TRX Gold Corporation (TSX:TNX) (NYSE American:TRX) (the “Company”
or “TRX Gold”) today reported its results for the fourth quarter
(“Q4 2022”) and year end August 31, 2022. Financial results will be
available on the Company’s website on November 30, 2022.
Key highlights for Q4 and Year Ended
2022 include:
- A
management team that was laser-focused on execution: The
TRX Gold team delivered two mill expansions on site at the Buckreef
Gold Project. In Q2 2022, Phase 1 of the 1,000 tpd+ mill was
commissioned, allowing for an increase in production rates and
plant throughput to 360 tonnes per day (“tpd”). Subsequent to
year-end, in September 2022 Buckreef Gold announced successful
commissioning of the second phase of the mill expansion to 1,000+
tpd. As a result, since Q2 2022, the production of low-cost, high
margin gold ounces has steadily increased each month.
- A
reliable, local supply chain and labor force: Thanks to
TRX Gold’s local employees, contractors, trades people, material
suppliers and service providers, the two mill expansions were
delivered on time and on budget, at a capital cost of approximately
$5.6 million for both phases. Tanzania continues to prove itself as
a country that is self-sufficient, dependable and capable. Thanks
to these qualities, Buckreef Gold did not experience any slowdowns
or cost overruns caused by ongoing global supply chain
challenges.
- Full
year and Q4 gold production that exceeded expectations and
guidance: For the year ended August 31, 2022, Buckreef
Gold poured 8,874 ounces of gold and sold 8,598 ounces of gold. The
Company recognized revenue of $15.1 million, cost of sales of $5.7
million and cash costs1 of $665 per ounce of gold, generating a
strong full year gross profit of $9.4 million, gross profit
margin of 62% and Adjusted EBITDA1
of $3.5 million. For Q4 2022, Buckreef Gold poured
3,619 ounces of gold, a new quarterly production record, exceeding
previous production guidance of 750-800 ounces of gold per month.
Furthermore, 3,363 ounces of gold were sold, also a new quarterly
sales record for the Company, resulting in positive
operating cash flow of $2.4 million. Buckreef recognized
revenue of $6.0 million in Q4 2022, cost of sales of $1.9 million,
and cash costs1 of $560 per ounce of gold, below guidance,
generating strong Q4 gross profit of $4.1 million, gross
profit margin of 69% and Adjusted EBITDA1
of $2.2 million.
- Drilling
at Buckreef Gold resulting in discovery, expansion and
definition: In 2022, the Company drilled over 22,000
meters at Buckreef Gold ($3.7 million) including infill drilling,
step-out drilling and grade control drilling. During the year, the
Company extended Buckreef Gold’s Main Zone by 300 meters or 30%, to
2.0 kilometers, as a result of its northeast step-out drilling
program. In Q4 2022, an additional drill rig was added to expand
the exploration program and, to date, a total of 22 holes
representing over 7,592 meters in the northeast extension of the
Buckreef Main Zone, have been completed. The Company executed an
infill drill program at the Main Zone, consisting of 16 drill
holes, representing 3,695 meters. Also, during Q4 2022, the Company
explored under the South Pit and tested the South Zone extension
with 24 drill holes, representing 4,255 meters. Results from both
programs are pending. Subsequent to year-end, the Company commenced
exploration drilling at the Anfield Zone, where the drill rig is
now active with 9 drill holes representing 1,650 meters. Assay
results from this program are also pending.
- A strong
Balance Sheet that is positioned to support expansion and
growth: At the end of Q4 2022, TRX Gold had no debt on
record, cash of $8.5 million and working capital of $5.4 million
after adjusting for liabilities which will only be settled by
issuing equity of the Company. During the year, the Company
successfully closed three financing transactions providing the
Company with additional flexibility and liquidity, if necessary, to
help fund acceleration of its growth strategy including: (i) a
registered direct offering with a single institutional investor for
net proceeds of $6.4 million; (ii) a pre-paid gold purchase
agreement with a contract price totaling $5 million with OCIM
Metals & Mining SA; and (iii) a purchase agreement with Lincoln
Park Capital Fund, LLC (“Lincoln Park”) enabling TRX Gold, in its
sole discretion, to sell up to $10 million of its shares to Lincoln
Park over a 36-month period.
