Entrée Resources Announces Third Quarter 2023 Results
ENTRÉE RESOURCES ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2023 RESULTS
Vancouver, B.C., November 3, 2023 – 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, 2023.
All numbers are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.
Q3 2023 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 JV
Property, which is a partnership between Entrée and OTLLC. Rio Tinto owns 66% of OTLLC and is the
manager of operations at Oyu Tolgoi.
On October 17, 2023, Rio Tinto a nnounced it continues to see st rong performance from the
underground mine, with a total of 72 Lift 1 draw bells opened from Panel 0 on the Oyu Tolgoi mining
licence, including 18 draw bells during the quarter ended Septe mber 30, 2023. Oyu Tolgoi is set to
become the world’s fourth largest copper mine by 2030 with the operation expected to deliver
average mined copper production of ~500ktpa between 2028 and 2036.
A s a t S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 2 3 , c o n s t r u c t i o n o f c o n v e y o r t o s u r f a c e works was approaching 75%
completion. Construction works for the concentrator conversion also progressed during the third
quarter, with the main contractor mobilized and required tie‐in works completed during a planned
plant shutdown.
Shaft sinking continued during the third quarter 2023. At the en d o f S e p t e m b e r , S h a f t s 3 a n d 4
reached 780 metres and 879 metres below ground level, respectively. Updated final depths required
for Shafts 3 and 4 are 1,134 metres and 1,176 metres below ground level, respectively. Rio Tinto
continues to expect both shafts to be commissioned in the second half 2024.
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property
In the third quarter 2023, the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture (“Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV”) Management
Committee approved a 2023 in‐fill d rill program for Hugo North Extension comprising both
underground (12 holes totalling 3,889 metres) and surface (six holes totalling 9,082 metres) diamond
drilling. The underground holes are collared from underground drill stations on the Oyu Tolgoi mining
l i c e n c e c r o s s i n g o n t o t h e E n t r é e / O y u T o l g o i J V P r o p e r t y . O n O c tober 27, 2023, OTLLC advised the
Company that Lift 2 underground drilling is ahead of schedule, providing OTLLC with an opportunity
t o a c c e l e r a t e t h e L i f t 2 p r o g r a m b y c o m p l e t i n g a d d i t i o n a l u n d e rground drilling at Hugo North
Extension. The Company will report further details as they are received. Full results from the 2023 in‐
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fill program for Hugo North Extension are pending. The principa l purpose for the 2023 drilling is to
support the Lift 2 Order of Magnitude Study and updated resource model.
In the third quarter 2023, the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Management Committee also approved a budget
of ~$2.245 million for exploration on the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, including three inclined
diamond drill holes totalling 2,600 metres on the Heruga South and Railway targets (Javhlant licence)
and four diamond drill holes totalling 2,600 metres on the Ulaa n Khud South target (Shivee Tolgoi
licence). On October 27, 2023, OTLLC advised the Company all dr illing was complete. Full results are
pending. 20% of the exploration expenditures will be contribute d by OTLLC on Entrée’s behalf as a
loan in accordance with the joint venture agreement (the “Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA”).
Corporate
For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2023, the Company’s operating loss was
$0.7 million and $2.5 million, respectively, compared to $0.5 million and $1.8 million, respectively, for
the comparative periods in 2022. The increase in the three and nine month periods ended September
30, 2023 was due to legal costs for both commercial negotiation s with OTLLC and Rio Tinto and the
arbitration proceedings.
For the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2023, the Company’s operating cash
outflow before changes in non‐cash working capital items was $0 .6 million and $2.2 million,
respectively, compared to $0.5 million and $1.8 million, respec tively for the comparative periods in
2022.
Share purchase warrants to purchase 5,139,000 common shares with an exercise price of C$0.60 were
exercised resulting in gross proceeds of C$3.1 million being received by the Company since January 1,
2023.
Since January 1, 2023, stock options to purchase 1,000,000 commo n s h a r e s w i t h e x e r c i s e p r i c e s
ranging from C$0.55 to C$0.77 were exercised resulting in gross proceeds of C$0.6 million being
received by the Company.
As at September 30, 2023, the cash balance was $6.9 million and the working capital balance was $6.9
million.
