Newmont Provides 2021 and Longer-term Outlook

Creating value by improving production and costs through 2025

DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM, TSX: NGT) (Newmont or the Company) announced its 2021 outlook1 with attributable gold production guidance of 6.5 million ounces and AISC2 of $970 per ounce. Attributable gold production3 is expected to be between 6.2 and 6.7 million ounces per year in 2022 and 2023, increasing to between 6.5 to 7.0 million ounces in 2024 and 2025 while improving costs.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Attributable gold production: Production guidance is 6.5 million ounces for 2021 and is expected to be between 6.2 and 6.7 million ounces through 2023 and between 6.5 and 7.0 million ounces longer-term through 2025.
  • Attributable gold equivalent ounce (GEO) production from other metals4: Co-product GEO production guidance is 1.3 million ounces for 2021, between 1.2 to 1.4 million ounces in 2022 and 1.4 to 1.6 million ounces through 2025.
  • Gold costs applicable to sales (CAS): CAS guidance is $750 per ounce for 2021, between $650 and $750 per ounce for 2022 and $625 and $725 per ounce for 2023; CAS is expected to further improve to between $600 and $700 per ounce for 2024 through 2025.
  • Gold all-in sustaining costs (AISC): AISC guidance is $970 per ounce for 2021, between $850 and $950 per ounce for 2022 and $825 and $925 per ounce for 2023; AISC is expected to improve to between $800 and $900 per ounce for 2024 through 2025.
  • Capital: Attributable sustaining capital guidance is $950 million for 2021 and is expected to be between $900 to $1,100 million longer-term through 2025. Attributable development capital guidance is $850 million for 2021 and expected to average between $600 to $800 million per year through 2025, which includes development capital expenditures for Tanami Expansion 2, Ahafo North and Yanacocha Sulfides.
  • Returns: Industry-leading dividend and dividend framework5 including an annualized $1.00 per share sustainable base dividend with additional returns at higher gold prices. Completed the remaining $200 million of the 2020 share-repurchase program in the fourth quarter for an average cost of $45 per share for the total $1.0 billion program. Newmont is on track to return more than $2.7 billion to shareholders since January 2019.
  • ESG Commitment: Directing $500 million to climate change initiatives through 2025 targeted to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2030 and goal of net zero carbon by 2050.

“Newmont’s outlook remains strong and stable as we apply the rigor and discipline of our proven operating model across our world-class portfolio. Our five-year outlook reflects improving production and costs as we continue to deliver value from superior operational and project execution,” said Tom Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our strong financial position allows us to continue investing in profitable, organic growth while simultaneously returning cash to shareholders through our industry leading dividend framework.”

Tom Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer

1 Outlook guidance used in this release are considered “forward-looking statements” and users are cautioned that actual results may vary; refer to the cautionary statement at the end of this release.

2 AISC as used in the Company’s outlook is a non-GAAP metric – see end of this release for further information and reconciliation to CAS outlook.

3 Attributable gold production outlook includes the Company’s equity investment (40%) in Pueblo Viejo but does not include other equity investments.

4 Gold equivalent ounces (GEO) is calculated as pounds or ounces produced multiplied by the ratio of the other metal’s price to the gold price, using Gold ($1,200/oz.), Copper ($2.75/lb.), Silver ($22/oz.), Lead ($0.90/lb.), and Zinc ($1.05/lb.) pricing.

5 Investors are cautioned that the Company’s dividend framework and the annualized dividend level are non-binding, refer to cautionary statement.

OUTLOOK

Newmont’s outlook reflects increasing gold production and ongoing investment in its operating assets and most promising growth prospects. The Company has included Ahafo North and Yanacocha Sulfides in its outlook for the first time as the development projects are expected to reach execution stage in 2021. Additional development projects that have not reached execution stage represent upside to guidance. All production, cost and capital figures assume a $1,200/oz gold price.

