NORTHGATE REPORTS STRONG FOURTH QUARTER GOLD PRODUCTION OF 81,747
OUNCES AT A CASH COST OF NEGATIVE $90 PER OUNCE -
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Fourth Quarter 2006 Production Highlights
- Quarterly gold production of 81,747 ounces bringing total 2006
production to an annual record of 310,296 ounces;
- Quarterly copper production of 21.3 million pounds bringing
total 2006 production to an annual record of 81.2 million
pounds; and,
- Quarterly gold net cash cost of negative $90 per ounce and a
record low annual net cash cost of negative $56 per ounce of
gold for all of 2006.
2007 Production Forecast Highlights
- The Kemess mine is forecast to produce 285,000 ounces of gold
and 74.5 million pounds of copper during 2007.
- The cash cost of production, net of by-product credits, is
forecast to be negative $10 per ounce assuming a copper price
of $2.50 per pound and an exchange rate of Cdn$/US$1.18.
- Exploration spending will increase to a total of $28 million,
most of which will be devoted to the Young-Davidson property
near Matachewan, Ontario.
- Approximately half of Northgate's 2007 copper production has
been hedged at $3.15 per pound.
Ken Stowe, President and CEO, remarked, "Strong fourth quarter
production at a net cash cost of negative $90 per ounce capped
off a record metal production year at Kemess South during which
we produced 310,296 ounces of gold and over 81 million pounds of
copper.
In 2007, we look forward to another solid year of production
from the Kemess mine in a robust copper price environment, which
should allow us to produce 285,000 ounces of gold at a net cash
cost of less than zero.
Our exploration spending this year will increase dramatically as
we move underground at Young-Davidson to begin definition
drilling on the upper part of the 2.1 million resource ounces on
the property while continuing to expand the total resource with
50,000 metres of surface diamond drilling.
Equipped with an exceptional balance sheet and the prospect of
continuing strong free cash flow in the coming year, we find
ourselves in an excellent position to pursue our internal
development projects and to take advantage of various growth
opportunities that we are actively evaluating."
OVERVIEW OF OPERATIONS FOR Q4 - 2006
The Kemess mine produced 81,747 ounces of gold and 21.3 million
pounds of copper during the fourth quarter of 2006.
Mill throughput during the quarter averaged 49,645 metric tonnes
(mt) per day and consisted exclusively of hypogene ore with an
average grade of 0.772 gr/mt gold and 0.243% copper.
Over the course of 2006, quarterly metal production was
relatively steady as mining was concentrated in the heart of
the Kemess ore body in the western end of the open pit.
For the full year, Kemess posted record gold and copper
production of 310,296 ounces and 81.2 million pounds,
respectively.
The cash cost of production at Kemess in the fourth quarter was
negative $90 per ounce bringing the average 2006 cash cost to
negative $56 per ounce.
The record low cash cost set during the fourth quarter stemmed
from strong copper production and robust copper prices, which
averaged $3.21 per pound on the London Metal Exchange ("LME")
during the quarter.
In order to fix the price for a portion of the copper already
produced, Northgate entered into forward sales contracts during
the fourth quarter, which locked in a price of $3.17 per pound
for approximately 8.27 million pounds of the Corporation's
fourth quarter copper sales.
For the first time ever, Northgate entered into copper forward
sales contracts to fix the price for a portion of its future
copper production during the fourth quarter of 2006.
A total of approximately 33 million pounds of the Corporation's
2007 copper production was hedged at $3.15 per pound using
LME contracts.
Northgate's audited financial results for the year ended
December 31, 2006 are scheduled for release on March 1, 2007
and the Corporation's year-end conference call and webcast
for investors and analysts will be held at 10:00 am
(Eastern Standard Time) on the following day.
2006 Kemess Mine Production
4Q 06 4Q 05 2006 2005
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Ore plus waste mined
(tonnes) 11,018,461 12,907,609 43,045,348 51,233,842
Ore mined (tonnes) 4,746,251 6,663,925 17,219,143 19,523,319
Stripping ratio (waste/ore) 1.32 0.94 1.50 1.62
Tonnes milled (ore) 4,567,332 4,667,874 18,233,978 17,995,159
Average mill operating
rate (tpd) 49,645 50,738 49,956 49,302
Gold grade (gr/mt) 0.772 0.875 0.763 0.723
Copper grade (%) 0.243 0.283 0.244 0.229
Gold recovery (%) 72 72 69 67
Copper recovery (%) 87 85 83 81
Gold production (ounces) 81,747 94,405 310,296 279,962
Copper production
(000's pounds) 21,255 24,700 81,209 73,722
Productivity measures:
Tonnes mined per shift worked 645 788 693 785
Tonnes milled per shift worked 267 285 277 276
Cash Cost of Production
($/ounce) (1) (90) 59 (56) 205
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Note: (1) 2006 cash cost figures are unaudited estimates and are subject
to revision.
2007 KEMESS MINE PRODUCTION FORECAST
Mine production for 2007 is forecast to total 45 million tonnes of ore and waste with ore being mined primarily from the western region of the Kemess South pit.
Mill throughput is forecast to average approximately 51,000 tonnes per day with the mill operating at 92% availability. Approximately 1.5 million tonnes of supergene and leach cap ore are scheduled for processing in the second quarter of 2007. Total metal production of 285,000 ounces of gold and 74.5 million pounds of copper is anticipated for 2007.
Gold Cash Cost
Assuming by-product copper and silver prices of $2.50 per pound and $12 per ounce, respectively, and an exchange rate of Cdn$/US$1.18, the Kemess mine's 2007 cash cost is projected to be negative $10 per ounce of gold produced. In 2007, each $0.08 per pound change in the copper price and each $0.02 change in the Cdn$/US$ exchange rate will affect the net cash cost of production by approximately $10 per ounce.
Projected 2007 Kemess Mine Production
(100% of production basis) 2007
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Ore plus waste mined (tonnes) 45,000,000
Ore mined (tonnes) 19,494,000
Stripping ratio (waste/ore) 1.31
Ore milled (tonnes) 18,650,000
Average mill operating rate (tpd) 51,100
Gold grade (gr/mt) 0.686
Copper grade (%) 0.219
Gold recovery (%) 69
Copper recovery (%) 83
Gold production (ounces) 285,000
Copper production (000s pounds) 74,500
Productivity measures:
Tonnes mined per man-shift 578
Tonnes milled per man-shift 239
Cash cost of production ($/ounce) (10)
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Quarterly Metal Production
Quarterly gold output in 2007 is expected to average approximately 71,000 ounces while quarterly copper output is expected to average slightly over 18.6 million pounds. Gold and copper output will vary slightly from quarter to quarter due to normal variations in ore grades, ore types and metallurgical recoveries.
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Total
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 2007
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Gold (ounces) 68,000 65,000 77,000 75,000 285,000
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Copper (millions lbs) 19.4 17.3 19.6 18.2 74.5
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2007 EXPLORATION PLAN
Young-Davidson Property
Exploration spending in 2007 is forecast to increase dramatically to approximately $28 million, most of which will be dedicated to the Young-Davidson property near Matachewan, Ontario.
The surfaced-based diamond drilling program that began in 2006 will continue with a target of 50,000 metres of drilling in 2007 at a cost of $5 million. The primary goal of the surface-based drilling program is to increase the Syenite hosted mineral resources in the Lower YD Zone and the Lower Boundary Zone. In addition, the Young-Davidson exploration team will be following up on the higher-grade sedimentary gold mineralization that was discovered in 2006 adjacent to the Lower YD Zone, as well as exploring other areas of the 15,200-acre Young-Davidson property (see Figure 1).
To view Figure 1, please click on the following link: ccnmatthews.com
In addition to the surface-based drilling program, a total of $22 million will be invested during 2007 in an underground exploration program at the Young-Davidson property. This program will involve driving a ramp down 450 metres and dewatering the existing No. 3 shaft in order to gain access to the deposit from underground where the closer-spaced diamond drilling can be conducted in order to convert mineral resources to reserves (see Figure 2). All of the necessary permits for the underground program have been received and work on the infrastructure and the ramp are proceeding on schedule.
To view Figure 2, please click on the following link: ccnmatthews.com
Kemess North Off-Set
During the summer of 2006, Northgate conducted a deep penetrating IP survey in the area surrounding the Kemess North deposit that outlined several previously unknown exploration targets, which are shown in pink in Figure 3 below. Geologists at Kemess had planned to drill test the largest of these targets in November 2006, but the early onset of severe winter weather in British Columbia interrupted these plans part way through the first hole. In the summer of 2007, Northgate will invest $1 million in diamond drilling to test this very attractive target.
To view Figure 3, please click on the following link: ccnmatthews.com
Northgate Minerals Corporation is a gold and copper mining company focused on operations and opportunities in the Americas. The Corporation's principal assets are the Kemess South mine in north-central British Columbia, the adjacent Kemess North deposit, which contains a proven and probable reserve of 4.1 million ounces of gold and the Young-Davidson property in northern Ontario with a total resource base of 2.1 million ounces of gold. Northgate is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NGX and on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol NXG.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements include estimates, forecasts, and statements as to management's expectations with respect to, among other things, future metal production and production costs, potential mineralization and reserves, exploration results, progress in the development of mineral properties, demand and market outlook for commodities and future plans and objectives of Northgate Minerals Corporation (Northgate). Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Northgate's expectations are disclosed under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties" in Northgate's 2005 Annual Report and under the heading "Risk Factors" in Northgate's 2005 Annual Information Form (AIF) both of which are filed with Canadian regulators on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (www.sec.gov). Northgate expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts:
Northgate Minerals Corporation
Ms. Keren R. Yun
Manager, Investor Relations
(416) 216-2781
Email: kyun@northgateminerals.com
Website: www.northgateminerals.com
SOURCE: Northgate Minerals Corporation
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