Aris Mining Corporation

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Area of Mining Q2 2024 Operational and Financial Results Call. We'll begin with an overview for management, followed by a question and answer session period. To join the question queue, you may press star then one on your telephone keypad. As a reminder, all participants are in listen-only mode, and the conference is being recorded. Should you need assistance during the conference call, you may seek signal and operator by present start and zero. Please note that the accompanying presentation that management will refer to during today's call can be found in the events and presentation section of Iris Mining's website and irismining.com. Also, Iris Mining's second quarter 2024 financials have been filled on CEDAR Plus and EDGAR and can also be found on their website. I would now like to turn the conference over to Mr. Niu Wadir, Chief Executive Officer. Please go ahead.

Thank you, Operator, and good morning to everybody, and thank you for joining us on our 2024 Q2 Earnings Call. With me today in Bogota are Richard Thomas, our COO, and Richard Zorocetti, our CFO. But before we go into the quarterly results, I'd like to draw your attention to slide two, which shows our quarterly statements, as we will be making several forward-looking statements today. With that out of the way and starting on slide three, I'd like to share our operational and financial highlights with you before handing it over to Richard Thomas, who will discuss our operational performance and give us an update on our transitional growth projects at Segovia and Lomato. Then Richard Lorisetti will discuss our financial performance this quarter and for the first half year. Harris Mining produced 49,000 ounces of gold in Q2 and 99,983 ounces in H1. We generated a half year adjusted EBITDA of 64.5 million and our adjusted earnings were 18.1 million or 12 cents a share. Segovia generated a significant oil industry margin of 60.6 million in H1, contributing to our funding of our expansion projects. During H1, we invested 70 million in growth projects, including 7.5 million allocated to exploration programmes. As highlighted in our news release on Monday, our drilling programme at Segovia continues to deliver high-grade intersections confirming the continuity and extensions of the large-scale veins at depth and along stripe, and supporting Segovia's status as one of the highest-grade gold operations in the world. Without going into too much detail, as this will be covered by Richard, I'd like to briefly touch on the expansion of our Segovia operations and the construction of the Mamato lower mine. Both projects remain on track and we continue to expect to achieve an annual gold production rate of approximately half a million ounces in the second half of 2026. And again, before I hand over to Richard, I'd like to spend a minute just to discuss Sote Norte. On June 28th, we completed the acquisition of the additional 31% in Sote Norte, therefore increasing our project ownership to 51%. with Mubadala retaining a 49% interest. And they became a 9.3% shareholder of Aris Mining. We continue to develop the development team and integrate it into our management structure and procedures. We're also progressing the new Salte Norte development plan study to look into our next project growth for 27, beyond the feasibility to study levels round the way, with the results of these studies expected in early 25. I'd also like to take the opportunity to emphasise that local contract mining partners will be integrated into the new Salte Norte design and development plan. With that, I'd like to hand over to Richard to carry on the discussion. Thanks, Neil.

