Eldorado Gold Corporation: 2013 Third Quarter Financial and Operating Results; Record Quarterly Gold Production

November 08 12:55 2013

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA — (Marketwired) — 11/08/13 — Paul N. Wright, Chief Executive Officer of Eldorado Gold Corporation (TSX: ELD)(NYSE: EGO) („Eldorado“ the „Company“ or „we“), is pleased to report on the Company-s financial and operational results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2013. Profit attributable to shareholders of the Company for the quarter was $36.4 million or $0.05 per share compared to $75.8 million or $0.11 per share for the same quarter in 2012.

„During the third quarter Eldorado produced 204,620 ounces of gold at average cash operating costs of $472 per ounce, a 21% increase in gold production. Our gold mines continue to perform to plan and generate significant cash flows,“ said Paul Wright, CEO of Eldorado Gold. „With its strong balance sheet and comparatively low cost gold mining operations Eldorado is well-positioned with regard to the continuing weakness in gold prices.“

Third Quarter Summary Results and Corporate Developments

Corporate Developments

On October 30, 2013, Eldorado announced that it will acquire, through one of its subsidiaries and by way of a friendly cash takeover, all of the outstanding shares of Glory Resources Limited („Glory“) that are not already owned or controlled by the Company for total consideration of approximately A$30.5 million. Eldorado currently owns 19.9% of the shares in Glory. Eldorado also proposes to acquire all the issued options of Glory for total consideration of approximately A$1.8 million and to settle Glory-s deferred obligations in the Sapes Gold Project to Cape Lambert Resources Limited for A$6.5 million.

Review of Financial Results

Net income for the quarter was $36.4 million (or $0.05 per share), compared with $75.8 million (or $0.11 per share) in the third quarter of 2012. Gross profit from gold mining operations fell $23.7 million year over year as a result of a 20% decline in realized gold prices year over year partially offset by a 7% decline in total cash costs. Net income for the quarter was also impacted by a non-cash $12.7 million write-down in the Company-s investment in associates. The effective tax rate for the third quarter was 50% as compared to a rate of 31% in the third quarter of 2012 mainly as a result of the impact of the weakening Turkish lira against the US dollar on the tax basis of our Turkish tax assets. Other factors affecting the effective tax rate during the quarter included taxable foreign exchange gains on US dollar cash balances held by our Turkish subsidiaries as well as withholding taxes on dividends paid by Jinfeng.

Operations Update

Kisladag

Gold production at Kisladag during the third quarter was slightly higher than the same quarter of 2012 mainly due to the higher grade ore placed on the pad. Production for the nine-month period of 2013 was higher than 2012 also due to higher grades. Capital expenditures during the quarter included waste stripping, acquisition of mining equipment and construction activities.

Efemcukuru

During the quarter Efemcukuru sold 26,410 ounces of gold in concentrate from third quarter operations and some inventory from second quarter production. Efemcukuru was in full production in the third quarter of 2013 as compared to the same quarter of 2012, at which time commissioning was ongoing. The mine and mill have both reached full design capacity. Capital expenditures during the quarter included underground development as well as plant upgrades and improvements.

Tanjianshan

Gold production at Tanjianshan during the third quarter was slightly lower than the same quarter of 2012 as a result of lower head grades, partially offset by higher throughput. Cash operating costs per ounce decreased from the third quarter of 2012 as a result of lower processing costs. Capital spending included exploration activities and process improvements.

Jinfeng

Gold production at Jinfeng in the third quarter was higher than the same quarter of 2012 due to higher head grades, recovery and throughput. Production from the open pit reached full capacity during the quarter and contributed to the improved head grade. Capital spending during the quarter included open pit stripping, underground mine development and process improvements.

White Mountain

Gold production at White Mountain in the third quarter was higher than in the same period of 2012. This increase was largely a result of higher head grades. Cash operating costs per ounce decreased due to improved productivity from underground mining operations. Capital spending this quarter included underground development, exploration, tailings facility uplift and acquisition of underground mining equipment.

