QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT
FOR THE THIRD QUARTER ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
HIGHLIGHTS
Kipoi SXEW plant achieves nameplate production levels in 11 weeks
Kipoi SXEW plant officially opened by the DRC Minister of Mines on
11 October
SXEW plant achieves nameplate annual capacity in September
5,620 tonnes of copper cathode produced for the quarter
2014 production guidance maintained at 14,000 tonnes of copper cathode
Corporate
Agreement reached with Gecamines for Tiger to acquire its 40% interest in the Kipoi project for US$111m on August 28. Tiger completed the acquisition post quarter end on 17 October
US$50m in bridging finance provided by Taurus Mining Finance Fund
and A$73.4m equity raising completed to fund the acquisition of
Gecamines interest in Kipoi
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KIPOI SXEW OPERATION
Kipoi SXEW
First copper cathode was produced on 25 May 2014 after completing construction of the solvent extraction electro-winning (SXEW) plant at Kipoi. The annual nameplate production rate of 25,000 tonnes of copper cathode was reached and sustained for the month of September. For the quarter, the SXEW plant produced 5,620 tonnes of copper cathode.
The SXEW plant was officially opened on 11 October by the DRC Minister of Mines, with the Deputy
Governor of Katanga Province and the Australian Ambassador to the DRC in attendance.
The strong performance in September quarter is very encouraging and with the operation to benefit from higher grades in the coming months, coupled with operational stability and optimisation, Tiger is comfortable reaffirming 2014 production guidance of 14,000 tonnes cathode.
Figure 1: Weekly cathode production at Kipoi
Tonnes Ca thode
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 Week 17 Week 18
Weekly Production Namepla te Cathode
Table A: SXEW plant production and sales summary
KIPOI SXEW PLANT PRODUCTION AND SALES SUMMARY FOR THE THIRD QUARTER ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
Q2 2014
|
Q3 2014
|
YTD 2014
|
PRODUCTION
|
Ore Stacked
|
tonnes
|
143,618
|
262,023
|
405,641
|
Head grade
|
%
|
2.66%
|
2.31%
|
2.44%
|
Copper stacked
|
tonnes
|
3,816
|
6,097
|
9,913
|
Copper-in-circuit
|
tonnes
|
3,760
|
4,231
|
4,231
|
Copper produced
|
tonnes
|
1,499
|
5,620
|
7,119
|
CATHODE SALES
|
Copper cathode sold
|
tonnes
|
212
|
5,225
|
5,437
|
Revenue
|
$'000
|
1,4901
|
35,630
|
37,120
|
Realised price
|
$/t
|
7,016
|
6,820
|
6,827
|
CATHODE STOCKPILE
|
Copper cathode
|
tonnes
|
1,287
|
1,681
|
1,681
|
Notes:
|
1. Revenue received in the second quarter of 2014 was capitalised as a credit to pre-production costs.
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Production
Stacked ore grades for the quarter averaged 2.31% copper. This reflects the lower average grade of the
HMS floats material initially sourced and stacked on the heap leach early in the quarter. Over the first
12 months of SXEW operation the stacked grades are expected to average 3%, being the average reserve grade of the HMS floats stockpile scheduled as ore feed to the SXEW heap leach operations.
Figure 2: Copper grade stacked on pad 1
Recovery performance of the 2 heaps has been within expectations despite the ore stacked onto pad 1 being only 50% agglomerated, whilst pad 2 was 100% agglomerated.
The recovery is as expected after 120 days, after proving the heap leach will operate effectively it was shutdown from January to March thus the 210 days of heap leaching no irrigation was occurring for 90 days thus effectively 120 days for 84% recovery trending to 90% recovery over 140 days, reflecting the DFS recovery performance.
Cathode sales
Sales for the quarter were 5,225 tonnes of copper cathode at a realised price of $6,820/tonne, for gross revenue of $35.6 million.
The copper cathode stockpile of 1,681 tonnes was abnormally high due to a large volume of copper cathodes loaded onto transporters pending export from the DRC at the end of the quarter. In line with the company's revenue recognition policy, revenue on cathode sales is recognised upon crossing of the
material over the DRC border.
