Rio2 Limited (“
Rio2” or the “Company”) (TSXV: RIO;
OTCQX: RIOFF; BVL: RIO) today announces the results of the updated
mineral resource estimate (“
MRE”) and
Pre-Feasibility Study (
“PFS”) for its 100% owned
Fenix Gold Project (
“Fenix Gold” or the
“Project”) located in the Maricunga Mineral Belt
of the Atacama Region, Chile. This updated PFS is the Company’s
base case to accelerate development and start production in the
shortest possible time.
All amounts in this news release are in US
dollars unless otherwise indicated. Base case economics for this
PFS were calculated using a $1,300 per oz gold price.
The updated MRE for the Project is 5.0 million
oz of gold in the measured and indicated category and 1.4 million
oz of gold in the inferred category constrained within a $1,500
gold price pit shell. The mineral resource remains open at depth
and along strike.
This PFS is strategically focused on an
optimally configured mine plan which will facilitate the shortest
possible timeline to construction/production, a lower initial
capex, higher grades initially being mined, and a lower initial
strip ratio as compared with the 2014 PFS. The PFS focuses on a
low-cost heap leach gold mine with 1.83 million ounces (“oz”) of
gold reserves that will produce 1.37 million oz of gold.
The PFS contemplates mining ore at a rate of
20,000 tonnes per day (“tpd”) with water for the project being
trucked from Copiapo. This compares with the ore mining rate of the
2014 PFS which was a constant 80,000 tpd with water for the project
being piped from Copiapo. To maximize cash-flow, high-grade ore
will be placed on the leach pad during the initial 13 years of
production and low-grade ore will be stockpiled for leaching in the
subsequent 3 years of production giving a total mine life of 16
years. Average annual gold production during the first 13 years
will be 93,000 oz and 50,000 oz during the final 3 years of
production as stockpiled ore is being crushed and leached.
With a large mineralized resource and potential
for resources to grow through further drilling, there remains
considerable opportunity to increase annual production and extend
the mine life of the Fenix Gold Project. Timing to increase
production will depend on transporting a greater volume of water
via a pipeline, alternative water solutions closer to the project
and changes to the gold price during the initial years of
production.
The previously completed Pre-Feasibility Study
on the Project, titled “NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Cerro
Maricunga Project Pre-Feasibility Study Atacama Region, Chile”
dated October 6, 2014 with an effective date of August 19, 2014
(the “2014 PFS”), is available on SEDAR under
Rio2’s SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The Cerro Maricunga Project
was renamed the Fenix Gold Project by Rio2 in 2018.
PFS
HIGHLIGHTS
- 1.83 million ounces (“oz”) of
Proven & Probable Mineral Reserves grading 0.49 grams per tonne
("g/t") goldHigh-grade to leach pad – 81.9 million tonnes grading
0.57 g/t goldLow-grade to stockpile – 33.1 million tonnes grading
0.30 g/t gold
- $222 million after-tax life of mine
("LOM") cumulative cash flow (unlevered)
- $997 / oz average LOM all-in
sustaining costs ("AISC")
- 1.37 million oz LOM gold
production
- 93,000 oz average annual gold
production during initial 13 years
- 50,000 oz average annual gold
production during final 3 years
- $121 million after-tax net present
value discounted at 5% (“NPV5”) or ($241 million at $1,500 per oz
gold)
- 27.4% internal rate of return
("IRR") (44.3% at $1,500 per oz gold)
- Capital costs of $111 million with
LOM sustaining capital costs of $95 million
- Construction currently targeted for
Q4 2021 and first gold production in Q4 2022
- 16 year mine life at initial 20,000
tpd mining rate with expansion potential subject to additional
water options and changes to the gold price
Alex Black, President & CEO of Rio2, stated,
“Our highly skilled and experienced management team has taken great
strides since the acquisition of the Fenix Gold Project just over
