Mexico’s proposed higher mining royalties could block nearly $7bn in investments
The Mexican government proposed raising mining royalties under the argument that metal prices have risen in recent years.
Canada’s Endeavour Mining (TSX:EDV), West Africa’s top gold producer, has resumed operations at its Boungou mine in Burkina Faso, about a year after previous owner Semafo decided to shut it following an attack that killed 39 civilians.
The Toronto-listed miner said the reopening of the mine follows infrastructure improvements and a new security plan developed in “close partnership” with Burkina’s government.
Endeavour, which acquired Boungou’s previous owner in July, has confirmed potential synergies of $35 million to $40 million during the integration process
Endeavour, which acquired Semafo in July, has confirmed potential synergies of $35 million to $40 million during the integration process. About 60% of the synergies would be progressively unlocked by the end of 2020 and the remaining in 2021, the miner said.
“The newly acquired assets are now well embedded into our West African operating model,” Endeavour president and chief executive, Sebastien de Montessus, said in the statement.
“In addition to the significant procurement, supply chain, and G&A savings, we are also seeing the benefits of softer synergies that arise from being the largest gold producer in Burkina Faso.”
The company noted the Boungou plant has been processing stockpiles since early 2020. Endeavour said it expects the mine to achieve the top half of its 2020 production guidance range of 130,000 ounces to 150,000 ounces of gold, at an all-in sustaining cost of $680 to $725 per ounce.
Endeavour Mining said in August it was considering a dual listing either in London or New York in the wake of its merger with Semafo.
The company’s management team is already based in London, so favouring the listing in the UK wouldn’t come as a surprise.
With a market cap of C$5.7 billion (about $4.3bn), Endeavour would be among the most valuable precious metals companies currently listed on the LSE. These include Russian duo Polyus (LON: PLZL) and Polymetal International (LON: POLY), Mexico-focused Fresnillo (LON: FRES) and Canada’s Yamana Gold (LON: AUY), all of whom have market values of more than $4.5bn.
