CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - May 11, 2012) - TVI Pacific Inc. (News - Market indicators) (OTCQX:TVIPF) (TVI or the Company) today announced its unaudited, consolidated financial and operational results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

For a thorough explanation of the points discussed in this news release, shareholders are encouraged to read the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and the management's discussion and analysis for the quarters ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011 and the audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010. These documents were filed with certain securities regulators in Canada, and are available on our web site (www.tvipacific.com) or under our profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

Q1 2012 Highlights

-- Net revenue of $14.4 million realized from the sale of concentrate

-- Net loss of $2.3 million

-- Earnings before interest, depreciation and accretion of $2.1 million

-- Cash balance of $20.4 million at quarter end

-- Short term debt facilities of $13.9 million (average interest rate of 1.93%)

-- A working capital surplus of $12.4 million

The Canatuan mine generated net revenues of $14.4 million in Q1 2012 from the sale of concentrates, net of treatment, refining and penalties. The revenue comprised one shipment of copper concentrate and one shipment of zinc concentrate, and is 33% higher than the $10.8 million net revenue realized during the same period in 2011, which included one copper concentrate shipment and no zinc shipment. The Company has further adjusted for the level of mill feed contaminants and closed the quarter with a large volume of copper concentrate in inventory in preparation for its next shipment early in Q2 2012, near matching in the quarter the two copper concentrate shipments completed in Q4 2011. 

During Q1 2012, TVI had a net loss of $2.3 million compared to net income of $0.3 million for Q1 2011. The net loss was primarily due to the following:

-- Average copper prices in Q1 2012 declined 12% to US$3.85/lb from US$4.38/lb in Q1 2011;

-- An increase in treatment, refining and other charges deducted from gross revenue of 14.7% from 4.7% in Q1 2011. This higher charge became effective in Q2 2011 as negotiated and agreed to with the metal off-take partner. This increase takes into consideration the quality of the concentrates and the change in destination of the concentrate shipments;

-- Mining, milling and other expenses in Q1 2012 increased to $9.3 million compared to the $3.8 million incurred in Q1 2011. These expenses represent 64% of the Q1 2012 revenue. Mining, milling and other expenses increased because of realization of higher costs of inventories sold during the period as a result of the consumption of additional and more expensive chemicals required to process the complex ore body, to continue to produce saleable concentrate.

The ore feed grades have continued to decline, as expected in the mine plan. The average copper feed grade during the quarter was 0.85% Cu compared to 1.15% Cu in Q1 2011. The operations team have worked to suppress the penalty elements while the buyer of copper concentrate has agreed to a relaxation of such, thereby allowing the Company to focus further on process optimization and to stabilize production. Consequently, TVI currently expects to complete two copper shipments in each remaining quarter through 2012. The operations team is now focused on plant recovery efficiencies and on production costs reductions. Shipping and refining costs will likely remain high because of the continued high cadmium levels in the copper concentrate. With its continuous improvement programs, TVI will continue to optimize its throughput in an effort to offset expected declining feed grades.

In Q1 2012 average throughput increased to 2,744 from 2,698 dry metric tonnes (dmt) per day in Q4 2011; however copper ore, gold and silver grades were lower compared to the previous quarter. The lower grades of copper, gold and silver resulted in a decrease of 20% in copper pound equivalent quarter over quarter.

During the first quarter of 2012, the mill processed 246,998 tonnes; however, only a portion of original ore reserves was consumed due to the additional material found and mined during the year. This material, primarily mineralized schist, was used as a blending material to optimize mill recoveries and was located both inside and outside the pit shell and not included in the original ore reserves. Detailed metallurgical and ore reserve studies will continue to be undertaken to determine future processing scenarios and their potential impacts on the ore reserves and mine life.

Based on average daily throughput going forward of 2,621 tonnes per day, mine life, based on the original resources alone, approximates 1.4 years (subject to change in throughput to meet shipping commitments).

In Q1 2012, TVI completed one copper concentrate shipment (27th) for a total of 6,033 dmt and its third zinc concentrate shipment of approximately 3,872 dmt.

Approximately 5,000 dry metric tonne copper concentrate shipments are expected to occur approximately every 8 weeks, while zinc concentrate shipments are expected approximately every 4 months. To date, 28 copper concentrate shipments of approximately 5,000 dry metric tonnes each and 3 zinc concentrate shipments have been completed, totaling 10,700 dry metric tonnes. The 28th copper shipment completed loading on May 7, 2012. TVI is in the process of preparing for the next copper shipment in the third week of June and a zinc shipment is scheduled in mid-June.

