Largo Inc. ('Largo' or the 'Company') (TSX: LGO) (NASDAQ: LGO) today announces annual production of 9,681 tonnes (21.3 million lbs1) of vanadium pentoxide ('V2O5') equivalent from its Maracas Menchen Mine and sales of 10,396 tonnes of V2O5 equivalent in 2023.
Daniel Tellechea, Interim CEO of Largo, stated: 'The Company continues to improve the operational efficiency of its Maracas Menchen Mine, and saw a considerable improvement in production results in the fourth quarter of 2023. As a result, the Company managed to achieve its annual production and sales guidance for 2023. The Company continues to place as many units as possible in the premium yielding high purity vanadium sector, achieving a record production of 1,670 tonnes of high purity V2O5 equivalent in Q4 2023, representing 60% of the Company's quarterly V2O5 output.This improvement is expected to partially offset the impact of lower vanadium prices in Q4 2023, which fell to their lowest level in approximately two years, and lower sales volumes compared to Q4 2022.
He continued: 'In Q4 2023, we continued to ramp up our ilmenite concentrate plant and are pleased to provide the first annual guidance for this material in 2024. With a substantial investment in this new plant in 2022/2023, we look forward to reaping the benefits of diversifying Largo's product offering and revenues in 2024 from expected ilmenite sales as by-product of our traditional vanadium operations. We completed our first 500 tonne ilmenite sale in January 2024 and expect to sell between 8,500 - 10,500 tonnes in Q1 2024. For the coming year, it is our priority to remain focused on optimizing our operations, reducing costs, and achieving our production and sales targets as we continue to navigate a lower vanadium price environment. Lastly, Largo remains dedicated to advancing its exploration program surrounding the Maracas Menchen Mine as we strive to plan for future growth.'
Q4, FY 2023 and Other Updates
Total ore mined was 473,958 tonnes in Q4 2023, a 45% increase over the 326,552 tonnes mined in Q4 2022. The Company closed 2023 with 1,752,982 tonnes of ore mined, representing a 29% increase as compared to the previous year.
Crushing availability improved in Q4 2023 with total ore crushed of 465,619 tonnes, representing an 8% increase over the 430,256 tonnes crushed in Q3 2023 and a 35% increase over the 343,773 tonnes crushed in Q4 2022. The Company closed 2023 with 1,685,166 tonnes of ore crushed, being 9% higher than 2022.
The global recovery3 achieved in Q4 2023 was 79.4%, being 6% higher than 74.7% achieved in Q4 2022 and 3% higher than the 76.9% achieved in Q3 2023. The global recovery3 in October was 79.2%, 78.9% in November and 80.0% in December. The global recovery achieved in 2023 was 80.0%, being 1% higher than the 79.1% achieved in 2022.
In December, the Company secured an additional debt facility of $10.0 million with a bank in Brazil. The facility is for two years with a fee of 0.85% and an accrued interest rate of 10.45% p.a. to be paid on maturity. This debt facility is being used to fund working capital requirements.
In December 2023, the Company provided an update on the ongoing exploration program surrounding its Maracas Menchen Mine, including an initial phase of drilling conducted in 2023 and the further analysis of past exploration work completed at the Company's Campbell Pit and exploration targets located both north and south of the Campbell Pit. The Company's goal for this program is to establish a potential mineralized trend measuring more than 7 kilometres ('km') along strike by establishing a correlation between the known mineralization intercepted between Novo Amparo North ('NAN') to the Campbell Pit.
In 2022 and 2023, the Company conducted a drill program north and south of the Campbell Put consisting of 19 drill holes and 245 surface samples, 148 infill holes in the Campbell Pit and 33 holes in the Southern District (the '2023 Campaign')The Company is in the process of analyzing its historical drill data and the remaining holes from the 2023 Campaign with results expected in Q1 2024.
In 2024, the Company anticipates completing approximately 15,300 metres of exploration drilling with efforts primarily focusing on areas north and south of the Campbell Pit with known magnetic and geochemical anomalies. Exploration efforts will also focus on concessions surrounding the Maracas Menchen Mine that require drilling in order to maintain good standing in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations in Brazil. The Company's 2024 drilling campaign is expected to begin in February 2024.
2024 Guidance
Tables summarizing the Company's 2024 production, sales and cost guidance is provided below. The Company expects lower V2O5 equivalent production in Q1 2024 due to a planned kiln refractory replacement in February 2024.
About Largo
Largo is a globally recognized vanadium company known for its high-quality VPURE and VPURE+ products, sourced from its Maracas Menchen Mine in Brazil. The Company is currently focused on the ramp up of its ilmenite concentrate plant and is undertaking a strategic evaluation of its U.S.-based clean energy business, including its advanced VCHARGE vanadium battery technology to maximize the value of the organization. Largo's strategic business plan centers on maintaining its position as a leading vanadium supplier with a growth strategy to support a low-carbon future.
Largo's common shares trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol 'LGO'. For more information on the Company, please visit www.largoinc.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Information:
This press release contains 'forward-looking information' and 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and amount of estimated future production and sales; the future price of commodities; costs of future activities and operations, including, without limitation, the effect of inflation and exchange rates; the effect of unforeseen equipment maintenance or repairs on production; timing and ramp-up of the ilmenite plant; the ability to produce vanadium trioxide according to customer specifications; the extent of capital and operating expenditures; the impact of global delays and related price increases on the Company's global supply chain and future sales of vanadium products. Forward-looking information in this press release also includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to our ability to build, finance and successfully operate a VRFB business, the ramp-up of the Company's ilmenite concentrate production; the review of strategic alternatives for LCE; diversifying the Company's product offering; optimizing our operations, reducing costs, and achieving our production and sales targets; the expected timing of the 2023 Campaign results; establishing a correlation between the known mineralization intercepted from NAN to the Campbell Pit; the 2024 drilling campaign at Campbell Pit; the kiln refractory replacement and planned capital expenditures in 2024.
The following are some of the assumptions upon which forward-looking information is based: that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; demand for, and stable or improving price of V2O5 and other vanadium commodities; receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, permits and renewals in a timely manner; that the Company will not experience any material accident, labour dispute or failure of plant or equipment or other material disruption in the Company's operations at the Maracas Menchen Mine or relating to LCE; the availability of financing for operations and development; the ability to mitigate the impact of continuing heavy rainfall; the Company's ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; that the estimates of the resources and reserves at the Maracas Menchen Mine are within reasonable bounds of accuracy (including with respect to size, grade and recovery and the operational and price assumptions on which such estimates are based); the competitiveness of the Company's VRFB technology; that the Company's current plans for ilmenite and VRFBs can be achieved; the Company's 'two-pillar' business strategy will be successful; the Company's sales and trading arrangements will not be affected by the evolving sanctions against Russia and the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled personnel and directors; the ability of management to execute strategic goals.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'plans', 'expects' or 'does not expect', 'is expected', 'budget', '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' or 'will be taken', 'occur' or 'be achieved'. All information contained in this news release, other than statements of current and historical fact, is forward looking information. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Largo or LCE to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks described in the annual information form of Largo and in its public documents filed on www.sedar.com and available on www.sec.gov from time to time. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although management of Largo has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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. Largo does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Readers should also review the risks and uncertainties sections of Largo's most recent annual and interim MD&A, which also apply.
Contact:
Alex Guthrie
Senior Manager
Tel: +1.416.861.9778
Email: aguthrie@largoinc.com
LARGO INC. 
