First Mineral Reserves for Entree's Hugo North Extension Included in Initial Underground Mining at Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia
VANCOUVER, May 11, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Entree Gold Inc. (TSX:ETG; NYSEAMEX:EGI; Frankfurt:EKA - "Entree" or the "Company") is pleased to report the first ore reserves defined under NI 43-101 criteria on the Hugo North Extension deposit in Mongolia.
The release of the 2010 Integrated Development Plan ("IDP10") for the Oyu Tolgoi mining complex was announced by Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX:IVN; NYSE:IVN; NASDAQ:IVN - "Ivanhoe Mines") on May 11, 2010. IDP10 declares the first underground mineral reserves for the Hugo North deposit, including Entree's Hugo North Extension deposit. The Probable Reserve for Hugo North Extension totals 27 million tonnes grading 1.85% copper and 0.72 g/t gold. Entree holds a 20% carried interest to production in this reserve through a joint venture with Oyu Tolgoi LLC, a subsidiary of Ivanhoe Mines.
IDP10 has presented two main mining scenarios: the Reserve Case ("Reserve Case") and the Life of Mine Sensitivity Case ("LOM Sensitivity Case"). The Reserve Case is the most likely scenario for reserves exploited in the initial ("Lift 1") underground block cave mining operation, including the reserve for Hugo North Extension. Probable Reserves and Inferred and Indicated Resources at Hugo North Extension and at the Heruga deposit are part of the LOM Sensitivity Case development and mining scenario. See the discussion below and attached figures for additional details regarding the two main mining scenarios.
Greg Crowe, Entree's president and CEO commented, "The release of IDP10 is a crucial milestone in the history of Entree. It confirms the near-term production and long-term importance of the Entree-Ivanhoe Mines joint venture deposits to the overall development of the Oyu Tolgoi porphyry system. Few junior resource companies have the opportunity to participate in the development of a mine complex the size and caliber of Oyu Tolgoi."
In addition to the two main mining scenarios, IDP10 presents two alternative mine production plans for the development and mining of the deposits along the Oyu Tolgoi mineralized trend including the Southern Oyu, Hugo South and Hugo North, Hugo North Extension and Heruga deposits. Due to the nature of the deposits associated with Oyu Tolgoi, the project operators have the flexibility to consider several options for maximizing the deposits for the benefit of their stakeholders. See the attached figures for additional details pertaining to the two alternative mine production plans presented in IDP10.
Highlights from the IDP10 in relation to Entree include:
- First reported mineral reserves on Entree's joint venture ground
- Hugo North Extension reserves have the highest value of all the Oyu
Tolgoi deposits; measured as net smelter return ("NSR"),
- Development mining of Hugo North Extension (Lift 1) to begin Year 4,
with main production commencing in Year 11
- Mining of Heruga as proposed in LOM Sensitivity Case could commence
in Year 27
- Other alternative mining scenarios consider earlier production from
Heruga - as early as Year 7.
- Entree's ground is a key component of the development and potential
further exploration success of the Oyu Tolgoi porphyry system
- Commitment to ongoing exploration of the Oyu Tolgoi trend, with up to
13 km of untested potential on Entree joint venture ground
- Based on long term metal prices, Entree's current share of reserves
give an NPV(8%) of US$79 million while using current metal prices
give an NPV(8%) of US$134 million
- The conceptual LOM Sensitivity Case gives Entree's production share
using long term metal prices an NPV(8%) of US$176 million while
current metal prices give an NPV(8%) of US$344 million
- A Real Option evaluation of Entree's production share of the LOM
Sensitivity Case using Monte Carlo simulation and forecast real long-
term metal prices of US$2.00/lb copper and US$850/oz gold estimates
Real Option NPV at US$264 million.
Entree has contracted AMEC Minproc to prepare a separate NI 43-101 compliant technical report for Entree that incorporates the relevant portions of IDP10 covering the Company's Hugo North Extension and Heruga deposits. AMEC Minproc also prepared the IDP10 for Ivanhoe Mines. Ernst & Young was retained to advise on the development of a Real Option economic analysis of the LOM Sensitivity Case. Entree's technical report will be filed on http://www.sedar.com within 45 days.
