Consequently process recovery rate decreased to 67.4% compared to 82.4% in fiscal 2015 mainly due to super low grade mill feed. Lack of stripping efficiency also contributed to lower gold production and higher quantities of gold remaining in circuit which has been resolved subsequent to the year end.
Financial Results and Discussion
For fiscal 2016, gross profit from mining operations was $5.53 million compared to $15.89 million in the prior year and corporate expenses was reduced by $0.32 million or 8% to $3.91 million from $4.23 million. Net loss for the year was $1.68 million, or $0.01 per share (basic) compared to $11.38 million net income or $0.04 per share (basic) in the prior year.
Gold sales generated $23.60 million for fiscal 2016 compared to $44.84 million in the prior year, comprised of 18,150oz of gold sold from production (2015: 36,500oz) at an average realized gold price of $1,157 per ounce (2015: $1,228 per ounce), and 5,000oz gold settled on a forward sale at an average realized gold price of $519 per ounce. The average London Fix PM gold price was $1,168 per ounce for fiscal 2016 compared to $1,224 per ounce for the prior year.
Total production costs decreased by $10.88 million or 38% in fiscal 2016 to $18.07 million, compared to $28.95 million in the prior year. The significant decrease in cost was mainly attributed to lower weighted average mining cost per tonne due to the reclassification of stockpiled SLG from waste to inventory, as the Company began to economically process the SLG in April 2015.
Corporate expenditure for fiscal 2016 of $3.91 million (2015: $4.23 million) was $0.32 million or 8% lower compared to the prior year. General and administration costs were $1.87 million (2015: $1.72 million), or 9% higher for the year, primarily due to $0.23 million, or a 17% increase in salaries and wages expenses to $1.59 million (2015: $1.36 million). The increase was due to changes in salary re-allocation, offset by legal, accounting and audit expenses that decreased by $0.41 million, or 28% to $1.04 million in fiscal 2016 compared to $1.45 million in the prior year.
Loss from other items for fiscal 2016 was $0.61 million compared to $0.54 million in the prior year. The change for the year was mainly due to gains on marketable securities of $1.13 million (2015: loss of $0.57 million), related to the fair value and sale of shares in Gascoyne and impairment recovery from a court award and return of shares on the previously impaired Mersing Gold Project for $1.33 million, offset by an impairment loss on the spare ball mill of $0.47 million and by foreign currency exchange loss of $2.67 million (2015: $0.21 million).
The Company's cash and cash equivalents, including the restricted cash balance as at June 30, 2016 was $20.91 million, a decrease of $8.44 million from the balance held at June 30, 2015 of $29.35 million, largely due to development therefore increasing the value in its two gold portfolios in Malaysia and Western Australia.
The Company focused on sustainability of gold production including completion of a new resource evaluation and economic study for Selinsing under an updated NI43-101 technical report, and development of an early stage production plan for Murchison. During the year, exploration and evaluation expenditures at Selinsing were $3.03 million (2015: $4.49 million) and $3.80 million (2015: $7.60 million) at Murchison. This was the main cause of the $8.44 million reduction of cash flow in fiscal 2016. Working capital was $28.34 million at June 30, 2016, a decrease of $5.15 million compared to $33.49 million at June 30, 2015.
Development
Intec Technology and Commercialization Test Work
At the Selinsing Gold Mine, the Intec pilot plant was constructed and commissioned in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 to demonstrate that bench scale batch testwork results can be duplicated in a continuous flow process and that the process can be successfully scaled-up. Two trial runs were conducted through fiscal 2016.
Further testwork is ongoing, and subsequent to fiscal 2016, an independent metallurgical testwork program at a bench scale level was designed by Orway and is being carried out independently by Orway and the Company in parallel following the same protocols. This will provide an independent confirmation of the recoveries of gold from sulphide resources that is planned to be mined from Buffalo Reef using the Intec Process technology. Subject to results, this may lead to a further pilot plant run. Monument is encouraged by the results of metallurgical testwork programs undertaken at the Selinsing in-house laboratory to date and will announce the results of the independent testwork program when completed, which is expected by December 2016.
Burnakura Project
The Company has prioritized the commencement of gold processing at the Burnakura Gold Mine. The current plan is to immediately recommission the existing CIL plant and construct a new heap leach facility in Year 2 of the life of mine. The production strategy is to develop and optimize open cut mine operations through Alliance/New Alliance ("ANA"), extended to North of Alliance ("NOA") and Federal City. Low grade ore will be stockpiled and subsequently processed through heap leach facilities, and high grade ore will be processed immediately through the CIL plant.
During fiscal 2016, the Company reviewed a "Proposal for Front End Engineering Design" for the planned Burnakura heap leach/CIL production with capital expenditures and operating expenditures prepared by Como Engineers Pty Ltd ("Como Engineers"); and concluded its initial internal economic study of the project. Based on these studies, the Company has made the decision to put the Burnakura Project into early stage production. As a result, the first purchase order for offsite design work was placed to commence the crushing and screening plant upgrade. The Company has extended its studies to NOA, Tuckanarra and other areas to further increase the life of mine.
The Company continued to improve open pit mine optimization, and moved forward to develop a full implementation mine development plan, including project management and scheduling, site preparation and development, environmental and safety compliance. Project development will continue in areas, such as infrastructure, where the laboratory will be upgraded to enable a larger number of grade control samples to be completed on a daily basis. Communications and IT network upgrades have been completed. Warehousing software procedures are complete and procurement of first fill spares is underway. Administration, HSE and Security, workforce planning are in progress to support production. The site accommodation and catering are fully functional to start construction work. Refurbishing, constructing and commissioning, will take approximately six months.
