(All amounts in US$ unless otherwise
indicated)
Capstone Copper Corp. (“Capstone” or the “Company”)
(TSX:CS) (ASX:CSC) today announced the results of an updated
feasibility study (“FS”) for its 100%-owned, fully-permitted Santo
Domingo copper-iron-gold project (“Santo Domingo” or the “Project”)
in Region III, Chile, located 35 kilometres northeast of its
70%-owned Mantoverde mine.
“The release of the updated feasibility study for our Santo
Domingo Project marks a major step towards the creation of a
world-class district in the Atacama region of Chile. We have
optimized the mine plan, updated the capital and operating cost
estimates, and incorporated all experience gained throughout the
engineering and construction of our nearby Mantoverde Development
Project”, John MacKenzie, Capstone’s Chief Executive Officer,
commented. “The 2024 feasibility study significantly enhances the
mine’s economics backed by low capital intensity and first quartile
costs. A construction decision and the integration of Santo Domingo
represents the next phase of our transformational growth as we
become a leading long-life and low-cost producer of critical metals
essential for the world’s decarbonization efforts. We now intend to
progress with the assessment of the optimal financing structure for
the project, which may include bringing in a minority partner at
the project level. In parallel we will also continue to advance the
detailed engineering on the project. Our team is committed to
pursuing the highest standards in safety and environmental
management as well as continued engagement with all stakeholders as
we progress our growth plans.”
2024 SANTO DOMINGO FEASIBILITY STUDY SUMMARY
- The 2024 FS outlines a robust copper-iron-gold project with an
after-tax net present value at an 8% discount rate (“NPV8%”) of
$1.7 billion and an after-tax internal rate of return (“IRR”) of
24.1%
- Over the first seven years of the mine plan, production is
expected to average 106,000 tonnes of copper and 3.7 million tonnes
of iron concentrate at first quartile cash costs of $0.28 per
payable pound of copper produced
- Over the Project’s 19-year mine life, production is expected to
average 68,000 tonnes of copper and 3.6 million tonnes of iron
concentrate at first quartile cash costs of $0.33 per payable pound
of copper produced
- Total initial capital cost of $2.3 billion drives a capital
intensity of approximately $21,900 per tonne of annual copper
equivalent production over the life of mine
- A 19-year mine life is supported by a higher Mineral Reserve1
estimate of 436 million tonnes at a copper grade of 0.33%, iron ore
grade of 26.5%, and a gold grade of 0.05 grams per tonne
- Mineral Reserve tonnes have increased by 11% while contained
copper has increased by 23% since the 2020 Feasibility Study
- Total Measured and Indicated (“M&I”) Mineral Resources of
547 million tonnes at a copper grade of 0.31% and a gold grade of
0.04 grams per tonne, including 506 million tonnes with an iron
grade of 25.8%
- M&I Resource tonnes increased by 2% while contained copper
in M&I Resources increased by 6% since the 2020 Feasibility
Study
- The Company plans to progress several value enhancement
initiatives within the Mantoverde-Santo Domingo (“MV-SD”) district
that are noted in the Opportunities section but not yet
incorporated into the base case 2024 FS, including:
- The processing of Santo Domingo’s oxide material using
Mantoverde’s excess SX-EW capacity
- The recovery of cobalt and additional copper from a pyrite
concentrate
- Ongoing exploration of the MV-SD district, including the
recently acquired Sierra Norte deposit
For a virtual tour of Santo Domingo and the MV-SD district,
please visit: https://youtu.be/n-FyVJ9t2JE
1 Comprised of 131 million tonnes in the Proven category and 305
million tonnes in the Probable category. Please refer to the
detailed breakdown of the Santo Domingo Mineral Reserve estimate
below.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
The 2024 FS reflects the results of the Company’s further
technical and optimization work at Santo Domingo. A summary of key
financial, production, cost, and operating details from the 2024 FS
can be found below, in addition to a comparison to the previous
Feasibility Study published in 2020. For further details, please
refer to Exhibit 1 at the end of this news release.
2024 Feasibility Study
2020 Feasibility Study
Life of Mine (“LOM”)
(years)
19
18
Initial capital cost (US$
billions)
$2.3
$1.5
After-tax NPV(8%) (US$
billions)
$1.7
$1.3
After-tax IRR (%)
24.1%
21.8%
After-tax Payback period
(years)
3.0
2.8
Average Annual First Seven
Years of Production
Copper (“Cu”) production2
(thousand tonnes)
106
103
Iron concentrate production
(“Fe”) (million tonnes)
3.7
3.3
Gold production (“Au”) (thousand
ounces)
35
30
C1 cash costs per pound of
payable copper produced (by-product basis)
$0.283
$0.612
C1 cash costs per pound of
payable copper equivalent produced (co-product basis)
$1.274
$1.163
Average Annual for LOM
Copper production (thousand tonnes)5
68
62
Iron concentrate production
(million tonnes)
3.6
4.2
Gold production (thousand
ounces)
22
17
C1 cash costs per pound of
payable copper produced (by-product basis)
$0.332
$0.022
C1 cash costs per pound of
payable copper equivalent produced (co-product basis)
$1.593
$1.403
2 Contained production includes recovery loss. 3 C1 cash costs
are net of magnetite iron and gold by-product credits and selling
costs. These are Non-GAAP performance measures; please see
“Non-GAAP and Other Performance Measures” at the end of this news
release. 4 C1 cash costs on a co-product basis consist of mining
costs, processing costs, mine-level G&A, gold revenue credit,
and refining charges over payable copper equivalent pounds (copper
plus magnetite). These are Non-GAAP performance measures; please
see “Non-GAAP and Other Performance Measures” at the end of this
news release. 5 After recovery loss.
First Seven Years Operating Statistics Summary
2024 Feasibility Study
2020 Feasibility Study
Total tonnes milled (million
tonnes)
172.6
162.1
Strip ratio (waste to ore)
2.3:1
3.4:1
Head Grade
Copper (% Cu)
0.48
0.48
Iron (% Fe)
29.0
29.3
Gold (g/t Au)
0.07
0.06
Recovery
Copper5
90.3%
93.8%
Iron mass
15.1%
14.1%
Gold
67.8%
63.2%
Life of Mine Operating
Statistics Summary
2024 Feasibility Study
2020 Feasibility Study
Total tonnes milled (million
tonnes)
436.1
392.3
Strip ratio (waste to ore)
2.5:1
3.3:1
Head Grade
Copper (% Cu)
0.33
0.30
Iron (% Fe)
26.5
28.2
Gold (g/t Au)
0.05
0.04
Recovery
Copper6
90.1%
93.4%
Iron mass
15.7%
19.1%
Gold
64.7%
60.1%
Commodity Price
Assumptions
Copper (per pound)
$4.10
$3.00
P65 Index CFR China iron ore (per
tonne)7
$110
$93
Gold (per ounce)
$1,800
$1,280
Project Valuation Metrics – Price Sensitivities
NPV (after-tax, 8% discount)
(US$ billions)
IRR (after-tax) (%)
Payback period (after-tax)
(years)
Santo Domingo Cu-Fe-Au
Project
Base Case pricing +10%
$2.10
27.2%
2.8
Base Case pricing
$1.72
24.1%
3.0
Base Case pricing -10%
$1.34
20.8%
3.4
6 Copper recovery is for the copper concentrator only. 7 The
2024 FS includes three iron ore magnetite products, a 62% Fe
magnetite, a 65% Fe magnetite, and a 67% Fe magnetite. For more
details regarding the pricing breakdown, please see section
“Commodity Pricing – Iron Ore” and Exhibit 1.
