Aura Announces 2022 Annual Financial and Operational Results and 2023 Guidance

In This Article:

Aura Minerals Inc
Aura Minerals Inc

Long term updated guidance

Long term updated guidance
Long term updated guidance

ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Feb. 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aura Minerals Inc. (TSX: ORA) (B3: AURA33) (OTCQX: ORAAF) (“Aura” or the “Company”) announces that it has filed its audited consolidated financial statements and management discussion and analysis (together, “Financial and Operational Results”) for the year ended December 31, 2022, which also contains the Annual Guidance (“2023 Guidance”). The full version of the Financial and Operational Results can be viewed on the Company’s website at www.auraminerals.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise.

Rodrigo Barbosa, President and CEO of Aura, commented: “2022 was marked by significant milestones and stable production, which have laid a solid foundation for future growth and enabled us to pay dividends while expanding. In Q4 of 2022, we achieved our second-highest production in a single quarter, demonstrating our ability to perform and deliver. Despite inflationary pressures impacting our sector, we also made significant progress with the construction of Almas, which is now nearing completion on time and on budget. Both achievements are a testament to our team’s ability to execute, and I thank them for their efforts.”

Mr. Barbosa continued, “Looking ahead to 2023, we anticipate further value creation with the expected ramp up of Almas initiating in April and the commencement of construction at Borborema in Q2. Together with our Matupá Project, we are confident in our ability to achieve our targeted production of 450,000 annualized GEO by 2025. Our focus remains on sustainable growth through the development of easy-to-build and operate mines that generate strong returns and ramping up our exploration across our portfolio to ensure longer term growth.”

Q4 2022 Financial and Operational Highlights:

  • Total production reached 67,663 GEO1 during Q4 2022, Aura’s second highest production achieved in a single quarter, behind only its Q4 2021 production.

    • At Aranzazu, production in GEO increased by 9% relative to Q3 2022 due to high tonnage processed (~ 100 kt per month) and increase in gold and copper grades related to mine sequencing.

    • At EPP, production in GEO increased by 50% compared to Q3 2022 and 56% compared to Q4 2021, the highest quarterly production achieved to date. This was due to mining moving into Phase II of the Ernesto pit, resulting in higher grades.

    • At San Andres production in GEO was 13% lower relative to Q3 2022 due to a longer than expected leaching cycle during the quarter; however, material mined increased by 44% compared to Q3 2022.

  • Revenues reached a robust increase of 30% when compared to the Q3 2022. In Q4 2022, Revenues of $105,850 thousand, represents a slight decrease of 7% compared to the same period of 2021 (when Aura achieved record high revenues).

  • Metal prices in GEO sold moved favorably when compared to Q3 2022, with appreciation for both gold, reaching an average selling price of $1,729/oz (+1% vs. Q3 2022), and copper, with an average selling price of $3.68/lb (+6% vs. Q3 2022).

  • Adjusted EBITDA recovered in Q4 2022 and reached $ 36,584, an increase of 120% compared to Q3 2022.

  • Cash costs during Q4 2022 were $826/GEO, representing an increase of 22% when compared to Q4 2021 ($676/GEO), but a significant decrease of 15% when compared to Q3 2022 ($971/GEO), despite continued operational challenges at San Andres.

  • The Company is pleased to publish for the first time, all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”), widely adopted within the mining industry. Consolidated AISC in Q4 2022 reached $1,005/GEO.

  • At the end of Q4 2022, the Company’s Net Debt position improved to $77,422 thousand driven by strong cash flows from operating activities, despite the payment of dividends of about $10 million in December and another $ 30 million invested in the growth of the Company. This is in line with the Company’s strategy to continue paying dividends while growing and generating positive cashflows.