Greg Crowe noted, "The two main mining scenarios are important for Entree in that they include not only mining the Lift 1 reserves at Hugo North Extension but also bring into consideration mining of the indicated and inferred mineralization at Hugo North Extension and Heruga. It must be emphasized that these mine plans are somewhat fluid and the actual production time frame may be subject to changes brought about by various factors such as a change in throughput or changes in economic parameters. The flexibility to bring Heruga production forward, as proposed in the second alternative production case, may be a significant benefit to Entree's shareholders."
Reserve Case
The Reserve Case, using Proven and Probable mineral reserves, sets out the likely path of initial mine development and includes nine open pit stages at Southern Oyu and the initial underground block cave at Hugo North (including Entree's Hugo North Extension). The Reserve Case in relation to both the Hugo North and Southern Oyu deposits assumes the processing of 1.4 billion tonnes of ore over a 27 year period. A mill expansion, from 100,000 to 160,000 tonnes per day ("tpd"), is contemplated by the end of the fifth year of operations.
The Probable Mineral Reserve for Entree on the Hugo North Extension portion of the Hugo Dummett Deposit is the economically mineable portion of the Mineral Resources (Table 1) outlined in the 2010 Technical Report (see Entree news release of March 31, 2010). The Probable Mineral Reserve presented in the IDP10 is summarized in Table 2.
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Table 1. Entree-Ivanhoe Mines Joint Venture Mineral Resources
(0.6% CuEq cut-off), based on Technical Report March 2010
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Deposit Tonnage Copper Gold CuEq Contained Metal
(t) (%) (g/t) (%) -------------------------------
Copper Gold CuEq
(000 lb) (oz) (000 lb)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hugo North Extension Deposit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indicated
Shivee
Tolgoi
(Hugo
North) 117 000 000 1.80 0.61 2.19 4 640 000 2 290 000 5 650 000
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Inferred
Shivee
Tolgoi
(Hugo
North) 95 500 000 1.15 0.31 1.35 2 420 000 950 000 2 840 000
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Heruga Deposit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heruga
Javh-
lant 910 000 000 0.48 0.49 0.87 9 570 000 14 300 000 17 390 000
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Notes:
- Copper Equivalent (CuEq) has been calculated using assumed metal
prices of US$1.35/pound for copper, US$650/ounce for gold, and US
$10.50 for molybdenum. The equivalence formula was calculated
assuming that gold was 91% of copper recovery. CuEq was calculated
using the formula:
CuEq (equal sign) %Cu + ((g/t Au(x)18.98)+(Mo(x)0.01586))/29.76.
- The contained copper, gold, copper and molybdenum in the tables has
not been adjusted for metallurgical recovery.
- The 0.6% CuEq cut-off is highlighted as the base case resource for
underground bulk mining.
- The mineral reserves are not additive to the mineral resources.
- Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have
demonstrated economic viability.
- Entree - Ivanhoe Mines Joint Venture includes a portion of the Shivee
Tolgoi licence and the Javhlant licence. The Shivee Tolgoi and
Javhlant JV licences are held by Entree Gold and are planned to be
operated by Oyu Tolgoi LLC. Oyu Tolgoi LLC will receive 80% and
Entree Gold will receive 20% of cash flows after capital and
operating costs.
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Table 2. Hugo North Extension Mineral Reserve, May 2010
Entree - Ivanhoe Mines Joint Venture
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Deposit Ore NSR Cu Au Recovered Metal
(Mt) (US$/t) (%) (g/t) --------------------------
Copper (lb) Gold (oz)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hugo Dummett Deposit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Probable Shivee
Tolgoi (Hugo
North Extension) 27 55.57 1.85 0.72 1 032 000 000 531 000
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Notes:
- Metal prices used for calculating the Hugo North Underground NSR are
copper US$1.50/lb, gold US$640/oz, and silver US$10.50/oz based on
long term metal price forecasts at the beginning of the mineral
reserve work. The analysis indicates that the mineral reserve is
still valid at these metal prices.
- The NSR has been calculated with assumptions for smelter refining and
treatment charges, deductions and payment terms, concentrate
transport, metallurgical recoveries and royalties.
- For the underground block cave, all material within the shell has
been converted to mineral reserve; this includes low grade Indicated
and Inferred material assigned zero grade and treated as dilution.
