GOLD FIELDS RESULTS Q3F2010 I 10
Australasia region guidance
The estimate for the June 2010 quarter is as follows:
·
Gold produced – between 145,000 and 150,000 ounces
·
Total cash cost* – between A$735 and A$760 per ounce
(between US$680 and US$700 per ounce)
·
Capital expenditure* – A$56 million (US$52 million)
·
Notional cash expenditure* – between A$1,150 and A$1,200
per ounce (between US$1,060 and US$1,100 per ounce)
* Based on A$1=US$0.925.
Quarter ended 31 March 2010 compared
with quarter ended 31 March 2009
Group attributable gold production decreased by 8 per cent from
871,000 ounces for the quarter ended March 2009 to 793,000
ounces for the quarter ended March 2010.
At the South African operations gold production decreased from
517,000 ounces to 395,000 ounces. Driefontein’s gold production
decreased from 215,000 ounces to 147,000 ounces due to a
decrease in volumes mined related largely to safety factors. At
Kloof, gold production decreased from 174,000 ounces to 108,000
ounces due to the accelerated replacement of a water pump
column in Main shaft after certain sections of the column showed
significant corrosion, resulting in the premature failure of some of
the sections. Beatrix’s gold production increased from 80,000
ounces to 83,000 ounces. South Deep’s gold production
increased from 48,000 ounces to 58,000 ounces due to the mine
being in a build-up phase.
At the West African operations total managed gold production
increased from 205,000 ounces for the quarter ended March 2009
to 227,000 ounces for the quarter ended March 2010. At
Damang, gold production increased by 3 per cent to 54,000
ounces. At Tarkwa, gold production increased by 14 per cent to
173,000 ounces due to the completion of the expanded CIL plant.
In South America, gold equivalent production at Cerro Corona
increased from 61,000 ounces in the March 2009 quarter to
110,000 ounces in the March 2010 quarter. This time last year
the mine was still in a build-up phase.
At the Australasian operations gold production decreased by 7 per
cent from 159,000 ounces in the March 2009 quarter to 148,000
ounces in the March 2010 quarter. St Ives decreased by 2 per
cent from 109,000 ounces to 107,000 ounces. This was mainly
due to a reduction in throughput and lower grades from surface
and underground ore. Production at Agnew decreased to 41,000
due to delays in stope availability due to adverse ground
conditions at Kim South.
Revenue decreased by 14 per cent from R8,510 million (US$869
million) to R7,280 million (US$971 million). The 8 per cent lower
average gold price at R265,641 per kilogram (US$1,102 per
ounce) compares with R289,095 per kilogram (US$906 per
ounce) achieved for the quarter ended March 2009. The US
dollar strengthened from US$1 = R9.93 to US$1 = R7.50 or 24 per
cent, while the rand/Australian dollar weakened by 3 per cent from
A$1 = R6.59 to A$1 = R6.76.
Operating costs, including gold-in-process movements, increased
from R4,524 million (US$453 million) to R4,710 million (US$628
million). The increase in costs was mainly due to annual wage
and electricity tariff increases in South Africa and general
inflationary increases. Total cash cost for the Group increased
from R150,301 per kilogram (US$471 per ounce) to R169,538 per
kilogram (US$703 per ounce) due to decreased gold production.
At the South African operations operating costs increased by 12
per cent from R2,434 million (US$243 million) for the March 2009
quarter to R2,733 million (US$364 million) for the March 2010
quarter. This was due to more employees at all the operations,
increased electricity tariffs and annual wage increases. Total cash
cost at the South African operations increased from R143,340 per
kilogram to R214,467 per kilogram as a result of the above.
At the West African operations, operating costs, including gold-in-
process movements, increased from US$108 million to US$131
million. This was mainly at Tarkwa due to the 14 per cent
increase in production and increased fleet maintenance costs. At
the South American operation, operating costs including gold-in-
process movements at Cerro Corona increased from US$31
million in the March 2009 quarter to US$34 million in the March
2010 quarter in line with the increase in production. At the
Australian operations, operating costs including gold-in-process
movements was similar at A$109 million.
Operating profit decreased from R3,986 million (US$416 million)
to R2,570 million (US$344 million).
After accounting for the above items, amoritsation, sundry costs
and taxation, net earnings amounted to R316 million (US$44
million), compared with R1,307 million (US$140 million) for the
quarter ended March 2009.
Earnings excluding exceptional items, gains and losses on foreign
exchange, financial instruments and gains or losses of associates
after taxation, amounted to R320 million (US$44 million) for the
quarter ended March 2010, compared with R1,369 million
(US$146 million) for the quarter ended March 2009.
Exploration and corporate development
Exploration activity continued during the March quarter with 27
drill rigs operating on nine greenfields projects in Australia, Peru,
Mali, Canada, the Philippines and Chile, as well as near mine
exploration at St Ives, Agnew and Damang.
In addition to the ongoing exploration projects, the group
maintains an aggressive business development function to seek
out and evaluate the most attractive exploration opportunities
available for joint venture or acquisition, largely within the
countries and belts where we are currently active.
Advanced drilling projects
At the Chucapaca project in southern Peru, Gold Fields completed
its earn-in for a 51 per cent interest in a joint venture with
Buenaventura (NYSE “BVN”). The first phase of resource
delineation drilling on the Canahuire target was concluded.
Results continue to be positive and an interim scoping study and
delivery of an initial resource is on track for completion in the June
2010 quarter. Planning, permitting and community agreements
are in progress to allow the next phase of resource delineation
and step-out drilling to resume at Canahuire early in financial
2011. Initial drilling resumed on the Katrina satellite targets and
will continue through the June quarter and into next financial year.
This project is progressing well and is on track to be Gold Fields’
next mine in the South American region.
At the Talas project in northern Kyrgyzstan, Gold Fields completed
its earn-in for a 60 per cent interest in a joint venture with Orsu
Metals Corporation (TSX: “OSU” and AIM: “OSU”). An internal
scoping study was completed during the quarter which highlighted
an opportunity for further optimisation of the project. Recent
violent demonstrations in Kyrgyzstan have resulted in the
resignation of the President and the instalment of an interim
government until an election which is expected within the next six
months. Gold Fields is monitoring developments closely and
actively engaging both local and state authorities. Community
development programmes are ongoing. It is expected that
optimisation studies will commence in the September 2011
quarter, if the situation continues to stabilise, and will include infill
drilling, further metallurgical test work and trade-off studies.