Polymetal International plc

Q2 2022 production results

Polymetal reports solid production results for the second quarter of 2022.

“In Q2, we hit our production targets and are on track to meet our full-year guidance. International sanctions against Russia continue to have a material impact on sales, procurement and logistics. The management is fully focused on maintaining operating and financial stability of the Company”, said Vitaly Nesis, Group CEO of Polymetal.

HIGHLIGHTS

• No fatal accidents occurred among Group workforce and contractors in Q2 2022. During this period, two minor LTI incidents were recorded among employees. Lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) for the six-month period decreased by 53% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 0.08 (0.17 in H1 2021).
• Q2 gold equivalent production (“GE”) decreased by 9% year-on-year to 326 Koz. Lower grades and planned long maintenance shutdown at the Amursk POX reduced output from Kyzyl and Albazino, more than offsetting fresh contribution from Nezhda.
• GE output for H1 was 697 Koz, down by 7% y-o-y, including 453 Koz in Russia and 244 Koz in Kazakhstan. СOVID-related restrictions in China forced the Company to reduce shipments of gold concentrates from Nezhda and Kyzyl. The Company reiterates its full-year production guidance of 1.7 Moz of GE (1.2 Moz in Russia and 500 Koz in Kazakhstan), however notes a risk of underperformance given persistent lockdowns and logistical constraints in Chinese ports and railway.
• In Q2, 130 Koz of GE in gold and silver bullion inventory accumulated across the Group’s Russian mines. This gap between sales and production is likely to be closed during Q3 as the Company ramps up export sales to various Asian markets.
• Revenue for the quarter recorded a 36% decline y-o-y to US$ 433 million, while H1 revenue was down by 18% to US$ 1,048 million (US$ 605 million Russia and US$ 443 million Kazakhstan). The negative dynamics was the result of lower sales volumes on the back of inventory accumulation, while the average realized price was marginally higher.
• Net debt as of the end of Q2 stood at approximately US$ 2.8 billion. A quarterly increase of US$ 0.8 billion was driven by bullion and concentrate inventory accumulation, accelerated purchases of equipment and spares, funding of the critically important contractors and suppliers, and upward US$ re-valuation of ruble-denominated debt driven by significant Rouble strengthening during the quarter. The Company maintains sufficient liquidity with US$ 0.5 billion in cash and US$ 0.4 billion of undrawn credit lines with non-sanctioned banks.             
• Given significant appreciation of Ruble against US Dollar, the Company will update its FY2022 cash costs and CAPEX guidance with the publication of its H1 2022 financial results on 22 September 2022. 

OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

PRODUCTION BY MINE

Notes: (1) Based on 80:1 Au/Ag conversion ratio and excluding base metals. Comparative data for 2021 restated accordingly 120:1 Au/Ag conversion ratio was used).

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

The Company will hold a conference call and webcast on Thursday, 21 July 2022 at 11:00 London time (13:00 Moscow time).

To participate in the call, please dial:

From the UK:

+44 (0) 330 165 4012 (local access)

0800 279 6877 (toll free)

From the US:

+1 646 828 8073 (local access)

800 289 0720 (toll free)

From Russia:

+7 495 646 5137 (local access)

8 10 800 2865 5011 (toll free)

To participate from other countries, please dial any of the local access numbers listed above.

Conference code: 1493984

To participate in the webcast follow the link: https://www.webcast-eqs.com/polymetal20220721.

Please be prepared to introduce yourself to the moderator or register.

A recording of the call will be available at +44 (0) 20 3859 5407 (from the UK), +1 719 457 0820 (from the USA) and 8 10 800 2702 1012 (from Russia), access code 1493984, from 15:30 London time Thursday, 21 July, till 15:30 London time Thursday, 28 July 2022. Webcast replay will be available on Polymetal’s website (www.polymetalinternational.com) and at https://www.webcast-eqs.com/polymetal20220721.

Enquiries

Forward-looking statements

This release may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this release. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “targets”, “believes”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “will”, “may”, “anticipates”, “would”, “could” or “should” or similar expressions or, in each case their negative or other variations or by discussion of strategies, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. These forward-looking statements all include matters that are not historical facts. By their nature, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the company’s control that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which the company will operate in the future. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. There are many factors that could cause the company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. The company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the company’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

KYZYL

Note: (1) For information only; not considered as gold produced and therefore not reflected in the table representing total production. It will be included in total production upon shipment to off-taker or dore production at Amursk POX.

(2) To be further processed at Amursk POX.

In Q2, gold in concentrate production at Kyzyl contracted by 30% mostly due to the planned decline in grade as mining shifted to the eastern part of the pit.

Concentrate inventory continued to accumulate due to the Amursk POX shutdown and COVID-related logistical restrictions in China.

Recovery rate at POX grew by 4% y-o-y due to improvements in the flowsheet implemented during the maintenance shutdown (addition of conditioning slurry tanks).

VARVARA

Note: (1) Technological recovery, includes gold and copper within work-in-progress inventory. Does not include toll-treated ore.

Gold output at Varvara was largely stable y-o-y and exceeded the production plan.

Grade processed at the flotation circuit remained high on the back of prevailing share of better quality third-party ore. Gold recovery at the leaching circuit grew following the flowsheet improvements.

Ore mined increase is driven by the start of mining at the River pit.

