Iamgold Reports Fourth Quarter and Year - End 2024 Results
TSX:
IMG
NYSE:
IAG
NEWS RELEASE
IAMGOLD REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR
-
END 2024 RESULTS
All monetary amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.
Toronto, Ontario, February 20, 2025
–
IAMGOLD Corporation
(NYSE:IAG, TSX:IMG) (“IAMGOLD” or the
“Company”) today reported its financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31,
2024. Preliminary operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended 2024, alongside operating guidance
estimates for 2025, were previously disclosed on January 14, 2025.
"Last year was a monumental year for IAMGOLD, as the Company achieved key milestones to position the Company
as a dynamic, modern multi
-
asset mid
-
tier gold producer that is poised for potential free cash flow expansion while
retaining significant growth opportunities," said Renaud Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer of IAMGOLD.
"IAMGOLD finished 2024 with total attributable gold production of 667,000 gold ounces, a 43% increase from the prior
year and in line with our previously raised guidance estimates. This strong performance was driven by the start of
production at Côté Gold and the outperformance of Essakane and Westwood. "
"The Côté Gold team had a very strong year, as the mine achieved among the quickest ramp
-
ups to commercial
production for a large
-
scale open pit gold mine in Canada. Our efforts continue to be focused on the ramp up of the
processing plant towards achieving the nameplate throughput rate of 36,000 tpd at a steady, sustainable rate. We are
prioritizing stability and operating consistency, while refining and balancing our maintenance schedules for wear and
tear. The plant has demonstrated its ability to operate above nameplate over multi
-
day periods, and with an additional
secondary crusher scheduled to be installed in November, we look forward to determining the potential of the plant to
sustainably achieve over nameplate with minimal capital spending in the near term. Longer term, we will continue to
pursue improvements in mining and processing activities and investigate the potential options to bring into the mine
plan the full resource base estimate of the Côté and Gosselin zones
-
which combine for over 16.5 million ounces of
measured and indicated and 4.2 million ounces of inferred resources
-
to define Côté Gold among Canada's largest
gold mines in operation."
"At Essakane, the mine achieved the top end of guidance with strong, stable operations through the year. While the
cost of operations in country have risen over the last two years, Essakane is positioned to generate strong cash flows
as waste stripping is scheduled to decline year over year. The exploration team has done an amazing job with the
updated Mineral Reserves estimate announced today in which we saw Essakane more than replace reserve
depletion, thereby implying the potential for further mine life extension within the secured perimeter of our operations."
"Finally, the transformation of Westwood has been among the top mining success stories in 2024, as the last few
years of redevelopment and rehabilitation resulted in the successful turnaround of the mine where it finished the year
generating $94.4 million in mine site free cash flow. Further, this achievement was during a transitional year as our
teams completed the safe rehabilitation of the mine and began standard underground development and mining
operations."
HIGHLIGHTS:
Operating and Financial
•
Attributable gold production
for the year was
667,000
ounces, the mid
-
point of the Company’s increased
production guidance of 625,000 to 715,000 ounces. Fourth quarter attributable production was
177,000
ounces.
•
Côté produced
124,000
attributable ounces
(
199,000
ounces on a 100% basis) during its initial nine months
of operation and 62,000 attributable ounces
(
96,000
ounces on a 100% basis) in the fourth quarter as it
continued to ramp up to name
plate capacity, close to the bottom end of the attributable production guidance
range of 130,000 to 175,000 ounces (220,000 to 290,000 ounces at 100%).
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7
•
Westwood produced 134,000 ounces for the full year and 35,000 ounces in the fourth quarter, exceeding the
top end of the production guidance range of 115,000 to 130,000 ounces.
•
Essakane produced 409,000 attributable ounces for the full year and 80,000 attributable ounces in the fourth
quarter, achieving the top end of the attributable production guidance range of 380,000 to 410,000 ounces.
