Strong Execution and Project Momentum
LONDON, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ACG Metals Limited $(ACG.UK)$ ("ACG" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its operations and capital structure update for the first quarter of 2026 ("Q1 2026").
Q1 2026 Summary
-- Lost time injury frequency increased during Q1 2026 as Construction and
Mining crews adjusted to the increasing intensity of activity in their
respective areas; an emphasis on personal responsibility and safety
training drove a downward trend in LTIF, with no LTIs recorded in March,
while Project--to--Date LTIF remained relatively unchanged at
approximately 3.2 LTI per million man--hours.
-- Total production of 12,168 oz AuEq in Q1 2026, a 22% decrease compared to
Q1 2025, as expected and consistent with the mine plan during the
transition from oxide to sulphide ore.
-- Year--on--year Q1 2026 C1 cash costs decreased by 12% to US$387/oz AuEq
compared to Q1 2025, reflecting the processing of stockpiled oxide ore
following the completion of oxide mining activities in 2025.
-- AISC increased by 49% to US$1,438/oz AuEq, due to higher royalties
resulting from significantly higher realised gold and silver prices.
-- Realised gold and silver prices increased materially in Q1 2026 compared
to Q1 2025, rising by 77% and 166% respectively, to US$5,023/oz gold and
US$84.4/oz silver, supporting strong revenues.
-- Mining activities during Q1 2026 focused on sulphide ore stripping, with
oxide ore mining completed and all oxide material stockpiled by the end
of 2025.
-- The Gediktepe Sulphide Expansion Project continues to progress on
schedule and within budget, with production in the middle of 2026; as of
31 March 2026, US$101 million, excluding cash advances, has been spent of
the total US$146 million.
-- Technical, engineering and procurement activities for the enriched ore
project are progressing, with metallurgical test work largely complete,
early design commenced and key equipment awarded.
-- Net financial debt as at 31 March 2025 remained low at US$78 million,
supported by a strong cash balance of US$122 million, including US$28
million of restricted cash.
Artem Volynets, Chairman and CEO of ACG, said:
"Q1 2026 represents a strong start to the year for ACG, reflecting disciplined execution across operations, projects and prudent balance sheet management. Lower C1 cash costs and strong revenues underscore the quality of the operation, while sulphide stripping and the Gediktepe Sulphide Expansion Project continue to progress in line with plan towards production in the middle of 2026. With a robust financial position and key growth projects advancing on schedule, we are well positioned to deliver a transformational year as ACG transitions into a long--life copper producer."
Q1 YTD 2026 Operating Summary
All oxide mining was complete at the end of 2025
Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025
------- ----------
Au oz 9,995 -22 % Production
------- ---------- --------------
Ag oz 129,408 -46 %
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AuEq oz 12,168 -22 %
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Au oz 9,437 -31 % Sales
------- ---------- --------------
Ag oz 112,728 -50 %
------- ---------- --------------
AuEq oz 11,334 -30 %
------- ---------- --------------
Au $/oz 5,023 77 % Realised Price
------- ---------- --------------
Ag $/oz 84.4 166 %
------- ---------- --------------
C1 Cash Costs (produced) $/oz 387 -12 % Cost
------- ---------- --------------
AISC (sold) $/oz 1,438 49 %
------- ---------- --------------
Safety And Sustainability
-- Lost time injury frequency increased during Q1 2026 as Construction and
Mining crews adjusted to the increasing intensity of activity in their
respective areas.
-- An emphasis on personal responsibility for safety, risk recognition, and
supervisor training produced a downward trend in LTIF with no LTIs
recorded in March.
-- Project-to-Date LTIF remained relatively unchanged at approximately 3.2
LTI/million man-hours.
Oxide Operation
-- No oxide ore mining was undertaken in Q1 2026, following the completion
of all oxide mining activities and stockpiling of material by the end of
2025.
-- Total production of 12,168 oz AuEq in Q1 2026, a 22% decrease compared to
Q1 2025, as expected and consistent with the mine plan during the
transition from oxide to sulphide ore.
-- Gold equivalent sales of 11,334 oz AuEq in Q1 2026, representing a 30%
decrease compared to Q1 2025, reflecting the impact of lower production
volumes during the 2026 transition period.
-- C1 cash costs in Q1 2026 decreased by 12% to US$ 387/oz gold compared to
Q1 2025, reflecting the absence of oxide ore mining activities during the
period.
-- Realised gold and silver prices increased materially in Q1 2026 relative
to Q1 2025, rising by 77% and 166% respectively, to US$5,023/oz gold and
US$84.4/oz silver, supporting strong revenues.
-- AISC increased by 49% to US$1,438/oz AuEq versus Q1 2025, due to higher
royalties resulting from significantly higher realised gold and silver
prices.
Strong Momentum Continues Across Sulphide Expansion Works
-- Significant progress made in formwork for plinths and the columns that
equipment sits on.
-- All major equipment delivered onsite including SAG and Ball Mill.
-- Mill now positioned on its foundations, teams are progressing with
structural steel installation and continuing the assembly of key
processing infrastructure, including flotation cells and several
thickeners.
-- Mining activities during Q1 2026 focused on sulphide ore stripping, in
line with the mine plan.
-- The Gediktepe Sulphide Expansion Project continues to progress on
schedule and within budget, with production in the middle of 2026; US$101
million, excluding cash advances, has been spent of the total US$146
million.
Enriched Ore Project Underway
-- Key process test work for the enriched ore project is complete, and
remaining metallurgical work is ongoing to support upcoming design
stages.
-- Early design and engineering activities have commenced under the MOU with
CH Engineering, with core layout and flow elements already reviewed.
-- Procurement is moving forward, with the grinding circuit awarded and
equipment enquiries underway.
-- Preparation of EPC tender documentation is underway, positioning the
Project to move efficiently toward the construction phase.
-- A new Environmental Impact Assessment is being finalised for submission,
with all regulatory workstreams progressing in line with schedule.
Capital Structure
-- Financial net debt as of 31 March 2025 remained low at US$78 million,
supported by a strong cash balance of US$122 million, including US$28
million of restricted cash.Financial net debt is calculated using
long--term borrowings at their contractual value, including the US$200
million Nordic bond, net of cash held on the balance sheet (including
cash in bank and escrow), and excludes IFRS timing effects and other
non--debt items.
Inside information
The information contained within this announcement is considered by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation $(EU)$ No.596/2014 (as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018). On the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, such information is now considered to be in the public domain.
Forward looking statements
This announcement may contain certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "believe", "targets", "expects", "aim", "anticipate", "project", "would", "could", "envisage", "estimate", "intend", "may", "plan", "will" or the negative of those, variations or comparable expressions, including references to assumptions. The forward-looking statements in this announcement are based on current expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the present and future business strategies of the Group and the environment in which it is and will operate in the future. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributed to the Company or any persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. Each
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