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Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM)

Q1 2017 Earnings Call· Sun, Apr 30, 2017

$189.23

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good morning. My name is Sharon and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Agnico Eagle First Quarter Results 2017 Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Thank you. Mr. Sean Boyd, you may begin your conference.

Sean Boyd

Analyst

Thank you, operator, and good morning, everyone. And thank you for joining our first quarter 2017 conference call. Before we get into the details of the presentation, just want to point to a couple of forward-looking statements in our slide deck because there will be some projections and forecast in here and please read the detailed language. Just touching on some of the highlights, clearly it was a great start to 2017. Not that surprising to us, given that we actually had a really strong close to 2016, producing about 420,000 ounces or so in the fourth quarter. So the mines continue to perform very well across the board. As we said, production almost 420,000 ounces in the first quarter of 2017, very good total cash cost at $539, all-in sustaining cost at $741. Now part of that all-in sustaining cost number was due to just spending patterns in the year, so we do still expect to spend the entire capital forecast including all of the sustaining, which would see sustaining number move up over the balance of this year. As a result of the strong start from a production standpoint, we have now bumped our guidance to 1.57 million ounces. We expect to exceed that number, it was previously at 1.55 million ounces. We simply just added the additional quarter that we've seen coming out of Lapa. They've been able to extend the life of the mine. It was originally slated to close in October of last year. So the team there continues to do a good job generating additional cash flow. That job is made easier because the Canadian dollar gold price continues to be over $1,700. So they continue to look at ways where they can maximize the asset sort of in closing days and they've done…

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Your first question comes from David Haughton from CIBC. Your line is open.

David Haughton

Analyst

Just got a few questions. Looking at Amaruq, you've given a little bit more detail about the timing of the various pits, Whale Tail and into the V Zone. Is that it kind of a slight revision to your thinking about the sequencing of the mining there?

Sean Boyd

Analyst

Yvon, will take that.

Yvon Sylvestre

Analyst

Hi, David. No the sequences are basically dictated by the permitting and the EIA process and the schedule has yet to change. As we advance the exploration program in the E Zone, we'll - we are also in parallel doing the first EIA on Whale Tail putting in the Phase II of Whale Tail pit and then the V Zone EIA. So it's just a sequencing issue, but no change in schedule at this stage.

David Haughton

Analyst

Okay. And the permit to do the exploration ramp, I take it that's going to be of a production quality, so it gives you flexibility to move to underground mining scenario. We've currently been assuming potential for underground mining in 2021, is there potential for that timing just sort of change?

Yvon Sylvestre

Analyst

I wouldn't say that at this stage. And it's - you're correct on the ramping not just an exploration, but with the mining of production going forward. But at this stage, as we get underground and we start drilling, we will better define the exact timing of the underground opportunity. But the rough timing is probably plus or minus, plus a year from maybe what you're saying at this stage.

David Haughton

Analyst

Okay. Over to Malartic, it's good that you've got the permit now for the highway diversion, is that going to be a spend in 2017 or is it more 2018? And if it is '17, is that captured in your guidance for CapEx?

Yvon Sylvestre

Analyst

Yes, we have several actually. From Malartic, for sure there's a part of it that is included in our current forecast. But as you know, we've got the decree, but trigger the authorization of CLA. So no construction should start before end of summer. So we will start with the deforestation so it's not a big spending. But the road construction is a two-year project. So it will be spread over the next two years.

David Haughton

Analyst

Okay. Are there any additional permits to access that Barnat ore body, once the diversion has taken place?

Yvon Sylvestre

Analyst

No. We have received a decree. So the first one was mainly to - for the road deviation. And the second one is modification of the operation decree that will include all of the expansion including those Barnat section. So then after, we have to go to CA, when we're going to have all the CA, so 23 of them, so we will have all of our permit in hand for the operation.

David Haughton

Analyst

Okay. And switching to another asset, to Kittila, the Sisar zone looks like it is shaping up rather nicely. Can you give us a bit of pictures to what it looks like. Is it similar kind of grade to the reserves that we see at Kittila, would we expect any additional enhancements to the mill to be able to handle 2 million tons per annum and what sort of timing might be in your mind here?

Alain Blackburn

Analyst

It's Alain. David, when looking Sisar Zone, Sisar has a [indiscernible] feature that the main feature is Suuri and what they did in the first quarter, the infill deposit and to be more confident about the quality of the resources. But when looking the grade, it is looking little bit higher that the guide mine right now.

David Haughton

Analyst

And the mill can handle that kind of throughput?

Sean Boyd

Analyst

No, at this stage, we'll have to do slight modifications to the plant, and we're in basic engineering at this stage. And I think on the concept around this 2 million tons per year concept. We'll be mining roughly 500,000 tons from the - or a little more from the Rimpi area, about 1 million tons from Suuri, Roura and roughly 500,000 tons from the Sisar area that come up with the 2 million tons per year.

David Haughton

Analyst

And if everything works for this concept study, what sort of timing could we be thinking about that?

Alain Blackburn

Analyst

Ramping up to 2 million tons past probably '19 to 2020.

David Haughton

Analyst

Okay, lots of things happening between now and 2020 for you guys.

Sean Boyd

Analyst

Right, yes.

David Haughton

Analyst

And last question, if you don't mind. Pinos Altos, looking at the silver float. What sort of cost is expected in that and what kind of recoveries would you expect from the better capture of the silver?

Sean Boyd

Analyst

David, I can't - I don't have that information on hand right now to be able to answer that.

David Haughton

Analyst

No problem.

