Los Andes Copper Ltd. (TSXV: LA) (OTCQX: LSANF) (‘Los Andes’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce the results of a positive Pre-Feasibility Study (‘PFS’) at its 100% owned Vizcachitas Project (‘Vizcachitas’ or the ‘Project’), a world class porphyry copper project, located 150 km north of Santiago. The PFS has been prepared by Tetra Tech Sudamérica S.A, a leading international engineering firm. A conference call and webcast to discuss these results will be held on Friday, February 24, 2023, at 12.00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. To register please contact loasandes@blytheray.com whereafter the webinar details will be sent to you. All values in this release are reported in US dollars.

To view a 3D VRIFY presentation of the PFS results, click on the following link: https://vrify.com/decks/12765

Vizcachitas PFS Highlights

Robust Economics

A $2.8 billion post-tax net present value (‘NPV’) using an 8% discount rate and an internal rate of return (‘IRR’) of 24% at $3.68/pound (‘lb’) copper, $12.9/lb molybdenum and $21.79/ounce (‘oz’) silver. Pre-production capital cost of $2.4 billion, with a construction period of 3.25 years.Payback period of 2.5 years from initial production.

World-Class Resource

Proven & Probable Reserves of 1.22 billion tonnes at 0.36% copper, 136 ppm molybdenum, 1.1 g/t silver, which equates to a copper equivalent (‘CuEq’) grade of 0.41% (Proven Reserves of 302 million tonnes at 0.41% copper, 135 ppm molybdenum, 1.2 g/t silver; and Probable Reserves of 917 million tonnes at 0.34% copper, 136 ppm molybdenum, 1.1 g/t silver).

Long-Scale, Long-Life, High-Margin Production

Average annual production of approximately 183,017 tonnes of copper at a C1 cost of $0.93/lb copper (net of by-products) for the first 8 years. Initial Project Life of Mine (‘LOM’) 26 years producing 8.763 billion lbs copper, 273.3 million lbs molybdenum, and 32.7 million oz silver. Realized CuEq metal price (net of smelter return and selling expenses) of $3.50/lb copper sold, yielding a 44% all-in-sustaining margin. Low strip ratio (waste:ore) of 1.54:1 for first 8 years, and strip ratio 2.33:1 for LOM. Favourable metallurgy including low levels of clay, resulting in high copper recoveries (average of 91.1%) and supporting the use of filtered tailings.

Sustainable and Responsible Mining

Signed letter of intent for desalinated water, eliminating the need to draw on continental water. Reduced water consumption by approximately 50% (from previous design) through use of dry-stacked filtered tailings. Reduced power consumption by 25% (from previous design) through use of high pressure grinding rolls (‘HPGR’) technology. CO2 emissions Scope 1 projected at 1.02 h CO2e / t CuEq, and Scope 2 at 0.

Future Opportunities

Potential opportunities to meaningfully improve the Project include: (i) drilling to upgrade inferred resources and bring them into the mine plan potentially increasing the LOM, reducing operating expenses, capital expenses and strip ratio; and, (ii) further drilling to define the extent of mineralization, deposit currently open at depth, east and west.

An independent technical report for the PFS, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, will be available under the Company’s SEDAR profile within the next 45 days.

Los Andes Copper’ CEO, Santiago Montt, commented on the PFS:

‘I am extremely pleased to announce the results of the Pre-Feasibility Study for the proposed Vizcachitas mine in Chile. It shows that Vizcachitas is clearly a Tier 1 asset that has the potential to join the ranks as one of the largest and most profitable copper mines in Chile.

The new mine design incorporates a number of optimizations including expanding access works, allowing for a faster ramp-up of production and minimizing uphill material movement and haulage distances. This has reduced the OPEX and led to a shorter payback further strengthening the economics of the Project. Our new sustainable and responsible design considers the use of HPGR to reduce energy consumption, dry-stacked filtered tailings to reduce water consumption and footprint, and desalinated water.

Vizcachitas benefits from being situated in a country with an established mining industry and in close proximity to existing infrastructure including power, roads and ports. All of these factors have enabled the Project to meaningfully reduce its initial CAPEX requirement. There is also a skilled labor force in the nearby towns and cities of Putaendo, San Felipe and Los Andes.

The Project is economically robust with the potential for considerable upside through further drilling to upgrade the Inferred Resource to Measured and Indicated, thereby bringing them into the mine plan.’

Los Andes Copper’ Chairman, Eduardo Covarrubias, commented on the PFS:

‘The lack of new discoveries of this scale over the last 10 years and the increasing demand for copper highlights the importance of projects like Vizcachitas. The PFS demonstrates a robust, economically attractive project with long mine life and potential for significant further upside.

