Casa Berardi Transitioning To Surface Only Operation
COEUR D'ALENE, ID - Rob Krcmarov, President and CEO of Hecla Mining Company, said, "In balancing our proud heritage with our refocused forward-looking vision, we are implementing a strategic shift that emphasizes sustainable profitable growth and operational excellence while continuing to focus on industry leading safety standards. Our renewed focus on optimizing cash flow generation and return on capital investment will drive shareholder value, supported by four key pillars: stakeholder relationship management, capital discipline, technical innovation, and environmental stewardship. As part of this commitment to disciplined capital allocation, we have streamlined our dividend policy to eliminate the silver-linked component, enabling us to pursue significant growth opportunities, particularly at Keno Hill."
As we advance into 2025, our key priorities include driving operational excellence through standardized systems and processes, improving our safety performance, evaluating strategic alternatives for Casa Berardi, and advancing Keno Hill's permitting and infrastructure to achieve sustained profitability. We are optimizing our exploration portfolio to maximize returns, focusing on projects that offer the highest risk-adjusted returns and potential for strong free cash flow generation while upholding our commitment to responsible mining practices. With silver markets facing their fifth consecutive deficit year, driven by record industrial demand and growing safe-haven investment, Hecla's position as the largest silver producer in the U.S. and Canada positions us well to capitalize on these favorable fundamentals."
Greens Creek produced 8.5 million ounces of silver and 55,275 ounces of gold in 2024. Zinc production was consistent with the prior year while lead production declined 6% due to lower grades. Silver and gold production in the fourth quarter increased by 2% and 26% respectively, over the prior quarter, delivering 1.9 million ounces of silver and 14,804 ounces of gold. Fourth quarter silver production was lower than planned as equipment availability affected backfill cycles, resulting in a delay in the mining sequence of higher-grade stopes. Silver grades are expected to increase through the first quarter of 2025 as backfill cycles improve.
In 2024, Lucky Friday delivered solid operational performance, producing 4.9 million ounces of silver, an increase of 58% over the prior year (2023 production was negatively impacted by the suspension of operations for five months due to the fire). In 2024, the mine set multiple production records, including record tons mined (ore and waste), record throughput, record zinc production and the highest silver and lead production since 2000.
Fourth quarter silver production was 1.3 million ounces, an increase of 13% over the prior quarter due to higher silver grades and mill throughput.
Keno Hill produced 2.8 million ounces of silver, an increase of 85% over prior year and within guidance of 2.7-3.0 million ounces. Mill throughput for the year averaged 299 tons per day ("tpd"), below the permitted capacity of 440 tpd.
Fourth quarter silver production was nearly 630,000 ounces, an increase of 5% over the prior quarter, attributable to higher silver grades. Mill throughput averaged 251 tpd in the fourth quarter and was impacted by the suspension of milling operations for 25 days due to delays relating to the DSTF (including permitting), and an additional 10 days due to the power curtailments by Yukon Energy Corporation ("YEC"), the utility that supplies power to the mine. The Company estimates the power curtailments lowered production by approximately 130,000 ounces in the fourth quarter.
Victoria Gold's Eagle Mine heap leach pad incident in June 2024, although unrelated to Hecla and Keno Hill, caused the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun (FNNND) to express strong positions on mining activities within their Traditional Territory, where Keno Hill is located, including a call to halt all mining. This has slowed the Company’s permitting efforts as the Yukon Government is required to consult with the FNNND on permitting matters. Progress continues to be made on permitting, but significant challenges remain. Further, power curtailment by YEC at Keno Hill has continued into 2025, resulting in 8 days of operational stoppage as of this release. Disruptions are expected to continue through the first half of 2025, due to cold temperatures and YEC’s insufficient generating capacity relating to an out-of-service hydro-electric turbine that is not expected to be repaired until summer 2025. However, the Yukon Premier has committed resources to review and resolve the power deficit at Keno Hill in the coming months. Considering electrical reliability challenges, along with ongoing discussions with the Yukon Government and the FNNND regarding the Eagle Mine incident, we project 2025 silver production to remain comparable to 2024 levels, with growth expected to resume in 2026.
Despite these issues at Keno Hill, the Company has charted a path to achieve sustainable profitable production through a phased approach to throughput optimization. The immediate focus is on achieving consistent performance at the current permitted capacity of 440 tpd while investing in infrastructure and advancing critical permitting for future expansion to approximately 600 tpd. Increased throughput is critical for generating returns at this remote operation due to its high fixed costs. The expansion pathway, supported by the mine's robust resource base and recent increase in silver reserves to over 64 million ounces, is expected to meet the Company’s investment threshold criteria at current silver prices. While permitting timelines in Yukon have been impacted by broader regional developments, the Company is engaged with stakeholders and regulatory authorities to advance permits. The goal of a disciplined approach that focuses on operational and environmental excellence is to unlock Keno Hill's significant value potential.
Casa Berardi produced 86,648 ounces of gold in 2024, a decrease of 4% over the prior year, due to lower surface grades, which offset higher throughput from open pit operations. Mined tons (ore and waste) in the 160 open pit increased 56% over the prior year, while costs, both operating and capital were consistent with the prior year. The mine is expected to transition to a surface only operation by mid-2025, when the stripping ratio for the 160 pit is expected to decline, and mill throughput is expected to be sourced completely from the pit.
Fourth quarter production was 20,923 ounces of gold, an increase of 2% over the prior quarter, due to higher throughput.
Casa Berardi is transitioning from a combined underground and surface operation to a surface only operation. By mid-2025, the Company expects to be mining only the 160 open pit, as the higher margin stopes of the west underground mine should be exhausted. With the expected decline in 160 pit's strip ratio, the mine's economics are expected to improve with free cash flow generation commencing in the second half of 2025.
Casa Berardi is expected to produce gold from the 160 pit until 2027. At current gold prices, the 160 pit is expected to generate strong free cash flow from the second half of 2025 (when the pit's strip ratio is expected to decline) until 2027. Upon completion of mining at the 160 pit, and milling the remaining stockpiles, Casa Berardi is expected to have a production gap commencing in 2027 and continuing until 2032 or later. During this time, the focus is expected to be on investing in permitting, infrastructure and equipment, as well as de-watering and stripping two expected new open pits, the Principal and West Mine Crown Pillar pits. Upon conclusion of the hiatus and related permitting and construction, the Company expects the mine to generate significant free cash flow at current gold prices. Given the expected hiatus in future production and the uncertainty surrounding permitting and timing of construction of the new open pits, the Company continues to consider strategic alternatives for Casa Berardi.