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Project Internal Rate of Return of 63% (Post Tax) @ $20/oz long term silver forecast price
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Estimated Initial Capital Cost of $39 Million
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Project Net Present Value US $129.9 million using 5% discount rate
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Projected average head grade for first 5 years of 911 g/t Ag
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Average production during first five years of 2.6Moz Ag/yr
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Investor Conference call scheduled for Monday, March 3, 2014, 10 am EST
Silver Bear Resources Inc. ("Silver Bear" or the "Company") (TSX:SBR) has completed an updated Preliminary Economic Analysis ("PEA") on its Mangazeisky Silver Project in Yakutia, Russia. The PEA was prepared by Tetra Tech Inc., Global Mining Practice of Swindon, UK.
Silver Bear management is hosting an investors' conference call on March 3, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. EST to review the preliminary results of the PEA. To register or listen to the call please dial:
Call in number
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Toronto
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416-695-7806
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North America
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1 888-789-9572
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Overseas
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800-4222-8835
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Pass Code
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7250957
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Mark Trevisiol, President and CEO of Silver
Bear commented, "We are very excited about the preliminary results. We
believe there are few mining projects in the industry today that have
the potential for such a quick return to the investor. Preliminary
numbers indicate the potential to start operations quickly and expedite
cash generation on a quality high grade Silver property like the
Mangazeisky project. Further, we will continue to work to expand the
mineral resource estimate and increase projected production rates."
Key Highlights of the PEA are as follows and include:
- Internal Rate of Return (IRR) = 63% at $20/oz long term silver forecast price
- Initial Project Capital US $39 Million
- Sustaining Project Capital of US$51 million
- Net present Value (NPV) at 5% discount of US $129.9 Million
- In first 5 years of operation
- Average Silver Grade processed = 911 g/tonne Silver
- Recovered Silver Cash Cost for first five years1 = $5.55/oz Silver (excludes by product credits)
- Approximate mining processing rate rate per day = 300 tonnes per day (tpd)
- Average Payable Silver per year = 2.6 Million oz/yr
- 19 year mine life
- Open pit mining method for first 10 years
- Underground operation extends mine life to 19 years
- All mineralised material is sourced from Silver Bear's Vertikalny deposit alone
- Silver Bear expects construction of the facility
to take approximately 18 to 24 months following the completion of a
feasibility study and the receipt of required permits.
The nature of the Vertikalny deposit allows Silver Bear to
take full advantage of the high grade silver zones near surface (see
press release dated
November 26, 2013) which present a
significant opportunity to generate cash quickly using cost effective
open pit mining methods, thereby creating the potential to realize an
internal rate of return of 63%.
1 Cash cost per ounce of silver constitutes a non-GAAP measure. See Cautionary Notes.
Table 1 below highlights the project economics at various Silver selling prices in US $/oz.
Table 1 - Preliminary Economic Highlights of the PEA:
Tetra Tech Inc. Preliminary PEA Financial Outcomes
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Silver Bear Resources - Elevated Silver Price Scenarios
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PEA BASE CASE
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US$ 20 /Oz Silver
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$25/oz Silver
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$30/oz Silver
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Pre Tax Economics
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Internal Rate of Return (IRR %)
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67%
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94%
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119%
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NPV 5% discount
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$157,773,041
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$264,916,403
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$372,059,765
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NPV 10% discount
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$112,137,956
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$191,091,673
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$270,045,391
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Post Tax Economics
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Internal Rate of Return (IRR %)
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63%
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91%
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116%
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NPV 5% discount
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$129,885,192
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$226,158,714
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$322,464,061
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NPV 10% discount
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$94,437,686
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$167,278,609
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$239,981,380
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Initial Capital
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$38,799,032
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$38,799,032
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$38,799,032
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Sustainig Capital
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$51,047,265
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$51,047,265
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$51,047,265
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LOM Capital
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$89,846,298
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$89,846,298
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$89,846,298
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Op Cost LOM (U.S. $/ounce)
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Recoverable Silver
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$9.01
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$9.01
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$9.01
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Accountable Silver
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$9.49
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$9.49
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$9.49
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Op Cost (U.S. $/ounce) First 5 yrs
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Recoverable Silver
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$5.55
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$5.55
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$5.55
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Accountable Silver
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$5.85
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$5.85
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$5.85
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Assumptions:
- Greenfields
- Open pit and underground mining
- Cyanide leach direct electrowinning to dore production
- Dry stacked tailings disposal
- A nominal processing capacity of 300 t/d
- Diesel power generation
- Major transport via ice road access during winter months
- Predominantly local labour
- A value of 20% contingency is included in the initial capital cost
- Tax calculation completed by PWC in Moscow to include tax incentives
- All dollar amounts are in U.S. dollars
Since acquiring the exploration rights, Silver Bear has
drilled 47,000 meters on its Mangazeisky lease, of which the Vertikalny
deposit forms part.
A summary of the mineral resource estimates prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") for the Mangazeisky Silver Project
is presented in Table 2 below. For the purpose of the PEA, only the
mineral resource estimates listed in the Vertikalny Central and
Northwest Zones were used.
A technical report in relation to the PEA, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, will be filed on SEDAR on or before March 31, 2014.
In September 2013, Silver Bear received its
mining license on its Mangazeisky property for the Vertikalny deposit.
The term of the license extends for 20 years to 2033.
Also in 2013, Silver Bear completed all necessary drilling
and trenching requirements for the Mangazeisky exploration license.
Silver Bear drilled over 3,000 meters and completed over 7000 cubic
meters of trenching by
December 2013. Silver Bear is in
the process of obtaining assay results from its 2013 exploration program
and expects to receive all assays by Q2, 2014.
Table 2 -Estimated Mineral Resources Prepared in accordance with NI 43-101
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Cut-Off
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Indicated
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Inferred
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Area
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Grade (g/t)
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Tonnes
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Ag
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Ag
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Tonnes
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Ag
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Ag
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(Mt)
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(g/t)
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(Moz)
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(Mt)
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(g/t)
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(Moz)
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Vertikalny Deposit, Central
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Zone
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180
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1.1
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518
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17.9
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1.1
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649
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23.8
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Vertikalny Deposit, Northwest
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180
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0
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0
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0
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0.5
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379
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6.6
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Zone
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Nizhny Endybal Deposit
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75
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0
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0
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0
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3.2
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133
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13.5
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Total
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-
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1.1
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518
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17.9
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4.8
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282
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43.9
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Notes: Mineral resources that are not mineral
reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Due to the
uncertainty of measured, indicated or inferred mineral resources, these
mineral resources may never be upgraded to proven and probable mineral
reserves. Mr. Rob Davies Geologist of
Tetra Tech Inc., is the
independent qualified person who has verified the mineral resource
estimates originally signed-off in 2011 and 2013 as current. The mineral
resource estimates are disclosed above in Table 2. Cut-off grades for
the Vertikalny resource and Nizhny Endybal resource are 180 g/t Ag and
75 g/t Ag respectively. Other notes:
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Vertikalny - to be operatied initially as
open pit then an underground mine with 1.2 m minimum mining width,
in-situ density of 3.45 t/m3 for mineralized material, long term Silver
price of
$22.74/ounce Ag. The effective date of the estimated Vertikalny mineral resource is February 23, 2011.
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Nizhny Endybal - to be operated by open pit
methods, in-situ density of 2.9 t/m3 for mineralized material, long term
silver price of
$22.0/oz. The effective date of Nizhny Endybal estimated mineral resource is September 20, 2012.
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Mineral resources may be subject to legal,
political, environmental, social and other risks that may significantly
affect the potential development of the mineral resources. See
Cautionary Notes.
Silver Bear Resources Inc
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The primary business of the Company is the evaluation, acquisition, exploration and development of silver properties in the Russian Federation.
The Company's principal focus is the Mangazeisky exploration lease and
the Vertikalny Deposit, over which Silver Bear has exclusive
exploration/mining rights. It is located approximately 400 kilometres
north of Yakutsk in the
Republic of Sakha, Yakutia in the Russian Federation.
Silver Bear Resources Inc. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange
and its common shares trade under the ticker symbol "SBR". Silver Bear
has 94,917,170 issued and outstanding common shares. Other information
relating to Silver Bear is available on SEDAR at
www.sedar.com as well as on the Company's website at www.silverbearresources.com.
QUALIFIED PERSON
The Preliminary Economic Assessment discussed herein was prepared under the supervision of Jacques du Toit, Robert Davies, and Mike Mclaughlin from Tetra Tech and Anton Von Wielligh of ABG Mining of Australia all of whom are independent qualified persons as defined in National Instrument 43- 101. Mark Trevisiol P.Eng,
President and CEO of Silver Bear is a qualified person under National
Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and
technical information in this press release.
Cautionary Notes
The PEA is preliminary in nature and is based
on a number of assumptions that may be changed in the future as
additional information becomes available. Mineral resources that are not
mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The PEA
includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative
geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that
would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no
certainty that the PEA will be realized.
This release and subsequent oral statements made by and on
behalf of the Company may contain forward-looking statements, which
reflect management's expectations. Wherever possible, words such as
"intends", "expects", "scheduled", "estimates", "anticipates",
"believes" and similar expressions or statements that certain actions,
events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken,
occur or be achieved, have been used to identify these forward-looking
statements. Without limitation to the foregoing, the following are
forward looking statements: the PEA, including without limitation
projected initial capital, sustaining costs, IRR, NPV, average grade
processed, mining rate, expected mine life, expected construction
period, mineral resources and pay back period. Although the forward-
looking statements contained in this release reflect management's
current beliefs based upon information currently available to management
and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions,
Silver Bear cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent
with these forward-looking statements. A number of factors could cause
events and achievements to differ materially from the results expressed
or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such risks factors include
but are not limited to uncertainties inherent to preliminary economic
assessments, which are based on many assumptions that might not be
realized, risks with respect to operating in
Russia,
downward fluctuations in silver prices, regulatory risks, including
with respect to obtaining all required permits, corruption and other
risks factors identified by Silver Bear in its continuous disclosure
filings filed from time to time on SEDAR. These factors should be
considered carefully and prospective investors should not place undue
reliance on the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
necessarily involve significant known and unknown risks, assumptions and
uncertainties that may cause Silver Bear's actual results, events,
prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Silver Bear has
attempted to identify important risks and factors that could cause
actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those
described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors and
risks that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking
statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such
statements. Accordingly, prospective investors should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
are made as of the date of this release, and Silver Bear assumes no
obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or
circumstances, unless otherwise required by law.
Cash costs per ounce of silver are non-GAAP measures. Cash
costs per ounce of silver presented do not have a standardized meaning
prescribed under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures
presented by other companies. This measure is presented to serve as a
key indicator of a company's potential ability to generate revenue and
cash flow from its mining operations. This measure should not be
considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance
prepared in accordance with IFRS and is not necessarily indicative of
operating costs that would presented under IFRS.
For further details, please visit www.silverbearresources.com.
Contact Information:
Silver Bear Resources Inc.
Mark Trevisiol
President and Chief Executive Officer
+1-416-861-5893
mtrevisiol@silverbearresources.com
www.silverbearresources.com
Silver Bear Resources Inc.
Robin Birchall
Executive Chairman
UK +44 771 131 3019