Taseko Mines Reports Second Quarter Copper Production and Operational Update
for Gibraltar Mine
VANCOUVER, BC, July 15, 2024 - Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO) (NYSE MKT:
TGB) (LSE: TKO) ("Taseko" or the "Company") announces second quarter
production results of 20 million pounds of copper and 185,000 pounds of
molybdenum.
Metal production in the second quarter was impacted by mill downtime for the
relocation of the in-pit crusher and concurrent maintenance activities in
concentrator #1, as well as a strike by the mine's unionized workforce in
June. The in-pit crusher move was completed in late May but the final
installation work and the other mill maintenance was interrupted by the 18-day
strike in June. This work resumed following the strike, when contractors were
able to return to site, and is now completed. Concentrator #1 has restarted
and is in the process of ramping up to full capacity.
Concentrator #2 has been running consistently and at improved throughput rates
since the repair work in January. An insurance claim has now been finalized
for this previous issue, and insurance proceeds of US$22 million are expected
to be received in the third quarter.
Stuart McDonald, President & CEO of Taseko, commented, "Production in the
second half of 2024 is expected to be stronger with the major project and
maintenance work in both concentrators completed. An updated mine plan and
mill throughput opportunities are being evaluated to recover some of the
production that was lost during the strike. Copper production for the year
is expected to be in the range of 110 to 115 million pounds, compared to
original guidance of 115 million pounds."
Stuart McDonald
President and CEO
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the information
contained in this news release.
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This document contains "forward-looking statements" that were based on
Taseko's expectations, estimates and projections as of the dates as of which
those statements were made. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "outlook",
"anticipate", "project", "target", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend",
"should" and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results,
level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These included
but are not limited to:
* uncertainties about the future market price of copper and the other metals
that we produce or may seek to produce;
* changes in general economic conditions, the financial markets, inflation and
interest rates and in the demand and market price for our input costs, such as
diesel fuel, reagents, steel, concrete, electricity and other forms of energy,
mining equipment, and fluctuations in exchange rates, particularly with
respect to the value of the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar, and the continued
availability of capital and financing;
* uncertainties resulting from the war in Ukraine, and the accompanying
international response including economic sanctions levied against Russia,
which has disrupted the global economy, created increased volatility in
commodity markets (including oil and gas prices), and disrupted international
trade and financial markets, all of which have an ongoing and uncertain effect
on global economics, supply chains, availability of materials and equipment
and execution timelines for project development;
* uncertainties about the continuing impact of the novel coronavirus
("COVID-19") and the response of local, provincial, state, federal and
international governments to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, on our operations
(including our suppliers, customers, supply chains, employees and contractors)
and economic conditions generally including rising inflation levels and in
particular with respect to the demand for copper and other metals we produce;
* inherent risks associated with mining operations, including our current
mining operations at Gibraltar, and their potential impact on our ability to
achieve our production estimates;
* uncertainties as to our ability to control our operating costs, including
inflationary cost pressures at Gibraltar without impacting our planned copper
production;
* the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover
material mining or operational risks;
* uncertainties related to the feasibility study for Florence copper project
(the "Florence Copper Project" or "Florence Copper") that provides estimates
of expected or anticipated capital and operating costs, expenditures and
economic returns from this mining project, including the impact of inflation
on the estimated costs related to the construction of the Florence Copper
Project and our other development projects;
* the risk that the results from our operations of the Florence Copper
production test facility ("PTF") and ongoing engineering work including
updated capital and operating costs will negatively impact our estimates for
current projected economics for commercial operations at Florence Copper;
* uncertainties related to the accuracy of our estimates of Mineral Reserves
(as defined below), Mineral Resources (as defined below), production rates and
timing of production, future production and future cash and total costs of
production and milling;
* the risk that we may not be able to expand or replace reserves as our
existing mineral reserves are mined;
* the availability of, and uncertainties relating to the development of,
additional financing and infrastructure necessary for the advancement of our
development projects, including with respect to our ability to obtain any
remaining construction financing potentially needed to move forward with
commercial operations at Florence Copper;
* our ability to comply with the extensive governmental regulation to which
our business is subject;
* uncertainties related to our ability to obtain necessary title, licenses and
permits for our development projects and project delays due to third party
opposition;
* our ability to deploy strategic capital and award key contracts to assist
with protecting the Florence Copper project execution plan, mitigating
inflation risk and the potential impact of supply chain disruptions on our
construction schedule and ensuring a smooth transition into construction;
* uncertainties related to First Nations claims and consultation issues;
* our reliance on rail transportation and port terminals for shipping our
copper concentrate production from Gibraltar;
* uncertainties related to unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings;
* changes in, and the effects of, the laws, regulations and government
policies affecting our exploration and development activities and mining
operations and mine closure and bonding requirements;
* our dependence solely on our 87.5% interest in Gibraltar (as defined below)
for revenues and operating cashflows;
* our ability to collect payments from customers, extend existing concentrate
off-take agreements or enter into new agreements;
* environmental issues and liabilities associated with mining including
processing and stock piling ore;
* labour strikes, work stoppages, or other interruptions to, or difficulties
in, the employment of labour in markets in which we operate our mine,
industrial accidents, equipment failure or other events or occurrences,
including third party interference that interrupt the production of minerals
in our mine;
* environmental hazards and risks associated with climate change, including
the potential for damage to infrastructure and stoppages of operations due to
forest fires, flooding, drought, or other natural events in the vicinity of
our operations;
* litigation risks and the inherent uncertainty of litigation, including
litigation to which Florence Copper could be subject to;
* our actual costs of reclamation and mine closure may exceed our current
estimates of these liabilities;
* our ability to meet the financial reclamation security requirements for the
Gibraltar mine and Florence Project;
* the capital intensive nature of our business both to sustain current mining
operations and to develop any new projects, including Florence Copper;
* our reliance upon key management and operating personnel;
* the competitive environment in which we operate;
* the effects of forward selling instruments to protect against fluctuations
in copper prices, foreign exchange, interest rates or input costs such as
fuel;
* the risk of changes in accounting policies and methods we use to report our
financial condition, including uncertainties associated with critical
accounting assumptions and estimates; and Management Discussion and Analysis
("MD&A"), quarterly reports and material change reports filed with and
furnished to securities regulators, and those risks which are discussed under
the heading "Risk Factors".
For further information on Taseko, investors should review the Company's
annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission www.sec.gov and home jurisdiction filings that are available at
www.sedarplus.ca, including the "Risk Factors" included in our Annual
Information Form.
For further information on Taseko, see the Company's website at
www.tasekomines.com or contact: Investor enquiries Brian Bergot, Vice
President, Investor Relations – 778-373-4554
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