Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc Results for the Quarter ended March 31, 2024; Notice of Management Conference Call

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Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc
Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc

ST HELIER, Jersey, May 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc ("Caledonia" or "the Company") (NYSE AMERICAN: CMCL; AIM: CMCL; VFEX: CMCL) announces its operating and financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 (the "Quarter"). Further information on the financial and operating results for the Quarter can be found in the Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") and the unaudited interim financial statements which are available on the Company's website and which are being filed on SEDAR today. 

Financial Highlights

  • Gross profit of $13.8 million (Q1 2023: $5.8 million). Gross profit for the Quarter increased from Q1 2023, due to higher gold revenue of $38.5 million and lower production costs.

  • EBITDA in the period of $9.9 million (Q1 2023: $2.3 million). Blanket Mine (“Blanket”) contributed EBITDA of $17.5 million (Q1 2023: $11.3 million).

  • On-mine cost1 per ounce of $993 at Blanket in the Quarter was virtually unchanged from Q1 2023’s amount of $991.

  • All-in sustaining cost (“AISC”) was $1,296 per ounce (Q1 2023: $1,412 per ounce). The AISC per ounce in the Quarter decreased by 8.2% predominantly due to the lower production costs incurred at Bilboes and the non-recurrence of advisory costs for the Bilboes acquisition in 2023. AISC includes the benefit of the solar plant electricity saving of $51 per ounce for the Quarter. Although lower than Q1 2023, AISC is expected to be higher for the full year than in previous years due to the classification of certain items of ongoing capital expenditure on projects that are now treated as “sustaining” investment rather than “expansion” investment.

  • The accelerated devaluation of the Zimbabwe currency, during the Quarter, resulted in a foreign exchange loss of $4.1 million (Q1 2023: $1.5 million gain).

  • Adjusted earnings per share (“EPS”) amounted to 26.9 cents (Q1 2023: loss of 29.1 cents).

  • Net cash from operating activities amounted to $4.9 million (Q1 2023: net cash outflow of $0.9 million). The higher operating profit increased the net cash from operating activities, partly offset by $4.1 million of short-term working capital movements at the end of the Quarter.

  • Net cash and cash equivalents of -$14.2 million (Dec 31, 2023: -$11 million). Net cash decreased by $2.3 million due to short-term working capital movements at the end of the Quarter and $3.6 million of foreign exchange losses.

  • Quarterly dividends of 14 cents per share were paid in January and April of 2024.

Operating Highlights

  • 17,476 ounces of gold produced in the Quarter (Q1 2023: 16,141 ounces) of which 17,050 ounces were produced at Blanket and 426 ounces were produced at the Bilboes oxide mine.

  • Gold produced at Blanket was a 6% increase from Q1 2023 due to higher tonnage and grade and improved gold recovery.

  • 7,956 ounces of gold were produced at Blanket in April 2024 (April 2023: 5,194).

  • Encouraging results from the deep-level drilling programme at Blanket, as announced in January 2024, which is currently evaluating the continuity of the mineralised zones on the Blanket and Eroica ore bodies. Total drilling for 2023 was 13,280 metres and the results will be reflected in a revised mineral resource statement and expected increase in life of mine to be announced shortly.