Newmont’s 2021 and longer-term outlook assumes operations continue without major Covid-related interruptions. Newmont continues to maintain wide-ranging protective measures for its workforce and neighboring communities, including screening, physical distancing, deep cleaning and avoiding exposure for at-risk individuals. If at any point the Company determines that continuing operations poses an increased risk to our workforce or host communities, it will reduce operational activities up to, and including, care and maintenance and management of critical environmental systems. Please see cautionary statement in the end notes for additional information.

Newmont Production and Cost Outlook:

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

 

2024

 

2025

Attributable Production (Koz)

6,500

 

6,200 – 6,700

 

6,200 – 6,700

 

6,500 – 7,000

 

6,500 -7,000

CAS ($/oz)

750

 

650 – 750

 

625 – 725

 

600 – 700

 

600 – 700

All-in Sustaining Costs ($/oz)

970

 

850 – 950

 

825 – 925

 

800 – 900

 

800 – 900

Attributable gold production is expected to be stable at 6.2 to 7.0 million ounces across the five-year period. The 2021 outlook of 6.5 million ounces increases from 2020 with a full year of production at the five operations that were placed into care and maintenance in 2020 due to Covid-related precautions. Production is expected to remain between 6.2 and 6.7 million ounces per year in 2022 and 2023, respectively. This is supported by a steady base from Boddington, Tanami, Ahafo, Peñasquito and the Company’s equity ownership interest in the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture. Production is further enhanced by the Company’s eight other operating mines and its equity ownership in Pueblo Viejo. Production is expected to increase to between 6.5 and 7.0 million ounces due to the inclusion of profitable production from Ahafo North and Yanacocha Sulfides and reaching higher grade in North America.

Costs are expected to improve throughout the five-year period with continuing Full Potential improvements and ongoing investment in profitable projects. 2021 CAS is expected to be $750 per ounce with a full year of production at the five operations that were placed into care and maintenance as noted above. CAS is expected to be between $650 and $750 per ounce for 2022 and $625 to $725 per ounce for 2023, improving to between $600 and $700 per ounce in 2024 and 2025. AISC is expected to be $970 per ounce in 2021 driven by CAS. AISC is expected to improve to be between $850 and $950 per ounce in 2022 and $825 to $925 per ounce for 2023. Longer-term through 2025, AISC is expected to improve to between $800 and $900 per ounce.

Newmont Co-Product Production and Cost Outlook:

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

 

2024

 

2025

Attributable Co-product GEOs (K)

1,300

 

1,200 – 1,400

 

1,400 – 1,600

 

1,400 – 1,600

 

1,400 – 1,600

CAS ($/GEO)

600

 

600 – 700

 

550 – 650

 

550 – 650

 

450 – 550

All-in Sustaining Costs ($/GEO)

880

 

900 – 1,000

 

800 – 900

 

800 – 900

 

700 – 800

2021: Peñasquito benefits from a full year of production and Boddington reaches higher copper grade, which improves production and unit costs.

2022: Boddington increases production with higher copper grade and Peñasquito begins stripping from mining in the Chile Colorado pit.

2023-2025: Steady co-product production from Peñasquito after completing the stripping campaign of the Chile Colorado pit and slight decreases from Boddington due to mine sequencing are offset by first copper production from Yanacocha Sulfides in 2025.

Regional Production and Cost Outlook:

Australia

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Attributable Production (Koz)

1,330

 

1,400 – 1,500

 

1,400 – 1,500

CAS ($/oz)

650

 

550 – 650

 

500 – 600

All-in Sustaining Costs ($/oz)

860

 

650 – 750

 

650 – 750

2021: Production benefits from Full Potential improvements at Boddington that sustain mill throughput at greater than 40 million tonnes per annum while the site also benefits from higher grade in the South Pit. Tanami continues to deliver solid performance with 500,000 ounces of production while advancing the Tanami Expansion 2 project.

CAS benefits from higher grade at Boddington and stable costs at Tanami.

AISC includes sustaining capital spend at Boddington to advance Autonomous Haulage, which is expected to reach commercial production in 2021.

