine � Cost Reduction Underway
The
Kittila mill processed an average of 3,144 tpd in the third quarter of 2011
(3000 tpd design rate) as compared to 2,561 tpd in the second quarter of
2011. The mill throughput was below design rate in the second
quarter of 2011 largely due to two maintenance shutdowns for work on the
autoclave.
Third
quarter 2011 gold production at Kittila was 37,924 ounces, up from 30,811
ounces in the second quarter of 2011. The higher gold production
was largely the result of higher throughput in the third quarter. Gold
recoveries in the third quarter of 2011 were 83.5%, essentially at the design
rate of 83%.
Now
that the mine is operating at steady state, the focus going forward will be on
reducing the minesite costs. As previously announced in July 2011,
changes in the mining operation and some specific measures that are expected to
contribute to lower costs going forward include:
- mill efficiencies and increased throughput
o average mill throughput increased approximately 23% in the third
quarter as compared with the second quarter 2011
- continue transition to self-mining
o all major contractors will have completed their work by October 31,
2011
Lapa � Record Quarterly Throughput
The
Lapa circuit at the LaRonde mill processed an average of 1,867 tpd in the third
quarter of 2011 as compared with an average of 1,763 tpd, the previous
quarterly record, in the second quarter of 2011. Lapa continues to exceed
its design throughput of 1,500 tpd.
Payable
production in the third quarter of 2011 was 27,881 ounces, as compared with the
second quarter of 2011 at 28,552 ounces of gold. The slight decrease in
gold production was largely due to lower grades, partly offset by the increase
in mill throughput.
Pinos Altos � Record Quarterly Mill Throughput Combined with
Output from Creston Mascota Leads to Record Gold Production
The
Pinos Altos mill processed an average of 4,959 tpd in the third quarter
of 2011, as compared with 4,711 tpd in the second quarter of 2011. The
mill is now routinely performing at process rates above the initial design
capacity of 4,000 tpd.
Payable
production in the third quarter of 2011 was 52,739 ounces, as compared with
second quarter of 2011 at 51,066 ounces of gold, both including the satellite
Creston Mascota operation. The higher gold production was largely due to
the ramp up of Creston Mascota.
Meadowbank � Record Quarterly Throughput While Pit Optimization
is Ongoing
The
Meadowbank mill processed an average of 9,414 tpd in the third quarter of
2011. This compares with an average of 7,332 tpd in the second quarter of
2011 (which was affected by the March 2011 fire that reduced operations through
April 2011). Since the June 2011 installation of the permanent secondary
crusher, the mill has routinely exceeded the design rate of 8,500 tpd.
Payable
production in the third quarter of 2011 was 78,141 ounces of gold. This
compares with the second quarter 2011 production of 59,376 ounces of
gold. The increase in gold production is primarily due to the increased
mill throughput.
Changes
to the blasting techniques used at Meadowbank have reduced the dilution
experienced at the mine (as discussed in the second quarter 2011 earnings news
release). Significant improvement in blast displacement has been
observed. As a result, actual grades are closer to what was expected in
the mine plan. Further refinement of blasting procedures and
reconciliation is ongoing.
Minesite
costs per tonne2 are expected to decline in the second half of 2011
as throughput has improved significantly and further success is expected to be
achieved in controlling ore dilution.
Dividend Record and Payment Dates for the Remainder of 2011
Record Date
|
Payment Date
|
December 1
|
December 15
|
Dividend Reinvestment Program
Please
follow the link below for information on the Company�s dividend reinvestment
program.
