Endeavour Silver Provides Production and Cost Guidance for 2017 ______________________________________________________________________________
NEWS RELEASE
Endeavour Silver Provides Production and Cost Guidance for 2017
______________________________________________________________________________
Vancouver, Canada – January 25, 2017 - Endeavour Silver Corp. (TSX: EDR, NYSE: EXK) provides
2017 production and cost guidance for its three producing mines in Mexico: the Guanaceví mine in Durango
state and the Bolañitos and El Cubo mines in Guanajuato state.
In 2017, the Company’s plan is to produce at slightly lower throughput and higher silver grades compared
to 2016, resulting in similar silver production and slightly lower gold production forecasts. Endeavour plans
to continue investing significantly in exploration and development programs to extend the existing mine
lives and build new mines to fuel future growth.
2017 Production Guidance
Silver production is expected to be in the range of 5.2-5.7 million oz and gold production is expected be in
the 50,000-53,000 oz range. Silver equivalent production is forecast to be 8.9-9.7 million oz using a 75:1
silver:gold ratio, as shown in the table below.
Mine Silver (M oz) Gold (K oz) Ag Eq (M oz) Tonnes/Day (tpd)
Guanaceví 2.4-2.6 5.3-6.3 2.8-3.1 1,000-1,200
Bolañitos 0.9-1.0 21.5-22.5 2.5-2.7 1,000-1,100
El Cubo 1.9-2.1 23.2-24.2 3.6-3.9 1,300-1,500
Total 5.2-5.7 50.0-53.0 8.9-9.7 3,300-3,800
Bradford Cooke, Endeavour CEO, commented, “We expect 2017 to be a transformative year for Endeavour
as our attention turns to growth. The emergence of our exciting new Terronera discovery and the acquisition
of two attractive projects last year, El Compas and Parral, have positioned us for significant growth over
the next three years which we think could coincide with rising precious metal prices. We believe now is the
right time to invest for the future across our portfolio.”
In particular, the Company continues to advance the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and initial
resource estimate for the El Compas project in Zacatecas state and the Pre -Feasibility Study (PFS) and
updated reserve/resource estimate for the Terronera project in Jalisco state for completion in March, 2017.
The El Compas PEA is somewhat dependent on the outcome of appeals by several industries of the recently
amended Revenue Law in the State of Zacatecas. The amendment to the Revenue Law is effectively a new
environmental tax on the extraction of rock, sand and similar materials, the pollution of air, soil and water
and the disposal of wastes including all mill tailings and heap leach pads. However, mining companies
already pay a federal environmental tax and the Company has received legal advice that the amended state
Revenue Law is unconstitutional so Endeavour and many other companies plan to file constitutional
challenges in the Mexican courts. The amendment went into effect as of January 1, 2017 and could make
the El Compas project, and every other mine in the state, uneconomi c. High level discussions are now
underway between the affected industries in Zacatecas and state and federal government officials to repeal
or amend this law.
At Guanaceví, production will be similar to 2016 based on slightly lower grades and higher throughputs of
1,000 to 1,200 tonnes per day (tpd), primarily from the Santa Cruz, Porvenir Norte, and Porvenir
Centro orebodies. Underground exploration and mine development in these areas will be funded by mine
cash flow. Development of the new SCS and Milache deposits will utilize growth capital funded by the
Company’s treasury.
At Bolañitos, mine production will continue operating at approximately 1,100 tpd primarily from the
LL-Asunción deposit, the Plateros deposit, and historic mine f ill. Underground exploration and mine
development in these areas will continue to be funded by mine cash flow.
At El Cubo, production will also continue steady state at about 1,400 tpd from the V-Asunción, Dolores,
Villalpando, San Nicolas and Santa Cecilia veins. Underground exploration and mine development in
these areas will continue to be funded by mine cash flow.
Operating Costs
Cash costs, net of gold by -product credits, are expected to be $6.50-$7.50 per oz of silver produced in
2017, comparable to the first three quarters of 2016 . Consolidated cash costs on a co-product basis are
anticipated to be $10.25-$11.25 per oz silver and $775-$825 per oz gold.
All-in sustaining cost s (AISC), net of gold by -product credits, in accordance with the World Gold
Council standard, are estimated to be $14-$15 per oz of silver produced in 2017, higher than the first
three quarters of 2016 due to increased investments in exploration and develop ment programs. When
non-cash items such as stock -based compensation are exclu ded, AISC is forecast to be in the $ 13.50-
$14.50 range. On a co-product basis, AISC is anticipated to be $14.50-$15.50 per oz silver and $1,050-
$1,150 per oz gold. Direct operating costs are estimated to be in the range of $70-$75 per tonne.
Management has assumed a $17 per oz silver price, $1,190 per oz gold price, and 20:1 Mexican peso per
US dollar exchange rate for its 2017 cost forecasts.
2017 Capital Budget
Last year management focused on reducing sustaining exploration and capital investment s at low
precious metals prices to ensure positive cash flow for the Company. In 2017, Endeavour plans to invest
$43.3 million on capital projects at the three operating mines, including $7.7 million of growth capital,
all primarily for mine development, in order to access reserves and resources for mining. At today’s
prices, the invest ments at operations will be covered by operating cash flow, while exploration and
growth capital will be funded by the Company’s treasury.