The Company's production decision is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Therefore, there is increased uncertainty with economic and technical risks of failure associated with this project, including but not limited to the risk that mineral quantities and grades might be lower than expected, and construction or ongoing mining and milling operations are more difficult or more expensive than expected; production and economic variables may vary considerably, due to the absence of detailed economic and technical analysis prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. There is no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that the production will be able to generate positive cash flow as anticipated in order to return the Company's capital investment.
Acquisition
Earn-In and Joint Venture on Matala Gold Project
On February 7, 2016 the Company announced that it entered into an "Earn-In and Shareholders Agreement" with Afrimines Resources S.A.R.L and its wholly owned subsidiary, Regal Sud Kivu S.A.R.L to earn up to 90% joint venture interest in the Matala Gold Project. On May 9, 2016 the Company announced that it is not proceeding with the Matala transaction and will continue to review a number of opportunities in the search for high quality gold assets in the DRC and elsewhere.
Exploration
Malaysia
In Malaysia for fiscal 2016 exploration included resource definition at Buffalo Reef Central and Felda Land intended to update resources and metallurgical drilling for the Intec project. The focus was the replacement of gold inventory to sustain and extend mine life. Geological and economic studies were done in parallel for an updated NI43-101 technical report targeting completion in October 2016.
Resource and exploration drilling totalled 48 DD holes for 7,189m and 41 RC holes for 4,157m. Significant intercepts assay results at Buffalo Reef Central and Felda Land announced in April 2016 have confirmed the existing oxide and sulphide mineralized zones modeled and also intersected a number of down-dip quartz stibnite high grade intervals, beyond the currently defined shallower, quartz-ankerite mineralization.
The Resource model has been completed and was used as basis to complete the prefeasibility study, which is expected to potentially increase gold inventory to support a new optimized mine plan for sulphide production. The Company intends to continue using the bioleach sulphide treatment process in its upcoming NI43-101 technical report, and replace it by the Intec process should the Intec pilot plant testwork complete and achieve lower capital cost in comparison to the bioleaching process, as anticipated.
Subsequent to fiscal 2016, the Company has received "Selinsing Phase IV PFS Capex and Opex Revision" produced by Lycopodium with a significant reduction in capital expenditure from the original cost that is described in the existing NI43-101 Technical Report produced by Practical Mining and filed on SEDAR in May 2013.
Western Australia
Exploration for the Company's Murchison Gold Portfolio is aimed to deliver a Preliminary Economic Assessment Study to explore a longer term of economic scale for the Burnakura Gold Mine production. Exploration in fiscal 2016 at the Murchison Gold Project was at NOA, Tuckanarra and oxide targets in Burnakura. Drilling comprised of a total of 226 RC holes for 23,225m and a total 7 DD holes for 629m. These programs were mainly designed to validate the historical resource, study geological continuity of the mineralization at the Burnakura area and increase gold inventory to extend life of mine, supporting sustainable early stage production at Burnakura.
Assay results were received from confirmation and infill drilling over Tuckanarra and NOA deposits where the majority of historical resources were reported. The study of the available information and ongoing resource modeling update based on the new drilling information has evidenced positive indications for the increase of mineralized volume and gold grade/ounces for a good part of NOA 7_8, in particular coming from the significant intercepts observed. It has also enhanced the strong potential for the continuity of deep mineralization in the central and north portions of NOA 7_8 deposit. In August 2016, subsequent to year end, a deep drilling program at the NOA 7_8 deposit was announced aiming to test the underground potential to 500m to increase the life of mine, in conjunction with the early stage production plan.
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Roger Stangler, B.S.c, MEng, MAusIMM, MAIG, a Qualified Person defined in accordance to National Policy 43-101, and Chief Managing Geologist of the Company.
About Monument
Monument Mining Limited (TSX VENTURE:MMY)(D7Q1.F) is an established Canadian gold producer that owns and operates the Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia. Its experienced management team is committed to growth and is advancing several exploration and development projects including the Mengapur Polymetallic Project, in Pahang State of Malaysia, and the Murchison Gold Projects comprising Burnakura, Gabanintha and Tuckanarra in the Murchison area of Western Australia. The Company employs approximately 240 people in both regions and is committed to the highest standards of environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighboring communities.
Robert F. Baldock, President and CEO
Monument Mining Limited
Suite 1580 -1100 Melville Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visit the company web site at www.monumentmining.com.
"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."
Forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information about Monument, its business and future plans ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are statements that involve expectations, plans, objectives or future events that are not historical facts and include the Company's plans with respect to its mineral projects and the timing and results of proposed programs and events referred to in this news release. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and certain other factors include, without limitation: risks related to general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; uncertainties regarding the results of current exploration activities; uncertainties in the progress and timing of development activities; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Company's projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Material factors and assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements in this news release include: expectations regarding the estimated cash cost per ounce of gold production and the estimated cash flows which may be generated from the operations, general economic factors and other factors that may be beyond the control of Monument; assumptions and expectations regarding the results of exploration on the Company's projects; assumptions regarding the future price of gold of other minerals; the timing and amount of estimated future production; the expected timing and results of development and exploration activities; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; exchange rates; and all of the factors and assumptions described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Company's projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
