Euro Sun Increases NPV BY 41% to $630 Million at the Rovina Valley GOLD-Copper Project IN Romania
News Release
1
EURO SUN INCREASES NPV BY 41% TO $630 MILLION AT THE
ROVINA VALLEY GOLD-COPPER PROJECT IN ROMANIA
TORONTO, February 9th, 2022 -- Euro Sun Mining Inc. (TSX: ESM) (“Euro Sun” or the
“Company”) is pleased to provide the results of its optimized and updated Definitive Feasibility
Study (“DFS”) on the Colnic and Rovina open pits - the initial phase of development of its Rovina
Valley Gold and Copper Project (the “Rovina Valley Project”) in Romania, one of Europe’s largest
gold-copper development projects. Euro Sun is dedicated to the responsible development of the
Rovina Valley Project, which may become an important source of strategic metals within the
European Union. All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Key Highlights Include (summary table set out in Table 1):
• Pre-Tax NPV increased 41% to $630 million, with an IRR of 22.7%, based on
$1,675/oz gold and $3.75/lb copper
• Estimated to produce 1.47Moz of gold and 403Mlbs of copper over the life of
the project at an AISC of $787/gold equivalent ounce
• Approximately 43 million tonnes or 19% less waste material expected to be
mined resulting in a 1.45:1 strip ratio over LOM
• The updated study incorporates the most current cost and capital
expenditure data, with initial CAPEX of $448 million
• The Rovina Valley Project incorporates dry stack tailings and is a cyanide
free operation
Scott Moore, Chief Executive Officer Euro Sun Mining Inc . comments “This updated study has
proven the long- term viability of the Rovina Valley Project , one of the largest undeveloped
Copper-Gold projects in Europe. The substantially improved economics based upon conservative
long term commodity prices , indicate further possible upside as the project moves to ward
production. With operating after-tax cashflows anticipated to be of more than US$1 billion and a
highly competitive AISC of US$787 gold equivalent ounce oz, this is clearly a high-quality project.
We are moving methodically along the permitting route and look forward to providing further
positive updates over the first half of 2022.”
The optimized and updated DFS for the Rovina Valley Project continues to focus on responsible
mining procedures including, dry stacking, continuous revegetation, and a cyanide free
processing facility. The enhanced project benefits from p ositive geotechnical study results ,
reducing waste removal and strip ratios , driving a 9% increase in gold production and a 41%
increase in pre -tax NPV. The DFS also incorporated updated cost estimates and metal price
assumptions.
Euro Sun is incorporating strong responsible mining procedures into every aspect of the project
and is utilizing a phased development approach for the Rovina Valley Project. The Rovina Valley
Project consists of two open pit gold- copper deposits, Colnic and Rovina, and the underground
Ciresata gold-copper deposit. The Ciresata underground deposit is expected to be phased in
following the completion of the Colnic and Rovina pits , assuming future mining studies are
completed, and positive results are obtained.
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Table 1: Updated Definitive Feasibility Highlights
Chief Operating Officer Sam Rasmussen adds “The additional geotechnical investigation and
laboratory test work completed last year allowed Euro Sun to update the mining plan at both the
Colnic and Rovina pits. These optimizations allowed us to lower the stripping ratios and maximize
production in both pits, at a lower unit mining cost , while also extending the life of mine. These
key optimizations further bolster the robustness of the Rovina Valley Project.”
The technical report related to the updated DFS results will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days, in
accordance with National Instrument 43 -101 (“NI 43-101”). The study has been prepared with
input from the following independent consultants:
Caracle Creek International Consulting MINRES –
CCIC (South Africa)
Mineral resources
DRA (South Africa) Mining, mineral reserves
ERM (Romania) Environmental and social
Knight Piésold (South Africa) Tailings facilities, and Hydrogeology
Middindi Consulting (South Africa) Geotechnical
Lawrence Consulting (Canada) Geochemistry
SENET (South Africa) Processing plant and infrastructure
SENET and Sidus Consulting Economic valuation / financial modelling
2022 DFS Highlights Life of Mine First 10 Years
Gold price
Copper price
Processing Rate
Mine Life 17.2 years
Average annual gold equivalent production 136,000 ounces 139,000 ounces
Average annual gold production 82,000 ounces 107,000 ounces
Average annual copper production 23.2 million pounds 14.0 million pounds
All-in sustaining costs $787/oz Au eq $823/oz Au eq
Pre-strip Capital $14.1 million
Initial Capital $447.7 million
Sustaining Capital $68.3 million
Pre-Tax NPV (5% discount rate) $630 million
Pre-Tax IRR 22.7%
Post-Tax NPV (5% discount rate) $512 million
Post-Tax IRR 20.5%
$1,675/oz
$3.75/lb
21,000 tonnes per day
News Release
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Rovina Valley Gold-Copper Project Overview
The Rovina Valley Project is situated in the Hunedoara C ounty of Transylvania in western –
central Romania. The Rovina Valley Project consists of three deposits, Rovina to the North, Colnic
Central and the Ciresata deposit to the south. The DFS only incorporates the Rovina and the
Colnic deposits and does not i nclude the Ciresata deposit, which the Company expects will be
brought into the project for development later, assuming future mining studies are completed, and
positive results are obtained. The Rovina exploration licence is held by Samax Romania S.R.L.,
a Romanian registered company which is a wholly owned subsidiary of ESM. Since November
2018, ESM possesses an exploitation permit and mining licence with a renewable 20-year validity.
