www.kimberresources.com 604.669.2251
Gordon Cummings
President & CEO
After receiving a positive preliminary assessment for its Monterde property in the Sierra Madre gold-silver belt in Mexico in 2010, Kimber Resources (TSX: KBR) has stepped up the projects exploration and development program starting with a 30,000-metre drill program launched in January, which will be followed by a pre-feasibility study during 2011. Kimber Resources Inc is based in Vancouver, British Columbia and trades on the NYSE AMEX under the symbol KBX and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol KBR. Gordon Cummings, President and CEO, discusses the path to turning the companys assets into profitable mining operations and why Kimber is ripe for a major revaluation.
Resource Intelligence: Could you give us the highlights of your PEA at Monterde? Are they just based on the Carmen deposit?
Gordon Cummings: The PEA was based on the Carmen and Veta Minitas deposits at Monterde, which are within 250 metres of each other. Our 2010 PEA projects that over 13.4 years, a mine at Monterde could produce 813,000 ounces of gold and 21.4 million ounces of silver. Average annual production was projected at over 60,000 ounces of gold and 1.6 million ounces of silver with cash costs of US$434 per gold equivalent ounce and total capital costs of US$130 million over life of mine. The study had a pre-tax IRR of 24.9% and was carried out with a base price of gold of US$875 and US$14 for silver.
RI: What are your priorities for Monterde this year?
GC: We plan to complete a pre-feasibility study and complete a 30,000-metre drill program with the objective of expanding and upgrading gold and silver mineral resources.
RI: How is the company doing financially?
GC: At the end of January we had over $13 million in the treasury with no debt. We have all the funds that we need to complete the pre-feasibility and complete the drill program with money left at the end of the year.
RI: Your share price is around $1.40, do you think this is a fair valuation of the company?
GC: Based on the 2010 preliminary assessment and exploration potential at Monterde I believe that Kimbers fundamental value is much higher than a $1.40 share price reflects.
RI: Your stock chart shows a spike in price December 2010. Was that when you released the PEA results?
GC: That was when we released trench results for the Carmen deposit. The results supported continuity of high-grade gold and silver at surface and showed potential for expansion along strike to the south of the main Carmen deposit. It was seen positively by the market.
RI: What big news can investors expect from you next?
GC: We will be drilling until June and potentially in the second half of the year. I expect drill results to be released monthly. Completion of the 30,000-metre drill program will likely lead to revised resource estimates in the second half of 2011. As well as drilling in and around existing deposits we will be drill-testing new exploration targets at Monterde. We will also be upgrading our economic studies including the completion of a pre-feasibility study.
RI: When do you see production commencing?
GC: I think that once weve completed a full feasibility study it would take at least a year to start production. I would estimate that commencement of production is possible sometime between early 2013 and late 2014. At this stage I think we need to see the pre-feasibility study completed to make a better assessment of production start dates.
RI: What value does Kimber immediately provide to investors?
GC: I believe that Kimber offers an attractive value and growth opportunity to investors through the Monterde gold-silver project.
RI: How do you feel about Mexico as a mining jurisdiction?
GC: Mexico is an excellent country to have a gold-silver project based on a number of factors. First, it has a strong history of mining and the local people are very receptive to mining operations. Secondly, there are a number of very good educational establishments in Mexico for geologists and engineers so that mining and exploration companies have access to very well trained local people. Specifically, the Sierra Madre gold-silver belt is an excellent area to be operating in where there are a number of multi-million-ounce gold-silver mines in production and there is a good level of existing infrastructure in terms of roads, power and other utilities. Another advantage of Mexico is that the local currency, the Mexican peso, has not appreciated against the US dollar in the last five years making Mexican costs quite competitive when compared to other mining countries like Australia, Brazil and Canada, whose currencies have appreciated significantly against the US dollar in the last several years. We believe that the Monterde project in Mexico is a good place to have operations.
RI: Where do you see Kimber over the next three to five years?
GC: Monterde should be in production during that time frame. It has the potential to contribute very solid profits based on the PEA results.
RI: What makes Kimber a unique proposition
for investors?
GC: Kimber is one of the few advanced exploration companies in mining-friendly Mexico which has the potential to complete a pre-feasibility study this year. Monterde still has exploration upside and we have the ability to grow mineral resources. Kimber is well funded, has no debt and has a strong board of directors. Kimber represents a great opportunity for investors through the growth and development of our Monterde asset in Mexico.
RI: Do you plan to stay in Mexico or do you have other targets elsewhere?
GC: Our plan is to remain focused in Mexico because we have a very strong exploration and development team, particularly a great group of geologists and engineers, and we have the ability to add a lot of value by leveraging off our experience in Mexico. I think for a company the size of Kimber its a big advantage to remain focused on one country.
RI: Is there anything else you think investors should know about Kimber Resources?
GC: Kimber has the potential to make the transition over the next few years from being an advanced gold-silver exploration company to becoming an emerging producer. Kimber is aiming to complete a pre-feasibility study in 2011 and then continue advancing along a development path. The high-grade gold-silver mineral resources at Monterde give Kimber an excellent opportunity to aim for low-cost production. Lastly, we believe that there is a significant amount of exploration potential at Kimber, at existing deposits and new targets. By exploring at Monterde to grow gold-silver mineral resources and advancing towards a production decision, Kimber is well placed to benefit from this bull market in gold and silver.
Investor Highlights:
Monterde Project
- Stage: Exploration and development drilling
- Market cap: $109.5 million as of February 25, 2011
- Share price: +31.5% in 12 months ($1.42/ $1.08)
- Share price: +121.8% in 24 months ($1.42/ $0.64)
- Share price: $1.42 as of February 25, 2011
- Commodity: Silver and Gold
- Cash: $12.6 million as of February 25, 2011
Highlights:
- High grade gold and silver mineral resources
- Over 29,000 hectares 100% owned at Monterde in the Sierra Madre, Mexico
- Strong cash position, no debt and a 30,000-metre drill program in progress
- Positive PEA in 2010 with pre-tax IRR of 24.9% at $875 gold and $14 silver
- Poised to complete a pre-feasibility study in 2011