Entrée Resources Announces Third Quarter 2022 Results
ENTRÉE RESOURCES ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2022 RESULTS
Vancouver, B.C., November 9, 2022 – Entrée Resources Ltd. (TSX: ETG; OTCQB: ERLFF – the “ Company”
or “Entrée”) has today filed its interim financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022.
All numbers are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
Q3 2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Oyu Tolgoi Underground Development Update
The Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia includes two separate land h oldings: the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence,
which is held by Entrée’s joint venture partner Oyu Tolgoi LLC (“OTLLC”) and the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi joint
venture property (the “Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property”), which is a partnership between Entrée and
OTLLC. On October 17, 2022, OTLLC’s 66% shareholder Turquoise H ill Resources Ltd. (“ Turquoise Hill”)
provided an update on Oyu Tolgoi underground development:
S a f e t y c o n t i n u e s t o b e O T L L C ’ s t o p p r i o r i t y a n d C O V I D ‐ 1 9 c o n t r ol s r e m a i n i n p l a c e a t s i t e t o
protect OTLLC’s work force. COVID‐19 cases identified at Oyu Tolgoi continued at low levels in the
third quarter 2022 and the testing regime has been eased. Following the recent relaxation of
COVID‐19 government‐initiated restrictions in Mongolia, OTLLC has progressively restarted work
on project facilities with workforce numbers now at full capacity.
Construction of the final major stage of materials handling infrastructure continues, including civil
and underground works for the conveyor to surface. Undercut bla sting and on‐footprint
construction work continued to progress during the third quarter 2022. Commissioning of the
second truck chute has commenced, and the 8 th draw bell was fired on October 13, 2022, both
ahead of schedule. Sustainable production from Panel 0 on the O yu Tolgoi mining licence is now
anticipated in the first quarter 2023.
The Shaft 3 headframe was commissioned and sinking commenced on March 31, 2022, with the
cumulative sinking level at 298 metres below ground level as at October 2, 2022. Shaft 4
advancement was 418 metres below ground level as at October 2, 2022. The rate of progress in
shafts improved during the quarter due to the optimization work p r o g r a m t o m a x i m i z e t h e
productivity of their development. Continued progress on the program is necessary to remain
aligned with the 2022 cost and schedule update, which identified an approximate 15‐month delay
in the commissioning of Shafts 3 and 4 from the schedule in the Definitive Estimate. As previously
disclosed, Turquoise Hill now expects Shafts 3 and 4 to be comm issioned in the first half 2024,
and progress continues to be closely monitored. Shafts 3 and 4 are required to provide ventilation
to support production from Panels 1 and 2 during ramp up to 95, 000 tonnes per day. Turquoise
Hill currently expects the first Panel 1 draw bell in the first half 2027. The Hugo North Extension
deposit on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property is located in the northern portion of Panel 1.
‐ 2 ‐
Design optimization work for Lift 1 on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence and the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV
Property continues with the aim of minimizing risk and maximizi ng productivity. The Lift 1 Panel
1 design optimization study remains on track for completion in the first half 2023.
On September 5, 2022, Turquoise Hill announced it has entered i nto an arrangement agreement
with Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited (“Rio Tinto”) pursuant to which Rio
Tinto will acquire the approximately 49% of the issued and outs tanding shares of Turquoise Hill
that Rio Tinto does not currently own for C$43.00 in cash per share, subject to approval by
Turquoise Hill minority shareholders and other customary closing conditions. The special meeting
of Turquoise Hill shareholders to consider and approve the statutory plan of arrangement is
currently scheduled for Novembe r 15, 2022. Rio Tinto’s stated p urpose for the acquisition is to
strengthen its copper portfolio and create a more efficient own ership and governance structure
for the Oyu Tolgoi project. If t he transaction is successfully completed, Rio Tinto will have a 66%
interest in deposits on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence and a 52.8% interest in the Hugo North
Extension and Heruga deposits on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property.