2022-2023: Production at Boddington benefits from higher grade and improved efficiency from Autonomous Haulage beginning in 2022 before transitioning to stripping the next layback in 2023. Tanami will partially offset Boddington’s lower production in 2023 as Tanami Expansion 2 begins to ramp up.

Unit costs improve with higher grade and efficiency at Boddington and improved underground efficiencies at Tanami as the second expansion comes online.

Africa

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Attributable Production (Koz)

915

 

1,000 – 1,100

 

1,100 – 1,200

CAS ($/oz)

715

 

700 – 800

 

600 – 700

All-in Sustaining Costs ($/oz)

900

 

900 – 1,000

 

800 – 900

2021: Production in Africa improves with Subika Underground delivering higher tonnes at Ahafo while Akyem benefits from higher grade.

CAS per ounce remains steady with higher grade at Akyem, offset by slightly higher costs at Ahafo due to stockpile processing and stripping from the Subika open pit.

AISC is slightly higher from sustaining capital for underground development at Ahafo and for the tailings storage facility at Akyem.

2022-2023: Subika Underground continues to deliver higher tonnes and Subika open pit reaches higher grade, partially offset by mine sequencing at Akyem.

CAS improves from higher production at Ahafo with increased ore tonnes from Subika Underground and the end of stripping in the Subika open pit.

AISC increases in 2022 with sustaining capital spend for the tailings storage facility at Ahafo. Ahafo North begins to ramp up in 2023, contributing to the higher production and improving unit costs.

North America

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Attributable Production (Koz)

1,760

 

1,450 – 1,550

 

1,300 – 1,400

CAS ($/oz)

730

 

700 – 800

 

750 – 850

All-in Sustaining Costs ($/oz)

915

 

900 – 1,000

 

1,000 – 1,100

2021: A full year of operations at Peñasquito, Éléonore and Musselwhite increases production. Peñasquito reaches slightly higher grade and sustains Full Potential improvements in the mill. Porcupine benefits from higher underground and open pit tonnes mined, partially offset by lower leach pad production at Cripple Creek and Victor (CC&V).

Unit costs improve with higher production from a full year of operations at Peñasquito, Éléonore and Musselwhite.

2022-2023: Éléonore, Musselwhite and CC&V deliver steady production while Porcupine benefits from higher grades in the Borden underground and the Hollinger open pit mines in 2022 before Hollinger begins to ramp down in 2023. Peñasquito is mining lower grade, harder ore from the Chile Colorado pit while stripping the next phases of the Peñasco pit from 2022 to 2024.

Unit costs impacted by mine sequencing at Peñasquito, Éléonore, CC&V and Porcupine which are partially offset by improved productivity and efficiencies at Musselwhite with the completion of the new conveyor system and lower mine material handling system.

South America

 

2021

2022

2023

Attributable Production (Koz)*

1,075

1,050 – 1,150

1,000 – 1,100

CAS ($/oz)

850

700 – 800

700 – 800

All-in Sustaining Costs ($/oz)

1,035

900 – 1,000

950 – 1,050

*Includes Pueblo Viejo interest with ~325Koz in 2021, ~335Koz in 2022 and ~375Koz in 2023

2021: A full year of production from Cerro Negro is partially offset by Merian transitioning to harder rock and Yanacocha transitioning to a primarily leach operation in 2021 while developing the first phase of the sulfide resources.

Unit costs remain steady with higher production and improved productivity at Cerro Negro, offset by lower production at Yanacocha.

2022-2023: Production improving with higher ore tonnes mined from Full Potential productivity improvements and mining from five to six ore sources at Cerro Negro. Yanacocha and Merian impacted by slightly lower production due to mine sequencing.

Unit costs remain stable with slight impacts from mine sequencing at Yanacocha and Merian.

Nevada Gold Mines (NGM)

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

Attributable Production (Koz)

1,370

 

1,200 – 1,300

 

1,300 – 1,400

CAS ($/oz)

760

 

700 – 800

 

700 – 800

All-in Sustaining Costs ($/oz)

960

 

900 – 1,000

 

850 – 950

Production, CAS and AISC for the Company’s 38.5 percent ownership interest in NGM as provided by Barrick Gold Corporation. 2021 and 2022 are years of investment in the future of NGM.