Moving on to slide number four. In the first half of 2024, we processed relatively low-grade material at Segovia, averaging at 9.2 grams per tonne, and we did experience an unplanned seven-day plant maintenance shutdown in April, which affected our H1 production for the year. However, since May, the Segovia plant has been operating at its design capacity of 2,000 tonnes per day and is on track for expansion to 3,000 tonnes per day by early 2025 to support our future production growth. Despite these operational challenges in the first half of the year, Aris Mining remains on track to meet the low end of its four-year production guidance of 220,000 to 240,000 ounces. And what gives us confidence is this, that we have opened up some very high-grade sections in the El Silencio mine, which we identified in our drilling program, and we are currently exploiting these. We are seeing this grade reporting to the mill at present. Also, we have managed to upgrade our Bolivia soft and that production has been increased by 25%, which allows us increased production from the El Silencio mine. Moving on to slide number five, where we provide further details of the cost structure of our Segovia operations and our contract mine partners business model. In quarter 2, 2024, the cash cost balance is $1,222 per ounce for mine operations and $1,174 per ounce for on-tractor CMP operations. Cash costs for owner mining remained relatively stable with a modest 2% increase compared to Q1 2024. However, the cash costs for on-title CMPs rose by 11% in the previous quarter, directly driven by a 12% increase in realized gold prices, to $2,308 balance in Q2. Similarly, the purchase and processing costs balanced for material delivered by third-party CMPs who operate off-title increased by 29% in Q2. This was due to both the rise in realised gold prices and the delivery of significantly higher-grade material in Q2, which averaged 29.1 grams per tonne, compared to the 18.7 in the previous quarter. However, despite the higher costs, third-party CNP Melfi purchases contributed approximately $7.2 billion to Segovia's all-interstanding margin of $60.6 million in the first half of the year, while consuming only 5% of Segovia's willing capacity. Moving on to slide number six, the Segovia process plant expansion progressed as scheduled with overall engineering work 85% complete. Manufacturing of the new wall was completed on time and final payment has been made. The new wall is expected to be delivered on site in September. Construction progress also includes the installation of concrete retaining walls, material receiving bins, foundation equipment, and CNP receiving facilities, and the assembly of conveyor belts and other capital equipment. Additional work on the foundations and capital expenditures have increased the overall budget to $15 million, as previously discussed in our press release on July 16th. Like the Segovia processing plant, expansion is complete in early 2025. Following a ramp-up period, Segovia is expected to be able to produce over 300,000 ounces of gold per year. As Neil mentioned, our 2024 exploration program, which is approximately 70% complete, has delivered excellent results as it's closed in our press release on Monday. We expect to report updated mineral resources and reserve estimates for Segovia in quarter four. Moving on to slide 7, I'd also like to update you on the construction progress at Mamata Lower Mine. As you know, we commenced construction of the new Mamata Lower Mine in Q3 2022, following the receipt of environmental permits in July 2023. The Lower Mine will access a wider porphyry-type modernisation below the Upper Mine, with both mines estimated to produce a combined 162,000 ounces of gold per year over a 20-year mine life. Detail design and engineering of the process facility are over 90% complete. Manufacturing of the process product equipment ordered in Q1 of this year is progressing on schedule with long lead items on track to meet contractual delivery dates. The portal development is ahead of schedule with completion expected by the end of the month. The contractor selected for the 2nd D time is preparing equipment for mobilization and key items like patrol rigs are already on site. Preparation for the road access to the processing plant is progressing well and asphalting has commenced this month. Design and engineering of the power supply to the mine and process plant are complete and the land rights acquisition process continues to the main power line. Design of the paste plant and water treatment plant are well underway. As of the end of July 2024, the estimated cost to complete the lower mine construction is $246 million, of which $122 million will be funded by stream financing, resulting in $124 million of cost to complete on a net basis. Finally, I'd like to draw your attention to the video link at the bottom of the slide, which I recommend you visit for photographs and video updates of the Mamata lower mine construction progress. With that, I'd like to hand over to our CFO, Richard Uriuzete.