Cashel Meagher, President and COO, commented, “The mine plan
presented today at Santo Domingo represents the next major step for
Capstone in the evolution of the world-class Mantoverde-Santo
Domingo district. Having recently completed construction at our
Mantoverde Development Project, we have an experienced mine-build
team which today is rare in our industry. The feasibility study for
Santo Domingo outlines an actionable investment opportunity with an
attractive rate of return and a short payback period. Over time, we
plan to further augment these base case numbers with additional
opportunities, including unlocking cobalt production in the
district, processing Santo Domingo’s oxides at Mantoverde, and
continuing to explore the district to improve our understanding of
the longer-term potential. The plan presented today sets the stage
for two major processing centers in our world class
Mantoverde-Santo Domingo district.”
SANTO DOMINGO PROJECT DESIGN
The updated Santo Domingo 2024 feasibility study was prepared by
Ausenco Chile Limitada, part of Ausenco, a multinational
engineering, procurement, construction management, and operations
service provider with broad international experience in the design
and construction of concentrator projects of this scale. Ausenco
was specifically responsible for the construction of Capstone’s
nearby Mantoverde Development Project, which was completed under a
lump-sum turn-key engineering, procurement, and construction
(“EPC”) contract.
The Santo Domingo project includes development of two open pit
mines using conventional drilling, blasting, and loading with
electric and hydraulic shovels. The project includes a copper-iron
concentrator designed to process a maximum of 72,000 tonnes per day
using Autogenous Grinding (“AG”) milling, with conventional rougher
cell flotation, regrinding and classification, with Jameson Cells
used in the cleaner, cleaner scalper, cleaner scavenger, and
re-cleaner stages. Magnetite iron will be recovered from the copper
rougher tailings using Low Intensity Magnetic Separation. The
planned infrastructure includes a tailings storage facility
(“TSF”); an iron magnetite concentrate pipeline and a third party
operated desalination plant and desalinated water supply pipeline;
a port-located magnetite iron concentrate filter plant and
stockpile; a port-located copper concentrate storage building; ship
loading facilities; a high voltage transmission line; and on-site
and off-site infrastructure and support facilities.
The Project is located 35 kilometres northeast of our Mantoverde
copper-gold mine, 50 kilometres southwest of Codelco's El Salvador
copper mine, and 130 kilometres north-northeast of Copiapó, near
the town of Diego de Almagro, in Region III, Chile. The elevation
at the site is approximately 1,000 metres above sea level (“masl”)
with relatively gentle topographic relief. Access to the property
is one kilometre off the paved highway C-17 from Diego de Almagro
to Copiapó. The magnetite filter plant and stockpile, the copper
storage building, the desalination plant and other port
infrastructure will be located in Punta Roca Blanca, 43 kilometres
north of Caldera. The name of the proposed port development is
Puerto Santo Domingo.
For the first seven years of full operation, Santo Domingo will
have an annual average copper production of approximately 106,400
tonnes. The LOM average production is 68,100 tonnes of copper per
year over a period of approximately 19 years. The total LOM copper
production is estimated at approximately 1.3 million tonnes.
For the first seven years of operation, the annual average iron
concentrate production is estimated to be 3.7 million dmt. Over the
LOM, the iron concentrate production is estimated at an annual
average of 3.6 million dmt, with a total estimated production of
approximately 68.4 million dmt.
MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATE
The updated Mineral Reserve estimate as at March 31, 2024, was
prepared by Clay Craig, P.Eng., Capstone Copper. Based on the
Mineral Resource estimate, a standard methodology for pit limit
analysis, mining sequence, and cut-off grade optimization,
including application of mining dilution, process recovery,
economic criteria and physical mine and plant operating
constraints, has been followed to design the open pit mines and
determine the Mineral Reserve estimate for each deposit. The
Mineral Reserves are summarized in the following table.
Mineral Reserve Estimate as at
March 31, 2024
Reserve Category
Grade
Contained Metal
Tonnage Mt
Cu (%)
Fe (%)
Au (g/t)
Cu (kt)
Fe (Mt)
Au (koz)
Proven Reserves
130.9
0.52
27.2
0.07
674.5
12.6
291
Probable Reserves
305.1
0.25
26.2
0.04
760.7
55.8
346
Total Reserves
436.1
0.33
26.5
0.05
1,435.2
68.4
637
Mineral Reserve Estimate Notes:
- Mineral Reserves are reported as constrained within Measured
and Indicated Resources and pit designs optimized using the
following economic and technical parameters: metal prices of
US$3.75/lb Cu, US$1,400/oz Au and Fe prices ranging from US$69/dmt
to US$114.51/dmt based on the Fe grade in concentrate (net of Fe
concentrate transport costs); average recovery to concentrate is
90.1% for Cu and 56.3% for Au, with magnetite concentrate recovery
varying on a block-by-block basis; copper concentrate treatment
charges of US$80/dmt, U$0.08/lb of copper refining charges,
US$5.0/oz of gold refining charges, US$40/wmt and US$25.75/dmt for
shipping copper and iron concentrates respectively; waste and ore
mining cost of $1.55/t and process and G&A+SUSEX of US$9.77/t
processed; average pit slope angles that range from 36.3° to 47.9°;
a 2% royalty rate assumption and an assumption of 100% mining
recovery.
- Rounding as required by reporting standards may result in
apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade and contained
metal content.
- Tonnage measurements are in metric units. Copper and iron
grades are reported as percentages, gold as grams per tonne.
Contained gold ounces are reported as troy ounces, contained copper
as million pounds and contained iron as metric million tonnes.
MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE
Following is the current Mineral Resource Estimate as at March
31, 2024.
Category
Deposit
Mt
NSR ($/t)
Cu
(%)
Fe
(%)
Au
(g/t)
Cu
kt
Fe
Mt
Au
Koz
Measured
Santo Domingo
134
46
0.51
26.9
0.07
679
36
293
Indicated
Santo Domingo + Iris Norte
372
33
0.24
25.4
0.03
892
95
405
Estrellita
41
24
0.32
-
0.03
133
-
44
Sub-Total
413
32
0.25
n/a
0.03
1,025
95
449
Total Measured and
Indicated
547
35
0.31
n/a
0.04
1,704
131
742
Inferred
Santo Domingo + Iris Norte
203
28
0.19
22.5
0.03
384
46
171
Estrellita
27
25
0.34
-
0.03
93
-
29
Total Inferred
230
28
0.21
n/a
0.03
477
46
200
Mineral Resource Estimate Notes:
- Mineral Resources in this document are reported inclusive of
Mineral Reserves. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves
do not have demonstrated economic viability.