•
Revenues
for the year were a record of
$1,633.0 million
from sales of
699,000
ounces at an average realized
gold price
1
of
$2,330
per ounce and
$469.9 million
from sales of
185,000
ounces at an average realized gold
price of
$2,525
per ounce for the quarter.
•
Cost of sales
per ounce sold, excluding Côté
1
, was
$1,181
for the year, at the low end of cost guidance of $1,175
to $1,275 and
$1,397
for the fourth quarter. Including Côté, cost of sales per ounce sold was
$1,156
for the year
and
$1,298
for the fourth quarter.
•
Cash cost
1
per ounce sold, excluding Côté, was
$1,176
for the year, at the low end of guidance range of $1,175
to $1,275 and
$1,393
for the fourth quarter. Including Côté, cash cost
1
per ounce sold was
$1,152
for the year and
$1,294
for the fourth quarter.
•
AISC
1
per ounce sold, excluding Côté, was
$1,725
for the year, trending toward the low end of guidance range of
$1,700 to $1,825 and
$2,071
for the fourth quarter. Including Côté, AISC
1
per ounce sold was
$1,716
for the year
and
$1,949
for the fourth quarter.
•
Net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share
attributable to equity holders
1
of
$1.52
and
$0.55
for the
year, respectively; for the fourth quarter, net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share attributable to equity
holders
1
of
$0.15
and
$0.10
, respectively. The 2024 net earnings were adjusted for a
$455.5 million
gain on the
reversal of the previously recorded impairment at Westwood.
•
Net cash from operating activities
was
$486.0
million
for the year and
$102.6
million
for the fourth quarter. Net
cash from operating activities, before movements in working capital and non
-
current ore stockpiles
1
, was
$600.4
million
for the year and
$127.2
million
for the fourth quarter.
•
Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization
(“EBITDA”)
1
was
$1,323.0
million for
the year (
$259.5
million for the fourth quarter) and adjusted EBITDA
1
was
$780.6
million for the year (
$215.4
million for the fourth quarter). The 2024 EBITDA was adjusted for a
$455.5 million
gain on the reversal of the
previously recorded impairment at Westwood.
•
Mine
-
site free cash flow
1
, excluding Côté Gold, was
$344.9 million
for the year and
$61.3 million
for the fourth
quarter. The mine
-
site free cash flow from Côté Gold was
$40.2 million
for the initial five months of commercial
operations and
$16.9 million
during the fourth quarter.
•
The Company has
available liquidity
1
of
$767.0
million
, mainly comprised of cash and cash equivalents of
$347.5
million
and the available balance of the revolving credit facility (“Credit Facility”) of
$418.5
million
as at
December
31, 2024
.
•
In
health and safety
, for the year ended
December
31, 2024
, the Company reported a TRIFR (total recordable
injuries frequency rate) of 0.63, an improved trend since last year and third successive year of improvement.
Outlook
for 2025
•
Attributable gold production of 735,000 to 820,000 ounces
, driven by the ramp
-
up of Côté to nameplate
production later in the year and continued strong production levels from Essakane and Westwood.
•
Production at Côté in its first full year, on a 100% basis, is expected to be between 360,000 to 400,000
ounces for the year (250,000 to 280,000 ounces on an attributable basis).
•
Cash cost
1
guidance of $1,200 to $1,350 per ounce sold
and
AISC
1
guidance of $1,625 to $1,800 per ounce
sold
. Costs are expected to be lower in the second half of the year as Côté progresses towards nameplate
production.
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7
Mineral Reserves and Resources
•
Proven and Probable (“P&P”) Mineral Reserves (100% basis) total 10.7 million ounces of gold in 296 million
tonnes (“Mt”) at 1.12 grams per tonne gold (“g/t Au”) (8.2 million ounces attributable). P&P Mineral Reserves
decreased 3%, or 367,000 ounces, from the year prior. P&P Mineral Reserves at Essakane increased 5% net of
depletion, offset by a 4% decrease at Côté due to depletion.