-
Continued commitment to ESG and Health &
Safety: In 2022, Buckreef Gold continued to expand its CSR
program, successfully partnering with both regional and district
Commissioners on school, water and health projects. From an
environmental standpoint, Buckreef Gold continued to look for ways
in which to employ sustainable mining practices. The operation
continues to: (i) utilize the Tanzanian national electricity grid
for power which is significantly and increasingly sourced from
hydroelectric facilities in Tanzania; (ii) recycle all water used
in its operations; (iii) not discharge water from its operations;
(iv) employ a workforce that is 100% Tanzanian. In 2022, the
Company achieved zero lost time to injuries (“LTIs”) and had no
confirmed COVID-19 cases at site. Subsequent to year-end the
Company achieved a significant safety milestone of 1.0 million
operating hours with no LTIs.
TRX Gold’s CEO, Stephen Mullowney comments:
“2022 has been an outstanding year for TRX Gold and Buckreef Gold.
We could not be happier with the progress that we’ve made on all
fronts, including building and expanding our mill, increasing gold
production, increasing our expertise and skill-set on site and at
the corporate office, and significantly improving the Company’s
Balance Sheet. We have demonstrated what a dedicated and ambitious
group can accomplish within 12 months, and we now look forward to
2023 to continue to move in the same direction. In 2023, our
commitment to creating stakeholder value will continue, quite
simply, by way of more growth. In less than two years, the Company
has been transformed from a cash burning enterprise into a
sustainable, stable business with strong local relationships that
is poised to provide significant upside through increases in
production and continued exploration. Importantly, the option value
explicit in exploration is now firmly intact.”
Fiscal 2023 Outlook – Planning For More
Growth
- Gold production
from the 1,000+ tpd processing plant at Buckreef Gold is expected
to be between 20,000 - 25,000 ounces at total average cash costs2
of $750 - $850 per ounce. Gold production is expected to be lower
in the first half of fiscal 2023 (“F2023”) due to the ramp-up and
commissioning of the processing plant during Q1. Higher production
is expected in the second half (H2) of the year once the ramp-up is
complete and the processing plant achieves steady state operation
at nameplate capacity of 1,000+ tpd.
- Operating cash
flow from the 1,000+ tpd processing plant will be reinvested into
the Buckreef Gold project with a focus on value enhancing
activities, including: (i) exploration and drilling with a focus on
potential resource expansion at Buckreef Main (northeast and
south), Buckreef West, Anfield, Eastern Porphry extension, Bingwa
and Tembo; (ii) additional capital programs focused on further
plant expansions and production growth; and (iii) enhanced CSR/ESG
programs.
- The Company is
evaluation a project aimed at increasing the average annual
throughput by 75-100% through the addition of a new ball mill.
Detailed engineering and procurement of equipment has commenced.
Upon a positive construction decision, the expansion project is
expected to start in F2023.
- Sustaining
capital, excluding waste rock stripping, includes certain one-time
expenditures including final road realignment around the Special
Mining License (SML) which will enable full life of mine access to
the Main Zone. Sustaining capital also includes infrastructure
investments, for example: construction of a significantly expanded
tailings storage facility (TSF), and procurement of heavy plant
equipment, including a wheel loader, grizzly, forklift, crane and
light vehicles to support the expanded production.
- Exploration
spending in F2023 includes diamond drill and reverse circulation
drilling services provided by STAMICO for a program which includes:
brownfields drilling at Buckreef Main Zone (NE and SW), Buckreef
West, Eastern Porphyry, and greenfield drilling at Anfield.
Sterilization drilling will commence at site expansion facilities,
including tailings storage and waste rock facilities.
- The Sulphide
Development Project, in which the ‘sulphide ore’ encompasses
approximately 90% of the Buckreef Main Zone’s Measured and
Indicated Mineral Resources, is a key mid-to-long term value
driver. Unlocking this value is an important business objective for
the Company. The Sulphide Development Project will evaluate the
options for a high return large scale project. It is the goal of
the Company to exceed the metrics outlined in the 2018 Technical
Report3, including annual production and strip ratio. TRX continues
to work with its principal consultants on advancing the Sulphide
Development Project, including advanced metallurgical testing
across the deposit, geotechnical studies for a deeper pit, and
assessing a significantly larger sulphide ore processing
facility.
Qualified Person
Mr. Andrew Mark Cheatle, P.Geo., MBA, ARSM, is
the Company’s Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101
“Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects” (“NI 43-101”) and
has reviewed and assumes responsibility for the scientific and
technical content in this press release.
