|
October 18, 2007
|
|
North American palladium Reports Continued Improvement in Production Results
for the Third Quarter 2007 Highlights for the Quarter
- palladium production in the third quarter was 69,283 oz, an increase of 15.9% over Q3 last year, at an average mill feed grade of 2.24 g/t compared to last year's Q3 production of 59,756 oz at a grade of 2.20 g/t. Year-to-date palladium production has increased 30.9% versus a year ago.
- By-product metal production in the third quarter increased to 5,946 oz of platinum, 5,125 oz of gold, 734,144 lbs of nickel and 1,411,770 lbs of copper, all increases versus last year ranging from 6.0% to 18.8%.
- In total, 1,308,007 tonnes of ore were processed during the quarter for an average of 14,217 tonnes per day at a palladium recovery rate of 73.8%, compared to 1,164,029 tonnes for an average of 12,652 per day at a recovery rate of 72.7% processed in the same quarter last year.
- Spot palladium prices in the third quarter averaged US $349 per oz compared to US $324 per oz for the same period in 2006.
Results of Operations
|
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 18, 2007) - In the third quarter of 2007, the Company's (TSX:PDL)(AMEX:PAL) Lac des Iles mine produced 69,283 oz of palladium compared to 59,756 oz produced in the third quarter of 2006 and 66,651 oz in the second quarter of this year. This marks the seventh consecutive quarter of improved production year-over-year reflecting higher recoveries, increased grade and increased tonnage. The average palladium mill feed grade improved slightly to 2.24 g/t compared to 2.20 g/t palladium in the third quarter of last year.
By-product metal production posted similar gains during the quarter with the following year-over-year percentage increases - platinum: +6.0%; gold: +18.8%; nickel: +18.2%; and copper +11.9%.
Mr. Jim Excell, President and CEO said "We are pleased with our continued operational advancements and the increase in tonnage being processed at our Lac des Iles mine. We anticipate that our total palladium production for 2007 will be approximately 285,000 ounces, which reflects a slight reduction of 2% from our previous forecast."
In total 1,308,007 tonnes of ore were processed during the quarter for an average of 14,217 tonnes per day at a palladium recovery rate of 73.8%. This compares to 1,164,029 tonnes or 12,652 tonnes per day at a recovery of 72.7% in the same period last year and 1,244,067 tonnes or 13,671 tonnes per day at a recovery of 73.5% in the second quarter of this year.
Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 saw a 30.9% increase in palladium production over the comparable period last year to 214,739 oz while the average recovery rate for the same period has climbed to 74.7% compared to 72.8% over the same period in 2006. By-product metal production for the nine months increased for all commodities, as highlighted in the table below.
----------------------------------------------------------
2007 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
palladium Q3 9 Mos Q3 9 Mos
----------------------------------------------------------
Ore Milled (tpd) 14,217 14,068 12,652 12,422
----------------------------------------------------------
Head Grade (%) 2.24 2.33 2.20 2.07
----------------------------------------------------------
Recovery (%) 73.8 74.7 72.7 72.8
----------------------------------------------------------
Production (oz) 69,283 214,739 59,756 164,097
----------------------------------------------------------
By-Product Metals
----------------------------------------------------------
Platinum (oz) 5,946 18,713 5,612 15,796
----------------------------------------------------------
Gold (oz) 5,125 14,756 4,313 12,128
----------------------------------------------------------
Nickel (lbs) 734,144 2,262,625 621,287 1,856,600
----------------------------------------------------------
Copper (lbs) 1,411,770 4,092,367 1,261,765 3,734,137
----------------------------------------------------------Spot palladium prices in the third quarter averaged US $349 per oz compared to US $324 per oz for the same period in 2006. palladium's recent increase in price from a low in the summer of 2007 of $320 per oz to the current $371 per oz reflects the strong and rising demand for the commodity that we have seen throughout 2007. North American palladium continues to pursue a non-hedging policy for its primary metal, palladium, as well as for all of its by-product metals.
North American palladium is Canada's foremost primary producer of palladium. The Company's core palladium business at the Lac des Iles mine is strengthened by a significant contribution from nickel, platinum, gold and copper by-product metals. The Company continues to pursue three development projects: the Offset High Grade Zone at its Lac des Iles mine, the Shebandowan Project, located approximately 100 kilometers from the mine, and the Arctic Platinum Project in Finland.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
Certain information included in this press release, including information as to future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. The words 'expect', 'believe', 'will', 'intend', 'estimate' and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These statements are based on certain factors and assumptions, including but not limited to, the assumption that market fundamentals will result in strong demand and prices for palladium and by-product metals; the integrated operation of the company's underground mine and the open pit mine remain viable operationally and economically; financing will be available on reasonable terms; blended mill feed head grade and mill performance will proceed as expected; mine plan scenarios will be viable; and exploration and development work will proceed as expected. The company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results or performance of North American palladium to be materially different from estimated results or performance expressed or implied and that the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: metal price volatility; economic and political events affecting metal supply and demand; changes in the regulatory environment; fluctuations in ore grade or tonnes milled; geological, technical, mining or processing problems; future production; changes in the life-of-mine plan; availability and costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of exploration and development; and other risks associated with the mining business. These factors are discussed in greater detail in the company's most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities. The company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
|
|