Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc: Blanket Mine Q4 and FY 2024 Production and 2025 Guidance

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Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc
Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc

Blanket production meets guidance; continued investment in growth and efficiency

ST HELIER, Jersey, Jan. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc ("Caledonia" or "the Company") (NYSE AMERICAN, AIM and VFEX: CMCL) announces Blanket Mine ("Blanket") gold production for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.  The Company also provides guidance for the year ending December 31, 2025 in respect of production, costs and capital expenditure. All production numbers are expressed on a 100 per cent basis and based on final assays from the refiner.

Gold production and sales in 2024

  • Blanket gold production for Q4 and the full year was in line with expectations, demonstrating consistent operations at Blanket.

  • Annual Blanket gold production of 76,656 ounces ("oz”) met guidance (74,000 to 78,000 oz), while slightly exceeding 2023 production of 75,416 oz.

  • Q4 Blanket production was 19,841 oz; strong mine activity resulted in a record 797,000 tonnes milled for the year, with 89,727 tonnes hoisted in December, exceeding milling capacity.

  • Blanket production for 2024 excludes an estimated 700 oz of unrecovered gold contained in an 8,400-tonne stockpile, which provides a strong start for 2025.

  • Annual Blanket gold sales amounted to 76,271 oz and Q4 amounted to 17,734 oz.

Investments planned for 2025 to drive efficiencies and support growth potential

The 2025 capital expenditure programme totals $41.8 million, with $34.9 million allocated to Blanket and $5.8 million at Bilboes and Motapa. These investments aim to modernise operations and improve mining efficiency at Blanket. While there will be short-term cost pressures, the long-term goal is to reduce costs, improve profitability, and ensure the continued success of Blanket. All expenditure will be funded from cash generation and cash reserves with no anticipated impact to the dividend.

Key projects include:

  • Blanket development: $6.6 million to carry out planned development of 4,663 meters including an additional 590 meters to improve flexibility and access higher grade areas.

  • Efficiency improvements: $3.4 million for energy-saving initiatives at Blanket.

  • Operational resilience: $4.8 million to complete the tailings storage facility and $0.7 million for IT upgrades as the business continues to modernise its systems and processes.

  • Exploration and project development: $5.8 million towards exploration at Motapa, building on promising 2024 results and to complete the feasibility study at Bilboes.

Production Guidance for 2025:

Blanket production guidance for 2025 is 73,500 to 77,500 oz1. This reflects the current mine scheduling, which anticipates that Blanket will continue to mine lower-grade areas.