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property Update
For Panel 1 drilling on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture (the
“Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV ”) has approved a 2022 budget with diamond drill holes targetin g Hugo
North Extension Lifts 1 and 2. The holes are collared from unde rground drill stations along the
eastern boundary of the porphyry mineralized footprint on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence crossing
onto the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property. As at the end of Octob er 2022, 14 underground holes
have been drilled on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property totalling 6,083.3 metres. In addition, two
surface diamond drill holes to talling ~3,550 metres are in prog ress, with hole EGD173 currently
at a depth of 1,698 meters (planned depth 1,800 metres) and hol e EGD161 currently at a depth
of 364 metres (planned depth 1,750 metres). The two surface holes will be entirely on the
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property and will target the northern port ion of the Hugo North Extension
deposit. The Lift 1 Panel 1 geological model is expected to be finalized in the first quarter 2023,
following which a decision will be made as to whether more Lift 1 drilling will be required. The
Company has received preliminary results from a portion of the underground holes and is in the
process of collating and modelling the data.
With the relaxation of COVID‐19 related restrictions in Mongoli a, exploration drilling programs
resumed in 2022. On the Shivee Tolgoi mining licence, six reverse circulation (“RC”) holes totalling
1,500 metres and one 800 metre diamond drill hole have been completed at the Ulaan Khud
target. In addition, three di amond drill holes totalling 2,200 metres have been completed at the
Airstrip target. Analytical results are pending. On the Javhlant mining licence, five RC holes
totalling 1,500 metres were planned for each of the Bumbat Ulaan and West Mag targets in 2022.
Two RC holes totalling 600 metres were completed at the West Ma g target; the remaining three
holes were cancelled following engagement with one of the local h e r d e r s . T h e f i v e R C h o l e s
planned for the Bumbat Ulaan target were not completed due to the recent commissioning of the
Tavan Tolgoi‐Gashuunsukhait railway.
The Company continues to monitor the situation in Mongolia incl uding with respect to possible
delays to commencement of Panel 1. The Company will assess the potential impact of any delays
as it becomes aware of them and will update the market accordingly.
On May 26, 2022, the Company announced it has commenced binding arbitration proceedings to
seek declarations and orders for specific performance relating to certain provisions of the Equity
‐ 3 ‐
Participation and Earn ‐in Agreement (the “ Earn‐in Agreement ”) with Turquoise Hill dated
October 15, 2004, as amended and subsequently assigned to OTLLC and the Joint Venture
Agreement appended to the Earn‐in Agreement (the “Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA”). The parties have
been operating under the terms of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA sin ce OTLLC completed its earn‐in
obligations on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property in 2008. The C ompany will provide updates on
the arbitration as developments warrant.
Corporate
Operating loss was $0.5 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine month periods of 2022,
respectively, compared to $0.5 million and $1.6 million in the comparative periods of 2021.
Operating cash outflow before changes in non‐cash working capit al items was $0.5 million and
$1.7 million for the three and nine month periods of 2022, respectively, compared to $0.5 million
and $1.5 million in the comparative periods of 2021.
As at September 30, 2022, the cash balance was $7.1 million and the working capital balance was
$7.1 million.
OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY
Entrée’s primary objective for the 2022 year is to confirm the transfer of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant
mining licences to OTLLC as manager of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV either in conjunction with finalization
and execution of amendments to the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA, or en forcement of certain provisions of the
Earn‐in Agreement and Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA pursuant to binding arbitration proceedings. The Company
is also advancing discussions with Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC regar ding a potential acquisition by the
Government of Mongolia of 34% of the Company’s economic interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property
in connection with the transfer of the licences. The Company cu rrently is registered in Mongolia as the
100% ultimate holder of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences.
As previously disclosed by the Company, the contract area defin ed in the 2009 Oyu Tolgoi Investment
Agreement among the Government of Mongolia, OTLLC, Rio Tinto an d Turquoise Hill (the “ Oyu Tolgoi
Investment Agreement”) includes the Javhlant and Shi vee Tolgoi mining licences. How ever, at the time
of negotiation of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement, the Comp any was not made a party to the Oyu
Tolgoi Investment Agreement, and as such does not have any direct rights or benefits under the Oyu Tolgoi
Investment Agreement.