Newmont Capital Outlook

($M)

2021

 

2022

 

2023

 

2024

 

2025

Total Consolidated Capital

1,900

 

2,300 – 2,500

 

2,200 – 2,400

 

1,400 – 1,600

 

1,100 – 1,300

Consolidated Sustaining Capital

1,000

 

900 – 1,100

 

900 – 1,100

 

900 – 1,100

 

900 – 1,100

Consolidated Development Capital

900

 

1,300 – 1,500

 

1,200 – 1,400

 

400 – 600

 

100 – 300

Total Attributable Capital

1,800

 

2,000 – 2,200

 

1,900 – 2,100

 

1,200 – 1,400

 

1,100 – 1,300

Attributable Sustaining Capital

950

 

900 – 1,100

 

900 – 1,100

 

900 – 1,100

 

900 – 1,100

Attributable Development Capital

850

 

1,000 – 1,200

 

900 – 1,100

 

200 – 400

 

100 – 300

Sustaining capital remains steady, covering infrastructure, equipment and ongoing mine development.

Development capital includes spend for Tanami Expansion 2 in Australia, Subika Underground and Ahafo North in Ghana, Cerro Negro in Argentina, Yanacocha Sulfides in Peru, and expenditures to progress studies for future projects as well as development capital related to the Company’s ownership interest in Nevada Gold Mines including Goldrush Declines and Turquoise Ridge Shaft. Yearly decreases reflect the Company’s approach to only including development projects that have reached execution stage or are expected to reach execution in the next 12 months.

Consolidated Expense Outlook

Interest expense improves to $275 million in 2021 due to the maturity and expected pay off of the 2021 Notes and refinancing of $1 billion Senior Notes in March 2020 at a 2.25% coupon rate. Investment in exploration and advanced projects is expected to be $390 million in 2021 with a full year of production at the five operations that were placed into care and maintenance in 2020 due to Covid-related precautions. The 2021 outlook for general and administrative costs remain flat at $260 million. Depreciation and amortization is expected to be $2,500 million with a full year of production from the five operations that were placed into care and maintenance in 2020 due to Covid-related precautions.

Assumptions and Sensitivities

Newmont’s outlook assumes a $1,200 per ounce gold price, $22 per ounce silver price, $2.75 per pound copper price, $1.05 per pound zinc price, $0.90 per pound lead price, $0.75 USD/AUD exchange rate, $0.77 USD/CAD exchange rate and $50 per barrel WTI oil price.

Assuming a 35% incremental tax rate, a $100 per ounce increase in gold price would deliver an expected $400 million improvement in attributable free cash flow. Included within the attributable free cash flow sensitivity is a royalty impact of approximately $20 million (or $3 per ounce) for every $100 per ounce change in gold price.

Projects Update

Newmont’s capital-efficient project pipeline supports stable production with improving margins and mine life. Funding for the current development capital project Tanami Expansion 2 has been approved and the project is in execution stage. The Company has included the Ahafo North and Yanacocha Sulfides projects in its outlook as the development projects are expected to reach execution stage in 2021, but have not yet been approved for full funding. Additional projects not listed below represent incremental improvements to the Company’s outlook.