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Operating costs
Table B: SXEW Cost Summary
Mining $/lb ROM inventory adjustment $/lb Processing $/lb Site administration $/lb Total site based costs $/lb
Transport & export clearing $/lb
C1 cash costs $/lb
The C1 costs for copper cathode produced during the quarter of US$1.56/lb, includes a non-cash mining cost of $0.34/lb.
The Company is treating stockpiled ore from the HMS operation and as such the operation does not incur any material cash mining costs. Mining operations will not be resumed until late 2016.
At 30 September Tiger had capitalised $30.0 million of stockpiles on its balance sheet, comprising the high-grade ROM, HMS floats, medium-grade ROM and low-grade ROM. In accordance with IFRS accounting standards, as the materials are treated these values will be unwound for accounting purposes as mining inventory adjustments on a weighted average cost basis and included in reported cash costs. This component of reported cash cost has no impact on cashflow.
Processing costs will contribute the majority of the Kipoi cost base over the non-mining period. During the quarter, 100% of the power was sourced from diesel generation, with power costs accounting for $0.44/lb of the C1 unit costs in the quarter. Tiger elected to commission and ramp the SXEW plant up to nameplate design on 100% diesel power due to the higher reliability and quality of power supply that this offers.
Tiger has put in place a number of initiatives and agreements to be able to reach the DFS targeted power supply mix of 90% grid and 10% diesel. The current 5MVa transformer that links Kipoi to the national grid, has capacity to draw 3.8MW which represents ~33% of Kipoi's power requirements for the 25,000 tonne per annum cathode copper operation.
Tiger has commenced upgrading the power infrastructure to install two 30MVa transformers, with the first unit ordered and expected to be installed during the June quarter 2015. Once the first
30MVa transformer has been installed, Kipoi should be able to draw at least 90% of its power
requirements from the grid.
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The increased use of grid power and the transition to achieve the long term power supply targets of 90% grid and 10% diesel, will be a major factor in driving down unit production costs.
Tiger's current allocation of 3MW of grid power will be increased to 12MW in Q4 2014 upon formal issuance of an energy saving certificate from Société Nationale d'Electricité (SNEL) confirming the energy efficiency initiatives supported by Tiger in the Kipoi region. These initiatives are expected to generate energy savings of at least 12MW of grid power that will be allocated and utilised at Kipoi to support the "step-up" to 90% grid power following the installation of the first 30MVa transformer in the June 2015 quarter.
Unit processing costs will also benefit in the short term from the processing of higher grade material averaging 3% copper and improved recoveries resulting from full agglomeration of ore stacked on subsequent lifts to the heap leach pads.
Transport and export clearing costs for the quarter were US$0.22/lb. Kipoi cathode is sold into the global copper market under a marketing agreement with Gerald Metals. Working with Gerald Metals, the Company has established an export logistics chain and will continue optimise the process to achieve additional efficiencies.
The significant increase in DRC copper production has created logistics infrastructure challenges in the country. However, Tiger's progression from concentrate to cathode production has resulted in significant cost savings due to the export of a high quality value-added product.
Kipoi SXEW expansion
Tiger is currently in the process of completing an updated study to increase SXEW capacity to
50,000 tonnes of copper cathode per annum. Tiger will only pursue this expansion once long term financing is in place.
Tiger believes that following the consolidation of the Kipoi JV, the Kipoi expansion to 50,000 tonnes per annum presents one of the lowest capital intensity expansion opportunities in the copper industry today. The expansion of a relatively high grade ore body utilising industry standard technology which essentially replicates the current installed SXEW infrastructure at Kipoi carries an execution risk significantly lower than competing projects in the copper sector.
Table C: Kipoi Central Stockpiles as at 30 September 2014
KIPOI CENTRAL STOCKPILES AVAILABLE AS FEED FOR SXEW AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2014
|
Stockpile Tonnes (MT) Cu Grade (%) Copper (000'T) Value1
|
HMS Floats 0.8 3.0% 25.8
HMS Slimes 1.2 3.6% 41.3
Copper-in-circuit2 - - 4.2
High-grade ROM 0.6 6.1% 34.9
Medium grade ROM 0.5 2.5% 13.9
Low grade ROM 2.4 1.1% 27.0
|
173m
278m
28m
235m
93m
182m
|
Total 5.5 2.7 147.1
|
989m
|
Notes:
1. The value of contained copper in stockpiles is calculated before copper recovery from the SXEW operation (life of mine average recovery of the SXEW operation is 82%) based on the LME copper price as at 30th September 2014 of $6,736/t.
