Jul 18 2017
Americas Silver Corporation ("Americas Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a construction update on its 100% owned and fully funded San Rafael development project located in Sinaloa, Mexico.
Budget & Timeline
Construction commenced in early Q4, 2016 with an estimated initial capital expenditure of US $22 million based on the March 30, 2016, San Rafael pre-feasibility study. The initial capital estimate was subsequently reduced to US $18 million due to project optimization related to the mill expansion, refurbishing existing equipment and ramp development, as well as favourable movements in the Mexican peso. As at June 30, 2017, the Company has spent approximately $10.5 million of the revised budget and expects to have sufficient cash on hand and cash flow generated from continuing operations to fund the project development.
Management expects that initial processing of material at the existing Los Braceros mill will occur by mid-September. The initial targeted throughput of 1,500 tonnes per day from the pre-feasibility study is expected early in Q4, 2017. In early 2018, management will evaluate a potential mill expansion based on realized mill throughput of the San Rafael ore, achievable future mining rates and current metal prices.
San Rafael is expected to deliver average annual production of 1 million ounces of silver, 50 million pounds of zinc and 20 million pounds of lead over a 6 plus year mine life at negative all-in sustaining costs based on current reserves and metal prices. The project is expected to have an IRR of greater than 100%, generate substantial free cash flow and provide a step change in the Company's cash cost and all-in sustaining cost profile in 2018.
"The pace of development at San Rafael has picked up considerably with the challenging ground conditions now largely behind us, allowing the project to remain on track to deliver on budget and on schedule for first production by the end of Q3, 2017," said Daren Dell, Chief Operating Officer of Americas Silver. "I'm proud of our Mexican team's resolve to work through the ground issues and maintain the short-term development schedule, while also preserving the maximum long-term flexibility of the mine."
Underground Ramp Development
Main access at San Rafael continues to develop toward the center of the Main Zone. Concurrently, a secondary ramp development heading to the west which accesses the first 18-24 months of production in the southern-most part of the Main Zone has less than 190 meters of development to reach the first ore stopes. Management currently anticipates that ramp development to this area will allow ore stockpiling to begin in early August. The main access development continues to advance through a localized "karst" zone that hosts challenging ground conditions at the contact between volcanic and limestone rock-types. Development is moving successfully through this area and an augmented ground support regime has been implemented to ensure its long-term stability. Continued development beyond this area will provide future access to the Main Zone and Upper Zone areas of the mine for production beyond 2019.
Processing Facility
Mill modifications including additional flotation capacity, reagent preparation and distribution areas, and concentrate regrind circuits at the existing Los Braceros mill are progressing well. All major equipment has been delivered and contractors are currently focusing on electrical cable installation and piping. Commissioning of the new equipment is set for the second half of August in anticipation of initial production from San Rafael.
Drilling
Earlier in the year, the Company completed a 20-hole, 1,900 meter definition drill campaign covering the southern part of the Main Zone. The program successfully confirmed the limits of the current resource and provided additional information for final stope design. Management is also evaluating options to mine and stockpile additional material from this area made economic through higher metal prices.
In Q2, 2017, the Company completed an 8-hole, 2,700 meter diamond drilling campaign targeting the Zone 120 area. Given the success of that original program, four additional holes are currently testing the southern extension of Zone 120 to evaluate a potential connection with the El Cajón mine. The individual drill-hole results from the first campaign will be incorporated into the Company's mid-year reserve and mineral resource update expected to be released by the end of Q3, 2017. See attached map for drill locations.
Current Operations
Current production for the Cosalá operations continues to be primarily sourced from the Nuestra Señora mine as higher zinc and lead prices have prioritized this ore above the El Cajón ore, currently in stockpiles at the Los Braceros mill. It is expected that ore from Nuestra Señora will be processed through most of Q3, 2017. El Cajón stockpiles are available to supplement mill feed until San Rafael commences at the end of the quarter.