12 months ago. We have completely re-imagined and re-engineered the
project with a focus on shortening the timeline to
construction/production, simplifying the approval process and
permitting of the project, lowering initial capex, concentrating on
higher grades during early years of production and optimally
minimizing the initial strip ratio. We also thought outside of the
box to arrive at an innovative solution of trucking water to the
project with the sole purpose of fast-tracking and simplifying the
approvals process and permitting of the project. Together with our
highly experienced environmental and permitting consultants in
Chile, Minería y Medio Ambiente Limitada (MyMA), we have now set an
achievable timetable to construction in Q4 2021. With a large
mineralized resource base and a modest project production rate, as
indicated in this PFS, we are confident we can expand the mine
quickly and optimally after achieving initial production. Once the
Fenix Gold Project achieves commercial production it will be the
only gold oxide heap leach gold mine in operation in Chile and
achieving a unique milestone.”OVERVIEW
This PFS focuses on the development of the Fenix
Gold Project on a throughput of 20,000 tpd. The primary reason Rio2
has elected to start at this rate of production is to allow for the
trucking of water from Copiapo which will expedite and simplify the
approval and permitting process of the mine. By choosing the option
of trucking water to the mine site, the Company has reduced the
timeline to construction from five years to two years. Once the
project is in production, the Company will focus on the logistics
and timing of constructing the previously planned water pipeline
from Copiapo (outlined in the 2014 PFS) which will sustain a mining
rate of up to 80,000 tpd, four times of what is contemplated in
this PFS. Under the PFS mine plan, the Project will be able to
produce for sixteen years with average annual production of 85,000
oz of gold for total LOM production of 1.37 million oz. LOM AISC is
estimated at $997/oz. The Project demonstrates strong returns with
an after-tax NPV5 of $121 million and an after-tax IRR of 27.4%
using the base case gold price of $1,300/oz ($241 million and 44.3%
at $1,500/oz gold price). The Project is expected to generate
average annual after-tax net operating cash flow of $15.1 million
with cumulative LOM after-tax net cash flow of $222 million. At
$1,500/oz gold, the Project would average more than $25 million in
after-tax net operating cash flow annually and generate more than
$422 in cumulative after-tax net cash flow over the 16-year mine
life.
PFS HIGHLIGHTS
|
High-grade |
Low-grade |
Total |
2014 PFS |
|
|
|
|
|
Gold Price |
$1,300 / oz |
$1,300 / oz |
$1,300 / oz |
$1,350 / oz |
Ore Tonnes |
81.9M |
33.1M |
115M |
294M |
Grade (Au g/t) |
0.57 |
0.30 |
0.49 |
0.40 |
Proven &Probable Reserve (Au ozs) |
|
|
1,829,000 |
3,743,000 |
Average Annual Gold Production (Au ozs) |
93,000 |
50,000 |
85,000 |
228,000 |
Recoverable Gold (Au ozs) |
|
|
1,371,000 |
2,956,000 |
Throughput (tonnes per day) |
20,000 |
20,000 |
20,000 |
80,000 |
Strip Ratio |
|
|
0.81 |
1.76 |
Recovery (%) |
75 |
75 |
75 |
79 |
Mine Life (years) |
13 |
3 |
16 |
13 |
Initial Capex |
|
|
$111 |
$399 |
Sustaining Capex |
|
|
$95 |
$188 |
Cash Cost (US$ / oz) |
$918 |
$1,036 |
$927 |
$864 |
AISC (US$ / oz) |
$979 |
$1,082 |
$997 |
$928 |
Pre-tax NPV (0% - $M) |
|
|
$305 |
|
Pre-tax NPV (5% - $M) |
|
|
$168 |
$521 |
Pre-tax IRR (%) |
|
|
31.9 |
29 |
Post-tax NPV (0% - $M) |
|
|
$222 |
|
Post-tax NPV (5% - $M) |
|
|
$121 |
$409 |
Post-tax IRR (%) |
|
|
27.4 |
25 |
ECONOMIC SENSITIVITIES
Using the base case gold price of $1,300/oz and
incorporating only Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves of
1,829,000 oz of gold, the Project has an after-tax NPV (5%) of $121
million and an after-tax IRR of 27.4%. The Project’s economics are
most sensitive to fluctuations in the gold price and operating
costs, as summarized in the tables below.
