Americas Gold and Silver Corporation (TSX: USA) (NYSE American:
USAS) (“Americas” or the “Company”), a growing North American
precious metals producer, is pleased to provide its Q1-2023
production results.
- Q1-2023 consolidated attributable silver production totalled
approximately 0.5 million ounces compared with approximately 0.3
million ounces in Q1-2022, representing a 66% increase
year-over-year.
- Despite the large increase in silver production, Q1-2023
production was impacted by a two-and-a-half-week shutdown of the
Cosalá Operations tailings facility in February in order to perform
remedial work on the decant tunnel.
- As a result of the shutdown, Q1-2023 consolidated attributable
silver equivalent1 production was down approximately 8% to 1.2
million ounces, compared with Q1-2022.
- Silver and silver equivalent production is expected to increase
cumulatively quarter-over-quarter for the remainder of the year.
Production is expected to increase at both the Cosalá Operations
and the Galena Complex due to the mining of higher-grade silver
zones with additional production benefits expected once the Galena
Hoist becomes operational, which is expected before the end of
Q2-2023.
- Production guidance for 2023 remains unchanged with
consolidated attributable silver equivalent production expected to
range between 5.5 and 6.0 million ounces and consolidated
attributable silver production expected to range between 2.2 and
2.6 million ounces.
- Mining operations at the Galena Complex have resumed today
after they were temporarily suspended for two days following a
tragic incident that resulted in the fatality of a Company employee
on April 11, 2023.
“The Company had a strong operational start to the year, despite
a 17-day operating shutdown in Mexico in February,” stated Americas
President and CEO Darren Blasutti. “The Company will continue on
its positive silver production momentum and is reiterating its 2023
production guidance, with further production increases expected in
2024. These increases are anticipated to deliver solid organic
production growth and offer substantial silver optionality to our
stakeholders over the next several years.”
Consolidated Attributable Production*
Q1-2023
Q1-2022
% Increase (Decrease)
(Y-over-Y)
Silver Production (ounces)
0.5 Moz
0.3 Moz
66%
Zinc Production (million pounds)
7.2 Mlbs
9.6 Mlbs
(25%)
Lead Production (million pounds)
5.5 Mlbs
6.4 Mlbs
(13%)
Silver Equivalent Production
(ounces)
1.2 Moz
1.3 Moz
(7%)
* Silver equivalent ounces for Q1-2023 and Q1-2022 were
calculated based on silver, zinc and lead realized prices during
each respective period throughout this press release.
The Cosalá Operations produced approximately 265,000 ounces of
silver, 2.7 million pounds of lead and 7.2 million pounds of zinc
in Q1-2023, compared to approximately 127,000 ounces of silver, 3.9
million pounds of lead and 9.6 million pounds of zinc in Q1-2022,
benefitting from more production from the higher-grade silver areas
in the Upper Zone of the San Rafael mine.
Production at the Cosalá Operations during Q1-2023 was impacted
by a two-and-a-half-week shutdown in February in order to perform
remedial work on the decant tunnel at the Cosalá Operations
tailings facility as part of the long-term environmental plan at
the operations. This temporary shutdown allowed the San Rafael Mine
to rebuild stockpiles that had been drawn down in 2022 and allowed
scheduled maintenance to be carried out at the Los Braceros mill,
setting the operation up for a strong remainder of 2023.
Attributable production from the Galena Complex was
approximately 235,000 ounces of silver and 2.8 million pounds of
lead in Q1-2023, compared to approximately 174,000 ounces of silver
and 2.5 million pounds of lead in Q1-2022.
The Company began mining the 3700 Level high-grade silver ore in
mid-December 2022 and recently started development on the 4300
Level to access the Upper 360 Complex reserve area. The 4300 Level
mining front will increase the number of producing stopes and boost
production output to coincide with the completion of the Galena
Hoist. The Galena Hoist project remains on track to be completed
and be fully operational by the end of Q2-2023 which will support
plans to increase production, improve operational flexibility and
improve operational economics due to the benefits of scaling
production on the existing cost base.
