800 West Pender
Street, Suite 1020
Vancouver , British Columbia
Canada V6C 2V6
Tel: 778-373-4545
www.tasekomines.com
TASEKO ANNOUNCES STRONG PRODUCTION RESULTS
July 9, 2010,
Vancouver, BC - Taseko
Mines Limited (TSX: TKO; NYSE Amex: TGB) ("Taseko" or the "Company")
reports unaudited second quarter production results for the Gibraltar
Mine.
For the second quarter of 2010, Gibraltar produced 20.1 million pounds
of copper and 218 thousand pounds of molybdenum.
A quarter over quarter production comparison is below:
Q4
2009 |
Q1
2010 |
Q2
2010 |
|
Mill Throughput (millions, tons) | 3.2 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
Copper Recoveries (%) | 84.1 |
89.8 |
88.7 |
Copper Production (millions, lbs) | 17.4 |
23.2 |
20.1 |
The Gibraltar concentrator
continued to perform very well during the quarter with all circuits stabilized
and operating at budgeted levels. Metal production for the period was slightly
lower than the first quarter as a result of decreased copper head grade,
a typical fluctuation as mining advances through the pit. The lower grade
ore also had a minor effect on copper recoveries. Grade and recoveries are
expected to trend higher for the third quarter.
Construction continues on the remaining modernization projects. During the
second quarter the in-pit primary crusher and conveyor system was commissioned.
This new system will reduce the mine's haul truck requirement by two
trucks as a result of a decrease in ore haul distance of two kilometres
(a 40% shorter haul). Additionally, the original primary crusher will act
as a backup to the new system providing reliability for planned and unplanned
shutdowns of the in-pit crusher.
The final concentrator upgrades are expected to be completed during the
third quarter and construction of the new SAG mill feed system will commence
shortly.
Russell Hallbauer, President and CEO of Taseko, commented, "Copper production
for the first half of 2010 was 38% higher than the second half of 2009.
This is a reflection of the operational improvements which have been made
at Gibraltar. Anticipating a further increase to mill throughput in the
coming months, we are in the process of purchasing additional haul trucks
for the mine, complementing the arrival of a new 495HR Bucyrus shovel. These
new trucks will replace older haul trucks, reducing operating and maintenance
costs."
Note: Gibraltar is a Joint Venture owned by Taseko Mines Limited (75%) and
Cariboo Copper Corp. (25%). All figures are reported on a 100% basis.
For further information on Taseko, please see the Company's website
www.tasekomines.com or contact:
Brian Bergot, Investor Relations - 778-373-4545, toll free 1-800-667-2114
Russell Hallbauer
President and CEO
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the information contained
in this news release.
CAUTION REGARDING
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This document contains "forward-looking statements" that were based
on Taseko's expectations, estimates and projections as of the dates
as of which those statements were made. Generally, these forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such
as "outlook", "anticipate", "project", "target",
"believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend",
"should" and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level
of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These included
but are not limited to:
• uncertainties
and costs related to the Company's exploration and development activities,
such as those associated with continuity of mineralization or determining
whether mineral resources or reserves exist on a property;
• uncertainties
related to the accuracy of our estimates of mineral reserves, mineral resources,
production rates and timing of production, future production and future
cash and total costs of production and milling;
• uncertainties
related to feasibility studies that provide estimates of expected or anticipated
costs, expenditures and economic returns from a mining project;
• uncertainties
related to our ability to complete the mill upgrade on time estimated and
at the scheduled cost;
• uncertainties
related to the ability to obtain necessary licenses permits for development
projects and project delays due to third party opposition;
• uncertainties
related to unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings;
• changes in,
and the effects of, the laws, regulations and government policies affecting
our exploration and development activities and mining operations, particularly
laws, regulations and policies;
• changes in
general economic conditions, the financial markets and in the demand and
market price for copper, gold and other minerals and commodities, such as
diesel fuel, steel, concrete, electricity and other forms of energy, mining
equipment, and fluctuations in exchange rates, particularly with respect
to the value of the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar, and the continued availability
of capital and financing;
• the effects
of forward selling instruments to protect against fluctuations in copper
prices and exchange rate movements and the risks of counterparty defaults,
and mark to market risk;
• the risk of
inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover mining risks;
• the risk of
loss of key employees; the risk of changes in accounting policies and methods
we use to report our financial condition, including uncertainties associated
with critical accounting assumptions and estimates;
• environmental
issues and liabilities associated with mining including processing and stock
piling ore; and
• labour strikes,
work stoppages, or other interruptions to, or difficulties in, the employment
of labour in markets in which we operate mines, or environmental hazards,
industrial accidents or other events or occurrences, including third party
interference that interrupt the production of minerals in our mines.
For further information on Taseko, investors should review the Company's
annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
www.sec.com and home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.