Sensitivity to Gold Price |
Gold Price ($/oz) |
$1,200 |
$1,300 |
$1,400 |
NPV (5% after tax) |
$60M |
$121M |
$181M |
IRR (after tax) |
17.5% |
27.4% |
36.1% |
|
|
|
|
Sensitivity to Capital Costs |
Capital Costs |
-10% |
$111M |
10% |
NPV (5% after tax) |
$128M |
$121M |
$113M |
IRR (after tax) |
31.2% |
27.4% |
24.3% |
|
|
|
|
Sensitivity to Operating Costs |
Operating Costs |
-10% |
$1,272M |
10% |
NPV (5% after tax) |
$176M |
$121M |
$65M |
IRR (after tax) |
34.9% |
27.4% |
18.8% |
CAPITAL & OPERATING COSTS
Initial Capital for the Project is estimated at
$111.2 million which includes $14.2 million in contingencies.
Capital cost estimates are summarized in the table below.
Area |
Capex ($Millions) |
Sustaining($Millions) |
Total ($Millions) |
Mining |
3.25 |
0.85 |
4.10 |
Process Plant |
34.64 |
16.27 |
50.91 |
Support Facilities |
19.48 |
|
19.48 |
Indirect Cost of process Plant and support facilities |
16.77 |
|
16.77 |
Process Plant Contingency |
10.63 |
|
10.63 |
Leach Pad, Waste dump, PLS Ponds |
11.55 |
44.09 |
55.64 |
Leach Pad, Waste dump, PLS Ponds Contingency |
3.60 |
13.81 |
17.41 |
Owner costs |
11.30 |
4.570 |
15.87 |
Closure Costs |
0.00 |
15.40 |
15.40 |
Sub Total |
111.22 |
94.99 |
206.21 |
Operating cost estimates are summarized in the
table below.
Cost Area |
$/oz |
$/tonne |
Mining ($ mined) |
|
1.8 |
Reclaimed ore from stockpile |
|
0.91 |
Haulage Crusher to Pad |
|
0.65 |
Mining ($ processed) |
368.8 |
4.4 |
Processing ($ processed) |
340.6 |
4.1 |
G&A ($ processed) |
166.7 |
1.99 |
Total On-site Costs |
876.1 |
|
Refining, transport |
50.27 |
|
Total Cash Costs |
926.4 |
|
Royalties |
0.97 |
|
Total Cash Costs |
927.3 |
|
Sustaining Capex |
69.26 |
|
AISC |
996.6 |
|
The mining cost considers the mining of ore, the
mining of waste, reclaiming low-grade ore from the stockpile to the
crusher, and from the crusher to the pad.
The processing cost considers crushing and
leaching, recovery, and the water supply costs.MINERAL
RESOURCES & RESERVES
The Mineral Resource for the Fenix Gold Project
has been updated with the results from a small infill reverse
circulation (RC) drill program of 7,066 m completed in 2018/19, and
all relevant and approved surface channel sampling have been used
in the resource estimate for the first time. This resource update
also marks the first time that a three dimensional (3-D) geological
model has been constructed for the deposit.
The additional data, new geological model and
revised modelling parameters have had no material effect on the
combined measured and indicated resources when compared to the 2014
PFS. This suggests that the resource estimate is robust for bulk
mining.
Inferred resources have increased markedly from
the 2014 PFS due to confidence gained from the geological model and
well-structured variograms. Inferred resources have been projected
up to 150 m from the base of drilling, in line with ranges
demonstrated in gold variograms.
The MRE presented in the following table are
constrained within a $1,500/oz optimized open pit and calculated
using a 0.15 g/t cut-off grade.
Resource Classification |
Million Metric Tons |
Au Grade (g/t) |
Au Ounces (x1000) |
Measured |
122.4 |
0.41 |
1,630 |
Indicated |
288.3 |
0.36 |
3,355 |
Total Measured + Indicated |
410.7 |
0.38 |
4,985 |
|
|
|
|
Inferred |
136.6 |
0.32 |
1,388 |
Notes:1. Mineral Resources
reported is inclusive of mineral reserves;2. The table includes all
Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Resources contained within the
“Resource Pit”, which represents the test for eventual extraction
applied;3. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not
have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that
all or any part of the Mineral Resources estimated will be
converted into Mineral Reserves;4. Mineral Resources are reported
in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA)
National Instrument 43-101 (“Standards of Disclosure for Mineral
Projects” (NI 43-101) and have been estimated in conformity with
generally accepted Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and
Petroleum (CIM) "Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral
Reserves Best Practices" guidelines;5. Mineral resource tonnage and
contained metal have been rounded to reflect the accuracy of the
estimate, and numbers may not add due to rounding;6. The quantity
and grade of reported Inferred resources in this estimation are
uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to
define these Inferred resources as an Indicated or Measured mineral
resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in
upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured mineral resource
category.