•
Measured and Indicated (“M&I”) Mineral Resources (100% basis) increased 3% to 26.7 million ounces of gold in
846 Mt at 0.98 g/t Au (21.2 million ounces attributable). Inferred Mineral Resources (100% basis) increased 27%
to a total of 12.8 million ounces (11.4 million ounces attributable).
•
Updated Mineral Resources for the 100%
-
owned Nelligan Project of 3.1 million Indicated gold ounces in 102.8
million tonnes (“Mt”) at 0.95 grams per tonne gold (“g/t Au”), and 5.2 million Inferred ounces (166.4 Mt at 0.96 g/t
Au). This represents a 56% increase in Indicated ounces, or 1.1 million ounces, with an accompanying 13%
increase in grade; as well as a 33% increase in Inferred ounces, or 1.3 million ounces, with a similar 14%
increase in grade. Nelligan mineralization remains open along strike and at depth.
Corporate
•
On December 2, 2024, the Company announced the return of its ownership in Côté to a 70% interest effective
November 30, 2024, following the repurchase of the 9.7% interest of the Côté Gold Mine for $377.7 million. The
interest that was transferred to Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd. (“Sumitomo” or “SMM”) as part of the JV funding
and amending agreement entered into on December 19, 2022.
•
On December 23, 2024, the Company announced that it executed an amendment to its secured revolving credit
facility ("Credit Facility"). Under the amendment, the term has been extended to four years with a new maturity
date of December 20, 2028, and the Credit Facility size has been increased from $425 million to $650 million. The
Credit Facility will be available for general working capital purposes and provides flexibility as the Company looks
to lower the cost of its debt and improve its capital structure in 2025.
•
On December 23, 2024, the Company announced that it closed the sale of its 100% interest in the Karita Gold
Project ("Karita") and associated exploration assets in Guinea (together, the "Guinea Assets") for gross cash
proceeds of $35.5 million. The sale of the Guinea Assets is part of the previously announced transactions with
Managem (see news release dated December 20, 2022).
•
During the second half of 2024, the Company delivered 75,000 ounces into the 2022 gold prepay arrangements
(37,500 ounces in the fourth quarter), and a further 12,500 ounces during January 2025, reducing the outstanding
balance of all prepay arrangements to 62,500 ounces as at January 31, 2025.
•
On November 26, 2024, the Company received an updated credit rating from Standard and Poor’s which
upgraded the corporate credit rating from B
-
to B with a stable outlook. On January 13, 2025, the Company
received an updated credit rating from Moody's which upgraded the corporate credit rating from B3 to B2 with a
stable outlook.
•
On November 20, 2024, the Company consolidated corporate functions to better align with current asset base
and initiated the closure of the Brossard office in Quebec.
•
On February 3, 2025, Annie Torkia Lagacé joined as the Chief Legal and Strategy Officer to lead the Legal,
Business Development, and External Affairs teams. As part of this strategic realignment, two long
-
tenured
executives, Tim Bradburn, SVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and Stephen Eddy, SVP, Business
Development departed IAMGOLD.
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7
QUARTERLY REVIEW
For more details and the Company's overall outlook for 2025, see “Outlook”, and for individual mines performance,
see “Operations”. The following table summarizes certain operating and financial results for the three months ended
December
31, 2024 (Q4 2024) and December 31, 2023 (Q4 2023) and the years ended December 31 for 2024, 2023
and 2022 and certain measures of the Company's financial ("discontinued operations") position as at December 31,
2023, and December 31, 2022. Financial results of Rosebel include the one
-
month period ended January 31, 2023,
and twelve month period ended December 31, 2022, prior to the closing of the sale to Zijin.
