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Operating update for the quarter and year ended 31 December 2014 and guidance for the year ending 31 December 2015
Sibanye Gold Limited
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
Registration number 2002/031431/06
Share code: SGL
ISIN – ZAE000173951
Issuer code: SGL
(“Sibanye” or “the Company”)
OPERATING UPDATE FOR THE QUARTER AND YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014 AND
GUIDANCE FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2015
Westonaria 27 January 2015: Sibanye (JSE: SGL & NYSE: SBGL) advises shareholders
that record production of 14,079kg (452,700oz) was achieved for the
quarter ended 31 December 2014. Total cash cost and All–in cost for the quarter will
be approximately R285,000/kg (US$790/oz) and R375,000/kg (US$1,040/oz)
respectively.
Gold production for the year ended 31 December 2014 was in line with guidance at
49,432kg (1.59Mozs). This is despite the loss of over 500kg due to the underground fire
at Driefontein early in the year and the ESKOM load shedding in the latter half of the
December quarter. Total cash cost for the year of approximately R295,000/kg
(US$850/oz) and All-in cost of approximately R376,000/kg (US$1,080/oz) are also in
line with previous guidance. Capital expenditure of R3.3 billion (US$300 million) was
marginally lower than guidance. The average exchange rate for 2014 was
R10.82/US$.
The Kloof, Driefontein and Beatrix operations produced 45,127kg (1.45Mozs) of gold
for the year, which was just over 1% higher than in 2013. The Cooke Operation
contributed 4,305kg (138,400oz) during the seven months of incorporation in
Sibanye, with the build-up progressing slower than anticipated. This
underperformance occurred primarily at Cooke 4 shaft, resulting in the initiation of a
Section 189 restructuring process.
Uranium production from the Cooke Operation continued uninterrupted from May
2014, resulting in a stockpile of approximately 180,000lbs at year-end. Uranium
production costs for the December quarter averaged approximately US$24/lb.
Gold production guidance for the year ending 31 December 2015 is forecast to be
between 50,000kg and 52,000kg (1.61Moz and 1.67Moz). Total cash cost is forecast
at between R305,000/kg (US$850/oz) and R315,000/kg (US$875/oz). All-in sustaining
cost is forecast to be between R380,000/kg (US1,055oz) and R395,000/kg
(US$1,100/oz), with All-in cost forecast to be between R385,000/kg (US$1,070/oz) and
R400,000/kg (US$1,110/oz). Approximately 250,000lbs of by-product uranium
production is forecast.
Capital expenditure is planned to increase by 10% to R3.6 billion (US$320 million),
largely due to an increase in expenditure on projects to extend the operating lives
of the mines and on growth projects such as Burnstone. Dollar estimates for 2015 are
based on an average annual exchange rate of R11.20/US$.
ENDS
Contact
James Wellsted
Head of Investor Relations
Sibanye Gold Limited
+27 83 453 4014
james.wellsted@sibanyegold.co.za
Sponsor
Sponsor: J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa (Pty) Ltd
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this document constitute “forward looking statements” within
the meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
US Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
These forward-looking statements, including, among others, those relating to
Sibanye’s future business prospects, revenues and income, wherever they may
occur in this document and the exhibits to this document, are necessarily estimates
reflecting the best judgment of the senior management of Sibanye and involve a
number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results, performance or achievements of the Group to differ materially from those
suggested by the forward-looking statements. As a consequence, these forward
looking statements should be considered in light of various important factors,
including those set forth in this document. Important factors that could cause the
actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the
forward looking statements include without limitation: economic, business, political
and social conditions in South Africa and elsewhere; changes in assumptions
underlying Sibanye’s estimation of its current mineral reserves and resources; the
ability to achieve anticipated efficiencies and other cost savings in connection with
past and future acquisitions as well as existing operations; the success of exploration
and development activities; changes in the market price of gold and/or uranium;
the occurrence of hazards associated with underground and surface gold and
uranium mining; the occurrence of labour disruptions and industrial action; the
availability, terms and deployment of capital or credit; changes in government
regulations, particularly environmental regulations and new legislation affecting
water, mining and mineral rights; the outcome and consequence of any potential or
pending litigation or regulatory proceedings or other environmental, health and
safety issues; power disruptions and cost increases; fluctuations in exchange rates,
currency devaluations, inflation and other macro-economic factors; the occurrence
of temporary stoppages of mines for safety incidents and unplanned maintenance
reasons; Sibanye’s ability to hire and retain senior management or sufficient
technically skilled employees, as well as its ability to attract sufficient historically
disadvantaged South Africans representation in its management positions; failure of
Sibanye’s information technology and communications systems; the adequacy of
Sibanye’s insurance coverage; any social unrest, sickness or natural or man-made
disaster at informal settlements in the vicinity of some of Sibanye’s operations; and
the impact of HIV, tuberculosis and other contagious diseases. These forward looking
statements speak only as of the date of this document.
The Group undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to
these forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Date: 27/01/2015 07:30:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
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