October 26, 2020, Vancouver, BC – Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO; NYSE American: TGB; LSE: TKO) (“Taseko” or the “Company”) reports earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization* of $35.7 million, Adjusted EBITDA* of $31.5 million and Net income of $1.0 million, or $nil per share, in the third quarter of 2020.

Stuart McDonald, President of Taseko, stated, “The price of copper continued its recovery in the third quarter, with the price increasing from an average of US$2.43 in the second quarter to just under $3.00 in the third quarter. This copper price gain contributed to our strong EBITDA and cash flow generation. Taseko’s cash position further increased this quarter to $73 million, up $9 million from the end of June. Sales for the quarter were 29 million pounds and we generated a healthy operating margin of nearly 40%.”

Mr. McDonald continued, “Through nine months, we have produced 98 million pounds of copper at Gibraltar, in line with our original guidance of 130 million pounds (+/-5%). Third quarter copper production was 29 million pounds. While we anticipated copper grade more in line with the life of mine average in the third quarter, the final benches of the Granite pit did not produce the copper grade we were expecting, and head grade for the period averaged 0.23%. Molybdenum production in the third quarter remained strong at 668 thousand pounds, due to both grade and recoveries.”

Russell Hallbauer, CEO and Director, commented, “At our Florence Copper Project, permitting and financing activities are progressing. The public comment period for the Aquifer Protection Permit concluded in October and the state agency is now reviewing and will be responding to submitted comments as required and we expect the final state permit to be issued in the coming weeks. The EPA is advancing their permitting work and we continue to anticipate the Underground Injection Control Permit to be issued in early 2021. On the financing front, discussions are ongoing with multiple parties for various funding opportunities. Financing activities continue to track well with permitting progress.”

*Non-GAAP performance measure. See end of news release.

“In March, after the price of copper dramatically declined, Taseko developed a short-term plan to respond to the lower pricing environment. The plan, which significantly reduced our costs since April, was effective and allowed the Company to maintain strong cash flow and continue to advance our Florence Copper Project. With a strengthening copper price this quarter, we began increasing mining rates in September resulting in slightly higher site spending over the second quarter. Going forward, the Pollyanna pit will be the main source of ore through mid-2021 at which point we expect to begin mining ore from the Gibraltar pit. Ore from the Gibraltar pit will require less energy to grind, resulting in substantial productivity and cost benefits.

Maintaining a healthy operating margin will continue to drive our operational decisions. The rebounded copper price has allowed us to revert to normal mining rates while continuing to generate robust cash flow for the Company. We will balance spending and operating margin with long-term mine plan requirements, as we have always done,” concluded Mr. Hallbauer.

Third Quarter Review
•Earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization* was $35.7 million, and Adjusted EBITDA* was $31.5 million;
•Cash flow from operations was $31.0 million and the Company had an ending cash balance at September 30, 2020 of $72.7 million;
•The Gibraltar Mine produced 28.9 million pounds of copper in the third quarter. Copper recoveries were 85.0% and copper head grades were 0.23%;
•In March, management implemented a revised mine plan and budget for Gibraltar which reduced site spending over the last six months. Although total site spending in the current quarter increased from the previous quarter due to higher mining rates, they were still 19% lower than the same quarter in the prior year;
•Gibraltar sold 28.6 million pounds of copper in the quarter (100% basis) which resulted in $86.8 million of revenue for Taseko. Average LME copper prices were US$2.96 per pound in the quarter and revenue also included positive provisional price adjustments of $4.4 million;
•Net income (GAAP) for the third quarter was $1.0 million ($nil per share). Adjusted net loss* was $5.8 million ($0.02 loss per share);
•Gibraltar extended its five-year copper concentrate offtake contract, for roughly 50% of its production, for an additional year which is expected to result in a 30% reduction in treatment & refining costs in 2021, reflecting the continued tight physical copper concentrate market conditions and the strategic demand for Gibraltar’s high quality concentrates; and
•The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) issued the draft Aquifer Protection Permit for the Florence Copper Project on August 6, 2020, which was followed by a public hearing and a public comment period which ended on October 12, 2020.

*Non-GAAP performance measure. See end of news release.

Outlook
•Annual production guidance for 2020 remains unchanged at 130 million pounds (+/-5%); and
•Preparations to begin mining the Gibraltar pit in 2021 commenced in the third quarter. This new mining sequence will reduce capital costs and provide operating efficiencies and improve operating costs.

HIGHLIGHTS

Operating Data (Gibraltar - 100% basis) Three months ended
September 30, Nine months ended
September 30,
2020 2019 Change 2020 2019 Change
Tons mined (millions) 23.3 24.7 (1.4) 72.3 74.7 (2.4)
Tons milled (millions) 7.5 7.5 - 22.6 22.1 0.5
Production (million pounds Cu) 28.9 33.0 (4.1) 98.1 92.5 5.6
Sales (million pounds Cu) 28.6 33.5 (4.9) 99.0 89.1 9.9
Financial Data Three months ended
September 30, Nine months ended
September 30,
(CDN$ in thousands, except for per share amounts) 2020 2019 Change 2020 2019 Change
Revenues 87,780 82,436 5,344 255,869 239,231 16,638
Earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization* 35,705 12,317 23,388 91,964 46,692 45,272
Adjusted EBITDA* 31,545 7,906 23,639 87,751 32,811 54,940
Cash flows provided by operations 31,021 15,150 15,871 85,771 33,414 52,357
Adjusted net loss* (5,754) (20,561) 14,807 (19,066) (52,451) 33,385
Per share - basic (“adjusted EPS”)* (0.02) (0.08) 0.06 (0.08) (0.22) 0.14
Net income (loss) (GAAP) 987 (24,508) 25,495 (29,218) (43,451) 14,233
Per share - basic (“EPS”) - (0.10) 0.10 (0.12) (0.18) 0.06

*Non-GAAP performance measure. See end of news release.
see & read more on
https://www.tasekomines.com/investors/news-releases/taseko-reports-cad32-million-of-adjusted-ebitda-in-the-third-quarter-2020