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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - June 30, 2011) - Rusoro Mining Ltd. (News - Market indicators) ("Rusoro" or the "Company") reports its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2011 ("Q1 2011"). The Company's consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for Q1 2011 have been filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).
All amounts set out in this news release and the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements and MD&A are expressed in United States dollars, unless otherwise stated.
The following is a synopsis of the Q1 2011 financial results. For detailed information regarding Rusoro's Q1 2011 results, please refer to the unaudited consolidated financial statements and related MD&A for Q1 2011, which can also be found on the Company's website at www.rusoro.com.
The Company's highlights for Q1 2011 were:
- Average realized gold price per ounce sold of $1,292 (three months ended March 31, 2010 ("Q1 2010"): $718) and cash cost per ounce sold of $1,294 (Q1 2010: $587). The higher average realized gold price is a result of a higher international spot price per ounce of gold in Q1 2011 and due to the change in Venezuelan laws during May, 2010, which effectively changed, going forward, the rate at which the translations of transactions and balances from Venezuelan Bolivars Fuertes ("BsF") to US dollars were performed ("the Change in Translation Rate") (see "Venezuela Currency Exchange and Gold Sales" section of the MD&A). The higher cash cost per ounce sold is mainly due to the lower production ore grade, the Change in Translation Rate and an increase in labour costs resulting from the Venezuelan inflation rate.
- Gold production of 17,742 ounces of finished gold (doré form) (Q1 2010: 27,986 ounces) (2011 revised guidance: 98,000 ounces) and gold sold of 22,052 ounces (Q1 2010: 22,760 ounces).
- During Q1 2011, the Company exported 11,817 ounces of finished gold at the international spot price per ounce, less associated costs and commissions.
The Company's highlights subsequent to Q1 2011 were:
- During the period subsequent to Q1 2011 and up to the date of this news release, the Company exported 7,824 ounces of finished gold at the international spot price per ounce, less associated costs and commissions.
- On June 10, 2011, the Company did not perform the repayment of the convertible loan for $30 million (see news release "Rusoro Mining Reports on its Loan Repayment Status", dated June 14, 2011, as filed on SEDAR). The Company is currently holding discussions with the lenders for the granting of an extension to the loan repayment period for a sufficient amount of time to allow the Company to complete financing options that it is currently evaluating to fund the retirement of the loan and general corporate purposes.
Results for Q1 2011
- Revenue increased to $28.5 million (22,052 ounces sold) in Q1 2011 from $16.3 million (22,760 ounces sold) in Q1 2010 due to the increase in the average international spot price of gold to $1,384 in Q1 2011 from $1,109 in Q1 2010, and due to the Change in Translation Rate.
- Mining operating expenses and depreciation and depletion increased to $30.1 million and $3.2 million, respectively, in Q1 2011 from $13.5 million and $2.9 million in Q1 2010. This cost increase is primarily due to the Change in Translation Rate. Operational factors impacting the amount of tonnes mined, tonnes milled and average ore grade realized also negatively impacted production costs in Q1 2011 at the Choco Mine and Isidora Mine.
- General and administrative expenses decreased to $1.8 million in Q1 2011 from $2.8 million in Q1 2010 significantly due to increased efficiencies and the non-renewal of consulting agreements with two senior officers of the Company.
- Interest on the Company's convertible loan decreased to $1.5 million in Q1 2011 from $2.6 million in Q1 2010 due to the partial retirement of the convertible loan during 2010.
- Gain on revaluation of derivative financial liabilities increased to $2.2 million in Q1 2011 from $0.2 million in Q1 2010 due to the issuance and subsequent revaluation of Canadian dollar warrants, which were issued in June 2010 as part of the convertible loan refinancing transaction.
- Foreign exchange loss was $3.7 million in Q1 2011 compared to a foreign exchange gain of $3.6 million in Q1 2010. The foreign exchange gain experienced in Q1 2010 was due to the Company having a negative net monetary position (assets less liabilities) and the change in translation rate from BsF 5.97/$1.00 (December 31, 2009) to BsF 7.00/$1.00 (March 31, 2010), which created gains on the translation of the net monetary position as the Company's liabilities denominated in BsF became less costly to settle.
- Deferred tax recovery increased to $7.9 million in Q1 2011 from $3.1 million in Q1 2010 due to declining results at the Choco Mine and the Isidora Mine.
