Production Report - ASX · 2009-01-27 · arising from the increased production at Lihir Island....

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LIHIR GOLD LIMITED ARBN 069 803 998 Incorporated in Papua New Guinea Group Overview Record quarterly gold production of 315,000 oz, up 26% on the three months to September Record annual gold production of 882,000 ounces, up 26% on the prior year Record quarterly and annual production of 247,000 ounces and 771,000 ounces at Lihir Island Successful commissioning of Bonikro in Ivory Coast in October provides further diversification of production, with 22% of gold produced in operations in Australia and Ivory Coast during the quarter Production Summary (Ozs) Operation Dec Quarter Sept Quarter FY 2008 Lihir Island, PNG 246,865 216,371 771,455 Mt Rawdon, Qld 24,971 23,837 53,592 Kirkalocka, WA 0 7,726 9,442 Bonikro, Ivory Coast* 36,735 0 36,735 Ballarat, Vic 6,913 2,176 10,366 Total 315,484 250,110 881,590 *Bonikro production reported on a 100% basis. Total Cash Costs for the group reduced to $353/oz for the quarter. Annual cash costs at $400/oz, which continues to position the company at the lower end of the global gold production cost curve Average realized cash gold price of $792/oz for the quarter and $850/oz for the year Expansion projects and development proceeding: – Ballarat production to increase in 2009, as development advances and mining methods are refined – Lihir Island Million Ounce Plant Upgrade proceeding to schedule Outlook Group production in 2009 is expected to be more than 1 million ozs Total cash costs per ounce for 2009 are expected to be below $400/oz, assuming stable oil prices and exchange rates (Quarterly report for the three months ended 31 December 2008. All dollar figures refer to US dollars.) 28 January 2009 Fourth Quarter Production Report to 31 December 2008 Page 1 of 12 Production Report FOURTH QUARTER 2008 For personal use only

Transcript of Production Report - ASX · 2009-01-27 · arising from the increased production at Lihir Island....

Page 1: Production Report - ASX · 2009-01-27 · arising from the increased production at Lihir Island. The stronger US dollar against the Australian dollar also contributed to reduced costs,

LIHIR GOLD LIMITED ARBN 069 803 998 Incorporated in Papua New Guinea

Group Overview

• Recordquarterlygoldproductionof315,000oz, up 26% on the three months to September

• Recordannualgoldproductionof882,000ounces, up26%ontheprioryear

• Recordquarterlyandannualproductionof247,000ouncesand771,000ouncesatLihirIsland

• SuccessfulcommissioningofBonikroinIvoryCoastinOctoberprovidesfurtherdiversificationofproduction, with22%ofgoldproducedinoperationsinAustralia andIvoryCoastduringthequarter

Production Summary (Ozs)

Operation Dec Quarter Sept Quarter FY 2008

LihirIsland,PNG 246,865 216,371 771,455

MtRawdon,Qld 24,971 23,837 53,592

Kirkalocka,WA 0 7,726 9,442

Bonikro,IvoryCoast* 36,735 0 36,735

Ballarat,Vic 6,913 2,176 10,366

Total 315,484 250,110 881,590

*Bonikroproductionreportedona100%basis.

• TotalCashCostsforthegroupreducedto$353/ozforthequarter.Annualcashcostsat$400/oz,whichcontinuestopositionthecompanyatthelowerendoftheglobalgoldproductioncostcurve

• Averagerealizedcashgoldpriceof$792/ozforthequarterand$850/ozfortheyear

• Expansionprojectsanddevelopmentproceeding:

–Ballaratproductiontoincreasein2009,asdevelopmentadvancesandminingmethodsarerefined

–LihirIslandMillionOuncePlantUpgradeproceeding toschedule

Outlook

• Groupproductionin2009isexpectedtobemore than1millionozs

• Totalcashcostsperouncefor2009areexpectedto bebelow$400/oz,assumingstableoilpricesand exchangerates

(Quarterlyreportforthethreemonthsended31December2008.AlldollarfiguresrefertoUSdollars.)28January2009

FourthQuarterProductionReportto31December2008Page1of12

Production ReportFOurth Quarter 2008

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LGLachieveda thirdsuccessiveyear ofrecordannualproductionin2008, at882,000ounces.

