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3a67da86-9856-4ce8-8105-38d257f3e6e5.pdf
Alacer Corporate
P: 303-292-1299
F: 202-297-0538
9635 Maroon Circle, Suite 300
Englewood, Colorado 80112
www.AlacerGold.com
ALACER GOLD MEETS 2015 PRODUCTION GUIDANCE, PROVIDES 2016 GUIDANCE AND AN UPDATE ON THE ÇÖPLER SULFIDE PROJECT
January 14, 2016, Toronto: Alacer Gold Corp. ("Alacer" or the "Company") [TSX: ASR and ASX: AQG] announces unaudited full-year 2015 results and the Company's 2016 production and cost guidance. The Company also announces that after comprehensive reviews during the detailed engineering phase of the Çöpler Sulfide Project, Alacer will install twin horizontal autoclaves for the processing of sulfide ore and move forward with the Project on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management ("EPCM") basis. As a result of these changes, additional detailed engineering work is being completed and a Project update will be provided later in the first quarter of 2016.
2015 Highlights (100%):
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Çöpler gold production of 204,665 ounces
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Preliminary Total Cash Costs (C2)1 of $480 per ounce2
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Preliminary All-in Sustaining Costs1 of $690 per ounce2
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Cash balance of $360 million and no debt at year end
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7.9 million man-hours, or 1,041 days worked without a lost-time injury
2016 Guidance Highlights (100%):
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Çöpler gold production 150,000 to 170,000 ounces
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Total Cash Costs (C2)1 $575 to $625 per ounce
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All-in Sustaining Costs1 $780 to $830 per ounce
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Çöpler sustaining capital expenditure $13 million
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Çöpler sulfide capital expenditure $315 million3
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Exploration expenditure $25 million
Rod Antal, Alacer's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Çöpler has delivered another strong year of production and cost performance. In 2016, we anticipate another solid year as Çöpler will produce between 150,000 - 170,000 ounces of gold at Total Cash Costs of $575 to $625 an ounce.
It was also a very productive year for our Sulfide Project team as both detailed engineering and initial site earthworks commenced. Importantly, the Project team completed a significant amount of work to define a plan to install horizontal autoclaves for the Sulfide Project. The preference has always been to employ this configuration as it provides an improved operating risk profile; however, we were unable to transport the contemplated horizontal autoclave to site and were unwilling to accept the risks involved with full on-site fabrication. Through the committed efforts of our Project team, a solution was found by using two smaller horizontal autoclaves in place of a larger single vessel. These smaller horizontal vessels can be factory fabricated off-site, disassembled, and safely transported and reassembled on site using methods common in the oil and gas industry. We continue to progress detailed engineering work on an EPCM basis to assess any potential impacts to the Project schedule and costs. The Company believes that the decision to move forward using twin horizontal autoclaves, on an EPCM basis, is the optimal risk-adjusted result for the Project.
We are waiting for the final approval of the land use permits for both the Sulfide Project and the remaining portion of the Heap Leach Phase 4 ("HLP4") expansion. While there is no timeline, we remain confident that the permits will be approved and will provide an update as soon as they are received."
Full-Year 2015 Preliminary Unaudited Results
Çöpler Gold Mine
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Year 2015
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Oxide Ore treated
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(tonnes)
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6,030,514
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Oxide Head grade
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(g/t gold)
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1.23
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Gold produced (100%)
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(oz)
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204,665
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Gold produced (attributable4)
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(oz)
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163,732
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Total Cash Costs (C2)1
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(oz)
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$480
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All-in Sustaining Costs1
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(oz)
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$690
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All-in Costs1
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(oz)
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$900
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Fourth quarter and full-year 2015 financial statements and the related management's discussion and analysis are planned to be released on or about February 8, 2015 (North America) with a conference call the following day. Conference call details will be announced in due course.
