NEWS RELEASE
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TSX: CLG; AMEX: CLG
Suite 950 – 505 Burrard Street, Box 72, One Bentall Centre, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V7X 1M4
Tel: 604.608.2557 Fax: 604.608.2559 www.cumberlandresources.com
News Release 06-09
April 25, 2006
Meadowbank Gold Project Permitting Update: Request from NIRB for Further Information
CUMBERLAND RESOURCES LTD. (TSX: CLG; AMEX: CLG) reports that the Nunavut Impact Review Board (“NIRB”) has requested further information from the Company before it makes its recommendation to the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada regarding development of the Meadowbank gold project located 70 kilometres north of the Hamlet of Baker Lake, Nunavut.
NIRB has requested further information with respect to three aspects of the project. The three areas include; certain aspects of the proposed conventional road access, certain socio-economic impacts and questions resulting from consultations with Chesterfield Inlet residents. Based on the details provided by the NIRB, the Company will respond in the next four to six weeks.
In its request to the Company, NIRB specifically stated, “On timing, the [NIRB] Board doesnot want to see a long delay.” NIRB also commented, “at this point NIRB believes [its request] can be cured by collection and presentation of more information and data.” NIRB also emphasized that its request for additional information was by no means a decision that the project should not proceed.
“While we will respond to the NIRB’s request as soon as possible, the constraints of seasonal shipping could hinder this year’s proposed construction activities and potentially delay the development of the project by 6 to 12 months,” stated Kerry Curtis, President and CEO of Cumberland. “As the Meadowbank project is important to the Company, Baker Lake and the territory of Nunavut, we will do everything we can to satisfy NIRB, reschedule proposed activities and continue to advance the project.”
Meadowbank Project Advancing Towards Mid-Tier Gold Production
The Meadowbank project is host to Canada’s largest pure gold open pit reserves with gold reserves estimated at 2.9 million ounces1and the 2006 exploration program is focused on increasing gold resources and reserves. Cumberland is advancing the Meadowbank project towards open pit production of 330,000 ounces of gold per year over an 8.1 year mine life with an estimated total cash cost of US$201 per ounce based on a bankable feasibility study2 completed in December 2005.
Meadowbank Gold Project Production Profile2 (Dec. 2005)
Open Pit Mineral Reserve (Proven & Probable) | 2,890,000 ounces1 |
Metallurgical Recovery | 93.2% |
Mine Throughput | 2.73 Mtpa |
Mine Life | 8.1 years |
Average Annual Production Rate Years 1 to 4 Life of Mine | 400,000 ounces 330,000 ounces |
Total Cash Cost per Oz. Years 1 to 4 Life of Mine | US$175 US$201 |
Pre-production Capital Costs | US$235 million Cdn$313 million |
Assumptions include a long term gold price of US$400/oz. and an exchange rate of US$0.75 per Cdn$1.00.
In March 2006, the Company arranged a gold loan facility for up to 420,000 ounces of gold from Barclays Capital, Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank and Société Générale. Such facility is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions including, among other things, Cumberland securing all requisite regulatory permits and licences and completion of final loan documentation. At a Cdn$600 per ounce spot gold price, the monetized value of the gold loan would be approximately Cdn$250 million.
Meadowbank Gold Project
Open Pit Mineral Reserve (Proven & Probable) (Fourth Quarter 2005)1
Open Pit | Category | Ore (t) | Grade (g/t) | Ounces |
Portage | Proven | 3,020,000 | 4.8 | 470,000 |
Probable | 7,990,000 | 4.4 | 1,120,000 | |
Proven & Probable | 11,010,000 | 4.5 | 1,590,000 | |
Vault | Proven | - | - | - |
Probable | 8,010,000 | 3.4 | 870,000 | |
Proven & Probable | 8,010,000 | 3.4 | 870,000 | |
Goose | Proven | - | - | - |
Probable | 2,310,000 | 5.7 | 420,000 | |
Proven & Probable | 2,310,000 | 5.7 | 420,000 | |
Total | Proven | 3,020,000 | 4.8 | 470,000 |
Probable | 18,300,000 | 4.1 | 2,420,000 | |
Proven & Probable | 21,320,000 | 4.2 | 2,890,000 |
Note: 95% mining recovery and contact dilution applied.
Cumberland is a well financed mineral development and exploration company. The Company has completed a bankable feasibility study on the Meadowbank gold project (100% interest) in Nunavut and is advancing the project towards production. The Company also holds a 22% carried to production interest in the Meliadine West gold project and a 50% interest in the Meliadine East gold project, both located in Nunavut. The shares of Cumberland are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the American Stock Exchange under the symbol CLG.
CUMBERLAND RESOURCES LTD.
”Kerry M. Curtis, B.Sc., P.Geo.”
President and CEO
For further information contact: Kerry Curtis, President and CEO or Joyce Musial, Manager, Investor Relations
1Meadowbank Gold Reserves (Fourth Quarter 2005) - The open pit mineral reserves have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101. Dr. Mike Armitage, Managing Director of SRK Consulting (UK) Limited is the independent Qualified Person responsible for preparation of stated reserves.
2Meadowbank Feasibility Study Due Diligence (December 2005) – As a requirement of bank financing, bank-appointed independent engineers SRK Consulting (UK) (“SRK”) completed a due diligence audit of the Meadowbank feasibility study completed in early 2005 by AMEC Americas Ltd. (“AMEC”). The results from the feasibility study by AMEC are summarized in a Technical Report, dated March 31, 2005, prepared by AMEC in accordance with the Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Construction scheduling and capital cost estimation has been prepared by Merit International Consultants Inc. (“Merit”). Metallurgical and process test work was completed by SGS Lakefield Research Ltd. Process design was completed by International Metallurgical and Environmental Inc. and AMEC. Supporting geotechnical engineering, hydrogeologica l and geochemical studies were completed by Golder Associates Ltd. (“Golder”). Both the SRK and AMEC assumptions include a long term gold price of US$400/oz. and an exchange rate of US$0.75 per Cdn$1.00.
Forward Looking Statements and Risks -This News Release contains “forward-looking statements”, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our expectations as to the market price of gold, strategic plans, future commercial production, production targets and timetables, mine operating costs, capital expenditures, work programs, exploration budgets and mineral reserve and resource estimates. Forward-looking statements express, as at the date of this report, our plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs as to future events or results. We caution that forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from current expecta tions expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, factors associated with fluctuations in the market price of precious metals, mining industry risks and hazards, environmental risks and hazards, uncertainty as to calculation of mineral reserves and resources, requirement of additional financing, risks of delays in construction and other risks more fully described in our AIF filed with the Securities Commissions of the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia and the Toronto Stock Exchange and in our 20F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors -The SEC permits U.S. mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can economically and legally extract or produce. We use certain terms in this news release such as “measured”, “indicated” and “inferred” “resources” that the SEC guidelines strictly prohibit U.S. registered companies from including in their filings with the SEC. U.S. investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, which is available from us at Suite 950 – 505 Burrard Street, Vancouver, B.C. V7X 1M4. You can also obtain this form from the SEC’s website at: http://sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
Cautionary Note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Proven and Probable Reserves - The estimates of mineral reserves described in this News Release have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101. The definitions of proven and probable reserves used in NI 43-101 differ from the definitions in SEC Guide 7. Accordingly, the Company’s disclosure of mineral reserves in this News Release may not be comparable to information from U.S. companies subject to the SEC’s reporting and disclosure requirements.