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Managing Director’s ReviewLihirGoldLtd(LGL)achievedrecordquarterlygoldproductionof315,000ouncesinthethreemonthstoDecember,enablingthecompanytoreportathirdsuccessiveyearofrecordannualproductionin2008, at882,000ounces.

Thiswasup26%fromthe701,000ouncesproduced in2007.

AhighlightofthefourthquarterwasanoutstandingperformanceatthecornerstoneLihirIslandoperation,whichproduced247,000ouncesofgold,takingfullyearproductiontoarecord771,000ounces.

LihirIslandoutputfortheyearbenefitedfromsignificantlyimprovedprocessplantoperation,followingtheexpansionoftheplantcompletedinthefinalquarterof2007.Thatexpansion,whichincludedtheinstallationofadditionalmillingcapacityandaflotationcircuit,enabledplantthroughputfortheyeartobeincreasedby28%toarecord6.2milliontonnesandcontributedtosignificantincreasesinthegradeoforefedtothepressureoxidationcircuits.

AnothercontributortotherecordproductionfortheyearwastheacquisitionofEquigoldNL,completedinJune,whichbroughttheMtRawdon,BonikroandKirkalockaminesintotheLGLgroup.

Together,theseminescontributed100,000ouncestoLGLproductionsinceJune,includingapproximately62,000ouncesinthefourthquarter,followingthesuccessfulcommissioningoftheBonikroplantinIvoryCoastinOctober.Bonikroproduced37,000ouncesinthequarter,withoregradesandplantthroughputsdevelopingaccordingtoplan.

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FourthQuarterProductionReportto31December2008Page3of12

ExplorationactivityinIvoryCoastalsocontinuedtoyieldencouragingresults,increasingtheprospectofexpandedoperationsintheregion.

TheacquisitionofEquigoldenabledsignificantdiversificationofgroupproduction,withsome22%ofgroupgoldoutputinthefourthquartersourcedfromAustraliaandIvoryCoastoperations.

AtBallarat,processingoflowgradeoresfromearlystopesanddevelopmentzonesenabledproductionfortheyear toexceed10,000ounces,including7000ouncesinthefourthquarter.Valuableexperiencehasbeengainedintheminingoftheseinitialstopes,enablingminingmethodstoberefinedtoallowmoreconsistentdeliveryofhighergradeorestothemill.Thekeyfocusthisyear,followingcompletionoftheGoldenPointshaft,willbetodriveaccessintotheNorthernZoneofthemine.

TheexcellentfourthquarterperformancefortheLGLgroupbuildsontheplatformestablishedthroughtheoperationalimprovementsimplementedatLihirIsland,aswellasthroughtheadditionoftheMtRawdonandIvoryCoastassets.LGLisnowestablishedasaglobalgoldproducer,withimprovedoperationalreliabilityandanexcitinggrowthprofilefromaportfolioofhighqualityassets.

Financial Overview

Operatingmarginsincreasedinthefourthquarterasreductionsinunitcostsoffsetlowergoldprices.Atotalof323,000ouncesofgoldweresoldinthequarter,atanaveragerealisedcashpriceof$792/oz,downfrom$847/ozinthethreemonthstoSeptember.However,grosscashcostsforthequarterfellby23%to$403/oz,enablingcashmarginstoexpandby21%to$387/oz.Totalcashcostsfellto$353/oz,from$412/ozinthepriorquarter,firmlyplacingthegroupamongsttheworld’slowestcostgoldproducers.

ThereductioningroupunitcostswasduetotheinclusionofthelowcostoperationsatMountRawdon(US$332/oz)andatBonikro(US$332/oz),andbecauseofscalebenefitsarisingfromtheincreasedproductionatLihirIsland.ThestrongerUSdollaragainsttheAustraliandollaralsocontributedtoreducedcosts,asdidtheloweroilprice.

