Amerigo Reports Q2-2018 Production Results
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July 11, 2018
N.R. 2018-6
Amerigo Reports Q2-2018 Production Results
Vancouver, British Columbia – July 11, 2018/CNW/ - Amer igo Resources Ltd. ("Amerigo" or the "Company")
(TSX: ARG) announced today production results for Q2-2018 from Minera Valle Central ("MVC"), the
Company’s 100% owned operation located near Rancagua, Chile.
Amerigo remains fully leveraged to the price of copper
Rob Henderson, Amerigo's President and CEO, stated “P roduction results in Q2-2018 met expectations and
MVC is nearing completion of the Phase Two expansion project which will increase production and lower cash
costs. Amerigo remains well positioned for a strong close of the year, fully leveraged to the price of copper.”
Production and cash cost for Q2-2018 are in line with guidance
In Q2-2018 Amerigo produced 14.7 million pounds of copper at a cash cost of $1.71 per pound. Molybdenum
production was 0.4 million pounds.
Production guidance for the full year 2018 remains unchanged. In 2018, Amerigo expects to produce 65 to 70
million pounds of copper at a cash cost of $1.45 to $1.60 per pound. In 2018, the Company also expects to
produce 1.5 million pounds of molybdenum.
Stronger copper and molybdenum production and lower cash costs are expected in the second half of the
year, when MVC completes the Cauquenes Phase Two expansion project.
Q2-2018 Q1-2018 Q4-2017 Q3-2017 Q2-2017
Fresh tailings
Tonnes processed 11,114,743 10, 521,210 11,290,794 11,152,930 10,708,437
Copper grade 0.118% 0.119% 0.123% 0.117% 0.110%
Copper recovery 19.1% 19.3% 19.7% 19.8% 20.8%
Copper produced (millions of pounds) 5.526 5.309 6.030 5.700 5.404
Cauquenes tailings
Tonnes processed 5,642,687 5, 328,898 5,650,522 5,716,546 5,522,301
Copper grade 0.238% 0.246% 0.247% 0.240% 0.253%
Copper recovery 30.7% 30.8% 31.2% 32.4% 33.4%
Copper produced (millions of pounds) 9.132 8.901 9.596 9.786 10.290
Maricunga toll processing
Copper produced (millions of pounds) - - - - 0.570
Total copper produced (millions of pounds) 14.658 14.210 15.625 15.487 16.262
Total copper delivered (millions of pounds) 14.219 14.520 15.970 15.251 16.197
Cash cost ($/pound copper) 1.71 1.77 1.66 1.69 1.53
Construction of Cauquenes Phase Two expansion on track for completion in Q3-2018
MVC anticipates production of the first concentrates from the Phase Two expansion project in Q3-2018 and
expects full production to commence in Q4-2018. The project will increase MVC’s copper production to 85 to
90 million pounds per year and lower cash cost to $1.45/lb.
Release of Q2-2018 financial results on July 31, 2018
The Company will release Q2-2018 financial results at market open on Tuesday July 31, 2018.
Investor conference call on August 1, 2018
Amerigo’s quarterly investor conference call will take place on Wednesday August 1, 2018 at 11:00 am Pacific
Standard Time/2:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.
To joint the call, please dial 1-800-377-0758 (Toll-Free North America) and let the operator know you wish to
participate in the Amerigo Resources conference call.
The analyst and investment community are welcome to ask questions to management. Media can attend on a
listen-only basis.
About Amerigo and MVC
Amerigo Resources Ltd. is an innovative copper producer with a long-term partnership with Corporación
Nacional del Cobre de Chile (“Codelco”), the world’s largest copper producer.
Amerigo produces copper concentrate at the MVC operation in Chile by processing fresh and historic tailings
from Codelco’s El Teniente mine, the world's largest underground copper mine. Tel: (604) 681-2802; Fax:
(604) 682-2802; Web: www.amerigoresources.com; Listing: ARG:TSX.
For further information, please contact:
• Rob Henderson, President and CEO (604) 697-6203
• Aurora Davidson, Executive Vice-President and CFO (604) 697-6207
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains certain forwar d-looking information and statements as def ined in applicable securities laws (collect ively referred to as
"forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company’s future performance. All statements oth er than statements of
historical fact are forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expe ct", "may", "will", "project",
"predict", "potential", "should", "believe" and similar expressi ons is intended to identify forward-looking statements. Althoug h the Company believes that
these assumptions were reasonable when made , because these assumptions are inherently subject to signific ant uncertainties and contingencies
which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Co mpany’s control, the Company cannot assure that it will achie ve or accomplish the
expectations, beliefs or projecti ons described in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve know n and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may caus e actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such sta tements. These forward-
looking statements include but are not limited to, statements concerning:
• a forecasted increase in production and a reduction in operating costs;
• our strategies and objectives;
• our estimates of the availability and quantity of tailings, and the quality of our mine plan estimates;
• prices and price volatility for copper and other co mmodities and of materials we use in our operations;
• the demand for and supply of copper and other commodi ties and materials that we produce, sell and use;
• sensitivity of our financial results and s hare price to changes in commodity prices;
• our financial resources and our expected ability to meet our obligations for the next 12 months;
• interest and other expenses;
• domestic and foreign laws affecting our operations;
• our tax position and the tax rates applicable to us;
• the timing and costs of construction and tolling/production of, and the issuance and maintenance of the necessary permits and other
authorizations required for, our expansion projects, including the expansion for the Cauquenes deposit and the timing of ramp-up to full production
from Cauquenes;
• our ability to procure or have access to fi nancing and to comply with our loan covenants;
• the production capacity of our operations, our planned production levels and future production;
• potential impact of production and transportation disruptions;
• hazards inherent in the mining industry caus ing personal injury or loss of life, seve re damage to or destruction of property and equipment,
pollution or environmental damage, claims by third parties and suspension of operations
• our planned capital expenditures (includi ng our plan to upgrade our existing plant and operations) including the timing and c ost of completion of
our capital projects;
• estimates of asset retirement obligations and other costs related to environmental protection;
• our future capital and production costs, including the cost s and potential impact of complying with existing and proposed env ironmental laws and
regulations in the operation and closure of our operations;
• repudiation, nullification, modification or renegotiation of contracts;
• our financial and operating objectives;
• our environmental, health and safety initiatives;
• the outcome of legal proceedings and other disputes in which we may be involved;
• the outcome of negotiations concerning meta l sales, treatment charges and royalties;
• disruptions to the Company's information technology systems, including those related to cybersecurity;
• our dividend policy; and
• general business and economic conditions.