- Only indicated resources were used to report probable reserves.
- Entree - Ivanhoe Mines Joint Venture includes a portion of the Shivee
Tolgoi licence and the Javhlant licence. The Shivee Tolgoi licence is
held by Entree Gold and is planned to be operated by Oyu Tolgoi LLC.
Oyu Tolgoi LLC will receive 80% and Entree Gold will receive 20% of
cash flows after capital and operating costs.
The NSR calculation reflects the net value received for the ore by the mine (after all costs and charges). An NSR has been calculated on a US Dollar per tonne basis for each of the Mineral Reserve areas. The Hugo North Extension has the highest NSR calculated for all the deposits at Oyu Tolgoi. The NSR of US$55.57 per tonne for Hugo North Extension is in comparison to US$51.12 per tonne for Hugo North - Ivanhoe and an overall Mineral Reserve (proven plus probable) NSR for all of Oyu Tolgoi of US$24.52 per tonne (includes open pit reserves at Southern Oyu Deposits). The NSR value for the 27 million tonnes of probable mineral reserves on Entree's Shivee Tolgoi Licence is projected to be over US$1.5 billion.
Production commencement (Year 1) of the Reserve Case for all of Oyu Tolgoi is anticipated to be 2013 at the Southern Oyu open pit. Peak production from all Oyu Tolgoi deposits in the LOM Sensitivity Case is reached in Year 8 with 58 million tonnes/year, estimated to produce 1.7 billion pounds of copper and 1.1 million ounces of gold in that year.
In the Reserve Case, for the Entree - Ivanhoe Mines Joint Venture, ore from development at Hugo North Extension is expected to enter the production stream in Year 4 with full block cave production commencing in Year 11. Peak production from Hugo North Extension is in Year 14 with an estimated production of 6.8 million tonnes at 1.82% copper and 0.69 g/t gold. In the Reserve Case, production from Lift 1 at Hugo North Extension is estimated to last until Year 18. Total capital costs for development of Hugo North underground block cave are estimated at $1.1 billion - a portion of which will be the responsibility of Entree. Entree is carried to production under the terms of the Entree-Ivanhoe Mines joint venture and capital costs need only be repaid from 90% of production revenues.
The NPV(8%) of the Entree share of Lift 1 at Hugo North Extension is estimated at US$79 million (using US$2.00/lb copper,US$850/oz gold and US$13.50/oz silver), while at current metal prices of US$3.13/lb copper and US$1208/oz gold Entree's production has an NPV(8%) of US$134 million (silver and molybdenum prices unchanged.)
Life of Mine Sensitivity Case
A separate LOM Sensitivity Case is intended to show the significant, long-term potential of all classifications of current mineral resources at Oyu Tolgoi and extends the mine inventory to add Inferred Resource material from the planned second lift ("Lift 2") in Hugo North (to include Hugo North Extension), Hugo South and an underground block cave for the Heruga deposit. This scenario projects a 59 year mine life and processing 3.01 billion tonnes of ore.
The LOM Sensitivity Case includes the Lift 1 mineral reserves plus Lift 2 indicated and inferred mineral resources. The LOM Sensitivity Case produces over 100% more copper and gold than the Reserve Case and adds an additional revenue stream from molybdenum produced from a potential Heruga block cave.
The LOM Sensitivity Case is a preliminary assessment that includes an economic analysis based, in part, on inferred mineral resources. It does not have as high a level of certainty as the Reserve Case. Inferred mineral resources are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would allow them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the LOM Sensitivity Case will be realized.
If this LOM Sensitivity Case is implemented, production from Hugo North Extension Lift 2 would commence around Year 15 and reach a potential maximum production around Year 22 of approximately 14.8 million tonnes/year comprising 500 million pounds of copper, 200,000 ounces of gold and 1.75 million ounces of silver. Production from Hugo North Extension Lift 2 is estimated to continue until year 32 and total 122 million tonnes averaging 1.42% copper and 0.44 g/t gold.
Heruga would come on stream around Year 27, with maximum production reached around year 54. In Year 54, Heruga is estimated to produce around 24.5 million tonnes to yield approximately 150 million pounds of copper, 450,000 ounces of gold, 900,000 ounces of silver and 3.5 million pounds of molybdenum. Molybdenum production is estimate to peak around Year 56 at approximately 7.25 million pounds. Production at Heruga (assuming no additional economic mineralization is outlined) is projected to continue until Year 59 and to total 615 million tonnes averaging 0.41% copper, 0.46 g/t gold and 127 ppm molybdenum.