Thank you, Richard. We're now looking at slide 8. In the second quarter of 2024, we generated revenue of $114.2 million and $219.4 million in the first half of the year. Our quarter-over-quarter revenue growth was driven by a rise in gold prices, as our average realized gold price increased by 12% to $2,308 per ounce in Q2 compared to $2,061 per ounce in the first quarter. Consequently, adjusted EBITDA increased by 27% quarter over quarter to 36.1 million. And in the first half, we generated adjusted EBITDA of 64.5 million. The bottom line here is that our profitable operations continue contributing to fund our transformational near-term growth that Neil and Richard had mentioned previously. Now moving to slide nine. I'd like to discuss some of the key line items of our management view of our cash flow statement. As Richard had mentioned, the market price of gold directly impacts the price of mill fee purchased from the CNP segment of the Segovia operations. Consequently, higher gold prices also contributed to higher cash costs in the second quarter of 2024. Despite higher cash costs, our ASIC margin of 30.6 million on a consolidated level increased by 22% in the second quarter compared to the first quarter. In the first half of the year, we generated an ASIC margin of $55.6 million. During the first half of the year, we invested $70 million in growth projects and reduced our indebtedness by $21 million. Debt reduction was achieved through the maturity of convertible debentures in April of this year, with the majority of the $18 million Canadian converted into shares. And then we had a payment, a $7.4 million repayment of the GoldLink notes, Working capital outflows related to VAT receivable of $17.4 million incurred in the first half of the year are expected to be recovered in the first half of 2025 in accordance with the regular timing of reimbursement from the Colombian tax authorities. We are also expecting cash of approximately $20 million in the third quarter of this year related to our 2023 VAT receivables net of corporate taxes payable. Originally, we had expected to receive cash for 2023 in the second quarter. However, due to changes in the Colombian Tax Authority's administration of the certification of the VAT amounts, the reimbursement was delayed. Further, we had $25 million of cash from the exercise of warrants and options, which helped to finish the second quarter with a cash balance of $122 million. Lastly, as we previously disclosed, we're expecting to receive the first $40 million milestone payment related to the Marmato stream financing in the third quarter of this year. As of June 30th, 2024, the lower Marmato project completion was approximately 22%, which is just under the first milestone threshold of 25% project completion. Concluding my remarks on slide 10, I'd like to update you on the full year guidance for 2024. Richard had already touched on our production guidance. We remain on track to meet the lower end of the full year goal production guidance of 220,000 ounces to 240,000 ounces. Our production profile is weighted towards the second half of the year. We expect Segovia's goal production in the second half to increase by approximately 30% relative to the first half, with both improved tons milled and higher grade expected to contribute equally. Forecasting full year costs is challenging due to the direct link between CMP costs and the price of gold, which is used to determine the mill feet purchase costs. Considering the first half results, the expectation of continued inflationary cost pressures and the potential for higher gold prices, we now anticipate cash cost per ounce at Segovia to range between $11.25 to $12.25 per ounce for the full year 2024 compared to our prior guidance of $975 and 1075 per ounce. Similarly, we now expect full year 2024 ASIC per ounce at Segovia to range between $1400 to $1500, up from our prior guidance of $1225 to $1325. Said differently, we expect an ASIC margin of approximately $1000 per ounce in this current gold price environment. It is also worth highlighting that our CMP business model is designed to maintain relatively stable margins while we grow gold production and strengthen our community relationships. With that, I'd like to hand the call back to Neil for some concluding remarks.

Thank you, Richard. And now we move to slide 11. Before opening the Q&A session, I'd like to reemphasize the key takeaways that were reported in this second quarter. Despite the operational challenges in the first half, Harris Mining remains on track to meet the lower end of our full year gold production guidance of 220 to 240,000 ounces, as our production profile is waiting towards the second half. Our profitable operations contribute to funding our transformational near-term growth. Segovia is generating a significant ASIC margin of 60.6 million in H1. We're executing our transformational expansion project as planned and targeting an annual production rate of approximately 500,000 ounces of gold in the second half of 2026. Our drilling programme Segovia continues to deliver high-grade interceptions, confirming the continuity and extension of the last scale veins at depth and along strike. Supporting Segovia's status, as one of the highest grade gold operations in the world. We're progressing the development of our study plans for the 51% to unlock our next growth project for 2017 and beyond. With that, I'd ask the operator to open the Q&A session.

Thank you. To join the question queue, you may press star then one on your telephone keypad. You hear tones acknowledging your request. If you're using a speakerphone, please pick up your handset before pressing any keys. To withdraw your question, please press Start and Choose. We'll pause for a moment as callers join the queue. The first question comes from Carrie McCurry with Kennecar Genuity. Please go ahead.

Good morning, guys. Can you hear me okay? Yes. Good morning. First on Segovia, you did 9.2 grams in the first half. You've mentioned you're back into higher grades. I'm just, you know, we're halfway through Q3, just wondering what sort of grades we should be expecting sort of in Q3 and maybe into Q4.

Yeah, our grade goes from the 9.3 up to 9.8, and then towards the end of the year, we're looking at 10.2 grams a ton.

So 9.8 for Q3, roughly?

Yeah.

Yeah, okay. And then on Marmotto, I think your original guidance was to spend something like $140 million. It looks like maybe you're tracking a bit behind on the spending, but just how do we think about capital spending at Marmotto in the second half of the year?

Okay, so up until now, we've been doing a lot of ground preparation in Earthworks, so the big expenditures haven't come in yet, but as we ramp up in the second half of this year, we're buying a lot of our milling equipment, we are commencing the D-time development as of probably very close to this month, so the expenditures will begin to ramp up in the second half of this year.