Q4 2024
Q4 2023
2024
2023
2022
Key Operating Statistics
($ millions from continuing operations)
Gold production
–
attributable (000s oz)
177
136
667
465
499
-
Côté Gold
1
62
—
124
—
—
-
Westwood
35
28
134
93
67
-
Essakane
80
108
409
372
432
Gold sales
–
attributable (000s oz)
177
136
654
462
506
-
Côté Gold
1
56
—
111
—
—
-
Westwood
37
29
134
90
66
-
Essakane
84
107
409
372
440
Cost of sales
2
($/oz sold)
–
attributable
$
1,298
$
1,201
$
1,156
$
1,291
$
1,041
-
Côté Gold
1
$
1,083
$
—
$
1,035
$
—
$
—
-
Westwood
$
1,155
$
1,446
$
1,177
$
1,600
$
2,093
-
Essakane
$
1,504
$
1,134
$
1,182
$
1,216
$
882
Cash costs
3
($/oz sold)
–
attributable
$
1,294
$
1,197
$
1,152
$
1,261
$
1,052
-
Côté Gold
1
$
1,080
—
$
1,032
—
—
-
Westwood
$
1,148
$
1,434
$
1,167
$
1,591
$
2,068
-
Essakane
$
1,501
$
1,132
$
1,179
$
1,181
$
899
AISC
3
($/oz sold)
–
attributable
$
1,949
$
1,735
$
1,716
$
1,783
$
1,508
-
Côté Gold
1
$
1,685
$
—
$
1,658
$
—
$
—
-
Westwood
$
1,688
$
2,049
$
1,702
$
2,344
$
2,568
-
Essakane
$
2,118
$
1,548
$
1,625
$
1,521
$
1,234
Average realized gold price
3,4
($/oz)
$
2,525
$
2,005
$
2,330
$
1,955
$
1,721
Key Operating Statistics
($ millions from Rosebel discontinued operation)
Gold production
–
attributable (000s oz)
—
—
—
25
214
Gold sales
–
attributable (000s oz)
—
—
—
24
215
Cost of sales
3
($/oz sold)
–
attributable
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
949
$
1,269
Cash costs
3
($/oz sold)
–
attributable
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
949
$
1,243
AISC
3
($/oz sold)
–
attributable
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
1,358
$
1,753
1.
Attributable portion for Côté Gold is based on IAMGOLD’s ownership of 60.3% for the period of January to November 2024, incre
asing to 70% for December
2024. All
-
in sustaining cost for Côté Gold for 2024 represents the five
-
month period following achievement of commercial production.
2.
Throughout this news release, cost of sales, excluding depreciation, is disclosed in the segment note in the consolidated fin
ancial statements.
3.
Refer to the “Non
-
GAAP Financial Measures” disclosure at the end of this news release for a description and calculation of these measures.
4.
The average realized gold price in the fourth quarter 2024, excluding the impact of the 2022 Prepay Arrangement (as defined b
elow), was $2,664 per ounce
and $2,414 per ounce for the year ended 2024.
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7
Q4 2024
Q4 2023
2024
2023
2022
Financial Results
($ millions from continuing operations)
Revenues
$
469.9
$
297.6
$
1,633.0
$
987.1
$
958.8
Gross profit
$
130.9
$
49.8
$
549.9
$
124.1
$
147.9
EBITDA
1
$
259.5
$
70.2
$
1,323.0
$
381.0
$
300.4
-
Continuing operations
$
259.5
$
70.2
$
1,323.0
$
366.6
$
292.3
-
Discontinued operations
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
14.4
$
8.1
Adjusted EBITDA
1
$
215.4
$
110.6
$
780.6
$
338.5
$
434.0
-
Continuing operations
$
215.4
$
110.6
$
780.6
$
315.1
$
313.4
-
Discontinued operations
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
23.4
$
120.6
Net earnings (loss) attributable to equity holders
$
86.2
$
(9.4)
$
819.6
$
94.3
$
(70.1)
-
Continuing operations
$
86.2
$
(9.4)
$
819.6
$
88.7
$
(55.5)
-
Discontinued operations
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
5.6
$
(14.6)
Adjusted net earnings (loss) attributable to
equity holders
1
$
57.2
$
26.8
$
296.0
$
59.3
$
22.7
-
Continuing operations
$
57.2
$
26.8
$
296.0
$
44.7
$