Q4 2022 and Full Year 2022 Results
Conference Call and Webcast Details
When: Monday, December 5, 2022 at 11:00 AM
ESTWebcast URL:
https://services.choruscall.ca/links/trxgold2022ye.html Conference
call numbers:Canada/USA TF: 1-800-319-4610 International Toll:
+1-604-638-5340A replay will be made available for 30 days
following the call on the Company’s website.
Corporate video of the Buckreef Gold
Project
To view our latest corporate video, click here
About TRX Gold Corporation
TRX Gold is rapidly advancing the Buckreef Gold
Project. Anchored by a Mineral Resource published in May 2020, the
project currently hosts an NI 43-101 Measured and Indicated Mineral
Resource of 35.88 MT at 1.77 g/t gold containing 2,036,280 ounces
of gold and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 17.8 MT at 1.11 g/t
gold for 635,540 ounces of gold. The leadership team is focused on
creating both near-term and long-term shareholder value by
increasing gold production to generate positive cash flow. The
positive cash flow will be utilized for exploratory drilling with
the goal of increasing the current gold Resource base and advancing
the Sulphide Ore Project which represents 90% of current gold
Resources. TRX Gold’s actions are led by the highest ESG standards,
evidenced by the relationships and programs that the Company has
developed during its nearly two decades of presence in Geita
Region, Tanzania.
Non-IFRS Performance
Measures
The company has included certain non-IFRS
measures in this new release. Refer to pages 32 and 33 of the
Company’s August 31, 2022 MD&A for an explanation, discussion
and reconciliation of non-IFRS measures. The Company believes that
these measures, in addition to measures prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), provide
readers with an improved ability to evaluate the underlying
performance of the Company and to compare it to information
reported by other companies. The non-IFRS measures are intended to
provide additional information and should not be considered in
isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared
in accordance with IFRS. These measures do not have any
standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not
be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain
forward-looking statements as defined in the applicable securities
laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
frequently, but not always, identified by words such as “expects”,
“anticipates”, “believes”, “hopes”, “intends”, “estimated”,
“potential”, “possible” and similar expressions, or statements that
events, conditions or results “will”, “may”, “could” or “should”
occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements relate to future
events or future performance and reflect TRX Gold management’s
expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but
are not limited to, statements with respect to continued operating
cash flow, expansion of its process plant, estimation of mineral
resources, ability to develop value creating activities,
recoveries, subsequent project testing, success, scope and
viability of mining operations, the timing and amount of estimated
future production, and capital expenditure.
Although TRX Gold believes the expectations
expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on
reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of
future performance. The actual achievements of TRX Gold or other
future events or conditions may differ materially from those
reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of
risks, uncertainties and other factors. These risks, uncertainties
and factors include general business, legal, economic, competitive,
political, regulatory and social uncertainties; actual results of
exploration activities and economic evaluations; fluctuations in
currency exchange rates; changes in costs; future prices of gold
and other minerals; mining method, production profile and mine
plan; delays in exploration, development and construction
activities; changes in government legislation and regulation; the
ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms and in a timely
manner or at all; contests over title to properties; employee
relations and shortages of skilled personnel and contractors; the
speculative nature of, and the risks involved in, the exploration,
development and mining business. These risks are set forth in
reports that TRX Gold files with the SEC and the various Canadian
securities authorities. You can review and obtain copies of these
filings from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml
and the Company’s profile on the System for Electronic Document
Analysis and Retrieval (“SEDAR”) at www.sedar.com.
The information contained in this press release
is as of the date of the press release and TRX Gold assumes no duty
to update such information.
For investor or shareholder inquiries,
please contact:
Investors Christina Lalli Vice
President, Investor RelationsTRX Gold Corporation+1-438-399-8665
c.lalli@TRXgold.comwww.TRXgold.com
1 Refer to “Non-IFRS Performance Measures” section.2 Refer to
“Non-IFRS Performance Measures” section.3 NI 43-101 Technical
Report: Updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Buckreef Gold
Mine Project, Tanzania, East Africa” prepared by Virimai Projects
(“Virimai”), effective date May 15, 2020, was filed as an exhibit
to Form 6-K on June 23, 2020, as amended on July 20, 2021, and on
SEDAR on June 23, 2020.
TRX Gold (AMEX:TRX)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Nov 2024 à Déc 2024
TRX Gold (AMEX:TRX)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Déc 2023 à Déc 2024