The Colnic and Ciresata deposits are described as gold- copper porphyr ies while the Rovina
deposit is termed a copper-gold porphyry. All three of these deposits are located such that they
can access a central processing plant. The Rovina Valley Project processing facility is being
designed to produce a gold and copper concentrate from the Colnic and Rovina deposits.
The Rovina Valley Project is within the Golden Quadrilateral Mining District of the South Apuseni
Mountains, an area with a history of mining dating back to Roman times. This has supported the
development of excellent infrastructure including rail, power and paved access roads. In addition,
there are two international airports less than 180km from the project location. These being in the
cities of Timisoara and Sibiu. The town of Brad is within 5km of the project site from where there
will be a good source of local skilled labour. Sourcing the right skills and resources locally supports
ESM community upliftment opportunities.
The Rovina Valley Project is expected to be mined with a standard open-pit mining method using
rigid dump trucks and hydraulic loader s. The open pit mining operation is anticipated to last
approximately seventeen years, during which the lower-grade material will be stockpiled if
possible, for treatment at the tail end of mining operations.
Over the life of the project, it is expected that 140.0 Mt of ore will be mined. Of this ore, 123.3 Mt
will be delivered to the processing facility and 16.7 Mt low grade ore stockpiled where possible
for future processing. In aggregate, over the life of the mine, a total of 203.1 Mt of material will be
mined and placed on the waste facility, representing a life of mine stripping ratio of 1.45:1.
Tailings Management
Knight Piésold have advanced the design of a waste management facility within the project area
for the co-deposition of waste rock and filtered rougher tailings. Process plant rougher tailings will
be filtered in the plant where the resultant filter cake will be transported by conveyors and will be
co-mingled with waste rock prior to deposition. The cleaner tails will be filtered separately from
the rougher tailings and the resultant filter cake will be transported by conveyors and deposited
separately within a lined zone contained within the boundary of the co-mingled facility. This design
has been engineered to reduce the risk of development of impacted seepage from potentially acid
generating waste rock and capture the impacted seepage from the cleaner tailings. After
completion of mining the Col nic pit, the waste rock and rougher tailings will be preferentially
backfilled into the Colnic pit, while the cleaner tails will continue to report to the lined zone of the
waste management facility.
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Capital Costs
The estimated capital costs for the Rovina Valley Project were in almost all cases built up from
quotations and proposals from equipment and service providers. The updated DFS costs currently
utilize an owner purchased and operated mining fleet. All financ ial analysis for the Life of Mine
includes the total design, construction and commissioning, production, and closure.
Project Opportunities
The updated DFS has been completed based upon the development of the Colnic and Rovina
pits only. Further developing and treating the resource at Ciresata could further extend the life of
the operation while utilising the infrastructure and processing capabilities anticipated to be in
operation for the Rovina and Colnic deposits.
Permitting Update
The Company is currently completing the draft of the Planul Urbanistic Zonal (PUZ, Urban Zoning
Plan) and expects to file with the County of Hunedoara in the coming weeks. It is expected to
have the public audience on the draft plan sometime in early Q2, 2022 with final submission and
approval of the PUZ in Q3 2022. Once the PUZ has been approved, submittal of the notification
to complete the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure will be filed with the Ministry
of Environment.
LSE Listing
New eligibility requirements have been introduced by the London Stock Exchange and the
Company is reviewing the new rules to determine the appropriate timing for moving ahead with a
listing. Once the Updated Definitive Technical Report is filed the Company will have six months
to complete the application to list on the London Stock Exchange.
