December quarter investor call recording

On 24 January, Core Lithium CEO Gareth Manderson and CFO Doug Warden hosted a conference call for professional investors to discuss the Company's quarterly activities report for the period ended 31 December 2023.

To listen to the recording, please follow the link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/29f9ngnr/

On Thursday 25 January at 12pm AEDT, Mr Manderson and Mr Warden hosted an interactive retail investor webcast and Q&A.

A recording of the webcast can be found here: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/d8p56yng/

Quarterly summary

• 39% increase in quarterly spodumene concentrate production, 28,837t (20,692t Q1FY24)

• 20% increase in lithia recoveries, averaging 60% for the quarter (50% 1QFY24)

• 30,718t of spodumene concentrate shipped (23,424t 1QFY24)

• 289kt of ore stocks at the end of the quarter in preparation for the wet season (185kt Q1FY24)

• BP33 Mineral Resource upgraded, a 35% increase on the previous estimate

• Capital spend guidance has been reduced and given the suspension of mining cash operating cost guidance has also been reduced

• Production (based on lithia units) is expected to be broadly in line with original guidance, however, the bottom end of the range has dropped below the initial forecast

• Cash balance at 31 December 2023 of $124.8 million

Strategic review

• The Company undertook a Strategic Review which resulted in the temporary suspension of open pit mining operations and BP33 early works program

• Processing of existing stockpiles will continue until mid CY 2024

• The BP33 and Carlton mine studies will continue

• Discretionary spending reduction program is underway: includes proposed cuts to studies, exploration and corporate costs

Comments from Core Chief Executive Officer Gareth Manderson: 

“There is no doubt we have seen strong operational improvement at Finniss as it has ramped up throughout the year.

“Operations continued largely uninterrupted during the quarter despite above average rainfall in November, and spodumene concentrate production was close to 40% higher than the previous quarter as a result of strong operational improvement. The team has made significant progress increasing lithia recoveries in the plant and it has been very pleasing to see these increase to average 60% for the quarter, up from 50% the prior quarter.

View the quarterly report

View the presentation