The Mineral Reserves presented in the following
table are constrained within a $1,225/oz optimized open pit and are
reported as in-situ dry million tonnes and include 3% mining
dilution and 97% mining recovery using a cut-off grade of 0.24 g/t
Au.
Reserve Category |
MillionTonnes |
Grade(Au g/t) |
Contained Gold(Koz) |
Recoverable Gold(Koz) |
Proven |
53 |
0.52 |
866 |
650 |
Probable |
63 |
0.47 |
962 |
722 |
Proven and Probable |
116 |
0.49 |
1,828 |
1,372 |
Notes: The Mineral Reserve
estimate with an effective date of August, 15 2019 is based on the
Mineral Resource estimate with the same effective date that was
prepared by Mario Rossi, Principal Geostatistician of GeoSystems
International Inc. The Mineral Reserve was estimated by Mining Plus
with supervision by Raul Espinoza, Senior Open Cut Engineer with
Mining Plus Peru S.A.C. Mineral Reserves are estimated within the
final designed pit which is based on the $1,225 /oz pit shell. The
minimum cut-off grade was 0.24 g/t gold. Average life of mine costs
are $2.42/tonne mining, $4.10/tonne processing, and $1.99/tonne
processed G&A. The average process recovery was 75% for single
stage crushing. Tonnes and gold ounces are both reported in
millions. Small differences in total tonnage and grade may occur
due to rounding. The Mineral Resource estimate is inclusive of
Mineral Reserves. FENIX GOLD PROJECT - MINE
PLANDuring Year 1 the mine production rate will be ramped
up to 20,000 tpd of high-grade ore (> 0.40 g/t) for estimated
gold production of 80,000 oz. The life of mine strip ratio (waste :
ore) is estimated to be 0.81 : 1.
Mining will then progress for an additional 12
years at an average annualized rate of 20,000 tpd of high-grade
ore, 7,000 tpd of low-grade ore and associated waste material. The
high-grade ore will be crushed via a single stage crusher to a P80
size of 4 inches then re-handled and sent to the leach pad whilst
the low-grade ore is stockpiled for crushing and leaching in later
years.
Metallurgical test work shows average life of
mine recoveries of 75% after single stage crushing to 4 inches,
with more than 50% of the gold recovered during the first 45 days
of leaching.
Mine design and estimation of the mining
reserves was completed using conventional open-pit design
methodology. The mine design is based on a $1,225 Lerchs-Grossmann
pit optimisation computer analysis. The pit design incorporates 20m
benches made up of 2 x 10m mining benches utilizing a fleet of 70
tonne and 90 tonne excavators and 43 tonne dump trucks. Mining
operations will be performed exclusively by a mining contractor
under a mining alliance style framework for the entire life of
mine.
Fenix Gold Project – Mine Site
Layout
For a picture of the Fenix Gold Project Mine
Site Layout click here.
PROCESSINGHigh-grade ore will
be crushed to a P80 size of 4 inches via a single stage Gyratory
crusher with lime dosing occurring before the crushed ore is fed to
a stockpile. Crushed ore will be re-handled and trucked from the
crushed ore stockpile to the leach pad. Agglomeration of crushed
ore is not required.
Low-grade ore will be mined and stockpiled for
crushing and leaching in later years.
Processing operations will treat the solutions
from the heap leach facility operating in a new ADR (adsorption,
desorption and refining) plant capable of treating 20,000 tpd of
ore to pad or 1,058 cubic meters per hour of pregnant solution to
produce doré bars. The plant layout is designed to be upgradeable
to 40,000 tpd and 80,000 tpd respectively.
