Erdene Releases 2022 Shareholder Letter
TSX: ERD | MSE: ERDN
www.erdene.com [email protected]
ERDENE RELEASES 2022 SHAREHOLDER LETTER
Press Release
Halifax, Nova Scotia
2022.06.29
Erdene Resource Development Corporation (TSX:ERD | MSE:ERDN) (“Erdene” or
the “Company”) is pleased to provide its 2022 Letter to Shareholders authored by
President and CEO, Peter Akerley. To read the letter please visit Letter to Shareholders.
“Over the past year, we executed upon our mission of developing the Khundii Gold District
for the benefit of all stakeholders,” said Peter Akerley, Erdene’s President and CEO. “As
outlined in my letter to fellow shareholders, recent high-grade gold discoveries at Ulaan
and Dark Horse position Erdene to achieve its two million ounce gold equivalent resource
target later this year, with the potential to add significant resources beyond this target.”
“We also made solid progress preparing our Bayan Khundii Gold Project for construction,
despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic,” continued Mr. Akerley.
“The Project is now almost fully permitted with site establishment works underway. As we
move into the latter part of 2022, we anticipate the logistical challenges at the China-
Mongolia border will begin to abate and cost pressures resulting from global inflation
should begin to stabilize with cost reductions forecast for key construction materials,
positioning us for full construction.”
About Erdene
Erdene Resource Development Corp. is a Canada-based resource company focused on
the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and base metals in
underexplored and highly prospective Mongolia. The Company has interests in three
mining licenses and an exploration license in Southwest Mongolia, where exploration
success has led to the discovery and definition of the Khundii Gold District. Erdene
Resource Development Corp. is listed on the Toronto and the Mongolian stock exchanges.
Further information is available at www.erdene.com. Important information may be
disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this
information.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information regarding Erdene contained herein may constitute forward-looking
statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements
may include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance or
other statements that are not statements of fact. Although Erdene believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no
assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Erdene cautions that
TSX: ERD | MSE: ERDN
www.erdene.com [email protected]
actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, most of which are beyond its
control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Erdene
currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
in forward-looking statements include the ability to obtain required third party approvals,
market prices, exploitation and exploration results, continued availability of capital and
financing and general economic, market or business conditions. The forwar d-looking
statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The
information contained herein is stated as of the current date and is subject to change after
that date. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update these
forward-looking statements, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE
CONTENTS OF THIS RELEASE
Erdene Contact Information
Peter C. Akerley, President and CEO, or
Robert Jenkins, CFO
Phone: (902) 423-6419
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErdeneRes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErdeneResource
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/erdene-resource-development-corp-/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCILs5s9j3SLmya9vo2-KXoA
ERDENE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Annual General Meeting 2022
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Letter to Shareholders – June 28, 2022
Dear Fellow Shareholders,
Over the past several years, an exciting, high-grade gold district has emerged in
southwestern Mongolia. Based on our success, generated from modest, relatively shallow
exploration, and given the giant ore deposits along the Central Asian Orogenic belt, we
are confident our Khundii Gold District hosts multi-million ounce world-class gold
resources. Our objectives for 2022 are to confirm resources of over two million ounces
gold equivalent, identify growth opportunities through exploration, and advance our Bayan
Khundii development towards production.
The Khundii Gold District – Four Discoveries and Multiple High-Priority Targets
Following our initial discovery at Altan Nar, approximately a decade ago, our geologic
team identified multi-ounce gold rock chip samples at Bayan Khundii in 2015. Since that
time, we have established substantial resources on these properties at grades averaging
over 2 g/t gold, largely within 150 metres of surface, and completed the technical and
environmental studies required to demonstrate the feasibility of these projects.
ERDENE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Annual General Meeting 2022
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Following a $20 million equity financing in 2020, led by Mr. Eric Sprott, and the acquisition
of 100% of the Ulaan license adjacent to Bayan Khundii, Erdene’s technical team had the
resources to more fully explore this exciting new district. Since early 2020, we have seen
exceptional exploration results across our four discoveries:
Altan Nar: The most recent drilling, reported in 2020, returned 7 metres of 45.7 g/t gold,
93.4 g/t silver, 1.54% lead and 3.40% zinc, beginning 70 metres downhole, within 23
metres of 17 g/t gold (TND-135), expanding the high-grade core of Discovery Zone.