Entrée has been engaged in discussions with stakeholders of the Oyu Tolgoi project, including the
Government of Mongolia, OTLLC, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Turquois e Hill and Rio Tinto, since February
2013. The discussions to date have focused on issues arising from Entrée’s exclusion from the Oyu Tolgoi
Investment Agreement, including the fact that the Government of M o n g o l i a d o e s n o t h a ve a f u l l 3 4 %
interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; the fact that th e mining licences integral to future
underground operations are held by more than one corporate enti ty; and the fact that Entrée does not
benefit from the stability that it would otherwise have if it w ere a party to the Oyu Tolgoi Investment
Agreement. In order to receive the benefits of the Oyu Tolgoi Investment Agreement, the Government
of Mongolia may require the Company to agree to certain concessions, including with respect to Entrée’s
economic interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property.
The Company believes that amending the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA to align the interests of all stakeholders
as they are now understood, transferring the licences to OTLLC as manager of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV,
and resolving outstanding issues arising from Entrée’s exclusio n from the Oyu Tolgoi Investment
‐ 4 ‐
Agreement would be in the best interests of all stakeholders, provided there is no material net erosion of
value to Entrée. No agreements ha v e b e e n f i n a l i z e d a n d t h e r e a re no assurances agreements may be
finalized in the future.
The Company’s interim financial statements and Management’s Dis cussion and Analysis (“ MD&A”) for
the third quarter ended Septem ber 30, 2022 are available on the Company’s website at
www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
QUALIFIED PERSON
R o b e r t C i n i t s , P . G e o . , c o n s u l t a n t t o E n t r é e a n d t h e C o m p a n y ’ s former Vice President, Corporate
Development, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43‐101 – Standards of Disclosure
for Mineral Projects, has approved the technical information in this release. For further information on
the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, see the Company’s Technical Report (the “ 2021 Technical Report ”),
titled “Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi Joint Venture Project, Mongolia, NI 43‐101 Technical Report”, with an effective
date of October 8, 2021, available on the Company’s website at www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com, on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.
ABOUT ENTRÉE RESOURCES LTD.
E n t r é e R e s o u r c e s L t d . i s a w e l l ‐ f u n d e d C a n a d i a n m i n i n g c o m p a n y with a unique carried joint venture
interest on a significant portion of one of the world’s largest copper‐gold projects – the Oyu Tolgoi project
in Mongolia. Entrée has a 20% or 30% carried participating interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV, depending
on the depth of mineralization. Horizon Copper Corp., Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill are major shareholders
of Entrée, holding approximately 25%, 9% and 7% of the shares of t h e C o m p a n y , r e s p e c t i v e l y . M o r e
information about Entrée can be found at www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com.
FURTHER INFORMATION
David Jan
Investor Relations
Entrée Resources Ltd.