The study focused on ensuring Vizcachitas would lead the way in sustainable mining, and we are delighted to announce that our three key targets: to reduce water usage, power consumption and the footprint of the Project have all been met, allowing us to deliver a mine that minimizes its impact on the environment.’

Project Description

The Vizcachitas Project is located in the Andes Mountains, in the Province of San Felipe, Fifth Region of Chile, approximately 150 km northeast of Santiago, Chile, and 46 km northeast of Putaendo, San Felipe Province. The Project is 100% owned by Los Andes Copper Ltd., a company based in Vancouver and listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Project is located at just 1,950 m.a.s.l., in proximity to other world-class copper-molybdenum porphyries that belong to the same metallogenic belt.

The Vizcachitas Project is a mineralized copper-molybdenum porphyry system associated with a complex of hydrothermal breccias and porphyries within Miocene volcanic rocks. The Vizcachitas Project contains Measured and Indicated Resources of 14.801 billion pounds CuEq (Measured Resource of 2.605 billion lbs copper, 84 million lbs molybdenum and 11 million oz silver, and Indicated Resource of 10.416 billion pounds of copper, 442 million lbs of molybdenum, and 43 million oz of silver) and Inferred Resources of 15.444 billion pounds CuEq (13.747 billion lbs of copper, 495 million lb of molybdenum, and 55 million oz of silver). It is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in South America not controlled by a major mining company.

The PFS contemplates that Vizcachitas would be mined using conventional open pit methods. From the open pit the ore would be trucked to a concentrator designed to process 136,000 tonnes per day of ore. The ore would be fed into a three-stage crushing plant using HPGR technology as the tertiary crusher. The ore would be crushed to 240 microns, and sent as a slurry to the flotation stage located further down the valley. The flotation stage would produce a clean copper and silver concentrate and a separate molybdenum concentrate. The tailings produced in the flotation stage would be thickened and filtered to 15% moisture. The filtered tailings would then be co-mingled with the mine waste rock and deposited in a combined tailings/waste rock facility.

The Vizcachitas Project is designed to use desalinated water, supplied by a third-party consortium. Power would be supplied via 60km line connecting to the national grid. Concentrate would be transported in rotainers (sealed rotating containers) by truck 145km to the Port of Ventanas with the Ports of Valparaiso and San Antonio as additional options. There are 35km of existing roads that would require upgrading between Vizcachitas and Putaendo. Rail transportation from San Felipe to any of the three ports is a further alternative to be evaluated.

Social & Environmental

The PFS was designed to adopt the latest proven sustainable mining technologies. The focus was on securing a desalinated water supply and reducing water consumption, power consumption and the footprint of the Project.

All of these targets have been met. The Company has signed a letter of intent with a desalinated water consortium to secure a water supply for the Project removing any concerns over the use of continental water in an area that has been heavily impacted by drought. The plan under discussion with the consortium also includes providing water at preferential rates to community groups along the pipeline route in the Putaendo and Petorca valleys.

The use of dry-stacked filtered tailings reduces the water consumption of the Project by approximately 50%, (compared to thickened tailings). It also reduces the footprint of the Project by 500 hectares compared to the PEA and is now designed to be situated in only one valley.

The introduction of HPGR technology has reduced power consumption by 25% vs a SAG circuit that was previously considered in the PEA.

The Company has projected low CO2 emissions. Scope 1: 178,389 t CO2e/year, or 1.02 t CO2 per t CuEq produced; potential to have Scope 2 at zero as long as the power market continues to have renewable availability for the full energy supply of the Project. The Company will continue to look for opportunities to further reduce Scope 1 emissions.

Communication with the local communities and public authorities has continued throughout the PFS with the Community and Corporate Affairs team working closely with all interested parties.

Summary of Vizcachitas PFS Economic Results

* The NPV is based on long-term consensus copper and silver prices as calculated by a leading Canadian bank and molybdenum long-term forecast price from CRU.

The Project’s Post Tax Cash Flow is shown in the following chart.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/155910_44e725f4942f2b7c_002full.jpg

Copper contributes 88% of the net revenue, followed by molybdenum with 10%, and the balance being silver credits in copper concentrate.

NPV Sensitivities

The sensitivity analysis provides a range of outcomes for the Project when the key parameters are varied from their base-case values. The NPV estimate is most sensitive to the copper price, followed by the discount rate applied and the total operating costs.

The Post-tax NPV ranges from $822 million to $5.498 billion as the applied copper price is varied between $2.75/lb Cu and $5.00/lb Cu.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/155910_44e725f4942f2b7c_003full.jpg

The Post-tax NPV ranges from $1.778 billion to $4.332 billion as the discount rate is adjusted between 11% and 5%. The Post-tax NPV remains positive in all isolated sensitivity scenarios presented.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/155910_44e725f4942f2b7c_004full.jpg

The sensitivity of the post-tax NPV and IRR to changes of molybdenum price, initial CAPEX and OPEX are illustrated in the three following figures:

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/155910_44e725f4942f2b7c_005full.jpg

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/155910_44e725f4942f2b7c_006full.jpg

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/155910_44e725f4942f2b7c_007full.jpg

CAPEX and OPEX

The initial capital, expensed over the first four years of the Project, amounts to $2.4 billion. The deferred and sustaining capital over the remainder of LOM amounts to $1.5 billion. A breakdown of capital is presented in the tables below.

Operating costs

The associated operating costs are summarised in the table below.

Initial Vizcachitas Mineral Reserve Statement

The Initial Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves for the Vizcachitas Project are 10.889 billion lbs of CuEq (9.623 billion lbs copper, 365 million lbs molybdenum and 43.6 million oz silver). These reserves are contained within a 26-year mine life open pit and processed in a plant with a throughput of 136,000 tonnes per day. The Initial Mineral Reserve estimate for Vizcachitas, shown below, has an effective date of December 2, 2022.

Notes

Mineral Reserves were classified using CIM Definition Standards (2014). Mineral Reserves have an effective date of December 2, 2022. Mineral Reserves are included within the Mineral Resources. The Qualified Person for the estimate is Mr. Severino Modena, BSc, Mining Engineer, MAusIMM, Member of the Chilean Mining Commission, and a Tetra Tech Sudamérica employee. The Mineral Reserve has a metallurgical cut-off based on processing plant design specifications of 0.18% Cu for direct mill feed. Due to rounding, numbers may not add precisely to the totals. The Mineral Reserves estimate uses a marginal phase analysis through a cut-off grade optimization software (COMET). The Mineral Reserves are contained within operational phases defined with a COMET optimized mining schedule, which includes a stockpiling strategy. Key inputs for that process are:
i. Metal prices of $3.5/lb copper and $12/lb molybdenum.
ii. Mining Cost of $1.59/t at a reference elevation of 1990 m.a.s.l., plus costs adjustments of $0.014/t per bench above reference and $0.032/t per bench below reference.
iii. Processing cost of $5.7/t milled.
iv. General and Administration cost of $0.30/t milled.
v. Pit slopes angles varying from 44° to 52°.Process recoveries are based on lithology for both copper and molybdenum, except for a sector with a fixed copper recovery value.

Mineral Resource

Measured and Indicated Resources are 1,541 million tonnes grading 0.436% CuEq (0.383% copper, 155 ppm molybdenum and 1.1 g/t silver) using a 0.25% copper cut-off. The Inferred Resource is 1,823 million tonnes grading 0.384% CuEq (0.342% Copper, 123ppm molybdenum, 0.9g/t silver) using a 0.25% copper cut-off. The Measured and Indicated Resources increased by 16% to 14.801 billion lbs CuEq (13.021 billion lbs copper, 526 million lbs molybdenum and 54 million oz silver). The Inferred Resource increased by 130% to 15.444 billion lbs CuEq (13.747 billion lbs copper, 495 million lbs molybdenum and 15 million oz silver) with respect to the June 2019 PEA.

The resource estimate was calculated from 168 drill holes totaling 58,628 meters of drilling. This drilling was used to generate an updated geological model, completed during 2022, that provided the basis to separate the estimation domains used for the resource estimation.

The resource estimate presented below is the total Measured & Indicated and Inferred Resources and has an effective date of February 7, 2023.

Notes

Mineral Resources were classified using CIM Definition Standards (2014). The Mineral Resources effective date is February 7 2023 Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves. The Mineral Resources are reported using a 0.25% copper cut-off Copper Equivalent grade has been calculated using the following calculation: CuEq (%) = Cu (%) + 0.000288 x Mo (ppm) + 0.00711 x Ag (g/t). Assumptions used for the copper equivalent calculation were metal prices of $3.68/lb copper, $12.9/lb molybdenum, $21.79/oz silver, with metallurgical recoveries of 91.1% for copper, 74.8% for molybdenum and 75% for silver based on the PFS metallurgical testwork. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. 8. The quantities and grades of reported Inferred Mineral Resources are uncertain in nature, and further exploration may not result in their upgrading to Indicated or Measured status. Mineral Resources were prepared by Maria Loreto Romo and Severino Modena both full-time employees of Tetra Tech Sudamérica and Ricardo Muñoz, a consultant part of the Tetra Tech Sudamérica team, all are Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Due to rounding, numbers may not add precisely to the totals. All Mineral Resources are assessed for reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction (RPEEE)

Mining

The PFS is based on open pit mining methods with conventional drilling, blasting and loading performed on 15m benches. Continuous mineralization occurring near the surface facilitates the start and lowers the strip ratio, avoiding a large initial CAPEX to access the grade.

