K92 Mining Announces Record Annual and Quarterly Production, Exceeding Updated Guidance, and Strong Performance from Judd
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 ANNOUNCES RECORD ANNUAL AND QUARTERLY PRODUCTION,
EXCEEDING UPDATED GUIDANCE, AND STRONG PERFORMANCE FROM JUDD
• Record quarterly production in Q4 of 36,145 oz of gold equivalent (“AuEq”) (1) or
33,220 oz gold, 1,048,100 lbs copper and 28,218 oz silver.
• Record annual production of 104,196 oz of AuEq or 95,055 oz gold, 3,375,528 lbs
copper and 70,792 oz silver , exceeding the updated guidance range of 96,000 to
102,000 oz of AuEq.
• Record quarterly material movements, with 99,713 tonnes processed, representing a
45% increase from Q4 2020 and the mine exceeding mill throughput with 108,461
tonnes of total mill feed mined.
• Positive reconciliation continues for gold grades v ersus resource model, with an
average Q4 head grade of 11.2 g/t gold, 0.51% copper and 10 g/t silver (12.1 g/t AuEq).
Gold grades exceeded budget for both 2021 and Q4.
• Strong metallurgical recoveries in Q4 of 92.8% gold and 92.9% copper, exceeding
budget and representing the highest recoveries since Q1 2020 for gold and Q4 2019
for copper. Plant capabilities are expected to further benefit from the gravity circuit
targeting full integration in Q1 2022.
• During the quarter, the first stope from the Judd #1 Vein was mined and delivered
strong performance including solid geotech, high grades delivered to the plant, and
robust drill and blast characteristics.
• Significant advance of twin incline in Q4, in line with budget, with incline #2 (6m x
6m) advanced to 803 metres and #3 (5m x 5m) advanced to 893 metres as of December
31, 2021.
Note (1): Gold equivalent for 2021 is based on the following prices: gold $1,800 per ounce;
silver $25 per ounce; and copper $4.35 per pound.
Vancouver, British Columbia, January 11, 2022 - K92 Mining Inc. (“K92” or the “Company”)
(TSX: KNT; OTCQX: KNTNF) announces production results for the fourth quarter (“Q4”) of
2021 at its Kainantu Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea , of 36,145 oz AuEq or 33,220 oz gold,
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1,048,100 lbs copper and 28,218 oz silver. Annual production also achieved a record of 104,196
oz AuEq or 95,055 oz gold, 3,375,528 lbs copper and 70,792 oz silver, exceeding the updated
guidance range of 96,000 to 102,000 oz AuEq.
During the fourth quarter, the process plant delivered record throughput of 99,713 tonnes.
Excluding 5 consecutive days of downtime due to scheduled plant maintenance, the mill operated
at an average throughput of 1,146 tonnes per day (“tpd”), exceeding Stage 2 Expansion design
throughput of 1,100 tpd. Multiple daily records were set during the quarter, with 21 days exceeding
1,300 tpd throughput and a daily record of 1,538 tonnes set on October 24, 2021.
Importantly, recoveries were also strong during the quarter at 92.8% for gold and 92.9% for
copper, both exceeding budget. Gold and copper recoveries represent the highest recoveries since
Q4 2020 and Q4 2019, respectively. Plant capabilities are expected to also further improve with
the full integration of the gravity circuit planned for Q1 2022.
With the process plant continuing to deliver significantly above design throughput and a notably
finer than required product size, a Stage 2A Expansion to increase throughput from 400,000 tonnes
per annum (1,100 tpd) to a nameplate of 500,000 tonnes per annum (1,370 tpd) has been approved
(see October 7, 2021 press release: K92 Mining Announces Stage 2A Expansion to Increase
Throughput +25% to 500,000 Tonnes Per A nnum at Kainantu Gold Mine) . Works are already
underway targeting commissioning in Q3 2022, with an estimated plant expansion capital cost of
US$2.5 million.
Mining operations also achieved record material movements in the fourth quarter with 108,461
tonnes of mill feed material movements. The mining rate exceeded our target of achieving the
Stage 2 target throughput of 1,100 tpd at year end, averaging ~1,180 tpd (mill feed), and the strong
performance resulted in an increase to our stockpiles.
During the quarter, the first production stope from the Judd #1 (“J1”) Vein was mined and has
delivered strong performance thus far, including solid geotech, high grades, and strong drill and
blast characteristics (see Figure 1). Judd has also shown that it is capable of delivering large stopes
(first stope 40 m strike x 30 m height x 4.5 -5m thickness) and large blasts with a fast turnaround
cycle, including a stoping single blast record of 4.1 kt in December 2021. The establishment of the
Judd Vein System as a new major mining front has provided a significant boost to operational
flexibility and material movements. Judd is located ~150-200m from existing infrastructure at the
Kora high-grade deposit, making it highly efficient to access going forward.
The operation delivered head grades of 11.2 g/t gold, 0.51% copper and 10 g/t silver (12.1 g/t
AuEq) in Q4. Gold grades delivered a positive reconciliation against the resource model and were
also above budget. Long hole stoping continued to perform to design, with operations focused on
Kora’s K1 and K2 veins and also Judd’s J1 Vein for a total of 7 levels mined. Mining on Kora was
conducted on the 1150, 1170, 1205, 1225 and 1265 levels and Judd on the 1235 and 1265 levels.
The new twin incline development resumed in late May, after the COVID-19 Papua New Guinea
and Australia travel restrictions were lifted and the COVID -19 situation in Papua New Guinea
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improved. Twin incline development adv ancement has continued to progress well, exceeding
budget for the second half of 2021 and in line with budget during Q4. The #2 (6m x 6m) incline
has now advanced a total of 803 metres and the #3 (5m x 5m) incline has now advanced a total of
893 metres as of December 31, 2021.
