Polyus’ 2017 performance reflects strength of assets – CEO
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Russia’s largest gold mining company Polyus on Thursday reported a 7% increase in its adjusted net profit to $1.02-billion, boosted by higher production and sales.
The miner, which is listed in London in June last year, produced 2.16-million ounces of gold in 2017, at an average realised refined gold price of $1 260/oz, realising revenue of $2.72-billion – an 11% improvement on 2016’s revenue.
The miner’s adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) rose by 11% to $1.7-million.
"The strength of our assets and the focus on efficiency have enabled Polyus to deliver production numbers above our official guidance of 2 075 000 oz to 2 125 000 oz for the fourth year in a row, at 2 160 000 oz, or 3% higher. Our financial results in 2017 also reflect this: Revenue and Ebitda have all shown double-digit growth, with our Ebitda margin remaining among the highest in global natural resources industry at 63%. This has been supported by our ability to decrease total cash costs by 6% compared to the previous year to $364/oz, despite the Russian rouble gaining 13% against the dollar during the year,” said CEO Pavel Grachev.
All-in sustaining cost increased to $621/oz, up 9% from the previous year, owing to higher stripping expenses.
Polyus invested $804-million in capital expenditure (capex) in 2017, mainly owing to the ramp-up of construction activity at the Natalka mine, in Russia's Far East. The asset will be fully ramped up in the second half of 2018.
In 2018, Polyus plans to invest about $850-million across the business, including $250-million of maintenance capex. The figure also includes about $150-million of capitalised operating expenses related to the Natalka operations.
Polyus is also proceeding with a scoping study for the Sukhoi Log development, which is one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in the world.
“…we believe that obtaining the Sukhoi Log licence is a fundamental achievement that gives us a great position to grow in the coming years,” Grachev stated.
The miner has set a production target of 2.38-million to 2.43-million ounces for 2018.
Comments
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation