Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Asset Management - Global / Austral Gold Limited

Austral Gold Limited

agd · ASX Financial Services
Claim this profile
Ticker agd
Exchange ASX
Sector Financial Services
Industry Asset Management - Global
Employees 201-500
← All annual reports
FY2022 Annual Report · Austral Gold Limited
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
MEDIA RELEASE 
Austral Gold Limited 
30 March 2023 

Austral Gold Files 2022 Annual Report 

Austral Gold Limited (“Austral” or “the Company”) (ASX: AGD; TSX-V: AGLD) is pleased to 
announce that it has filed its Annual Report for the Financial Year Ended 31 December 2022.  

About Austral Gold Limited 

Austral Gold Limited is a gold and silver explorer and mining producer whose strategy is to expand 
the life of its cash generating assets in Chile, restart its Casposo-Manantiales mine complex in 
Argentina  and  build  a  portfolio  of  quality  assets  in  Chile,  the  USA  and  Argentina  organically 
through exploration and via acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Austral owns a 100% interest 
in the Guanaco/Amancaya mines in Chile and the Casposo-Manantiales mine complex (currently 
on care and maintenance) in Argentina, a non-controlling interest in the Rawhide Mine in Nevada, 
USA and a non-controlling interest in Ensign Gold which holds the Mercur project in Utah, USA. 

In addition, Austral owns an attractive portfolio of exploration projects in the Paleocene Belt in 
Chile (including those acquired in the 2021 acquisition of Revelo Resources Corp), and a 51% 
interest in the Sierra Blanca project in Santa Cruz, Argentina. Austral Gold Limited is listed on the 
TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: AGLD) and the Australian Securities Exchange. (ASX: AGD). 
For more information, please consult Austral's website at www.australgold.com.  

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

Release approved by the Chief Executive Officer of Austral Gold, Stabro Kasaneva. 

For additional information please contact: 

Jose Bordogna 
Chief Financial Officer 
Austral Gold Limited 
Jose.bordogna@australgold.com 
+61 466 892 307 

Ben Jarvis 
Director 
Austral Gold Limited 
info@australgold.com 
+61 413 150 448 

Austral Gold Limited ABN 30 075 860 472 ASX: AGD TSXV: AGLD 
Level 5 126 Phillip St, Sydney NSW 2000 | T +61 2 9380 7233 | F +61 2 9251 7455 | info@australgold.com | www.australgold.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2022

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022

www.australgold.com

 
TABLE OF 
CONTENTS

Corporate Directory 

Value Proposition 

Chair’s Letter 

Key Principles 

Mineral Reserves and Resources 

Review of Activities 

Directors’ Report 

Financial Statements 

Directors’ Declaration 

Independent Auditor’s Report 

Additional Information 

4

6

8

10

12

18

46

62

100

102

110

Austral Gold Limited

3

Annual Report 2022

CORPORATE 
DIRECTORY

Austral Gold Limited

4

Annual Report 2022

KEY MANAGEMENT
Stabro Kasaneva 
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director

Rodrigo Ramirez 
Vice President of Operations

Raul Guerra* 
Vice President of Exploration

Jose Bordogna 
Chief Financial Officer

DIRECTORS
Wayne Hubert  
Chair & Executive Director

Eduardo Elsztain  
Vice Chair  & Non-Executive Director

Saul Zang  
Non-Executive Director

Pablo Vergara del Carril  
Non-Executive Director

Stabro Kasaneva  
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director

Robert Trzebski  
Independent Non-Executive Director

Ben Jarvis  
Independent Non-Executive Director

COMPANY SECRETARY
Chelsea Sheridan 
Automic Group 

REGISTERED OFFICE 
Level 5 126 Phillip Street 
Sydney NSW 2000 
Tel: +61 2 9380 7233 
Email: info@australgold.com 
Web: www.australgold.com

OTHER OFFICES
Santiago, Chile 
Lo Fontecilla 201 of. 334
Santiago, Chile
Tel: +56 (2) 2374 8560

Buenos Aires, Argentina 
Bolivar 108 
Buenos Aires (1066) Argentina 
Tel: +54 (11) 4323 7500 
Fax: +54 (11) 4323 7591

Vancouver, Canada
170-422 Richards Street  
Vancouver, BC V6B 2Z4  
Tel: +1 604 868 9639 

SHARE REGISTRIES 
Computershare Investor Services Australia 
GPO Box 2975 
Melbourne VIC 3001 
Tel: 1300 850 505 (within Australia) 
Tel: +61 3 9415 5000 (outside Australia)

Computershare Investor Services Canada 
510 Burrard Street, 2nd Floor 
Vancouver, BC V6C 3B9 
Tel: +1 604 661 9400 
Fax: +1 604 661 9549

AUDITORS
KPMG 
www.kpmg.com.au

LISTED 
Australian Securities Exchange 
ASX: AGD

TSX Venture Exchange 
TSXV: AGLD

PLACE OF INCORPORATION:
Western Australia

*resigned effective 31 January 2023

Austral Gold Limited

5

Annual Report 2022

VALUE  
PROPOSITION

Austral Gold Limited

6

Annual Report 2022

MINING OPERATIONS

POSITIVE cash flow from operations  
since 2012

INSTALLED production capacity with  
two 1,500 tpd agitation leaching plants  
in Argentina and Chile

EXPLORATION STRATEGY

FIND High-Sulphidation gold  
and silver deposits in a high-quality  
land portfolio

STRATEGICALLY LOCATED in five  
of the richest mineral endowments 
 in the Americas

BOARD/MANAGEMENT

PREVIOUS DISCOVERIES of world-class 
deposits in the Americas

PROVEN SUCCESS doing business  
in Argentina and Chile through managing 
listed companies

Austral Gold Limited

7

Annual Report 2022

CHAIR’S  
LETTER

Austral Gold Limited

8

Annual Report 2022

As part of our 2022, strategic planning, we decided to sell SCRN 
Properties Ltd, (“SCRN”) owner of the Pingüino project. The sales 
process culminated in the sale of SCRN in Q1 2023 to E2 Metals 
Limited (“E2”) (ASX:E2M) for total consideration of approximately 
US$10 million. We believe this transaction is accretive for Austral, 
as not only did we obtain US$2.5 million cash on closing, with 
another US$2.5 million cash to be received over the next three 
years, we retained exposure to the Pingüino project through the 
receipt of 19.9% of E2’s common shares valued at US$4.7 million 
plus options valued at US$0.6 million to acquire additional shares 
of E2, provided our ownership position does not exceed 19.9% 
of E2. 

Since Austral Gold started its operations in 2011, gold and silver 
prices fundamentals have remained strong, and we expect them 
to remain attractive for the business in 2023, and be stable over 
the long-term due to negative real interest rates and governments 
that have continued deficit spending. Gold remains proven over 
the centuries as an asset class without liabilities.

In summary, we continued to lay the foundation for the growth of 
Austral Gold by:

•  Increasing the mine life at Guanaco/Amancaya that can support 
production levels of 30,000-35,000 gold equivalent ounces 
per year over the next three to four years, plus a further 10,000 
gold equivalent ounces of production per year for the following 
seven to eight years. 

•  Exploring the Paleocene and Indio belts in Chile and Argentina in 
our search for High-Sulphidation (HS) gold and silver deposits. 

•  Continuing to explore our Casposo-Manantiales properties 
in San Juan, Argentina while reviewing all exploration data to 
develop an internal resource estimate and determine next steps. 

I would like to thank our shareholders for their continued support, 
all of our employees and contractors, and our Board members 
for their hard work and dedication during this year and we look 
forward to continuing to execute on our growth strategy in 2023. 

WAYNE HUBERT
Chair

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to present the 
Austral Gold Limited (“Austral” or the “Company) Annual Report 
for the financial year ended 31 December 2022 (“FY22”).

For Austral, 2022 proved to be a challenging year with important 
milestones achieved to enable the advancement on our long-
term growth strategy. We continued to move forward with our 
value proposition of maintaining sustainable mining operations to 
support our exploration activities though the extension of the life 
of our Guanaco/Amancaya mine complex and our search for large 
High-Sulphidation (HS) gold and silver deposits. These activities 
rely on our strong commitment to the well-being of our employees 
and communities where we operate, including promotion of the 
highest health, safety and environmental standards. 

During FY22, our Guanaco-Amancaya mine complex continued 
to be the primary source of the company’s cash flow with a total 
of 27,686 gold-equivalent ounces produced and a gross profit of 
US$10.2 million (excluding depreciation and amortisation) despite 
lower production than our initial 2022 guidance of 35,000-40,000 
gold-equivalent ounces. The lower production is mainly explained 
by (i) restricted availability of the underground fleet, (ii) change in 
the underground mine contractor at the beginning of the year, 
and (iii) lower gold grades in certain areas of the Amancaya mine.

An important operational milestone achieved was the updated 
independent technical report issued by SLR Consulting (Canada) 
(“SLR”) dated 25 March 2022 that reflects a longer estimated life 
of mine for the Guanaco/Amancaya operations to year 2033 by 
combining production from the Guanaco and Amancaya mines 
and from the reprocessing of heaps at Guanaco. 

We believe that the heap reprocessing project will provide opera-
tional stability by providing low cost production. In January 2023, we 
announced that production from the heaps is forecast for June 2023 
and that we had significantly advanced with construction activities 
and engineering studies. For the financial year ended 31 December 
2023 (“FY23”), we project production of 11,000-11,500 gold equiva-
lent ounces (“GEOs)” from the heaps at significantly higher margins 
than production from our underground Amancaya mine, which we 
expect to produce 23,000-27,000 GEOs. Total production for 2023 
is projected to increase to 34,000-38,000 GEOs.

During the year, the Guanaco-Amancaya operations continued to 
support our brownfield and greenfield exploration activities that 
totaled US$5.8 million in FY22. 

Our brownfield activities were focused on our Casposo-Manantia-
les project in Argentina and on the Paleocene belt, near the vicinity 
of our Guanaco/Amancaya mine complex in Chile. 

To advance on our strategic objective of restarting profitable 
mining operations at our Casposo-Manantiales project, we drilled 
more than 7,000 meters in 2022. Our first drill program resulted 
in the intersection of some high gold grades at the Manantiales 
vein, opening the upside at depth and indicating the continuity of 
mineralisation in the south ore-shoot. At our subsequent follow up 
drill program in the fourth quarter, some holes intersected high gold 
grades at the top and bottom of the central ore-shoot, indicating 
possible continuity at depth.

