Endeavour Mining Updates Houndé Project Economics Following Increase In Mineral Reserves To 2.1Mozs

VANCOUVER, Feb. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Endeavour Mining Corporation ("Endeavour" or the "Corporation") (TSX:EDV) (ASX:EVR) (OTCQX:EDVMF) announces year-end mineral reserves of 2.1 million ounces (see Tables 1 and 2) at the Houndé Project, an increase of 34% due to the expansion of the Vindaloo deposit and inclusion of two new deposits located within 14 kilometres of the proposed plant site.  An updated open pit mine plan delivers more gold production and extended mine life with highlights including: 10 year life, total gold production of 1.9 million ounces, forecast LOM AISC of $714/oz, and after-tax IRR of 31.4% at $1,250/oz gold price.  The strong project economics across a range of gold prices confirms that Houndé is a core asset in our growth profile.

Houndé Exploration Drill Program and Resource & Reserve Update

• The Houndé drilling program began in June 2014 and was completed in November 2014.  It included 57,978 metres drilled with 110 diamond holes (22,780 metres) and 358 reverse-circulation holes (35,198 metres) completed (Figure 1).
• Drilling along the Vindaloo trend had two objectives: (1) test the extents of the Vindaloo Main mineralization at depth and on strike; and (2) convert Inferred mineral resources to Indicated category (Figure 2). Drilling on the Vindaloo West and Vindaloo Main zone targeted Inferred resource blocks and was successful in confirming mineralization.  Upgrading of Inferred mineral resources not only provided additions to mineral reserves but also reduced strip ratios in the Vindaloo Main zone. 
• Bouéré is located 12 km west of the Houndé process plant site and the drilling program was successful in extending the mineralization over a 600 metre strike length with widths of mineralization varying from 2 to 25 metres and generally 80 degree dip to the northwest.
• Dohoun is located approximately 14 km northwest of the Houndé process plant site and the drill program aimed at improving confidence in grade and continuity to enable resource estimation.  The Dohoun mineralization is 500 metres along strike and dips steeply northwest in the main ore zone.

Neil Woodyer, CEO, stated

"We are very pleased to report on the exploration success at Houndé during 2014.  We invested $6.7 million in the Houndé program during 2014 while we progressed through the mine permitting phase.  This has resulted in a 523,000 ounce addition to Proven and Probable reserves, or a 34% increase, for a cost of approximately $13 per discovered reserve ounce. 

The reserve additions have enhanced the after-tax project IRR to between 28% and 35%, with a gold price range of $1,200 to $1,300/oz.  At a $1,250/oz gold price the 5% NPV is $359 million.

The mining permit was received on February 5, 2015 and our Construction Services team, which recently completed the construction of the Agbaou Mine in Côte d'Ivoire both ahead of schedule and under budget, is preparing the Houndé Project for a construction decision.  We have had the upfront capital cost estimate confirmed by Lycopodium at $325 million and a detailed construction plan has been completed.  We are now focusing on refining the Houndé operations plan, which now includes the updated mine plan with the 2014 exploration additions.  We are also reviewing operating costs in the context of reduced energy costs and the benefits of local currency rate devaluation.  The strong project economics across a range of gold price assumptions highlights the significant value of Houndé to Endeavour shareholders." 

Table 1: Houndé Mineral Resources (including reserves, effective December 31, 2014)

1 Prepared by M. Zammit, MAIG (Cube Consulting) reported above 0.5 g/t cut-off and inside an optimized pit shell using US$1,500 per ounce gold price; - includes Vindaloo, Madras and Koho mineral resources
2 Prepared by K. Harris CPG (Endeavour) reported above 0.5 g/t cut-off and inside an optimized pit shell using US$1,500 per ounce gold price

Table 2: Houndé Mineral Reserves (effective December 31, 2014) using $1,300/oz gold price

1 Prepared by R.M. Cheyne FAusIMM (ORELOGY)
² Prepared by M. Alyoshin MAusIMM CP Min (Endeavour)

Houndé Updated Mine Plan

Endeavour has prepared an updated economic model based on the substantially updated mineral reserves and rescheduled mine plan prepared by ORELOGY Group Pty Ltd. (see Table 3).  The updated mine plan defines a large-scale open pit mine that delivers 1.9 million ounces of recovered gold and the processing plant consists of a 3.0 million tonne per year primary crushing with SABC milling circuit to feed a gravity / CIL plant.  The enhanced production relative to the November 2013 Feasibility Study is a result of the exploration additions from 2014 and an optimization of the mine plan to access high grade and shallow gold mineralization during the initial years of the mine life.

Table 3: Houndé LOM Production Profile¹

1

Houndé Capital Cost Estimate and Financial Summary

Endeavour engaged Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd to complete a detailed review and assessment of the total estimated cost to bring the Houndé Project into production.  The updated capital cost is $325 million (inclusive of contingency, working capital, and import duties), representing a 3.2% increase over the $315 million estimate in the November 2013 Feasibility Study.  Endeavour's Construction Services team has also completed a mine construction plan. 

The key parameters of the Houndé Project which are included in the updated financial model are summarized in Table 4 along with a summary of the key economic indicators. 

Table 4: Key Parameters of the Houndé Project and Updated Economic Summary

Qualified Persons

Adriaan "Attie" Roux, Pr.Sci.Nat, Endeavour's Chief Operating Officer, is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the operational analysis and other technical information in this news release.

Mark Zammit MAIG, Principal Consultant at Cube Consulting, is an independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the Vindaloo mineral resources in this news release.  Kevin Harris CPG, Group Resource Manager at Endeavour, is a Qualified Person under 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the Bouéré and Dohoun mineral resources in this news release.  Ross Cheyne FAusIMM, Managing Director of ORELOGY, is an independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the Vindaloo mineral reserves and the overall mining schedule in this news release.  Michael Alyoshin MAusIMM CP Min, Chief Mining Engineer, Strategic Projects with Endeavour, is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the Bouéré and Dohoun mineral reserves in this news release.

Chris Waller MAusIMM CP, Manager of Studies of Lycopodium, is an independent Qualified Person under NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the capital estimate in this news release.

About Endeavour Mining Corporation

Endeavour is a Canadian-based gold mining company producing 500,000 ounces per year from four mines in West Africa.  Endeavour is focused on effectively managing its existing assets to maximize cash flow as well as pursuing organic and strategic growth opportunities that benefit from its management and operational expertise.

On behalf of Endeavour Mining Corporation

Neil Woodyer
Chief Executive Officer

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" including but not limited to, statements with respect to Endeavour's plans and operating performance, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of future production, future capital expenditures, and the success of exploration activities. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts" and "anticipates". Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the successful integration of acquisitions; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions and credit availability, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which Endeavour operates. Although Endeavour has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Please refer to Endeavour's most recent Annual Information Form filed under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting Endeavour and its business.

SOURCE Endeavour Mining Corporation