K92 Mining 2022 Operational Guidance Forecasts Significant Production Increase
Suite 488 – 1090 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6E 3V7
Telephone: +1 (604) 687-7130
Facsimile: +1 (604) 608-9110
www.k92mining.com
NEWS RELEASE
K92 MINING 2022 OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE FORECASTS
SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTION INCREASE
• Production in 2022 is expected to grow up to 34% year over year, with gold equivalent
(“AuEq”) production of 115,000 to 140,000 ounces, a range that incorporates a
COVID-19 contingency.
• High margin production forecasted in 202 2, with cash costs between $ 560-$640 per
ounce gold and all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”) between $890-$970 per ounce gold.
• Exploration to increase with $12-$15 million expenditures projected for 2022. With
the infill drill program at Kora for the updated resource estimate complete, focus has
now shifted to predominantly resource growth drilling at Kora, Judd, Kora South,
Judd South and the Blue Lake Porphyry.
• Growth capital costs forecasted to be $ 41-$47 million, which includes the Stage 2A
Expansion to increase throughput 25% to 500,000 tonnes per year (1,370 tonnes per
day), major upgrades to our underground and surface infrastructure and the twin
incline development to also support the Stage 3 Expansion.
Note: All amounts in United States Dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Vancouver, British Columbia, January 24, 2022 - K92 Mining Inc. (“K92” or the “Company”)
(TSX: KNT; OTCQX: KNTNF) is pleased to provide its operational outlook for 202 2. The
Company expects a significant, year over year, increase in gold equivalent production of up to
34% to 115,000 to 140,000 ounces, while also delivering low -cost production with an estimated
cash cost of $560-$640 per ounce gold and all-in sustaining cost (“AISC”) of $890-$970 per ounce
gold. Additionally, the Company plans to ramp -up exploration activities and invest in futu re
production growth.
On exploration, 2022 is forecasted to ha ve a significant increase in both near -mine and regional
activities with forecasted expenditures of $12-15 million. Since 2020, the drill fleet has more than
doubled to up to eleven drill rigs. Importantly, exploration has recently made a major pivot to focus
on resource growth from previously largely infill-drilling at Kora, with plans to drill the Judd,
Kora, Judd South and Kora South vein systems, and the Blue Lake porphyry . Significant
generative surface exploration activities from 2021 are planned to continue into 2022.
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Growth capital is forecasted to be $ 41-$47 million, which includes the ongoing Stage 2A
Expansion to 500,000 tonnes per year (1,370 tonnes per day) , substantial upgrades to our
underground and surface infrastructure and the twin incline development to also support the Stage
3 Expansion. The twin incline is designed for a throughput capacity of up to 2 million tonnes per
annum (“tpa”) or 3 million tonnes per a nnum with conveyors. As of December 31, 2021, the
furthest twin incline has advanced 893 metres.
Table 1 – 2022 Operational Outlook Summary
Gold Equivalent Production(1) Oz 115,000 to 140,000
Cash Costs(2) $/Oz $560 to $640 per ounce gold
All-in Sustaining Costs(2) $/Oz $890 to $970 per ounce gold
Growth Capital US$ $41 to $47 million
Exploration US$ $12 to $15 million
(1) – Gold Equivalent Production based on the following commodity prices: Gold $1,750/oz; Copper $3.75/lb, and;
Silver $25/oz.
(2) - The Company provides some non -international financial reporting standard measures as supplementary
information that management believes may be useful to investors to explain the Company’s financial results. Please
refer to non -IFRS financial performance measures in the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis dated
November 10, 2021, available on SEDAR, for reconciliation of these measures.
