2022 Capital and Exploration Investment Summary
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| | | | For the nine months ended September 30, 2022 | | 2022 full year projection | |
|
| | | | (in thousands) | |
Sustaining Investments: | | | | | | | | | |
Underground Development | | Capital | | $ | 5,251 | | $ | 7.0 - 8.0 million | |
Infill Drilling and Exploration Development | | Capital | | | 5,056 | | | 7.0 - 7.5 million | |
Other Sustaining Capital | | Capital | | | 1,922 | | | 2.0 - 2.5 million | |
Subtotal of Sustaining Investments: | | | | | 12,229 | | | | |
Growth Investments: | | | | | | | | | |
DDGM growth: | | | | | | | | | |
Gold Regrind | | Capital | | | 745 | | | - | |
Dry Stack Completion | | Capital | | | 1,149 | | | - | |
Surface Exploration / Other | | Exploration | | | 1,641 | | | 2.0 - 2.5 million | |
Underground Exploration Drilling | | Exploration | | | 1,549 | | | 2.0 - 2.5 million | |
Back Forty growth: | | | | | | | | | |
Back Forty Feasibility Study & Permits | | Exploration | | | 6,925 | | | 9.0-9.5 million | |
Subtotal of Growth Investments: | | | | | 12,009 | | | | |
Total Capital and Exploration: | | | | $ | 24,238 | | $ | 29.0 - 32.5 million | |
The Company’s investment in Mexico continued in the third quarter of 2022 totaling $17.3 million year-to-date. Our investment in Mexico is focused on favorably impacting our environment, social and governance programs while creating operational efficiencies and longevity. At the Back Forty Project, $6.9 million has been invested in feasibility and permitting initiatives year-to-date.
Underground and Exploration Development:
Mine development during the quarter included ramps and access to different areas of the deposit, ventilation shafts, and exploration development drifts. A total of 3,210 meters of development, at a cost of $7.5 million (864 meters at a cost of $2.2 million in the third quarter), was completed during the year through September 30, 2022. Through September 30, 2022, underground mine development was $5.3 million and exploration development was $2.2 million (included in Infill Drilling and Exploration Development in the table above). As part of ongoing safety initiatives, the Company also invested in additional ground support and improved ventilation for the mine, which deliberately but temporarily slowed underground and exploration development. We plan to invest a total of $7.0 million to $8.0 million in underground development and an additional $3.5 million to $4.0 million in exploration development in 2022.
Back Forty Feasibility and Permitting:
Work on the optimized feasibility study progressed during the third quarter of 2022. Mine planning, process plant design and site layout and infrastructure were significantly completed during the quarter. Current initiatives are focused on finalizing the financial models with operating and capital costs, which may be subject to some volatility due to the inflationary market conditions. Environmental and cultural resource considerations have been a key factor in the overall project design. On August 5, 2022, the Company was invited by Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to participate in a Scoping Environmental Impact Assessment Meeting to present the initial site plan and other key improvements being incorporated into the Back Forty Project’s optimized feasibility study. This was an opportunity to meet with tribal representatives to promote the Back Forty Project, which is focused on favorably impacting our environment, social and governance programs, while identifying economic and operational efficiencies. The feasibility study work for the Back Forty Project progressed during the third quarter of 2022. Work related to metallurgy and the economic model is expected to continue into 2023. Permit applications will not be submitted with state agencies in Michigan until the completion of the feasibility study.