Rovina Valley Project 2022 Resource and Reserve Update
Table 2: Rovina Valley 2022 Mineral Reserve Estimate Colnic and Rovina Deposits
Deposit Classification Tonnage
(Mt)
Au
(g/t)
Cu
(%)
Au
(koz)
Cu
(t)
Colnic
Proven 25.60 0.65 0.11% 535.0 28,158.7
Probable 47.99 0.55 0.09% 848.6 43,190.4
Rovina
Proven 22.58 0.34 0.29% 243.3 67,005.8
Probable 27.13 0.24 0.22% 211.6 60,166.7
Colnic &
Rovina
Proven 48.18 0.50 0.20% 778.3 94,164.6
Probable 75.12 0.44 0.14% 1,060.2 103,357.2
Total Proven &
Probable 123.30 0.47 0.16% 1,838.5 197,522
The Mineral reserve estimate uses a base gold price of $1,550/oz and a base copper price of $3.30/lb
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Notes:
• All tonnes quoted are dry tonnes. Differences in the addition of deposit tonnes to the total displayed is due to
rounding.
• The estimate of Rovina Valley Gold Project Mineral Reserves are not at this stage materially affected by any
known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socioeconomic, marketing, political, or other relevant
issue. Furthermore, the estimate of Project Reserves is not materially affected by any known mining,
metallurgical, infrastructure, or other relevant factor.
• Mineral Reserve estimates follow the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM")
definitions standards for Mineral Resources and Reserves and have been completed in accordance with NI
43-101.
• Effective date of reserves are January 31, 2022
Table 3: Rovina Valley 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate Update Colnic and Rovina
Deposits
Deposit Classification Tonnage
(Mt)
Au
(g/t)
Cu
(%)
Au
(Moz)
Cu
(Mlb)
Au Eq*
(g/t)
Au Eq*
(Moz)
Colnic
Measured 29.2 0.65 0.12 0.61 74 0.81 0.76
Indicated 103.6 0.48 0.10 1.61 224 0.62 2.07
Rovina
Measured 33.2 0.36 0.29 0.38 213 0.77 0.82
Indicated 79.1 0.26 0.22 0.67 384 0.57 1.46
Colnic &
Rovina
Measured 62.4 0.49 0.21 0.99 288 0.79 1.58
Indicated 182.7 0.39 0.15 2.28 607 0.60 3.53
Total Measured &
Indicated 245.1 0.42 0.17 3.27 895 0.65 5.11
Notes:
• *Au and Cu Equivalent determined by using a long-term gold price of US$1,700/oz and a copper price of
US$3.50/lb with metallurgical recoveries not taken into account.
• Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral
Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
• Mineral Resources are contained within a conceptual pit shell that are generated using the same economic
and technical parameters as used for Mineral Reserves but at gold price of US$1,700/oz and a copper price
of US$3.50/lb.
• Colnic and Rovina deposits are amenable to open pit mining and Mineral Resources are Pit constrained
and tabulated at a base case cut-off grade of 0.35 g/t AuEq for Colnic and 0.25 % CuEq for Rovina
• Minor summation differences may occur, because of rounding.
• Mineral Resource estimates follow the CIM definition standards for Mineral Resources and Reserves and
have been completed in accordance with NI 43-101. With and effective date of January 31, 2022
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Table 4: Rovina Valley 2019 Mineral Resource Estimate Ciresata Deposit
Deposit Classification Tonnage
(Mt)
Au
(g/t)
Cu
(%)
Au
(Moz)
Cu
(Mlb)
Au Eq*
(g/t)
Au Eq*
(Moz)
Ciresata
Measured 28.5 0.88 0.16 0.81 102 1.13 1.03
Indicated 125.9 0.74 0.15 3.01 413 0.97 3.92
Total Measured &
Indicated 154.4 0.77 0.15 3.82 515 1.00 4.95
Notes:
• From Table 14-20, Technical Report “Rovina Valley Project, Preliminary Economic Assessment,
NI 43- 101, Feb. 20, 2019“ from AGP Mining Consultants Inc (available on SEDAR ). This
preliminary economic assessment is preliminary in nature and there is no certai nty that the
preliminary economic assessment will be realized.
• Au and Cu Equivalent determined by using a long-term gold price of US$1,500/oz and a copper
price of US$3.50/lb with metallurgical recoveries not taken into account.
• The Ciresata deposit is amenable to bulk underground mining and resources are tabulated at a
base case 0.65 g/t Au eq
• No Mineral Reserves have been defined at the Ciresata deposit. Mineral Resources that are not
Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
• Minor summation differences may occur, as a result of rounding.