On the greenfield exploration front, with the strategic objective 
to find HS deposits, we focused on exploration activities in the 
Paoleocene belt in Chile and the Indio belt in Argentina, where we 
have earn-in agreements with third parties. 

Austral Gold Limited

9

Annual Report 2022

KEY  
PRINCIPLES

Austral Gold Limited

10

Annual Report 2022

Be socially and environmentally  
responsible and strive to reduce  
safety risks and operating costs

Be the preferred partner for companies, 
communities and governments to operate 
precious metal projects in the Americas: 
currently focused on Chile, Argentina 
and the USA

MAXIMISE VALUE  
CREATION FOR  
STAKEHOLDERS

Austral Gold Limited

11

Annual Report 2022

MINERAL  
RESERVES AND 
RESOURCES

Austral Gold Limited

12

Annual Report 2022

TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESERVES
31 December 2022

Tonnes

Grade

Contained Metal

Classification

(000 t)

(g/t Au)

(g/t Ag)

 (000 oz Au) 

 (000 oz Ag) 

Underground

Proven

Probable

P + P

Open Pit

Proven

Probable

P + P

Heap

Proven

Probable

P + P

Guanaco and Amancaya Mine

 32 

 116 

 148 

 - 

 1,607 

 1,607 

 5.81 

 5.84 

 5.83 

Inesperada

 - 

 1.05 

 1.05 

 14.42 

 16.94 

 16.40 

 - 

 14.39 

 14.39 

Heap Reprocessing Project

 6 

 22 

 28 

 - 

 54 

 54 

 15 

 63 

 78 

 - 

 744 

 744 

 10,189 

 0.68 

 3.16 

 221 

 1,037 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 10,189 

 0.68 

 3.16 

 221 

 1,037 

Total Proven

Total Probable

Total P + P

See notes to Mineral Reserves on page 16.

Total

 0.69 

 1.37 

 0.79 

 10,221 

 1,723 

 11,945 

 3.20 

 14.56 

 4.84 

 227 

 76 

 303 

 1,052 

 807 

 1,859 

Austral Gold Limited

13

Annual Report 2022

TABLE 2: SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES
31 December 2022

Tonnes

Grade

Contained Metal

Classification

(000 t)

(g/t Au)

(g/t Ag)

 (000 oz Au) 

 (000 oz Ag) 

Underground

Measured

Indicated

M + I

Inferred

Open Pit

Measured

Indicated

M + I

Inferred

Heap

Measured

Indicated

M + I

Inferred

Total Measured

Total Indicated

Total M + I

Total Inferred

See notes to Mineral Resources on page 16.

Guanaco and Amancaya Mine

 594 

 1,009 

 1,604 

 402 

 - 

 1,682 

 1,682 

 74 

 2.77 

 3.12 

 2.99 

 4.20 

Insperada

 - 

 1.05 

 1.05 

 0.91 

 13.00 

 17.98 

 16.14 

 8.51 

 - 

 14.38 

 14.38 

 12.40 

Heap Reprocessing Project

 53 

 101 

 154 

 54 

 - 

 57 

 57 

 2 

 248 

 584 

 832 

 110 

 - 

 778 

 778 

 30 

 11,366 

 0.67 

 3.10 

 246 

 1,133 

 - 

 11,366 

 1,907 

 11,961 

 2,692 

 14,652 

 2,383 

 - 

 0.67 

 0.55 

Total

 0.78 

 1.82 

 0.97 

 1.18 

 - 

 3.10 

 2.64 

 3.59 

 15.73 

 5.82 

 3.93 

 - 

 246 

 34 

 299 

 158 

 457 

 90 

 - 

 1,133 

 162 

 1,381 

 1,362 

 2,743 

 301 

Austral Gold Limited

14

Annual Report 2022

TABLE 3: SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESERVES
31 December 2021

Tonnes

Grade

Contained Metal

Classification

(000 t)

(g/t Au)

(g/t Ag)

 (000 oz Au) 

 (000 oz Ag) 

Underground

Proven

Probable

P + P

Open Pit

Proven

Probable

P + P

Heap

Proven

Probable

P + P

Guanaco and Amancaya Mine

 47 

 251 

 298 

 - 

 1,607 

 1,607 

 5.74 

 5.01 

 5.12 

Inesperada

 - 

 1.05 

 1.05 

 11.51 

 12.95 

 12.72 

 - 

 14.39 

 14.39 

Heap Reprocessing Project

 9 

 40 

 49 

 - 

 54 

 54 

 17 

 105 

 122 

 - 

 744 

 744 

 10,240 

 0.68 

 3.17 

 223 

 1,043 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 10,240 

 0.68 

 3.17 

 223 

 1,043 

Total Proven

Total Probable

Total P + P

See notes to Mineral Reserves on page 16.

Total

 0.70 

 1.58 

 0.84 

 10,287 

 1,859 

 12,146 

 3.21 

 14.20 

 4.89 

 232 

 95 

 326 

 1,060 

 848 

 1,909 

Austral Gold Limited

15

Annual Report 2022

TABLE 4: SUMMARY OF MINERAL RESOURCES
31 December 2021

Classification

Underground

Measured

Indicated

M + I

Inferred

Open Pit

Measured

Indicated

M + I

Inferred

Heap

Measured

Indicated

M + I

Inferred

Total Measured

Total Indicated

Total M + I

Total Inferred

Tonnes

(000 t)

 630 

 1,189 

 1,819 

 402 

 - 

 1,682 

 1,682 

 74 

 11,417 

 - 

 11,417 

 1,907 

 12,047 

 2,871 

 14,918 

 2,383 

Grade

Contained Metal

(g/t Au)

(g/t Ag)

 (000 oz Au) 

 (000 oz Ag) 

Guanaco and Amancaya Mine

 3.03 

 3.34 

 3.23 

 4.20 

Insperada

 - 

 1.05 

 1.05 

 0.91 

Heap Reprocessing Project

 0.67 

 - 

 0.67 

 0.55 

Total

 0.80 

 2.00 

 1.03 

 1.18 

 12.98 

 16.82 

 15.49 

 8.51 

 - 

 14.38 

 14.38 

 12.40 

 3.10 

 - 

 3.10 

 2.64 

 3.62 

 15.39 

 5.89 

 3.93 

 61 

 128 

 189 

 54 

 - 

 57 

 57 

 2 

 247 

 - 

 247 

 34 

 309 

 184 

 493 

 90 

 263 

 643 

 906 

 110 

 - 

 778 

 778 

 30 

 1,139 

 - 

 1,139 

 162 

 1,402 

 1,421 

 2,823 

 301 

Notes to Mineral Reserves:
1. 
2. 

 Mineral Reserves follow CIM (2014) definitions and are compliant with the JORC Code.
 Mineral Reserves are reported on a 100% ownership basis and estimated at the 
following cut-off grades:
•  Amancaya: break-even cut-off grade of 3.04 g/t AuEq, and marginal cut-off 
grades of 2.37 g/t AuEq and 1.37 g/t AuEq for SLS stopes and drifts respectively.
•  Inesperada - pit discard cut-off grade of 0.40 g/t Au.
•  Heap Leach Pads - Marginal cut-off grades for Heap Reprocessing have been 
estimated as 0.20 g/t Au and 0.15 g/t Au for Heaps I and Heap II respectively, and 
at zero cut-off for Heaps III.
 Mineral Reserves are estimated using an average long term gold price of 
US$1,700/oz and silver price of US$22/oz.
 Amancaya AuEq was calculated as AuEq = Au + 0.0110 x Ag, based on prices 
of US$1,700/oz Au and US$22/oz Ag and recoveries of Au and Ag of 93% and 
79%, respectively.

3. 

4. 

5.  The following parameters were used for the Amancaya Mineral Reserve estimate:
•  A minimum mining width of 1.5 m was used for SLS stopes and 3.5 m for drifts.
•  Stope dilution: 0.5 m in the hanging wall and 0.5 m in the footwall (1.0 m total).
•  Drift dilution: 0.25 m in each of the side walls (0.5 m total).

6.  Metallurgical recovery is 93% for gold and 79% for silver.
7.  Bulk density is 2.5 t/m3.
8.  The following parameters were used for the Inesperada Mineral Reserve estimate:

9. 

•  Dilution and mining recovery factors of 0% and 100% respectively were 
applied.
•  Metallurgical recovery is 80% for gold. 
•  Bulk density is 2.44 t/m3.
 The following parameters were used for the Mineral Reserve estimate for the 
Guanaco Heaps:
•  Heap Leach Pad I: maximum of 5% dilution.  The average dilution over the 
LOM is 3.5%.  Dilution grades are 0.18 g/t Au and 1.50 g/t Ag.
•  Heap Leach Pad II: maximum of 5% dilution. The average dilution over the 
LOM is 2.5%.  Dilution grades are 0.13 g/t Au and 1.40 g/t Ag. 
•  Heap Leach Pad III: All internal dilution within the heap limits was included.
10.   Metallurgical recoveries for Heaps I, II, and II are 54%, 70%, and 46% for gold 

respectively.

11.   Bulk density is 1.77 t/m3 for Heap I, 1.50 t/m3 for Heap II, and 1.70 t/m3 for Heap III.
12.  Numbers may not add due to rounding.

Notes to Mineral Resources:
1. 

 Mineral Resources followed CIM (2014) definitions and are compliant with the 
JORC Code.

2.  Mineral Resources are reported on a 100% ownership basis. 
3.  Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
4. 

 Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated 
economic viability.

5.  Mineral Resources are estimated at the following cut-off grades:

•   Amancaya and Guanaco underground Mineral Resources: 2.90 g/t AuEq and 

1.50 g/t AuEq, respectively. 

•  Inesperada open pit Mineral Resources: 0.38 g/t Au.
•   Heap Leach Pads Mineral Resources: zero cut-off grade – the entire volume is 

included. 

6. 

 Mineral Resources at Guanaco and Amancaya are estimated using a long-term 
gold price of US$1,750/oz and a silver price of US$22/oz.  Mineral Resources at 
Inesperada and Heap Leach Pads are estimated using a long-term gold price of 
US$1,750/oz.

7.  Gold equivalency (AuEq) was calculated as follows:

•   Guanaco: AuEq = Au + 0.0106 x Ag based on a gold and silver price of $1,750/
oz and $22/oz respectively and recoveries of gold and silver of 95% and 80%, 
respectively.

•  Guanaco: AuEq = Au + 0.0106 x Ag based on a gold and silver price of $1,750/
oz and $22/oz respectively and recoveries of gold and silver of 95% and 80%, 
respectively.
•  Amancaya:  AuEq = Au + 0.0107 x Ag based on a gold and silver price of 
$1,750/oz and $22/oz respectively and recoveries of gold and silver of 93% and 
79%, respectively.
 Metallurgical recoveries are 93% for gold and 79% for silver for Amancaya, 95% 
for gold and 80% for silver for Guanaco, 80% for gold for Inesperada, and 54%, 
70%, and 46% for gold for Heaps I, II, and II, respectively.
 A minimum mining width of 1.5 m is used for resource underground shapes for 
the Amancaya and Guanaco mines.

8. 

9. 

10.   Bulk densities are 2.5 t/m3 for Amancaya and Guanaco, 2.44 t/m3 for Inesperada, 

and 1.77 t/m3 for Heap I, 1.50 t/m3 for Heap II, and 1.70 t/m3 for Heap III, 
respectively.

11.  Numbers may not add due to rounding.

Austral Gold Limited

16

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE MINERAL RESOURCES  
& ORE RESERVES STATEMENT

Guanaco and Amancaya Mines
The SLR Qualified Persons (QPs) for the Amancaya and Guanaco 
Reserve and Resource Estimates include: Stephan R. Blaho, 
MBA, P.Eng., SLR Principal Mining Engineer, Orlando Rojas, 
MAIG, SLR Associate Principal Geologist, Rodrigo Barra, MAIG, 
SLR Associate Principal Geologist, Varun Bhundhoo, ing., SLR 
Project Mining Engineer, Andrew P. Hampton, M.Sc., P.Eng., 
SLR Principal Metallurgist, and Luis Vasquez, M.Sc., P.Eng, SLR 
Senior Environmental Consultant and Hydrotechnical Engineer. 
The Mineral Resources and Reserves are classified and reported 
in accordance with CIM (2014) definitions as incorporated in NI 
43-101, as well as JORC 2012, within the Guanaco and Aman- 
caya Gold Project, Region II, Chile, dated 25 March, 2022, with 
an effective date of 31 December 2021.

The Company confirms that the form and context in which the 
CP’s findings are presented have not been materially modified 
from the original market announcement, except for the deple-
tion of mineral resources in 2022. The Company ensures that 
the Ore Reserves and Mineral Resource Estimates are subject 
to appropriate levels of governance and internal controls. Gover-
nance of the Company’s Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources 
development and the estimation process is a key responsibility 
of the Executive Management of the Company. The Chief Execu-
tive Officer of the Company oversees the review and technical 
evaluations of the Ore Reserves and Mineral Resource estimates.

Competent Persons Statements
The information in the report to which this statement is attached 
that relates to the depletion of Mineral Resources is based upon 
information compiled by Pedro Hauyon, a Competent Person (CP 
408) who is a registered member of the Comision Calificadora de 
Competencias en Recursos y Reservas Mineras. Pedro Hauyon is 
a full time employee of the company and has sufficient experience 
that is relevant to the type of deposit and the mining methods of 
exploitation under consideration and to the activity being under-
taken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 
Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration 
Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’. Pedro Hauyon 
consents to the inclusion in the report of matters based on his 
information in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in the report to which this statement is attached 
that relates to Ore Reserves is based upon information is based 
on work supervised, or compiled on behalf of Robert Trzebski, 
a Non-Executive Director of the Company. Dr. Trzebski, holds a 
degree in Geology, PhD in Geophysics and is a member of the 
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) who 
qualifies as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of 
the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral 
Resources and Ore Reserves’. Dr Robert Trzebski consents to the 
inclusion in the report of matters based on his information in the 
form and context in which it appears.

Austral Gold Limited

17

Annual Report 2022

REVIEW OF  
ACTIVITIES

Austral Gold Limited

18

Annual Report 2022

REVIEW OF RESULTS

For the Year Ended 31 December 2022

The following report on the review of results for the year ended 31 December 2022 (“FY22”) 
and 2021 (“FY21”) together with the consolidated financial report of Austral Gold Limited (the 
Company) and its subsidiaries, (referred to hereafter as the Group).

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

Produced 27,686 gold equivalent ounces at the Group’s Guanaco/ Amancaya mine complex; 

Issued an updated Technical Report that increased the estimated life of mine of the Guanaco-Amancaya 
Operation in accordance with NI-43-101 and JORC 2012;

Started the construction of the Heap Reprocessing project that is expected to provide ten years of production;

Continued its search for new discoveries with brownfield and greenfield exploration activity undertaken at the 
Company’s existing projects in Argentina and Chile, which included more than 7,000 meters of drilling at the 
Casposo-Manantiales project;   

Expanded the footprint in the Indio Belt in Argentina through an earn-in agreement with Mexplort Perforaciones 
Mineras S.A. (“Mexplort”), a subsidiary of Corporación América International (“Corporación América”) controlled 
by Mr. Eduardo Eurnekian (a prominent businessman from Argentina) to acquire 50% of the mining rights in the 
Jaguelito project, located in the Province of San Juan;

Signed a Share Sale Agreement with E2 Metals Limtied (“E2”) to sell SCRN Properties Limited (“SCRN”), the 
owner of the Pingüino advanced exploration project, for a total consideration of approximately US$10 million. 
(Transaction closed 1 March 2023)

There were no other significant changes in our principal activities during the period. All resolutions were passed at the Company’s 27 
May 2022 Annual General Meeting.

Austral Gold Limited

19

Annual Report 2022

AUSTRAL GOLD EQUITY INVESTMENTS AND PROJECTS

Austral Gold Limited (“Austral”) is a growing gold and silver mining, development and exploration company building a portfolio of 
quality assets in Chile, the USA and Argentina. Austral owns a 100% interest in the Guanaco/Amancaya mines in Chile and the 
Casposo mine (on care and maintenance) in Argentina, a 19.9% interest in E2 Metals acquired in March 2023 through the sale of the 
Pingüino project, a 24.74% interest in the Rawhide Mine in Nevada and a 11.91% interest in the Mercur project in Utah through the 
equity investment in Ensign Minerals Inc. In addition, Austral owns an attractive portfolio of exploration projects in the Paleocene 
Belt in Chile (including those acquired in the 2021 acquisition of Revelo Resources Corp), and a 51% interest in the Sierra Blanca 
project in Santa Cruz, Argentina. 

Rawhide Mine 
Fallon Nevada,  
USA

Mercur Project 
Utah, USA

24%

WALKER LINE, NEVADA, USA

Rawhide Mine
 Production

100%

PAELOCENE BELT, CHILE 

Guanaco/Amancaya Mines
 Production, Exploration

100%

 TRIASSIC CHOIYOI BELT, ARGENTINA

Casposo Mine 
 Care & Maintenance, Exploration

50%

Option

 INDIO BELT, ARGENTINA

Jaguelito
 Exploration

19.9%
/51%**

DESEADO MASSIF, ARGENTINA

Pingüino Project* /Sierra Blanca 
 Advanced Exploration

Owned projects

Equity investments

12%

CARLIN TREND, UTAH, USA

Mercur Project
 Exploration

Antofagasta,  
Chile

 San Juan Province, 
Argentina

Santa Cruz Province, 
Argentina

* On 1 March 2023, sold the Pingüino project 
to E2 Metals for ~ US$10M including  
19.9% of E2 Metals.

**Option to acquire remaining 49%

Austral Gold Limited

20

Annual Report 2022

 
AUSTRAL GOLD HAS 
PRODUCED OVER 
559,000 GOLD  
EQUIVALENT OUNCES 
AND DELIVERED  
POSITIVE OPERATING  
CASH FLOW SINCE  
2012 THAT HAVE  
FUNDED AUSTRAL’S 
GROWTH INITIATIVES

Austral Gold Limited

21

Annual Report 2022

GUANACO AND AMANCAYA MINE COMPLEX 

Background
The Guanaco and Amancaya mine complex remain the Company’s 
flagship asset. Guanaco is located approximately 220km south-
east of Antofagasta in Northern Chile at an elevation of 2,700m 
and 45km from the Pan American Highway.

Guanaco is embedded in the Paleocene/Eocene belt, a geological 
feature which runs north/south through the centre of the Antofa-
gasta region, Chile.

Gold mineralisation at Guanaco is controlled by pervasively silici-
fied, sub-vertical east/northeast-west/southwest trending zones 
with related hydro-thermal breccias.

Silicification grades outward into advanced argillic alteration and 
further into zones with argillic and propylitic alteration. In the Cachi-
nalito vein system, most of the gold mineralisation is concentrated 
between depths of 75m and 200m and is contained in horizon-
tally elongated mineralised shoots. The alteration pattern and the 
mineralogical composition of the Guanaco mineralisation have 
led to the classification as a high-sulfidation epithermal deposit.

In July 2014, the Company acquired the Amancaya Project 
(‘Amancaya’) from Yamana Gold Inc (TSX:YRI | NYSE:AUY) which 
is located approximately 60km south-west of the Guanaco mine. 
Amancaya is a low sulfidation epithermal gold-silver deposit 
consisting of eight mining exploration concessions covering 
1,755 hectares (and a further 1,390 hectares of second layer 
mining claims).

On 6 June 2017, Austral Gold completed the construction of a 
new agitation leaching plant at Guanaco. At Amancaya, open-pit 
mining operations began during the first half of 2017 while under-
ground operations at Guanaco started in 2018. The Amancaya ore 
is delivered to the Guanaco plant for processing.

On 25 March 2022, the Technical report was updated and shows 
an increase in the mine life at Guanaco/ Amancaya  can support 
production levels of 30,000-35,000 gold equivalent ounces over 
the next three to four years plus a further 10,000 gold equivalent 
ounces of production for the following seven to eight years from 
the processing of heaps.