- Net loss amounted to $1.4 million during Q1 2011 compared to net profit of $1.2 million during Q1 2010.
Operating Performance
The following table summarizes key operating statistics for 100% of the Choco Mine and 50% of the Isidora Mine:
|
3 Months Ended March 31, 2011 |
|
3 Months Ended March 31, 2010 |
|
Choco |
|
Isidora |
|
Total |
|
Choco |
|
Isidora |
|
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ore tonnes mined ('000 t) |
83 |
|
9 |
|
92 |
|
396 |
|
6 |
|
402 |
|
Ore tonnes milled ('000 t) |
363 |
|
6 |
|
369 |
|
371 |
|
4 |
|
375 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average grade (g/t) |
1.28 |
|
16.40 |
|
1.53 |
|
2.18 |
|
23.51 |
|
2.41 |
|
Average recovery rate (%) |
93 |
|
90 |
|
93 |
|
93 |
|
90 |
|
93 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold produced (ounces) |
13,956 |
|
3,786 |
|
17,742 |
|
25,142 |
|
2,844 |
|
27,986 |
|
Gold sold (ounces) |
17,410 |
|
4,642 |
|
22,052 |
|
20,821 |
|
1,939 |
|
22,760 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total mining operating expenses $(000) |
24,612 |
|
5,531 |
|
30,143 |
|
12,171 |
|
1,352 |
|
13,523 |
|
|
- decommissioning and restoration provision accretion $(000) |
(227 |
) |
(176 |
) |
(403 |
) |
(92 |
) |
(80 |
) |
(172 |
) |
|
- impairment of inventories $(000) |
(1,201 |
) |
- |
|
(1,201 |
) |
- |
|
- |
|
- |
|
Total cash costs $(000)(1) |
23,184 |
|
5,355 |
|
28,539 |
|
12,079 |
|
1,272 |
|
13,351 |
|
Total cash costs per ounce sold $(2) |
1,332 |
|
1,154 |
|
1,294 |
|
580 |
|
656 |
|
587 |
|
Average spot gold price per ounce $ |
n/a |
|
n/a |
|
1,384 |
|
n/a |
|
n/a |
|
1,109 |
|
Average realized gold price per ounce sold $ |
1,285 |
|
1,319 |
|
1,292 |
|
716 |
|
735 |
|
718 |
|
The following notes are applicable to the above tables:
- Total cash costs used in the calculation of cash costs per ounce is calculated as mining operating expenses from the consolidated statement of comprehensive income (loss) excluding accretion expense related to the decommissioning and restoration provision and expense for impairment of inventories.
- Cash costs per ounce sold is a non-IFRS measure. Total cash costs per ounce sold is calculated by dividing the total cash costs by the gold ounces sold during the period. Cash costs per ounce sold includes all expenditures related to the mine such as mining, processing, administration, royalties and production taxes but excludes reclamation, capital and exploration expenditures, and impairments of inventories.
Outlook
During 2011, the Company expects to produce 98,000 ounces of finished gold from the Choco Mine and its 50% interest in the Isidora Mine. Total cash costs per ounce sold for 2011 are expected to be $1,050 per ounce. For the cost per ounce estimate, the Company assumes that the Venezuelan government will not devalue the currency in reaction to the highly inflationary economy. As a result, a BsF/US dollar average exchange rate during the year for translation of BsF 4.30/$1.00 is forecasted. Any increase in the rate will likely generate a reduction in the Company's expected costs and capital expenditures.
Cautionary non-IFRS measures
Total cash costs per ounce sold is a non-IFRS measure. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures, prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use the cash costs per ounce data to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS as it does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. Data used in the calculation of total cash costs per ounce may not conform to other similarly titled measures provided by other precious metals companies.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Andre Agapov, President & CEO
Forward-looking statements: This document contains statements about expected or anticipated future events and financial results that are forward-looking in nature and as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business conditions, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation, competitive and general economic factors and conditions, the uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, the occurrence of unexpected events, and the Company's capability to execute and implement its future plans. Actual results may differ materially from those projected by management. For such statements, we claim the safe harbour for forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Legislation Reform Act of 1995. "Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."
Rusoro Mining Ltd. Andre Agapov President & CEO 604-632-4044 or Toll Free 1 800-668-0091 604-632-4045 (FAX) info@rusoro.com www.rusoro.com
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