Processing costs are estimated at $4.10 per
tonne treated over the current life of mine which includes water
purchase and water transport costs.HEAP LEACH
PADThe leach pad area will be prepared and covered with an
impermeable liner. Corrugated, perforated drainage piping will be
laid on the liner for collection of the pregnant leach solution. A
protective layer of finely crushed, permeable ore will be placed on
top of the liner to prevent damage from the mobile equipment and
during ore loading. The ore will be stacked on the pad in 10m
lifts.
The heap leach pad is located 4 km from the pit,
at an elevation of 4,376m above sea level. The pad will be
developed in four stages with a stacking volume for Stage 1 of 10.3
Mt; 30.6 Mt for Stage 2; 27.7 Mt for Stage 3 and 60.7 Mt for the
final stage. The total pad capacity will be 129 Mt. The irrigation
system will uniformly apply cyanide solution directly onto the
levelled surface of the leach pile through a drip irrigation
system, at an irrigation rate of 10 L/hm2 with an irrigation cycle
of 90 days.
The percolation rate through the heap will
depend on the viscosity and specific gravity of the solution, the
mineral void space, the percentage of fines, mineral affinity for
the solution and air entrapment.Once the heap is saturated, the
gold rich solution will drain to the lowest part of the pad and
then into the pregnant leach solution (PLS) pond before being
pumped to the ADR processing plant. POWER The
power supply for the Project will be generated via diesel
generators. Three generators, two in continuous operation and one
on standby, will be installed in the power plant located in the ADR
plant. There will also be two generators installed at the crusher
which will also supply power to the mine workshops.
Grid power is located within 25 km of the mine
site and connection to the grid will be considered as the Fenix
Gold Mine is expanded.WATERThe 20,000 tpd project
requires a water supply of up to 24 L/s. The Fenix Gold Project has
access to water via a contract signed with Aguas Chañar S.A.
(“Aguas Chañar”), the major water supplier to the town of Copiapo,
to supply up to 80 L/s of treated town wastewater from its Piedra
Colgada treatment facility located to the north of Copiapo. The
original plan, outlined in the 2014 PFS, was to build a pipeline
with associated power line from the Aguas Chañar facilities to
Fenix Gold along the existing main road, international road CH31,
from Copiapo to Argentina which passes within 20 km of the Project.
This plan is still being considered for the future expansion of the
Project and discussions are ongoing with infrastructure companies
who are interested and able to finance and build the pipeline and
other mining companies who may wish to share in the benefit of the
pipeline project. The capital costs, operating costs and cost of
water for the larger water solution are set out in the 2014
PFS.
The water for the 20,000 tpd project will be
transported by 30 tonne capacity water tankers, loading from the
Aguas Chañar facility and discharging to the process plant located
at the Project, a distance of approximately 158 km. The water
transport route will be via international road CH31 which passes
within 20 km of the mine site.
Water costs are estimated to be $1.56 per tonne
of ore processed for the first four years of production and
decrease to $1.51 per tonne for the remaining life of the project.
The water cost includes the purchase price and transportation of
the water to site.
The Company is currently reviewing a number of
additional water options involving permitted, unused water rights
which are closer to the planned mining operations with the
objective of improving the economics of the water supply to the
Project.LABOR AND SUPPLIESThe Fenix Gold Project
is located approximately 140 km from Copiapo, a mining town with a
population of approximately 175,000 people that supports major
mining operations in the area. Skilled labour, specialist services
and materials for the mining operations will be sourced locally. An
on-site camp for 320 people will be built for the mine operations
whilst administration and logistics support will be located in
Copiapo.SOCIAL AND COMMUNITYProposed mining
activities at the Fenix Gold Project are located between 4.300m and
4.900m above sea level where the altitudinal and climatic
conditions of the area impose natural restrictions for the
establishment of human settlements, plants and wild animals, with
predominantly arid soils. The Colla Communities closest to the
Project are located in Quebrada San Andres and Quebrada Paipote
(approx. 10 km from the Project), where they carry out their main
productive activities such as: animal breeding, grazing and
agriculture (self-consumption), creation of handicrafts and
collecting medicinal herbs with the latter being the basis of their
family income, their cultural manifestations and ancestral customs.