HIGHLIGHTS: GUANACO/AMANCAYA MINE COMPLEX

Location
Northern Chile (220km SSE Antofagasta City) 

Metals
Gold and Silver 

Ownership 
100% 

Status 
Producing

Deposit Type
High Sulphidation (Guanaco) – Low Sulphidation 
(Amancaya) Epithermal Deposits

Infrastructure 
1,500 tpd milling circuit to agitation leaching and 
Merrill-Crowe processing plant, and 3,000 tpd 
crushing CC circuit and heap leaching process-
ing plant, administration building, laboratory, 
warehouse, maintenance facilities, diesel power 
generating units, water pipeline and tanks, fuel 
tanks, and an accommodation complex

Austral Gold Limited

22

Annual Report 2022

HEAP REPROCESSING PROJECT
During the year, the Company launched the heap reprocessing 
project. Construction activities required for the project started in 
January 2023. We anticipate production from reprocessing the 
heaps (the “Project”) to commence in June 2023 and forecast 
annual 2023 production from the Project to be 11,000-11,500 
GEOs. Total estimated Capex for construction of the Project is 

estimated to be US$4.4M. The Company expects to fund the 
Capex through internal cash generation, proceeds from the sale of 
SCRN Properties Ltd. (owner of the Pingüino project) to E2 Metals 
in March 2023, and additional financing including a US$1M related 
party loan obtained in March 2023.

Heap Reprocessing Project 
as of 15 March 2023

Austral Gold Limited

23

Annual Report 2022

Austral Gold Limited

24

Annual Report 2022

SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 
During the year ended 31 December 2022, there were four lost-time 
accident (LTA) and twelve nil-lost-time accidents (NLTA) involv-
ing employees of Guanaco/Amancaya and third party contrac-
tors. Safety and environmental protection are core values of the 
Company. The implementation of best practice safety standards 
along with a sound risk management program are key priorities 
for Austral Gold.

COVID-19 IMPACT
The Company continued to address the COVID-19 pandemic and 
minimize the potential impact at its operations. Austral places the 
safety and well-being of its workforce and all stakeholders as its 
highest priority. The Company continues to implement measures 
and precautionary steps to manage and respond to the risks 
associated with COVID-19 to ensure the safety of its employees, 
contractors, suppliers, and surrounding communities where the 
Company operates.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Austral Gold has an extensive history of being a committed neigh-
bor to the communities in which it operates.

Our support to the communities surrounding our projects in 
Chile focuses mainly on education programs as we believe 
that through education it is possible to improve citizens socio- 
economic conditions and contribute to the youth population 
and the overall community.

ENVIRONMENTAL
The environmental monitoring program implemented for the 
Guanaco Amancaya Operation includes meteorology, air quality, 
water quality, flora and fauna, archaeology. Air quality is monitored 
at two locations in Guanaco and one in Amancaya. Meteorological 
parameters are collected at one air quality station in Guanaco and 
the air quality station in Amancaya. There is also a meteorological 
station in Guanaco. independent from the air quality monitoring 
system. Monitoring of flora and fauna is conducted in Punta del 
Viento, Las Mulas and Pastos Largos approximately 30 km east 
of Guanaco.

The results of the environmental monitoring campaigns are regu-
larly submitted electronically to the Environmental Superinten-
dency (“SMA”) through the system set up in the SMA’s website 
to upload the information. In addition, the monitoring results are 
submitted to other government agencies such as the General 
Water Directorate.

The Guanaco Amancaya Operation is in an arid area with infrequent 
surface runoff resulting from precipitation. There is no discharge 
of water to the environment from the Guanaco site. The process 
plant, the heap leach pads and the tailing storage facility (“TSF”) 
are operated as zero discharge facilities. The heap leach pads are 
operated as closed circuits. The freshwater supply to be used for 
industrial processes is required to offset evaporation losses.

The water collected from the surface water and wells is conveyed 
to Guanaco by gravity through HDPE pipes. Currently the water 
supply for Guanaco is mostly groundwater pumped from two main 
wells. There are two additional small wells (for a total of four) that 
provide small volumes of water. The water collected from the wells 
is a small fraction of the total freshwater supply.

Flow monitoring is conducted at three locations in the area where 
freshwater is taken from the natural ponds/creeks resulting from 
spring water, which encompasses three sectors: Punta del Viento, 
Las Mulas and Pastos Largos. Flow monitoring is also conducted 
at the groundwater supply wells. Water quality monitoring is 
conducted at five groundwater monitoring wells located down- 
stream of the heap leach pads and the tailing storage facility.

There is no discharge of water to the environment from the Aman-
caya site. Freshwater is required only for road irrigation (dust 
suppression) and domestic consumption. Currently the freshwater 
supply is obtained by pumping water from one groundwater well 
and conveying it by gravity through HDPE pipes. Flow monitoring 
is conducted at the water supply well. Water quality monitoring is 
conducted at four groundwater monitoring wells located down- 
stream of the Amancaya site.

Water for domestic use is treated in potable treatment plants 
installed at both Guanaco and Amancaya. Sanitary wastewater is 
sent to sewage treatment plants and the treated effluent is used 
for road irrigation and operation of drilling equipment for explora-
tion activities.

Austral Gold Limited

25

Annual Report 2022

REVIEW OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Guanaco/Amancaya Operations

Mined Ore (t)

Processed (t)

Plant Grade Underground (g/t Au)

Plant Grade Heap (g/t Au)

Plant Grade Underground (g/t Ag)

Plant Grade Heap (g/t Ag)

Gold recovery rate (%)

Silver recovery rate (%)

Gold produced (Oz)

Silver produced (Oz)

Gold-Equivalent (Oz) ***

C1 Cash Cost of Production (US$/AuEq Oz)*

All-in Sustaining Cost (US$/Au Oz) **

Realised gold price (US$/Au Oz)

Realised silver price (US$/Ag Oz)

Sales volume

Year ended 31 December

2022

219,525

283,720

3.71

1.19

13.36

35.26

93.72

80.75

26,507

96,541

27,686

1,370

1,735

1,798

22

27,648

2021

155,210

233,794

4.20

-

13.70

-

93.9

83.5

29,938

87,050

31,142

1,175

1,739

1,797

25

35,838

* The cash cost (C1) includes: Mine, Plant, On-Site G&A, Smelting, Refining, and Royalties (excludes Corporate G&A). It is the cost of production per gold equivalent ounce.
** The All-in Sustaining Cost (AISC) includes: C1, Sustaining Capex, Brownfield Exploration, and Mine Closure Amortisation
*** AuEq ratio is calculated at: 82:1 Ag:Au during FY22 and 71:1 Ag:Au during FY21

KEY FINANCIAL RESULTS

Thousands of US$

Revenue

Gross profit

Gross profit %

Adjusted gross profit (excluding depreciation and amortisation)

Adjusted gross profit % (excluding depreciation and amortisation)

Adjusted earnings*

Adjusted earnings per share (basic and fully diluted)

(Loss) before income tax

(Loss) attributed to shareholders

(Loss) attributed to non-controlling interests

(Loss) per share (Basic) 

(Loss) per share (diluted)

Comprehensive (loss)

Fiscal Year ended December 31

2022

49,710

  2,566

5.2%

10,237

20.6%

2,204

0.004c

(9,581)

(8,257)

      (9)

(1.35)c

(1.35)c

(8,283)

2021

64,390

12,270

19.1%

24,516

38.1%

17,628

0.029c

(4,686)

(7,324)

  (4)

(1.20)c

(1.20)c

(7,397)

Note:  Adjusted earnings and basic adjusted earnings per share are non-IFRS measures that the Company considers to better reflect normalized earnings as it eliminates 

items that in management’s judgment are subject to volatility as a result of factors which are unrelated to operations in the period, and readers are cautioned that 
Adjusted earnings may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Further, readers are cautioned that Adjusted Earnings should not 
replace profit or loss or cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities (as determined in accordance with IFRS), as an indicator of the Company’s 
performance.

*see page 27.

Austral Gold Limited

26

Annual Report 2022

ADJUSTED EARNINGS

Thousands of US$

(Loss) before tax

Depreciation and amortisation

Other expense/(income)1

Severance of mining employees due to outsource of operations

Impairment of exploration and evaluation expenditure

Impairment of investment in associates

Care and maintenance

Loss on financial assets

Gain on sale of equipment

Equipment rental

Other

Net finance costs/(income)2 

Interest income

Finance costs

Present value adjustment to mine closure provision

Share of loss of associates

Adjusted Earnings*

1 note 7 to the financial statements 
2 note 9 to the financial statements 

Thousands of US$

Cash & cash equivalents

Current assets

Non-current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Net assets

Net current liabilities

Current loans and borrowings

Non-current loans and borrowings

Current financial leases

Non-current financial leases

Combined debt (borrowings and financial leases)

Combined net debt (net of cash & cash equivalents)

Current ratio*

Total liabilities to net assets

*Current Assets divided by Current Liabilities

Fiscal Year ended December 31

2022

(9,581)

7,778

-

926

-

1,465

968

(485)

(298)

(321)

(4)

660

420

676

2021

(4,686)

12,403

487

1,322

5,189

1,559

512

(287)

-

(55)

-

477

(239)

946

2,204

17,628

Fiscal Year ended December 31

2022

926

22,305

                     75,012 

                     29,820 

                     18,682 

                    48,815 

                      (7,515)

               7,382 

                       1,264 

                       1,925 

                          911 

                    11,482 

                     10,556 

0.75

0.99

2021

2,346

19,992

77,998

22,745

18,147

57,098

(2,753)

5,338

415

2,920

1,843

10,516

8,170

0.88

0.72

Austral Gold Limited

27

Annual Report 2022

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL RESULTS  
OF THE GROUP
During FY22, the Group realised a loss before and after income 
tax of US$9.6m (FY21: $4.7m) and US$8.3m (FY21:US$7.3m), 
respectively. 

Revenues at existing operations totaled US$49.7m (FY21: $64.4m) 
with gross profit (including depreciation and amortization) of 
US$2.6m (5.2% margin) in FY22 compared to US$12.3m (19.1% 
margin) in FY21. 