- The average Iron grades for the Project (Total Indicated, Total
Measured plus Indicated, and Total Inferred Resources) cannot be
calculated because Estrellita does not contain iron resources.
- Notes specific to the Mineral Resources for the Santo Domingo
and Iris Norte deposits: a. Mineral Resources for SD include Iris.
b. Mineral Resources are reported using a net smelter return (NSR)
cut-off value of US$9.85/t. NSR is calculated using average
long-term prices of US$4.10/lb Cu, US$1,600/oz Au, and Fe prices
that depend on the expected grade of the Fe concentrate
(US$94.75/dmt or $129.77/dmt or $140.26/dmt Fe concentrate). c.
Mineral Resources are constrained by preliminary pit shells derived
using a Lerchs–Grossmann algorithm and the following assumptions:
pit slopes 36.3°- 47.9°; mining cost is calculated using a function
that depends on where the material comes from (Santo Domingo or
Iris Norte) and its destination (dumps, plant or stock); processing
cost based on Fe concentrate routing code (including G&A
costs); processing recovery based in the recovery equations for
copper, gold, and iron as detailed above.
- Notes specific to the Mineral Resources for the Estrellita
deposit: a. Mineral Resources are reported using an NSR cut-off
value of US$9.63/t. NSR is calculated using average long-term
prices of US$4.10/lb Cu and US$1,600/oz Au. b. Only copper, and
gold were considered in the NSR calculation; iron was excluded. c.
Mineral Resources are constrained by preliminary pit shells
generated using a Lerchs–Grossmann algorithm and the following
assumptions: pit slopes 43º; mining cost of US$1.55/t, processing
cost of US$9.46/t (including G&A cost); processing recovery are
calculated based in the recovery curves for copper and gold.
- Rounding as required by reporting standards may result in
apparent summation differences.
- Tonnage measurements are in metric units. Copper and iron are
reported as percentages (%) and gold as grams per tonne (g/t).
For this update, Capstone undertook significant revisions and
improvements to the geological models (lithology and oxidation
models), the domaining strategy and the estimation scheme for both
deposits. Two block models, one for Santo Domingo – Iris Norte and
one for Estrellita were created incorporating the new geological
modelling and an updated drill hole database that included the more
recent drillholes from the Project. All grade interpolation was
performed using ordinary kriging and an NSR was calculated using
updated recovery curves for Cu, Au and Fe, and updated metal prices
and costs. Whittle shells were used to constrain the final Mineral
Resource estimates.
When comparing only the 2024 Mineral Resources for Santo Domingo
and Iris Norte compared with the 2020 Feasibility Study, the update
has resulted in higher Cu and Au grades, slightly lower Fe grades,
and a slight increase in an additional 5% to 15% metal in Measured
and Indicated and approximately two to four times more metal in
Inferred Resources.
Readers are advised that Mineral Resources are not Mineral
Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral
Resource estimates do not account for mineability, selectivity,
mining loss and dilution. These Mineral Resource estimates include
inferred Mineral Resources that are normally considered too
speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to
them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves.
Even though test mining has been undertaken in areas with Measured
and Indicated class Mineral Resources, there is no certainty that
Inferred Mineral Resources will be converted to Measured and
Indicated categories through further drilling, or into Mineral
Reserves, once economic considerations are applied.
MINE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
The cash flow model is supported by a mine plan developed to an
annual level of detail, which is available in Exhibit 1 at the end
of this release. Approximately 45 million tonnes of material would
be pre-stripped prior to start-up of operations and used in the
construction of the TSF starter dam. The overall strip ratio for
the LOM is 2.5:1.
PROCESS DESCRIPTION
The Santo Domingo process broadly consists of the following
stages: crushing, grinding, copper flotation, magnetite recovery,
copper dewatering and load-out, magnetite pumping and dewatering,
tailings dewatering and storage.
The primary crushing plant will process run of mine (“ROM”) ore
feed in a gyratory crusher. A belt feeder transfers the ore from
crusher area to the stockpile feed conveyor, and ultimately
discharges fresh ore over a covered conical coarse ore stockpile.
The stockpile allows ore reclaim using four apron feeders located
within the reclaim tunnels (two trains of two feeders), which feed
two parallel grinding circuits via dedicated conveyors.
Each grinding circuit consists of one 18 MW autogenous grinding
mill (“AG mill”), one pebble AG mill discharge screen, two pebble
crushers (duty & standby), one cyclone cluster and one ball
mill. The AG mill product slurry discharges over a horizontal
single deck vibrating screen for pebble washing and transferring of
pebbles to pebble conveyors and then to pebble crushing. Crushed
pebbles report to the AG mill feed conveyor.
There is the option of bypassing the pebble crushers and
recycling uncrushed material to the AG mill using the same belt
conveyor system, when required. Also, a belt plow mechanism is
available on the conveyors for purging pebbles to grade to aid
grind-out of mills when required.
The AG mill screen undersize feeds the 9 MW variable speed ball
mill and discharges into the grinding cyclone cluster feed box,
where it is mixed with the ball mill product and is pumped to a
cluster of 33” classification cyclones. Cyclone underflow reports
by gravity to the ball mill and cyclone overflow feeds the
downstream copper flotation circuit.
Copper flotation consists of conventional rougher cell
flotation, regrinding and classification, with Jameson Cells used
in the cleaner scalper, cleaner scavenger, and re-cleaner stages.
The rougher flotation stage recovers both copper minerals and
pyrite minerals. The cleaner circuit selectively recovers copper
sulphides and pyrite preferentially reports to the cleaner
scavenger tail stream. There is allowance in the design for future
installation of a pyrite recovery circuit to recover pyrite that
contains cobalt. Final copper concentrate is pumped to downstream
copper thickening and dewatering prior to stockpiling and
load-out.
The iron concentrate plant is designed to produce two
simultaneous products, determined by the nature of the magnetite
mineral: a) a higher iron grade product (“high grade concentrate”),
and; b) a lower iron grade (“low grade concentrate”).
A detailed Mine Production Summary and Plant Feed Production
Schedule showing tonnes processed, grades and recoveries is
available in Exhibit 1 at the end of this release.
The tailings storage system will consist of a tailings storage
facility (“TSF”) located approximately 2 kilometres southeast of
the proposed process plant. The TSF is designed to store
approximately 361 million tonnes of high density thickened
tailings, which is sufficient capacity for the approximately 19
years of the mine life. Storage of both desalinated and process
water is proposed in lined ponds near the plant site. Water make-up
is proposed to be desalinated water.