Tel: 604‐687‐4777 | Toll Free: 1‐866‐368‐7330
E‐mail: [email protected]
This News Release contains forward‐looking statements within th e meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Re form Act of 1995
and forward‐looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws with respect to corporate strategies and plans;
requirements for additional capital; uses of funds and projected expenditures; arbitration proceedings, including the potential benefits, timing and
outcome of the arbitration proceedings; the Company’s plans to continue discussions with OTLLC and Turquoise Hill regarding po tential
amendments to the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA; the Company’s plans to advance discussions with the Government of Mongolia regarding a potential
acquisition by the Government of Mongolia of 34% of the Company’s economic interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; the Company’s ability
to transfer the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences to OTLLC as manager of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV either in conjunction with finalization
and execution of amendments to the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA, or enforcement of certain provisions of the Earn‐in Agreement and Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi
JVA pursuant to binding arbitration proceedings; the potential for Entrée to be included in or otherwise receive the benefits of the Oyu Tolgoi
Investment Agreement; the expectations set out in OTLLC’s 2020 Oyu Tolgoi Mongolian Statutory Study and the 2021 Technical Rep ort on the
Company’s interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; timing a n d s t a t u s o f O y u T o l g o i u n d e r g r o u n d d e v el o p m e n t ; t h e e x p ec t e d timing of
sustainable production from Panel 0 on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence; the nature of the ongoing relationship and interaction between Oyu Tolgoi
project stakeholders and the Government of Mongolia with respec t to the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi as a nd when the
key agreements entered into between Turquoise Hill, Rio Tinto and the Government of Mongolia are implemented along with the implementation
of Resolution 103; the mine design for Hugo North Lift 1 Panel 0 and the related cost and production schedule implications; th e re‐design studies
for Panels 1 and 2 of Hugo North (including Hugo North Extensio n) Lift 1 and the possible outcomes, content and timing thereof ; the timing and
progress of the sinking of Shafts 3 and 4 and any delays in that regard in addition to previously disclosed delays; timing and amount of production
from Lift 1 of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, potential production delays and the impact of any delays on the Company’s cash flows, expected
copper, gold and silver grades, liquidity, funding requirements and planning; future commodity prices; the potential impact of COVID‐19 on Oyu
Tolgoi underground development and the Company’s business, operations and financial condition; the estimation of mineral reserves and
resources; projected mining and process recovery rates; estimat es of capital and operating cost s, mill and concentrator throug hput, cash flows
and mine life; capital, financing and project development risk; mining dilution; discussions with the Government of Mongolia, Rio Tinto, OTLLC and
‐ 5 ‐
Turquoise Hill on a range of issues including Entrée’s interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences
and certain material agreements; potential actions by the Government of Mongolia with respect to the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences
and Entrée’s interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; pot ential size of a mineralized zone; potential expansion of miner alization; potential
discovery of new mineralized zones; potential metallurgical recoveries and grades; plans for future exploration and/or development programs and
budgets; permitting time lines; anticipated business activities; proposed acquisitions and dispositions of assets; and future financial performance.
In certain cases, forward‐looking statements and information can be identified by words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is
expected", "budgeted", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such
words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".
While the Company has based these forward‐looking statements on its expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were
prepared, the statements are not a guarantee of Entrée’s future performance and are based on numerous assumptions regarding pr esent and
future business strategies, the correct interpretation of agree ments, laws and regulations; the commencement and conclusion of the arbitration
proceedings, including the potential benefits, timing and outco me of the arbitration proceedings; the potential benefits, timi ng and outcome of
negotiations with the Government of Mongolia, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, OTLLC, Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto; local and global economic conditions
and the environment in which Entrée will operate in the future, i n c l u d i n g c o m m o d i t y p r i c e s , p r o j e c t e d g r a d e s , p r o j e c t e d d i l u t ion, anticipated
capital and operating costs, including inflationary pressures thereon resulting in cost escalation, and anticipated future production and cash flows;
the anticipated location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining within and across panel boundaries; the construction and continued
development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine; the status of E ntrée’s relationship and interaction with the Government of Mon golia, Erdenes
Oyu Tolgoi LLC, OTLLC, Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill; and the Company’s ability to operate sustainably, its community relations and its social licence
to operate.