Inherent in forward-looking statements are risks and uncertainties beyond our ability to predict or control, including risks that may affect our operating or
capital plans; risks generally encountered in the permitting and deve lopment of mineral projects such as unusual or unexpected geological formations,
negotiations with government and other thir d parties, unanticipated metallurgical difficu lties, delays associated with permits, approvals and permit
appeals, ground control problems, adverse weather conditions, process upsets and equipment malfunctions; risks associated with labour disturbances
and availability of skilled labour and management; fluctuations in the market prices of our principal commodities, which are cy clical and subject to
substantial price fluctuations; risks created through competition for mining projects and properties; risks associated with lac k of access to markets; risks
associated with availability of and our ability to obtain both tailings from Codelco’s Division El Teniente’s current production and historic tailings from
tailings deposit; risks with respect to comp letion of all phases of the Cauquenes expansion, the ability of the Company to draw down funds from bank
facilities and lines of credit, the availability of and abilit y of the Company to obtain adequate funding on reasonable terms f or expansions and
acquisitions, including all phases of the C auquenes expansion; mine plan estimates; ri sks posed by fluctuations in exchange rat es and interest rates,
as well as general economic conditions; ri sks associated with environmental complianc e and changes in environmental legislation and regulation; risks
associated with our dependence on third parties for the provision of critical services; risks a ssociated with non-performance b y contractual
counterparties; title risks; social and political ri sks
associated with operations in foreign countries; risks of changes in laws affecting our operations or their interpretation, including foreign exchange controls;
and risks associated with tax reassessments and legal proceedings. Many of these risks and uncertainties apply not only to the Company and its
operations, but also to Codelco and its operations. Codelco’s ongoing mining operations provide a significant portion of the ma terials the Company
processes and its resulting metals production, therefore these risks and uncertainties may also affect their operations and in turn have a material effect
on the Company.
Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from t hose expressed or implied by the forward -looking statements
contained in this news release. Such statements are based on a nu mber of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including , but not limited to,
assumptions about:
• general business and economic conditions;
• interest rates;
• changes in commodity and power prices;
• acts of foreign governments and the outcome of legal proceedings;
• the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and vola tility of prices of copper and other commodities and products used in our
operations;
• the ongoing supply of material for processi ng from Codelco’s current mining operations;
• the ability of the Company to profitably extract and process material from the Cauquenes tailings deposit;
• the timing of the receipt of and retention of per mits and other regulatory and governmental approvals;
• the availability of and ability of the Company to obtain adequate funding on reasonable terms for expansions and acquisitions, Including all phases
of the Cauquenes expansion;
• the ability of the Company to draw down funds from bank facilities and lines of credit;
• our costs of production and our production and productivi ty levels, as well as those of our competitors;
• changes in credit market conditions and conditions in financial markets generally;
• our ability to procure equipment and operating supp lies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis;
• the availability of qualified employees and contractors for our operations;
• our ability to attract and retain skilled staff;
• the satisfactory negotiation of colle ctive agreements with unionized employees;
• the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates an d capital repatriation on our costs and results;
• engineering and construction ti metables and capital costs for our expansion projects;
• costs of closure of various operations;
• market competition;
• the accuracy of our preliminary economic assessment (incl uding with respect to size, grade and recoverability) and the geological, operational and
price assumptions on which these are based;
• tax benefits and tax rates;
• the outcome of our copper concentrate sales and treatment and refining charge negotiations;
• the resolution of environmental an d other proceedings or disputes;
• the future supply of reasonably priced power;
• our ability to obtain, comply with and renew permits and licenses in a timely manner; and
• our ongoing relations with our employees and entities with which we do business.
Future production levels and cost estimates assume there are no adverse mining or other events which significantly affect budgeted production levels.
We caution you that the foregoing list of important factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. Ot her events or circumstances co uld cause our actual
results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, our forward-looking statements. Except as required by law,
we undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements or the foregoing list of facto rs, whether as a result of
new information or future events or otherwise.