DividendReinvestmentPlan
About Agnico-Eagle
Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited is
a long established, Canadian headquartered, gold producer with operations
located in Canada, Finland and Mexico, and exploration and development
activities in Canada, Finland, Mexico and the United States. The Company
has full exposure to higher gold prices consistent with its policy of no
forward gold sales and maintains a corporate strategy based on increasing
shareholder�s exposure to gold, on a per share basis. It has paid a cash
dividend for 29 consecutive years. www.agnico-eagle.com
Note Regarding Certain Measures of Performance
This
press release presents measures including "total cash costs per
ounce" and "minesite costs per tonne" that are not recognized
measures under US GAAP. This data may not be comparable to data presented by
other gold producers. The Company believes that these generally accepted
industry measures are realistic indicators of operating performance and useful
for year-over-year comparisons. However, both of these non-GAAP measures should
be considered together with other data prepared in accordance with US GAAP,
these measures, taken by themselves, are not necessarily indicative of
operating costs or cash flow measures prepared in accordance with US GAAP. A
reconciliation of the Company's total cash cost per ounce and minesite cost per
tonne to the most comparable financial measures calculated and presented in
accordance with US GAAP for the Company's historical results of operations is
set out in Note 1 to the financial statements of the Company included in the
Company's second quarter earnings release issued on July 27, 2011 and in the
Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F (the "Form 20-F") for the year
ended December 31, 2010 (filed with both the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the �SEC�) and Canadian securities regulators and available
on both www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com).
Scientific and Technical Data
Additional
information about each of the mineral projects that is required by the Canadian
Securities Administrator� National Instrument 43-101 (�NI 43-101�), sections
3.2 and 3.3 and paragraphs 3.4 (a), (c) and (d) can be found in the Technical
Reports referred to below, which may be found at www.sedar.com.
Other important operating information can be found in the Company�s Form 20-F
and its news releases dated December 15, 2010, February 16, 2011, April 28,
2011 and July 27, 2011.
Property/Project
name and location
|
Qualified
Person responsible for the current Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimate
and� relationship to Agnico-Eagle
|
Qualified
Person responsible for Exploration and�
relationship to Agnico-Eagle
|
Date of
most recent Technical Report (NI 43-101) filed on SEDAR
|
LaRonde, Bousquet & Ellison, Quebec, Canada
|
Fran�ois Blanchet Ing., LaRonde Division
Superintendent of geology
|
Fran�ois Blanchet Ing., LaRonde Division
Superintendent of geology
|
March 23, 2005
|
Kittila, Kuotko and
Kylmakangas, Finland
|
Daniel Doucet, Ing., Corporate Director of Geology
|
Marc Legault P.Eng., VP Project Development
|
March 4, 2010
|
Pinos Altos, Chihuahua, Mexico.�
Swanson, Quebec, Canada
|
Dyane Duquette, P.Geo.,
Superintendent of geology, Technical Services Group
|
Mine site: Dyane Duquette, P.Geo.; Regional: Roger Doucet, P.Geo., Exploration manager for
Mexico
|
March 25, 2009
|
Meadowbank, Nunavut, Canada
|
Bruno Perron P.Eng.,
Meadowbank Superintendent of geology
|
Mine site: Bruno Perron P.Eng., Meadowbank Division Superintendent of geology; Regional:
Guy Gosselin Ing., VP Exploration
|
December 15, 2008
|
Goldex, Quebec, Canada
|
Richard Genest, Ing., Goldex Division
Superintendent of geology
|
Richard Genest, Ing., Goldex Division
Superintendent of geology
|
October 27, 2005
|
Lapa, Quebec, Canada
|
Normand B�dard, P.Geo., Lapa Division
Superintendent of geology
|
Normand B�dard, P.Geo., Lapa Division
Superintendent of geology
|
June 8, 2006
|
Meliadine, Nunavut, Canada
|
Dyane Duquette, P.Geo.,
Superintendent of geology, Technical Services Group
|
Denis Vaillancourt, P.Geo., Exploration manager
for eastern Canada
|
March 8, 2011
|
The
contents of this press release have been prepared under the supervision of, and
reviewed by, Marc Legault P.Eng., Vice-President Project Development and a
�Qualified Person� for the purposes of NI 43-101.