Gold Fields Q2 2014 Results I 13
Net operating costs, including gold-in-process movements, decreased
from A$56 million (US$50 million) in the March quarter to A$48 million
(US$45 million) in the June quarter due to decreased tonnes mined
and processed and cost saving initiatives.
Operating profit increased from A$41 million (US$37 million) in the
March quarter to A$68 million (US$63 million) in the June quarter due
to higher production and lower operating costs.
Capital expenditure increased from A$8 million (US$7 million) in the
March quarter to A$11 million (US$10 million) in the June quarter.
Capital expenditure was incurred primarily on improvements to the
processing plant.
All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost per ounce decreased from
A$1,018 per ounce (US$910 per ounce) in the March quarter to
A$742 per ounce (US$692 per ounce) in the June quarter mainly due
to increased production and lower operating costs.
Quarter ended 30 June 2014 compared with quarter ended 30 June 2013
Group attributable equivalent gold production, increased by 22 per
cent from 451,000 ounces for the June 2013 quarter to 548,000
ounces for the June 2014 quarter, mainly due to the inclusion of
production from the Yilgarn South assets in the June 2014 quarter.
At the South Africa region, gold production at South Deep, decreased
by 34 per cent from 2,420 kilograms (77,800 ounces) in the June
2013 quarter to 1,591 kilograms (51,100 ounces) in the June 2014
quarter, as a result of lost production mainly due to two fatal accidents
and safety stoppages in the June 2014 quarter.
At the West Africa region, total managed gold production increased
by 6 per cent from 171,000 ounces for the June 2013 quarter to
181,300 ounces for the June 2014 quarter. The June 2013 quarter at
both Tarkwa and Damang was affected by six days of industrial
action. At Tarkwa, gold production increased by 1 per cent from
139,200 ounces to 140,700 ounces mainly due to increased tonnes
processed, partially offset by the cessation of crushing and stacking
operations at the heap leach facilities. At Damang, gold production
increased by 27 per cent from 31,800 ounces to 40,500 ounces
mainly due to higher mill throughput and head grade in the June 2014
quarter.
At the South America region, gold equivalent production at Cerro
Corona increased by 10 per cent from 70,000 ounces for the June
2013 quarter to 76,800 ounces for the June 2014 quarter mainly due
to increased ore processed and higher copper grade, partially offset
by lower gold grade.
At the Australia region, gold production increased by 70 per cent from
150,800 ounces for the June 2013 quarter to 256,900 ounces for the
June 2014 quarter mainly due to the acquisition of the Yilgarn South
assets. At St Ives, gold production decreased by 15 per cent from
97,700 ounces to 83,400 ounces, mainly due to the closure of Argo
and lower underground head grade. At Agnew/Lawlers, gold
production increased by 25 per cent from 53,000 ounces to 66,000
ounces, mainly due to the inclusion of Lawlers. At Darlot and Granny
Smith gold production amounted to 22,900 ounces and 84,600
ounces, respectively.
Income statement
Revenue increased by 17 per cent from US$637 million in the June
2013 quarter to US$747 million in the June 2014 quarter due to the
higher gold sold, partially offset by the lower gold price received. The
average gold price decreased by 7 per cent from US$1,372 per ounce
to US$1,275 per ounce. The average Rand/US dollar exchange rate
weakened by 12 per cent from R9.41 in the June 2013 quarter to
R10.53 in the June 2014 quarter. The average Australian/US dollar
exchange rate weakened by 7 per cent from A$1.00 = US$1.00 to
A$1.00 = US$0.93.
Net operating costs increased by 10 per cent from US$397 million to
US$436 million due to the inclusion of the Yilgarn South assets.
At South Deep in South Africa, net operating costs decreased by 14
per cent from R797 million (US$85 million) in the June 2013 quarter
to R687 million (US$65 million) in the June 2014 quarter. This was
mainly due to the lower production as well as cost restructuring,
partially offset by annual wage increases and normal inflationary
increases. All-in sustaining costs of R505,974 per kilogram
(US$1,495 per ounce) and total all-in cost of R570,575 per kilogram
(US$1,685 per ounce) in the June 2014 quarter compared with
R471,288 per kilogram (US$1,558 per ounce) and R573,110 per
kilogram (US$1,894 per ounce), respectively, in the June 2013
quarter.
At the West Africa region, net operating costs decreased by 17 per
cent from US$162 million in the June 2013 quarter to US$134 million
in the June 2014 quarter. All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost
for the region amounted to US$1,084 per ounce in the June 2014
quarter compared with US$1,712 per ounce in the June 2013 quarter.
At Tarkwa, net operating costs decreased by 29 per cent from
US$126 million to US$90 million. Good cost control as well as lower
contractor and consumable stores costs due to the heap leach
closure were partially offset by annual wage increases and increased
power rates. Net operating costs were also lower due to a US$1
million gold-in-process credit to cost in the June 2014 quarter,
compared with a US$10 million drawdown of stockpiles in the June
2013 quarter. All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost amounted to
US$1,026 per ounce in the June 2014 quarter compared with
US$1,592 per ounce in the June 2013 quarter. At Damang, net
operating costs increased by 22 per cent from US$36 million to
US$44 million due to higher production and annual wage increases
as well as increases in price and consumption of reagents and higher
contractor costs. All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost amounted
to US$1,282 per ounce in the June 2014 quarter compared with
US$2,241 per ounce in the June 2013 quarter.
At Cerro Corona in South America, net operating costs increased by
70 per cent from US$30 million in the June 2013 quarter to US$51
million in the June 2014 quarter. This was mainly due to a US$11
million drawdown of concentrate inventory in the June 2014 quarter
compared with a US$9 million increase in sulphide ore stockpiles in
the June 2013 quarter. All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost
amounted to US$307 per ounce in the June 2014 quarter compared
with US$587 per ounce in the June 2013 quarter. All-in sustaining
costs and total all-in cost, on a gold equivalent basis amounted to
US$789 per ounce in the June 2014 quarter compared with US$776
per ounce in the June 2013 quarter.
At the Australia region, net operating costs increased by 66 per cent
from A$120 million (US$120 million) in the June 2013 quarter to
A$199 million (US$185 million) in the June 2014 quarter mainly due
to the inclusion of the Yilgarn South assets. All-in sustaining costs
and total all-in cost for the region amounted to A$1,118 per ounce
(US$1,042 per ounce) in the June 2014 quarter compared with
A$1,150 per ounce (US$1,151 per ounce) in the June 2013 quarter.
At St Ives, net operating costs decreased from A$87 million (US$86
million) to A$80 million (US$75 million) mainly due to lower
operational waste tonnes mined in the June 2014 quarter as well as
cost improvements, partially offset by a A$2 million (US$2 million)
drawdown of gold-in-process in the June 2014 quarter compared with
a A$3 million (US$3 million) build-up of stockpiles in the June 2013
quarter. All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost for St Ives
amounted to A$1,472 per ounce (US$1,372 per ounce) in the June
2014 quarter compared with A$1,276 per ounce (US$1,278 per
ounce) in the June 2013 quarter. At Agnew, net operating costs
increased by 38 per cent from A$34 million (US$34 million) to A$47
million (US$43 million) due to additional costs from Lawlers which
were not included in the June 2013 costs. All-in sustaining costs and
total all-in cost for Agnew amounted to A$1,083 per ounce (US$1,010
per ounce) in the June 2014 quarter compared with A$916 per ounce
(US$918 per ounce) in the June 2013 quarter. At Darlot and Granny
Smith, net operating costs were A$23 million (US$22 million) and