TORONTO, March 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX:WDO) (“Wesdome” or the “Company”) today announces its results for the fourth quarter (“Q4 2023”) and year ended December 31, 2023. The Company is also providing its updated Mineral Reserve and Resource statements. Preliminary operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended 2023 as well as multi-year production and operating guidance were disclosed on January 15, 2024. Management will host a conference call tomorrow, Wednesday March 13 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss the results.
All figures are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Highlights
Gold production in the fourth quarter was 36,216 ounces at cash costs of $1,451 per ounce1 (US$1,065) and all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”) of $2,082 per ounce1 (US$1,529).
For the full year 2023, gold production was 123,336 ounces at cash costs of $1,579 per ounce1 (US$1,170) and all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”) of $2,231 per ounce1 (US$1,653). Production and costs both compare favourably relative to 2023 guidance ranges.
Cash margins1 for the fourth quarter and full year 2023 was $47.6 million and $132.9 million respectively, representing a 80% and 39% increase relative to corresponding periods in 2022 mainly due to a higher Canadian dollar realized gold price and increase in ounces sold.
Net income and adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 of $2.4 million ($0.02 per share). The quarter included a non-cash deferred tax impact of $8.6 million but was still $5.9 million higher than the corresponding period in 2022.
Operating cash flow in the fourth quarter and full year 2023 of $37.2 million ($0.25 per share) and $101.4 million ($0.69 per share) was 262% and 55% higher than the corresponding periods in 2022 mainly due to the higher cash margin.
Free cash flow in the fourth quarter and full year 2023 was $39.4 million and $83.8 million higher than the corresponding periods in 2022 mainly due to the higher cash margin and overall decrease in capital expenditures.
Available liquidity of $152.6 million, including $41.4 million in cash and $111.0 million of undrawn availability under the Company’s revolving credit facility. Cash net of the revolver increased by $24.2 million in 2023.
Anthea Bath, President and CEO, commented, “We closed 2023 with a stronger balance sheet and performed well relative to our 2023 operating targets. With the release of our multi-year guidance earlier this year, we are now focused on delivering significantly higher production and free cash flow in 2024 and 2025. At Kiena, development continues to advance, successfully addressing the challenges of mining in schist material. Consequently, we look forward to accessing and processing higher-grade material in the second quarter. At Eagle River, we are evaluating potential initiatives to optimize the operation and reduce costs while advancing development towards the 300 Zone at depth.
Accompanying our results, we announced our Mineral Reserves and Resources for year-ended 2023, including a 12% increase in total gold Mineral Reserves as compared to year-end 2022. The additions were driven primarily by the initial Mineral Reserve at Presqu’île Zone along with additions to Kiena Deep, and Zone 6 Central at Eagle River. We have an ambitious exploration program in 2024, which we expect to yield high quality resource additions and new discoveries, evidenced most recently by the rapid growth of the Falcon 311 Zone at Eagle River.
As we approach a free cash flow inflection point this year, we remain dedicated to meeting our performance targets, and pursuing strategic activities that drive high return growth in the jurisdictions in which we operate.”
