* Polymetal Q1 revenue up 4% y/y to $616 mln
* Q1 production down by 6% to 372,000 oz
* Polymetal on track to produce 1.7 mln oz in 2022
* Costs guidance up due to inflation, logistics costs
April 25 (Reuters) - Polymetal has decided to
postpone several projects amid Western sanctions on Russia after
the gold and silver miner reported a 4% year-on-year increase in
first-quarter revenue to $616 million due to higher gold prices.
The Western sanctions imposed on Moscow after it sent its
troops to Ukraine on Feb. 24 put "tremendous pressure" on
Polymetal in the first quarter, the London-listed company said.
It has not been directly targeted by the sanctions.
"The Board and management continue to actively explore
options to adjust company asset ownership structure to preserve
shareholder value and address the needs of other stakeholders,"
Vitaly Nesis, Polymetal's CEO said in a statement.
Polymetal, Russia's second largest gold producer after
Polyus, said it had rationalised its investment plans,
with the result that its POX-2 project, a processing plant in
Russia, will face a six-month delay due to supply chain
challenges and is now expected to start production in the second
quarter of 2024.
The company also suspended its Pacific POX project and is
currently evaluating options to re-site this processing facility
in Kazakhstan. The start of construction at its Veduga gold
deposit was delayed by 12-18 months.
Polymetal, which has postponed a decision on a 2021 final
dividend until August, said 2022 capital expenditure was
currently expected at $650 million amid shrinking scope for
investment scope and inflationary pressures.
Polymetal raised its total cash cost guidance to $850-950
per ounce from the previous range of $850-900, due to inflation
in Russia and escalation of logistical costs.
Its guidance for production of gold equivalent - a mix of
gold and other metals - now stands at 1.65 million ounces in
2023, 1.7 million ounces both in 2024 and in 2025 and 1.8
million ounces in 2026.
Polymetal's production of gold equivalent fell by 6% to
372,000 troy ounces in the first quarter, the company said,
adding that it was on track to produce 1.7 million ounces in
2022.
The company's shares were up around 5%.
(Reporting by Reuters, Editing by Louise Heavens and Jane
Merriman)