  • Tanami Expansion 2 (Australia) secures Tanami’s future as a long-life, low-cost producer with potential to extend mine life beyond 2040 through the addition of a 1,460 meter hoisting shaft and supporting infrastructure to achieve 3.5 million tonnes per year of production and provide a platform for future growth. The expansion is expected to increase average annual gold production by approximately 150,000 to 200,000 ounces per year for the first five years and is expected to reduce operating costs by approximately 10 percent.
  • Ahafo North (Africa) expands our existing footprint in Ghana with four open pit mines and a stand-alone mill located approximately 30 kilometers from the Company’s Ahafo South operations. An investment decision is expected in the first half of 2021 and the project is expected to add 300,000 ounces per year with all-in sustaining costs between $600 to $700 per ounce for the first five full years of production (2024-2028), with estimated capital costs of between $700 and $800 million. Ahafo North is the best unmined gold deposit in West Africa with approximately 3.5 million ounces of Reserves and more than 1 million ounces of Indicated and Inferred Resource and significant upside potential to extend Ahafo North’s current 13-year mine life.
  • Yanacocha Sulfides (South America)* will develop the first phase of sulfide deposits and an integrated processing circuit, including an autoclave to process gold, copper and silver feedstock. The project is expected to add 500,000 gold equivalent ounces per year with all-in sustaining costs between $700 to $800 per ounce for the first five full years of production (2026-2030). An investment decision is expected in 2021 with a three year development period and estimated capital costs of approximately $2 billion. The first phase focuses on developing the Yanacocha Verde and Chaquicocha deposits to extend Yanacocha’s operations beyond 2040 with second and third phases having the potential to extend life for multiple decades.

*Consolidated basis

2021 Regional Outlooka

2021 Outlook (+/-5%)

Consolidated

Production

(Koz, GEOs Koz)

Attributable

Production

(Koz, GEOs Koz)

Consolidated

CAS ($/oz)

Consolidated
All-In
Sustaining

Costs b ($/oz)

Consolidated
Sustaining
Capital
Expenditures

($M)

Consolidated
Development

Capital

Expenditures

($M)

Attributable
Sustaining
Capital
Expenditures
($M)

Attributable
Development

Capital

Expenditures

($M)

North America

1,760

1,760

730

915

300

25

 

300

25

 

South America

1,000

1,075

850

1,035

125

200

 

100

150

 

Australia

1,330

1,330

650

860

235

400

 

235

400

 

Africa

915

915

715

900

115

160

 

115

160

 

Nevada Gold Minesc

1,370

1,370

760

960

210

130

 

210

130

 

Total Gold

6,400

6,500

d

750

970

1,000

e

900

 

950

e

850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Co-productsf

1,300

1,300

600

880

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2021 Consolidated Expense Outlook ($M) (+/-5%)

General & Administrative

260

Interest Expense

275

Depreciation and Amortization

2,500

Exploration & Advanced Projects

390

Adjusted Tax Rate g,h

34%-38%

Federal Tax Rate h

27%-30%

Mining Tax Rate h

6%-9%

2021 Site Outlooka as of December 8, 2020

 

Consolidated
Production (Koz)

Attributable

Production (Koz)

Consolidated CAS
($/oz)

Consolidated All-In
Sustaining Costs b

($/oz)

Consolidated
Sustaining Capital
Expenditures ($M)

Consolidated
Development
Capital

Expenditures ($M)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CC&V

260

260

865

1,000

25

Éléonore

270

270

825

1,040

45

Peñasquito

660

660

575

750

155

Porcupine

360

360

785

940

35

25

Musselwhite

200

200

855

1,100

40

Other North America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cerro Negro

270

270

775

975

50

75

Yanacochai

315

160

1,050

1,350

25

125

Meriani

425

320

725

855

50

Pueblo Viejo

325

Other South America

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boddington

830

830

735

915

145

50

Tanami

500

500

515

725

85

350

Other Australia

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ahafo

515

515

800

990

80

40

Akyem

400

400

600

765

35

10

Ahafo North

115

Other Africa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nevada Gold Minesc

1,370

1,370

760

960

210

130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate/Other

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peñasquito – Co-products (GEO)f

1,120

1,120

575

825

 

 

Boddington – Co-products (GEO)f

180

180

765

990

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peñasquito – Zinc (Mlbs)

475

475

 

 

 

 

Peñasquito – Lead (Mlbs)

190

190

 

 

 

 

Peñasquito – Silver (Moz)

30

30

 

 

 

 

Boddington – Copper (Mlbs)

80

80

 

 

 