OFFSITE INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES
The 2024 FS includes 100% of the capital requirements for a
greenfield port in the Punta Roca Blanca area (“Puerto Santo
Domingo”) on the coast 43 kilometres north of Caldera in the
Atacama Region (Region III). The port facility is designed to
accommodate the maximum throughput requirements of 5.4 million tpa
of magnetite concentrate and 0.72 million tpa of copper
concentrate, considering the Santo Domingo Project requirements and
the future Mantoverde operation requirements.
The planned route for transporting cargo, staff and equipment to
the Santo Domingo mine-plant site is from the south of the mine
site by Route C-17 and from the north by Route C-13. Capstone has
commenced & partially completed construction of approximately
18.5 km of the C-17 bypass road, to reroute this public highway
around the mine-plant project site. The closest commercial airport
is the Desierto de Atacama Airport, 113 km south from Chañaral,
which has regular scheduled flights to Santiago. The closest
airport to the Santo Domingo site is the El Salvador Airport, a
private airport, 44 km from the mine-plant site.
WATER AND CONCENTRATE TRANSPORT
The process water required by the Santo Domingo operation will
be produced by a desalination plant located at the port. Capstone
has held detailed discussions with water supply companies to
confirm interest in supplying desalinated water to the operation,
from a facility at the port or from another location. The current
plan is that a build–own–operate–transfer (BOOT) contractor will
construct and operate the sea water intake, reverse osmosis
desalination plant and brine return system at the port and the
desalinated water pipeline as part of the BOOT contract.
Alternatives under consideration are the purchase of desalinated
water from an existing plant, from a plant that is planned to be
built in the Atacama Region for multiuser supply, or, as part of a
district integration opportunity, from a potential expansion to the
desalination plant supporting Capstone’s nearby Mantoverde
operation.
A magnetite concentrate pipeline will transport magnetite
concentrate from the process plant to the filter plant at the port
via a pipeline starting at an elevation of 1,027 masl and ending at
the port at an elevation of 16 masl. Water recovered from the
magnetite concentrate filtering process at the port will also be
recycled and reused. The copper concentrate will be trucked from
the site to Puerto Santo Domingo.
Both the water and the concentrate pipelines will use the same
permitted right-of-way and will run parallel to existing roads for
the majority of the distance from the mine area to the port. The
pipeline route will largely follow the valleys with the single
route high point located approximately 45 kilometres from the mine
site near the Mantoverde mine operation.
POWER
Santo Domingo's mine and port sites will be connected to the
national grid system at local substations near the facilities. The
estimated peak demand for the mine and port is 123 MW. Capstone
intends to enter into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA)
with a significant renewable energy component with one of the major
power companies that operate on the national grid and supply
several of Chile’s major mining companies, including our Mantoverde
and Mantos Blancos mines.
INITIAL CAPITAL COST ESTIMATE
The initial capital costs for the Santo Domingo Cu-Fe-Au Mine
have been estimated at $2.315 billion as shown in the following
table. This reflects a total capital intensity of approximately
$21,900 per tonne of annual copper equivalent production over the
life of mine. This estimate is based upon a constant foreign
exchange rate of 800 Chilean Pesos ("CLP") to US$1.00 during the
development period and for the LOM.
INITIAL CAPITAL COST ESTIMATE
(by area)
($ millions)
Mine
370.3
Processing plant
485.6
Tailings and water reclaim
66.7
Plant infrastructure
144.4
Port & port
infrastructure
283.4
External infrastructure
150.5
Total Direct Cost
1,500.9
Indirect costs
413.9
Owner costs
108.9
Contingency (~15%)
291.0
Total Indirect Costs
813.8
TOTAL INITIAL CAPITAL COSTS
2,314.7
Mine pre-production pre-strip costs are estimated at $70 million
and are included in the “Mine” initial capital cost estimate.
External infrastructure largely relates to the Fe magnetite
concentrate pipeline, power infrastructure, and roads. LOM
sustaining capital and deferred stripping, estimated at $441
million and $888 million, respectively, over the approximate
19-year mine life, are not included in the above figure. LOM Mine
closure costs have been estimated at $124 million and have been
included in the financial model. In 2019, the Closure Plan was
formally approved by the Chilean authorities.
SUMMARY OF OPERATING COST ESTIMATE
As shown, the total by-product C1 cash costs8 over LOM are
estimated at $0.33 per pound of payable copper produced, when
including iron and applicable gold credits. The co-product LOM C1
cash costs9 are estimated at approximately $1.59 per pound of
payable copper equivalent and $32.99 per tonne of magnetite
concentrate equivalent produced.
Total Project Operating
Costs10
LOM Total ($ millions)
LOM Average ($/t
milled)
LOM C1 Cash Costs11 ($/lb
payable Cu)
Mining
1,588
3.64
0.58
Processing
3,708
8.51
1.35
G&A
549
1.26
0.20
Sub-Total
$5,845
$13.41
$2.13
By-Product Credits
(2.12)
Treatment and Refining Charges
and Selling Costs
0.32
TOTAL C1 cash costs12 per
pound of payable copper produced
$0.33
Mining costs in the above table exclude deferred stripping
(included as capital expenditures) of $888 million ($2.04/t milled)
and pre-stripping (included in initial capital expenditures) of $70
million. Mining costs including deferred stripping are $1.57 per
tonne moved over the life-of-mine.
PERMITTING
In July 2015, Capstone received approval of the Environmental
Impact Assessment (“EIA”) for the mine, and later, in 2020, for the
desalination plant. The Maritime Concession was approved in March
2016. In July 2017, long lead-time permit applications required to
start construction were submitted, and they have all since been
received, including formal approval of the Mine Closure Plan
received in 2019. The permits received include Mine Development,
Plant, Tailings Storage Facility, Waste Rock Storage, Flora and
Fauna Rescue, Change of Land-Use and High Voltage Connection.
Santo Domingo maintains 15 years of tax stability post
commencement of commercial production under the previous taxation
legislation in Chile as a result of Decree Law No. 600 (“DL
600”).
8 C1 cash costs are net of magnetite iron and gold by-product
credits and selling costs. These are Non-GAAP performance measures;
please see “Non-GAAP and Other Performance Measures” at the end of
this news release. 9 C1 cash costs on a co-product basis consist of
mining costs, processing costs, mine-level G&A, gold revenue
credit, and refining charges over payable copper equivalent pounds
(copper plus magnetite) or magnetite equivalent tonnes (magnetite
plus copper). These are Non-GAAP performance measures; please see
“Non-GAAP and Other Performance Measures” at the end of this news
release. 10 These are Non-GAAP performance measures; please see
“Non-GAAP and Other Performance Measures” at the end of this news
release. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 11 These are Non-GAAP
performance measures; please see “Non-GAAP and Other Performance
Measures” at the end of this news release. 12 C1 cash costs are net
of magnetite iron and cash gold by-product credits and selling
costs. These are Non-GAAP performance measures; please see
“Non-GAAP and Other Performance Measures” at the end of this news
release.
COMMODITY PRICING
The updated 2024 feasibility study assumes analyst consensus
long-term commodity price assumptions for copper, iron ore, and
gold.
