RIO ALTO MINING LIMITED VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jan 12, 2015) - Rio Alto Mining Limited ("Rio Alto") (TSX:RIO)(LMA:RIO)(NYSE:RIOM) is pleased to announce that its La Arena Gold Mine produced and sold 57,908 ounces of gold during the three months ended December 31, 2014. 222,255 ounces of gold were poured for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 compared to guidance of 200,000 to 220,000 ounces for the year.
Ore and waste production from the La Arena Gold Mine for the fourth quarter of 2014 was:
| Actual | Planned | Difference | ||||
| Tonnes | Au gpt | Tonnes | Au gpt | Tonnes/Ozs | Au gpt | |
| Ore mined | 3,389,691 | 0.60 | 2,399,539 | 0.60 | 990,152 | 0.01 |
| Waste mined | 3,656,417 | 3,831,410 | (205,993) | |||
| Actual | Planned | Difference | ||||
| Strip ratio | 1.08 | 1.60 | (0.52) | |||
| Ounces poured | 57,908 | 49,628 | 8,280 | |||
Ore and waste production from the La Arena Gold Mine for 2014 was:
| Actual | Planned | Difference | ||||
| Tonnes | Au gpt | Tonnes | Au gpt | Tonnes/Ozs | Au gpt | |
| Ore mined | 15,274,666 | 0.52 | 11,576,660 | 0.62 | 3,698,006 | (0.10) |
| Waste mined | 17,332,139 | 18,885,439 | (1,553,300) | |||
| Actual | Planned | Difference | ||||
| Strip ratio | 1.13 | 1.63 | (0.50) | |||
| Ounces poured | 222,255 | 208,022 | 14,233 | |||
2015 Production and Cost Guidance
The Company forecasts its La Arena Gold Mine will produce between 210,000 and 220,000 ounces of gold in 2015 at adjusted operating costs as defined by the World Gold Council ("WGC") to be in the range of $570 to $600 per ounce of gold sold. WGC All-in sustaining costs - including selling, general and administrative costs, exploration, and sustaining capital - are forecast to fall within a range of $730 to $765 per ounce and WGC all-in costs within a range of $740 to $775 per ounce for the year.
The 2015 production forecast and operating cost estimates are based on the following assumptions:
- Combined gold recovery of 83.4 per cent from the run of mine, dump leach operation;
- Average grade: 0.59 gpt Au;
- Waste-to-ore ratio of 1.37:1;
- Diesel of $3.90 per gallon; and
- Peruvian Sol: United States dollar foreign exchange rate of 2.9:1.
Rio Alto's 2015 cost per ounce projection is based on sales of between 210,000 and 220,000 ounces of gold and the following cost estimates:
| $(000's) | Per Ounce | |
| Mining | 62,592 | |
| Processing & power | 14,954 | |
| Worker profit participation | 8,040 | |
| Mine & Lima administration | 39,756 | |
| Refining costs net of silver revenue | 881 | |
| Adjusted operating costs | 126,223 | $570 to $600 |
| Corporate administration | 3,549 | |
| Reclamation | 1,500 | |
| Sustaining capital | 29,146 | |
| All-in sustaining costs | 160,418 | $730 to $765 |
| Phase II capital | 926 | |
| Exploration | 1,200 | |
| Other | 500 | |
| Total All-in Costs | 163,044 | $740 to $775 |
The Company expects these parameters to fluctuate during the year. The 2015 forecast should be treated as full-year average estimates. Quarterly results will vary from these estimates.
Looking beyond 2015 guidance, the Company will release an update of the gold oxide and copper/gold sulphide resources and reserves at La Arena in late January. In conjunction with this resource/reserve update, the Company will release results and details of the pre-feasibility study for its La Arena Phase II project.
2015 Sustaining Capital Budget
The 2015 La Arena sustaining capital budget is $29.1 million and includes the key items outlined below:
| Pad & Waste Dump Construction | $14.9 million |
| Processing Plant Modifications | $2.2 million |
| Community Relations | $2.6 million |
| Permits & Engineering | $1.4 million |
| Land Purchases | $6.0 million |
| Other | $2.0 million |
2015 Exploration strategy and budget
The Company has had a successful year in adding ounces through exploration. For 2015 the Company has decided to be prudent with its cash and reduce further oxide gold exploration until the current volatility of the gold price stabilizes. A total of $7.4 million was originally budgeted to further test extensions to gold oxide mineralization around the Calaorco open pit. The budget will be reduced to $1.2 million for 2015. The Company will advise the market if and when it feels market conditions have improved enough to re-initiate exploration at La Arena.
Shahuindo Development Plan
The Company reiterates its plans to commence construction at its Shahuindo Project during 2015 with the objective of producing first gold by January 2016. A financing package for the first stage of construction at Shahuindo is currently being finalized and will be announced shortly.
"Exceeding our 2014 gold production guidance has been a great achievement given the current low gold price environment. The hard work and focus of the Lima based management team and mine operations personnel to achieve this result allows Rio Alto to stand out from its peers as a solid, performance oriented, high margin mid-tier gold producer. The forecasted performance at La Arena and the development plans for Shahuindo during 2015 all bode well for the Company's future. The board of directors would like to express its appreciation for the commitment and effort of everyone involved in achieving the Company's solid performance during 2014 and looks forward to an exciting and productive 2015 at both La Arena and Shahuindo", commented Alex Black, President & CEO.
Rio Alto intends to release its Q4 and 2014 financial results on March 16, 2015.
The Company's exploration programs are designed and managed by Enrique Garay, M Sc. P. Geo. (AIG Member), Vice President Geology of Rio Alto who is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian securities regulators and who has reviewed the contents of this news release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking information including statements concerning expected timing for completion of a feasibility study, future production, capital spending plans, exploration programs and cost performance and the timing for the preparation of an updated oxide resource and reserve estimate. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Rio Alto's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Rio Alto does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable laws.
To learn more about Rio Alto Mining Limited, please visit: www.rioaltomining.com or Rio Alto's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF RIO ALTO MINING LIMITED
Alex Black, President & CEO
