Capital costs estimated at $30million versus 22million in original feasibility study. In addition operating costs are going to be in the 1 to 1.30 range versus .92. If ZMR has to finance another 8 million at .25, they will be around 155 million fully diluted. It might go higher because typically they have to issue .5 share warrant for every new share issued. I assume they are waiting until they get a firmer handle on costs before raising the money. Bobwins
TORONTO, April 1 /CNW/ - Zaruma Resources Inc. (TSX-ZMR) today reported that it had filed its 2007 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements, Management's Discussion and Analysis, and the Annual Information Form on SEDAR. The reports will also be posted on the Company's website, www.zaruma.com.
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Activity in 2007 was concentrated on the Company's wholly owned Luz del Cobre copper project on the San Antonio property in Sonora, Mexico. The economic feasibility study of November, 2006 was for a projected average annual copper cathode production of 15 million pounds. At a selling price of $2.235 and an operating cost of $0.92 per pound, the pre-tax net operational cash flow was projected to be an average of $19.4 million per year. At that time, proven and probable reserves within the optimized open pit shell and adjusted to a base case recovery of 70% of the copper in the oxide zone and 80% in the mixed zone, were estimated to total 4.4 million tonnes at an average grade of 1% copper, after dilution.
Additional metallurgical recovery testing in 2007 reported 85% recovery of copper after 30 days of leaching compared to the 80% recovery in the 2006 tests. The 2008 closed circuit column tests are nearly complete, with controlled acid flow replicating as closely as possible actual leach pad operating conditions. These tests are confirming that material crushed to only 4 inches and with a lesser application of acid, leaches as well as the material crushed to less than one inch. The leaching time is longer, but the requirement for secondary crushing can be eliminated, and acid consumption can be reduced.
Work was also done in April, 2007 on refining the block model of the ore reserves. Based on all available data, the result was only a marginal change in the proven and probable reserves, from 4.4 million tonnes to 4.3 million tonnes, with no change in grade.
In October, 2007 the Company signed agreements with a subsidiary of Glencore International AG, ("Glencore"), whereby Glencore undertook to finance $22 million of the capital cost to put Luz del Cobre into production. Subsequently, the Company awarded M3 Engineering & Construction, Inc. of Tucson, Arizona, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management contract for the project. Field activity started in November with the improvement of access roads to the site and determination of plant site, leach pad location and waste dump site. The project is being fast-tracked in order to be in production by January, 2009. Progress to date indicates that this target is achievable.
Approximately 30% of the total capital cost has been incurred or contracted for the supply of equipment, construction materials and services. Capital costs are exceeding the amount included in the 2006 feasibility study, and are currently expected to approximate $30 million. The sensitivity studies on the project demonstrate that the economic viability of the project is not particularly sensitive to capital costs, as the projected cash flow is strong, with copper prices well above the price used in the study, with an expected increase in cash costs to between only $1.00 and $1.30 per pound copper, depending on the type of ore being processed. The increase in operating costs is quite small in relation to the increase in the copper price.
In the immediate vicinity of Luz del Cobre, drilling in late 2007 and up to February 28, 2008 identified an extension of the Luz del Cobre copper mineralization to the southwest of the ore body and also found extensive copper mineralization in a new discovery, "Calvario", located 150 to 200 metres to the west of the planned Luz del Cobre pit. Previously reported (news release March 25), ore grade intercepts of oxidized copper from both targets will result in an increase in resources which can be processed through the Luz del Cobre plant currently under construction. Final assays for the drill core are expected in April, after which the resource at Luz del Cobre will be recalculated, with the firm expectation that the result will be an extension of the previously projected mine life.
On the exploration side, in the "Sapo-Carrizo" region, trenching identified a new copper exploration target at Sapo. Roads were cut at two elevations into the flank of the Sapo North Hill, over historic mine workings, exposing oxidized copper mineralization. Channel samples from the road cuts, although not one continuous channel, are believed to accurately estimate the grade along the intervals. Previously reported better intervals on the upper road include: 50 metres with an average grade of 0.73% Cu (20 samples); and 15 metres at an average grade of 1.95% (5 samples). On the lower road, intervals include 90 metres at 0.56% Cu (24 samples); 10 metres at 0.31% (4 samples) and 16 metres at 1.12% (6 samples). Exploration on this 1000 hectare property is being financed by Glencore on an earn-in basis.
Costs written off on the San Antonio projects in 2007 totaled $710,122 compared to $899,100 in 2006. Costs in 2007 were largely on the Luz del Cobre Project, where after July 1, costs attributable to the ore reserve expansion, or directly attributable to the mine development or project construction are being capitalized.
Corporate expenses in 2007 were $659,000 compared with $601,000 in 2006. The net loss for 2007 was $1,280,000 compared to $1,699,000 in 2006. Funds received through private placements of common shares and the exercise of share purchase warrants were $924,000 in 2007, compared to $2,798,000 in 2006. In the first quarter of 2008 an additional $606,000 was received from the exercise of warrants and options. The initial draw down on the long-term financing in 2007 was $1,970,000.
Zaruma Resources Inc. is listed on The Toronto and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges, (symbol: ZMR). Common shares outstanding: 115,937,247.
This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including securing additional funding to continue its development programmes.
For further information
Zaruma Resources Inc., 20 Toronto Street, 12th Floor, Toronto ON, M5C 2B8, Canada, Fax: (416) 367-3638, service@zaruma.com, www.zaruma.com
Dr. Thomas Utter, President and CEO, Tel.: (521) 662-222-0063, 52-662-210-5650, thomas.utter@zaruma.com
Frank van de Water, CFO and Secretary, Tel.: (416) 869-0772, fvandewater@on.aibn.com
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