La Libertad mine - Nicaragua
Open Pit and Underground, 100% B2Gold Ownership
In the second quarter of 2016, La Libertad mine produced 30,807 ounces of gold, approximately 7% (or 2,423 ounces) below budget. In the first half of 2016, La Libertad produced 60,005 ounces of gold, slightly above a budgeted 59,214 ounces, and 13% higher compared to 53,007 ounces produced in the first half of 2015.
La Libertad’s cash operating costs in the second quarter of 2016 were $717 per ounce, $28 per ounce (or 4%) above budget but $96 per ounce (or 12%) lower compared to the prior-year quarter. The mine’s cash operating costs for the first half of 2016 were $672 per ounce, $26 per ounce (or 4%) below budget and $154 per ounce (or 19%) below the same period last year.
La Libertad’s all-in sustaining costs in the second quarter of 2016 were $942 per ounce, below both a budgeted $1,075 per ounce and $1,120 per ounce in the prior-year quarter. The mine’s all-in sustaining costs in the first half of 2016 were $991 per ounce, below both a budgeted $1,295 per ounce, and $1,164 per ounce in the first half of 2015.
On May 5, 2016, B2Gold received the 2015 Award for Social Responsibility in Nicaragua for its work on the Jabalí Antena settlement project. The award recognizes the Company’s commitment to social development projects that benefit the local communities in which it operates.
For 2016, La Libertad’s annual production is expected to meet its production guidance range of 125,000 to 135,000 ounces of gold, at 2016 at cash operating costs of approximately $650 to $680 per ounce.
Please click here for the full news release “B2Gold Corp. Reports Second Quarter Results 2016."
Certain portions of the following information are derived from and based on the assumptions, qualifications and procedures set out in the technical report entitled “NI 43-101 Technical Report on La Libertad Mine, Nicaragua” dated March 27, 2015 (the “La Libertad Technical Report”) prepared by Donald E. Hulse, RE., William J. Crowl, MMSA, and Deepak Malhotra, PhD. For a more detailed overview of La Libertad Mine, please refer to the technical report noted above, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Project Description and Location
La Libertad Mine is located approximately 110 kilometres due east of Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua and 32 kilometres northeast of Juigalpa. The property is situated near the town of La Libertad in La Libertad-Santo Domingo Region of the Department of Chontales in Central Nicaragua. We, indirectly through our subsidiary, Desarrollo Minero de Nicaragua S.A. (“Desminic”), hold a 100% interest in one exploitation concession covering 10,950 hectares, granted on September 6, 1994 for the term of 40 years pursuant to Ministerial Decree No. 032-RNMC/94. The principal obligations under the Ministerial Accord include the payment annually of surface taxes, and a net 3.0% royalty on gross production revenues payable to the government of Nicaragua. In addition, we hold an additional exploration concession, Extension Quernos de Oro, which covers 1,196 hectares of the potential extension of a mineralized structure northwest of the exploitation concession. The exploitation and exploration concessions form one contiguous block.
La Libertad Mine is also subject to a royalty interest granted to Inversiones Mineras S.A. (“IMISA”), a holding company formed to represent unionized mine workers in Nicaragua, equal to 2.0% of the value of total production of gold and silver from La Libertad exploitation concession. In Nicaragua, the government is entitled to an advalorem tax over the substances extracted from a mineral concession. The amount of ad-valorem tax is 3% for minerals. Under Nicaraguan law, the ad-valorem tax paid is considered a deductible expense for purposes of computing corporate income tax. However, when this law was enacted, it included a grandfathering rule which allowed concessions granted prior to this law to continue operating under its existing regime. Under the mining law applicable at the time, the amount paid as ad-valorem tax is applied as a direct credit against corporate income tax. The total royalty payable on La Libertad Mine production is 5.0%. In addition, under Nicaraguan law, small scale or artisanal miners have the right to exploit secondary veins up to a total surface area that may not exceed 1% of the total area granted under a concession. Artisanal mining activities continue on the concession.
La Libertad Mine Reserves & Resources
Probable Mineral Reserves as of December 31, 2015 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
| Vein Structure | Tonnes | Grade g/t Au | Ounces Au | Kg Au |
| Jabali Central | 1,360,000 | 2.67 | 117,000 | 3,600 |
| Jabali Antenna | 550,000 | 3.61 | 64,000 | 2,000 |
| Spent Ore | 1,060,000 | 0.95 | 32,000 | 1,000 |
| Total Probable Mineral Reserves | 2,970,000 | 2.23 | 213,000 | 6,600 |
Indicated Mineral Resources as of December 31, 2015 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
| Vein structure | Tonnes | Grade g/t Au | Ounces Au |
Kg Au |
| Indicated | - | - | - | - |
| Jabali Antenna – Open Pit | 1,890,000 | 3.87 | 235,000 | 7,300 |
| Jabali Central – Open Pit | 1,490,000 | 2.85 | 137,000 | 4,200 |
| Spent Ore | 1,560,000 | 0.87 | 43,000 | 1,300 |
| Total Indicated Mineral Resources | 4,940,000 | 2.61 | 415,000 | 12,900 |
Inferred Mineral Resources as of December 31, 2015 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
| Vein Structure | Tonnes | Grade g/t Au |
Ounces Au |
Kg Au |
| Open Pit – Inferred | - | - | - | - |
| Jabali Antenna | 340,000 | 2.83 | 31,000 | 1,000 |
| Jabali Central | 280,000 | 3.35 | 30,000 | 900 |
| Spent Ore | 340,000 | 0.85 | 9,000 | 300 |
| Subtotal Inferred Resources Open Pit & Spent Ore |
960,000 | 2.29 | 70,000 | 2,200 |
| Underground – Inferred | 1,550,000 | 5.91 | 296,000 | 9,200 |
| Total Inferred Mineral Resources | 2,510,000 | 4.53 | 366,000 | 11,400 |
