MAC: Mines and Communities

From the Ivanhoe Annual Report:

Published by MAC on 2004-10-15

From the Ivanhoe Annual Report:

Assisted by higher copper prices, improved ore grades and higher copper production, the joint-venture Monywa Copper Project in Myanmar reported a net profit of US$22.1 million in 2004, compared to a net profit of US$2.1 million in 2003. The mine produced 31,756 tonnes of copper cathode (15,878 tonnes net to Ivanhoe) in 2004, an increase of 14% over 2003 production. The average copper price received in 2004 was US$1.34 a pound, compared to 79 cents US a pound in 2003. Minegate cash costs in 2004 were approximately 42 cents US a pound. Following the debt obligation payment at the end of February, 2005, the balance on the original, US$90 million project debt was reduced to US$7.5 million. Projected copper production for 2005 is estimated at 39,000 tonnes at minegate cash costs of approximately 42 cents US a pound. The current copper price is approximately US$1.55 a pound. The project currently receives a premium of approximately US$125 per tonne of copper (5.7 cents US a pound) for its LME Grade A quality.

The [JV] Company expects to release in Q2'05 a two-step development plan that will combine the expansion of the existing operations at the S&K Mine with the development of the Letpadaung deposit (the "Monywa Copper Project"). This development plan is expected to be implemented over a period of five years resulting in the Monywa Copper Project's overall copper cathode production capacity of 200,000 tonnes per year.

In mid-October 2004,
1. The first step in the plan, which is subject to an expected 2006 upgrade of the mine's power supply to 40 megawatts, is expected to take the mine's annual copper production from [the current] 39,000 tonnes to a projected rate of 50,000 tonnes (110 million pounds). This first step is expected to be put in place in Q1'06.
2. The second step, which is subject to a power supply of between 60 and 80 megawatts being made available, proposes to develop the nearby Letpadaung deposit over a four year period. The proposed development will consist of the construction of three SX/EW modules, each with an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes of copper cathode per year.

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