New Gold Reports Strong Second Quarter Operational Results

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Jul 11, 2023

PR Newswire

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Provides Notice of Release of Second Quarter Financial Results

(All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated)

TORONTO, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - New Gold Inc. ("New Gold" or the "Company") (TSX: NGD) (NYSE American: NGD) reports strong second quarter operational results for the Company as of June 30, 2023. The Company is also providing notice that it will release its second quarter 2023 financial results after market close on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The Company will host its second quarter 2023 earnings conference call and webcast on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 8:30 am Eastern Time.

"We had another excellent quarter, delivering gold equivalent production of 102,374 ounces, a 45% increase over the prior year period," stated Patrick Godin, President & CEO. "At Rainy River, strong quarterly production results were attributed to higher mill availability due to the team's proactive measures taken during the planned maintenance activities. In addition to a great operating quarter, we continued to make meaningful progress advancing our growth initiatives, securing the future production of our Company. C-Zone development at New Afton continued and remains on-track for first ore production in the fourth quarter of this year, and development of the underground Main Zone at Rainy River has commenced as planned. Continuity is key to our success, and as evidenced from our strong first half results, both the Rainy River and New Afton teams are delivering. As a result, we remain well positioned to meet all annual production guidance metrics outlined earlier this year."

Operational Highlights

Consolidated

Q2 2023

Q2 2022

H1 2023

H1 2022

Gold eq. production (ounces)1

102,374

70,514

207,231

158,210

Gold production (ounces)

76,527

52,431

159,004

120,532

Copper production (Mlbs)

12.0

7.4

22.3

15.6

Rainy River Mine

Q2 2023

Q2 2022

H1 2023

H1 2022

Gold eq. production (ounces)1

61,419

43,759

129,015

103,654

Gold production (ounces)

59,882

42,516

126,083

101,349

New Afton Mine

Q2 2023

Q2 2022

H1 2023

H1 2022

Gold eq. production (ounces)1

40,955

26,755

78,216

54,556

Gold production (ounces)

16,645

9,916

32,921

19,183

Copper production (Mlbs)

12.0

7.4

22.3

15.6


Operating Key Performance Indicators

Rainy River Mine

Q2 2023

Q2 2022

H1 2023

H1 2022

Open Pit Only

Tonnes mined per day (ore and waste)

130,488

110,153

124,517

114,381

Ore tonnes mined per day

34,146

12,295

35,257

16,136

Operating waste tonnes per day

61,796

19,560

61,082

27,337

Capitalized waste tonnes per day

34,545

78,298

28,178

70,909

Total waste tonnes per day

96,342

97,858

89,260

98,246

Strip ratio (waste:ore)

2.82

7.96

2.53

6.09

Open Pit and Underground

Tonnes milled per calendar day

23,252

23,302

22,828

23,807

Gold grade milled (g/t)

0.97

0.69

1.04

0.80

Gold recovery (%)

91

90

91

92

Gold eq. production (ounces)1

61,419

43,759

129,015

103,654

Gold production (ounces)

59,882

42,516

126,083

101,349

New Afton Mine

Q2 2023

Q2 2022

H1 2023

H1 2022

New Afton Mine Only

Tonnes mined per day (ore and waste)

10,165

6,477

9,678

6,751

Tonnes milled per calendar day

8,307

11,4722

8,161

10,8892

Gold grade milled (g/t)

0.72

0.372

0.70

0.372

Gold recovery (%)

89

802

89

812

Copper grade milled (%)

0.78

0.42

0.74

0.45

Copper recovery (%)

91

78

91

79

Gold eq. production (ounces)1

40,014

25,659

74,724

52,919

Gold production (ounces)

15,704

8,820

29,429

17,546

Copper production (Mlbs)

12.0

7.4

22.3

15.6

Ore Purchase Agreements

Gold Production (ounces)

941

1,096

3,492

1,637

New Afton Mine Total

Gold eq. production (ounces)1

40,955

26,755

78,216

54,556

Gold production (ounces)

16,645

9,916

32,921

19,183

Copper production (Mlbs)

12.0

7.4

22.3

15.6


Second Quarter 2023 Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will release its second quarter 2023 financial results after market close on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. A conference call and webcast will be hosted on Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 8:30 am Eastern Time.

  • Participants may listen to the webcast by registering on our website at www.newgold.com or via the following link https://app.webinar.net/9LrQ1zOndev
  • Participants may also listen to the conference call by calling North American toll free 1-888-664-6383, or 1-416-764-8650 outside of the U.S. and Canada, passcode 482413
  • To join the conference call without operator assistance, you may register and enter your phone number at https://emportal.ink/3qbFfHx to receive an instant automated call back
  • A recorded playback of the conference call will be available until August 27, 2023 by calling North American toll free 1-888-390-0541, or 1-416-764-8677 outside of the U.S. and Canada, passcode 482413. An archived webcast will also be available at www.newgold.com

About New Gold

New Gold is a Canadian-focused intermediate mining Company with a portfolio of two core producing assets in Canada, the Rainy River gold mine and the New Afton copper-gold mine. The Company also holds Canadian-focused investments. New Gold's vision is to build a leading diversified intermediate gold company based in Canada that is committed to the environment and social responsibility. For further information on the Company, visit www.newgold.com.

Endnotes

1.