Outlook

Fullyearproductionin2009isexpectedtoincreasefrom882,000ouncestomorethan1millionozs,firmlyestablishingLGLamongsttheworld’spremiergoldproducers.ProductionwillincludeanotheryearofrecordoutputfromLihirIsland,atbetween770,000–840,000oz;approximately130,000–160,000ozfromBonikroasitdeliversitsfirstfullyearofproduction;90,000–100,000ozfromMtRawdon,maintainingitstrackrecordofconsistentproduction;and50,000–100,000ozfromBallarat.

Unitcostsareforecasttofalltolessthan$400perouncefortheyear,assumingstabledieselpricesandexchangerates.

IlookforwardtoreportingfurthergoodprogresswhenwereleaseourFullYearFinancialResultsinFebruary.

arthur hOOD

ManagingDirector

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FourthQuarterProductionReportto31December2008Page4of12

Operations

PRODUCTIONSTATISTICS

Dec Sept Change Full Year FullYear Change Quarter Quarter Dec-08 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 From From Sep-08 2007 (%) (%)

Lihir Island

Mining Materialmoved Kt 13,049 12,035 8% 50,660 58,260 -13%

Highgradeore Kt 1,950 1,950 0% 6,181 6,111 1%

Economicgradeore Kt 1,642 2,451 -33% 8,335 4,381 90%

Processing Oremilled Kt 1,578 1,685 -6% 6,154 4,817 28%

Averagegrade oforemilled gAu/t 5.83 4.90 19% 4.77 5.25 -9%

Recovery % 84.0 82.2 2% 82.5 86.0 -4%

Autoclavefeed Kt 1,257 1,304 -4% 4,803 4,586 5%

Autoclavegrade gAu/t 7.09 6.07 17% 5.86 5.51 6%

Goldpoured Oz 246,865 216,371 14% 771,456 700,211 10%

Mt rawdon*

Mining Materialmoved Kt 2,551 2,741 -7% 10,026 8,932 12%

Ore mined Kt 892 858 4% 3,502 3,340 -3%

Processing Oremilled Kt 831 870 -5% 3,460 3,412 1%

Headgrade gAu/t 1.03 0.92 12% 1.03 1.18 -13%

Recovery % 90.5 89.8 1% 89.8 90.4 -1%

Goldpoured Oz 24,971 23,837 5% 102,415 117,528 -13%

AttributabletoLGL Oz 24,971 23,837 5% 53,592 – –

Bonikro*

Processing Oremilled Kt 550 – – 635 – –

Headgrade gAu/t 2.28 – – 2.19 – –

Recovery % 90 – – 90 – –

Goldpoured Oz 36,735 – – 36,735 – –

Kirkalocka*

Processing Oremilled Kt – 150 – 886 1,294 -32%

Headgrade gAu/t – 1.26 – 1.11 1.02 8%

Recovery % – 89.0 – 91.3 88.9 3%

Goldpoured Oz – 7,726 – 30,474 37,873 -20%

AttributabletoLGL Oz – 7,726 – 9,442 – –

Ballarat U/gdevelopment M 2,237 1,552 44% 6,092 3,817 60%

Goldpoured Oz 6,913 2,176 218% 10,366 1,760 489%

LGL Group Oz 315,484 250,110 26% 881,590 701,971 26%

*Acquisitioneffectivefrom17June2008.Kirkalockaceasedproductionfrom14August.

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Increasedoregradesfromthepit,andcontinuedhighratesofprocessplantthroughputenabledLihirIslandto produce a record 247,000ouncesin thefourthquarter.

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LIHIR ISLANDIncreasedoregradesfromthepit,andcontinuedhighratesofprocessplantthroughputenabledLihirIslandtoproducearecord247,000ouncesinthefourthquarter,takingannualproductionto771,000ounces.

Despitemaintenanceissueswiththeshovelfleet,overallminingperformancecontinuedtobesolid,with13milliontonnesmovedinthequarter,takingannualmaterialmovementstomorethan50milliontonnes.Deliveryoftworeplacementshovels,onelateinthequarterandoneearlyin2009,shouldassistinliftingmaterialmovementsin2009.ThefocusoforeproductionremainedinPhaseEightofthepit,whichcontinuedtodeliverconsistenttonnagesofhighgradematerialtotheprocessplant.Theaveragegradeoforemilledroseto5.83gramspertonne,upfrom4.90gramsintheSeptemberquarter.