The decrease in gross profit during FY22 from FY21 was mainly 
driven by (i) lower sales of gold equivalent ounces (GEOs) (27,686 
GEOs vs 31,142 GEOs in FY21), (ii) higher costs of production 
due to lower grades and higher tones extracted as explained 
below, and (iii) the robbery of 423 GEOs of gold precipitate, partially 
offset by lower amortisation charges for the Guanaco/Amancaya 
mine complex as a result of lower production and  an increase in 
estimated mineral resources as per the March, 2022 independent 
Technical report1. FY21 gross profit was impacted by the sale of 
6,185 GEO’s produced in 2020 at lower production costs than 
incurred in FY21 and FY22. Production costs increased in FY22 
due to an increase in ore processed, of which 45,728 tonnes were 
processed from lower grade material at the historical heap pads 
at Guanaco, and lower gold and silver grades.

The Group’s results during FY22 were also impacted by the following:

i.  Decrease in FY22 administration costs by US$0.4m to US$9.0m 
(FY21:US$9.4) mainly due to transaction costs incurred in the 
acquisition of Revelo in FY21 which resulted in a decrease 
in consulting expenses in FY22, a decrease in withholding 
taxes due to a decrease in intercompany dividends used to 
fund certain non-revenue Group entities, partially offset by an 
increase in staff costs due to severance of US$0.5m. 

UPDATED MINERAL RESERVE AND  
RESOURCE ESTIMATE 
During FY22, the Group announced results of the updated Mineral 
Reserve  and  Mineral  Resource  Estimates  prepared  by  SLR 
Consulting (Canada) Ltd. (“SLR”) in accordance with CIM Defini-
tions 2014, National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”) and Joint 
Ore Reserves Committee Code, 2012 (JORC 2012) for the Group’s 
100% owned Guanaco/Amancaya Operation in Chile, which 
consists of the Guanaco Mine (Guanaco) and Inesperada satel-
lite deposit (Inesperada), the Amancaya Mine (Amancaya), and 
the Guanaco heap leach pads (Heap Reprocessing project). The 
Technical Report was filed on Sedar and on the Group’s website. 

The highlights of the technical report on the Guanaco/Amancaya 
operation, Antofagasta region, Chile report for NI 43-101 include:

•  An increase in the mine life (LOM) until year 2033 (30K-35K 
GEOs per year for four to five years and 10K GEO per year for 
the next eight years). 

•  Base case Net Present Value (NPV) of US$77 million (AU$106 
million) at a discount rate of 6.89% and an average gold price 
of US$1,686/oz over the LOM.

•  Undiscounted pre-tax free cash flows of US$132.7 million (post 

tax US$102.6 million).

•  Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources for the Guanaco-
Amancaya Operation are estimated to be 14.9 million tonnes 
(Mt) grading 1.03 g/t Au and 5.89 g/t Ag.

•  Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves for the Guanaco-Aman-
caya Operation are estimated to be 12.1 Mt grading 0.84 g/t Au 
and 4.89 g/t Ag and containing 0.326 million ounces (Moz) Au 
and 1.91 M oz Ag. The Heap Reprocessing material provides 
the majority of the increase from previous estimates.

ii. Decrease in other expenses by US$6.9m to US$2.7m (FY21: 
US$9.6m) mainly due to an impairment on investment in asso-
ciates of US$5.2m in FY21, and a decrease in the impairment 
of exploration and evaluation expenditures to US$0.9m (FY21: 
US$1.3m), including the impairment of the Cerro Blanco project 
from the option agreement with Pampa Metals Corp.

FINANCIAL POSITION 
The Group held cash and cash equivalents of US$0.9m at 31 
December 2022 (2021: US$2.3m) or US$2.7m when combined with 
the fair value of 900 unsold and unrefined gold equivalent ounces in 
inventory of US$1.8m (2021: 1,400 unrefined gold equivalent ounces 
with a fair value of US$2.5m).

iii. Decrease in net finance income by US$2.7m to US$0.2m (FY21: 
US$3.0m) primarily due to a US$1.9m decrease in foreign 
exchange gains to US$1.3m (FY21: US$3.2m) on the increase 
in the value of the US dollar versus the Argentine and Chil-
ean currencies during FY22. The foreign exchange gains were 
partially offset by US$0.4m from the increase in the present 
value of the mine closure provisions (FY21: decrease of US$0.2 
million) due to a decrease in the discount rate.

1  Technical Report on the Guanaco-Amancaya Operation, Antofagasta Region, 
Chile Report for NI 43-101 dated 25 March 2022 and filed on 19 April 22 on 
SEDAR under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com and available on the 
Company’s website at www.australgold.com.

Production for the year ended December 2022 decreased by 
12.4% to 27,686 GEOs (26,507 gold ounces and 96,541 silver 
ounces) from 31,142 GEOs (29,938 gold ounces and 87,050 
silver ounces) during the year ended December 2021. The cost 
of production (“C1”) per GEO increased to US$1,370 for the 
year ended December 2022 from US$1,175 for the year ended 
December 2021 while the all-in sustaining cost (“AISC”) per GEO 
decreased to US$1,735 for the year ended December 2022 from 
US$1,739 for the year ended December 2021. The increase in 
costs of production were mainly due to lower average grades, 
higher tonnes processed, and an increase in the cost of supplies 
due to inflation.

Combined financial debt (borrowings and financial leases net of 
cash & cash equivalents) increased by US$2.4m to US$10.6m at 
31 December 2022 (31 December 2021: US$8.2m).

At 31 December 2022, the Group had net current liabilities of 
US$7.5m (31 December 2021:  US$2.8m). The increase from 31 
December 2021 was mainly due to a decrease in gross profit on 
sales that led to lower cash flow and an increase in trade and 
other payables and short-term borrowings, which was partially 
offset by the reclassification of the Pingüino project from non-
current assets held for sale (described below). The Group expects 
its net current liability position to improve in FY23 mainly due to 
an increase in production.

As described above, assets available for sale of US$8.3m were 
reclassified from non-current assets as during November, the Group 
entered into a Share Sale Agreement to sell SCRN Properties Ltd., 
owner of the Pingüino project and one of the Group’s companies 
to E2 Metals Limited (ASX:E2M) for approximately US$10 million.  

Trade and other receivables (current and non-current) increased 
by US$0.5m to US$3.3m at 31 December 2022 (31 December 
2021:US$2.9m). The increase was mainly due to receivables at 
year end from the sale of equipment and spare parts at Casposo.

Austral Gold Limited

28

Annual Report 2022

Inventories decreased by US$1.7m to US$8.9m at 31 December 
2022 (31 December 2021: US$10.6m) mainly due to a decrease in 
materials and supplies and a decrease in the gold equivalent ounces 
available for sale. 

Prepaid income taxes (current and non-current) decreased by 
US$2.7m to US$1.5m mainly due to the refund of taxes during 
the year.

Current  trade  and  other  payables  increased  by  US$5.4m  to 
US$15.7m at 31 December 2022 (31 December 2021: US$10.3m) 
due to an increase in production costs, higher exploration in Q4 
2022 and lower cash flow during the year. Non-current trade and 
other payables were US$1.0m at 31 December 2022 (31 December 
2021:US$nil) and represent the balance of the Group’s commitment 
to incur US$2m on the Jaguelito project by August 2024. 

Other financial assets decreased by US$1.1m from 31 December 
2021 to US$0.6m (31 December 2021:US$1.7m) mainly due to the 
variation in the value of the Group’s investment in shares of Pampa 
Metals Corp. (CSE:PM). 

Net assets decreased by US$8.3m from 31 December 2021 to 
US$48.8m at 31 December 2022 (31 December 2021: US$57.1m) 
following the net loss of the year.

CASH FLOW
During FY22, net cash provided from operating activities before 
changes in working capital was US$2.7m (FY21: $4.4m) . After 
considering changes in working capital, US$11.1m was provided 
from operating activities (FY21:US$11.3m). The decrease was 
primarily due to lower gross margins, partially offset by working 
capital changes in FY22 as explained above. 

Net cash used in investing activities decreased by US$6.8m to 
US$11.7m during FY22 (FY21:US$18.5m) of which US$6.4m 
were primarily used to fund additions to plant, property and equip-
ment (FY21:US$6.9m), and exploration and evaluation activities of 
US$5.8m (FY21:US$8.4m). 

Net cash used in financing activities decreased by US$2.1m to 
US$0.8m during FY22 (FY21: US$2.9m) due to the net repayment 
from interest, loans, borrowings and financial leases of US$0.8m 
(FY21: net proceeds of US$0.3m). FY21 also included the payment 
of a shareholder dividend totaling US$3.8m.

LIQUIDITY

Guidance
The Group forecasts 2023 production to increase to 34,000-38,000 
GEOs due to annual production from the heaps reprocessing proj-
ect of 11,000-11,500 GEOs which it expects will start producing in 
June 2023. 

C1 is estimated at US$1,200-US$1,250 per GEO for 2023, with a 
higher average C1 of US$1,450-US$1,500 during the first half of the 
year mainly due to lower forecasted grades. During the second half 
of the year, C1 is estimated to decrease to US$1,000-US$1,050 as 
a result of lower costs of reprocessing material at the heaps. 

Forecasted AISC for 2023 is estimated at US$1,400-US$1,450 
per GEO, with higher average AISC costs of US$1,800-US$1,850 
during the first half of the year and lower AISC costs of US$1,100-
US$1,150 during the second half of the year due to lower sustaining 
capex required for the heaps operations.

Access to capital
The Group has a strong shareholder and has long standing bank-
ing relationships from which it expects it can obtain financing if 
required. On 1 March 2023, the Group obtained a US$1M related 
party loan.

Austral Gold Limited

29

Annual Report 2022

OUR  
EXPLORATION

Austral Gold Limited

30

Annual Report 2022

TWO YEARS AGO, WE ESTABLISHED A NEW EXPLORATION 
STRATEGY WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

  Find high-sulfidation gold and silver deposits in a high quality land portfolio;

  Discover brownfields ounces at Amancaya, Casposo and Manantiales;

  Guanaco District: complete delineation at Sierra Inesperada to drill the best ranked targets starting 2020;

  New Opportunities: Identify and consolidate third-party projects with potential near existing Austral Gold infrastructure;

  Explore other oxide and deeper gold-rich sulfide mineralisation opportunities in the Chilean Paleocene-Eocene Belt

  During FY22, the Group continued its search for new discoveries with brownfield and greenfield exploration activities undertaken at the 

Company’s existing projects in Argentina and Chile including projects where the Company has option agreements. 

MAIN ACTIVITIES FY22

1
2
3
4

CASPOSO-MANANTIALES PROJECT, ARGENTINA 

During FY22, 6,585 metres DDH were drilled in 27 holes. There were two drilling programs during the year. 
The first drilling program of 2022 of 2,321 meters were drilled in 12 diamond drill holes in Manantiales vein, La 
Puerta, Awada and Fabiola targets. At the Manantiales vein high gold grades were intercepted, opening the 
upside at depth and indicating the continuity of mineralisation in the south ore-shoot. The follow-up drilling 
program at the Manantiales vein intercepted high gold grades at the top and bottom of the central ore-shoot, 
indicating possible continuity at depth.

JAGUELITO PROJECT, ARGENTINA
(Option agreement) 

As announced on 2 December 2022, a 5,000-metre drilling campaign began at the Jaguelito project in the San 
Juan Province of Argentina as part of the first stage of the option agreement with Mexplort to acquire 50% of 
the mining rights of the project.

SIERRA BLANCA PROJECT, ARGENTINA 
(Option agreement) 

During FY22, the first part of the second tranche to increase the Group’s participation from 51% to 80% was 
completed by performing exploration activities totaling US$200,000 in the project. The remaining investment 
for this tranche of US$400,000 is required by 15 September 2023 and is to include a minimum of 2,000 meters 
of drilling.

MORROS BLANCOS PROJECT, CHILE 
(Option Agreement)

As announced 28 April 2022, a phase I drilling campaign was completed with four of the five drillholes planned 
at the Rosario del Alto target, totaling 1,020 meters. In addition, at the Morro Colorado target, delineation 
confirmed the high-sulfidation features on the eastern block, where advanced argillic altered phreatomagmatic 
rocks outcrop. 

Austral Gold Limited

31

Annual Report 2022

EXPLORATION  
IN CHILE

Austral Gold Limited

32

Annual Report 2022

EXPLORATION IN 2022  
FOCUSED ON BROWNFIELD 
AREAS IN THE SIERRA  
INESPERADA (GUANACO) 
DISTRICT / MORROS  
BLANCOS/ CERRO  
BUENOS AIRES.
GUANACO DISTRICT EXPLORATION 

Sierra Inesperada Project, Chile 
A combined RC and DDHH drilling campaign (phase III) was 
completed with five drillholes. A zone with silver anomalies was 
intercepted that suggests continuity at depth. No gold intercepts 
of economic level were obtained. All drill holes crossed the phre-
atomagmatic complexes without reaching the feeder. 

The most significant results obtained were:

RDIN-001:   
•  6.0 meters @ 1.05 g/t gold and 2.7 g/t silver

•  1.0 meter @ 1.99 g/t gold and 31.7 g/t silver

RIN-001A:  
•  41.0 meters @ 18.6 g/t silver  

(including 8.0 meters @ 24.8 g/t silver)

•  30.0 meters @ 21.6 g/t silver 

•  60.0 meters @ 14.1 g/t silver  

(including 6.0 meters @ 32.5 g/t silver)

At Morros Blancos, four diamond drill holes totaling 1,020 meters 
were completed in three main phreatomagmatic complexes (Maar 
Austral, Maar Central, Maar Oriental) identified in the delineation 
stage at Rosario del Alto. All drill holes intercepted large columns 
of phreatomagmatic rocks, confirming a high degree of preserva-
tion and continuity of the systems at depth. The phreatomagmatic 
facies show a progression from crater-fill environments towards the 
edges of the complexes. All recognized geological features such 
as breccia rock type, hydrothermal alteration, and oxidation level 
allow for vectoring towards the mineralised center of the system 
in the next phase of drilling. 

At the Morro Colorado target, delineation progressed where a ~2x1 
km area with phreatomagmatic breccias affected by high-level 
high sulfidation alteration was identified, developed in volcanic 
sequences that include domes and blocks and ash deposits. This 
structural block is in contact to the west with a domain character-
ized by lavas and numerous intrusive bodies, some of them with 
evidence of porphyry-style alteration.

Cerro Buenos Aires Project, Chile 
Five holes were drilled at the southern part of the property to 
test the phreatomagmatic breccia boundaries related to CSAMT 
anomalies in three targets defined in the delineation stage. Despite 
having intercepted a large column of alteration, the results were 
not significant. We plan to pursue the High Sulfidation targets in 
the central and northern part of the property.

Austral Gold Limited

33

Annual Report 2022

EXPLORATION  
IN ARGENTINA

Austral Gold Limited

34

Annual Report 2022

EXPLORATION IN 2022  
FOCUSED ON BROWNFIELD
AREAS IN CASPOSO-  
MANANTIALES, JAGUELITO 
AND THE SIERRA BLANCA 
PROJECTS

BACKGROUND

CASPOSO MINE
The Casposo mine is in the department of Calingasta, San Juan 
Province, Argentina, approximately 150km from the city of San 
Juan, and covers an area of 100.21km2. Casposo is a low sulfida-
tion epithermal deposit of gold and silver located in the eastern 
border of the Cordillera Frontal geological province.

The  Cordillera  Frontal  represents  the  eastern  portion  of  the 
Cordillera Principal that runs along the Chile-Argentine border for 
approximately 1,500km. The Casposo gold– silver mineralisation is 
Permian in age, and occurs in the extensive Permo-Triassic volca-
nic rocks of the Choiyoi Group, at both rhyolite, and underlying 
andesitic rocks, where it is associated with NW-SE, E-W and N-S 
striking banded quartz, chalcedony and calcite veins, typical of low 
sulfidation epithermal environments. Post-mineralisation dykes 
of rhyolitic, mafic, and trachytic composition often cut the vein 
systems. These dykes, sometimes reaching up to 30m thickness, 
are usually steeply dipping and north–south oriented. Mineralisa-
tion at Casposo occurs along a 10km long north- west to southeast 
trending regional structural corridor, with the main Kamila Vein 
system forming a 500m long sigmoidal set near the centre. The 
Mercado Vein system is the northwest continuation of Kamila and 
is separated by an east–west fault from the Kamila deposit.

In March 2016, Austral Gold acquired a controlling stake and 
management of the Casposo gold and silver project. Since then, 
Austral Gold undertook a complete revision of historical work 
(geology, geochemistry, geophysics and drillings), and completed 
a regional mapping at a 1:10,000 scale to identify potential oppor-
tunities for discovering additional mineralisation and ranking a 
series of mine and brownfield exploration targets.

In March 2017, Austral Gold acquired an additional 19% of the 
Casposo silver and gold project and in December 2019, it effec-
tively acquired the remaining 30%.

During the June 2019 quarter, Austral completed a comprehensive 
review of operations, and as the mine operator, decided to tempo-
rarily place the mine on care and maintenance.

Austral Gold Limited

35

Annual Report 2022

SAN JUAN PROVINCE

CASPOSO-MANANTIALES PROJECT

Austral Gold Limited

36

Annual Report 2022

Casposo-Manantiales Project
During FY22, 6,585 metres DDH were drilled in 27 holes. There were two drilling programs 
during the year. The first drilling program of 2022 of 2,321 meters were drilled in 12 diamond 
drill holes in Manantiales vein, La Puerta, Awada and Fabiola targets. At the Manantiales vein 
high gold grades were intercepted, opening the upside at depth and indicating the continuity 
of mineralisation in the south ore-shoot. The follow-up drilling program at the Manantiales 
vein intercepted high gold grades at the top and bottom of the central ore-shoot, indicating 
possible continuity at depth.

Best intercepts were at:
•  MDH-02-60: 2.50 meters @ 9.73 g/t gold and 49 g/t silver 
including: 0.90 meters @ 25.48 g/t gold and 125 g/t silver 

•  MDH-02-63: 4.40 meters @ 18.65 g/t gold and 58 g/t silver 

•  MDH-02-64: 2.35 meters @ 15.61 g/t gold and 81 g/t silver 

•  MDH-02-60: 2.50 meters @ 9.73 g/t gold and 49 g/t silver

•  MDH-22-72: 6.10 m @ 11.77 gpt gold and 10.0 gpt silver 
(including: 1.10 m @ 54.03 gpt gold and 21.40 gpt silver)

•  MDH-22-68: 2.40 m @ 7.39 gpt gold and 18.0 gpt silver 
(including: 1.30 m @ 12.93 gpt gold and 22.30 gpt silver)

Austral Gold Limited

37

Annual Report 2022

SAN JUAN PROVINCE

JAGUELITO PROJECT

Austral Gold Limited

38

Annual Report 2022

Jaguelito Project
The Jaguelito project is an advanced exploration stage project located in located in one 
of the main districts of precious metals worldwide; the El Indio – Pascua Lama district in 
the Province of San Juan, Argentina. Its deposits, of the high sulfidation epithermal type 
of Miocene age, include mines in production, construction and exploration. The Jaguelito 
project covers an area of 11,000 approximately hectares, and over 150 holes (~30,000m) 
were drilled by previous owners (Minera Peñoles, Minera IRL) between 1996 and 2009. 
It is located approximately 225 kilometers northwest of the city of San Juan in Valle del 
Cura, Iglesias Department, San Juan Province, Argentina. Its central coordinates are 29° 
46’ 20” West Latitude, 69° 38’ 15 South Longitude and a variable altitude between 3,600 
and 4,300 meters above sea level. Jagüelito is a high sulfidation epithermal deposit related 
to a Miocene volcanism hosted in basement of Permo-Triassic age. Its mineralisation is 
related to a hydrothermal system controlled by northeast-southwest oriented faults and 
hosted in porouspermeable volcaniclastic units. These rocks allowed the circulation of 
precursor acidic hydrothermal fluids that strongly altered the rocks through which they 
circulated, generating a secondary porosity or vuggy silica, in the alteration cores. The high 
porosity product of the alteration served as a conduit for the posthumous hydrothermal 
fluids responsible for the mineralization of gold and silver.

Jaguelito represents a key pillar in Austral’s strategy to find High-Sulphidation projects 
in mining friendly jurisdictions.

During December 2022, the company began a 5,000 meter drilling campaign at the 
Jaguelito project in the San Juan Province of Argentina as part of the first stage of the 
option agreement with Mexplort to acquire 50% of the project.

Drilling program overview: 
We plan to complete the First Stage of approximately 5,000m of diamond drilling (DDH) 
in 15 to 20 holes at Jaguelito Norte and Jaguelito Sur. 

