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VENEZUELA OPERATIONS


 

 Las Cristinas    Tomi    La Victoria 

At the end of September 2008, the Company ceased mining at the Tomi and La Victoria mines due to the handover of the Revemin mill to Minerven, a Venezuelan State-owned company, which was effective October 1, 2008. Subsequent to October 1, 2008, the entire mill operating employees at Revemin and some of the mining employees accepted offers of employment with Minerven. The Company paid Minerven compensation for all severance costs relating to those employees who were assumed by Minerven and is in the process of terminating most of the remaining mining employees. The Company is also in discussions with Minerven regarding the return of the Tomi and La Victoria properties to the State and finalizing mine closure obligations.  Previously, gold was produced from three deposits on the Tomi concession and from an open pit mine on the La Victoria concession. Ore from the Tomi and La Victoria mines was processed at the Revemin mill, which is located ten kilometres from the La Victoria mine and twenty one kilometres from the Tomi mines.

In 2008, gold production in Venezuela was 17,885 ounces.


2008 Key Operating Statistics

 

2008

2007

2006

Gold Production
(ounces)

 

 

 

 

 

   Tomi Open Pits

6,530

8,437

19,428

   Tomi Underground

3,856

13,551

22,210

    La Victoria

6,488

9,356

3,260

    Purchased Material

1,011

2,223

2,447


Total Gold Production
(ounces)
Gold Sold (ounces)


17,885

19,677


33,567

32,815


47,345

48,570

 

 

 

   Average Realized
   Gold Price
Average Spot Price

$733

$897

$413

$695

$578

$604

 

 

 

 

Gold Reserves(ounces)
Las Cristinas1,2
Proven and Probable Reserves



----
16,862,000



----
14,006,000



----
13,594,000

Mineral reserves are based on a US$550 per ounce gold price and cut-off grades ranging from 0.33 grams per tonne to 0.57 grams of gold per tonne depending on the mineral type.
Calculated in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 as required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities.