Under the stream agreement with Nexa Resources S.A. (“Nexa”), we receive 65% of payable silver produced from the Cerro Lindo mine until 19.5 million ounces have been delivered and 25% thereafter. Typically, deliveries under the stream lag production by up to four months. As at December 31, 2023, 14.2 million ounces of silver had been delivered under the stream agreement with Nexa since inception.
For the three months ended December 31, 2023, we sold 548,189 ounces of silver delivered under the agreement, a 23% decrease from the same period in the prior year driven by lower deliveries. GEOs sold were 6,619 for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to 9,455 for the same period in the prior year.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, we sold 1,967,631 ounces of silver delivered under the agreement, a 7% decrease from the same period in the prior year driven by lower deliveries. GEOs sold were 23,544 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 26,047 for the same period in the prior year.
As expected and previously disclosed, deliveries from Cerro Lindo improved into the fourth quarter of 2023 following the rainfall-related shutdown in mid-March due to Cyclone Yaku, which had temporarily restricted access to higher-grade zones in the second quarter.
| 2. | Northparkes (Operator: Evolution Mining Limited, effective December 18, 2023) |
Under the stream agreement, we receive 54% of payable gold until an aggregate of 630,000 ounces have been delivered and 27% of payable gold thereafter. We also receive 80% of payable silver until an aggregate of 9 million ounces of silver have been delivered, and 40% of payable silver thereafter for the remainder of the life of mine. Typically, deliveries under the stream may lag production by approximately two months. As at December 31, 2023, 41,358 ounces of gold and 756,701 ounces of silver had been delivered under the stream agreement since inception.
For the three months ended December 31, 2023, 3,563 ounces of gold and 75,859 ounces of silver were delivered to the Company, of which we sold 2,650 ounces of gold and 57,091 ounces of silver. This compares to 3,114 ounces of gold and 57,779 ounces of silver delivered and sold for the same period in the prior year. GEOs sold were 3,339 for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to 3,914 for the same period in the prior year.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, 12,747 ounces of gold and 247,114 ounces of silver were delivered to the Company of which we sold 11,834 ounces of gold and 228,346 ounces of silver. This compares to 10,386 ounces of gold and 206,350 ounces of silver delivered and 11,574 ounces of gold and 206,350 ounces of silver sold for the same period in the prior year. GEOs sold were 14,562 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 14,058 for the same period in the prior year.
On December 18, 2023, Evolution Mining Limited (“Evolution”) announced the completion of the acquisition of the 80% interest in Northparkes previously owned by China Molybdenum Co., Ltd. Triple Flag congratulates Evolution on this successful acquisition and look forward to a continued strong partnership with its management team at Northparkes.
Higher-grade gold ore from the E31 and E31N open pits continue to contribute to mill feed blend, which is expected to drive GEOs sales growth starting in 2024. December 2023 saw the mill process the largest quantity of ore from the E31 open pits to date. During the fourth quarter of 2023, 232 kt of sulphide ore was mined to the run-of-mine stockpile from the E31 open pits.
Evolution has significant expertise in large-scale, underground caving operations from the Ernest Henry mine. A feasibility study for the E22 underground orebody is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2024, which will assess the development option of a sub-level cave compared to a blockcave. Decline development from surface is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2024. Of note, optimization work for E22 is expected to include an evaluation of a regrind ball mill which, if approved, could be installed to improve concentrate grade and marketability.