Equinox Gold Reports Record Quarterly and Annual Gold Production: Produced 213,960 Ounces of Gold in Q4 2024 and 621,870 Ounces of Gold for Full-Year 2024
Rhea-AI Summary
Equinox Gold (EQX) achieved record-breaking performance in Q4 and full-year 2024, producing 213,960 ounces of gold in Q4 and 621,870 ounces for the full year. The company's Greenstone mine, now under 100% ownership, contributed 111,710 ounces in its first partial year of operations after achieving commercial production.
The company ended 2024 with approximately $240 million in cash and equivalents, plus $105 million available on its revolving credit facility and an additional $100 million undrawn accordion feature. During Q4, EQX reduced debt by $180 million, including a $40 million final payment to Orion Mine Finance for Greenstone ownership and $140 million in convertible notes converted to equity.
Positive
- Record quarterly and annual gold production achieved
- Greenstone mine exceeded production guidance with 111,710 oz
- Mesquite mine outperformed guidance by 10.7% with 71,980 oz
- Significant debt reduction of $180 million in Q4
- Strong liquidity position with $445 million total available funding
Negative
- Castle Mountain Phase 1 mining operations ceased in August 2024
- Santa Luz production of 56,900 oz fell below guidance of 70,000-80,000 oz
- Fazenda slightly underperformed guidance with 62,380 oz vs 65,000-70,000 oz target
Insights
An outstanding quarter caps off a transformative year for Equinox Gold, with Q4 production of 213,960 ounces representing their strongest quarterly performance ever. The full-year output of 621,870 ounces exceeded the upper range of revised guidance, driven by exceptional performance across multiple assets. The successful ramp-up of Greenstone, contributing 111,710 ounces in its first partial year, positions EQX for significant growth in 2025.
The balance sheet has been substantially strengthened, with
The operational execution across Equinox's portfolio has been remarkable, particularly at Greenstone where the ramp-up is proceeding ahead of schedule. The outperformance at Mesquite (71,980 oz vs. 55,000-65,000 oz guidance) and Castle Mountain's strong finish (120,510 oz vs. 15,000 oz guidance) showcase excellent operational management and optimization. Los Filos delivered within guidance at 170,370 oz, remaining the portfolio's cornerstone producer.
The strategic decision to suspend Castle Mountain Phase 1 mining while pursuing Phase 2 permitting demonstrates prudent long-term planning. The portfolio's diversification across multiple jurisdictions provides operational stability, though the underperformance at Santa Luz (56,900 oz vs. 70,000-80,000 oz guidance) indicates some optimization opportunities remain.
All dollar figures are in US dollars, unless otherwise indicated.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2025) - Equinox Gold Corp. (TSX: EQX) (NYSE American: EQX) ("Equinox Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to report that the Company recorded its strongest quarterly and annual gold production in the Company's history, producing 213,960 ounces of gold in Q4 2024 and 621,870 ounces of gold for full-year 2024.
Greg Smith, President & CEO of Equinox Gold commented: "2024 was a pivotal year for Equinox Gold, defined by our success at Greenstone. We consolidated
Equinox Gold ended the year with approximately
2024 Production Summary
| 2024 Results (oz of gold) | 2024 Guidance3 (oz of gold) | |
| Greenstone | 111,710 | 110,000 - 130,000 |
| Mesquite | 71,980 | 55,000 - 65,000 |
| Castle Mountain1 | 20,510 | 15,000 |
| Los Filos | 170,370 | 155,000 - 175,000 |
| Aurizona | 71,620 | 70,000 - 80,000 |
| Fazenda | 62,380 | 65,000 - 70,000 |
| Santa Luz | 56,900 | 70,000 - 80,000 |
| RDM | 56,400 | 50,000 - 60,000 |
| Total 2 | 621,870 | 590,000 - 675,000 |
1. Castle Mountain Phase 1 mining ceased at the end of August 2024; residual leaching and gold production will continue into 2025. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. 2024 guidance was revised to reflect the consolidation of ownership and ramp-up progress at Greenstone, the suspension of mining at Castle Mountain Phase 1 until Phase 2 permitting is complete, slower-than-expected recoveries at Mesquite, and a production interruption in Q2 due to a geotechnical event at Aurizona.
The 2024 production and cash balance information is preliminary and subject to change. The Company expects to release its audited Q4 2024 and annual 2024 financial and operating results, along with its 2025 production and cost guidance, in late February.
About Equinox Gold
Equinox Gold is a growth-focused Canadian mining company operating entirely in the Americas. The Company has seven operating gold mines in Canada, the USA, Mexico and Brazil and has a path to achieve more than one million ounces of annual gold production by advancing a pipeline of expansion projects. Equinox Gold's common shares are listed on the TSX and the NYSE American under the trading symbol EQX. Further information about Equinox Gold's portfolio of assets and long-term growth strategy is available at www.equinoxgold.com or by email at ir@equinoxgold.com.
Equinox Gold Contacts
Greg Smith, President & CEO
Rhylin Bailie, Vice President Investor Relations
Tel: +1 604-558-0560
Email: ir@equinoxgold.com
Cautionary Notes & Forward-looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation and may include future-oriented financial information or financial outlook information (collectively "Forward-looking Information"). Actual results of operations and the ensuing financial results may vary materially from the amounts set out in any Forward-looking Information. Forward-looking Information in this news release relates to, among other things: the strategic vision for the Company and expectations regarding exploration potential, production capabilities, growth potential, expansion projects and future financial or operating performance, the Company's ability to successfully ramp-up production at Greenstone to design capacity; the strength of the Company's balance sheet, and the Company's liquidity and future cash requirements; the timing for release of the Company's audited 2024 financial and operating results; and the timing for release of the Company's production and cost guidance for 2025. Forward-looking Information is generally identified using words like "will", "forward", "achieve", "strategy", "improve", "grow", "expect", and similar expressions and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", or "should", or the negative connotation of such terms, are intended to identify Forward-looking Information. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such Forward-looking Information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on Forward-looking Information since the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The Company has based Forward-looking Information on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and these assumptions include: Equinox Gold's ability to achieve the production, cost and development expectations for its respective operations and projects; prices for gold remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company's projects and future cash requirements; ramp-up at Greenstone being completed and performed in accordance with current expectations; the expansion projects at Aurizona, Castle Mountain and Los Filos being completed and performed in accordance with current expectations; tonnage of ore to be mined and processed; ore grades and recoveries remaining consistent with mine plans; and the ability of Equinox Gold to work productively with its Indigenous partners at Greenstone and its community partners at Los Filos. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release.
The Company cautions that Forward-looking Information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such Forward-looking Information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices; fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services; fluctuations in currency markets; operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding, fires, and severe weather); inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and hazards; employee relations; relationships with, and claims by, local communities and Indigenous populations; the potential effect of blockades and community issues on the Company's production and cost estimates; the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner or at all; changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations; legal restrictions relating to mining; risks relating to expropriation; increased competition in the mining industry; and those factors identified in the Company's MD&A dated February 21, 2024 for the year-ended December 31, 2023, and in the section titled "Risks Related to the Business" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Information Form, which are both available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.
Forward-looking Information is designed to help readers understand management's views as of that time with respect to future events and speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any Forward-looking Information contained or incorporated by reference to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements and information. If the Company updates any Forward-looking Information, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other Forward-looking Information. All Forward-looking Information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
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FAQ
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