(35.6)
-
Discontinued operations
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
14.6
$
58.3
Net earnings (loss) per share attributable to
equity holders
–
continuing operations
$
0.15
$
(0.02)
$
1.52
$
0.18
$
(0.12)
Adjusted net earnings (loss) per share
attributable to equity holders
1
–
continuing
operations
$
0.10
$
0.06
$
0.55
$
0.09
$
(0.07)
Net cash from operating activities before
changes in working capital
1
–
continuing
operations
$
127.2
$
52.1
$
600.4
$
158.9
$
298.2
Net cash from operating activities
$
102.6
$
69.9
$
486.0
$
159.4
$
408.7
-
Continuing operations
$
102.6
$
69.9
$
486.0
$
144.0
$
257.6
-
Discontinued operations
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
15.4
$
151.1
Mine
-
site free cash flow
1
$
78.2
$
28.9
$
385.1
$
54.1
$
187.6
-
Continuing operations
$
78.2
$
28.9
$
385.1
$
48.2
$
167.2
-
Discontinued operations
$
—
—
$
—
$
5.9
$
20.4
Capital expenditures
1,2
–
sustaining
$
93.6
$
68.6
$
290.8
$
200.3
$
190.4
Capital expenditures
1,2
–
expansion
$
7.4
$
166.1
$
196.1
$
656.8
$
540.3
December 31
December 31
December 31
December 31
December 31
2024
2023
2024
2023
2022
Financial Position
($ millions)
Cash and cash equivalents
$
347.5
$
367.1
$
347.5
$
367.1
$
407.8
Long
-
term debt
$
1,028.9
$
830.8
$
1,028.9
$
830.8
$
918.7
Net cash (debt)
1
$
(859.3)
$
(649.5)
$
(859.3)
$
(649.5)
$
(605.6)
Available Credit Facility
$
418.5
$
387.0
$
418.5
$
387.0
$
26.6
1.
Refer to the “Non
-
GAAP Financial Measures” disclosure at the end of this news release for a description and calculation of these measures.
2.
Sustaining and expansion capital expenditures represent incurred expenditures for property, plant and equipment and explorati
on and evaluation assets, and
exclude right
-
of
-
use assets and working capital impacts. Sustaining capital expenditures for Côté Gold for 2024 represent the five
-
month period following
achievement of commercial production.
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OUTLOOK
Production
Actual 2024
Full Year Guidance 2025
Côté Gold (000s oz)
124
250
–
280
Westwood (000s oz)
134
125
–
140
Essakane (000s oz)
409
360
–
400
Total attributable production
1
(000s oz)
667
735
–
820
1.
Attributable ounces account for IAMGOLD ownership interests of: Côté Gold
–
weighted average to account for the repurchase of the 9.7% interest effective
November 30, 2024, returning IAMGOLD’s interest to 70%; Westwood
–
100%; Essakane
–
90%.
Total attributable production for IAMGOLD in 2025 is expected to be in the range of 735,000 to 820,000 ounces, an increase
from 2024 production, driven by the ramp
-
up of Côté Gold to nameplate production later during 2025 and continued strong
production levels from Essakane and Westwood. Production at Côté Gold in its first full year, on a 100% basis, is expected to
be between 360,000 to 400,000 ounces for the year (250,000 to 280,000 ounces on an attributable basis). For further
details, refer to the operations section of each mine below.
Costs
Actual 2024
Full Year Guidance 2025
Côté Gold
Cash costs ($/oz sold)
$1,032
$950
–
$1,100
AISC ($/oz sold)
$1,658
$1,350
–
$1,500
Westwood
Cash costs ($/oz sold)
$1,167
$1,175
–
$1,325
AISC ($/oz sold)
$1,702
$1,675
–
$1,825
Essakane
Cash costs ($/oz sold)
$1,179
$1,400
–
$1,550
AISC ($/oz sold)
$1,625
$1,675
–
$1,825
Consolidated
Cost of sales
1
($/oz sold)
$1,156
$1,200
–
$1,350
Cash costs
1,2
($/oz sold)
$1,152
$1,200
–
$1,350
AISC
1,2
($/oz sold)
$1,716
$1,625
–
$1,800
1.