2. Copper-in-circuit includes copper contained within the heap leach cells and the SXEW plant.
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KIPOI HMS
Closure of HMS plant
Tiger continued to treat high sulphur/silica-oxide ore (HSO) material through the HMS plant during the quarter. As highlighted in the June 2014 quarter, the HSO material has struggled to reach targeted copper to concentrate recovery rates, with approximately 20% of copper reporting to solution which is recovered by the SXEW. Whilst no copper is ultimately lost, this impacts the copper produced in concentrate, resulting in reduced profitability of the HMS plant.
With the successful ramp-up of the SXEW plant and the ability to produce a higher value copper cathode product from the HSO material in the SXEW process, Tiger has taken the decision to close the HMS plant. As a result, full year copper-in-concentrate production is expected to be 16,222 tonnes.
While the decision to close the HMS plant ahead of guidance is disappointing, it is important to consider this in the context of the earlier decision to extend the life of the HMS. During October 2013, a freshly mined HSO trial batch was processed with the results indicating the HMS plant could process HSO ore and achieve a 60% recovery to copper-in-concentrate. The results of this test work essentially provided an opportunity to increase near term cash flow by treating the HSO material through the HMS plant, extending the life of HMS by 12 months beyond the 3 year life envisaged by the HMS DFS at zero capital cost.
The HMS DFS allowed for only the treatment of high grade oxide material (malachite), which was mined out in 4Q 2013. The Company then began blending HSO material in the HMS plant. As the HMS began to receive batches of HSO feed in Q1 2014, recoveries dropped below 50%. The variance of realised recoveries to the earlier test work was caused by the oxidation of HSO material while on the stockpile, which resulted in an increase to the already inherent variability of the HSO material.
With the ramp-up of the SXEW complete the economics favour the treatment of HSO material through the SXEW route, where recoveries are expected to be at least 65%. Production of the higher value cathode product achieves cost savings in treatment and refining charges, transport and export clearing. Going forward, Tiger will include the HSO material in its heap leach planning to optimise the stacked ore feed. This is expected to extend the non-mining period at Kipoi.
Figure 3: HMS performance over life of project, strong consistent performance of project up to exhaustion of high grade oxide material in Q4 2013:
HMS
throughput
300
250
200
150
100
50
Cu
recovery/gra de
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0 0% Q112 Q212 Q312 Q412 Q113 Q213 Q313 Q413 Q114 Q214 Q314
Ore pro cessed Rec overy Head grade
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HMS production performance
Ore processed for the quarter was 172,171 at an average grade of 5.3%. As discussed above, the feed to the HMS plant was exclusivity HSO material which had a negative impact on recoveries. Copper-in- concentrate production for the quarter was 3,801 tonnes.
Table D: Production summary for second quarter ended 30 June 2014
609,060
5.6
46.3
77,359
16,222
17,655
23.4
Table E: HMS Sales and Costs Summary
HMS SALES
Revenue1 $'000
Realised price2 $/t of Cu Concentrate sold tonnes Contained copper sold tonnes Payable copper sold tonnes
HMS COSTS
Direct cash costs of production3 $'000
Deferred stripping4 $'000
ROM stockpile movement $'000
Cash cost of production $'000
Conc. export selling costs5 $'000
Royalties $'000
Conc. stockpile movement $'000
Total operating expenses $'000
Kipoi cash operating profit6 $'000
Kipoi unit cost7 $/lb
Notes:
1. Revenue is the gross invoice value of copper concentrate sold (inclusive of local sales concentrate grade premiums and/or pen alty charges), and includes prior period pricing adjustments.
2. Realised price is calculated by dividing revenue by the payable tonnes of copper sold.
3. Direct cash cost of production is the cost of product produced including mining, and administration costs, excluding amortisa tion and depreciation.
4. Deferred waste is charged to income to the extent that the pit waste:ore stripping ratio falls below the Stage 1 HMS LOM average waste:ore stripp ing ratio. On
1 July 2013 the Stage 1 HMS LOM waste:ore stripping ratio was revised to 0.57:1 (a reduction from the previous waste :ore stripping ratio of 6.9:1 due to the inclusion of medium and low grade material as ore). Mining was suspended in June 2014 on completion of the Stage 1 HMS pit wi th deferred waste fully amortised.
