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Shanta Gold ups exploration budget as finances improve

Published: 09:14 28 Feb 2020 GMT

gold
Shanta recently acquired acreage in Kenya from Barrick

Shanta Gold PLC (LON:SHG) reaffirmed production guidance for the current year as revenues and cashflow jumped sharply.

The Tanzania-focused gold miner generated revenues of US$113mln (US$104mln) in 2019 as production rose to 84,500oz.

WATCH: Shanta Gold's Eric Zurrin reports steady production and operations at its projects

Underlying profits rose 4% US$47.7mln, though swaps contracts meant there was a pre-tax loss of £1.2mln and an after-tax loss of £9.5mln.

Eric Zurrin, chief executive, said production form the New Luika mine was ahead of guidance and achieved against the backdrop of an uncompromised safety record. 

"Our targeted on-mine exploration activities continue to produce encouraging results and we have increased our exploration budget to US$5mlm for 2020.

“Financing for Singida [another project in Tanzania] is expected to be secured in the coming year and the company's growth pipeline has been extended significantly following the significant post-period acquisition of the high-grade West Kenya Project from Barrick Gold.  

"Having reduced our net debt by 55% in 2019, we now have the financial flexibility to continue pursuing value-accretive growth opportunities for our shareholders."

Production for 2020 is forecast at 80,000 - 85,000 oz at sustaining costs of US$830-US$880/oz.

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Shanta Gold Limited (AIM:SHG, OTC:SAAGF) chief executive Eric Zurrin speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive about how the East Africa-focused gold producer, developer and explorer has been performing so far this year. He says that "life is good at Shanta" following a quarter in which...

on 10/8/23