The Galena Complex resumed mining operations following a tragic
incident which resulted in the fatality of an underground miner on
Tuesday, April 11, 2023. The Company continues to work closely with
the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to investigate
this incident.
The Company’s production guidance for 2023 remains unchanged
with attributable consolidated silver equivalent production
expected to range between 5.5 and 6.0 million ounces and
attributable consolidated silver production forecast between 2.2
and 2.6 million ounces.
About Americas Gold and Silver Corporation
Americas Gold and Silver Corporation is a high-growth precious
metals mining company with multiple assets in North America. The
Company owns and operates the Cosalá Operations in Sinaloa, Mexico,
manages the 60%-owned Galena Complex in Idaho, USA, and is
re-evaluating the Relief Canyon mine in Nevada, USA. The Company
also owns the San Felipe development project in Sonora, Mexico. For
further information, please see SEDAR or www.americas-gold.com.
Technical Information and Qualified Persons
The scientific and technical information relating to the
operation of the Company’s material operating mining properties
contained herein has been reviewed and approved by Daren Dell,
P.Eng., Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The Company’s
current Annual Information Form and the NI 43-101 Technical Reports
for its other material mineral properties, all of which are
available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and EDGAR at www.sec.gov,
contain further details regarding mineral reserve and mineral
resource estimates, classification and reporting parameters, key
assumptions and associated risks for each of the Company’s material
mineral properties, including a breakdown by category.
All mining terms used herein have the meanings set forth in
National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects (“NI 43-101”), as required by Canadian securities
regulatory authorities. These standards differ from the
requirements of the SEC that are applicable to domestic United
States reporting companies. Any mineral reserves and mineral
resources reported by the Company in accordance with NI 43-101 may
not qualify as such under SEC standards. Accordingly, information
contained in this news release may not be comparable to similar
information made public by companies subject to the SEC’s reporting
and disclosure requirements.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:
This news release contains “forward-looking information” within
the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking
information includes, but is not limited to, Americas expectations,
intentions, plans, assumptions and beliefs with respect to, among
other things, estimated and targeted production rates and results
for gold, silver and other metals, the expected prices of gold,
silver and other metals, as well as the related costs, expenses and
capital expenditures; production from the Galena Complex, including
the expected production levels and potential additional mineral
resources thereat; the expected timing and completion of the Galena
Hoist project and the expected operational and production results
therefrom, including the anticipated improvements to the cash costs
per silver ounce and all-in sustaining costs per silver ounce at
the Galena Complex following completion; mining and processing
operations at the Cosalá Operations continuing, including expected
production levels and the continuity of legal access for employees
and contractors; and the expected timing and results of the MSHA
investigation into the incident resulting in the fatality of the
mining employee at the Galena Complex . Guidance and outlook
references contained in this press release were prepared based on
current mine plan assumptions with respect to production,
development, costs and capital expenditures, the metal price
assumptions disclosed herein, and assumes no adverse impacts to
operations from the COVID 19 pandemic, no further adverse impacts
to the Cosalá Operations from blockades or work stoppages, and
completion of the Galena Hoist project on its expected schedule and
budget, and the realization of the anticipated benefits therefrom,
and is subject to the risks and uncertainties outlined below. The
ability to maintain cash flow positive production at the Cosalá
Operations through meeting production targets and at the Galena
Complex through implementing the Galena Recapitalization Plan,
including the completion of the Galena Hoist project on its
expected schedule and budget, allowing the Company to generate
sufficient operating cash flows while facing market fluctuations in
commodity prices and inflationary pressures, are significant
judgments in the consolidated financial statements with respect to
the Company’s liquidity. Should the Company experience negative
operating cash flows in future periods, the Company may need to
raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or debt
securities. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can
be identified by forward-looking words such as “anticipate”,
“believe”, “expect”, “goal”, “plan”, “intend”, “potential’,
“estimate”, “may”, “assume” and “will” or similar words suggesting
future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives,
assumptions, intentions, or statements about future events or
performance. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions
and estimates of Americas as of the date such information is