Territorial occupation by the Colla Indigenous Communities is
discontinuous and dispersed. Occupations vary, according to each
community’s perspective, as a reflection of their ancestral usage
and current variants, mainly linked to ceremonial practices and
migratory habits. An ongoing social program with the various Colla
Indigenous Communities is in place and developing in tandem with
the environmental approval and permitting process currently in
process. ENVIRONMENT AND PERMITTINGThe preparation
of an Environmental Impact Declaration (DIA) to perform
geotechnical, geo-metallurgical and condemnation drilling program
began in October 2018. In April 2019, the Environmental Impact
Declaration was filed with the Environmental Assessment Service
(EAS) and is expected to be approved Q4 2019.
The environmental baseline study for the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Fenix Gold Project has
been progressing since November 2018. Engineering works and studies
are in progress for inclusion in the EIA whilst the baseline study
is in the information gathering stage. The EIA is expected to be
completed and filed with the Environmental Impact Assessment System
(SEIA) in Q1 2020 and environmental approval is expected in Q1
2021.
The preparation of sectorial permit applications
is currently in process and will be submitted in conjunction with
the filing of the EIA. The approval of sectorial permits is
expected in Q3, 2021 and the commencement of earthworks related to
the construction of the Project is expected in Q4,
2021.NEXT STEPS AND TIMELINESThe Company will be
progressing the following activities in the lead up to construction
at the Fenix Gold Project which is targeted for Q4 2021:
- Complete engineering works and studies for inclusion in the EIA
submission.
- Conduct further pit geotechnical investigation and analysis to
safely optimize pit wall angles.
- Undertake a cost benefit analysis of Crushing vs Run of Mine
(ROM) – A pilot trial of mining and leaching is being considered to
assess the potential of ROM leaching.
- Undertake a trade-off study of Trucking vs Conveyor system for
moving ore from the crusher to the pad with a view to reducing
opex.
- Develop opex and capex for a pipeline from the proposed camp
located on national road CH31 to the processing plant with the
objective of reducing the trucking cost and opex for trucking the
water from the road to the process plant.
- Continue the review of alternate permitted water sources that
have the potential to reduce the cost of water for the
Project.
- Continue discussions with infrastructure companies and mining
companies operating in the area to participate in the building of a
water pipeline from Copiapo to the Project.
The principal focus for management during the
two year lead up to construction will be to optimize the estimated
capital expenditure for the construction of the Project and to
refine and reduce the current operating cost estimate where
practicable.PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY BASIS AND
ASSUMPTIONS
This study constitutes a PFS for NI 43-101
purposes with an effective date of August 15, 2019. The PFS has
been completed to a level of accuracy of +20% to -30%. No inferred
resources have been taken into account in demonstrating the
economic viability of the Project. Key assumptions used in the
economic analysis in the PFS include the following:
Exchange Rate
(CLP:US$) |
686.39 |
Fuel Price ($/litre) |
0.76 |
Energy ($/MWh) |
0.23 |
Lime ($/kg) |
0.17 |
NaCN ($/kg) |
2.3 |
Water ($/cubic meter) |
0.75 |
TECHNICAL REPORT
PREPARATION
The PFS was undertaken by several independent
Qualified Persons (“QPs”) and was consolidated by Mining Plus
(“MP”), supported by HLC (“HLC”), Anddes (“ANDDES”) and GeoSystems
International Inc. (“GSI”). The Mineral Resources were prepared by
GSI based on the geological and block model prepared by Rio2
Limited geologists. The Mineral Reserves, mine plan and mining
sections of the study were prepared by MP with input from ANDDES,
the mine geotechnical section was prepared by DERK and remains
unchanged from the report used in the 2014 PFS. Environmental and
permitting matters were led by Chile-based MyMA. The heap leach pad
and hydrogeology aspects of the study were prepared by ANDDES and
the process plant and on-site infrastructure was designed by HLC
with overview from MM Consultores (MMC). Rio2 will file a technical
report prepared in accordance with NI43-101 in respect of the PFS
with the applicable Canadian securities’ regulatory authorities
within 45 days of this release. QUALIFIED
PERSONS
The scientific and technical content of this
news release has been reviewed, approved and verified by the
following QPs who were involved with preparation of the PFS: Raul
Espinoza, (MAusIMM (CP)), Technical Services Manager South America
of MP; Mario Rossi, (Fellow AusIMM, Member CIM, Member SME),
Principal Geostatistician of GSI; Denys Parra, (Member SME) of
ANDDES; Anthony Maycock, (P.Eng.) of HLC.