Effective October 1, 2019, the Company voluntarily withdrew its common shares from listing on NYSE
American and on September 5, 2023, the Company voluntarily filed a Form 15 with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of terminating the registration of the Company’s
common shares under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Ac t of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”) and suspending its reporting obligations under Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act. The Company’s shares will continue to trade in Canada on the Toronto Stock Exchange
(“TSX”) under the symbol “ETG” and in the United States on the Over‐ the‐Counter OTCQB Venture
Market (“OTCQB”) under the symbol “ERLFF”.
The Company’s primary objective for 2023 is to confirm the transfer of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant
mining licences from the Company’s Mongolian subsidiary to OTLL C as contemplated by the existing
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA. On July 17, 2023, the Company announced it has made good progress in its
previously disclosed negotiations with OTLLC and Rio Tinto to restructure or amend the existing
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA to streamline the operating environment for both parties and confirm the
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transfer of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences to O TLLC. However, several key items still
need to be resolved before any definitive agreement could be fi nalized and executed, including with
respect to a potential acquisition by the Government of Mongolia of 34% of the Company’s economic
interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property.
While the Company remains committed to achieving a commercial resolution with OTLLC and Rio
Tinto, the previously announced binding arbitration proceedings commenced by the Company on May
26, 2022 to, in part, confirm the transfer of the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences, also
continued to progress during the third quarter 2023. The Company is seeking declarations and orders
for specific performance relating to certain provisions of the Equity Participation and Earn‐in
Agreement (the “Earn‐in Agreement”) with Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. (“Turquoise Hill”) dated
October 15, 2004, as amended and subsequently assigned to OTLLC and the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA.
Both Turquoise Hill and OTLLC are respondents to the arbitration proceedings. A three‐member
Tribunal has been appointed and a merits hearing is set for April 2024.
OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY
Entrée’s primary objective is to confirm the transfer of the Sh ivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences to
OTLLC as contemplated by the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA, either in c onjunction with finalization, execution,
and closing of an agreement with OTLLC to restructure or amend the existing Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA to
streamline the operating environment for both parties, or enforcement of certain provisions of the Earn‐
in Agreement and Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA pursuant to binding arbitration proceedings. The Company
currently is registered in Mongolia as the 100% ultimate holder of the licences. The Company is also in
discussions with Erdenes Oyu Tol goi LLC (the State‐owned compan y that holds the Government’s 34%
interest in OTLLC) 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 Minerals Law of Mongolia
provides the State may share in up to 34% of the economic benefit derived from exploitation of a mineral
deposit of strategic importance where proven reserves were dete rmined through funding sources other
than the State budget. The Hugo North Extension copper‐gold deposit on the Shivee Tolgoi mining licence
and the Heruga copper‐gold‐molybdenum deposit on the Javhlant m ining licence are mineral deposits of
strategic importance.
Any definitive agreement reached between the Company and OTLLC to restructure or amend the existing
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA would be subject to TSX acceptance and th e requirements of Multilateral
Instrument 61‐101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions applicable to a related
party transaction. There are no assurances that a definitive ag reement will be finalized and executed, or
if finalized and executed, that the transaction would close.
The Company’s interim financial statements and Management’s Dis cussion and Analysis (“ MD&A”) for
the third quarter ended Septem ber 30, 2023 are available on the Company’s website at
www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com, on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, a n d o n O T C M a r k e t s a t
www.otcmarkets.com.
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
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the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property, see the Company’s Technical Report, titled “Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi Joint
Venture Project, Mongolia, NI 43‐101 Technical Report”, with an effective date of October 8, 2021,
a v a i l a b l e o n t h e C o m p a n y ’ s w e b s i t e a t www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com, and on SEDAR+ at
www.sedarplus.ca.
