GoldQuest Reports Positive Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Romero Gold-Copper Project, Dominican Republic
GoldQuest PEA Sensitivities GraphClick here for high-resolution version · Marketwired

VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - May 27, 2014) - GoldQuest Mining Corp. (TSX VENTURE: GQC)(M1W.F)(M1W.BE) ("GoldQuest" or the "Company") is pleased to report positive results from the un-optimized Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") for a proposed underground mine at its 100% owned Romero and Romero South Gold-Copper Deposits in the Dominican Republic. The PEA study was led by Micon International Limited ("Micon"). All costs are in US dollars.

PEA Highlights:

  • A 15 year underground mine producing an average of 90,000 ounces of payable gold and 15.6 million lbs. of payable copper for each year of full production in two concentrates from 3,800 tonnes per day (129,000 ounces of gold equivalent ("AuEq"))

  • All-in sustaining costs ("AISC"), net of copper and minor silver by-products, of $353/oz for 90,000 ounces of gold per year consisting of on-site operating cash costs (net of by-product credits of $557/oz) of $153, concentrate transportation and Treatment Charges /Refining Charges ("TC/RCs") costs of $147/oz, royalties of $21/oz and sustaining capital of $32/oz

  • Metal recoveries are estimated to be 83% for gold and 91% for copper resulting, after allowing for transportation and TC/RCs, in net payable gold of 79.2% and net payable copper of 86.5%

  • Total Life of Mine ("LOM") revenue of $2.35 billion, an undiscounted pre-tax cash flow of $0.86 billion ($0.60 billion post tax), producing 1.26 million ounces of payable gold (1.81 million payable ounces of AuEq.) from processing 18.5 million tonnes grading 2.69 g/t and 0.61% copper with a Net Smelter Return of $117 per tonne and cash operating costs of $58.69 per tonne

  • Total LOM capital cost of $374 million, which includes an initial capital cost of $333.5 million and a sustaining capital cost of $40.4 million

  • Pre-tax Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 19.7% (15.1% after tax)

  • Pre-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") of $318 million based on an 8% discount rate ($176 million after tax)

  • Pre-tax NPV of $471 million based on a 5% discount rate ($274 million after tax)

  • PEA completed only 2 years after discovery

  • Of the mineral resources used in the PEA mine plan, 80% are from the indicated category

  • The PEA contemplates an environmentally sensitive approach, including a small surface footprint and no use of cyanide on site, seeking to minimize the impact on the environment and the local communities

"We are proud to deliver a positive PEA for the Romero Project, our cornerstone asset in the Dominican Republic," commented Chief Executive Officer, Julio Espaillat. "Building on our low net All-In Sustaining Costs, we are actively addressing the capital intensity issues of the Romero project through ongoing optimization studies. We also hope to add value through discovery of new resources, which is the focus of our 10,000 metre 2014 exploration drilling program."