At Varvara, a pilot rail-veyor project (the first one implemented in Eurasia) was commissioned to transport incoming ore from the railway spur to the crusher, thus reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and ore transportation cost.

Varvara Mine Supply Chain has become the first company in Kazakhstan (and third in Polymetal) which was certified in full compliance under the International Cyanide Management Code by the International Cyanide Management Institute (ICMI).

DUKAT

Notes: (1) Technological recovery, includes gold and silver within work-in-progress inventory.

Dukat H1 production was above the plan as throughput and grade exceeded the budget.

Waste mined increase in H1 is attributable to the mining of crown pillars at the Dukat open pit.

At Primorskoye, the Company is stockpiling crushed ore with shipments to customers expected to commence in August.

ALBAZINO

Notes: (1) To concentrate.

 (2) For information only; not considered as gold produced and therefore not reflected in the table representing total production. Included in total production after Dore production at the Amursk POX.

Mining at the largest high-grade Anfisa open pit has been completed at Albazino. Depletion of Anfisa is the main driver behind the planned production decline at the mine this year.

Volume of Albazino concentrate processed at Amursk POX decreased due to the long maintenance shutdown.

Waste and ore mining volumes in H1 were higher, driven by Farida pit (Albazino) and Kutyn development. Underground development advanced due to ramping-up of Ekaterina and Anfisa underground mines.

At Kutyn, ore crushing commenced. The project completion rate reached 90%. Start-up is scheduled for Q3 2022.

AMURSK POX

Notes: (1) Purchased concentrates which are included in reportable production in the Albazino segment.

           (2) For information only. Already accounted for in production at operating mines.

POX production was down y-o-y due to the long maintenance shutdown (40 days) for the scheduled relining of the autoclave.

OMOLON

Note: (1) Technological recovery, includes gold and silver within work-in-progress inventory.

At Omolon, Kubaka mill recorded a planned decline in gold grade and production. In 2022, the plant processes lower-grade silver ore, Merrill-Crowe circuit remains idle, hence silver production is also down.

At the heap leach facility, Q2 stacking volumes decreased due to rehandling of the previously stacked ore. Grade was lower according to the mine plan – depletion of the Birckachan heap leach ore reserves.

Underground development commenced at Burgali underground, first ore is expected to be delivered in H2 2023. Open-pit ore mining at the deposit will recommence in Q3 2022, currently stripping is in progress.

The 2.5 MWh solar power plant reached planned capacity and now generates 20% of the required electricity for Kubaka mill.

NEZHDA

Notes: (1) Includes concentrate produced and stockpiled for future sale, and excludes low-grade material. Expected 90% gold payable ratio is applied.

At Nezhda, the majority of the production volume came from the payable gold in concentrate. Amursk POX continued to process trial batches of concentrate to study its technological parameters before processing at the future POX-2 plant.

The 110-kV line linking Nezhda mine to the regional grid, powered by the combination of hydro and gas, has been successfully commissioned. Previously operating diesel-powered gensets have been transferred to stand-by emergency mode.

SVETLOYE

H1 gold production contracted y-o-y on the back of stacking of stockpiled lower-grade ore from the depleted Lyudmila main pit. However, q-o-q grade dynamics has normalized after a sharp decline in Q1.

Ore mining advanced after the Company increased the velocity of mining decline in the open pit by addition of the reserve excavator and engaging with a mining contractor.

VORO

Note: (1) Technological recovery, includes gold within work-in-progress inventory.

At Voro, quarterly production saw a y-o-y increase driven by higher volumes of third-party high-grade material in the feed.

Voro flotation plant construction is 80% complete. Start-up is targeted for Q1 2023.

MAYSKOYE

Notes: (1) To concentrate.

(2) For information only; not considered as gold produced and therefore not reflected in the table representing total production. Included in total production upon sale to off-taker or dore production at Amursk POX.

(3) Gold produced from carbon at Amursk POX.

At Mayskoye, Q2 gold in concentrate production was broadly stable y-o-y.

An underground ore conveyor was successfully commissioned and entered the ram-up period. The US$ 30 million project is expected to cut costs (AISC by up to US$ 150/oz) and reduce GHG emissions. Importantly, it frees up the substantial fleet of underground trucks that can be used to support other mines in the absence of sanctions-related fleet replacement.

POX-2

At POX-2, installation of concentrates pulp blending vessels, intensive cyanidation reactor and slurry cooling section was complete. Thickener installation continues. The plant start-up is expected Q2 2024 according to the revised schedule.

SUSTAINABILITY, HEALTH AND SAFETY

There were no fatal accidents among Polymetal’s employees and contractors during the first half of the year (consistent with H1 2021). Lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) among the Group’s employees decreased by 40% y-o-y to 0.08 for the quarter (0.10 in Q2 2021) and by 53% to 0.08 in H1 (0.17 in H1 2021). In Q2 2022, two incidents resulting in lost-time injuries occurred among Polymetal employees and five among contractors’ workers, all of the injuries were classified as minor. The incidents were followed by proper investigations aimed at improving safety of workplaces.

Following the latest review by Vigeo Eiris, a global leader in ESG assessments, data, research and analytics, Polymetal’s ESG overall score has been updated to 67/100 (69/100 in 2021), corresponding to the Advanced level of performance and placing Polymetal on the 2nd place among 41 industry peers.