TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 22, 2014) - Golden Star (NYSE MKT:GSS)(TSX:GSC)(GHANA:GSR) today announces that it has filed a technical report, prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, ("NI 43-101") regarding a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on the development of an underground mining operation at its Wassa mine in Ghana.
This technical report can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.gsr.com .
Golden Star announced the findings of this PEA on September 15, 2014, the highlights of which are as follows:
- IRR of 129% estimated for Wassa mine, at $1,300/oz. gold price
- NPV 5% of $350 million estimated for Wassa mine, at $1,300/oz. gold price
- Pre-production incremental capital expenditure to develop underground mine estimated at $41 million
- Project to be funded with $35 million of existing credit facilities
- First production from Wassa underground expected early 2016, estimated mine life of ten years thereafter for combined operation
The report, entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on a Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Wassa Open Pit Mine and Underground Project in Ghana", was prepared by SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd., under the supervision of Michael J Beare, BSc, CEng who is an independent Qualified Persons under NI 43-101.
For further information on the Company, please visit www.gsr.com .
COMPANY PROFILE
Golden Star Resources (NYSE MKT:GSS)(TSX:GSC)(GHANA:GSR) ("Golden Star" or the "Company") is an established gold mining company that holds a 90% interest in both the Bogoso and Wassa gold mines in Ghana. The Company also has a 90% interest in the Prestea Underground mine in Ghana. Golden Star has Mineral Reserves of 3.9 million ounces and 6.0 million ounces in Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources. In 2013, Golden Star sold 331,000 ounces of gold and in 2014 the Company expects to produce 260,000 - 280,000 ounces. The Company offers investors leveraged exposure to the gold price in a stable African mining jurisdiction with exploration and development upside potential.
STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Some statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such statements include comments regarding: estimated post-tax internal rate of return and net present value of Wassa underground (including assumed discount rates); the timing for first production from Wassa underground; the life of mine at Wassa and Wassa underground; pre-production capital costs for Wassa underground; and future work to be completed at Wassa underground. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include timing of and unexpected events at the Wassa processing plant; variations in ore grade, tonnes mined, crushed or milled; variations in relative amounts of refractory, non-refractory and transition ores; delay or failure to receive board or government approvals and permits; the availability and cost of electrical power; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; technical, permitting, mining or processing issues, including difficulties in establishing the infrastructure for Wassa underground; changes in U.S. and Canadian securities markets; and fluctuations in gold price and input costs and general economic conditions. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. Please refer to the discussion of these and other factors in our Annual Information Form for 2013. The forecasts contained in this press release constitute management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received and that actual results will vary from these estimates, possibly by material amounts. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event. Investors and others should not assume that any forecasts in this press release represent management's estimate as of any date other than the date of this press release.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
The technical contents of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Martin Raffield, P. Eng., a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101. Dr. Raffield is Senior Vice President Technical Services for Golden Star.