Consists of Westwood and Essakane on an attributable basis of 100% and 90%, respectively. For Côté Gold, the attributable bas
is in 2024 is based on
IAMGOLD’s ownership of 60.3% up to November 2024, thereafter, increasing to 70% for December 2024. 2024 all
-
in sustaining cost for Côté Gold
represents the five
-
month period following achievement of commercial production. For 2025, the attributable basis for Côté Gold is 70% for all pe
riods.
2.
This is a non
-
GAAP financial measure. See "Non
-
GAAP Financial Measures".
Cash costs on a consolidated basis are expected to be in the range of $1,200 to $1,350 per ounce sold, a slight
increase from last year primarily as a result of an increase in expected cash costs at Essakane. AISC for IAMGOLD
are expected to be in the range of $1,625 and $1,800 per ounce sold, in line with last year as a result of the ramp up
of Côté Gold and reduced capitalized waste stripping at Essakane.
The full year guidance is based on the following 2025 full year assumptions, before the impact of hedging: average
realized gold price of $2,500 per ounce, USDCAD exchange rate of 1.35, EURUSD exchange rate of 1.11, average
Brent oil price of $75 per barrel and WTI price of $70 per barrel.
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Capital Expenditures
Actual 2024
1
Full Year Guidance 2025
2
($ millions)
Sustaining
Expansion
Total
Sustaining
Expansion
Total
Côté Gold (IMG share)
$
42.7
$
191.0
$
233.7
$
110
$
15
$
125
Westwood
$
66.1
$
—
$
66.1
$
70
$
—
$
70
Essakane
180.4
5.1
185.5
110
5
115
$
289.2
$
196.1
$
485.3
$
290
$
20
$
310
Corporate
1.6
—
1.6
—
—
—
Total
3
$
290.8
$
196.1
$
486.9
$
290
$
20
$
310
1.
100% basis, for Westwood and Essakane, and reflects IAMGOLD’s proportionate interest in Côté Gold UJV on an incurred basis.
2.
Capital expenditures guidance (±5%).
3.
Includes $11 million of capitalized exploration and evaluation expenditures also included in the Exploration Outlook guidance
table.
Capital expenditures for IAMGOLD in 2025 are expected to total $310 million, of which $290 million is categorized as
sustaining capital. Capital expenditures are down from the prior year, as a result of the completion of expansion
capital outlays as Côté Gold construction and commissioning was completed earlier in the year. Sustaining capital
estimates are expected to decline going forward, as Côté completes the construction of the full tailings dam footprint
and as capitalized waste stripping declines at Essakane based on the current mine plan.
Exploration Outlook
Exploration expenditures for 2025 are expected to be approximately $38 million, the majority of which will be
expensed. The largest exploration spend will be at Côté Gold of approximately $13 million attributable to IAMGOLD
including the Gosselin resource delineation drilling program, Essakane at approximately $7 million, followed by
Nelligan/Monster Lake at approximately $6 million.
Actual 2024
Full Year Guidance 2025
($ millions)
Capitalized
Expensed
Total
Capitalized
Expensed
Total
Exploration projects
–
greenfield
$
1.0
$
16.5
$
17.5
$
—
$
25
$
25
Exploration projects
–
brownfield
6.5
2.4
8.9
11
2
13
$
7.5
$
18.9
$
26.4
$
11
$
27
$
38
Income Taxes Paid and Depreciation Outlook
The Company expects to pay cash taxes in the range of $120 to $130 million during 2025. Cash tax payments do not
occur evenly by quarter, as amounts paid in a quarter can include payments of the final balance of the prior year taxes
and payments of instalments for the current year, both required to be made at times as prescribed by different
countries. There are no significant cash taxes expected in respect of the new global minimum top
-
up taxes ("GloBE").