Copper
Capstone markets copper concentrate from its four mining
operations. Santo Domingo copper concentrate is generally
considered clean and low in impurities (deleterious or penalty
elements). Capstone foresees substantial demand from trading
companies that specialize in blending complex materials with
cleaner concentrates. These companies typically prefer concentrates
like Santo Domingo’s due to their compatibility with blending
processes and enhanced value proposition. High-quality concentrates
are coveted by both smelters and traders alike. This further
supports the expected strong demand for Santo Domingo’s copper
concentrate in the market.
The analyst consensus long-term copper price was determined to
be $4.10/lb which is slightly below the current spot price and
compares with the five-year trailing average of approximately
$3.68/lb.
Iron
Santo Domingo will produce three products, a 62%, 65%, and 67%
iron concentrate product. The iron concentrate forecast in the
production schedule is a typical pellet feed currently used in
pellet plants. Magnetite is the predominant mineral. The iron
concentrate grade is high and the low alumina (Al2O3) and low
phosphorus (P) make the concentrate suitable for most pellet
plants. Suitability and demand for this pellet feed will be
considered in the context of increasing use of pellets in iron
making, the increased use of higher-grade concentrate generally and
as a premium additive to sinter plants by blending. Iron ore
concentrate will be produced for shipment overseas in capesize
vessels to iron and steel makers.
The analyst consensus long-term 62% and 65% (CFR China) prices
were determined to be $85/t and $110/t, respectively. These compare
to current spot prices of approximately $100/t and $120/t, and
averages over the last five years, of approximately $110/t and
$129/t, respectively. An additional premium of $10/t (CFR-China) is
assumed for the Project’s 67% Fe product. The financial model
assumes a $25/t FOB Chile freight charge based on a long-term
analysis of trans-oceanic chartering costs for the Chile-to-China
route. As a result, Santo Domingo’s realized price for its 65% iron
ore magnetite product is assumed to be $85/t FOB Santo Domingo
port.
OPPORTUNITIES
The company plans to continue to progress several value
enhancement initiatives within the Mantoverde-Santo Domingo
district that are not yet incorporated into the base case 2024 FS,
which so far only considers the processing of copper and iron ore
concentrate at Santo Domingo.
Copper Oxides
Capstone plans to progress drilling and studies regarding the
processing of Santo Domingo’s oxide material using Mantoverde’s
excess SX-EW capacity. To date, oxide materials have been
recognized in the shallower portions of the Santo Domingo, Iris
Norte, and Estrellita sulfide orebodies. Currently, these oxides
are considered as waste material in the Santo Domingo 2024 FS.
Meanwhile, only approximately two thirds of processing capacity is
being used at Mantoverde’s SX-EW cathode copper plant. Exploration
efforts at Santo Domingo will target a potential 80-100 million
tonnes of oxide material, which could add up to 10 thousand tonnes
per annum of copper production.
Cobalt
A district cobalt plant for the Mantoverde-Santo Domingo
district is designed to unlock cobalt production while reducing
sulphuric acid consumption and increasing heap leach copper
production. The cobalt recovery process comprises a pyrite
flotation step to recover cobaltiferous pyrite from the tailings
streams at Santo Domingo and Mantoverde and redirect it to the
dynamic heap leach pads, which will be upgraded to a bio-leach
configuration through the addition of an aeration system. The
pyrite oxidizes in the leach pads and the solubilized cobalt is
recovered via an ion exchange plant treating a bleed stream from
the copper solvent extraction plant. The approach has been
successfully demonstrated at the bench scale, and onsite piloting
commenced in January 2024 at Mantoverde.
As currently envisioned, a smaller capacity countercurrent
ion-exchange plant will initially treat cobalt by-product streams
from Mantoverde producing up to 1,500 tonnes per annum of cobalt,
and following sanctioning of the Santo Domingo project, the
facility will be expanded to accommodate by-product streams from
Santo Domingo. In line with this, Santo Domingo has initiated a
Feasibility Study to assess the optimum process configuration for
the pyrite flotation and pumping transportation facilities needed
to transport pyrite concentrate to Mantoverde's leach
facilities.
Santo Domingo Port and Mantoverde
Copper Concentrate
Capstone’s Mantoverde mine will be able to use the planned Santo
Domingo port to ship concentrate. The planned Santo Domingo port is
located 65 kilometres from Mantoverde when compared to Puerto
Angamos, the current planned shipping destination, 475 kilometres
away. This decrease in trucking distance is expected to reduce
Mantoverde transport costs by up to $10 million per annum. The
planned Santo Domingo port is expected to have sufficient scale to
handle capsize vessels suitable for large cargo, including Santo
Domingo-Mantoverde copper concentrate, iron ore, district cobalt
production, and the potential for sulphuric acid handling.
Exploration in the Mantoverde-Santo
Domingo District
Capstone has significant untapped exploration potential within
Mantoverde-Santo Domingo district. At Mantoverde, there are 0.3
billion tonnes of Measured & Indicated and 0.6 billion tonnes
of Inferred sulphide resources not in reserves. At Santo Domingo,
there are 0.1 billion tonnes of Measured & Indicated and 0.2
billion tonnes of Inferred sulphide resources not in reserves.
Capstone intends to progress its exploration strategy, starting
with the recently announced two-year $25 million exploration
program at Mantoverde, to service its two eventual processing
centers between Mantoverde and Santo Domingo.
Subsequent to the quarter ended June 30, 2024, Capstone entered
into a binding share purchase agreement (the “SPA”) with
Inversiones Alxar S.A. (“Alxar”) and Empresas COPEC S.A. (“EC”),
collectively the “Sellers” to acquire 100% of Compania Minera
Sierra Norte S.A. (“Sierra Norte”). The Sierra Norte land package
covers over 7,000 hectares in Region III, Chile and hosts an
historic resource (non NI 43-101 compliant) of approximately 100Mt
at 0.45% CuT13 with exploration upside. Sierra Norte is located
approximately 20 kilometres northwest of the Santo Domingo Project
and represents an opportunity to potentially be a future sulphide
feed source for Santo Domingo, extending the higher-grade copper
sulphide life. Under the terms of the SPA, Capstone will pay the
Sellers $40 million payable in share consideration. Closing is
expected within 1-week.
13 This is an historic resource (not 43-101 compliant). Please
refer to the notes outlined in Exhibit 2 for more details.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BENEFITS
Capstone’s Sustainable Development Strategy reflects the
Company’s core values and commitment to responsible mining
practices. Environmental and social benefits embedded within the
updated Santo Domingo 2024 FS include:
- The base case Santo Domingo plan is expected to produce copper
and a high-quality iron ore magnetite concentrate, supporting the
world’s decarbonization efforts. Capstone is also working to add a
third critical metal in cobalt to Santo Domingo’s production
profile.
- Santo Domingo is expected to generate over 1,000 jobs. Training
programs and strategic partnerships with technical schools in
nearby Chañaral and Diego de Almagro are also planned.