Enrique Garay, MSc. P.Geo (AIG Member), Senior
Vice President Geology of Rio2 Limited, who is a QP under NI 43-101
has also reviewed, approved and verified the scientific and
technical content of this news release.
For readers to fully understand the information
in this news release they should read the technical report in its
entirety when it is available on SEDAR, including all
qualifications, assumptions, exclusions and risks that relate to
the PFS. The technical report is intended to be read as a whole and
sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.
ABOUT RIO2 LIMITED
Rio2 is a mine development company with a team
that has proven technical skills in the development and operations
of mines as well as a successful capital markets track
record. Rio2 is focused on taking its Fenix Gold Project in
Chile to production in the shortest possible timeframe based on a
staged development strategy. With the Fenix Gold Project in
development in Chile and gold exploration platform in Peru, Rio2
Limited will continue to pursue additional strategic
acquisitions where it can deploy its operational excellence
and responsible mining practices to build a multi-asset,
multi-jurisdiction, precious metals company focused in the
Americas.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking
statements and forward-looking information (collectively
“forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable
securities laws relating to the PFS including Rio2’s plans,
strategy, objectives and other aspects of Rio2’s anticipated future
operations and financial, development and operating plans and
results. In addition, without limited the generality of the
foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking information
pertaining to the following: estimated mineral resources and
reserves; timing of the commencement of construction at the Fenix
Gold Project; estimated capital and operating costs, metal prices,
mining and processing rates, metal production and resulting
financial results for the Fenix Gold Project; the timing for the
development of and production from the Fenix Gold Project; timing
and outcomes of the social program with the various Colla
Indigenous Communities; potential to increase resources, annual
production and mine life; timing of environmental approval and
permitting process and outcomes; ongoing engineering works and
studies; the potential to secure water rights near to the Fenix
Gold Project and the benefits of holding such rights; and other
matters ancillary or incidental to the foregoing.
All statements included herein, other than
statements of historical fact, may be forward-looking information
and such information involves various risks and uncertainties.
Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by
the use of words such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “continue”,
“estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “predict”,
“potential”, “targeting”, “intend”, “could”, “might”, “should”,
“believe” and similar expressions. The forward-looking information
is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Rio2’s
management, including but not limited to: expectations concerning
prevailing commodity prices, exchange rates, interest rates,
applicable royalty rates and tax laws; capital efficiencies;
legislative and regulatory environment of Chile; future production
rates and estimates of capital and operating costs; estimates of
reserves and resources; anticipated timing and results of capital
expenditures; the sufficiency of capital expenditures in carrying
out planned activities; results of operations; performance; the
availability and cost of financing, labour and services; and Rio2’s
ability to access capital on satisfactory terms.
Rio2 believes the expectations reflected in
these forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance
can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and
such forward-looking statements in this news release should not be
unduly relied upon. A description of assumptions used to develop
such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors
that may cause actual results to differ materially from
forward-looking information can be found in Rio2's disclosure
documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking
statements included in this news release are made as of the date of
this news release and such information should not be relied upon as
representing its views as of any date subsequent to the date of
this news release. Rio2 has attempted to identify important factors
that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to
vary from those current expectations or estimates expressed or
implied by the forward-looking information. However, there may be
other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not
to be as expected or estimated and that could cause actual results,
performance or achievements to differ materially from current
expectations. Rio2 disclaims any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly
required by applicable securities legislation. To learn more about
Rio2 Limited, please visit: www.rio2.com or Rio2's SEDAR profile at
www.sedar.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF RIO2 LIMITED
Alex BlackPresident, CEO & DirectorEmail:
info@rio2.comTel: 1 (604) 260-2696
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the
TSX Venture Exchange) accepts the responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.
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