• Mineral Resource estimates follow the CIM definition standards for Mineral Resources and
Reserves and have been completed in accordance with the Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects as defined by NI 43-101.
On a consolidated basis of measured and indicated resources, the Rovina Valley Project
includes 399.5 Mt containing 7.09 Moz gold and 1,410 Mlbs copper equal to 10.06 M gold
equivalent ounces.
Qualified Persons
The mineral reserve estimate stated in this press release have been reviewed and approved by
Mr. David Alan Thompson (ECSA No. 201190010), Principal Mining Engineer for DRA Projects
(Pty) Ltd, who is an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr.
D Thompson was responsible for the mineral reserve estimate of the RVP Feasibility Study that
supports this press release. Mr. D Thompson confirmed that he has reviewed the information in
this press release as it relates to the mineral reserve estimate.
The mineral resources estimate stated in this press release have been reviewed and approved
by Mr. Sivanesan (Desmond) Subramani (Pri. Sci. Nat - 400184/06), Principal for Mineral
Resources at Caracle Creek International Consultants, w ho is an independent qualified person
as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. D Subramani was responsible for the mineral resource estimate of
the DFS. Mr. D Subramani confirmed that he has reviewed and approved the information in this
press release as it relates to the mineral resource estimate.
Mr. Randy Ruff, P. Geo., an employee of Euro Sun and a qualified person as defined by NI 43 -
101 has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release other than the
mineral resource estimates and the mineral reserve estimates.
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About Euro Sun Mining Inc.
Euro Sun is a Toronto Stock Exchange listed mining company focused on the exploration and
development of its 100%-owned Rovina Valley gold and copper project located in west-central
Romania, which hosts the second largest gold deposit in Europe.
For further information about Euro Sun Mining, or the contents of this press release, please
contact Investor Relations at [email protected]
Caution regarding forward-looking information:
This press release contains statements which constitute “forward-looking information” within the
meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs
and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating
performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words “may”, “would”, “could”,
“should”, “will”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” or similar expressions
and includes information regarding the Company’s estimates, expectations, forecasts and
guidance for production, waste material, all-in sustaining cost, capital expenditures, cost savings,
project economics (including pre-tax net pres ent value and after tax cashflows ) and other
information contained in the updated DFS; as well as references to other possible events, the
future price of gold and copper, the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the
realization of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, the timing and amount of estimated
future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development
of the project and mining and processing activities, requirements for addit ional capital,
government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks and the anticipated timing for
the filing of the updated DFS as a NI 43-101 compliant technical report.
Investors are cautioned that forward- looking information is not based on historical facts but
instead reflect management’s expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or
events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable
at the date the statements are made. Although the Company believes that the expectations
reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and
uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or
unpredictable factors co uld have material adverse effects on future results, performance or
achievements of the Company. This forward -looking information may be affected by risks and
uncertainties in the combined business of the Company and market conditions, including (1) there
being no significant disruptions affecting the Company’s operations whether due to extreme
weather events and other or related natural disasters, labor disruptions, supply disruptions, power
disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; (2) permitting, development, operations and
production for the Rovina Valley Project being consistent with the Company’s expectations; (3)
political and legal developments Romania being consistent with current expectations; (4) certain
price assumptions for gold and copper; (5) prices for diesel, electricity and other key supplies
being approximately consistent with current levels; (6) the accuracy of the Company’s mineral
reserve and mineral resource estimates; and (7) labor and materials costs increasing on a basis
consistent with the Company’s current expectations. This information is qualified in its entirety by
cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in filings made by the Company with
the Canadian securities regulators, including the Company’s annual information form, financial
statements and related MD&A for the financial year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the
securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com.
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Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying
the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those
described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although
the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could
cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as
anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and do not as sume any
obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable
law.
The Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release, such as
all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”) per gold equivalent ounce, net present value (“NPV”). These non-
GAAP financial measures do not have any standardi zed meaning. Accordingly, these financial
measures are intended to provide additional information and s hould not be considered in
isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). AISC, as defined by the World Gold Council
is a common financial performance measure in the mining industry but have no standard
definition under IFRS . AISC include operating cash costs, net -smelter royalty, corporate
costs, sustaining capital expenditure, sustaining exploration expenditure and capitali sed
stripping costs. Other companies may calculate these measures differently and should not be
considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance
with IFRS.
The TSX does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release .