Do you have a sense of how much we should budget for the second half in terms of capital?

I would have to get some information and get that back to you.

Okay, and maybe just last question on our motto on just what the key sort of focus items in the project plan are for the second half of the year.

So the main one is beginning the portal detail development. So that kicks off, as I said, within the next month. Beginning of civil works and earthworks for the plant and beginning to start paying off the equipment for the milling and doing quite substantial work on non-processing infrastructure in terms of camps, laboratories, et cetera.

There may be one last one if I can slip it in. Just on the grade at Segovia, if your partner is obviously a big step up in grade, do you have any visibility into that or is that, you know, you just kind of get what you get from them?

We have some visibility of that and we are increasing our contract mine partner, how can I say, assistance or support infrastructure to be able to help planning and ventilation, rock mechanics and geology to assist them and to assist us to be able to be planning our future production.

Okay, that's it for me. Thanks, guys.

Thanks, Gary.

The next question comes from John DiMarco with National Bank Financial. Please go ahead.

Thank you, operator, and good morning, Neil and team. Just a couple of questions focusing on Marmotto. Well, we saw at Segovia that there was the guidance increase in costs and inflationary pressures were cited. Are you seeing any potential inflationary pressures with respect to Marmotto development?

We had just reviewed our capital about a month ago. We reviewed our capital. A lot of our costs have been tied into equipment. We understand those very well. They have been locked in and a lot of them have been pre-payments have made for the deposits. So we're pretty confident on the equipment for the mill. The process infrastructure, we've got good quotes on that and the development, we understand that very well. That of course will be reliant on the ground conditions we meet, but so far we're pretty confident of the 280 million to date.

Okay, thanks. And Of the 250 or so remaining, how much of that is locked into fixed price contracts?

At the moment, the D-Town is definitely locked in, and the plant is definitely locked in, so that's 70, but 100 of that is definitely locked in.

Okay. Thank you. That's all for me.

Thanks. Thanks.

Once again, if you have a question, please press star, then 1. The next question comes from Kerry Smith with Haywood Security. Please go ahead.

Thanks, operator. Richard, so you're saying about $100 million of the $280 million of CAPEX is a firm number now. So what the other $180 million is for which construction activities does that relate to you? a non-process infrastructure like camps uh most of the roads water treatment plants okay and so so the 100 million is basically the the twin declines in the middle then yeah okay gotcha okay great and then you said monad was 22 complete now in the construction Is that roughly where you expect it to be? Like, are you on schedule with your timeline?

We're slightly ahead on the portal development, so we expect it to be yes.

Okay. And just going back to Kerry's question about the CapEx, you had originally talked about 140 to 150 million budgeted for 2024 CapEx spend for the Lower Mine. Is that still the number that you expect to hit for the year then?

Yeah, as I said, we're beginning the development. A lot of the milling equipment is going forward, so we should be there or thereabouts by the end of the year, yeah. A lot of the ramp-up in expenditure happens in the second half.

Okay, okay. And the contractors aren't having any issues so far getting manpower to the site and, you know, having people available to get this work done then, eh?

No. Many of the contractors are local Colombian and therefore the labor pool is quite big and we haven't had any issues so far.

Okay. Okay. And then just one last question. The original CapEx for the mill expansion at Segovia was the $11 million. And you said it's now going to be 15. So that $4 million, was that all scope changes or is any of that sort of cost escalation versus the original budget?

It was scope changes. The area where the expansion is located is on a laterite area. We expected our foundations for much of the equipment to be about nine meters deep. However, when we got down to nine meters, we didn't find bedrock. We had to go down further than 10 meters, and that increase in those foundations is accounting for the extra $4 million.

Okay, so it's just the civils associated with getting down to the ground.

The civils associated with the plant expansion correction.

Okay, okay, gotcha. Okay, great. Thank you very much.

I would like to turn the conference back over to Mr. Wodeer for any closing remarks.

Well, thank you everybody for joining us today. We really appreciate your interest and please don't hesitate to reach out to us, to Oliver or Katrina or any of the rest of us as appropriate. Many thanks, everybody. Thank you.

This concludes today's conference call. You may disconnect your line. Thank you for participating and have a pleasant day.