Gascoyne gets major bank backing for Dalgaranga Gold Project

Gascoyne Resources Limited’s (ASX:GCY) 100% owned subsidiary, GNT Resources Pty Ltd, has executed a debt facility agreement with Commonweath Bank of Australia (CBA) and National Australia Bank (NAB) (Financiers) for a debt facility of A$60 million on a 50:50 basis to fund the development of the Dalgaranga Gold Project in Western Australia.

The Dalgaranga Gold Project has an initial mine life of over six years, producing approximately 115,000ozpa for the first two years and an average of around 100kozpa over the life of mine with all-in sustaining costs of approximately A$1,000/oz.

Gascoyne’s Managing Director Mike Dunbar said finalising the debt facility with two tier 1 Australian lenders CBA and NAB for the debt funding is major step forward for the development of the Dalgaranga Gold Project and significantly de-risks the project.

“The terms we have negotiated highlight the quality of the project and represents a strong vote of confidence in the project and the work undertaken by the Gascoyne Team since we finished the Feasibility Study in November last year. With the debt facility in place, construction is continuing on schedule towards production in Q2 of next year.”

Ahead of first drawdown, all mandated hedging of 164,000 ounces for the 4 1⁄2 year life of the debt facility has also now been completed, taking advantage of the current strong A$ gold price (82,000 ounces were hedged on the 9th of November, and the remainder has been hedged with CBA).

The rolled out hedged gold price will be determined and announced once the hedges are novated to the Financiers and the delivery schedule has been agreed between Gascoyne and the Financiers, however based on the secured spot gold price and the current forward gold price curve, it is anticipated that the average hedged gold price (net of fees) will be approximately A$1,710 per ounce.

First gold production is on budget and on schedule for late in the June quarter of 2018.