Sherritt Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results; Strong Operational Performance at Metals with Significant Improvements to Net Direct Cash Costs; Increased Available Liquidity in Canada

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TORONTO, October 30, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sherritt International Corporation ("Sherritt", the "Corporation") (TSX: S), a world leader in using hydrometallurgical processes to mine and refine nickel and cobalt – metals deemed critical for the energy transition – today reported its financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Leon Binedell, President and CEO of Sherritt commented, "Our Metals division has achieved remarkable progress, with finished nickel production reaching its highest quarterly level in two years. We have successfully reduced our net direct cash costs to US$5.16 per pound, demonstrating a significant year-over-year improvement even with materially lower cobalt by-product prices. Our Power division has also excelled, recording the highest quarterly electricity production in nine years. Additionally, we completed work to bring another gas turbine online, enabling us to generate electricity from new gas wells, including a new well that began production in October. This will further increase production and allow us to realize higher distributions of dividends in Canada going forward."

Mr. Binedell continued, "Despite this quarter’s lower nickel and cobalt prices, our available liquidity in Canada increased 27% to $71 million. We are beginning to realize savings from the cost reduction initiatives announced in the first half of the year and we made additional workforce reductions in the third quarter to lower our costs further. During the fourth quarter, we expect to receive another significant distribution from Power and the recommencement of dividends from the Cobalt Swap agreement. Looking ahead, phase two of our expansion at the Moa JV is advancing as planned, with commissioning and ramp-up scheduled for the first half of next year which will increase our mixed sulphide production to our refinery, displacing lower-margin third-party feed and maximizing our profitability."

THIRD QUARTER 2024 SELECTED DEVELOPMENTS

  • Sherritt’s share(1) of finished nickel and cobalt production at the Moa Joint Venture ("Moa JV") was 4,333 tonnes and 454 tonnes, respectively.

  • Sherritt’s share of finished nickel and cobalt sales was 3,538 tonnes and 421 tonnes, respectively. Sales volumes were below production, consistent with Q3 2023, primarily due to the third quarter typically being a seasonally softer quarter for sales due to summer shutdowns of steel mills and some customers deferring sales to the fourth quarter. In addition, the Canadian rail lock-out, which although resolved quickly, temporarily disrupted logistics deferring some sales which otherwise would have occurred during the quarter. Sherritt expects stronger demand from customers in the fourth quarter.

  • Net direct cash cost ("NDCC")(2) was US$5.16/lb benefiting from a 19% year-over-year improvement in mining, processing and refining costs per pound of nickel sold ("MPR/lb"), the largest component of NDCC(2).

  • Electricity production was 230 GWh which was the highest quarterly electricity production in nine years and reflects Sherritt’s multiyear efforts to maximize value and increase dividends in Canada from its Power division by bringing new gas wells into production, improving equipment availability and increasing utilization rates.

  • Electricity unit operating cost(2) was $44.95/MWh reflecting timing of planned maintenance which was completed during the quarter, partly offset by higher sales volume.

  • 2024 guidance for Metals and Power production volumes, NDCC(1), electricity unit operating costs(1) and spending on capital(1) remain unchanged.

  • Sherritt continues to realize savings in line with its estimated $15.0 million in annual savings from the workforce reductions announced in the first half of 2024. During the quarter, Sherritt made further reductions to streamline its organizational structure which are expected to result in approximately $2.2 million of additional annualized savings.

  • Net earnings from continuing operations were $1.8 million, or nil per share.

  • Adjusted net loss from continuing operations(2) was $11.5 million or $(0.03) per share, which primarily excludes a non-cash $11.5 million revaluation gain on the net receivable pursuant to the Cobalt Swap(3) on updates to valuation assumptions.

  • Adjusted EBITDA(2) was $10.5 million.

  • Available liquidity in Canada as at September 30, 2024 was $71.4 million supported by $35.9 million of proceeds from operating activities for Fort Site which included strong receipts on fertilizer sales and presales, $3.4 million on settlement of in-the-money nickel put options and $0.9 million of dividends from Energas. These receipts were partly offset primarily by $10.8 million used in Power to support planned maintenance activities and $5.4 million in payments on contractually obligated rehabilitation and closure costs related to legacy Oil and Gas assets in Spain.

  • Phase two of the Moa JV expansion is continuing to advance with commissioning and ramp up expected in the first half of 2025. The Moa JV finalized and began utilizing its US$12.0 million of foreign currency financing from a Cuban bank to support international payments related to construction of the Sixth Leach Train, the primary component of phase two of the expansion project.

  • Advanced engineering and process flowsheet development to enhance and derisk the flowsheet on the mixed hydroxide precipitate ("MHP") processing project ("MHP Project") which already yielded positive results for metal recoveries and impurity removals and continued external engagement with governments, potential customers and funding partners.