Greg Crowe further noted, "This increased resource at Heruga is extremely significant in that it clearly demonstrates the upside potential to this growing deposit. Heruga hosts some of the highest gold-copper ratios at Oyu Tolgoi along with significant molybdenum content. It has been traced northwards onto Ivanhoe's Oyu Tolgoi concession and remains open to the north. More importantly for Entree, geological and geophysical data suggests a potential offset to the Heruga deposit southwest of the area of the drilled inferred resource. There remains an additional 4 kilometres of highly prospective untested ground on Entree's Javhlant mining license. Testing of this area is part of Ivanhoe's 2010 exploration program."
Joint Venture resource inventories used in the LOM Sensitivity Case are summarized in Table 3 below:
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Table 3. Life of Mine Sensitivity Case - Mineral Resource Inventory
Entree-Ivanhoe Mines Joint Venture only
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Cut off Tonnes Cu Au Mo Cu Au
(CuEq%) (M t) % g/t (ppm) (Billion (Million
lb) oz)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
HNE-Lift 1 27 1.85 0.72 - 1.03 0.53
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
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HNE-Lift 2 122 1.42 0.44 - 3.48 1.44
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Heruga 615 0.41 0.46 127 4.54 6.60
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TOTAL-HNE
Lift 2 &
Heruga 737 8.02 8.04
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Notes:
- Hugo North Extension ("HNE") Lift 1 is a Probable Mineral Reserve.
HNE Lift 2 and Heruga reflect conceptual block caves within Inferred
Mineral Resources. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do
not have demonstrated economic viability.
- The Mineral Reserves are not additive to the Mineral Resource.
- For the underground block cave, all material within the shell has
been converted to mineral reserve; this includes low grade Indicated
and Inferred material assigned zero grade and treated as dilution.
- Entree Gold - Ivanhoe Mines Joint Venture holds the Shivee Tolgoi and
Javhlant licences. The Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant JV licences are
held by Entree Gold and are planned to be operated by Oyu Tolgoi LLC.
Oyu Tolgoi LLC will receive 80% and Entree Gold will receive 20% of
cash flows after capital and operating costs.
Heruga would be a completely stand alone underground operation, independent of other Oyu Tolgoi underground development, and provides considerable flexibility for mine planning and development.
Ongoing exploration efforts at Oyu Tolgoi are directed at upgrading Inferred Resources to categories with higher confidence levels. A substantial amount of the Inferred Resources to be upgraded lie within the Entree-Ivanhoe Mines Joint Venture ground. In addition, the Oyu Tolgoi mineralized trend covers 20 kilometres, approximately 12 kilometres on the Entree-Ivanhoe Joint Venture ground, and much of the trend has not been extensively drill tested.
The LOM Sensitivity Case, which is effectively a preliminary assessment that includes an economic analysis based, in part, on inferred mineral resources, does not have as high a level of certainty as the Reserve Case. There is no certainty that the LOM Sensitivity Case will be realized. Production and financial results from the two scenarios are summarized in Table 4 below.
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Table 4. IDP10 Summary Production and Financial Results - Entree Gold
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Description Units Reserve Case Life of Mine
Sensitivity Case
(includes Inferred
Resource)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inventory Mineral Reserve Mineral Reserve and
Inferred Resources
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Production Rate
(average) Mt/a 51.6 51.1
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Total Processed Mt 1 393 3 013
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Entree-Ivanhoe Mines Joint Venture Property Results
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Processed Mt 27 765
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSR US$/t 55.57 20.77
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Cu Grade % 1.85 0.62
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Au Grade g/t 0.72 0.47
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Copper Recovered Billion lb 1.0 9.1
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Gold Recovered Moz 0.5 8.6
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NPV (8%) After
Tax (long term
prices) US$M 79 176
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPV (8%) After
Tax (current
prices) US$M 134 344
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
- Metal prices used for calculating the underground NSR are: copper US
$1.50/lb, gold US$640/oz, silver US$10.50/oz, and molybdenum US
$10.50/lb. Based on long-term metal price forecasts at the beginning
of the mineral reserve work and still believed to be valid.