John Lewins, K92 Chief Executive Officer and Director, stated, “2021 was a record year and we
plan to deliver another record year in 2022. The end -of-year momentum from the fourth quarter
of 2021 which delivered record production, mill th roughput, mine throughput and some of the
highest metallurgical recoveries over the past two years for both gold and copper, has certainly
set the operation up well for 2022. We also achieved our beginning of 2021 target of reaching
Stage 2 Expansion mine and mill throughput by ye ar-end, and we look to continue to expand in
2022 through the Stage 2A Expansion designed to increase throughput +25% to 500,000 tpa with
commissioning planned for 3Q 2022.
We are also very excited about exploration for 2022, with most of the program focused on resource
growth. Surface drilling is advancing at Judd South and Kora South, targeting large step -outs
from the existing known deposits. Surface drilling is also advancing at Blue Lake with deeper
drilling targeting the potassic core. Underground drilling for the first time has the majority of drill
rigs at Judd and plans are also in place to leverage the twin incline later in the year for step-outs
at Kora along strike to the north and at depth.
Advancing the Stage 3 Expansion is a key part of our plans this year, with considerable progress
planned on multiple fronts. Twin incline development advance has performed well, exceeding
budget in the second half of 2021. The resource update for Judd and Kora is planned to be
announced together this quarter , and our Stage 3 Definitive Feasibility Study and Updated
Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) are progressing well and planned for Q2 publication.
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Work on the drilling of a 5-metre diameter raisebored ventilation shaft located in the south of the
Mining Lease is also scheduled to commence in late 2022.
In terms of COVID -19, it continues to be a factor to societies and industries globally, and as a
result, we have incorporated a contingency in our production guidance range by extending its
lower bound. It is also important to highlight that our resiliency to the pandemic has significantly
improved over the past year, with over 65% of our workforce having received their first vaccine
dose and COVID-19 control measures on site have proven durable to date. Operations have also
benefited from a substantial improvement in international travel for our expatriate workforce,
consultants and suppliers.
Lastly, I would like to once again thank our workforce – their strong commitment and resilience
have been extraordinary. The Government of Papua New Guinea and the Government of Australia
have also been a major factor in our success. This has set up a potentially very exciting 2022.”
Qualified Person
K92 Mine Geology Manager and Mine Exploration Manager, Andrew Kohler, PGeo, a qualified
person under the meaning of Canadian National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for
Mineral Projects, has reviewed and is responsible for the technical content of this news release.
Data verification by M r. Kohler includes significant time onsite reviewing drill core, face
sampling, underground workings, and discussing work programs and results with geology and
mining personnel.
About K92
K92 Mining Inc. is engaged in the production of gold, copper and silver from the Kora deposit at
the Kainantu Gold Mine in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, as well as
exploration and development of mineral deposits in the immediate vicin ity of the mine. The
Company declared commercial production from Kainantu in February 2018 and is in a strong
financial position.
The Company commenced an expansion of the mine based on an updated Preliminary Economic
Assessment on the property which was published in January 2019 and updated in July 2020. K92
is operated by a team of mining company professionals with extensive international mine-building
and operational experience.
On Behalf of the Company,
John Lewins, Chief Executive Officer and Director
For further information, please contact David Medilek, P.Eng., CFA at +1-604-687-7130.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news
release includes certain “forward -looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities
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legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward -looking statements. All statements
that address future plans, activities, events, or developments that the Company believes, expects
or anticipates will or may occur are forward-looking information, including statements regarding
the realization of the preliminary economic analysis for the Kainantu Mine, expectations of future
cash flows, the planned plant expansion, production results, cost of sales, sales of production,
potential expansion of resources and the generation of further drilling results which may or may
not occur. Forward -looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain
factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the market price of the Company’s
securities, metal prices, exchange rates, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future
exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt
of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes, failure of plant, equipment or
processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes, claims and limitations on
insurance coverage a nd other risks of the mining industry, changes in national and local
government regulation of mining operations in PNG , mitigation of the C OVID-19 pandemic,
removal of travel restrictions, continuation of the lifted state of emergency, and regulations and
other matters. There can be no assurance that such 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 disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward -looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required
by law.