Vila Nova

Iron ore production in the third quarter increased 35% at Vila Nova as compared to the same quarter of 2012. The higher production year over year was due to mechanical and operational adjustments made in the treatment plant as well as an increase in scheduled operating hours in order to improve plant productivity. Iron ore sales were 3% higher than in 2012. Shipping continued through the public port in Santana while the Anglo-Ferrous port facility remains closed.

Stratoni

Stratoni operating and financial data for 2012 shown in the table above reflects operations subsequent to February 24, 2012, the date of the European Goldfields Ltd. acquisition.

During the third quarter, Stratoni mined 60,011 tonnes of run-of-mine ore and produced 14,586 tonnes of lead and zinc concentrate at an average cash cost of $547 per tonne of concentrate sold. During the same period, Stratoni sold 12,096 tonnes of concentrate at an average price of $820 per tonne.

Olympias

During the third quarter, Olympias treated 185,012 tonnes of tailings and produced 8,742 payable gold ounces. Due to an unanticipated volume of fines in the tailings, production slowed during the quarter and modifications to the filtering process were begun. Commercial production is now expected during the fourth quarter, once the modifications to the filtering process equipment are complete. Capital spending totalled $22.8 million during the quarter and included underground decline development, underground rehabilitation and process plant improvements.

Development Projects Update

Skouries

General earthworks in the plant site area and site clearing of the first tailings dam footprint continued during the quarter. The main decline work advanced as planned, with a total of 115 meters completed. Geotechnical investigations to support underground and open pit designs progressed during the quarter.

Olympias

The Stratoni-Olympias 8km decline advanced 55 meters during the quarter, putting the face at 1,242 meters. Water inflow increased during the quarter, impacting the rate of advance and requiring cover grouting to slow the inflow. More extensive controls will be implemented during the fourth quarter to deal with anticipated continuing inflow. Olympias mine rehabilitation and development advanced 212 meters and 270 meters, respectively, as the pace of hiring and new employee training increased during the quarter to meet the mine-s objectives.

Perama Hill

We are awaiting final approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment („EIA“) for Perama Hill. Approval of the EIA will allow construction of the initial infrastructure to commence and is required in order to obtain the permits to commence full construction. Preliminary engineering was substantially completed during the quarter. Additional engineering to support procurement of items with long lead-times was commenced during the quarter. Metallurgical testwork was completed and the results of the testwork will be included in the final plant design.

Certej

Geotechnical drilling and rock characterization work was conducted during the quarter in support of a pit slope stability analysis which will be used in the ultimate pit design. Geotechnical work was also performed to assess the conditions for the foundations of the process plant. Metallurgical testing continued throughout the quarter, including confirmatory flotation testing of extended ore zones and pressure oxidation testing. This work will continue during the fourth quarter. Design information from these areas will be incorporated into an updated study. Also included in the update will be infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the additional ore and waste tonnage expected to be handled over the life of the mine as a result of the updated resource model. Work was completed during the quarter on the first phase of construction of an alternate access road to the property.

Tocantinzinho

Permitting activities continued during the quarter at both the state and federal levels. Engineering efforts focussed on optimizing capital requirements of the project and development of updated operating costs. Work began on optimizing the layout of the site facilities and on the design of the site infrastructure. A business case for contractor mining was evaluated as an alternative to owner operated mining. Significant work was completed on development of a comprehensive tax model covering both investment capital and operating costs. During the fourth quarter we plan to review the geological model and develop a revised mine plan for incorporation into a revised life of mine economic analysis along with updated capital, operating and sustaining costs. Non-essential field work was cancelled during the quarter. Field activity was limited to survey work needed to develop basic access to the site along the proposed main access road.