provided and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties,
and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of
activity, performance, or achievements of Americas to be materially
different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
information. With respect to the business of Americas , these risks
and uncertainties include risks relating to widespread epidemics or
pandemic outbreak including the COVID-19 pandemic, including the
emergence of new strains and/or the resurgence of COVID-19, actions
that have been and may be taken by governmental authorities to
contain the COVID-19 pandemic or to treat its impact and/or the
availability, effectiveness and use of treatments and vaccines
(including the effectiveness of boosters); the impact of COVID-19
on our workforce, suppliers and other essential resources and what
effect those impacts, if they occur, would have on our business,
including our ability to access goods and supplies, the ability to
transport our products and impacts on employee productivity, the
risks in connection with the operations, cash flow and results of
the Company relating to the unknown duration and impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic; interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic
information; unfavorable exploration results; inability to obtain
permits required for future exploration, development or production;
general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries
in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory
requirements and approvals; potential litigation; fluctuating
mineral and commodity prices; the ability to obtain necessary
future financing on acceptable terms or at all; the ability to
operate the Company’s projects; and risks associated with the
mining industry such as economic factors (including future
commodity prices, currency fluctuations and energy prices), ground
conditions, illegal blockades and other factors limiting mine
access or regular operations without interruption, failure of
plant, equipment, processes and transportation services to operate
as anticipated, environmental risks, government regulation, actual
results of current exploration and production activities, possible
variations in ore grade or recovery rates, permitting timelines,
capital and construction expenditures, reclamation activities,
labor relations or disruptions, social and political developments,
risks associated with generally elevated inflation and inflationary
pressures, risks related to changing global economic conditions,
and market volatility, risks relating to geopolitical instability,
political unrest, war, and other global conflicts may result in
adverse effects on macroeconomic conditions including volatility in
financial markets, adverse changes in trade policies, inflation,
supply chain disruptions and other risks of the mining industry.
The potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and
operations are unknown at this time, including the Company’s
ability to manage challenges and restrictions arising from COVID-19
in the communities in which the Company operates and our ability to
continue to safely operate and to safely return our business to
normal operations. The impact of COVID-19 on the Company is
dependent on a number of factors outside of its control and
knowledge, including the effectiveness of the measures taken by
public health and governmental authorities to combat the spread of
the disease, global economic uncertainties and outlook due to the
disease, and the evolving restrictions relating to mining
activities and to travel in certain jurisdictions in which it
operates. Although the Company has attempted to identify important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other
factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or
intended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such
information. Additional information regarding the factors that may
cause actual results to differ materially from this forward‐looking
information is available in Americas filings with the Canadian
Securities Administrators on SEDAR and with the SEC. Americas does
not undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise
any forward-looking information whether as a result of new
information, future events or other such factors which affect this
information, except as required by law. Americas does not give any
assurance (1) that Americas will achieve its expectations, or (2)
concerning the result or timing thereof. All subsequent written and
oral forward‐looking information concerning Americas are expressly
qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.
1 Silver equivalent ounces for the 2023 guidance references were
calculated based on $22.00/oz silver, $1.00/lb lead and $1.45/lb
zinc throughout this press release. Silver equivalent ounces for
production in Q1-2023 and Q1-2022 were calculated based on silver,
zinc and lead realized prices during the period throughout this
press release.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005603/en/
Stefan Axell VP, Corporate Development & Communications
Americas Gold and Silver Corporation 416-874-1708
Darren Blasutti President and CEO Americas Gold and Silver
Corporation 416‐848‐9503
Americas Gold and Silver (AMEX:USAS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2023 to Dec 2023
Americas Gold and Silver (AMEX:USAS)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2022 to Dec 2023