 

a 2021 outlook projections used in this presentation are considered forward-looking statements and represent management’s good faith estimates or expectations of future production results as of December 8, 2020. Outlook is based upon certain assumptions, including, but not limited to, metal prices, oil prices, certain exchange rates and other assumptions. For example, 2021 Outlook assumes $1,200/oz Au, $22/oz Ag, $2.75/lb Cu, $1.05/lb Zn, $0.90/lb Pb, $0.75 USD/AUD exchange rate, $0.77 USD/CAD exchange rate and $50/barrel WTI; AISC and CAS estimates do not include inflation, for the remainder of the year. Production, CAS, AISC and capital estimates exclude projects that have not yet been approved, except for Ahafo North and Yanacocha Sulfides which are included in Outlook as the development projects are expected to reach execution stage in 2021. The potential impact on inventory valuation as a result of lower prices, input costs, and project decisions are not included as part of this Outlook. Assumptions used for purposes of Outlook may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ from those anticipated, including variation beyond a +/-5% range. Outlook cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon Outlook and forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Amounts may not recalculate to totals due to rounding. See cautionary at the end of this release.

b All-in sustaining costs or AISC as used in the Company’s Outlook is a non-GAAP metric; see below for further information and reconciliation to consolidated 2021 CAS outlook.

c Represents the ownership interest in the Nevada Gold Mines (NGM) joint venture. NGM is owned 38.5% by Newmont and owned 61.5% and operated by Barrick. The Company accounts for its interest in NGM using the proportionate consolidation method, thereby recognizing its pro-rata share of the assets, liabilities and operations of NGM.

d Attributable gold production outlook includes the Company’s equity investment (40%) in Pueblo Viejo with ~325Koz in 2021; does not include the Company’s other equity investments.

e Total sustaining capital includes ~$20 million of corporate and other spend.

f Gold equivalent ounces (GEO) is calculated as pounds or ounces produced multiplied by the ratio of the other metal’s price to the gold price, using Gold ($1,200/oz.), Copper ($2.75/lb.), Silver ($22/oz.), Lead ($0.90/lb.), and Zinc ($1.05/lb.) pricing.

g The adjusted tax rate excludes certain items such as tax valuation allowance adjustments.

h Assuming average prices of $1,500 per ounce for gold, $22 per ounce for silver, $2.75 per pound for copper, $0.90 per pound for lead, and $1.05 per pound for zinc and achievement of current production and sales volumes and cost estimates, we estimate our consolidated adjusted effective tax rate related to continuing operations for 2020 will be between 34%-38%.

i Consolidated production for Yanacocha and Merian is presented on a total production basis for the mine site; attributable production represents a 51.35% interest for Yanacocha and a 75% interest for Merian.

Five Year Cost and Production Outlook (+/- 5%)

Guidance metric

2021E

2022E

2023E

2024E

2025E

Gold Production* (Moz)

6.5

6.2 – 6.7

6.2 – 6.7

6.5 – 7.0

6.5 – 7.0

Other Metal Production** (Mozs)

1.3

1.2 – 1.4

1.4 – 1.6

1.4 – 1.6

1.4 – 1.6

Total GEO Production (Mozs)

7.8

7.5 – 8.0

7.7 – 8.2

8.0 – 8.5

8.0 – 8.5

CAS*** ($/oz)

$750

$650 – $750

$625 – $725

$600 – $700

$600 – $700

All-in Sustaining Costs*** ($/oz)

$970

$850 – $950

$825 – $925

$800 – $900

$800 – $900

Sustaining Capital* ($M)

$950

$900 – $1,100

$900 – $1,100

$900 – $1,100

$900 – $1,100

Development Capital* ($M)

$850

$1,000 – $1,200

$900 – $1,100

$200 – $400

$100 – $300

Total Capital* ($M)

$1,800

$2,000 – $2,200

$1,900 – $2,100

$1,200 – $1,400

$1,100 – $1,300

Contacts

Media Contact
Courtney Boone

303.837.5159

[email protected]

Investor Contact
Eric Colby

303.837.5724

[email protected]

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