Eastern Dragon

Eastern Dragon remained on care and maintenance pending resolution of permitting issues. Site management worked with the local authorities to maintain local permits and permissions in good standing. Work continued on preparing the necessary paperwork to the National Development and Reform Commission („NDRC“), as well as determining the timeline for review and approval.

Exploration Update

In the third quarter approximately 27,500 metres of exploration drilling were completed at the Company-s operating mines, developments and exploration projects, bringing the 2013 drilling total to 108,000 metres.

In Greece, continued drilling at the Piavitsa project focused on extending the first-pass drill coverage over the 2.5 km strike length of the mineralized Stratoni Fault Zone. Completion of a comprehensive relogging program and geological reinterpretation of the Olympias deposit culminated in an updated resource model late in the quarter.

In Romania, the resource expansion and infill drilling at the Certej deposit was completed early in the quarter and results were incorporated into an updated resource model which was published in our press release dated September 9, 2013. Exploration activities in Romania during the fourth quarter will be directed towards defining targets for drilling programs on three nearby exploration licenses.

In Turkey, drilling continued at the Efemcukuru minesite (both Kokarpinar and Kestane Beleni vein targets) and at the Ardala/Salinbas exploration project.

In China, exploration drilling programs focused on further delineation of Inferred Resources at the White Mountain Northern Extension, infilling high-grade zones at the Jinlonggou Bridge Zone and West Wall targets and step-out drilling in the newly defined Qinlongtan North Zone.

In Brazil, exploration activities concentrated on developing drilling targets at our early-stage projects and on new project generation.

About Eldorado

Eldorado is a gold producing, exploration and development company actively growing businesses in Turkey, China, Greece, Brazil and Romania. With our international expertise in mining, finance and project development, together with highly skilled and dedicated staff, we believe that our company is well positioned to grow in value as we create and pursue new opportunities.

ON BEHALF OF ELDORADO GOLD CORPORATION

Paul N. Wright, Chief Executive Officer

Eldorado will host a conference call on Friday, November 8, 2013 to discuss the 2013 Second Quarter Financial and Operating Results at 11:30 a.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. PST). You may participate in the conference call by dialling 416-340-2219 in Toronto or 1-866-225-0198 toll free in North America and asking for the Eldorado Conference Call with Chairperson: Paul Wright, CEO of Eldorado Gold. The call will be available on Eldorado-s website. . A replay of the call will be available until November 15, 2013 by dialling 905-694-9451 Toronto or 1-800-408-3053 toll free in North America and entering the Pass code: 5235773.

Certain of the statements made herein may contain forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as „plans“, „expects“, „is expected“, „budget“, „scheduled“, „estimates“, „forecasts“, „intends“, „anticipates“, or „believes“ or the negatives thereof or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results „may“, „could“, „would“, „might“ or „will“ be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information herein include, but are not limited, to the Company-s Q3, 2013 Financial and Operating Results.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information by their nature are based on assumptions and 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 future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. We have made certain assumptions about the forward-looking statements and information and even though our management believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements or information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statement or information will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements or information. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, the following: gold price volatility; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; mining operational and development risk; litigation risks; regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability; risks of sovereign investment; currency fluctuations; speculative nature of gold exploration; global economic climate; dilution; share price volatility; competition; loss of key employees; additional funding requirements; and defective title to mineral claims or property, as well as those factors discussed in the sections entitled „Forward-Looking Statements“ and „Risk Factors“ in the Company-s Annual Information Form & Form 40-F dated March 28,2013.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained herein. Except as required by law, we do not expect to update forward-looking statements and information continually as conditions change and you are referred to the full discussion of the Company-s business contained in the Company-s reports filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada and the U.S.

Eldorado Gold Corporation-s common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: ELD) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EGO).

Click here for the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 in PDF:

Contacts:
Eldorado Gold Corporation
Nancy Woo
VP Investor Relations
604.601.6650 or 1.888.353.8166
604.687.4026 (FAX)

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