•  At Jaguelito Norte, five drilling targets have been identified and in this stage at least three 
targets are expected to be tested with 3,500 meters of DDH drilling. The program intends 
to prioritise the Capote - Alcatraz sector under a new concept of gold ore control related 
to northwest direction and to drill the La Cuña maar-diatreme complex, which we recently 
identified as the main or major control of the hydrothermal system in the area. The third 
target corresponds to the satellite body of the Guanaco Breccia. 

•  At Jaguelito Sur, preliminary work has identified five structures related to phreatomag-
matic activity that may control the alteration and possibly mineralisation in that sector. 
Progress is being made in the delineation process and our objective is to define drilling 
targets to be tested with 1,500 meters of drilling.

Austral Gold Limited

39

Annual Report 2022

SANTA CRUZ PROVINCE

PINGÜINO PROJECT

SIERRA BLANCA PROJECT

Pingüino Project
On 1 March 2023, the Group sold 100% of the common shares of SCRN Properties Limited (“SCRN”), owner of the Pingüino project 
to E2 Metals Limited (“E2”) (ASX:E2M).

Austral Gold Limited

40

Annual Report 2022

During FY20, the Group and New Dimension Resources Ltd. (TSX- 
V:NDR) (“New Dimension”) signed an Agreement to acquire New 
Dimension’s Sierra Blanca gold-silver project (the “Project”) in 
Santa Cruz, near the Group’s Pingüino project.

Sierra Blanca Project
FY21 exploration activities included district mapping of the area, 
remote sensing processing, sampling for talus fine geochemistry 
and drilling relogging. The follow-up activities on the new target 
confirmed favorable alteration related to Dome-Breccia complex. 
Dating of a rhyolitic dome in the Dome-Breccia complex resulted 
in the mean age of 165 ± 1.4 Ma, although a smaller population of 
zircons results have an age of 153.6 Ma ± 1.9, as seen in the Cerro 
Negro deposit. The US$100,000 work commitment was met, and 
the Group earned 51% of Sierra Blanca. 

During FY22 work commitments of US$200,000 were completed, 
as required under the first part of the second tranche of the Option. 
The main activities were performed towards achievement of the 
following goals: (i) complete district delineation and targeting 
process to define drilling targets, (ii) revisit Vetarron area to iden-
tify new ore controls for additional drilling, (iii) remodel Chala and 
Lucila veins to identify the potential extension and the upside in 
depth, and (iv) complete the field evaluation of the Aster anomalies 
and define a delineation program. The Company also conducted 
spectrometric validation using talus fines and field samples in 
addition to the reprocessing of historical geophysics. 

An additional US$400,000 in exploration activities is required to 
be incurred, including a 2,000 meter drilling campaign before the 
end of Q3 2023 to increase our equity in the project from 51% to 
80%. Further details of the agreement are disclosed in note 21 of 
the 2022 financial statements.

Austral Gold Limited

41

Annual Report 2022

EQUITY  
INVESTMENTS

Austral Gold Limited

42

Annual Report 2022

RAWHIDE MINE / ENSIGN 
GOLD / PAMPA METALS

RAWHIDE
On 17 December 2019, Austral Gold’s US subsidiary, Austral- 
Gold North America Corp. (“AGNA”), acquired an equity interest 
in Rawhide Acquisition Holding LLC (“Rawhide”), a privately held 
Delaware limited liability company that owns Rawhide Mining LLC 
which in turn owns the Rawhide Mine located ~50 miles outside 
of Fallon, Nevada, United States.

The Rawhide mine is a fully permitted operation that produces 
gold and silver through an open pit heap leaching operation. In 
2019, Rawhide received a mine expansion permit associated with 
the Regent open pit. Rawhide is a historical mining operation that 
started in the early 1900s located in the Walker Lane structural 
zone, one of the most prolific gold mining districts in the world, 
and is located 50 miles from Fallon, Nevada, USA. It is surrounded 
by multiple 1.0 million+ gold oz deposits. Rawhide was formerly 
operated as a subsidiary of Kennecott Corp. prior to Coral Reef 
Capital partnering with Rawhide’s management team to acquire 
the property from Rio Tinto Plc in 2010. Coral Reef Capital is the 
controlling shareholder.

Rawhide was formerly operated as a subsidiary of Kennecott Corp. 
prior to Coral Reef Capital partnering with Rawhide’s management 
team to acquire the property from Rio Tinto Plc in 2010. Coral Reef 
Capital is the controlling shareholder.

During December, 2019, Austral acquired an equity interest in 
Rawhide, a privately held Delaware limited liability company that 
owns Rawhide Mining LLC which in turn owns the Rawhide Mine 
located ~50 miles outside of Fallon, Nevada, United States.

Background
Gold was discovered at Rawhide in 1906, with intermittent small 
scale production until Kennecott undertook open pit mining from 
1990-2003, producing 1.4 million ounces of gold and 10.9 million 
ounces of silver from 88 million tons. Residual heap leaching until 
2010 recovered an additional 200 thousand ounces of gold and 1.9 
million ounces of silver. Austral Gold has been advised by Rawhide 
that from 2011-2018 its mining at the Rawhide property totaled 4.9 
million tons, with 160,000 ounces of gold and 1.8 million ounces 
of silver produced.

Gold-silver mineralization at Rawhide has been historically mined 
from a series of low sulfidation epithermal veins, vein swarms and 
replacement zones hosted by various basaltic to rhyolitic volcanic 
units. The lower grade bulk tonnage mineralization that is the focus 
of current operations occurs between structures within permeable 
volcanic units and at intrusive contacts. Rawhide Mining received 
a mine expansion permit covering the Regent satellite deposit, and 
open pit mining commenced there in 2019. Regent highlights the 
upside exploration and production optionality of Austral’s strategic 
investment in the Rawhide mining operation.

Rawhide Acquisition Holding LLC
The Group’s interest in the LLC is 24.74%. During 2021, the Group 
impaired 100% of its investment in Rawhide due to its concerns 
about Rawhide’s ability to fund its operations.

During 2022, Rawhide processed ore from its heaps. Rawhide is 
currently working with its major debtor to restructure the business.

Austral Gold Limited

43

Annual Report 2022

USA

MERCUR PROJECT

Austral Gold Limited

44

Annual Report 2022

ENSIGN MINERALS
As disclosed in note 22.2 to the financial statements, the Group initially acquired a 19.96% equity interest in Ensign 
Gold Inc., (subsequently changed to Ensign Minerals Inc) (“Ensign”) through the purchase of 5,950,000 Units consist-
ing of 5,950,000 shares and 2,975,000 warrants. The cost of each Unit was C$0.25. During July 2021, Ensign Gold 
(“Ensign”) raised gross proceeds of US$7.4 million (C$9.16 million) through the issuance of equity at C$0.50/ share, 
a 100% increase from the Austral investment of C$0.25/ share. As a result of this financing and other minor share 
issuances during 2021 and 2022, the Group’s interest in Ensign at 31 December 2022 was reduced to 11.91% (31 
December 2021-11.93%) Ensign requires funds to be used mainly for exploration work commitments (US$4.8 million 
(C$6 million)) over a two-year period and a final cash payment of US$16 million (C$20 million) if Ensign exercises 
the option to acquire Barrick’s 2,869 acre of mostly private ground as a result of the option agreement with Barrick 
Gold for US$0.8 million signed in Q2 2021.

Ensign is a privately held incorporated Canadian company. Austral Chairman Wayne Hubert and CEO Stabro 
Kasaneva are directors of Ensign Gold. Ensign is not a reporting issuer in any Province of Canada, nor is it listed on 
any stock exchange. Ensign is currently assembling a 5,000-hectare land package on favorable Carlin- type gold 
deposit geology in the state of Utah with the goal of consolidating the Mercur camp for the first time. Ensign owns 
54 patented claims, 370 unpatented claims, and 5 SITLA claims on South Mercur, West Mercur and North Mercur. 
Historically, this region produced over 3 million ounces of gold and was shut down over two decades ago when 
gold was selling for less than $300 per ounce.

Ensign advised the Group that during the 2021 field season, it drilled a total of 55 holes at the Mercur project, rang-
ing in length from 75 to 400 meters. At Main Mercur (the Barrick Option area) 50 holes were drilled for a total of 
7,723 meters. The main goal was to confirm mineralisation modelled using historic Barrick drilling. Ensign believes 
the program was successful and confirmed, and in some areas upgraded, the width and grades of modelled 
mineralisation. Mineralisation was also encountered outside of the model which is intended to be a target for the 
2022 drill program. At South Mercur 2 holes for 448 meters were drilled to extend existing mineralisation. At West 
Mercur 3 shallow holes for 317 meters were drilled in an area of historic workings. For all areas, initial assays have 
been received and are being evaluated subject to final QA\QC protocol. In addition to the drilling program geologic 
mapping and sampling were conducted throughout the property to provide a better understanding of structural 
trends and alteration patterns. 

Ensign advised the Group of the following activities during 2022:

•  the 2022 exploration drill program commenced on June 5, 2022 and 10 core holes (1,778m) and 37 reverse 

circulation holes (6,498m) were completed during the year.

•  continued work on the updated resource model for Main and South Mercur and expect to finalise it in the first 

quarter of 2023.

•  continued discussions on various avenues to raise capital and belives it will be in a better position to raise capital 
to fund an exploration program in 2023 following the release of the updated resource model.  In addition, Ensign 
continues to monitor the market for the potential to do an IPO.

PAMPA METALS CORP. (“PAMPA”)
The Company acquired shares in Pampa through the acquisition of Revelo Resources Corp. in February 2021. As of 
31 December 2022, the Company held ~3.8 million shares of Pampa. 

Pampa is a Canadian company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE: PM) as well as the Frankfurt (FSE: FIRA) 
and OTC (OTCQB®: PMMCF) exchanges. Pampa Metals owns a highly prospective, wholly owned, 47,400-hectare 
portfolio of seven projects for copper, molybdenum and gold located along proven mineral belts in Chile, one of 
the world’s top mining jurisdictions. In addition, the Company has an option agreement with Pampa as described 
in note 21 to the financial statements.

