PRECIOUS METALS

Yamana sells mine after mixed quarter

Canada-based miner Yamana Gold (TSX: YRI) has reported lower revenue for the September quarter, lowered its silver guidance but increased its gold and copper forecasts and improved its costs outlook.

Staff reporter

It also announced an agreement, worth about US$85 million, to sell its Gualcamayo mine in Argentina to Mineros SA.

The Latin American producer has separately gained the option to earn up to 51% of Yamana's La Pepa project in Chile by spending $20 million on exploration over four years and paying $5 million in cash.

In a translated statement, Mineros said the Gualcamayo transaction was an important advance in the company's growth strategy to increase gold production to 500,000 ounces per year.

Gualcamayo was expected to produce 110,000oz of gold in 2018 and Yamana has long been considering a sale as part of its portfolio prioritisation.

Meanwhile, Yamana has increased its gold production guidance from 900,000 to 920,000oz for the year, thanks to strong production including the recent start-up of Cerro Moro in Argentina. 

It said the increase should "more than offset" lower than expected silver production, with guidance of 8.15 million ounces reduced to 7.55Moz due to lower than planned production from El Peñón.

It upped its full-year copper guidance from 120Mlb to 125Mlb due to Chapada's performance and forecast improvements into the fourth quarter.

The mine produced 28.6Mlb of copper during the September quarter, down from 37.1Mlb in the previous corresponding period.

Yamana expected all-in sustaining costs to be below guidance due to higher production, operational efficiencies and the impact of local currency depreciation.

The company reported a net loss of $81.3 million, or 9c per share, for the September quarter and said the most notable item was a non-cash accounting carrying value reduction of $75 million on an after-tax basis relating to the Gualcamayo sale.

It adjusted earnings were $23.6 million or 2c per share, compared with $29.1 million and 4c/share a year ago.

The company produced 279,464 gold-equivalent ounces in the third quarter and expects to achieve its gold-equivalent guidance for the year.

It declared a fourth-quarter dividend of half-a-cent per share.

Yamana shares have eased from C$4.68 in January to a 12-month low of $3.03 last month.

They last traded at $3.05, capitalising it at $2.9 billion.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.