The income taxes paid guidance does not include cash tax obligations arising as part of the Bambouk sales process.
See "Bambouk Assets" for additional details.
Depreciation expense for 2025 is expected to be $450 million (±5%) with increased depreciation expense due to the
increase in the value of depreciable property, plant and equipment following the completion of construction and
commencement of commercial operations at Côté Gold and the impairment reversal at the Westwood cash generating
unit ("CGU").
($ millions)
Actual 2024
Full Year Guidance 2025
Depreciation expense
$273.8
$450 (±5%)
Income taxes paid
$55.4
$120
–
$130
Page |
8
of 4
7
ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE
The Company is committed to maintaining its culture of accountable mining through high standards of Environmental,
Social and Governance practices, including its commitment to strive for the goal of Zero Harm®, in every aspect of its
business.
Health and Safety
Health and safety is core to the Company’s pursuit of its Zero Harm® vision. Through various prevention programs,
the Company continually promotes a wellness program and a safe work environment at its sites. The TRIFR (total
recordable injuries frequency rate) was 0.63 as at
December
31, 2024
(compared to 0.69 as at December 31, 2023),
tracking below the Company's target of 0.66.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, teams from each operation participated in workshops to review and identify the
Company’s health and safety leading and lagging indicators for 2025 with a continued focus on Critical Risk
Management and Visible Felt Leadership.
Environmental
In 2024, the key environmental focus areas for the Company were water and biodiversity. In the fourth quarter 2024,
the Company reached the final stages of the development of a water stewardship framework that takes a catchment
-
based planning approach, to enhance its management capacities in this area and allow the Company to evaluate its
impacts and contributions to regional watersheds. Part of this water stewardship framework included the development
of a Water Management Standard and updating of the Water Policy. In 2024, the Company also expanded on the
initial biodiversity assessment performed in 2022 to develop a more comprehensive roadmap to understand its
dependencies and impacts on nature and evaluate the appropriateness of the Company reporting against the
Taskforce on Nature
-
related Financial Disclosures. The Company also initiated decarbonization and energy
management assessments of its sites, in support of the Company’s decarbonization aspirations.
At Essakane, the Falagountou Closure Plan was filed at the end of May 2024. The Closure Plan for the Essakane pit
that was submitted in 2019 is currently being updated and the target timeline for the submission is the first quarter
2025. Essakane conducted a management review of its environmental management system. The site continued to run
an environmental 'stop incident' campaign to educate and empower employees to recognize and respond to
environmental risks. External audits were also performed on Tailings, Water and Health & Safety management
systems at Essakane, in support of, but separate from the TSM audit.
At Westwood, external audits were performed on Tailings, Water and Health & Safety management systems. The
2021 Westwood Closure Plan was approved on June 11, 2024, and the Doyon Closure Plan was approved on July 3,
2024, by the Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Westwood continues to pilot water recycling projects
to reduce water withdrawal from the Bousquet River.
Côté Gold submitted its Phase 1 Environmental Effects Monitoring Report to Environment and Climate Change
Canada. Côté Gold submitted its greenhouse gas emissions report for 2023 to Ontario’s Emissions Performance
Standard Program, which required reasonable assurance under ISO 14064 in September 2024.
As of
December
31, 2024
, there were zero environmental significant incidents.
Social Performance
In 2024, the Company reviewed its approach to community investment and initiated the development of a Community
Investment Strategy. In the fourth quarter 2024, the Company began the implementation of a new Community
Investment Standard that provides guidance on investments that aligns with the Company's community investment
focus areas. Each operation continues to engage with their communities of interest and support community
investment initiatives. At Essakane, key engagements and activities included discussions on economic, social,
security, and resettlement topics, engagements with stakeholders as part of the Essakane Closure Plan and
monitoring of artisanal miners. The Company continues to address legacy issues from the original Relocation Action