Intheprocessplant,thebenefitsoftheplantexpansionundertakenin2007,whichaddedmoremillingandoxygencapacity,aswellasaflotationcircuit,becameclearlyevident.Millthroughputfortheyearincreasedby28%to6.15milliontonnes,andaveragegradetotheautoclavesroseto5.86g/t,duemainlytotheuseoftheflotationcircuit,whichproduced730,000tonnesofconcentrateatagoldgradeof11g/t.Theflotationcircuitaddedwellinexcessof100,000ouncestoproductionin2008.Overallautoclavethroughputsalsoincreasedtoarecord4.8milliontonnes,asoperatingparameterswereextended andtheautoclaveswerepushedharder.

Onaquarterlybasis,throughputswerelimitedbythehighsulphurcontentoftheoresbeingprocessed,butfavourablegoldtosulphurratiosneverthelessenabledrecordgoldproductiontobeachieved.Autoclavefeedforthequarterincludedalmost200,000tonnesofflotationconcentrate,whichcombinedwithhighergradeorefromthepit,liftedautoclavefeedgoldgradeto7.1grams/tonne.

Million Ounce Plant upgrade

TheprojectforexpansionoftheLihirIslandproductioncapacitytomorethan1millionouncesayearproceededinthefourthquarter,andremainsonscheduleandonbudget.Theproject,whichwillinvolveinstallationofadditionalcrushing,milling,oxygen,pressureoxidation,CILandtailingsfacilities,isbudgetedtocostapproximately$700millioninFebruary2008dollars.

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OperationsLIHIR ISLAND continued

Million Ounce Plant upgrade continued

DuringtheDecemberquartersignificantprogresswasachievedinengineeringdesignworkandordersplaced forelectricalequipmentandsitebuildings.Ordersforsomesteelequipmentcomponentshavebeenrescheduledto takeadvantageofanticipatedimprovementsinsteel marketconditions.

Potentialpowergenerationfacilitiesfortheexpandedplanthavealsobeenreviewedfollowingreductionsinoilpricesandasgeothermalpowergenerationremainsconstrainedbysteamsupply.Plansarenowbeingdevelopedfortheacquisitionofbarge-mountedheavyfueloilpoweredgeneratorstomeetthepowerrequirementsfortheexpandedplantuntiladditionalgeothermalsteamsuppliesareestablished.

exploration

ExplorationdrillingcontinuedtotakeplaceinthepreviouslyunexploredareabetweentheKapitandLienetzpits,producingencouragingresultswhichultimatelyshould leadtoanincreaseintheresource.

MTRAWDONGoldproductionwas24,971ouncesforthequarter,takingannualproductionto102,415ounces,ofwhich53,592ounceswereattributabletoLGLfromtheJune17 acquisitiondate.

Productionwaspleasinginthequarter,duetooregradeandgoldrecoveriesbeingslightlyhigherthananticipated.Miningactivitieswerefocusedonexpandingthefloorofthepitandmakingprogressonamajorcutbacktoenableaccesstooresinfutureperiods.Intheprocessplant,throughputswereinlinewithplan,butrecoveriesimprovedduetofavourableorecharacteristicsandmoreefficientplantoperations.

Production at Mt Rawdon waspleasinginthequarter,duetooregradeandgoldrecoveriesbeingslightlyhigherthananticipated.

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FourthQuarterProductionReportto31December2008Page7of12

KIRKALOCKATheKirkalockaplanttreatedlastoreon14Augustbeforeceasingoperations.Theplantwasthenplacedintocareandmaintenanceon12Septemberanddidnotcontributeanyproductioninthefourthquarter.

BONIKROTheBonikrooperationinIvoryCoastcommencedgoldproductioninthequarterandhaditsfirstgoldpouronOctober6.Atotalof37,000ouncesofgoldwereproducedintheperiodtotheendofDecember,whichwasastrongperformanceforthefirstthreemonthsofoperationasthepittookshapeandprocessingcircuitswerefine-tuned.

OreproductionremainedinthesofteroxidezonesclosetothesurfaceduringtheDecemberquarter,andisscheduledtocontinueinoxideoreforthefirsthalfof2009.Hardrockminingwillpredominatefromthemiddleoftheyear.