- The NSR has been calculated with assumptions for smelter refining and
treatment charges, deductions and payments terms, transport costs,
metallurgical recoveries and royalties.
- Long term metal prices used in the NPV economic analyses are: copper
US$2.00/lb, gold US$850/oz, silver US$13.50/oz, molybdenum US
$13.50/lb.
- Current metal prices used in the NPV economic analyses are: copper
US$3.13/lb, gold US$1,208/oz, (silver US$13.50/oz, and molybdenum
US$13.50/lb - unchanged from long term pricing).
- Under the NI 43-101 guidelines, inferred mineral resources are
considered too speculative geologically to have the economic
considerations applied to them that would allow them to be
categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the
LOM Sensitivity Case will be realized.
The NPV(8%) of the Entree share in the LOM Sensitivity Case is estimated at US$176 million (using US$2.00/lb copper, US$850/oz gold, US$13.50/oz silver, US$13.50/lb molybdenum), while at current metal prices of US$3.13/lb copper and US$1208/oz gold Entree's production has an NPV(8%) of US$344 million (silver and molybdenum prices unchanged.)
Real Option Analysis of the LOM Sensitivity Case
A Dynamic Discounted Cash Flow ("Dynamic DCF")and Real Option evaluation model was constructed to investigate whether the explicit recognition of price reversion and other metal price uncertainty characteristics affect the long-term cash flows generated by Entree's production share from the conceptual LOM Sensitivity Case and the uncertainty characteristics associated with this cash flow. This evaluation model uses stochastic Monte Carlo simulation to approximate the uncertainty characteristics of copper, gold, and molybdenum prices. The model is based on the same assumptions, production and cost forecasts, discount rates and long-term metal-price forecasts of the LOM Case presented in the previous section.
The Real Option method is an alternative approach for estimating project net present value ("NPV"). There is extensive academic literature regarding the Real Option method and it is being studied by some mining companies as an alternative to the DCF method. The DCF and Real Option methods are differentiated by how each method adjusts uncertain cash flows for risk during the NPV calculation. A single risk-adjusted discount rate reflecting aggregate project risk is used by the DCF method to adjust project net cash flows for risk and time. In contrast, the Real Option method adjusts the primary individual sources of cash flow uncertainty (e.g., metal price) for risk before calculating net cash flow and adjusting for the time value of money. Both of these methods may be extended to recognize the value benefits of management flexibility.
The long-term nature of the cash flows from Entree's production share in the LOM Sensitivity Case may require modeling of price reversion in copper and molybdenum prices. Metal-price reversion is a characteristic whereby spot metal prices fluctuate around a long-term equilibrium level in constant (real) dollar terms. The metal spot price tends to decrease when the spot price is above the equilibrium level and increase when it is below this level. Price reversion causes long-term metal price uncertainty to be confined to a narrower range than would prevail without reversion as the possibility of sustained periods of very high or low prices with respect to the equilibrium level is reduced. Reversion in copper and molybdenum prices was confirmed with econometric statistical analysis of historic metal prices. This analysis was combined with general market information and the Entree metal-price forecasts to estimate parameters for the metal-price-uncertainty models and the associated risk adjustments used in the Real Option analysis.
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Table 5. LOM Sensitivity Case Results of The Real Option And Dynamic
DCF Analysis Using Monte Carlo Simulation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NPV or cumulative net cash flow
Cash flow type (US$ million; real; after-tax)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative net cash flow 1 687
Cumulative time-discounted net
cash flow 722
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dynamic DCF Real Option IDP10 DCF
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net present value 187 264 176
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Real Option and Dynamic DCF NPV results are not the same because of differences related to risk adjustment and the ability to recognize the effect of price reversion on cash-flow uncertainty. Price reversion and its impact on project NPV is recognized by the Real Option method but not by the Dynamic DCF method when using a single discount rate. In this evaluation situation, the Real Option method tends to value each dollar of project net cash flow more highly than the Dynamic DCF method.