- Capstone expects to enter into a PPA for Santo Domingo’s power
requirements that contains a significant renewable energy
component. Capstone is targeting greater than 90% renewable
electricity across our portfolio by 2030.
- The mining fleet features electric shovels, similar to the
electric shovels at Capstone’s Mantoverde mine which reduce
emissions relative to diesel-powered equipment.
- The mine plan has a lower strip ratio when compared to the
previous study, which translates to less waste per tonne of ore,
and less mined material per tonne of metal.
- The updated processing plant features an approximate 40%
footprint reduction compared to the prior plan, minimizing
footprint associated earthworks and environmental impacts.
- The covered primary stockpile and rotainers for copper
concentrate shipment are examples of best-practice dust suppression
capabilities.
- The processing flowsheet features fully autogenous grinding,
reducing steel consumption.
- High density thickeners reduce water consumption by maximizing
the recycling of water and minimizing evaporation losses in the
tailings dam, ultimately reducing requirements for desalinated
water and pumping.
- The tailings storage facility design exceeds the Chilean
standards and is aligned with Capstone’s corporate commitment to
adopt the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management.
Furthermore, the potential future cobalt production would convert
waste in the tailings stream, an environmental liability, into
metal, an economic asset.
- The Company plans to support the local community of Diego de
Almagro with 10 litres per second of potable water coming from the
desalination plant.
- The planned Santo Domingo multi-user port will provide benefits
to the local region. In addition, trucking emissions for
transporting Mantoverde’s copper concentrate will be significantly
reduced.
- The updated 2024 FS outlines over $2 billion in-country taxes
paid in Chile over the life of mine.
NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 43-101
A National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") Technical Report will
be prepared to summarize the results of the 2024 Feasibility Study
by the Qualified Persons and will be filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days
of this news release.
Readers are cautioned that the conclusions, projections and
estimates set out in this news release are subject to important
qualifications, assumptions and exclusions, all of which will be
detailed in the 2024 technical report. To fully understand the
summary information set out above, the 2024 technical report that
will be filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca should be read in its
entirety.
QUALIFIED PERSONS
Peter Amelunxen, P.Eng., Senior Vice President, Technical
Services of Capstone Copper, a Qualified Person (“QP”), as defined
by NI 43-101 reviewed and approved the content of this news release
that is based on the 2024 technical report.
About Capstone Copper
Corp.
Capstone Copper Corp. is an Americas-focused copper mining
company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. We own and operate the
Pinto Valley copper mine located in Arizona, USA, the Cozamin
copper-silver mine located in Zacatecas, Mexico, the Mantos Blancos
copper-silver mine located in the Antofagasta region, Chile, and
70% of the Mantoverde copper-gold mine, located in the Atacama
region, Chile. In addition, we own the fully permitted Santo
Domingo copper-iron-gold project, located approximately 30
kilometres northeast of Mantoverde in the Atacama region, Chile, as
well as a portfolio of exploration properties in the Americas.
Capstone Copper’s strategy is to unlock transformational copper
production growth while executing on cost and operational
improvements through innovation, optimization and safe and
responsible production throughout our portfolio of assets. We focus
on profitability and disciplined capital allocation to surface
stakeholder value. We are committed to creating a positive impact
in the lives of our people and local communities, while delivering
compelling returns to investors by responsibly producing copper to
meet the world’s growing needs.
Further information is available at www.capstonecopper.com
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document may contain “forward-looking information” within
the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively,
“forward-looking statements”). These forward-looking statements are
made as of the date of this document and the Company does not
intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these
forward-looking statements, except as required under applicable
securities legislation.
Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future
performance and reflect Company management's expectations or
beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited
to, statements with respect to the estimation of mineral reserves
and mineral resources, the conversion of mineral resources to
mineral reserves, the ability to successfully complete the
strategic review process, the ability to further enhance the value
of the project, the expected timing for commencement of
construction of the Santo Domingo project, the future validity of
the DL600, our ability to fund future exploration activities, the
market for project debt, Capstone's ability to raise its equity
contribution to the project, the realization of mineral reserve
estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production,
costs of production, capital and construction expenditures, success
of mining operations, success of mineral exploration, environmental
risks, the timing of the receipt of permits, the timing and terms
of a power purchase agreement, unanticipated reclamation expenses,
title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. In
certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the
use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is
expected", "outlook", "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" or the
negative of these terms or comparable terminology. In this document
certain forward-looking statements are identified by words
including “explore”, “potential”, “will”, "scheduled", "plan",
"planned", "estimates", “estimated”, “estimate”, "projections",
"projected", “await receipt” and "expected". Forward-looking
statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove
incorrect, including, but not limited to, the development potential
of the Santo Domingo project and current and future commodity
prices and exchange rates. By their very nature forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors which may cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of the Company to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others,
changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined;
future prices of commodities; possible variations in mineral
resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates; accidents;
dependence on key personnel; labour pool constraints; labour
disputes; availability of infrastructure required for the
development of mining projects; delays in obtaining governmental
approvals, financing or in the completion of development or
construction activities; objections by the communities or
environmental lobby of the Santo Domingo mine and associated
infrastructure and other risks of the mining industry as well as
those factors detailed from time to time in the Company's interim
and annual financial statements and management's discussion and
analysis of those statements, all of which are filed and available
for review on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has
attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual
actions, events or results to differ materially from those
described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors
that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
forward-looking 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.
Non-GAAP and Other Performance Measures
The Company uses certain performance measures in its analysis.
"C1 Cash Costs" and "Total Project Operating Cost" are Non-GAAP
performance measures. These Non-GAAP performance measures are
included in this document because these statistics are key
performance measures that management uses to monitor performance,
to assess how the Company is performing, and to plan and assess the
overall effectiveness and efficiency of mining operations. These
performance measures do not have a standard meaning within IFRS
and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar
data presented by other mining companies. These performance
measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for
measures of performance in accordance with IFRS.