Oregradewasat2.28g/tforthequarter,whichwaswellaboveplan,althoughplantthroughputswereslightlybelowexpectations,duetocommissioningissueswiththecrusherandelutioncircuits.

NewleadershipwasintroducedintotheBonikrooperationduringthequarter,andthesiteleadershipteamiscurrentlybeingstrengthened.Significanttrainingprogramsarealsobeingimplementedtoliftoperatorskilllevelsinthemineandtheprocessplant.

IVORYCOASTExPLORATIONLGL’sexplorationholdingsinIvoryCoastconsistof9grantedexplorationlicencesand20licencesunderapplication,coveringatotalofalmost20,000squarekilometresofthemostprospectivezonesoftheBirimianGreenstoneBelt.

LGL’sexplorationactivityduringtheDecemberquarter wasfocussedoncontinuedinfilldrillingoftheAkissi-So,Assonji-SoandDougbaflaEastresourcesontheHiré andOumélicences.

Atotalof10,365metresofRCand1,693metresofdiamonddrillingwerecompletedinresourcedefinitionprogrammesatthesethreeprojectareas.Thedrillinghasdeliveredencouragingresultswhichareexpectedtoleadtoresourceupgradesinduecourse.

Afurther10,348metresofRCdrillingwascompletedonfollow-uporfirstpassdrillprogrammesontheChappelle(Hiré),Bobosso(Bassawa)andBlaffoGuetto(Didievi)prospects.AtBlaffoGuetto,drillinghasdefineda1.9kilometrestrikelengthofmineralisationwhichisbeing furtherinvestigated.

Thecompanynowhassixexplorationdrillrigsinoperation inIvoryCoast,withadditionalrigstocommenceinthecurrentquarter.

BALLARATDuringthequarter,Ballaratsetnewrecordsforundergrounddevelopmentof2237metres,materialmovedof141,200tonnesandprocessingof87,500tonnes.Thistranslatedintoproductionof6093ouncesofgoldinthequarterand10,366ouncesfortheyear,whichwaswellbelowexpectations.

Miningofthefirstproductionstopeswascarriedoutinthequarter,andwhilethemainstopingareasdeliveredoreof8-10g/t,inlinewithplan,developmentdriveswhichwereexpectedtoprovidesignificantoreprovedtobeinconsistent.Newminingstrategiesarebeingimplementedtooptimiseoresourcesinthefuture.Delaysinboggingahighgradestopeandadjustmentstotheprocessplantalsoreducedoutputforthequarter.

TheGoldenPointshaftexcavationwascompletedwhenitbrokethroughintotheSuliemandeclinejustpriortoyearend,atadepthof318metresfromthesurface.Thesuccessfulcompletionoftheshafthasprovidedthenecessaryventilationinfrastructuretoallowdevelopmenttoproceedtowardsthehighgradenorthernzoneofthemine.

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FourthQuarterProductionReportto31December2008Page8of12

Financial Data

SALES

Dec Sept Change Full Year FullYear Change Quarter Quarter Dec-08 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 From From Sept-08 2007 % %

Lihir Island

Goldsold Oz 264,792 200,480 +32% 765,484 707,339 +8%

Price–cash $/oz 813 865 -6% 865 666 +30%

Ballarat

Goldsold Oz 5,149 1,855 +178% 8,396 1,089 +671%

Price–cash $/oz 803 853 -6% 835 734 +14%

Mt rawdon

Goldsold Oz 25,959 24,599 +6% 55,499 – –

Price–cash $/oz 571 672 -15% 651 – –

Bonikro

Goldsold Oz 26,863 – – 26,863 – –

Price–cash $/oz 798 – – 798 – –

Kirkalocka

Goldsold Oz – 10,487 – 12,685 – –

Price–cash $/oz – 911 – 924 – –

total

Goldsold Oz 322,762 237,421 +36% 868,926 708,428 +23%

Price–cash $/oz 792 847 -7% 850 666 +28%

Atotalof322,762ouncesweresoldinthequarter,atanaveragecashpriceof$792/oz.Thisincludedsalesof25,959ouncesofproductionfromMtRawdon,at$791/oz,whichwasreducedbyhedgedeliveriesof15,339ozsinthequarteratanaveragepriceofA$601/oz,toarealizedcashpriceof$571/oz.Theremainderofthehedgebooktotals115,797ozs,whicharetobedeliveredquarterlyatA$600overtheperiodtoSept2010.