COVID-19 Operational Resiliency
The Kainantu Gold Mine operates under a comprehensive COVID -19 Management Plan and has
continuously operated during the pandemic. A considerable focus is on health and safety and risk-
mitigation. Under the COVID -19 Management Plan, K92 has established a Go vernment-
recognized testing lab facility utilizing qualified medical personnel on site, established quarantine
and isolation facilities for incoming staff, and implemented enhanced hygiene, disinfecting and
training systems and procedures. Additional controls were implemented in 2021, requiring external
COVID-19 testing prior to travel to quarantine at site in addition to on arrival at site before
reporting to quarantine. A focus has been supporting Government efforts at a national, provincial
and local lev el through the 1.5 million PGK (Papua New Guinea Kina) COVID-19 Assistance
Fund and a further 1.0 million PGK of additional assistance funding to Eastern Highlands
Province.
In addition to various control measures, K92 continues to make considerable progress increasing
our resiliency through vaccinations of our expatriate and PNG national workforce, with
vaccinations administered on site well underway. Over 65% of our workforce (employees and
contractors) have received at least one vaccine dose. The Company is in close communications
with the provincial and national health authorities of Papua New Guinea and the Government of
Australia, in addition to the Papua New Guinea Chamber of Mines and Petroleum to deliver an
effective pandemic response.
Table 1 – Q4 2021 & 2020 and Annual 2021 Production Data
2020 Q1 2021 Q2 2021 Q3 2021 Q4 2021 2021
Tonnes Processed T 230,365 73,221 75,667 87,621 99,713 336,221
Feed Grade Au g/t 14.0 8.5 10.3 9.0 11.2 9.8
Feed Grade Cu % 0.40% 0.31% 0.76% 0.48% 0.51% 0.51%
Recovery (%) Au % 91.8% 88.9% 88.3% 86.1% 92.8% 89.4%
Recovery (%) Cu % 90.9% 86.2% 87.2% 87.2% 92.9% 88.8%
Metal in Conc Prod Au Oz 95,109 17,774 22,153 21,908 33,220 95,055
Metal in Conc Prod Cu T 841 193 498 364 475 1,531
Metal in Conc Prod Ag Oz 36,067 7,925 14,914 19,736 28,218 70,792
Gold Equivalent Production Oz 98,872 18,914 25,015 24,121 36,145 104,196
Note - Gold equivalent for 2021 is based on the following prices: gold $1,800 per ounce; silver $25 per ounce; and
copper $4.35 per pound. Gold equivalent for 2020 is based on the following prices: gold $1,500 per ounce; silver
$17.75 per ounce; and copper $2.70 per pound.
John Lewins, K92 Chief Executive Officer and Director, stated, “The fourth quarter delivered our
strongest quarter to date at the Kainantu Gold Mine, with record production, record mill
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throughput, record mine throughput, above budget processing recoveries and an excellent start to
stoping activities at Judd, our new mining front.
We believe that Q4 represented a major inflection point for Kainantu both operationally and with
exploration. Operationally, we met our beginning of year goal of achieving Stage 2 Expansion
mine and mill throughput by year -end and exceeded our updated production guidance. In 2022,
we look to take another step forward with the Stage 2A Expansion, increasing nameplate
throughput by +25% to 500,000 tonnes per annum, targeting commissioning in Q3 2022.
On exploration, activities have recently shifted from an extended period of infill drilling at Kora
to now almost entirely focused on resource growth. Step -out drilling is underway at Judd, Judd
South, Kora, Kora South and also the Blue Lake Porphyry. We certainly are excited about our
2022 exploration program.
It is also important to highlight that COVID-19 was certainly a factor in Q4, with a record surge
of cases during the first two months driven by the Delta Variant in Papua New Guinea. K92 has a
tremendous attachment to our communities, the people of Papua New Guinea, a strong sense of
responsibility and it was especially painful to see the impact that COVID -19 has had. We are
proud to have provided an additional 1.0 million PGK of COVID-19 assistance funding to Eastern
Highlands province in Q4, in addition to our 1.5 million PGK COVID-19 Assistance Fund created
in April 2020. Our site logistics team w as active in rapid procurement and delivery of medical
oxygen plants from Australia to the local Goroka hospital, and we strongly believe that our efforts
made a difference and saved lives.
I am also pleased to report that our COVID-19 control measures on site held up very well,
although there were impacts from absenteeism. Encouragingly, o ur COVI D-19 resiliency
continues to improve with over 65% of our workforce vaccinated with at least one dose , and a
progressive easing of restrictions has begun within the resources sector in Papua New Guinea .
We have also seen a significant improvement in international travel for our expatriate workforce,
consultants and suppliers over the last three months that is beginning to benefit the operation.
Lastly, I would like to once again thank the K92 workforce for their extraordinary commitment,
dedication and resourcefulness. The support of the Government of Papua New Guinea, and also
the Australian Government has been a major factor in our success as well.”
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 verif ication by Mr. Kohler includes significant time onsite reviewing drill core, face
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sampling, underground workings, and discussing work programs and results with geology and
mining personnel.
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
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 a mount 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 and 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.
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Figure 1 – Judd Vein #1 Long Hole Stope, viewing from the top of the stope at the 1265 Level.
The stope delivered solid geotechnical performance with sizeable geometry: 30 m high, 40 m
strike, thickness between 4.5-5.0 m.