Exhibit 1: Detailed Cash Flow Model and Select Key
Assumptions
Unit
LOM
-3
-2
-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Production Summary
Mineral Resource Mined to
Plant
kt
377,303
--
--
--
19,939
26,279
21,319
25,086
26,278
23,726
23,722
16,311
18,838
23,726
18,234
17,929
21,884
11,486
15,140
18,352
16,641
17,588
14,826
Mineral Resource Mined to
Stockpile
kt
58,753
--
1,149
5,126
1,106
989
74
9,251
6,623
13,522
6,634
1,928
2,104
8,559
692
995
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
Waste Mined
kt
1,074,757
--
8,859
26,321
66,716
62,260
62,080
50,408
43,729
51,137
58,265
62,652
62,960
57,480
66,275
60,415
61,860
56,808
62,241
66,139
54,252
24,250
9,652
Mineral Resource Rehandled
kt
58,753
--
--
--
--
--
4,962
1,267
--
--
--
7,480
4,887
--
5,491
5,862
1,841
12,240
8,586
--
2,320
1,400
2,418
Throughput
ktpd
n/a
--
--
--
54.6
72.0
72.0
72.2
72.0
65.0
65.0
65.2
65.0
65.0
65.0
65.2
65.0
65.0
65.0
50.3
51.9
52.0
47.2
Resource Sent to Mill
kt
436,056
--
--
--
19,939
26,279
26,281
26,353
26,278
23,726
23,722
23,791
23,725
23,726
23,725
23,791
23,725
23,726
23,725
18,352
18,961
18,988
17,243
Cu Head Grade
%
0.33%
--
--
--
0.50%
0.59%
0.48%
0.49%
0.43%
0.45%
0.39%
0.26%
0.22%
0.30%
0.33%
0.31%
0.22%
0.20%
0.29%
0.20%
0.12%
0.11%
0.13%
Au Head Grade
g/t
0.05
--
--
--
0.07
0.08
0.07
0.07
0.06
0.07
0.06
0.04
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.05
0.03
0.03
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.01
Fe Head Grade
%
26.5%
--
--
--
25.0%
29.0%
26.4%
29.4%
30.0%
32.0%
30.7%
26.6%
26.7%
28.4%
25.8%
23.2%
21.4%
21.9%
21.2%
24.1%
25.8%
26.4%
27.5%
Cu Recovery
%
90.1%
--
--
--
90.6%
91.6%
91.2%
91.0%
88.5%
89.0%
90.4%
90.0%
89.5%
89.7%
90.1%
90.0%
89.4%
88.7%
90.1%
90.4%
89.7%
88.7%
89.2%
Au Recovery
%
64.7%
--
--
--
70.2%
71.0%
68.9%
68.1%
66.0%
66.0%
64.8%
60.6%
58.9%
61.3%
62.1%
62.5%
59.5%
58.2%
62.6%
58.8%
57.1%
57.1%
53.0%
Fe Recovery
%
59.2%
--
--
--
26.9%
48.1%
59.7%
56.6%
57.0%
56.2%
51.9%
68.0%
70.7%
62.1%
43.8%
46.0%
67.5%
53.3%
38.6%
64.4%
88.7%
87.5%
93.2%
Cu Production
kt
1,293.1
--
--
--
90.8
142.0
114.9
118.1
98.9
95.4
84.4
56.0
47.1
64.6
70.5
67.1
47.3
42.2
61.6
33.0
20.7
19.2
19.4
Au Production
koz
412
--
--
--
31
47
38
39
32
33
27
18
13
21
23
22
14
12
18
10
6
5
4
Fe Production
Mt
68.4
--
--
--
1.3
3.7
4.1
4.4
4.5
4.3
3.8
4.3
4.5
4.2
2.7
2.5
3.4
2.8
1.9
2.8
4.3
4.4
4.4
Cu Payable
kt
1,242.9
--
--
--
87.5
136.9
110.7
113.6
95.0
91.7
81.1
53.7
45.2
62.0
67.7
64.4
45.4
40.4
59.2
31.6
19.9
18.5
18.5
Cu Concentrate Grade
%
26.4%
--
--
--
28.3%
28.4%
27.6%
27.1%
26.5%
26.1%
26.0%
25.4%
25.1%
25.2%
25.2%
25.6%
25.5%
25.2%
26.1%
25.6%
26.4%
25.9%
23.7%
Au Payable
koz
370
--
--
--
28
42
34
35
29
29
25
16
12
19
20
19
13
11
16
9
5
4
4
Fe Payable
Mt
68.4
--
--
--
1.3
3.7
4.1
4.4
4.5
4.3
3.8
4.3
4.5
4.2
2.7
2.5
3.4
2.8
1.9
2.8
4.3
4.4
4.4
Fe Concentrate Grade
%
65.4%
--
--
--
62.5%
65.0%
66.2%
66.6%
66.4%
65.6%
65.6%
65.6%
66.2%
66.2%
65.4%
64.4%
65.4%
65.0%
63.5%
64.2%
64.6%
65.0%
65.6%
Revenues
Copper Revenue
$M
$11,235
--
--
--
$791
$1,237
$1,000
$1,027
$859
$829
$733
$486
$408
$561
$612
$582
$411
$365
$535
$286
$180
$167
$167
Gold Revenue
$M
$171
--
--
--
$9
$14
$11
$11
$9
$10
$8
$6
$5
$7
$10
$17
$11
$9
$14
$7
$5
$4
$3
Magnetite concentrate revenue
$M
$5,664
--
--
--
$84
$311
$366
$396
$406
$373
$329
$371
$408
$373
$233
$169
$275
$214
$137
$178
$278
$374
$387
Gross Revenue
$M
$17,069
--
--
--
$884
$1,562
$1,378
$1,435
$1,274
$1,211
$1,070
$863
$821
$941
$855
$767
$697
$589
$686
$471
$462
$544
$558
Operating Costs
Mine Operating Costs
$M
($1,588)
--
--
--
($75)
($101)
($73)
($134)
($79)
($88)
($69)
($73)
($88)
($131)
($91)
($75)
($88)
($42)
($73)
($81)
($90)
($80)
($56)
Mill Processing Costs
$M
($3,708)
--
--
--
($193)
($216)
($211)
($217)
($214)
($208)
($202)
($207)
($198)
($214)
($204)
($191)
($189)
($203)
($196)
($160)
($168)
($166)
($152)
G&A Costs
$M
($549)
--
--
--
($29)
($28)
($27)
($27)
($29)
($29)
($30)
($30)
($29)
($29)
($30)
($29)
($29)
($29)
($30)
($29)
($28)
($28)
($28)
Refining Charges, Treatment
Charges, Transportation Cost & Royalties
Refining
$M
($194)
--
--
--
($14)
($21)
($17)
($18)
($15)
($14)
($13)
($8)
($7)
($10)
($11)
($10)
($7)
($6)
($9)
($5)
($3)
($3)
($3)
Treatment Costs
$M
($342)
--
--
--
($22)
($35)
($29)
($30)
($26)
($26)
($23)
($15)
($13)
($18)
($20)
($18)
($13)
($12)
($16)
($9)
($5)
($5)
($6)
Transport Costs
$M
($328)
--
--
--
($21)
($33)
($28)
($29)
($25)
($24)
($22)
($15)
($13)
($17)
($19)
($18)
($12)
($11)
($16)
($9)
($5)
($5)
($5)
Storage & Marketing
$M
($15)
--
--
--
($1)
($2)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
Insurance Charges
$M
($5)
--
--
--
($0)
($1)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
Royalties
$M
($288)
--
--
--
($17)
($30)
($27)
($28)
($18)
($15)
($15)
($16)
($14)
($11)
($12)
($11)
($13)
($10)
($13)
($9)
($9)
($10)
($11)
Cost Guarantee
Cost Guarantee
$M
($11)
--
--
--
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($0)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
($1)
--
--
Other Income
Other Income
$M
$47
--
--
--
$5
$4
$4
$4
$4
$5
$3
$3
$4
$2
$2
$2
$2
$2
$1
--
--
--
--
EBITDA
EBITDA
$M
$10,086
$516
$1,099
$967
$952
$870
$810
$698
$501
$462
$511
$469
$415
$346
$276
$332
$167
$152
$246
$297
Gold Streams Proceeds
Remaining Gold Streams
Proceeds
$M
$260
$28
$58
$174
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
