Osisko Development Corp. (TSXV: ODV) has obtained robust results from an independent Feasibility Study (FS) for the company’s 100%-owned Cariboo Gold Project in central British Columbia.
The FS outlines a robust and scalable phased development base case with low initial capital intensity of $137.3 million and attractive operating costs for the underground development of the Cariboo Gold Project, producing approximately 1.87 million ounces (Moz) of gold (Au) over a 12-year mine life.
Initial production (Phase 1) in the first three years contemplates a 1,500 tonne per day (tpd) operation from the Lowhee, Shaft and Mosquito deposits, yielding average annual production of 72,501 ounces.
Concurrently, underground development will advance to ramp up operations to 4,900 tpd in year four, increasing average annual production to 193,798 ounces in Phase 2, with potential to scale production further in the future.
Underground mining will be conducted using highly-mechanised, low-cost bulk tonnage methods designed to target the extraction of ore contained in gold vein corridors: a high-density network of mineralized quartz veins hosted mainly within unmineralized sandstone.
A pre-concentration ore sorting facility is expected to significantly improve processed grades by separating non-mineralized material from ore, while substantially reducing processing volumes, energy costs, and the overall environmental impact footprint of the operation with fewer tailings, reduced water usage and ability to use waste as backfill.
The company remains on track for completing the Environmental Assessment (EA) process early in the second quarter of 2023 and anticipates receiving final permits by the end of 2023.
FS Highlights
- $502 million after-tax net present value at a 5% discount rate (NPV5%) (pre-tax $691 million) at a base case gold price of US$1,700 per ounce (/oz) and CAD:USD exchange rate of 0.77;
- 20.7% after-tax internal rate or return (“IRR”) (pre-tax 24.4%);
- $79 million average annual after-tax free cash flow (“FCF”);
- $901 million cumulative after-tax life-of-mine (“LOM”) FCF;
- 163,695 ounces (“oz”) of Au LOM average annual production;
- 72,501 oz Au Phase 1 (years 1 to 3) average annual production;
- 193,798 oz Au Phase 2 (years 4 to 12) average annual production;
- 1.87 Moz LOM total cumulative gold production;
- 3.78 grams per tonne (“g/t”) Au average LOM diluted head grade:
- 4.43 g/t Au in Phase I (post-ore sorting 8.20 g/t Au);
- 3.72 g/t Au in Phase II (post-ore sorting 6.39 g/t Au);
- 92.0% average LOM recovery rate (93.6% in Phase I, 91.8% in Phase II);
- $102.6 per tonne (“$/t”) mined LOM total unit operating costs;
- Probable Mineral Reserves containing 16.7 million tonnes (“Mt”) at an average grade of 3.78 g/t Au for a total of 2.03 Moz of gold;
- US$792/oz Au LOM average cash costs;
- US$968/oz LOM average all-in sustaining costs (“AISC”);
- $137.3 million Phase 1 initial capital expenditures (including $10.3 million in contingency costs);
- $451.1 million Phase 2 expansion capital expenditures (including $36.7 million in contingency costs);
- Peak full labour force (Phase 2) of 550 persons during operations and 635 during expansion construction.
“This feasibility study demonstrates that the Cariboo Gold Project will be a large-scale, long-life and profitable gold mine,” Chair of the Board and CEO, Sean Roosen, said.
“It will also produce significant quantities of gold in its initial years at a capital cost below $140 million.
“By phasing construction, we have minimized our exposure to development risk at Cariboo, optimised the sequencing of the assets in our portfolio and maximised our ability to scale Cariboo to reach its full potential in the future. We envision Cariboo as a project that will be a cash flow engine for the company for decades into the future.
“Historic mining in the district was focused on individual veins and replacement bodies with grades in excess of 12 g/t Au, which is consistent with our work completed to date. Once underground, we are excited to apply our strong understanding of the controls on mineralization to unlock Cariboo’s vast exploration potential at depth within the current mining zones, which we believe have strong potential to continue across Cariboo’s 83-kilometre mineralized trends.”
For further information please visit: https://osiskodev.com/
