28 April 2020

Press Release

Robex, results once again show strong improvement in 2019, with the same trend continuing into the first quarter of 2020

18 September 2024

Press Release

Conclusion d’un accord avec le gouvernement malien visant la mine d’or de Nampala

Un accord avec le Mali règle les réclamations fiscales avant 2024 et permet au gouvernement d’augmenter sa participation dans la (...)

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QUÉBEC CITY, QUEBEC, APRIL 28, 2020 — ROBEX RESOURCES INC. (“ROBEX” OR “THE COMPANY”) (TSXV: RBX/FWB: RB4) IS PLEASED TO PUBLISH THEIR FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND THEIR PRODUCTION RESULTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2020.

All amounts are in Canadian dollars (CAD).

Highlights for the year 2019:

24% INCREASE IN GOLD PRODUCTION

This progression is the result of continuous efforts to optimize the Nampala plant, which have increased the quantity of processed ore (1,909,663 tonnes vs 1,795,591 tonnes in 2018) and improved the average recovery rate (87.5% vs 85.6% in 2018). The higher average grade of processed ore (1.04 gpt compared to 0.94 gpt in 2018) is another factor that contributed to improving annual production performance in 2019 (55,685 ounces of gold compared to 44,946 ounces of gold in 2018).

27% INCREASE IN REVENUE

In 2019, 53,713 ounces of gold were sold for CAD 99.2 million compared to 47,142 ounces of gold for CAD 78.4 million in 2018. The quantity produced being greater than the quantity sold is attributable to the time delay between casting and refining gold ingots.

15% INCREASE IN OPERATING INCOME

The operating income of the Company reached CAD 21.4 million compared to CAD 18.6 million in 2018, despite an increase of CAD +14.9 million in the depreciation rate (in accordance with IFRS).

89% INCREASE IN CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES[1]

The cash flows from operating activities[1] reached CAD 51 million (CAD 0.088 per share[2]) compared to CAD 26.9 million (CAD 0.046 per share[2]) in 2018. Cash flows are 50% higher than overall revenue.

53% DECREASE IN LIABILITIES, FROM CAD 52.8 MILLION AS AT DECEMBER 31, 2018 TO CAD 25 MILLION AS AT DECEMBER 31, 2019

Fiscal year 2019 was a year of deleveraging for the Company. In addition to the repayment of its bank loans, the Company reimbursed all capital and interest on non-convertible debentures. In 2020, 4 of the 6 bank loans should reach their date of maturity.

WORKING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT OF CAD 14.2 MILLION

All these positive elements enabled the Company to pay shareholders, on April 7, the first dividend in Robex’s history of CAD 0.02 per share.

EXPLORATION INVESTMENTS OF CAD 3.6 MILLION IN 2019, INCLUDING CAD 1.5 MILLION FOR NAMPALA’S OPERATING LICENCE AND CAD 2.5 MILLION FOR EXPLORATION PERMITS OF MININKO AND KAMASSO

In 2019, Robex confirmed the Mininko licence which was renewed. The main pit was extended to the South.

For the record, the teams and resources dedicated to exploration were increased.

Discovering additional resources is one of the priorities for the next few years. In January 2020, the Company started an ambitious exploration program of 171,990 drilling meters for a budgeted amount of CAD 13.8 million[3].

Robex’s MD&A and the annual audited consolidated financial statements are available on the Company’s website in the Investors section at robexgold.com. These reports and other documents produced by the Company are also available at sedar.com.

Production results for the first quarter of 2020

For the first quarter of 2020, the Nampala mine reached production of 14,918 ounces of gold (464 kg) with a recovery rate of 88.8%. The plant processed a total of 476,720 tonnes, corresponding to a daily average of 5,239 tonnes at an average grade of 1.097 gpt. This first quarter is higher than the budget and confirms the trend observed in 2019.

Initiatives are in progress to continue to improve production, most notably:

the purchase and installation, in Q3, of a new reject line to help eliminate one of the bottlenecks;
the addition of a mobile conveyor in the ROM Pad area to increase the production of the mineral sizer; and
a study into adding a cone crusher to the grinding circuit.

The production data presented has been validated by Antoine Berton ENG, Ph. D., a metallurgist working with Soutex, the consultancy firm specializing in metallurgy and ore processing on-site in the Nampala mine.