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COSTS

Dec Sept Change Full Year FullYear Change Quarter Quarter Dec-08 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 From From Sept-08 2007 % %

Lihir Island

GrossCashCosts $/oz 423 538 -21% 545 442 +23%

TotalCashCosts $/oz 362 411 -12% 406 299 +36%

Mt rawdon

GrossCashCosts $/oz 363 499 -27% – – –

TotalCashCosts $/oz 332 459 -28% – – –

Bonikro

GrossCashCosts $/oz 300 – – – – –

TotalCashCosts $/oz 307 – – – – –

Kirkalocka

GrossCashCosts $/oz – 292 – – – –

TotalCashCosts $/oz – 292 – – – –

total

GrossCashCosts $/oz 403 527 -23% 525 447 +17%

TotalCashCosts $/oz 353 412 -14% 400 301 +33%

*TheBallaratoperationwasnotincommercialproductioninthequarter,hencecostsincurredwereoffsetagainstrevenuesintheperiodandremaining

costswerecapitalised.

Totalcashcostsforthegroupforthequarterfell14%to $353/oz,andwereat$400/ozfortheyear,confirmingLGL’spositioninthelowestquartileofglobalgoldproducers.

GroupcostsintheDecemberquarterbenefitedfromanumberoffactors:

1)AggregatecostsatLihirIslandreducedbyapproximately10%,drivenbyfallingoilpricesandfavourablecurrencymovements.Theseledtosubstantialfallsinmining,processingandpowergenerationcosts.Coupledwithsignificantlyincreasedproduction,thisledtoasharpfallinunitcosts,withgrosscashcosts/ozfalling21%to$423/oz

andtotalcashcostsdown12%to$362/oz.

2)AtMtRawdon,aggregateexpensesreducedslightlyinAustraliandollarterms,duepartlytoimprovedoilpricesandoperationalefficiencies.ThisthentranslatedintoasignificantreductioninUSdollarcostsduetofavourablecurrencymovements,withtheaverageAustraliandollarexchangeratereducingbyapproximately25%comparedwiththeSeptemberquarter.

3)ThelowcostBonikrooperationwasincludedforthe firsttimeintheDecemberquarter,withtotalcashcosts at$332/oz.

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Capital ExpenditureCapitalexpenditurefor2008totalledapproximately$250million,including$135millionatLihirIsland,$90millionatBallarat,and$25millionatBonikroandMtRawdon.

Inaddition,duringthequarterLGLincreasedownershipoftheBonikroproject(90%from85%)andtheexplorationtenements.Thecostoftheadditionalequitywasapproximately$14milion.

In2009,capitalexpenditureisforecasttototalapproximately$300millionforLihirIsland,theMillionOunceProject,BonikroandMtRawdon.TotalexpenditureatBallarat,includingoperatingandcapitalexpenditure,isexpectedtobeapproximately$100million.

Attheendof2008,thecompanyhadapproximately$64millionincashonhandandnodebtdrawndownonthe$250millionlinesofcreditestablishedwithitsbanks.Itisstillintendedthatthesestandbylinesofcreditwillbeincreasedtoaround$300-$400millionwhencreditmarketconditionsimprovebut,inthemeantime,thecompany’sstrongoperatingcashflowsareexpectedtomeetfundingrequirements,aswasthecaseinthesecondhalfof2008.

Attheendof2008,thecompanyhadapproximately$64millionincashonhandand no debt drawn down onthe$250millionlinesofcreditestablished withitsbanks.

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Further Information

CONTACTFORINVESTORINFORMATION

JoeDowling GMCorporateAffairs tel:+61733183308 Mobile:+61421587755 email:[email protected]

JoelForwood ManagerInvestorRelations tel:+61733183331 Mobile:+61438576879 email:[email protected]

Web site:www.LGLgold.com

SHAREHOLDERENQUIRIES

Queriesrelatedtoshareregistrymatters shouldbedirectedto:

ComputershareInvestorServices Level19,307QueenStreet Brisbane,Queensland4000Australia tel:1300552270or+61732372100 Fax:+61732372152

Web site:www.computershare.comemail:[email protected]

ADRDEPOSITARY

TheBankofNewYork DepositaryReceiptsDivison 101BarclaySt,22ndFloor NewYork,NewYork10286USA tel:+12128153700 Fax:+12125713050 Web site:www.adrbny.com

PRINCIPALOFFICE

Level7,PacificPlaceCnrChampionParade&MusgraveStreetPortMoresby,PapuaNewGuinea

CORPORATEOFFICE

Level9,500QueenStreetBrisbane,Queensland4000Australia

STOCKExCHANGELISTINGS

AustralianSecuritiesExchange(LGL)NASDAQNationalMarket(LIHR)PortMoresbyStockExchange(LGL)TorontoStockExchange(LGG)

ISSUEDCAPITAL

Thecurrentordinaryissuedcapitalofthecompanyis:

• 2,187,601,047listedordinaryshares• 585,984listedrestrictedexecutiveshares

DIRECTORS

RossGarnaut–ChairmanArthurHood–ManagingDirectorBruceBrookPeterCassidy MikeEtheridgeWinifredKamitGeoffLoudonAlisterMaitland

GROUPSECRETARY

StuartMacKenzie

FourthQuarterProductionReportto31December2008Page11of12

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Forward Looking StatementsThisdocumentmaycontaincertainforward-lookingstatements,includingbutnotlimitedto(i)estimatedreserves,(ii)anticipatedproductionprofilesandcharacteristics,(iii)expectedcapitalrequirements,(iv)forecastcostprofilesor(iv)plans,strategiesandobjectivesofmanagement.Suchforwardlookingstatementsarenotguaranteesoffutureperformanceandinvolveknownandunknownrisks,uncertaintiesandotherfactors,manyofwhicharebeyondthecontrolofLihirGoldLimited(“LGL”),whichmaycauseactualresultstodiffermateriallyfromthosecontainedinthisannouncement.Importantfactorsthatcouldcauseactualresultstomateriallydifferfromtheforwardlookingstatementsinthispresentationincludebutarenotlimitedtothemarketpriceofgold,anticipatedoregrades,tonnage,recoveryrates,productionandequipmentoperatingcosts,theimpactofforeigncurrencyexchangeratesoncostinputsandtheactivitiesofgovernmentalauthoritiesinPapuaNewGuineaandelsewhere,assetforthmorefullyunderthecaption“RiskFactors”in LGL’smostrecentAnnualReportonForm20-F,whichhasbeenfiledwiththeUSSecuritiesandExchangeCommission(“SEC”).

Goldreserveandresourceestimatesareexpressionsofjudgementbasedonknowledge,experienceandindustrypractice,andmayrequirerevisionbasedonactualproductionexperience.Suchestimatesarenecessarilyimpreciseanddependtosomeextentonstatisticalinferencesandotherassumptions,suchasgoldprices,cut-offgradesandoperatingcosts,whichmayprovetobeinaccurate.LGL’swhollyownedsubsidiaryBallaratGoldfieldsPtyLtddoesnothaveanyorereservesandthelevelofitsestimatedmineralresourcesandexplorationpotentialarenecessarilyimpreciseandmayprovetobeinaccurate.Accordingly,noassurancecanbegiventhattheindicatedamountofgoldwillberecoveredorattheratesestimated.

LGLcanthereforegivenoassurancesthatanyoftheestimates,productionprofiles,capital,costprofilesandplanswillnotmateriallydifferfromthestatementscontainedinthisreleaseandtheirinclusioninthisdocumentshouldnotberegardedasarepresentationbyanypersonthattheywillbeachieved.

TheforegoingmaterialisapresentationofgeneralbackgroundinformationaboutLGL’sactivitiesasofthedateofthepresentation.Itisinformationgiveninasummaryformanddoesnotpurporttobecomplete.Itisnotintendedtoberelieduponasadvicetoinvestorsorpotentialinvestorsanddoesnottakeintoaccounttheinvestmentobjectives,financialsituationorneedsofanyparticularinvestor.Theseshouldbeconsidered,withorwithoutprofessionaladvicewhendecidingifaninvestmentisappropriate.