Financial and Operating Highlights
A summary of the Company’s consolidated financial and operating results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 are presented below:
(in thousands of Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated)
Q4 2023
Q4 2022
FY 2023
FY 2022
Financial Results
Revenues
102,221
75,035
333,173
265,483
Cost of sales
78,506
61,997
295,422
214,371
Cash margin1
47,576
26,466
132,939
95,674
EBITDA1
38,256
21,309
99,333
55,617
Net loss attributable to shareholders
2,420
(3,527)
(6,187)
(14,706)
Net income ($/sh)
0.02
(0.02)
(0.04)
(0.10)
Adjusted attributable net loss1
2,420
(3,527)
(1,910)
(5,856)
Adjusted attributable net loss1 ($/sh)
0.02
(0.02)
(0.01)
(0.04)
Operating cash flow
37,176
10,267
101,351
65,206
Operating cash flow ($/sh)
0.25
0.07
0.69
0.46
Cash flow from financing activities
(1,946)
37,307
5,421
57,435
Cash flow from investing activities
(25,441)
(39,130)
(98,586)
(146,220)
Free cash flow1
7,799
(31,609)
(6,405)
(90,174)
Free cash flow1 ($/sh)
0.05
(0.22)
(0.04)
(0.63)
Operating Results
Gold produced (oz)
36,216
35,116
123,336
110,850
Gold sold (oz)
37,620
31,500
126,620
113,000
Average realized gold price1 ($/oz)
2,715
2,380
2,629
2,347
Average realized gold price1 (US$/oz)
1,994
1,753
1,948
1,804
Cash costs1 ($/oz)
1,451
1,540
1,579
1,500
All-in sustaining costs1 ($/oz)
2,082
2,136
2,231
2,020
All-in sustaining costs1 (US$/oz)
1,529
1,573
1,653
1,552
Financial Position
Cash and cash equivalents
41,371
33,185
41,371
33,185
Working capital
(6,894)
(38,044)
(6,894)
(38,044)
Total assets
618,956
619,127
618,956
619,127
Current liabilities
89,115
115,591
89,115
115,591
Total liabilities
191,656
220,608
191,656
220,608
Notes:
Refer to the section entitled “Non-IFRS Performance Measures” for the reconciliation of these non-IFRS measurements to the financial statements
Eagle River, Ontario
Q4 2023
Q4 2022
FY 2023
FY 2022
Ore milled (tonnes)
Eagle River
54,669
58,306
222,627
223,734
Mishi
–
–
6,150
23,153
Total Ore Milled
54,669
58,306
228,777
246,887
Head grade (grams per tonne, “g/t”)
Eagle River
14.1
14.0
12.6
11.5
Mishi
–
–
2.3
3.2
Total head grade
14.1
14.0
12.4
10.7
Recoveries (%)
Eagle River
97.0
97.4
96.9
96.9
Mishi
–
–
72.5
83.5
Total Gold recovery
97.0
97.4
96.7
96.5
Gold production (ounces)
Eagle River
24,072
25,502
87,467
79,997
Mishi
0
0
332
2,005
Total Gold Production
24,072
25,502
87,799
82,002
Production sold (ounces)
25,600
21,650
91,700
79,250
Production costs per tonne milled1
526
515
502
436
Cash margin1 ($/oz)
1,462
1,083
1,275
998
Cash costs1 ($/oz)
1,261
1,302
1,347
1,356
All-in sustaining costs1 ($/oz)
1,902
2,039
2,001
2,003
For the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, Eagle River produced 24,072 ounces and 25,502 ounces, respectively, which reflects a decrease of 6% due to a decrease in throughput at Eagle River as Mishi stockpiles were depleted and all ore was sourced from the Eagle River underground subsequent to the first quarter of 2023. During the fourth quarter of 2023, cash costs were $1,261 (US$926) per ounce of gold sold while all-in sustaining costs were $1,902 (US$1,397) per ounce of gold sold.
For the full year 2023 and 2022, Eagle River produced 87,799 ounces and 82,002 respectively, which reflects increase in head grade, offset partly by lower throughput as Mishi stockpiles were depleted. The 2023 Eagle River head grade of 12.4 g/t is in the higher range of guidance due to processing additional high-grade ore from the Falcon Zone combined with positive reconciliation from the 300 Zone. During the full year 2023, AISC of $2,001 (US$1,483) per ounce of gold sold was comparable to $2,003 (US$1,539) in 2022, reflecting higher operating costs and sustaining capital expenditure offset by higher ounces sold.
In 2024, Eagle River is expected to produce 80,000 to 90,000 ounces at cash costs of $1,275 to $1,425 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs of $2,050 to $2,250 (US$1,550 to US$1,700) per ounce. While production levels are in-line with the prior year, contribution of tonnes and ounces is expected to shift away from 720F Falcon Zone and towards the higher grade 300 Zone at depth.
