Photo credit: Redjie Melvic Cawis
Philex Mining Corporation, one of the oldest and largest gold and copper producers in Southeast Asia added Php668 million of Core Net Income in 4Q2021 to its Php1.865 billion Core Net Income for the first nine months ended September 30, 2021. Thus, full year Core Net Income rose 118% to Php2.533 billion compared with Php1.162 billion for the full year of 2020.
Favorable and sustained higher level of realized prices for Gold and Copper resulted in higher operating revenues in 2021, registering a healthy 25% increase over the year 2020. Operating revenues reached Php9.797 billion in 2021 from Php7.834 billion in 2020. Realized Gold prices was at its highest level in 4Q2021 reaching $1,783 per ounce, while Copper reached $4.44 per pound in October 2021. Operating costs were only slightly elevated by 4.8% to Php6.598 billion from Php6.298 billion in 2020 due to the increase in cost of materials and supplies, partly offset by lower power cost and non-cash charges.
PRODUCTION
Tonnage milled for 4Q2021 slowed down slightly to 1.972 million tonnes from 2.006 million tonnes in 3Q2021. Tonnage milled in 2021 reached 7.946 million tonnes, or 1.4% higher than 2020. Ore grades continue to hold at the same level as in 2020, leading to minimal impact on Gold and Copper output in 2021 compared with 2020. Gold output in 4Q2021 reached 13,855 ounces, adding to the 41,295 ounces for the three quarters ending September 2021, resulting in annual production of 55,149 ounces, slightly lower by 1.6% from 2020 Gold output. Copper output for 2021 stood at 26.2 million pounds, 1.4% lower from the 2020 Copper output.
OPERATING EXPENSES, EBITDA, AND CASH DIVIDENDS
Operating costs and expenses rose slightly up by 4.8% from the 2020 levels due to the increase in the cost of materials and supplies, including logistics expenses, higher excise taxes and royalties on account of higher operating revenues, partly offset by lower power costs and lower non-cash charges as a result of the extension of the life of mine.
The healthy EBITDA level for 2021 at Php4.317 billion allowed the Company to continue its debt reduction program during 2021. Total payments made to short term creditors amounted to US$8 million for the period.
With a very good performance in 2021, the Board declared a cash dividend of 5 centavos (Php0.05) per common share aggregating to Php247 million, to shareholders on record as of March 21, 2022, which will be paid on April 3, 2022, as Philex preserves cash surplus as part of the initial capital for the development of Silangan.
OUTLOOK
The sustained prices of Gold and Copper in the global market are providing Philex a continuing window of opportunity to optimize the mineable reserves and metal output. Profitability and liquidity since 2020 have been on a positive trend and has materially enhanced the Company’s profitability and financial condition, allowing the Company to expedite the launching of the development of Silangan project under its In Phase Mine Plan.
At the same time, studies are underway to explore and determine the feasibility of the mineable resources and/or reserves surrounding the Padcal mine, whilst the Gold and Copper prices are at its current high levels.
The Company has been working diligently with all stakeholders on implementing the fund raising plan which pave the way for the timely development and start of commercial operations of the Silangan project by early 2025. The initial capital needed under the In Phase Mine Plan is US$224 million or about Php11.2 billion, to be funded by a combination of proceeds from a stock rights offer, from the cash reserves of Philex, and possibly some incremental debt at the Silangan level. The Company has appointed BDO Capital and Investment Corporation as its issue manager and lead underwriter for the fund raising.
“No doubt, 2021 was a blessing for us considering the high metal prices for Copper & Gold that even with the marginal grades of ore that we are mining, we continue working on our business continuity plans,” according to Philex president and CEO Eulalio B. Austin, Jr. “Furthermore, we were also able to successfully deal with the deadly Covid-19 virus because of our strict and constant adherence to health protocols and our mass vaccination program. Consequently, we have had no disruption in our operation for the year.”
“The year 2021 also brought hope to the mining industry with significant regulatory changes on the horizon, such as the suspension of the ban on new mining agreements and lifting of the ban on open pit mining method. These developments auger well for the mining industry come 2022—a light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak.”
“We will continue our relentless drive to improve our operations, and are now looking at new investment opportunities,” whilst prolonging the life of our Padcal mine, said Philex Chairman M. V. Pangilinan. The job security and welfare of our employees and their dependents are still our primordial concern.”
“Silangan will be an exciting project for us in 2022— it could ensure that our business continues for a long time to come. We look forward this year with a fair degree optimism, given the buoyant prices of commodities in general, and of metal prices in particular, driven by global geopolitical and supply factors,” concluded Chairman Pangilinan.
Article courtesy of the Philippine Stock Exchange