The mine would use an autonomous fleet taking advantage of the technology’s proven productivity improvements, cost and energy savings. Extensive early access works would allow a faster ramp up of production.

The open pit would have a mine life of 26 years, operating 365 days a year with a life of mine strip ratio of 2.33:1 (including pre-stripping). The production plan would be based on the steady state processing of 49,640,000 tonnes per annum of ore. Once steady state production is reached, variations in cash-flow are due primarily to variations in head grade, strip ratio and recoveries.

The mined production profile, followed by the milled production profile, is presented below. Ores below variable mill cut-off grade are stockpiled in either high-grade, medium-grade or low-grade stockpiles and are subsequently rehandled and combined with mine feed to the mill.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/155910_44e725f4942f2b7c_008full.jpg

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/916/155910_44e725f4942f2b7c_009full.jpg

Processing

Vizcachitas is a copper-molybdenum porphyry where its main copper species are primary sulphides. An optimal liberation is achieved at a P80 of 240 microns. Low presence of clays favours flotation and water recovery performance. These key ore characteristics allow the Project to:

Consume less energy in the grinding stage compared with other porphyries (10.8 kWh/t in the grinding stage and 16.6 kWh/t overall) with the use of the HPGR technology and with a target P80 of 240 microns.Achieve recoveries over 90% (average of 91.1%), producing clean concentrates. Use of filtered tailings technology to achieve a cake moisture of 15%. This results in substantial reductions of water consumption (below 0.2 m3/t) and dry tailings that do not require building a tailings dam, thus reducing the Project footprint, environmental impact and seismic risks.

The low altitude of the Project avoids the need for de-rating of equipment. Gravitation will be used to send ore from the crusher to the flotation plant which will also reduce energy consumption.

The Flotation area will be located downstream from the crushing plant in a natural plateau on the east side of the valley.

Infrastructure

The Project is located in an infrastructure-dense region. Connection to the national grid would be via a 60km line. Concentrates would be transported in rotainers by truck 145km to the Port of Ventanas with the Ports of Valparaiso and San Antonio as additional options. There are 35km of existing roads that would require upgrading between Vizcachitas and Putaendo. Rail transportation from San Felipe to any of the three ports is a further alternative to be evaluated.

A site camp is not required for lodging due to a reduced commuting time to nearby towns and cities (Putaendo, San Felipe and Los Andes) which have skilled mining workforces.

Tailings would be dry stacked in layers with the mine waste rock in a co-mingled configuration. The Tailings Storage Facility would be located across the valley allowing the loaded waste mine trucks to operate in a favourable slope. The use of dry-stacked filtered tailings would reduce water consumption by approximately 50% (from the previous design), limit its footprint to one valley, and discard the use of tailings dams, minimizing seismic risk and environmental impacts.

The Rocin River would be diverted by a 40m high dam and a 5m diameter and 16.2km long tunnel. The Company signed a Letter of Intent with Desala Petorca SPA, a water supply company which will provide desalinated water to the Project thereby removing any concern over use of continental water in drought afflicted area.

Detailed PFS Economic Results

* Strip ratio for first 8 years excludes pre-stripping (included in CAPEX).

The cost breakdown of significant activities relating to the Project is presented in the table below.

* Sales income include by-products. **AISC include all cash costs, sustaining capital and selling costs, but excludes head office G&A, exploration expenses.

Future opportunities and value enhancements

The PFS identified a number of potential optimizations to the Project. These include:

Further drilling to reclassify Inferred Resources to Measured and Indicated Resources and so incorporate them into the mine plan Further drilling to define the extent of the mineralization both laterally and at depth

Both can potentially extend the mine life without expanding plant and infrastructure.

The use of rotainers to transport the concentrate creates a number of options to transport the concentrate to port. The base case currently contemplates trucking to the Port of Ventanas. Rotainers open the possibility of accessing (with minor incremental port handling investments) the ports of Valparaiso and San Antonio. The potential to use rail from San Felipe to any of these three ports is additional option, to be evaluated further.