Bayan Khundii: In mid-2020, drilling returned 5.5 metres of 125.9 g/t gold, including 1
metre of 581.6 g/t gold, in BKD-288, beginning 11.5 metres downhole. In BKD-274, 40
metres north of BKD-288, drilling returned 15 metres of 25.6 g/t gold, including 1 metre
of 338 g/t gold beginning at 14.9 metres.
Dark Horse: In the first quarter of 2022, drilling extended the high-grade, oxide gold
discovery from early 2021 with multiple high-grade intersections including 5 metres of
123.5 g/t gold within 15 metres of 42.8 g/t gold, beginning 11 metres downhole (AAD-
178).
Ulaan: In mid 2021, Erdene made a blind-top discovery at Ulaan Southeast, now traced
to 450 metres vertical depth. The most recent drilling, announced earlier this month,
returned 3 metres of 68.3 g/t gold within 41 metres of 8.1 g/t gold (UDH-35) at 208 meters
downhole, within a newly defined potential feeder zone.
102 Koz
318 Koz
903 Koz
72 Koz
186 Koz
222 Koz
1
2000
3000
1.8 g/t
2.0 g/t
2.3 g/t
1.5 g/t
1.7 g/t
1.8 g/t
0.0 g/t
0.5 g/t
1.0 g/t
1.5 g/t
2.0 g/t
2.5 g/t
0 K o z
50 0 K oz
1,0 00 K o z
1,5 00 K o z
2,0 00 K o z
2,5 00 K o z
3,0 00 K o z
3,5 00 K o z
2015 Mar 2018 May 2021 June 2022 H2 TGT 2023 TGT
RESOURCE TARGETS
M&I Inferred
3 Moz
2 Moz
Target
Target
1.1 Moz
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THE KHUNDII HIGH GRADE GOLD DISTRICT – HIGHLIGHT INTERSECTIONS (2020-22)
In addition to our existing resource base at Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar, the new Dark
Horse and Ulaan discoveries will have maiden resources reported at year-end. Both Dark
Horse and Ulaan remain open in multiple directions and require further drilling to
understand their true scale. We are confident that the mineralization recently intersected
supports our goal of defining a global resource exceeding two million ounces of gold
equivalent, with significant opportunity to grow this resource inventory.
Exploration planned for the balance of 2022 will focus on the following targets:
Ulaan: Continue to test expansion potential to the west and further define the high-grade
feeder structures. Drilling will be undertaken in Q3, with an initial program of 3,500 metres.
Dark Horse: Further definition of the Dark Horse oxide zone, where a 277 hole Reverse
Circulation (“RC”) program was recently completed. Results from the RC drilling,
expected in early Q3, will inform follow-up diamond drilling while testing of deeper targets
to explore for feeder zones will also be undertaken. Approximately 4,000 metres of
diamond drilling are planned across the greater Dark Horse area over the balance 2022.
Bayan Khundii: Relatively unexplored areas south and northwest of the current deposit
will be tested through approximately 1,200 metres of drilling.
Altan Nar: Further definition drilling of the Discovery Zone high-grade zone and testing
of the Union North deposit oxide potential will be conducted in late Q3, targeting 3,300
metres of drilling.
ERDENE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Annual General Meeting 2022
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With the results from this exploration work, as well as the recent successes noted above,
Erdene intends to update its global resource inventory by year-end.
In addition to our exceptional gold assets, our company provides exposure to
molybdenum and copper through our Zuun Mod Mo-Cu deposit as well as multiple
porphyry copper targets within our licence holdings.
Bayan Khundii Gold Project – A Shovel-Ready Development
The past two years has presented many challenges, as well as opportunities, to our initial
mine development. Despite the obstacles brought on by the pandemic, we have
completed the engineering and permitting work over the past year so that the project is
“Shovel-Ready”. Early works are underway to establish the site for development, and full
construction is ready to commence once we have confidence that the logistics and pricing
environments have stabilized. While the pandemic-related supply chain issues and
inflationary pressures weigh on all businesses, we are starting to see those impacts
abate. We anticipate full re-opening of the land border crossings between China and
Mongolia later this year, and forecast reduced costs for key construction materials, most
significantly steel, moving into 2023, when we expect to begin full construction.
While all projects are currently facing headwinds, the robust economics, driven by the
high grades of our Bayan Khundii project, ensure the development remains very profitable
under all reasonable scenarios. This is complimented by the fact that we have continued
to discover more gold mineralization that should increase project returns.