Kiena, Quebec
Q4 2023
Q4 2022
FY 2023
FY 2022
Ore milled (tonnes)
49,649
51,419
191,148
115,171
Head grade (grams per tonne, “g/t”)
7.7
5.9
5.9
7.9
Recoveries (%)
98.5
98.1
98.3
98.3
Gold production (ounces)
12,144
9,614
35,537
28,848
Production sold (ounces)
12,020
9,850
34,920
33,750
Production costs per tonne milled1
417
352
405
518
Cash margin1 ($/oz)
845
308
460
492
Cash costs1 ($/oz)
1,854
2,063
2,189
1,839
All-in sustaining costs1 ($/oz)
2,466
2,348
2,834
2,059
For the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, Kiena produced 12,144 ounces and 9,614 ounces respectively, reflecting higher grade processed. During the fourth quarter of 2023, cash costs were $1,854 (US$1,361) per ounce of gold sold while all-in sustaining costs were $2,466 (US$1,811) per ounce.
For the full year 2023 and 2022, Kiena produced 35,537 ounces and 28,848 ounces respectively, reflecting more tonnes processed, offset in part by lower grade. The 2023 Kiena head grade of 5.9 g/t is above the 2023 Kiena guidance of 3.7 – 4.7 g/t, due to an overall positive reconciliation of recovered diluted material from previous mining, and a higher proportion of ore sourced from the higher grade Kiena Deep. During the full year 2023, AISC of $2,834 (US$2,100) per ounce of gold sold was higher compared to $2,059 (US$1,582) in 2022, reflecting the inclusion of capital expenditures previously classified as Growth capital after the declaration of commercial production on December 1, 2022. Please refer to the Company’s management’s discussion & analysis dated March 12, 2024 for a detailed description of growth capital and sustaining capital.
In 2024, Kiena is expected to produce 80,000 to 90,000 ounces at cash costs of $875 to $975 per ounce and all-in sustaining costs of $1,475 to $1,625 (US$1,100 to US$1,225) per ounce. Higher annual production levels reflect declining production contribution from the Martin Zone relative to higher grade ore from the Kiena Deep 129L horizon. Overall development performance subsequent to quarter end has met internal expectations, with higher grade ore expected to be processed in the second quarter.
Updated Mineral Reserve and Resources for Year-End 2023
At December 31, 2023, Wesdome’s combined proven and probable mineral reserves totalled 1.1 million ounces (2.8 million tonnes grading 12.7 grams per tonne (“g/t”) gold); combined measured and indicated mineral resources (exclusive of reserves) were 327 thousand ounces (1.3 million tonnes grading 7.8 g/t gold); and combined inferred mineral resources were 808 thousand ounces (3.8 million tonnes grading 6.7 g/t gold).
Cutoff grade calculations for resources reflect an increase in the gold price assumption to US$1,700 per ounce (from US$1,500 previously) and a slightly weaker Canadian dollar assumption of 1.32 (from 1.30 previously). The gold price assumption used for reserve calculations remains unchanged at US$1,400 per ounce. Changes to the mineral resources and reserves methodology included applying more conservative estimation parameters and optimized interpolation techniques at both Eagle and Kiena.
Reserves and Resource estimates at both sites reflect reduced exploration spend in 2023. Drilling was therefore focused on improving geometric understanding of orebodies and conversion of resources to Measured and Indicated categories at both operations.
The drilling program in 2024 has been doubled compared to 2023 to approximately $30 million, or 185,000m across underground delineation and exploration, as well as surface drilling. The program will aim to increase reserves and resources adjacent to mine infrastructure and to test conceptual targets.
The Company’s gold mineral reserves effective December 31, 2023 are set out in the table below, and are compared with the gold mineral reserves for the prior corresponding period.
2023 Reserves
2022 Reserves
Tonnes
Grade
Ounces
Tonnes
Grade
Ounces
(000)
(g/t Au)
(000)
(000)
(g/t Au)
(000)
Eagle River