Total gold eq. ounces include silver and copper produced/sold converted to a gold equivalent. All copper is produced/sold by the New Afton Mine. Gold eq. ounces for Rainy River in Q2 2023 includes production of 122,211 ounces of silver (120,579 ounces sold) converted to a gold eq. based on a ratio of $1,750 per gold ounce and $22.00 per silver ounce used for 2023 guidance estimates. Gold eq. ounces for New Afton in Q2 2023 includes 12.0 million pounds of copper produced (10.1 million pounds sold) and 29,997 ounces of silver produced (22,805 ounces of silver sold) converted to a gold eq. based on a ratio of $1,750 per gold ounce, $3.50 per copper pound and $22.00 per silver ounce used for 2023 guidance estimates.

2.

Key performance indicator data is inclusive of ounces from ore purchase agreements for New Afton. The New Afton Mine purchases small amounts of ore from local operations, subject to certain grade and other criteria. These ounces represented approximately 6% of total ounces produced at New Afton during the quarter, using New Afton's excess mill capacity. All other ounces are mined and produced at New Afton.


Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to New Gold's future financial or operating performance are "forward-looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that New Gold expects to occur are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "targeted", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "projects", "potential", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation of such terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements with respect to: the anticipated timing with respect to the release of its second quarter 2023 financial results and the associated conference call and webcast; the Company's projections about being on-track for first ore production from the C-Zone in the fourth quarter of 2023; and expectations about being well positioned to meet all annual production guidance metrics.

All forward-looking statements in this news release are based on the opinions and estimates of management that, while considered reasonable as at the date of this news release in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond New Gold's ability to control or predict. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements are discussed in this news release, New Gold's latest annual management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A"), its most recent annual information form and technical reports on the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. In addition to, and subject to, such assumptions discussed in more detail elsewhere, the forward-looking statements in this news release are also subject to the following assumptions: (1) there being no significant disruptions affecting New Gold's operations other than as set out herein; (2) political and legal developments in jurisdictions where New Gold operates, or may in the future operate, being consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (3) the accuracy of New Gold's current Mineral Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates and the grade of gold, copper and silver expected to be mined; (4) the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar, and to a lesser extent the Mexican peso, and commodity prices being approximately consistent with current levels and expectations for the purposes of 2023 guidance and otherwise; (5) prices for diesel, natural gas, fuel oil, electricity and other key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (6) equipment, labour and material costs increasing on a basis consistent with New Gold's current expectations; (7) arrangements with First Nations and other Indigenous groups in respect of the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine being consistent with New Gold's current expectations; and (8) there being no material disruption to the Company's supply chains and workforce at either the Rainy River Mine or New Afton Mine due to cases of COVID-19 or otherwise that would interfere with the Company's anticipated course of action at its operations.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: price volatility in the spot and forward markets for metals and other commodities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated costs, between actual and estimated Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; equipment malfunction, failure or unavailability; accidents; risks related to early production at the Rainy River Mine, including failure of equipment, machinery, the process circuit or other processes to perform as designed or intended; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining and maintaining the validity and enforceability of the necessary licenses and permits and complying with the permitting requirements of each jurisdiction in which New Gold operates, including, but not limited to: uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changing costs, timelines and development schedules as it relates to construction; the Company not being able to complete its construction projects at the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine on the anticipated timeline or at all; volatility in the market price of the Company's securities; changes in national and local government legislation in the countries in which New Gold does or may in the future carry on business; compliance with public company disclosure obligations; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which New Gold does or may in the future carry on business; the Company's dependence on the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine; the Company not being able to complete its exploration drilling programs on the anticipated timeline or at all; inadequate water management and stewardship; disruptions to the Company's workforce at either the Rainy River Mine or the New Afton Mine, or both, due to cases of COVID-19 or otherwise; the responses of the relevant governments to any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak, including the COVID-19 outbreak, not being sufficient to contain the impact of such outbreak; disruptions to the Company's supply chain and workforce due to any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak, including the COVID-19 outbreak; an economic recession or downturn as a result of any disease, epidemic or pandemic outbreak, including the COVID-19 outbreak, that materially adversely affects the Company's operations or liquidity position; there being further shutdowns at the Rainy River Mine or New Afton Mine; significant capital requirements and the availability and management of capital resources; additional funding requirements; diminishing quantities or grades of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; uncertainties inherent to mining economic studies including the Technical Reports for the Rainy River Mine and New Afton Mine; impairment; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of First Nations and other Indigenous groups; climate change, environmental risks and hazards and the Company's response thereto; tailings dam and structure failures; ability to obtain and maintain sufficient insurance; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of Canada, the United States and, to a lesser extent, Mexico; global economic and financial conditions and any global or local natural events that may impede the economy or New Gold's ability to carry on business in the normal course; inflation; compliance with debt obligations and maintaining sufficient liquidity; taxation; fluctuation in treatment and refining charges; transportation and processing of unrefined products; rising costs or availability of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; adequate infrastructure; relationships with communities, governments and other stakeholders; geotechnical instability and conditions; labour disputes; the uncertainties inherent in current and future legal challenges to which New Gold is or may become a party; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; competition; loss of, or inability to attract, key employees; use of derivative products and hedging transactions; reliance on third-party contractors; counterparty risk and the performance of third party service providers; investment risks and uncertainty relating to the value of equity investments in public companies held by the Company from time to time; the adequacy of internal and disclosure controls; conflicts of interest; the lack of certainty with respect to foreign operations and legal systems, which may not be immune from the influence of political pressure, corruption or other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; the successful acquisitions and integration of business arrangements and realizing the intended benefits therefrom; and information systems security threats. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks) as well as "Risk Factors" included in New Gold's most recent annual information form, MD&A and other disclosure documents filed on and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. New Gold expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Technical Information

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Yohann Bouchard, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of New Gold. Mr. Bouchard is a Professional Engineer and member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec. Mr. Bouchard is a "Qualified Person" for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

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SOURCE New Gold Inc.

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