Production To Continue To Increase For Kinross Operations

TORONTO - J. Paul Rollinson, President and CEO of Kinross Gold Corporation , said, “Despite some challenges during 2021, we produced approximately 2.1 million ounces. We expect to increase our production in 2022 and 2023 to 2.65 million and 2.8 million ounces, respectively, to drive robust free cash flow. Our long-term production profile remains strong, with expected production of 2.6 million ounces in 2024 and an annual average production estimate of at least 2.5 million ounces over the remainder of the decade.

We are pleased to report that the Tasiast mill is now operating at sustained throughput levels comparable to the first half of 2021. Our development projects are also advancing well and we have started commissioning at La Coipa, where we have increased life of mine production estimates to approximately 1 million ounces and extended estimated mine life to early 2026. Kinross also successfully added to its mineral reserve estimates, which increased by 2.7 million ounces to 32.6 million gold equivalent ounces at year-end 2021.

“In addition, we enhanced our return of capital to shareholders by returning more than $250 million through our quarterly dividend and share buyback programs. We also finalized our agreement with the Government of Mauritania to underpin our strong partnership and announced an agreement to acquire Great Bear Resources to further strengthen our long-term growth pipeline. Safety and sustainability continue to be priorities, and we again ranked in the top quartile of our peer group as measured by a number of ESG ranking agencies in 2021. We also outlined a Climate Change Strategy, with the objective of a 30% reduction in intensity of scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 2030.”

Over the full year, Kinross produced 2,067,549 attributable Au eq. oz., in line with the Company’s revised production guidance, compared with full-year 2020 production of 2,366,648 attributable Au eq. oz. The decrease was mainly due to the temporary suspension of milling operations at Tasiast as a result of a mill fire in June 2021 and deferred mining activities at Round Mountain after wall instability was detected in Q1 2021. The decrease was slightly offset by increases in production at Fort Knox and at Bald Mountain.

The Paracatu, in Brazil, production for the full year increased compared with full-year 2020 largely due to higher throughput and the timing of ounces processed through the mill, which was largely offset by a decrease in grades. Full-year production cost of sales per ounce sold was higher year-over-year mainly due to increases in operating waste mined, contractor and energy costs, as well as inflationary pressures on consumables, partially offset by favorable foreign exchange movements. In Q4 2021, higher mill throughput contributed to the increase in production compared with the previous quarter, while higher operating waste mined and maintenance costs contributed to the increase in cost of sales per ounce sold.

In 2021, Fort Knox, in Alaska performed well as full-year production increased, and cost of sales per ounce sold decreased, compared with full-year 2020. Fort Knox’s positive results were largely as a result of lower-cost ounces recovered from the new Barnes Creek heap leach pad after construction was completed at the Gilmore project in early 2021. Production in Q4 2021 improved quarter-over-quarter, mainly due to timing of ounces processed at the mill, largely offset by fewer ounces recovered from the heap leach pads. Cost of sales per ounce sold was higher quarter-over-quarter primarily as a result of increases in operating waste mined and energy costs. Fort Knox also achieved first production at the Gil satellite deposits during Q4 2021.

At Round Mountain in Nevada, full-year production was lower year-over-year as a result of deferred mining activities in the north wall of the Phase W area after wall instability was detected in Q1 2021. Production decreased quarter-over-quarter primarily due to fewer ounces recovered from the heap leach pads. Full-year cost of sales per ounce sold increased year-over-year mainly due to lower production, higher operating waste mined, and higher taxes related to production. Cost of sales per ounce sold was largely in line quarter-over-quarter.

The Company implemented initiatives to stabilize the wall in 2021, including dewatering and moving waste material from the pit rim. As a result of the mine optimization program, which was initiated in Q1 2021, 938 Au koz. at Phase S were converted to proven and probable mineral reserves at December 31, 2021 and additional challenges were identified in the west wall of the Phase W area which may affect Round Mountain’s annual production plans post 2024. The program is evaluating further initiatives to enhance wall stability, including shallower pit wall slope angles over a more extensive area, and alternative mine plan opportunities, such as incorporating the Phase S pushback.

The alternative mine plan opportunities also include modified open pit sequencing for Phase W and Phase S and the potential for underground mining for portions of Phase W and Phase X. The Company is planning to construct a drift for underground exploration at Phase X in 2022 after positive exploration results in 2021. Given the mine optimization program’s expanded parameters, results of the analysis are now expected in the second half of 2022.

Also in Nevada, Bald Mountain’s full-year production increase compared with 2020 mainly due to timing of ounces recovered from the heap leach pads, but was less than expected due to the carbonaceous material encountered at the Vantage heap leach pad. Full-year cost of sales per ounce sold was higher year-over-year largely due to higher operating waste mined and taxes related to production. During Q4 2021, production and cost of sales per ounce sold increased versus the prior quarter mainly due to more ounces recovered from the pads in the North area and higher fuel costs, respectively.

At Kupol and Dvoinoye, in Russia, full-year production was lower than full-year 2020 mainly as a result of anticipated lower grades after mining activities were completed at Dvoinoye in November 2020 and the continued processing of related stockpiles. Quarter-over-quarter, lower grades resulted in lower production, as Kupol continued to transition to mining narrower veins. Full-year cost of sales per ounce sold increased compared with 2020 largely as a result of lower production, and decreased quarter-over-quarter mainly due to lower labour costs.

In West Africa, the Tasiast’s full-year and quarterly production was lower, and cost of sales per ounce sold higher, versus the comparable periods in 2020 primarily due to the mill fire in June 2021. Tasiast made excellent progress re-starting the mill in the second half of the year and completed a successful recommissioning with no material mechanical issues encountered. In Q4 2021, the site achieved its production target of 15,000 Au eq. oz. after re-starting the plant processing lower grade stockpile ore. Throughput gradually ramped up during the quarter, with the mill reaching throughput of 19,000-20,000 tonnes per day in January 2022 on a sustained basis.

In January 2022, the Company reached an agreement with the Government of Mauritania regarding two licenses located west, east and north of the main Tasiast operation. Kinross has agreed to renew exploration activities at these licenses and has committed to spend $10 million in exploration over the next three years. As part of its commitment, the Company is budgeting $5 million for exploration in 2022 at these licenses.

At Chirano, also in West Africa, full-year production decreased compared with 2020 mainly due to lower grades, partially offset by higher throughput. Full-year cost of sales per ounce sold was higher mainly due to lower production and higher contractor and energy costs. Production decreased quarter-over-quarter mainly due to lower grades, and cost of sales per ounce sold increased over Q3 2021 mainly as a result of the lower production. The mine site exploration program continued to yield excellent results in 2021 and added 400 Au koz. to Chirano’s mineral resource estimates, helping extend mine life by one year to 2026, with opportunities for further mine life extensions.