Çöpler Gold Mine Production Statistics for 2015
Çöpler Gold Mine
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Q1 2015
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Q2 2015
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Q3 2015
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Q4 2015
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Year 2015
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Waste tonnes mined
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4,231,556
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6,201,925
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6,528,983
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7,871,366
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24,833,830
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Oxide ore mined - tonnes
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1,729,423
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1,813,797
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1,388,213
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1,188,073
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6,119,506
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Oxide ore mined - grade (g/t)
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1.78
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1.29
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0.80
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0.73
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1.21
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Oxide ore mined - ounces
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99,228
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75,435
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35,879
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27,758
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238,300
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Sulfide ore mined - tonnes5
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455,461
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483,725
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358,526
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521,887
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1,819,599
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Sulfide ore mined - grade (g/t)5
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2.76
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2.93
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2.88
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2.46
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2.75
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Sulfide ore stockpiled - ounces5
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40,475
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45,641
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33,166
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41,320
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160,602
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Oxide ore treated - tonnes
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1,671,223
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1,832,079
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1,418,882
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1,108,330
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6,030,514
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Oxide ore treated - head grade (g/t)
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1.75
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1.37
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0.84
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0.73
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1.23
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Gold ounces produced
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50,949
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53,757
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53,728
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46,231
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204,665
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Gold ounces sold
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51,012
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53,784
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53,728
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46,252
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204,776
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Çöpler Attributable: (80% ownership)
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Gold ounces produced
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40,759
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43,006
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42,982
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36,985
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163,732
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Gold ounces sold
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40,810
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43,027
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42,982
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37,002
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163,821
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2016 Guidance
Guidance for Çöpler's 2016 gold production and costs are as follows:
Çöpler Mine
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2016
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Waste tonnes mined (100%)
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(millions)
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31.0
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Sulfide tonnes mined (100%)5
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(millions)
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2.0
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Oxide ore tonnes treated
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(millions)
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4.8
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Oxide ore grade
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(g/t gold)
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1.2
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Heap-leach gold ounces produced (100%)
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('000's)
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150 to 170
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Heap-leach gold ounces produced (attributable4)
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('000's)
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120 to 136
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Total Cash Costs (C2)1
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($/oz)
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575 to 625
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All-in Sustaining Costs1
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($/oz)
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780 to 830
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All-in Costs1 Excluding Sulfide Growth
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($/oz)
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825 to 875
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All-in Costs1 Including Sulfide Growth3
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($/oz)
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2,500 to 3,000
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Production in 2016 is expected to be higher in the second half of the year as mining moves to the Marble and Manganese Pits. In 2015, as mining progressed through the Redox boundary in the Main Pit, the transition from oxide to sulfide ore at the Redox boundary was more abrupt than previously interpreted which resulted in a reclassification of oxide ore to sulfide ore and waste. This is expected to lead to lower production in the first half of 2016.
As expected, the ramp up in capital expenditures for the Sulfide Project will increase in 2016, resulting in the above noted increase to All-in Costs.
Çöpler's 2016 sustaining capital expenditure is planned to total $13 million ($10 million attributable), which includes $10 million for the HLP4 expansion. Çöpler's 2016 growth capital expenditure is planned to total
$315 million ($250 million attributable) for the Sulfide Project, pending receipt of the land use permits and final Board of Directors' approval.
Expenditure on Alacer's exploration portfolio in Turkey is planned to total $25 million during 2016, of which
$10 million is attributable to Alacer. Alacer's exploration portfolio is held in various joint ventures with our Turkish partner, Lidya Madencilik San. Ve Tic, A.Ş. ("Lidya Mining").
Alacer Contribution (%)
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Exploration 100%*
($ millions)
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Exploration Attributable* ($ millions)
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Çöpler District 80/20
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80%
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5.0
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4.0
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Çöpler District 50/50
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50%
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7.0
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3.5
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Turkey Regional (includes Dursunbey)
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20%
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12.0
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2.4
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Turkey Regional
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Various
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1.0
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0.4
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TOTAL
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25.0
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10.3
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*Rounding differences will occur
General and administrative cash expense for 2015 is planned to total $11 million.
Çöpler Sulfide Project Update
Twin Horizontal Autoclaves
The initial fabrication of the twin horizontal autoclaves will occur in a commercial fabrication shop under controlled environmental conditions. Once completed, the autoclaves will be cut into three sections with a water jet cutter, resulting in clean parallel cut faces with no warping of the vessels. The three autoclave sections are then prepared and dressed for transport in separate cradles that meet the size and weight transportation requirements. The autoclave sections will then be reassembled and welded on-site followed by localized heat-treatment. Lastly, the reassembled autoclaves will undergo final testing and will be Conformité Européenne (CE) certified in accordance with European and Turkish regulations.
EPCM
The Company has been considering the merits of constructing the Sulfide Project on a fixed price EPC basis since the completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study in 2014. After an extensive amount of work, we have established that constructing the Project under an EPC basis comes with a significantly higher premium. As a result, the Company has decided to move forward on a more traditional EPCM basis, where the Alacer Gold project team will be accountable for the Sulfide Project construction efforts.
2016 Reporting Dates
Alacer's quarterly MD&A and financial reporting schedule for the remainder of 2016 is expected to be as follows:
Reporting Period
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Release Date (North America)
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Q4 2015
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Monday, February 8
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Q1 2016
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Monday, April 25
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Q2 2016
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Monday, July 25
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Q3 2016
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Monday, October 24
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Conference calls and audio webcasts are planned to be held for each quarterly report and details will be announced closer to the call.
Notes
In this announcement:
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All production statistics are on a 100% basis except where otherwise noted.
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All $'s are US$'s except where otherwise noted.
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All ounces are troy ounces of gold.
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2016 guidance is based on budgetary assumptions of a $1,100/ounce gold price and TRY (Turkish Lira): US$ of 2.85 to 1.00.
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