The Dynamic DCF NPV from the Monte Carlo analysis is slightly higher than the DCF NPV reported in previous sections because it uses the (higher) copper spot prices on December 31, 2009, to start the simulation of metal prices. The copper price reverts from this starting point to Entree's long-term forecast price over time, such that the expected copper price during the first 10 years of production is higher than forecast.
It is not asserted that either the Real Option method or Dynamic DCF method provides more insightful evaluation results than the other. In addition, the Real Option and Dynamic DCF NPVs provided in this section cannot be considered a fair market value or fair value estimate under the guidelines of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators as there may be other factors and risks that should be considered and other analyses to be performed when estimating such values.
Alternative Scenarios
Two additional indicative options (alternative cases) were also discussed under the LOM Sensitivity Case scenario. These options highlight the considerable flexibility with respect to mine development available to the project operators and could significantly benefit Entree if the joint venture deposits are mined earlier than contemplated within the Reserve Case scenario.
One scenario ("Alternative Production Case A") examined the operation of Hugo South as an open pit, along with a 25,000 tpd underground operation at Heruga. This option could increase mine production levels to 213,000 tpd. Production at Heruga could commence approximately 10 years after first production of the open-pit Southern Oyu deposits, currently expected around 2013.
The second alternative ("Alternative Production Case B") retained Heruga as a 75,000 tpd operation (as was proposed in the LOM Sensitivity Case scenario) resulting in production levels of 265,000 tpd. Under this scenario, the production from Heruga would be moved forward to commence approximately 7 years after first production of the open-pit Southern Oyu deposits.
Moving Heruga production forward would have a significant impact on the economics of the deposit. No economic parameters are provided for the indicative options described above, as under NI 43-101 guidelines inferred resources are too speculative to have economic considerations applied to them that would allow categorization as mineral reserves, and as such there is no certainty that the preliminary assessment will be realized.
Entree-Ivanhoe Mines Joint Venture
Entree's joint venture with Ivanhoe Mines (through its subsidiary Oyu Tolgoi LLC) provides that Entree holds a 20% interest in any mineralization lying below a depth of 560 metres and a 30% interest in any mineralization occurring from surface to a depth of 560 metres. Entree may choose to be carried through to production by way of debt financing from Ivanhoe Mines with interest accruing at prime plus 2%. This debt can be repaid in whole or in part from time to time or repayable by Entree monthly from (and only from) 90% of the available cash flow arising from the sale of its share of products as defined within the joint venture agreement. This arrangement ensures that Entree cannot be diluted down from its 20% or 30% position.
Preparation of IDP and Qualified Persons
The IDP10 was prepared under the supervision of AMEC Minproc Limited. Bernard Peters, as Oyu Tolgoi Study Director for AMEC Minproc Limited and Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed, verified and approved the technical contents of this news release.
The Qualified Persons and their areas of responsibility in relation to the Technical Report are:
- Bernard Peters, B.Eng. (Mining), M. AusIMM (201743), employed by AMEC
Minproc Limited as Principal Mining Consultant, was responsible for
the overall preparation of the report and, in particular, the open-
pit mineral reserve estimate of the Technical Report.
- Scott Jackson, B.Sc. (Hons), CFSG, M. AusIMM (201735), employed by
Quantitative Geoscience Pty. Ltd. (trading as "Quantitative Group"
and "QG") as Principal Consultant, was responsible for preparation of
the Mineral Resources.
- John Vann, B.App.Sc., B.Sc. (Hons), M.Sc., F.Aus.I.M.M. (103352),
F.A.I.G., M.S.E.G, employed by Quantitative Geoscience Pty. Ltd.
(trading as "Quantitative Group" and "QG") as Principal Consultant,
was responsible for preparation of the Mineral Resources.
- Albert Chance, B.App.Sc., Association of Professional Engineers of
the Province of British Columbia (no. 16370), an employee of Golder
Associates Ltd., was responsible for preparation of the subsection on
Open Pit Mine Geotechnical.
- George R Stephan, E.M. (Engineer of Mines), MBA, Qualified
Professional Member Mining and Metallurgical Society of America an
employee of Stantec Mining (formerly McIntosh Engineering), was
responsible for the underground mineral reserve estimate of the
Technical Report.