Sean Boyd

Analyst

We can get it to you. But right now, we just see that it will be enhanced, we'll see how it goes.

David Smith

Analyst

I think the expectations is about 0.5 a million ounces more of silver a year, and it's not a lot of capital.

David Haughton

Analyst

It's not really a big project, I appreciate that. It's at the margin.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from Steven Butler from GMP Securities.

Steven Butler

Analyst

Sean, Amaruq was an indicated resource into open pit and underground at around 3.3 million ounces. Do you guys plan to initially declare a reserve at the end of this year, or you're going to wait to 2018 to declare a reserve - initial reserve?

Alain Blackburn

Analyst

Yes, we're planning to declare reserve at the end of this year. As you can see in the first quarter, we infilled the V Zone to bring in to indicate that the program is completed now. And we did the same thing for Whale Tail, we infill to infer resource. And we will extend a little bit the deposit to the west of Whale Tail, but the plan is to bring to the reserve at the end of this year.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes from Mike Parkin from Desjardins.

Mike Parkin

Analyst

On Meadowbank, can you just give a bit of a color on grade being higher, was that expected? What was the planned grade and positive grade reconciliation?

Sean Boyd

Analyst

Well, I think, there is a combination of factors. We did some mining back into the Portage E pit, which has generally been known for higher grades, little more tonnage or high grade from the - from the pit A in Portage as well. We've had positive grade reconciliation in some of these 2 pits. And we've also been mining higher grade than reserve grade at Vault in the quarter. So it's just a basically a mining sequence for the quarter.

Mike Parkin

Analyst

And is that - for the remaining reserves, are you going to be in the zones where you could have that potentials still going forward?

Sean Boyd

Analyst

Well, we will be - we're expecting to make guidance at Meadowbank for the rest of the year. So we're not, whatever we put out there and then we've got on paper for now we've got 6 months of production - 9 months production next year for depletion of the pit. So we're just going to be essentially mining published reserve grade at this stage going forward.

Mike Parkin

Analyst

Okay. On Canadian Malartic on the Barnat Zone what's your thoughts towards how you approach that - would you be looking to blend it, and if a recall correctly, it's got slightly better grade than the pit you're in right now and the ore is softer. Do you feel there's potential that you could push the mill above 55,000 tons per day once you access that zone?

Sean Boyd

Analyst

At this stage, we don't feel that there's going to be very big difference in hardness profile with 2 zones. We will be progressively be blending Barnet with the added depletion at Canadian Malartic. But at this stage, we're not expecting to surpass the targets.

Mike Parkin

Analyst

Okay. And then with Lapa, Sean mentioned that it's somewhat Canadian gold price dependent how long it goes. Do you see the potential that if the Canadian gold price remained high, you could push it further? And would it justify putting a hedge on to insure that, or is it marginal kind of ounces and you're not interested in doing that?

Sean Boyd

Analyst

That at this stage, we're mining all in at $850. So it is pretty good number. We're seeing a potentially production into Q3, but after that, we're not expecting any production out of Lapa officially for this year. We may be - as we continue to complete the closure of the underground operation, we may be stockpiling in parallel some ore for next year but that will be probably be the end of Lapa production, potentially at the end of Q2, or maybe sometimes into Q3.

Operator

Operator

Your next question comes Anita Soni from Crédit Suisse.

Anita Soni

Analyst

Just a couple of quick questions on depreciation and capital. So depreciation, it seems like you guys were running a little bit below the quarterly average run rate, I guess, at $580 to $610 for the entire year, right? And I think you did $130, will that pick up over the course of the year?

Sean Boyd

Analyst

Hi Anita, it is likely that we're going to look at that rate as we go through the rest of the year, it's definitely well below the run rate. We're just not comfortable as of this moment changing this guidance. But we have more tons at La India and Pinos Altos and as we refine those mining plans over the next couple of quarters, we will come back to you on that. But I agree, so far, it looks like we've been a little conservative on that guidance.

Anita Soni

Analyst

Okay. And then capital, as we think about capital, everyone, sort of understands that Q1 is a low run rate for everyone. For you guys, is it more bulked up towards Q2 and Q3 with the shipping seasons it - up into Nunavut?

Sean Boyd

Analyst

You are correct. I think historically, both on the sustaining and growth side. We tend to be lower in Q1 and as the bulk of the growth spending this year will be towards Meliadine, so a lot of - the increase will occur in Q2, Q3.

Anita Soni

Analyst

And probably more related towards Q3, when does it thaw out there? Like when can you start shipping?

Sean Boyd

Analyst

Well, the first boats are scheduled in July at this stage.

Anita Soni

Analyst

Okay. And then last question, with regards to Kittila. From the tour I recall there is a shutdown this year, it's in Q2, and what's the duration of that?

Sean Boyd

Analyst

We had a shutdown that was on the border of Q1 and Q2, which impacted some production on the quarter because we advanced it 1 week. And there's a second shutdown scheduled for October and it's going to be a 10 day planned shutdown at this stage. This is basically the schedule going forward 2 10-day shutdowns in spring and fall.

Anita Soni

Analyst

Okay. So 2 10-day shutdowns, part of that was already in Q1 and some impact into Q2 and then a 10-day shutdown in Q3. Okay.

Operator

Operator

At this time, I will turn the call back over to Sean Boyd.

Sean Boyd

Analyst

Thank you, Operator, and thank you everyone. And you're all welcome to join us this morning at 11 o'clock for Annual General Meeting at the Sheraton Center in Toronto. Thanks again for participating and look forward to seeing you soon. Bye now.