QAQC Statement

Los Andes Copper has a strict Quality Assurance and Quality Control (‘QA QC’) protocol consistent with industry best practices for core handling. There is a strict chain of custody from the Project site to the laboratory via the Company’s core cutting facility. The QA QC protocol includes inserting field duplicates, coarse duplicates, pulp duplicates, pulp and coarse blanks and Certified Reference Materials supplied by Ore Research and Exploration, Australia.

Qualified Persons

The contents of this press release have been reviewed and approved by each of Severino Modena, Maria Loreto Romo, Sergio Alvarado, Mario Riveros, and Ricardo Muñoz, each of whom is a Qualified Person as such term is defined in NI 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators (the ‘QPs’). Each of the QPs is an employee or consultant working for Tetra Tech Sudamérica S.A., which was engaged by the Company to prepare the PFS.

Antony Amberg CGeol FGS, the Company’s Chief Geologist, has also reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release, and has validated the data by, supervising the sample collection process, through chain of custody records and inspecting the detailed technical data and quality control and assurance information.

About Los Andes Copper Ltd.

Los Andes Copper Ltd. is an exploration and development company with an 100% interest in the Vizcachitas Project in Chile. The Company is focused on progressing the Project, which is located along Chile’s most prolific copper belt, into production. Vizcachitas is one of the largest copper deposits in the Americas not controlled by the majors and the Company believes it will be Chile’s next major copper mine. The Project is a copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit, located 150 kilometers north of Santiago, in an area of very good infrastructure. An independent technical report for the PFS, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, will be available under the Company’s SEDAR profile within the next 45 days.

Los Andes Copper Ltd. is listed on the TSX-V under the ticker: LA.

For more information please contact:

Santiago Montt, Interim CEO
santiago.montt@losandescopper.com
Tel: +56 2 2954-0450
Elizabeth Johnson, Investor Relations
Elizabeth.johnson@losandescopper.com
E-Mail: info@losandescopper.com
Visit our website at: www.losandescopper.com
Follow us on twitter @LosAndesCopper
Follow us on LinkedIn Los Andes Copper Ltd

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the information and statements contained herein that are not historical facts, constitute ‘forward looking information’ within the meaning of the Securities Act (British Columbia), Securities Act (Ontario) and the Securities Act (Alberta) (‘Forward-Looking Information’). Forward-Looking Information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘seek’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’ and ‘intend’; statements that an event or result is ‘due’ on or ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘could’, or might’ occur or be achieved; and, other similar expressions. More specifically, Forward- Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such Forward- Looking Information. Such Forward Looking Information includes, without limitation, the proposed use of proceeds of the Offering and the prospects, details related to and timing of the Vizcachitas Project. Such Forward Looking Information is based upon the Company’s assumptions regarding global and Chilean economic, political and market conditions and the price of metals and energy and the Company’s production. Among the factors that have a direct bearing on the Company’s future results of operations and financial conditions are changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, a change in government policies, competition, currency fluctuations and restrictions and technological changes, among other things. Should one or more of any of the aforementioned risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from any conclusions, forecasts or projections described in the Forward-Looking Information. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise Forward-Looking Information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Cautionary Note for U.S. investors Concerning Mineral Resources and Reserves

National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (‘NI 43-101’) is a rule of the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Technical disclosure contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Classification System. These standards differ from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) and resource information contained in this press release may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by domestic United States companies subject to the SEC’s reporting and disclosure requirements.

All references to ‘$’ in this news release are to U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.

Cautionary Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Alternative performance measures in this news release such as ‘C1 cash cost’, ‘C3’, ‘AISC’ ‘free cash flow’ are furnished to provide additional information. These non-GAAP performance measures are included in this news release because these statistics are used as key performance measures that management uses to monitor and assess performance of the Project, and to plan and assess the overall effectiveness and efficiency of mining operations. These performance measures do not have a standard meaning within International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’) and, therefore, amounts presented may not be comparable to similar data presented by other mining companies. These performance measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance in accordance with IFRS.

C1 or C1 cash costs

C1 or C1 cash costs include site operating costs (mining, processing), refinery costs, but excludes indirect, head office G&A and exploration expenses.

C3

C3 includes C1 plus all surface, infrastructure, site G&A, royalty and indirect expenses. All-In Sustaining Cost (‘AISC’)

AISC includes all cash costs, sustaining capital, and selling costs, but excludes head office G&A, and exploration expenses.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flows are revenues net of operating costs, royalties, capital expenditures and cash taxes. The Company believes that this measure is useful to the external users in assessing the Company’s ability to generate cash flows from the Project.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/155910