Work On Crusher Corridor At Rochester Continue To Advance

CHICAGO, IL - Mitchell J. Krebs, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coeur Mining, Inc., said “Coeur experienced another steady operational quarter, and we are on-track to deliver a strong fourth quarter from each of our four operations. While financial results were negatively impacted by lower average realized prices, lower grades at Palmarejo, and ongoing inflationary pressures, we are well-positioned to achieve our full-year 2022 production and cost guidance thanks to a tremendous effort and effective cost management by our site operating teams.

The third quarter also saw continued progress toward the mid-2023 completion of the expansion project taking place at our Rochester silver and gold mine in Nevada. The installation of pre-screens on Rochester’s existing crushing circuit early in the quarter is generating the intended benefits and providing essential operating data and experience that we will leverage to further enhance this emerging world-class silver and gold mine. Although the estimated capital cost of this expansion has increased, we have taken steps to bolster our liquidity and we remain confident in our ability to successfully deliver this transformational source of growth next year.

During a period of underinvestment within our industry, we have remained steadfast in our strategy of investing in expansions and near-mine exploration to position the Company to deliver high-return, sector-leading growth in production and free cash flow from operations containing expanded reserve and resource bases and located in mining-friendly jurisdictions.”

Solid production results and stronger fourth quarter expected to result in full-year production levels within 2022 guidance ranges – Third quarter gold and silver production totaled 83,438 and 2.4 million ounces, respectively. Quarter-over-quarter production growth at Rochester, Wharf and Kensington was offset by lower production at Palmarejo. Production levels are expected to increase at all four operating locations during the fourth quarter and finish the year within Coeur’s full-year guidance range of 315,000 - 353,000 ounces of gold and 9.0 - 11.0 million ounces of silver.

Recently installed pre-screens at Rochester providing intended benefit – Pre-screens were successfully installed between the secondary and tertiary crushers at the existing Rochester operation during the third quarter, which is driving enhanced operational flexibility and helping to generate a lower average size of crushed material and improved pad permeability. These learnings and results will be incorporated into the operating plan for the Rochester expansion and used to optimize Rochester’s life of mine plan.

The Rochester expansion is on track; capital estimate updated to incorporate pre-screens – Construction of the Rochester expansion remains on track to be completed mid-2023 with pre-commissioning, commissioning and ramp-up taking place in the second half of next year. At quarter-end, the project was 61% complete, $575 million of the estimated capital had been committed, and $443 million of the estimated capital cost had been incurred. The Company has increased the total capital by 9 - 12% to $650 - $670 million to reflect recently completed final estimates for the addition of pre-screens into the crusher circuit, higher prices and quantities of steel and concrete, and additional contingency.

The Strategic sale of southern Nevada holdings to AngloGold now complete and the Company entered into a definitive agreement with a subsidiary of AngloGold Ashanti Limited during the third quarter to sell its Crown and Sterling holdings (“Crown Sterling”) for closing cash consideration of $150 million and deferred cash consideration of $50 million to be paid upon Crown Sterling attaining a total resource of at least 3.5 million gold ounces.

The Company achieved several key milestones at the Rochester expansion during the quarter. Notably, it achieved (i) completion of major concrete work in all areas except the primary crusher pocket and the pre-screens, both of which are in progress, (ii) continuation of structural, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation construction work throughout the project, (iii) commencement of final major high-voltage electrical distribution and substation construction, and (iv) completion of the majority of commitments for the pre-screens.

Progress of the Merrill-Crowe plant continued on schedule during the third quarter, including (i) continuation of mechanical equipment setting, (ii) completion of building and process plant steel pipe rack erection, (iii) continuation of piping and cable tray installation, and (iv) rough setting of electrical switchgear.

Further work on the crusher corridor has also advanced, including (i) civil work on the primary crusher area with a focus on the primary crusher foundation and commencement of conveyor component installation, (ii) setting of the secondary cone crushers and commencement of piping, cable tray and lighting installation in the secondary crusher area, and (iii) setting of the tertiary HPGR crushers and cable tray and lighting installation in the tertiary crusher area.

During the quarter, Coeur successfully aligned the construction of the pre-screens with the completion of the new crusher to maintain a mid-2023 mechanical completion target. Ramp-up and commissioning is anticipated to take place during the second half of next year. It also completed a review of the total capital costs necessary to complete the expansion, resulting in a 9 - 12% increase in the capital estimate. The estimate reflects the finalization of cost estimates for pre-screens, higher prices and quantities of steel and concrete, and additional contingency

As of September 30, 2022, the Company had committed approximately $575 million of capital since the inception of the project and approximately $443 million of the estimated project cost had been incurred.

At the Silvertip Project, the Company continues to advance study work to assess the economics of a potential future expansion of its high-grade Silvertip silver-zinc-lead development project in British Columbia, Canada. The Company’s objective remains to complete an evaluation by year-end of higher throughput scenarios to enhance the project’s economics and to take advantage of Silvertip’s expanding, high-grade resource base. Subject to continued positive results, the Company anticipates advancing Silvertip once the Rochester expansion and ramp-up is complete and Coeur generates sustained, positive free cash flow that can be used to reduce leverage back to targeted levels. Exploration investment in the third quarter totaled approximately $3 million ($2 million expensed and $1 million capitalized) compared to roughly $2 million (substantially all capitalized) in the prior period.

Up to four core drill rigs were active with two underground rigs focused on infill and expansion holes at the Southern Silver and Discovery zones. All five exploration holes drilled from underground during the quarter successfully intersected chimney/feeder structures beneath the Discovery zone manto, providing further exploration targets for 2023 and beyond. Two surface rigs were also active during the quarter, one focused on expansion drilling at the Saddle zone located south of the Southern Silver zone where significant mineralized intervals were intersected. The other surface rig carried out scout drilling on three regional targets — Tour Ridge, Trident Creek and Tiger Terrace — located 1 kilometer, 2.5 kilometers and 5 kilometers to the south of known mineralization, respectively. Results are pending, but multiple geological indicators of proximity to mineralization were intersected.

Ongoing carrying costs, which includes de-watering, power, camp and travel costs to support continued underground development and exploration activities, totaled $5 million in the third quarter, compared to $5 million in the prior period. Capital expenditures related to infill drilling and underground development during the third quarter totaled $4 million compared to $6 million in the prior period. Full-year 2022 capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $28 - $36 million.