Capital Expenditures
Initial Capital
$M
($2,315)
($85)
($744)
($1,119)
($366)
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
Sustaining Capital
$M
($441)
--
--
--
($30)
($73)
($15)
($34)
($43)
($11)
($10)
($19)
($24)
($20)
($10)
($45)
($24)
($37)
($29)
($9)
($3)
($2)
($1)
Deferred Stripping
$M
($888)
--
--
--
($55)
($58)
($81)
($39)
($55)
($43)
($68)
($59)
($48)
($9)
($46)
($57)
($41)
($72)
($52)
($55)
($49)
--
--
Closure Cost
$M
($124)
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
($18)
($18)
($18)
($18)
($18)
($18)
($18)
Change in Working
Capital
Change in Working Capital
$M
--
--
--
--
($80)
($15)
$10
($17)
$15
($1)
$7
($0)
($1)
($16)
$12
$8
($1)
$8
($7)
$9
($3)
$3
$70
Pre-Tax Unlevered Free Cash
Flow
Pre-Tax Unlevered Free Cash
Flow
$M
$6,579
($57)
($686)
($945)
($15)
$952
$881
$861
$788
$755
$627
$423
$389
$466
$424
$322
$261
$157
$226
$95
$79
$228
$349
Pre-Tax Cumulative Unlevered Free
Cash Flow
$M
$6,579
($57)
($743)
($1,688)
($1,703)
($751)
$130
$991
$1,779
$2,534
$3,161
$3,583
$3,972
$4,438
$4,863
$5,184
$5,446
$5,602
$5,829
$5,923
$6,002
$6,231
$6,579
Taxes
Unlevered Cash Taxes
$M
($2,020)
--
--
--
($13)
($68)
($51)
($247)
($230)
($216)
($199)
($137)
($113)
($135)
($140)
($119)
($72)
($56)
($72)
($25)
($24)
($52)
($50)
Post-Tax Unlevered Free Cash
Flow
Post-Tax Unlevered Free Cash
Flow
$M
$4,559
($57)
($686)
($945)
($28)
$884
$829
$615
$558
$540
$427
$286
$277
$331
$284
$203
$189
$101
$154
$70
$55
$176
$298
Post-Tax Cumulative Unlevered
Free Cash Flow
$M
$4,559
($57)
($743)
($1,688)
($1,717)
($832)
$3
$611
$1,169
$1,708
$2,136
$2,421
$2,698
$3,029
$3,313
$3,516
$3,705
$3,806
$3,960
$4,030
$4,085
$4,261
$4,559
Cost KPI's
C1 (by-product basis)*
$/lb Cu
$0.33
--
--
--
$1.36
$0.37
$0.04
$0.20
($0.12)
$0.04
$0.13
($0.24)
($0.65)
$0.29
$0.89
$1.11
$0.53
$0.90
$1.46
$1.56
$0.40
($2.19)
($3.45)
C1 (co-product basis)**
$/lb Cu Eq.
$1.59
--
--
--
$1.62
$1.12
$1.13
$1.29
$1.23
$1.30
$1.36
$1.64
$1.72
$1.81
$1.77
$1.78
$1.96
$2.08
$2.00
$2.53
$2.65
$2.16
$1.82
*C1 consist of mining costs, processing costs, mine-level
G&A, gold revenue credit, and refining charges over payable
copper equivalent pounds (copper plus magnetite) ** C1 consist of
mining costs, processing costs, mine-level G&A, gold revenue
credit, magnetite revenue credit, and refining charges over payable
copper pounds
PRICE DECK & MARKETING
ASSUMPTIONS
Assumption
Unit
LOM
Copper Price
$/lb
$4.10
Gold Price
$/oz
$1,800
62% grade magnetite Conc. Price
(CFR China)
$/t
$85
65% grade magnetite Conc. Price
(CFR China)
$/t
$110
67% grade magnetite Conc. Price
(CFR China)
$/t
$120
Freight Charge
(Chile-to-China)
$/t
$25
Chilean Peso
CLP/USD
800:1
Copper Treatment Charges
$/dmt
$70
Copper Refining Charges
$/lb Cu
$0.07
Gold refining charge
$/oz
$5
Exhibit 2: Sierra Norte, Historical Mineral Resources
Category
Tonnes (Mt)
CuT
%
CuS
%
Copper (kt)
Carmen-Paulina
Measured
7.5
0.47%
0.16%
35.5
Indicated
63.5
0.46%
0.10%
292.0
Inferred
25.1
0.40%
0.04%
101.5
Total
96.1
0.45%
0.09%
429.0
Esther
Measured
0.7
0.42%
0.26%
3.0
Indicated
3.3
0.40%
0.24%
13.3
Inferred
0.1
0.35%
0.22%
0.3
Total
4.1
0.40%
0.24%
16.6
Notes: The Historical Mineral Resource was derived from
the report “Actualización del Modelo Geológico y de la Estimación
de Recursos Minerales del Proyecto Diego de Almagro” completed by
Amec Foster Wheeler with an effective date on April 29, 2016
prepared for Alxar S.A. The historical estimates are strictly
historical in nature and are non compliant with NI 43-101 and
should not be relied upon. A qualified person has not done
sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current
“mineral resources”, as such term is defined in NI 43-101 and it is
uncertain whether, following further evaluation or exploration
work, the historical estimates will be able to report as mineral
resources in accordance with NI 43-101. Capstone has not done
sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current
mineral resources and is not treating the historical estimate as
current mineral resources. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral
Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral
Resources reported using a cut-off grade of 0.2% with further
economic extraction parameters outlined below. Mineral Resources
reported by category; based on average spacing of drillholes and
levels of confidence in the grade estimation. There are no more
recent estimates or data available to Capstone. The Sierra Norte
deposit will require further evaluation including drilling to
verify the historical estimate as current mineral resources.
Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the
historical estimates contained in this news release. Economic
Parameters for Mineral Resources include the following: Copper
price: $3.00/lb; Mining cost: $1.69/t; Sulphide recovery: 91%;
Sulphide processing cost: $7.26/t; Oxide (heap) recovery: 60%;
Oxide (heap) processing cost: $8.12/t; Oxide (SX-EW) processing
cost: $0.30/lb; Concentrate selling costs: $0.41/lb; and Cathodes
selling costs: $0.04/lb.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240731222196/en/
Jerrold Annett, SVP, Strategy & Capital Markets 647-273-7351
jannett@capstonecopper.com
Daniel Sampieri, Director, Investor Relations & Strategic
Analysis 437-788-1767 dsampieri@capstonecopper.com
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