In particular, the Dark Horse near-surface, high-grade oxide zone, just 2.5 km north of the
planned gold plant, provides a new source of easily accessible high-grade gold
mineralization. There is high probability for an expanded Dark Horse zone along strike
and at depth, which, combined with the new Ulaan discovery, would add material ounces
to ore feed. These prospects require further drilling and evaluation to determine whether
they should be incorporated in the current mine plan and whether an expanded facility is
warranted. The 2022 drilling program will provide the information required for these
decisions.
Additionally, recent exploration success has led to reconsideration of gravity and heap
leach recovery methods. Since reserves were established for the feasibility study, some
of the highest-grade intersections have been returned in the Khundii District. Samples
collected from these very high-grade zones were subjected to basic gravity separation
testing and returned recoveries from 43 to 85%. These results suggest that further study
is warranted on the introduction of gravity into the main plant circuit, perhaps as a first
stage of development. On heap leach amenability, a substantial oxide resource has been
identified near surface at Bayan Khundii and Dark Horse that should yield high recoveries
utilizing heap leaching. Results from the RC drilling just completed will assist in
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understanding the broader opportunity that is largely untested. Introducing gravity or heap
leach processing could result in lower capital and operating costs and bring forward cash
flow, further improving project returns. A scoping study has been initiated to assess these
options, to be completed during the third quarter, simultaneous with the results of the Q3
exploration program. By the fourth quarter, we should have the necessary information to
update any technical elements of the plant development.
As we update our development plans, we will work with our proposed funding partners at
Export Development Canada, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,
Mongolian Banks and others who have expressed interest in supporting the construction
to finalize the financing package.
People
It is a great privilege to have worked in Mongolia for the past quarter century. I have
witnessed the Country transition from the socialist period with pride and tenacity, and the
development of a vibrant free-market economy which is true to its history and culture. I
have watched as one of the largest mineral deposits on the planet was discovered and
developed, while a nomadic lifestyle continues unabated in the region.
Erdene has an opportunity to develop a mutually beneficial project based on our
tremendous success. That success is derived from our people, including a management
team led by Mongolian professionals across all disciplines in our business. Our vision is
to see Mongolians hold a majority of management and board positions. This objective
should be achievable given that 97% of Oyu Tolgoi’s 16,300 person workforce is
Mongolian.
That vision extends to finding ways to share benefits with the Mongolian public. This was
the objective when Erdene became the first, and so far only, dual-listed company on the
Mongolian and Toronto stock exchanges. Today we have over 7,000 Mongolian
shareholders, including thousands of residents of our local communities.
On the ground, a commitment to shared benefit, transparency and education are critical.
Although our project area does not include permanent residences, people living in the
broader area have raised questions about the environment, dust, water and chemical use.
We have undertaken Mongolian and international environmental and social impact
assessments to understand our impact on stakeholders. We have designed the plant to
conserve ~ 85% of water used while working with local communities to restore existing
wells and locate new water sources. Our operations will use renewable power as part of
our power generation solution, and we entered into a co-operation agreement with the
local government to provide funding for community projects focused on health and
education. The Bayan Khundii Gold Project is expected to generate over 400 direct jobs
and over US$100 million in taxes and royalties to the government of Mongolia over the
ERDENE RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Annual General Meeting 2022
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six years of production contemplated in our 2020 Feasibility Study. Benefits to all
stakeholders will grow when we are successful in expanding operations as expected.
In conjunction with our community efforts, we are evaluating projects that could
immediately benefit the local community, including long-term sustainable employment
opportunities and mutually beneficial developments that provide further benefits to the
well being of the local community.
Summary
Our company has attracted a loyal, globally diversified, shareholder register. Over the
past two years, we have welcomed Mr. Eri c Sprott and the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development as our two largest shareholders, while adding to our
base in both Mongolia and our home province of Nova Scotia, Canada. Collectively these
groups hold approximately half of our shares. Along with long-term institutional holders,
management and directors, approximately two-thirds of our shares are in the hands of
long-term supporters of the Company.
Our mission is to generate value for shareholders while creating benefits for all
stakeholders. We collectively have an opportunity to benefit from the development and
expansion of a new gold district with multi-million ounce potential.
Our near-term plans are to continue to grow resources, evaluate and advance new
opportunities and prepare the initial reserves for development while balancing the risks
associated with the current global inflationary and supply chain environment.
We are tremendously excited by our success to date and look forward to what the future
will bring. There are obviously risks; however, the potential reward from the Khundii
District gold discoveries is as good as any I have witnessed in my 35 years in the sector.
I would like to thank all shareholders for their support. We look forward to delivering
increasing value in the months and years ahead. I’ll leave you with the 50-year gold price
chart – history is often a good indicator of what is to come.