At Guanaceví, 9.2 kilometres (km) of mine development are budgeted at $11.3 million in the North
Porvenir and Santa Cruz mines , which have been in production since 2004 and 2012, respectively. An
additional $2.2 million will be spent on ventilation, underground electrical and water control throughout
the mine. The remaining $3.2 million will be spent on new mobile equipment to aid the significant
planned development, site infrastructure and equipment.
Management has also approved an additional 2.5 km of development, budgeted at $7.1 million, to access
two new ore bodies currently not in production. The development is expected to commence in the second
quarter depending on permitting.
At Bolañitos, 5.0 km of mine development are budgeted at $5.1 million to access reserves and resources
in LL -Asunción, Plateros, and mineralized fill from historic stopes not included in resources. An
additional $0.5 million is planned to purchase various mine equipment required for the year.
At El Cubo, 7.8 km of mine development are budgeted at $8.4 million, and $2.0 million is budgeted for
supporting underground infrastructure mainly in the Villalpando vein. An additional $1.4 million will be
spent on mobile mine equipment and $1.4 million on plant equipment and infrastructure.
Mine Mine Development Other Capital Sustaining Capital Growth Capital
Guanaceví $13.5 million $3.2 million $16.7 million $7.1 million
Bolañitos $5.1 million $0.6 million $ 5.7 million -
El Cubo $10.4 million $2.8 million $13.2 million -
Corporate - - - $0.6 million
Total $29.0 million $6.6 million $35.6 million $7.7 million
Exploration Budget
In 2017, the Company plans to drill 64,000 metres (m) and spend $15.2 million on brownfields and
greenfields exploration, development engineering, and land payments across its portfolio of properties.
At the three existing mines, 20,000 m of core drilling is planned at a cost of $3.0 million . At the
exploration and development projects, 44,000 m will be drilled at a cost of $10.5 million.
At El Compas, management has approved a $3.0 million exploration program to drill 8,000 m testing
new targets, and collar an 800 m expl oration adit (subject to the PEA and the state Revenue Law) to
provide underground access to the historical resources in the El Compas and El Orito veins, confirm drill
results, and assess geotechnical parameters for mining of the mineralized zones.
At Terronera, management has approved a $2.3 million, 10,000 m drill program to test other mineralized
veins, complete the PFS, and advance the site infrastructure. In 2016, the Terronera vein discovery was
deepened and expanded by drilling . Additionally, a number of parallel structures were discovered by
mapping and sampling. In December 2016 , high-grade drill results were announced from the La Luz
vein located 2,200 m northeast of the Terronera vein.
At Parral, management plans to spend $3.0 million on drilling 18,000 m to confirm a portion of the
historical resource, tes ting multiple greenfields high-grade and bulk tonnage silver targets, and
completing a PEA. The potential for near-term, small scale contract mining and toll milling will also be
evaluated.
Additionally, the Company will conduct a 5,000 m drill program at the Guadalupe y Calvo proper ty in
Chihuahua, Mexico and a 3 ,000 m drill program in Chile. Both properties are highly pro spective:
Guadalupe y Calvo for high-grade vein mineralization near the existing resource, and for bulk tonnage
silver-lead-zinc manto mineralization in Chile.
Project 2017 Activity Drill Metres Expenditures (millions)
Guanaceví Drilling 8,000 $1.2
Bolanitos Drilling 6,000 $0.9
El Cubo Drilling 6,000 $0.9
Terronera Drilling/PFS/Infrastructure 10,000 $2.3
El Compas Drilling/PEA/Infrastructure 8,000 $3.0
Parral Drilling/PEA 18,000 $3.0
Guadalupe y Calvo Drilling 5,000 $0.9
Chile Drilling 3,000 $1.3
Mexico Holding Costs/Land Payments - $1.7
Total 64,000 $15.2
About Endeavour Silver – Endeavour Silver is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that owns
three high grade, underground, silver -gold mines in Mexico. Since start-up in 2004, Endeavour has
grown its mining operations organically to produce 9.7 million ounces of silver and equivalents in 2016.
We find, build and operate quality silver mines in a sustainable way to create real value for all
stakeholders. Endeavour Silver’s shares trade on the TSX (EDR) and the NYSE (EXK).
Contact Information - For more information, please contact:
Meghan Brown, Director Investor Relations
Toll free: (877) 685-9775
Tel: (604) 640-4804
Fax: (604) 685-9744
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.edrsilver.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation
reform act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such
forward-looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding Endeavour’s anticipated
performance in 2017 including changes in mining and operations and the timing and results of various activities. The Company
does not intend to, and does not assume any obligation to update su ch forward-looking statements or information, other than
as required by applicable law.
Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different from
those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local governments,
legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; financial risks due
to precious metals prices, operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks
and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development,
risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Company’s title to properties; as well as those factors
described in the section “risk factors” contained in the Company’s most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form filed with
the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities.
Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: the
continued operation of the Company’s mining operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities,
mining operations will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with management’s expectations and
achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward -
looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated,
described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will
prove to be accura te as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or
information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.