DGAP-News: Polyus Finance Plc / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Polyus Finance Plc: Trading update for the third quarter of 2021 2021-10-28 / 08:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Press Release 28 October 2021 PJSC Polyus Trading update for the third quarter of 2021 3Q 2021 Highlights · Total gold output increased by 15% quarter-on-quarter to 770 thousand ounces. This increase was driven by higher production volumes of refined gold across almost all deposits. · Volumes of ore mined amounted to 16,827 thousand tonnes, a moderate decrease on the previous quarter. On a year-on-year basis, volumes of ore mined declined by 8%, driven by lower mining activities at Olimpiada and Verninskoye due to intensified stripping activities. · Volumes of ore processed totalled 12,722 thousand tonnes, up 5% on the previous quarter. Year-on-year, volumes of ore processed rose by 4%, primarily due to higher processing volumes at Olimpiada, Natalka and Verninskoye. · Recovery rate increased to 83.0%, compared to 82.6% in the previous quarter. · Estimated gold sales amounted to USD1,383 million, up 12% compared to the previous quarter, with an estimated weighted-average gold selling price of USD1,787/oz, a 2% decline on the second quarter of 2021. · As at 30 September 2021, the estimated net debt stood at USD1,950 million, compared to USD2,366 million as at the end of the previous quarter. 9M 2021 Highlights · Total gold output amounted to 2,033 thousand ounces, compared to 2,056 thousand ounces in the prior-year period, representing a 1% decline year-on-year. Volumes of doré gold totalled 2,072 thousand ounces, down 3% compared to the same period in the previous year. · Volumes of ore processed increased 4% to 36,017 thousand tonnes, reflecting the improved performance at Olimpiada, Natalka and Verninskoye mainly due to the implementation of throughput capacity expansion projects. · Recovery rate stood at 82.4%, down 1.3 ppts from the prior-year period, primarily driven by a decline in recoveries at Olimpiada and Blagodatnoye. · Estimated gold sales increased 5% year-on-year to USD3,630 million, with an estimated weighted-average gold selling price of USD1,797/oz (9M 2020: USD1,755/oz).
3Q'21 2Q'21 Q-o-Q 1Q'21 4Q'20 3Q'20 Y-o-Y 9M'21 9M'20 Y-o-Y
Olimpiada 281.6 269.9 4% 242.4 268.0 254.8 11% 793.9 733.8 8%
Blagodatnoye 108.5 117.4 -8% 92.4 117.4 118.3 -8% 318.3 338.0 -6%
Natalka 133.6 125.3 7% 115.1 132.7 117.4 14% 374.0 322.8 16%
Verninskoye 83.0 77.6 7% 64.8 67.4 68.6 21% 225.4 206.0 9%
Kuranakh 65.3 56.0 17% 54.3 64.2 66.5 -2% 175.6 174.5 1%
Alluvials 91.0 25.2 n/a - 38.0 75.5 20% 116.2 105.3 10%
Refined gold, koz 763.0 671.4 14% 569.0 687.7 701.1 9% 2,003.4 1,880.4 7%
Flotation concentrate production, t 3,547 159 n/a 11,671 7,323 23,219 -85% 15,377 79,427 -81%
Antimony in flotation concentrate, t 602 0 n/a 1,919 1,837 3,950 -85% 2,521 9,121 -72%
Gold in flotation concentrate, koz 7.0 0.1 n/a 22.7 22.0 70.0 -90% 29.8 176.0 -83%
Gold payable in concentrate, koz 5.4 0.0 n/a 17.4 17.2 55.5 -90% 22.8 136.4 -83%
Total gold output, koz 770.0 671.5 15% 591.7 709.7 771.1 0% 2,033.2 2,056.4 -1%
Rock moved, km³ 35,729 33,120 8% 31,587 30,741 32,210 11% 100,436 93,493 7%
Stripping ratio, m³/t 1.7 1.5 13% 1.5 1.4 1.4 21% 1.6 1.3 23%
Rock moved, kt 92,306 85,191 8% 81,290 78,706 82,535 12% 258,787 239,723 8%
Stripping ratio, t/t 4.5 4.0 13% 3.9 3.5 3.5 29% 4.1 3.5 17%
Ore mined, kt 16,827 17,027 -1% 16,639 17,301 18,265 -8% 50,493 53,854 -6%
Ore processed, kt 12,722 12,169 5% 11,126 10,438 12,224 4% 36,017 34,675 4%
Recovery rate, % 83.0% 82.6% 0.4ppts 81.6% 83.9% 84.1% -1.1ppts 82.4% 83.7% -1.3ppts
Total doré & slime gold output, koz 764.2 693.4 10% 614.7 660.7 770.2 -1% 2,072.3 2,142.8 -3% Pavel Grachev, Chief Executive Officer of PJSC Polyus, commented: We delivered solid operational results in the third quarter of 2021. Gold production stood at 770 thousand ounces, which represents a 15% increase over the preceding quarter. Polyus continued to advance its growth projects throughout the reporting period. We have achieved growth in recovery rates at Olimpiada and Natalka, while we remain on track with the throughput capacity expansion initiatives at Olimpiada, Blagodatnoye, Natalka and Kuranakh. At Sukhoi Log, we have completed a deep-level and flank exploration drilling campaign. We also continue to progress with the development of the Bankable Feasibility Study, the key highlights of which will be published in the second half of 2022 in line with the previously announced schedule. I would