2
Gold Fields 2016 Results
Strong operational performance in Q4 2016
Attributable gold equivalent production for Q4 2016 was 566koz (Q3
2016: 537koz), with all-in sustaining costs (AISC) of US$911/oz (Q3
2016: US$1,026/oz) and all-in costs (AIC) of US$941/oz (Q3 2016:
US$1,038/oz).
Reinvesting today for tomorrow
In 2017, we will continue to drive operational excellence but in addition
increase our focus on setting up the business for the future. With
various new growth and development projects, we have entered the
next cycle in our evolution. This focuses on reinvesting in the business
and our future to target both continuing and increasing free cash flow
for the benefit of all stakeholders.
At the end of 2016 we announced our joint venture with Gold Road to
develop and operate the Gruyere Gold project. We have taken over its
management in February 2017 and production should start early in
2019. Last year also saw the decision on the reinvestment plan for
Damang, extending the life-of-mine from 2017 to 2024, with clear
upside beyond that.
In Chile, the Salares Norte project has achieved the key milestone of
receiving Government approval for sufficient water rights. As at 31
December 2016, Salares Norte had Mineral Resources of 4.4Moz gold
equivalent ounces (25.6Mt at 4.6g/t Au; 53.1g/t Ag), of which 52% is in
the Indicated category. In addition, land easement has been granted
for a period of 30 years. The project is on track to complete a
prefeasibility study in Q2 2017.
In addition, we will continue to invest in brownfields exploration in
Australia with positive results at St Ives and Granny Smith, and look for
opportunities, for life extension at Cerro Corona and Tarkwa.
Investments such as these do not mean that our strategy has changed.
We remain focused on generating cash in order to reduce our debt, pay
dividends to shareholders and share the value we create with
employees and host communities.
However, for us to grow and sustain cash flow, investing is necessary.
While we may spend more cash than we may generate in 2017,
depending on, inter alia, gold price and exchange rate, we are taking a
longer term view to growing our cash flow in the future. Our business
is a long-term game, which has to be sustainable though price cycles.
Importantly, we are ensuring that we only embark on investments and
capital expenditure with excellent potential for pay-backs and returns
and which will continue to drive down our costs. It is also important to
remember that we need to keep managing our existing ore bodies with
regard to grade management and ongoing sustainable capital
expenditure, so as to provide a platform for repetitive strong cashflow.
In October, we announced the Damang reinvestment plan which
requires an investment of US$340m and will extend the life of mine
(LoM) by eight years from 2017 to 2024. Over the LoM, a total of 165Mt
waste and ore will be mined, with 32Mt processed at a grade of 1.65g/t,
resulting in total gold production of 1.56Moz (average annual
production of 225koz) at average AIC of US$950/oz. The project offers
healthy returns, with an IRR of 28% at a gold price of US$1,200/oz and
a payback period of 4.5 years.
In November 2016, Gold Fields entered into a 50:50 joint venture with
Gold Road Resources for the development and operation of the
Gruyere Gold project in Western Australia. The total purchase
consideration was A$350m payable in cash and a 1.5% royalty on Gold
Fields’ share of production after total mine production exceeds 2Moz
with an approximate value of A$15 million. The Gruyere project is
expected to have average annualised production of 270koz for a 13-
year life of mine at average AISC of c.A$945/oz (US$690/oz at A$1;00:
US$0.73), with construction capital expenditure estimated at A$507m.
First production from Gruyere is expected end-2018/early-2019. The
project offers a return of 6% on reserves only and excluding other
known deposits on the joint venture tenements at a gold price of
A$1,600/oz, after taking the acquisition cost into account. Importantly,
this investment established a foothold in a new and very significant gold
province, the Yamarna belt, east of the Yilgarn Craton system.
Gruyere has received approval from the Department of Mines and
Petroleum (DMP) for the Project Management Plan, Mining Proposal
and Mine Closure Plan. This is the final level of approval required to
allow commencement of construction of the process plant and
associated infrastructure, and development work on the Gruyere open
pit mine. In addition, all environmental approvals have been received.
Before year-end we completed the sale of a portfolio of eleven existing
producing and non-producing royalties to Maverix Metals Inc, in return
for 42.85 million common shares and 10 million common share
purchase warrants of Maverix. Gold Fields owns approximately 32%
of the issued and outstanding common shares of Maverix, which is
currently worth around US$42m.
South Deep cash positive in 2016
South Deep is a key part of the Gold Fields portfolio and will be a key
contributor to Group production and cash flow as the mine ramps up to
full production. Production at South Deep increased by 47% to 9,032kg
(290koz) in FY2016 from 6,160kg (198koz) in FY2015 driven primarily
by increased mining volumes. AIC decreased 8% YoY to R583,059/kg
(US$1,234/oz). Good progress was made on a number of important
activities:
• An overall improvement in safety during 2016 with the TRIFR
improving 17% YoY to 2.42 in FY2016 (FY2015: 2.91). As
previously reported, there was one fatality at the mine during the
year.
• Improved operating performance and the higher rand gold price
received resulted in the mine generating net cash flow of R175m
(US$12m), which is a complete turnaround from the outflow of
R1,009m (US$80m) in 2015.
• Development increased by 47% to 6,933 metres in 2016 from
4,701 metres in 2015. New mine development increased by 9%
YoY to 811 metres.
• Given the change to the high profile method in the middle of 2015,
destress mining was little changed YoY at 32,333m
2
(FY2015:
31,499m
2
). The high profile method accounted for 69% of total
destress mining in 2016 compared to 5% in 2015. All destress
mining on the mine now uses the high profile method.
• Longhole stoping volumes increased by 74% to 745kt in FY2016
(FY2015: 429kt). There was a notable improvement in longhole
stoping rig productivity during FY2016, which increased by 28%
YoY to 9,805t/rig.
• Secondary support installation increased by 32% YoY in FY2016
to 8,694 metres.
• Backfill placed was 10% higher YoY at 373m
3.
Australia
Gold production in the Australia region for FY2016 was 5% lower YoY
at 942koz, but exceeded original and revised guidance of 905koz and
925koz, respectively. AIC for the region was 4% higher YoY in A$
terms at A$1,261/oz and 3% higher YoY in US$ terms at US$941/oz.
The region had another strong year of cash generation, with net cash
flow of A$343m (US$256m) for 2016.