- Jarek Jakubec, C.Eng., an employee of SRK Consulting Inc., was
responsible for preparation of the subsection on Underground Mine
Geotechnical Sections
- Dean David, B.App.Sc. (Metallurgy), AusIMM.(102351), employed by AMEC
Minproc Limited as Process Consultant, was responsible for
preparation of the Processing Sections.
- Bruce Brown, PE.PhD., employed by Rio Tinto Technology and Innovation
as Principal Advisor - Water, Waste and Tailings, was responsible for
preparation of the Tailing Storage Facility Sections.
FIGURES
To view figures pertaining to this release please visit: http://files.newswire.ca/838/entreefigures.pdf
About Entree Gold Inc.
Entree Gold Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the worldwide exploration and development of gold and copper prospects. The Company flagship property is in Mongolia, where it holds two mining licences (Shivee Tolgoi and Javhlant) and one exploration licence (Togoot). Lookout Hill completely surrounds the 8,500-hectare Oyu Tolgoi project of Ivanhoe Mines, and hosts the Hugo North Extension copper-gold deposit and the Heruga copper-gold-molybdenum deposit. A portion of the Shivee Tolgoi mining licence and the entirety of the Javhlant mining licence are subject to a joint venture with Ivanhoe Mines, through its subsidiary Oyu Tolgoi LLC (formerly known as Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Inc. XXK - "IMMI").
Under the terms of the joint venture, Entree is carried through to production, at its election, by debt financing from Ivanhoe Mines with interest accruing at Ivanhoe Mines' actual cost of capital or prime +2%, whichever is less, at the date of the advance. Debt repayment may be made in whole or in part from (and only from) 90% of monthly available cash flow arising from its sale of product. Such amounts will be applied first to payment of accrued interest and then to repayment of principal. Available cash flow means all net proceeds of sale of Entree's share of products in a month less Entree's share of costs of operations for the month.
The Company continues to explore its landholdings in Mongolia while also evaluating new opportunities throughout eastern Asia. Entree is exploring the Huaixi copper project in Zhejiang Province in China, under the terms of an agreement with the No. 11 Geological Brigade.
In North America, the Company is exploring for porphyry-related copper systems in Arizona and New Mexico under two agreements with Empirical Discovery LLC. In 2009, Entree optioned two contiguous properties, Blackjack and Roulette, in the Yerington porphyry copper district of Nevada through option agreements with HoneyBadger Exploration Ltd. and Bronco Creek Exploration Inc.
In November 2009, Entree announced an agreement with PacMag Metals Limited to implement Australian Schemes of Arrangement to acquire all of the issued shares and options of PacMag. PacMag holds the rights to land contiguous with the Blackjack and Roulette properties and hosts the Ann Mason deposit. In British Columbia, Entree has the right to earn 100% interest in the early stage copper-molybdenum Crystal property through an agreement with Taiga Consultants Ltd.
The Company is also seeking additional opportunities to utilize its expertise in exploring for deep and/or concealed ore deposits. With a treasury of approximatelyC$40 million, the Company is well funded for future activities.
Rio Tinto and Ivanhoe Mines are major shareholders of Entree, holding approximately 15% and 14% of issued and outstanding shares, respectively.
This News Release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements which relate to future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These include, but are not limited to: timing for first production; expansion of processing plant from 36.5 mtpy to 58 mtpy by the sixth year; expected payback period of capital; mine life under the Reserve and Life of Mine Sensitivity Case and the anticipated yearly production, including average annual production; peak single year production; the ability of the mine development to support an expansion to 265,000 tonnes per day; anticipated production and financial results; statements respecting anticipated business activities; the timing of commencement of full construction of the Oyu Tolgoi Project; the estimated timing and cost of bringing the Oyu Tolgoi Project into commercial production; anticipated future production and cash flows; target milling rates; the ability of the partners to arrange financing for construction of the Oyu Tolgoi Project; the impact of amendments to the laws of Mongolia and other countries in which Entree carries on business; and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested herein. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States, the Company does not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results. Readers are referred to the sections entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's periodic filings with the British Columbia Securities Commission, which can be viewed at www.SEDAR.com, and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which can be viewed at http://www.SEC.gov.
For further information: Monica Hamm, Manager, Investor Relations, Entree Gold Inc., Tel: +1-604-687-4777, Toll Free: +1-866-368-7330, E-mail: [email protected]
SOURCE Entree Gold Inc.
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