Cash Position

As of March 31, 2012, TVI had short term debt facilities totaling $13.9 million at an interest rate averaging 1.93%. Cash on hand was $20.4 million at the same date.

For further information on TVI's operations please refer to the Management's Discussion and Analysis available on TVI's website www.tvipacific.com or under our profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

About TVI Pacific Inc. (News - Market indicators) (OTCQX:TVIPF)

TVI Pacific Inc. is a publicly-traded Canadian company that is focused on the production, development, exploration and acquisition of resource projects in the Philippines. TVI produces copper and zinc concentrates from its Canatuan mine, is in pre-development stage at its Balabag gold and silver project. TVI also has an interest in an offshore Philippine oil property. 

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "schedule" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of TVI as at the effective date of such statements and, in certain cases, information received from or disseminated by third parties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions and that information received from or disseminated by third parties is reliable, it can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties (known and unknown) that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied. These factors include, but are not limited to, such things as general economic conditions in Canada, the United States, the Philippines and elsewhere; volatility of prices for precious metals, base metals, oil and gas; commodity supply and demand; fluctuations in currency and interest rates; inherent risks associated with the exploration and development of mining properties; inherent risks associated with the exploration of oil and gas properties; ultimate recoverability of reserves; production, timing, results and costs of exploration and development activities; political or civil unrest; availability of financial resources or third-party financing; new laws (domestic or foreign); changes in administrative practices; changes in exploration plans or budgets; and availability of personnel and equipment (including mechanical problems). Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance upon the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and such forward-looking statements should not be interpreted or regarded as guarantees of future outcomes.

Forward-looking statements regarding forward production costs and shipping and refining costs are based are based on current and previous mineral reserve and resource estimates, current mining and processing activities, prior experiences of management with mining and processing activities, the current development and operating plan, efficiency and effectiveness of the sulphide plant, and the Company's overall plans, budget and strategy for Canatuan (which are all subject to change). Forward-looking statements regarding the remaining mine life of the Canatuan deposit are based on current and previous mineral reserve and resource estimates, current mining and processing activities, prior experiences of management with mining and processing activities, the current development and operating plan, efficiency and effectiveness of the sulphide plant, and the Company's overall plans, budget and strategy for Canatuan (which are all subject to change). Forward-looking statements respecting the copper and zinc concentrate shipping schedules are based on the Company's previous experience with concentrate shipments, current mining and processing activities, current and previous mineral reserve and resource estimates, discussions to date with the off-take partner, efficiency and effectiveness of the sulphide plant, and the Company's overall plans, budget and strategy for Canatuan (which are all subject to change). Forward-looking statements regarding the nature and timing of exploration at the Greater Canatuan Tenement Area (including EXPA 61, Malusok and SE Malusok), Tamarok and the Company's other tenements in the Philippines are based upon current and previous exploration activities, management's experience with other exploration programs undertaken in the Philippines and elsewhere, and the Company's overall plans, budget and strategy (which are all subject to change). In certain cases, the timing of exploration activities in the Philippines is dependent upon the receipt of free prior informed consent from indigenous communities and regulatory approvals from the government of the Philippines.

Forward-looking statements regarding expectations that the Company will be able to find additional ore in the Greater Canatuan Tenement Area (including EXPA 61, Malusok and SE Malusok) are based upon current and previous exploration activities, management's experience with other exploration programs undertaken in the Philippines and elsewhere, management's current and previous experience with mining and processing activities at Canatuan, and the Company's overall plans, budget and strategy (which are all subject to change). Forward-looking statements regarding the timing of an updated NI 43-101 report and optimized feasibility study for Balabag are based upon current and previous exploration activities, advice received from third-parties, and the Company's overall plans, budget and strategy for Balabag (which are all subject to change). Forward-looking statements regarding the resumption of drilling activities at Tamarok are based on the exploration carried out to date and the Company's overall plans, budget and strategy for Tamarok (which is subject to change). Forward-looking statements regarding the arrival date of additional drilling rigs in the Philippines are based on discussions with third parties. 

The forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this news release are expressly qualified, in their entirety, by this cautionary statement. Various risks to which TVI and its affiliates are exposed in the conduct of their business are described in detail in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2011, which was filed on SEDAR on March 30, 2012, and is available at www.SEDAR.com. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly revise the forward-looking statements included in this news release to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.