With respect to the construction and continued development of the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine, important risks, uncertainties and factors which
could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward‐looking statements and information include,
amongst others, the nature of the ongoing relationship and interaction between OTLLC, Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto and the Government of
M o n g o l i a w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e c o n t i n u e d o p e r a t i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e nt of Oyu Tolgoi as and when the key agreements entered into between
Turquoise Hill, Rio Tinto and the Government of Mongolia are implemented along with the implementation of Resolution 103; the continuation of
undercutting in accordance with the mine plan and design; actua l timing of first sustainable production from Panel 0 as well a s the lifting of
restrictions by the Government of Mongolia on the ability of OT LLC to incur additional indebtedness; the amount of any future funding gap to
complete the Oyu Tolgoi project and the availability and amount of potential sources of additional funding; the eventual pre‐payment arrangement
between Turquoise Hill and OTLLC; the implementation and succes sful execution of the funding plan delineated in a binding agre ement between
Turquoise Hill and Rio Tinto (the “Amended HoA”) and potential delays in the ability of Turquoise Hill or OTLLC to proceed with the funding
elements contemplated by the Amended HoA; the timing and cost of the construction and expansion of mining and processing facilities;
inflationary pressures on prices for critical supplies for Oyu Tolgoi including fuel, power explosives and grinding media resulting in cost escalation;
the ability of OTLLC or the Government of Mongolia to deliver a domestic power source for Oyu Tolgoi (or the availability of f inancing for OTLLC
or the Government of Mongolia to construct such a source) withi n the required contractual timeframe; sources of interim power; OTLLC’s ability
to operate sustainably, its community relations, and its social licence to operate in Mongolia; the potential impact of COVID‐ 19, including any
restrictions imposed by health and governmental authorities rel ating thereto; the impact of changes in, changes in interpretat ion to or changes
in enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practises in Mongolia; delays, and the costs which would result from delays, in the
development of the underground mine; the anticipated location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining within and across panel
boundaries; international conflicts such as the ongoing Russia‐Ukraine conflict; projected commodity prices and their market demand; and
production estimates and the anticipated yearly production of copper, gold and silver at the Oyu Tolgoi underground mine.
Other risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results, performance or achievements of Entrée to differ mater ially from future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by fo rward‐looking statements and information include, amongst other s,
unanticipated costs, expenses or liabilitie s; discrepancies bet ween actual and estimated production, mineral reserves and reso urces and
metallurgical recoveries; development plans for processing resources; matters relating to proposed exploration or expansion; mining operational
and development risks, including geotechnical risks and ground conditions; regulatory restrictions (including environmental regulatory restrictions
and liability); risks related to international operations, including legal and political risk in Mongolia; risks related to the potential impact of global
or national health concerns, including the COVID‐19 pandemic; r isks associated with changes in the attitudes of governments to foreign
investment; risks associated with the conduct of joint ventures ; inability to upgrade Inferred mineral resources to Indicated or Measured mineral
resources; inability to convert mineral resources to mineral re serves; conclusions of economic evaluations; fluctuations in co mmodity prices and
demand; changing foreign exchange rates; the speculative nature of mineral exploration; the global economic climate; dilution; share price
volatility; activities, actions or assessments by Rio Tinto, Tu rquoise Hill or OTLLC and by government authorities including t he Government of
Mongolia; the availability of funding on reasonable terms; the i m p a c t o f c h a n g e s i n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t o o r c h a n g e s i n e n f o r c e m e nt of laws,
regulations and government practices, including laws, regulations and government practices with respect to mining, foreign investment, royalties
and taxation; the terms and timing of obtaining necessary environmental and other government approvals, consents and permits; the availability
and cost of necessary items such as water, skilled labour, tran sportation and appropriate smelting and refining arrangements; unanticipated
reclamation expenses; changes to assumptions as to the availability of electrical power, and the power rates used in operating cost estimates and
financial analyses; changes to assumptions as to salvage values ; ability to maintain the social licence to operate; accidents, labour disputes and
other risks of the mining industry; global climate change; glob al conflicts; title disputes; limitations on insurance coverage ; competition; loss of
key employees; cyber security incidents; misjudgements in the course of preparing forward‐looking statements; and those factors discussed in the
Company’s most recently filed MD&A and in the Company’s Annual Information Form for the financial year ended December 31, 2021 , dated
March 25, 2022 filed with the Canadian Securities Administrator s and available at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has atte mpted to
identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward‐looking statements,
there may be other factors that cause actions, events or result s not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
forward‐looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those a nticipated in such
‐ 6 ‐
statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue relianc e on forward‐looking statements. The Company is under no obliga tion to update
or alter any forward‐looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws.