Ero Copper's Tucumã Project Reaches Over 85% Physical Completion - On Track for First Copper Production in H2 2024
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Insights
Ero Copper Corp's update on the Tucumã Project's construction progress and commissioning plan bears significant implications for the company's operational efficiency and financial performance. The successful completion of key infrastructure such as the main substation and the e-houses, coupled with the pre-stripping activities outpacing the schedule, suggests that the project is managing risks effectively and may lead to cost savings due to the early completion of certain stages. Furthermore, the company's ability to capitalize on an expanded workforce following the demobilization of a Brazilian mining project could enhance productivity and potentially shorten the time to market for the produced copper concentrate.
The hedging strategy employed to mitigate foreign exchange risk reflects prudent financial management, especially in light of the volatile nature of currency markets. By locking in a range of exchange rates for the remaining construction expenditures, Ero Copper is attempting to stabilize its capital outlay, which is critical for maintaining budgetary controls and investor confidence. Investors and analysts would be keen to monitor the actual expenditure against this hedged range to assess the effectiveness of this strategy.
The updated capital expenditure of $310 million, a slight increase from the previous $305 million estimate, is a reflection of the dynamic economic conditions affecting the project, notably the currency fluctuations. While the increase is marginal, it is essential to consider the broader financial context where even small changes in capital expenditure can have a significant impact on the project's overall return on investment. The Project's anticipated contribution to consolidated copper production reaching over 100,000 tonnes in 2025 could be a substantial growth driver for Ero Copper, considering the projected supply deficits in the copper market for 2024 and 2025. This growth trajectory could enhance the company's market position and attractiveness to investors seeking exposure to copper as a commodity.
It's also noteworthy that the company has not reported any lost-time injuries, which not only reflects positively on its commitment to safety but also reduces the risk of delays due to workplace accidents. This is an important factor for investors who are increasingly considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria when evaluating investment opportunities.
The transition from construction to commissioning is a critical phase for any mining project, as it involves intricate coordination between various components of the operation. Ero Copper's detailed commissioning plan, which includes milestones such as the mechanical completion and sub-component commissioning, the first ore through the crushing circuit and the integrated commissioning with the flotation circuit, demonstrates a well-structured approach to ramping up operations. The early mechanical completion testing and commissioning for key processing equipment could potentially reduce the risk of operational bottlenecks once production commences.
The operational readiness of the Tucumã Project could be further reinforced by the Company's proactive approach to workforce mobilization and safety. The absence of lost-time injuries is a testament to the company's safety culture and operational discipline, which is essential for maintaining the project timeline and budget. The emphasis on safety can also contribute to the long-term sustainability of operations, as it fosters a stable and motivated workforce.
(all amounts in US dollars, unless otherwise noted)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ero Copper Corp. (TSX: ERO, NYSE: ERO) (the “Company”) is pleased to provide a construction update for the Tucumã Project (the "Project"), highlighting significant progress since October 2023. With physical completion now at over
HIGHLIGHTS
- Construction: Physical construction of the Project is now over
85% complete- Main substation and e-houses installed and commissioned with 16-kilometer power line tie-in to the national grid completed ahead of schedule; line expected to be fully energized by the 20th of January
- Pre-stripping activities are tracking approximately
10% ahead of schedule with completion now expected at the end of Q1 2024. To date, approximately 3,200 tonnes of sulphide ore have been placed on the run-of-mine stockpile for process plant commissioning - Mechanical completion testing and sub-component commissioning have commenced for key pieces of processing equipment including the primary crusher, ball mill, secondary and tertiary crushers, vibrating screen decks and flotation cells
- Remaining steel structures, plate work and mechanical equipment installations are tracking on or ahead of schedule. Construction activities through the remainder of Q1 2024 will focus on completing piping, electric cabling, automation and instrumentation system installations
- 2024 Commissioning Plan: Expected commissioning milestones in advance of first concentrate production in H2 2024, include:
- End of Q1 2024: mechanical completion and sub-component commissioning (lubrication, hydraulic, electrical, instrumentation and automation systems)
- March 2024: First ore through the crushing circuit comprised of primary and secondary crushers as well as screening and conveyance systems
- April 2024: First ore through the milling circuit
- May 2024: First ore through regrind mill circuit, concentrate and tailings filtering systems
- June 2024: Integrated commissioning with flotation circuit and Project ramp-up
- People & Safety: Opportunistic increase in construction workforce mobilization
- Recent demobilization of a Brazilian mining project has allowed the Company to add approximately 500 trained contractors on site, increasing the total workforce of employees and contractors to approximately 2,220 people
- To date, there have been no lost-time injuries on the Project, with over three million hours of work completed since 2022
- Project Capital Estimate: Remaining construction expenditures hedged through expanded foreign exchange hedge program
- Direct Project capital expenditures have been updated to approximately
$310 million (compared to the previous estimate of$305 million ) to reflect the impact of a stronger Brazilian Real ("BRL") against the U.S. dollar ("USD") in Q4 2023, which was partially offset by reduced stripping costs - Following the opportunistic expansion of the Company's foreign exchange hedge program in late 2023, the Project's remaining construction expenditures are hedged at a weighted average floor and ceiling of 5.10 and 5.23 BRL per USD, respectively
- Direct Project capital expenditures have been updated to approximately
"As we transition from construction to commissioning, the paramount achievement at Tucumã is the outstanding safety performance of our construction team. Marking a significant milestone, we have surpassed three million hours of work without a lost time incident. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our Project leadership team, as well as the 2,200 employees and contractors on site, for their continued diligence and thoughtful execution in advancing Tucumã towards production," said David Strang, Chief Executive Officer.
"This is an exciting phase for Ero Copper as we prepare to bring Tucumã into operation later this year and anticipate consolidated copper production reaching over 100,000 tonnes in 2025. With the recent shift in copper supply-demand fundamentals signaling supply deficits in 2024 and 2025, the timing of our growth trajectory couldn't be better."
Figure 1: January 2024 aerial view of advanced pre-stripping activities, which are
Figure 2: Ball mill and hydrocyclone battery as of January 2024.
Figure 3: Flotation cells and tailings thickener as of January 2024.
Figure 4: Primary and secondary crushing, screening and conveyance systems.
Figure 5: Completed primary sub-station and power line with tie-in to the national grid as of January 2024.
ABOUT ERO COPPER CORP
Ero is a high-margin, high-growth, low carbon-intensity copper producer with operations in Brazil and corporate headquarters in Vancouver, B.C. The Company's primary asset is a
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Courtney Lynn, SVP, Corporate Development, Investor Relations & Sustainability
(604) 335-7504
info@erocopper.com
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION AND STATEMENTS
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements include statements that use forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “could”, “would”, “will”, “should”, “intend”, “target”, “plan”, “expect”, “budget”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “schedule”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “potential”, “view” or the negative or grammatical variation thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing of energizing the power line at the Project, the expected timing of completion of pre-stripping activities, the expected completion of construction activities and transition to commissioning as detailed in the 2024 Commissioning Plan, the timing of initial copper concentrate production, estimated Project capital to be spent, the projected copper supply deficit in 2024, and any other statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future plans, intentions, levels of activity, results, performance or achievements.
Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements involve statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and the Company’s actual results, achievements or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to herein and in the AIF under the heading “Risk Factors”.
The Company’s forward-looking statements are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, many of which may be difficult to predict and beyond the Company’s control. In connection with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release and in the AIF, the Company has made certain assumptions about, among other things: continued effectiveness of the measures taken by the Company to mitigate the possible impact of COVID-19 on its workforce and operations; favourable equity and debt capital markets; the ability to raise any necessary additional capital on reasonable terms to advance the production, development and exploration of the Company’s properties and assets; future prices of copper, gold and other metal prices; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of any mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; the geology of the Caraíba Operations, the Xavantina Operations and the Tucumã Project being as described in the respective technical report for each property; production costs; the accuracy of budgeted exploration, development and construction costs and expenditures; the price of other commodities such as fuel; future currency exchange rates and interest rates; operating conditions being favourable such that the Company is able to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner; work force continuing to remain healthy in the face of prevailing epidemics, pandemics or other health risks (including COVID-19), political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental, regulatory and third party approvals, licenses and permits on favourable terms; obtaining required renewals for existing approvals, licenses and permits on favourable terms; requirements under applicable laws; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital goods markets; availability of equipment; positive relations with local groups and the Company’s ability to meet its obligations under its agreements with such groups; and satisfying the terms and conditions of the Company’s current loan arrangements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date of this press release, these assumptions are subject to significant business, social, economic, political, regulatory, competitive and other risks and uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that could cause actual actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Other events or circumstances could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated or projected and expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as and to the extent required by applicable securities laws.
CAUTIONARY NOTES REGARDING MINERAL RESOURCE AND MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATES
Unless otherwise indicated, all reserve and resource estimates included in this presentation and the documents incorporated by reference herein have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the “CIM”) — CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended (the “CIM Standards”). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and reserve and resource information included herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this presentation and the documents incorporated by reference herein use the terms “measured resources,” “indicated resources” and “inferred resources” as defined in accordance with NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards.
Further to recent amendments, mineral property disclosure requirements in the United States (the “U.S. Rules”) are governed by subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “U.S. Securities Act”) which differ from the CIM Standards. As a foreign private issuer that is eligible to file reports with the SEC pursuant to the multi-jurisdictional disclosure system (the “MJDS”), Ero is not required to provide disclosure on its mineral properties under the U.S. Rules and will continue to provide disclosure under NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards. If Ero ceases to be a foreign private issuer or loses its eligibility to file its annual report on Form 40-F pursuant to the MJDS, then Ero will be subject to the U.S. Rules, which differ from the requirements of NI 43-101 and the CIM Standards.
Pursuant to the new U.S. Rules, the SEC recognizes estimates of “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and “inferred mineral resources.” In addition, the definitions of “proven mineral reserves” and “probable mineral reserves” under the U.S. Rules are now “substantially similar” to the corresponding standards under NI 43-101. Mineralization described using these terms has a greater amount of uncertainty as to its existence and feasibility than mineralization that has been characterized as reserves. Accordingly, U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that any measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources, or inferred mineral resources that Ero reports are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, “inferred mineral resources” have a greater amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. Under Canadian securities laws, estimates of “inferred mineral resources” may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. While the above terms under the U.S. Rules are “substantially similar” to the standards under NI 43-101 and CIM Standards, there are differences in the definitions under the U.S. Rules and CIM Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral reserves or mineral resources that Ero may report as “proven mineral reserves”, “probable mineral reserves”, “measured mineral resources”, “indicated mineral resources” and “inferred mineral resources” under NI 43-101 would be the same had Ero prepared the reserve or resource estimates under the standards adopted under the U.S. Rules.
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FAQ
What is the progress of the Tucumã Project construction?
When is the production of copper concentrate scheduled to commence?
What is the updated direct project capital expenditure for Ero Copper Corp?
What is the projected consolidated copper production for Ero Copper Corp in 2025?
What are the safety achievements of the construction team at Tucumã Project?