also like to reiterate our production target for 2021, which remains unchanged at approximately 2.7 million ounces of gold. " ESG UPDATE Q3 Highlights · LTIFR^[1] of 0.18 YTD (9M 2020 - 0.08, 6M 2021 - 0.18). Zero fatalities at our operations during Q3. · Automotive Accident Rate (AARk) at 0.15 (9M 2020 - 0.18, 6M 2021 - 0.18). · Coronavirus: production assets remain unimpacted and operate without interruption. Thorough COVID-19 protocols remain in place. Employee vaccination program has resulted in immunity levels of over 70% among workers. COVID response update · Vaccination program for employees and contractors continues at all Polyus production sites. At Olimpiada, Blagodatnoye and Verninskoye the vaccination rates are close to 90%. · Preventive measures remain in place at all operations and offices, including enhanced medical screening, social distancing, provision of personal protective equipment and regular disinfection of all communal areas. · All shift employees and contractors are tested for COVID-19 and quarantined in observation facilities prior to transfer to Polyus' sites. Environment and Climate · Verninskoye operation has been certified under the International Cyanide Management Code. · Scheduled site safety audits of tailings storage and other hydraulic facilities were carried out at Olimpiada, Blagodatnoye and Alluvials. Corporate guidelines on identifying and assessing business risks related to tailings storage facilities and other hydraulic facilities have been developed. Procurement procedures were launched for a hydraulic facility remote monitoring system software. · Polyus won Minex ESG award by Russian Mining Forum for the Water management campaign. Health & Safety · Transportation safety management system audit was launched at Irkutsk branch of Polyus Logistics. · A comprehensive HSE audit was held at Alluvials and Polyus Verninskoye. · Polyus has published its Supplier Code of Conduct containing guidelines for its suppliers and contractors regarding key areas of sustainable development and ESG. Local communities · Polyus donated new medical equipment to the Russian Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) for a hospital in the Krasnoyarsk region that specializes in treating patients with infectious diseases. · Winners of the regional theatre award, 'Polyus. Golden Season' were announced. Employees · 106 employees have graduated from the corporate Talent Pool development program. · Career guidance events were held for students of 20 schools in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, as part of a pilot school project aimed at increasing the flow of applicants to study professions relevant to Polyus. 785 high school students took part in the events. · A call center was launched for candidates applying to jobs at Polyus Krasnoyarsk, Polyus Logistics, Polyus Stroy, Polyus Project, MFC Polyus. · A dashboard system was launched to monitor the level of operational competence of working personnel. · Several environmental trips were organized as part of Polyus' volunteer activities. ESG Ratings and indices · For the second year in a row, Polyus was awarded 2^nd place in ESG communications among Russian companies according to a poll by Institutional Investor. · Polyus has been included in the top-10 of ESG Ranking of Russian companies by rating agency RAEX for the first time. · Polyus' current ESG ratings: O S&P Global CSA - 54 o CDP - Climate Change: C; Water Security: C o Sustainalytics ESG Risk Rating - 26.8 o MSCI ESG - A. Olimpiada 3Q 2021 Highlights Ø Volumes of rock moved totalled 37,062 thousand tonnes, up 20% on the previous quarter. Ø Recovery rate rose to 84.6%, up from 83.8% in the previous quarter. Ø Total gold output amounted to 289 thousand ounces. Gold output Doré gold output stood at 293 thousand ounces in the third quarter of 2021, up 5% compared to the previous quarter, driven by higher processing volumes and higher recovery rate. Total gold output (refined and concentrate) rose by 7% compared to the previous quarter, to 289 thousand ounces. On a year-on-year basis, doré gold output declined by 8%, while total gold production was down 11%. Mining works Rock moved volumes totalled 37,062 thousand tonnes (13,713 km³), up 20% on the second quarter of 2021 as the completion of simultaneous operations within two stages of the Vostochny pit led to improved mining equipment performance. Following the completion of (MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires
October 28, 2021 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)