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. and Rio Ti nto are major shareholders of Entrée,
beneficially holding approximately 25% and 16% 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 arbitration proceedings; the Company’s plans to continue discussions with OTLLC and Rio Tinto regarding a potential restructuring or
amendment of the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA; the Company’s plans to continue discussions with Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC 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 either in conjunction with finalization and execution of a restructured or
amended agreement with OTLLC, or enforcement of certain provisi ons of the Earn‐in Agreement and Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JVA pursuant to binding
arbitration proceedings; the potential for Entrée to be include d in or otherwise receive the benefits of the Oyu Tolgoi Invest ment Agreement; the
expectations set out in OTLLC’s 2020 Oyu Tolgoi Mongolian Statutory Study and the Company’s 2021 Technical Report on its interest in the
Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Property; timing and status of Oyu Tolgoi underground development; the expected timing of first development and undercut
production from Lift 1 of the Hugo North Extension deposit; the nature of the ongoing relationship and interaction between OTL LC and Rio Tinto
and the Government of Mongolia and Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC with respect to the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi; the technical
studies for Lift 1 Panels 1 and 2, OTFS23, the Lift 2 Order of Magnitude Study, and the updated resource model for Hugo North (including Hugo
North Extension) Lifts 1 and 2 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 d elays; timing and amount of production from Lift 1 of the Entré e/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 estimation of mineral reserves and resources; projected mining and process
recovery rates; estimates of capital and operating costs, mill and concentrator throughput, cash flows and mine life; capital, financing and project
development risk; mining dilution; discussions with the Government of Mongolia, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, Rio Tinto, and OTLLC on a range of issues
including Entrée’s interest in the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Propert y, the Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant mining licences and certain m aterial 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; potential size of a mineralized zone; potential expansion of mineralization; potential discovery of new mineralized
zones; potential metallurgical recoveries and grades; plans for future exploration and/or development programs and budgets; pe rmitting 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 agreements, laws and regulations; the commencement and conclusion of arbitration
proceedings, including the potential benefits, timing and outcome of arbitration proceedings; the potential benefits, timing an d o u t c o m e o f
discussions with Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC, OTLLC, and Rio Tinto; that the Company will continue to have timely access to detailed technical, financial,
and operational information about the Entrée/Oyu Tolgoi JV Prop erty, the Oyu Tolgoi project, and government relations to enabl e the Company
to properly assess, act on, and disclose material risks and opp ortunities as they arise; local and global economic conditions and the environment
in which Entrée will operate in the future, including commodity prices, projected grades, projected dilution, anticipated capi tal and operating
costs, including inflationary pressures thereon resulting in cost escalation, and anticipated future production and cash flows; the anticipated
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location of certain infrastructure and sequence of mining within and across panel boundaries; the construction and continued development of the
O yu T o lgo i u nd ergro u nd m in e; th e s ta tu s o f E n trée’ s rela tio n s h ip and interaction with the Government of Mongolia, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC,
OTLLC, and Rio Tinto; 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, Rio Tinto, Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC and the Government of
Mongolia with respect to the continued operation and development of Oyu Tolgoi along with the implementation of Resolution 103; the
continuation of undercutting on the Oyu Tolgoi mining licence i n accordance with the Panel 0 mine plan and design; 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 timing and cost of
the construction and expansion of mining and processing facilit ies; inflationary pressures on prices for critical supplies for Oyu Tolgoi including
fuel, power explosives and grinding media resulting in cost esc alation; the ability of OTLLC or the Government of Mongolia to deliver a domestic
power source for Oyu Tolgoi (or the availability of financing f or OTLLC or the Government of Mongolia to construct such a sour ce) within 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 impact of changes in, changes in inter pretation to or changes in enforcement of, laws, regulations an d 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 acr oss panel boundaries; international conflicts such as the ongoi ng Russia‐Ukraine
conflict; projected commodity prices and their market demand; a nd production estimates and the anticipated yearly production o f 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; risks associated with changes in the attitudes of governments to foreign investment; risks associated with the conduct
of joint ventures, including the ability to access detailed technical, financial and operational information; risks related to the Company’s significant
shareholders, and whether they will exercise their rights or act in a manner that is consistent with the best interests of the Company and its other
shareholders; inability to upgrade Inferred mineral resources t o Indicated or Measured mineral resources; inability to convert mineral resources
to mineral reserves; conclusions of economic evaluations; fluct uations in commodity prices and demand; changing foreign exchan ge rates; the
speculative nature of mineral exploration; the global economic climate; dilution; share price volatility; activities, actions or assessments by Rio
Tinto or OTLLC and by government stakeholders or authorities including Erdenes Oyu Tolgoi LLC and the Government of Mongolia; the availability
of funding on reasonable terms; the impact of changes in interpretation to or changes in enforcement 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, transportation and appropriate s melting and refining arrangements; unanticipated reclamation ex penses; 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; global 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 finan cial year ended December 31, 2022, dated March 31, 2023 filed w ith the
Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedarpl us.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that
could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materia lly from those described in forward‐looking statements, there m ay be other factors
that cause actions, events or results 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 anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers
should not place undue reliance on forward‐looking statements. The Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward‐looking
statements except as required under applicable securities laws.