Health crisis

At the cost of considerable logistical efforts undertaken urgently, the Company managed to lockdown the entire mining site before the end of March. The lockdown has allowed us to continue production above budget during this exceptional COVID-19 period. The situation has temporarily slowed exploration, as the number of active drills has dropped from three to one single drill for a time. Everyone understands this is being undertaken to ensure operations continue, nevertheless the priority remains to protect the health of all our partners. Particular attention has been paid towards ensuring hygiene and safety rules are complied with in order to safeguard the health of our workers.

Appointments

Robex would like to announce the appointment of Ms. Érika St-Jean to the role of corporate secretary for the Company.

A word from the President Mr. Georges Cohen:

I would like to congratulate our teams who have contributed towards exceeding our production and cost management objectives. They have succeeded brilliantly in organizing the complete lockdown of the entire mining site, which is relatively isolated, and have done so while ensuring that production continues. A truly outstanding achievement!

We have also been involved with local village communities around the mine, assisting them and increasing their awareness about the risks of the pandemic. We are following the evolution of the pandemic very closely so as to respond quickly to any new challenges that may arise.

In addition to the upturn in results caused by the rise in the price of gold, we relentlessly strive to reduce and optimise our production costs to maximize the Company’s profitability.

Thanks to our improved financial position, we are now well placed to invest in the future by assigning a substantial prospection budget, as well as to welcome other potential opportunities.

The strategy implemented progressively by Management has led to a significant improvement in our financial position, allowing us to pay out our first dividend to shareholders, all while protecting investments and attaining new objectives for Robex’s future.

I wish you all the best in withstanding these unprecedented and perilous times in the safest possible way… Stay safe!

[1] Cash flows from operating activities exclude net change in non-cash working capital items.

[2] Cash flows from operating activities per share are non-IFRS financial measures for which there is no standardized definition under IFRS. Refer to the “Non-IFRS Financial Performance Measures” section of the MD&A.

[3] Refer to the “Exploration” section of the MD&A for further details on planned exploration work.

[4] Cash operating cost, total cash cost and all-in sustaining cost are non-IFRS financial performance measures with no standard definition under IFRS. Refer to the “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” section of the MD&A.

For Information:

Robex Resources Inc.
Benjamin Cohen, CEO
Augustin Rousselet, CFOO
Head office: 581-741-7421
info@robexgold.com

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” as set out within the context of security law. This forward-looking information is subject to many risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Robex’s control. The actual results or conclusions may differ considerably from those that have been set out, or intimated, in this forward-looking information. There are many factors which may cause such disparity, especially the instability of metal market prices, the results of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or in interest rates, poorly estimated reserves, environmental risks (stricter regulations), unforeseen geological situations, unfavourable extraction conditions, political risks brought on by mining in developing countries, regulatory and governmental policy changes (laws and policies), failure to obtain the requisite permits and approvals from government bodies, or any other risk relating to mining and development. There is no guarantee that the circumstances anticipated in this forward-looking information will occur, or if they do occur, how they will benefit Robex. The forward-looking information is based on the estimates and opinions of Robex’s management at the time of the publication of the information and Robex does not assume any obligation to make public updates or modifications to any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or any other cause, except if it is required by securities laws. Neither 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.

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Robex, results once again show strong improvement in 2019, with the same trend continuing into the first quarter of 2020

Next article :

Conclusion d’un accord avec le gouvernement malien visant la mine d’or de Nampala

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Have you
ever seen our latest project?

Robex is committed to responsible mining and delivering sustainable value to our employees, stakeholders and the communities in the countries we operate.

HEADQUARTER

BAMAKO OFFICE

CONAKRY OFFICE

Robex, results once again show strong improvement in 2019, with the same trend continuing into the first quarter of 2020

Next article :

Conclusion d’un accord avec le gouvernement malien visant la mine d’or de Nampala

Share our article on

You’re interested into our business or you may have an interesting opinion to share?

Join us Online

Have you ever seen our latest project?

Robex is committed to responsible mining and delivering sustainable value to our employees, stakeholders and the communities in the countries we operate.

HEADQUARTER

BAMAKO OFFICE

CONAKRY OFFICE

Have you
ever seen our latest project?