Someoftheinformationcontainedinthisdocumentincludescertainun-auditednon-GAAP(whereGAAPmeans“generallyacceptedaccountingprinciples”)measures,suchas“cashcosts”.Suchunauditednon-GAAPmeasuresareintendedtoprovideinformationaboutthecashgeneratingcapacityandperformanceofLGL’sminingoperations.Inparticular,cashcostsisameasurethatisusedinthegoldminingindustryandwasdevelopedinconjunctionwithgoldminingcompaniesassociatedwiththeGoldInstituteinanefforttoprovidealevelofcomparability.However,LGL’smeasuresmaynotbecomparabletosimilarlytitledmeasuresofothercompanies.

ManagementusesthismeasureforthesamepurposewhenmonitoringandevaluatingtheperformanceofLGL.ThisinformationdiffersfrommeasuresofperformancedeterminedinaccordancewithGAAPandshouldnotbeconsideredinisolationorasasubstituteformeasuresofperformancedeterminedinaccordancewithGAAP.

Competent Person TheinformationinthisreportthatrelatestoExplorationResults,MineralResourcesorOreReservesatLGLisbasedoninformationcompiledbyRoyKiddandBradCox.MrKiddisamemberoftheAustralianInstituteofGeoscientistsandisafulltimeemployeeofLihirServicesAustraliaPtyLtd(LSA)intheroleofPrincipalGeologist.LSAprovidesservicestoLGLpursuanttoaManagedServicesAgreement.RoyKiddhassufficientexperiencewhichisrelevanttothestyleofmineralisationandthetypeofdepositunderconsiderationandtotheactivitywhichheisundertakingtoqualifyasaCompetentPersonasdefinedinthe2004Editionofthe“AustralasianCodeforReportingofExplorationResults,MineralResourcesandOreReserves”.

RoyKiddconsentstotheinclusioninthereportofthemattersbasedonhisinformationintheformandcontextinwhichitappears.

BradCoxisamemberofTheAustralianInstituteofMiningandMetallurgyandisafulltimeemployeeofBallaratGoldfieldsPtyLtdintheroleofGroupResourceGeologistforthecompany.MrCoxhassufficientexperience,whichisrelevanttothestyleofmineralisationandthetypeofdepositunderconsiderationandtotheactivitywhichheisundertakingtoqualifyasaCompetentPersonasdefinedinthe2004Editionofthe“AustralasianCodeforReportingofExplorationResults,MineralResourcesandOreReserves”.BradCoxconsentstotheinclusioninthereportofthemattersbasedonhisinformationintheformandcontextinwhichitappears.

ThisreportistobereadinaccordancewithandsubjecttoLGL’smostrecentlyfiledupdatedreservesandresourcesstatementavailablefromLGL’swebsitewww.lglgold.comoronthecompanyannouncementspageoftheASxwww.asx.com.au.

Note to u.S. InvestorsCautionaryNotetoU.S.Investors–TheUnitedStatesSecuritiesandExchangeCommissionpermitsU.S.miningcompanies,intheirfilingswiththeSEC,todiscloseonlythosemineraldepositsthatacompanycaneconomicallyandlegallyextractorproduce.LGLusescertaintermsonthiswebsite,suchas“measured,”“indicated,”and“inferred”“resources,”whichtheSECguidelinesstrictlyprohibitU.S.registeredcompaniesfromincludingintheirfilingswiththeSEC.U.S.InvestorsareurgedtoconsidercloselythedisclosureinLGL’smostrecentForm20-F,whichmaybesecuredfromLGL,orfromtheSEC’swebsiteatwww.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.

Note to Canadian InvestorsCanadianInvestors–forfurtherinformationinrelationtothecalculationofreservesandresourceswithrespecttoLGL’sLihiroperation,pleaserefertotheLihirGoldLimited(TSx:LGG)TechnicalReport(NI43-101)dated18September2007availableonSEDAR(www.sedar.com).

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