Q4 and FY 2022 Highlights
Largo Inc. ("Largo" or the "Company") (TSX: LGO) (NASDAQ: LGO) today announces annual production of 10,436 tonnes (23.0 million lbs1) of vanadium pentoxide (“V2O5”) equivalent and sales of 11,091 tonnes of V2O5 equivalent from its Maracás Menchen Mine in 2022.
Paulo Misk, President and CEO of Largo, stated: “Despite operational challenges faced in 2022, we continue to prioritize and focus on the steady state operation of our Maracás Menchen Mine in Brazil. To ensure normal operating performance throughout 2023, our operational team performed mitigation efforts to rectify rain-related impacts and preventive maintenance measures during the operational downtime in December 2022 and January 2023.”
He continued: “In the coming year, we expect to meet our planned objectives to fully realize the value of our tier one vanadium company, including annual guidance for 2023, the completion of our ilmenite concentration plant, and the delivery of our inaugural VRFB for Enel in the second quarter of 2023.” He concluded: “While our negotiation with Ansaldo continues, LCE’s senior management continue to maintain their efforts on core development and system improvements required to support the current and future needs of the long duration energy storage sector. We are pleased to see a strengthening in vanadium demand, driven by strong high purity aerospace inquiries and new VRFB deployments, which has led to price increases in recent months.”
Maracás Menchen Mine Operational and Sales Results
Q4 2022 | Q4 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||
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Total Ore Mined (tonnes) | 326,552 | 277,783 | 1,359,927 | 1,248,967 | ||||
Ore Grade Mined - Effective Grade (%)2 | 0.96 | 1.00 | 1.11 | 1.12 | ||||
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Concentrate Produced (tonnes) | 90,797 | 86,129 | 406,951 | 398,847 | ||||
Grade of Concentrate (%) | 2.94 | 3.13 | 3.18 | 3.23 | ||||
Global Recovery (%)3 | 74.7 | 76.0 | 79.1 | 79.7 | ||||
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V2O5 produced (Flake + Powder) (tonnes) | 2,004 | 2,003 | 10,436 | 10,319 | ||||
V2O5 produced (equivalent pounds) 1 | 4,420,263 | 4,415,854 | 23,007,414 | 22,749,473 | ||||
Total V2O5 equivalent sold (tonnes) | 2,774 | 2,899 | 11,091 | 11,393 | ||||
Produced V2O5 equivalent sold (tonnes) | 2,656 | 2,843 | 10,034 | 10,864 | ||||
Purchased V2O5 equivalent sold (tonnes) | 118 | 56 | 1,057 | 529 | ||||
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Q4, FY 2022 and Other Highlights
2023 Production, Sales and Cost Guidance
Tables summarizing the Company’s 2023 production, sales and cost guidance is provided below. It is expected that the Company will incur higher cash operating costs excluding royalties4 in the first half of 2023 as a result of lower sales in H1 2023, a result of previously noted rain-related operational impacts in Q4 2022 and Q1 2023. In H1 2023, the Company anticipates cash operating costs excluding royalties4 to be above the average cost guidance provided for 2023 with H2 2023 being closer to the lower end.
Tonnes V2O5 | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | High | |||||
Productioni | 1,900 | 2,200 | 3,000 | 3,200 | 3,050 | 3,300 | 3,050 | 3,300 | 11,000 | 12,000 | |||||
Sales | 2,300 | 2,500 | 2,300 | 2,500 | 2,850 | 3,150 | 2,850 | 3,150 | 10,300 | 11,300 | |||||
i. The annual 2023 sales guidance does not include purchased material. |
Cash Operating Cost Excluding Royalties ($/lb sold)4 | $4.85 – 5.25 | |
Vanadium Distribution Costs | $9.0 – 10.0 million | |
Corporate and Sales & Trading, General and Administrative Expenses | $9.0 – 10.0 million | |
Largo Clean Energy General and Administrative Expenses | $13.5 – 14.5 million |
2023 Capital Expenditures Guidance
In 2023, the Company plans to invest approximately $50.5 million on capital expenditures of which approximately $4.0 million has been carried over from the 2022 capital expenditures budget. The $48.0 million capital expenditure budget includes approximately $12.5 million for sustaining capital requirements, $12.5 million for capitalized stripping, $18.0 million to finalize the construction of the Company’s ilmenite concentration plant and $2.5 million for the installation of an additional dry magnetic separator to assist with the Company’s mining operations in Brazil.
Sustaining Capital Expenditures | $13.0 – 14.0 million | |
Capitalized Stripping Capital Expenditures | $12.0 – 13.0 million | |
Ilmenite Concentration Plant Capital Expenditures | $17.5 – 18.5 million | |
Dry Magnetic Separator Capital Expenditure | $2.0 – 3.0 million | |
Carry-Over Capital Expenditures | $3.5 – 4.5 million |
Management has made the decision to postpone the Company's existing plans to further develop its titanium dioxide ("TiO2") pigment plant until additional funds are made available, either internally or externally. At this time, the Company is exploring alternative debt financing or strategic association options with advisors and will provide an update as things progress.
About Largo
Largo has a long and successful history as one of the world’s preferred vanadium companies through the supply of its VPURE™ and VPURE+™ products, which are sourced from one of the world's highest-grade vanadium deposits at the Company's Maracás Menchen Mine in Brazil. Aiming to enhance value creation at Largo, the Company is in the process of implementing a titanium dioxide pigment plant using feedstock sourced from its existing operations in addition to advancing its U.S.-based clean energy division with its VCHARGE vanadium batteries. Largo’s VCHARGE vanadium batteries contain a variety of innovations, enabling an efficient, safe and ESG-aligned long duration solution that is fully recyclable at the end of its 25+ year lifespan. Producing some of the world’s highest quality vanadium, Largo’s strategic business plan is based on two pillars: 1.) leading vanadium supplier with an outlined growth plan and 2.) U.S.-based energy storage business support a low carbon future.