5. Concentrate export selling costs includes the treatment and refining charges, transport, insurance and export clearing costs.
6. Kipoi cash operating profit is calculated as revenue less direct cash costs of production, concentrate export selling costs a nd royalties.
7. Kipoi unit costs are calculated as cash cost of production divided by total copper produced (in lbs).
8. All revenues and costs reported in this quarterly report are unaudited
9. Unit cash costs reported in this table are calculated on the basis of total copper produced. For the HMS plant, the Company does not report C1 cash costs using
the Brook Hunt methodology which is based on payable copper produced, as this gives anomalous results when the mix of local a nd export sales varies.
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Concentrate sales
A total of 6,821 tonnes of concentrate was sold during the quarter for revenue of $8.9 million at an average realised copper price of $7,003/t. This represents contained copper content of 1,559 tonnes and a payable copper content of 1,274 tonnes.
Approximately 25% of concentrate was sold to local smelters within the DRC, and the remaining 75%
was exported.
Tiger has reached agreement with offtake partners to sell the concentrate stockpile of 17,655 tonnes to export markets and expects these sales to be completed over the December 2014 quarter.
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CORPORATE
Corporate
Consolidation of Kipoi JV
On 28 August 2014 Tiger announced it had entered into an agreement with Gécamines to acquire the remaining 40% shareholding in Société d'Exploitation de Kipoi SA ("SEK") that it does not already own, resulting in SEK becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tiger. SEK is the owner and operator of the Kipoi Copper Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo ("DRC"). The acquisition was completed on 17
October 2014.
The 40% interest was acquired together with all associated rights, other than a 2.5% gross turnover royalty payable by SEK which will be retained by Gécamines. Post completion of the transaction, Tiger intends to cede a 5% interest in SEK to the DRC Government to bring the mining title into alignment with the current mining law and regulations in the DRC.
The agreed purchase price of US$111 million has now been paid. Acquisition funding comprised a mix of debt and equity. During the quarter Tiger completed a A$73.4m equity raising, and executed a US$100m finance facility with Taurus Mining Finance Fund, of which $50m was drawn post quarter end to part fund the acquisition.
For the full details of the acquisition and funding, please refer to Tiger ASX Release dated 28 August
2014 and the accompanying presentation.
Financial
Cash on hand and deposit at 30 September 2014 was $71.0 million ($21.8 million at 30 June 2014). Trade receivables, copper cathode and copper concentrate inventory available for immediate delivery was
$34.3 million ($12.3 million at 30 June 2014).
For further information in respect of the Company's activities, please contact:
Brad Marwood Stephen Hills Nathan Ryan
Managing Director Finance Director Investor Relations
Tel: (+61 8) 6188 2000 Tel: (+61 8) 6188 2000 Tel: (+61 0) 420 582 887
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Company website: www.tigerresources.com.au
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Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements and Forward Looking Information: This announcement contains forward looking statements and forward looking information, which are based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events and results. Such forward- looking statements and forward looking information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the actual market prices of copper, the actual results of current exploration, the availability of debt and equity financing, the volatility in global financial markets, the actu al results of future mining, processing and development activities, receipt of regulatory approvals as and when required and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated.
Except as required by law or regulation (including the ASX Listing Rules), Tiger Resources undertakes no obligation to provide any additional or updated information whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Indications of, and guidance or outlook on, future earnings or financial position or performance are also forward looking statements.
Production Targets: All Production targets referred to in this Report are underpinned by estimated Ore Reserves which have been prepared by competent persons in accordance with the requirements of the JORC Code.
SXEW forecast financial information: Reference market release dated 21 January 2014.
Competent Person Statement: The information in this report that relates to the Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves were first reported by the
Company in compliance with JORC 2012 in market releases dated as follows: Kipoi Central Ore Reserves (Stage 1 HMS) - 3 April 2014;
Kipoi Central Ore Reserves (Stage 2 SXEW) - 15 January 2014;
Kipoi North and Kileba Ore Reserves (Stage 2 SXEW) - 3 April 2014; Kipoi Central Mineral Resource - 3 April 2014;
Kipoi North Mineral Resource - 3 April 2014; Kileba Mineral Resource - 3 April 2014;
Judeira Mineral Resource - 26 November 2013; and
Sase Central Mineral Resource - 12 July 2013.
