Details Of Rochester Expansion In Updated Technical Report

CHICAGO - Coeur Mining, Inc. reported details of the expansion of its Rochester silver-gold mine in Nevada, reflecting significant reserve growth and the benefits of a larger-scale expansion project. An updated National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report will be filed. Summary highlights include: After-tax NAV5% of $634 million and an expected internal rate of return of 31% based solely on proven and probable mineral reserves; 18-year, reserve-based mine life through 2038 with opportunities for extension with continued drilling; Expected average annual free cash flow of $104 million for initial ten years post-expansion; 58% and 65% year-over-year increase in silver and gold reserves, respectively; More than doubling of planned annual crusher throughput capacity from roughly 14 million tons to over 28 million tons post-expansion; Average annual silver and gold production expected to total over 8.0 million ounces and approximately 80,000 ounces, respectively, for the initial ten years post-expansion; Improvement in silver recoveries from 61% over 20 years to approximately 68% in two years through use of high-pressure grinding roll (“HPGR”) technology; and $397 million of planned construction capital (2021-2023), including $42 million in contingencies and $31 million in engineering, procurement and project management contracting

“The expansion of Rochester represents the Company’s single largest organic growth opportunity,” said Mitchell J. Krebs, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The combination of significant reserve growth, the scope of the expansion project to leverage economies of scale and the benefit of higher and faster silver recoveries from HPGR technology is expected to generate an internal rate of return over 30%. Importantly, the project is supported by a technically sound foundation with robust economics that helps drive an anticipated step-change in Coeur’s cash flow profile, which we believe will fundamentally reposition the Company and unlock meaningful long-term value for our stockholders.”

Rochester’s planned expansion under Plan of Operations Amendment (“POA 11”) includes the construction of a new leach pad, a crushing facility equipped with two HPGR units, a Merrill-Crowe process plant, and related infrastructure to support the extension of Rochester’s mine life. The Company plans to fund the project with a combination of cash on hand, internally generated cash flow from its four operating mines and existing debt capacity.

Coeur commenced early-stage earthworks and began establishing infrastructure for POA 11 in early August 2020. Major construction is expected to begin in 2021 and be largely completed by late 2022.

In addition to the expansion of the main Rochester deposit, the technical report also outlines the planned build out of the adjacent Nevada Packard deposit located southwest of the Rochester mine. The development of Nevada Packard is scheduled to break ground in 2029 and includes plans for a new leach pad, crushing facility, Merrill-Crowe process plant, mobile equipment and supporting infrastructure, which is expected to cost approximately $49 million in construction capital. Production from Nevada Packard is scheduled to commence in 2030, leading to the placement of approximately 32 million tons over the deposit’s six-year expected mine life.

The reserve-based mine plan in the technical report does not include any material from other deposits owned by Coeur, including the property package adjacent to Rochester that the Company acquired in late 2018 for approximately $19 million. These near-mine deposits have the potential to extend and/or expand mining operations at Rochester in the medium to long term. Recent target generation in the district highlighted priorities for future drilling north of East Rochester and East Packard as well as around the Lincoln Hill, Gold Ridge and Independence Hill zones located immediately west of Rochester.