Largo’s common shares trade on the Nasdaq Stock Market and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "LGO". For more information on the Company, please visit www.largoinc.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Information:
This press release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Forward‐looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the timing and amount of estimated future production and sales; the future price of commodities; costs of future activities and operations, including, without limitation, the effect of inflation and exchange rates; the effect of unforeseen equipment maintenance or repairs on production; timing and cost related to the build-out of the ilmenite plant; the ability to produce vanadium trioxide according to customer specifications; the extent of capital and operating expenditures; the impact of global delays and related price increases on the Company’s global supply chain and future sales of vanadium products. Forward‐looking information in this press release also includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to our ability to build, finance and successfully operate a VRFB business, the projected timing and cost of the completion of the EGPE project; our ability to protect and develop our technology, our ability to maintain our IP, the competitiveness of our product in an evolving market, our ability to market, sell and deliver our VCHARGE batteries on specification and at a competitive price, our ability to successfully deploy our VCHARGE batteries in foreign jurisdictions; our ability to negotiate and enter into a joint venture with Ansaldo Green Tech on terms satisfactory to the Company and the success of such joint venture; the receipt of necessary governmental permits and approvals on a timely basis, our ability to secure the required resources to build and deploy our VCHARGE batteries, and the adoption of VRFB technology generally in the market.
The following are some of the assumptions upon which forward-looking information is based: that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; demand for, and stable or improving price of V2O5 and other vanadium commodities; receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, permits and renewals in a timely manner; that the Company will not experience any material accident, labour dispute or failure of plant or equipment or other material disruption in the Company’s operations at the Maracás Menchen Mine or relating to Largo Clean Energy; the availability of financing for operations and development; the ability to mitigate the impact of continuing heavy rainfall; the Company’s ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; that the estimates of the resources and reserves at the Maracás Menchen Mine are within reasonable bounds of accuracy (including with respect to size, grade and recovery and the operational and price assumptions on which such estimates are based); the competitiveness of the Company's VRFB technology; that the Company’s current plans for ilmenite and VRFBs can be achieved; the Company's "two-pillar" business strategy will be successful; the Company's sales and trading arrangements will not be affected by the evolving sanctions against Russia; and the Company’s ability to attract and retain skilled personnel and directors; the ability of management to execute strategic goals.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". All information contained in this news release, other than statements of current and historical fact, is forward looking information. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Largo or Largo Clean Energy to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those risks described in the annual information form of Largo and in its public documents filed on www.sedar.com and available on www.sec.gov from time to time. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although management of Largo has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Largo does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Readers should also review the risks and uncertainties sections of Largo's annual and interim MD&As which also apply.
Trademarks are owned by Largo Inc.
Future Oriented Financial Information:
Any financial outlook or future oriented financial information contained in this press release, as such term is defined by applicable securities laws, has been approved by management of Largo as of the date hereof and is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the Company's 2023 guidance. Readers are cautioned that any such future oriented financial information contained herein should not be used for purposes other than those for which it is disclosed herein. The Company and its management believe that the prospective financial information as to the Company's anticipated 2023 guidance has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management's best estimates and judgments. However, because this information is highly subjective, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results.
Non-GAAP5 Measures
The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial performance measures in this press release, which are described in the following section.
Cash Operating Costs
The Company’s press release refers to cash operating costs per pound, a non-GAAP performance measure, in order to provide investors with information about a key measure used by management to monitor performance. This information is used to assess how well the Maracás Menchen Mine is performing compared to plan and prior periods, and also to assess its overall effectiveness and efficiency. Cash operating costs includes mine site operating costs such as mining costs, plant and maintenance costs, sustainability costs, mine and plant administration costs, royalties and sales, general and administrative costs (all for the Mine properties segment), but excludes depreciation and amortization, share-based payments, foreign exchange gains or losses, commissions, reclamation, capital expenditures and exploration and evaluation costs. Operating costs not attributable to the Mine properties segment are also excluded, including conversion costs, product acquisition costs, distribution costs and inventory write-downs. These costs are then divided by the pounds of vanadium sold that were produced by the Maracás Menchen Mine to arrive at the cash operating costs per pound. This measure differs to the new total cash costs non-GAAP measure the Company uses to measure its overall performance (see Company’s latest Management Discussion and Analysis). These measures, along with revenues, are considered to be one of the key indicators of the Company’s ability to generate operating earnings and cash flow from its Maracás Menchen Mine. These cash operating costs measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and differ from measures determined in accordance with IFRS. These measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures are not necessarily indicative of net earnings or cash flow from operating activities as determined under IFRS.
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1 Conversion of tonnes to pounds, 1 tonne = 2,204.62 pounds or lbs.
2 Effective grade represents the percentage of magnetic material mined multiplied by the percentage of V2O5 in the magnetic concentrate.
3 Global recovery is the product of crushing recovery, milling recovery, kiln recovery, leaching recovery and chemical plant recovery.
4 Cash operating costs excluding royalties per pound reported are on a non-GAAP basis. Refer to the “Non-GAAP Measures” section of this press release.
5 GAAP – Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
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Daily Change: | -0.02 -0.74 |
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Market Cap: | US$129.820M |
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