The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the market announcements referred to above and further confirms that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the ore reserve and mineral resource estimates contained in those market releases continue to apply and have not materially changed.
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APPENDIX I: MINERAL RESOURCES AND ORE RESERVES SUMMARY
KIPOI COPPER PROJECT, KATANGA PROVINCE, SOUTH EAST DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (TIGER 60% AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2014)
Table F: Kipoi Mineral Resource
Kipoi Mineral Resource
Mining depleted to 31 December 2013
Kipoi Central grade tonnage reported above a cut off of 0.3% Copper
Kileba, Kipoi North and Judeira grade tonnage reported above a cut off of 0.5% Copper
Classification Deposit
Tonnes
(MT)
Cu Grade
(%)
Co Grade
(%)
Copper
(000'T)
Cobalt
(000'T)
Measured Kipoi Central 8.0 2.8 0.12 223 9.4
Indicated Kipoi Central 40.4 1.1 0.06 444 25.7
Indicated Kipoi North 4.0 1.3 0.05 53 1.8
Indicated Kileba 8.6 1.5 0.05 128 4.6
Total Measured & Indicated 61.0 1.4 0.07 848 41.5
Inferred Kipoi Central 2.9 0.8 0.07 23 2.1
Inferred Kipoi North 1.1 1.1 0.03 12 0.4
Inferred Kileba 2.2 1.2 0.04 27 0.9
Inferred Judeira 6.1 1.2 0.04 71 2
Total Inferred 12.3 1.1 0.04 133 5.4
Total 73.3 1.3 0.06 981 46.9
Table G: Kipoi Stage 1 Ore Reserve
Kipoi Central Stage 1 Ore Reserve
Mining depleted to 31 December 2013
Stage 1 HMS grade tonnage reported above a cut off of 3.25% Copper
Classification Deposit Tonnes
(MT)
Cu Grade
(%)
Copper
(000'T)
Proven Kipoi Central 0.60 6.3 37
Kipoi Central Stockpiles 0.58 6.0 34
Total Proven 1.17 6.1 71
The Company announced it has ceased production from the Stage 1 HMS operation at the end of September 2014. The Kipoi Centra l
Stage 1 ore reserves remaining as at 30 September 2014 will be processed through the SXEW plant.
Table H: Kipoi Stage 2 SXEW Ore Reserve
Kipoi Stage 2 SXEW Ore Reserves , January 2014
Kipoi Central grade tonnage reported above a cut off of 0.3% Copper
Kipoi North and Kileba grade tonnage reported above a cut off of 0.5% Copper
|
Classification Deposit
|
Tonnes
(MT)
|
Cu Grade
(%)
|
Copper
(000'T)
|
Proven Kipoi Central 2.0 2.4 48
Proven Kipoi Central Stockpiles 4.9 2.8 137
Total Proven 6.9 2.7 185
Probable Kipoi Central 28.6 1.2 354
Probable Kipoi North 1.4 1.8 25
Probable Kileba 5.9 1.7 102
Total Probable 35.9 1.3 481
Total 42.8 1.5 666
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LUPOTO COPPER PROJECT, KATANGA PROVINCE, SOUTH EAST DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (TIGER
100%)
Table I: SASE Central Mineral Resources
SASE Central Mineral Resources
July 2013
Grade tonnage reported above a cut off of 0.5% Copper
Classification
Tonnes
(MT)
Cu Grade
(%)
Co Grade
(%)
Copper
(000'T)
Cobalt
(000'T)
Indicated 9.6 1.39 0.05 134.0 5.0
Inferred 2.8 1.21 0.03 34.0 1.0
Table J: Mineral tenements held at 30 September 2014
Comment Country Tenement Reference Comment
Kipoi Copper Project DRC PE-533 and PE's-11383-11387 60% of all mineral rights Lupoto DRC PR-2214 100% of all mineral rights La Patience DRC PR-10715 100% of all mineral rights
There have been no changes to the Company's mineral interests during the quarter ended 30 September 2014 and none
of the mineral interests is the subject of any farm-in or farm-out arrangements. On 17 October 2014 the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the Kipoi Copper Project.
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