Austral Gold Limited

45

Annual Report 2022

DIRECTORS’  
REPORT

Austral Gold Limited

46

Annual Report 2022

The Company’s Board believes that a 
highly credentialed Board, with diverse 
backgrounds, skills and perspectives, will 
be effective in supporting and enabling 
delivery of strong governance for the 
Company  and  create  value  for  the 
Company’s shareholders.

The Board brings a broad mix of experi-
ence and skills to the Company including 
in the areas of corporate governance, 
legal, geological expertise and finan-
cial management.

Austral Gold Limited

47

Annual Report 2022

THE 
DIRECTORS

WAYNE HUBERT
Executive Chairman

EDUARDO ELSZTAIN
Vice-Chairman

Mr. Hubert is a mining executive with over 15 years’ experience 
working in the South American resources sector. From 2006 
until 2010 he was the Chief Executive Officer of ASX-listed 
Andean Resources Limited and led the team that increased 
Andean’s value from $70 million to $3.5 billion in four years. 
Andean was developing a world-class silver and gold mine in 
Argentina with a resource of over 5 million ounces of gold when 
it was acquired by Goldcorp Inc. of Canada.

Mr. Hubert holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and a 
Master of Business Administration. Mr. Hubert has held execu-
tive roles for Meridian Gold with experience in operations, 
finance and investor relations. In addition to his role at Austral 
Gold Limited, Mr. Hubert is currently serving as Chairman of 
Revival Gold Inc. (TSX.V:RVG) (OTCQB:RVLGF) and Ensign 
Minerals Inc. (private company), and is also the CEO and direc-
tor of InZinc Mining (TSX.V: IZN).

Director since 18 Oct 2011  
Appointed Chair August 2020

Mr. Eduardo Elsztain is chairman of IRSA Inversiones y Repre- 
sentaciones S.A. (NYSE:IRS), one of Argentina’s largest and 
most diversified real estate companies; and IRSA Commercial 
Properties (NASDAQ:IRCP), with shopping centers, premium 
office buildings, five-star hotels and residential developments. 
He also serves as Chairman of Cresud (NASDAQ:CRESY) and 
BrasilAgro (NYSE:LND), leading Latin American agricultural 
companies that own directly and indirectly almost 1M HA of 
farmland.

Mr.  Elsztain  is  Chairman  of  Banco  Hipotecario  S.A. 
(BASE:BHIP);  and  of  BACS,  Argentinean  leading  bank 
specialized in providing innovative financial solutions to local 
companies.

He is also member of the World Economic Forum, the Council 
of the Americas, the Group of 50 and Argentina’s Business 
Association (AEA). He is President of Fundacion IRSA, which 
promotes education among children and young people; 
President of TAGLIT — Birthright Argentina; Co-Founder of 
Endeavor Argentina; and Vice- President of the World Jewish 
Congress.

Mr. Elsztain has not held any other Directorships with Austra-
lian or Canadian listed companies in the last three years.

Director since 29 June 2007 
Appointed Chair 2011 until August 2020  
when he became Vice Chair

Austral Gold Limited

48

Annual Report 2022

  
STABRO KASANEVA
Executive Director, Chief Executive Officer

SAUL ZANG
Non-Executive Director

Mr. Zang obtained a law degree from Universidad de Buenos 
Aires. He is a founding member of the law firm Zang, Bergel 
& Viñes.

Mr. Zang is an adviser and Member of the Board of Direc-
tors of the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange and provides legal 
advice to national and international companies.

Mr. Zang currently holds:

i.  Vice-Chairmanships on the Boards of IRSA (NYSE: IRS, 
BASE: IRSA), IRSA Commercial Properties (NASDAQ: 
IRCP, BASE: IRCP), Cresud (NASDAQ: CRESY, BASE: 
CRES) and

ii. Directorships with Banco Hipotecario (BASE: BHIP), Brasil 

Agro (NYSE: LND, BVMF:AGRO3), among others.

Mr. Zang has not held any other Directorships with Australian 
or Canadian listed companies in the last three years.

Director since 7 Jun 2007

Mr. Kasaneva is a Geologist with a degree from the Universidad 
Católica del Norte, Chile and has over 30 years of experience in 
production geology, exploration and management of precious 
metal mining operations.

Since Mr. Kasaneva joined Austral Gold in 2009, he has been 
instrumental in transforming the Company by consolidating 
the operations of the Guanaco Mine in Chile, restarting opera- 
tions at the Casposo Mine in Argentina as well as identifying 
a number of opportunities that represent the growth potential 
for Austral Gold.

Throughout his career as a geologist, he worked on exploration 
and production gaining vast experience in grade control, QA/ 
QC, modeling and geological resources estimation.

Mr. Kasaneva led Business Development Departments for 
several years evaluating a number of mining business oppor-
tunities in South America, Central America and North America. 
He has held the roles of General Manager of Mining Operations, 
Vice-President of Operations and COO.

Mr. Kasaneva is a Director of Ensign Minerals Inc. (private 
company).

Mr. Kasaneva has not held any Directorships with Australian or 
Canadian listed companies in the last three years.

Director since 7 Oct 2009 
Appointed COO until appointment as Chief Executive Officer August 2016

Austral Gold Limited

49

Annual Report 2022

THE 
DIRECTORS

BEN JARVIS
Non-Executive Director, 
Member of the Audit Committee

PABLO VERGARA DEL CARRIL
Non-Executive Director, 
Member of the Audit Committee

Mr. Jarvis is the Managing Director of Six Degrees Investor 
Relations, an Australian advisory firm that provides investor 
relations services to a broad range of companies listed on the 
Australian Securities Exchange.

Mr. Jarvis was educated at the University of Adelaide where 
he majored in Politics.

Mr. Jarvis is a director of Hip Resources Limited. Mr. Jarvis has 
not held any other Directorships with Australian or Canadian 
listed companies in the last three years.

Director since 2 Jun 2011

Mr. Vergara del Carril is a lawyer and is professor of Post- 
graduate Degrees for Capital Markets, Corporate Law and 
Business Law at the Argentine Catholic University.

He is a member of the International Bar Association, the 
American Bar Association and the AMCHAM, among other 
legal and business organisations. He is a founding Board 
member of the recently incorporated Australian- Argentin-
ean Chamber of Commerce. He is a Board member of the 
Argentine Chamber of Corporations and also an officer of 
its Legal Committee. He is recognised as a leading lawyer in 
Corporate, Real Estate, M&A, Banking & Finance and Real 
Estate Law by international publications such as Chamber 
& Partners, Legal 500, International Financial Law Review, 
Latin Lawyer and Best Lawyer.

He is a Director of Banco Hipotecario SA. (BASE: BHIP), 
Nuevas Fronteras (owner of the Intercontinental Hotel in 
Buenos Aires), IRSA Commercial Properties (NASDAQ: 
IRCP, BASE: APSA) and Emprendimiento Recoleta SA 
(owner  of  the  Buenos  Aires  Design  Shopping  Centre), 
among other companies. Mr. Vergara del Carril is also a 
Director of Guanaco Mining Company Limited and Guanaco 
Capital Holding Corp.

Mr. Vergara del Carril has not held any other Directorships 
with Australian or Canadian listed companies in the last 
three years.

Director since 18 May 2006

Austral Gold Limited

50

Annual Report 2022

ROBERT TRZEBSKI
Non-Executive Director, 
Chairman of the Audit Committee

Dr. Trzebski holds a degree in Geology, PhD in Geophys-
ics, Masters in Project Management and has over 30 years 
of professional experience in mineral exploration, project 
management and mining services.

He is currently Chief Operating Officer of Austmine Ltd. As 
a fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 
Dr. Trzebski has acted as the Competent Person (CP) for the 
Company’s ASX releases.

Dr. Trzebski is a non-executive director of Lake Resources 
NL (ASX: LKE; OTC: LLKKF).

Dr. Trzebski has not held any other Directorships with Austra-
lian or Canadian listed companies in the last three years.

Director since 10 Apr 2007

Austral Gold Limited

51

Annual Report 2022

SENIOR MANAGEMENT  
AND COMPANY SECRETARY

RODRIGO RAMIREZ
Vice President of Operations

RAUL GUERRA 
Vice President of Exploration

JOSÉ BORDOGNA 
Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Ramirez holds a Mining Engineering degree from the University of Chile.

He has been involved with the Company since it was founded, to recommission 
the Guanaco mine in 2010. Mr. Ramirez has led mining and engineering activi-
ties since then, as well as all reviews and analysis of the Company’s growth 
activities. Mr. Ramirez led the design and construction of the Company’s agita- 
tion leach plant at Guanaco and assumed the role of VP of Operations in 2018

Prior to joining Austral, Mr. Ramirez held senior operational, planning and 
execution roles at Antofagasta PLC and at Meridian Gold’s world class El Peñon 
mine acquired by Yamana Gold.

Chief Operating Officer since June 2018 and Vice President of Technical Services from 7 August 
2017 to June 2018

Raul Guerra assumed the role of Corporate VP Exploration in August 2020. He 
brings more than 30 years of precious metal exploration experience to the Austral 
Gold team. Most recently, he was Vice-President of Latin America for Barrick Gold 
Corporation (Barrick). He has been involved in the discovery of more than 50 million 
ounces of gold including two large greenfield discoveries at Barrick.

Mr. Guerra is a Geologist from the Universidad de Chile.

Appointed as VP of Exploration in August 2020 Vice President of Exploration from August 2020  
until his resignation effective 31 January 2023.

Mr. Bordogna joined Austral Gold in 2013 as Controller and was promoted to CFO 
in 2016. Since then, he has overseen all the corporate finance and accounting 
activities, including equity and direct investments in mining related assets, listing 
the company on the TSX-V, amongst others.

Mr. Bordogna is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Global Executive MBA 
(IE Business School) and a Master of International Business (The University of 
Sydney). He is also CFA Candidate Level 3.

Prior to joining Austral Gold, he worked for the International Finance Corporation 
(IFC) and Deloitte in Latin America. He has over 15 years’ experience in corporate 
finance, M&A, investment banking and accounting roles.

Appointed 22 August 2016 and resigned effective 28 February 2022 
Chief Financial Officer from August 2016 until his resignation on 28 February 2022 and his 
reappointment effective 1 May 2022.

Ms. Sheridan assumed the role of Company Secretary in August 2022. Ms. 
Sheridan joined the Automic Group in January 2019 and has assisted the 
former Company Secretary since starting with Automic. Ms. Sheridan holds 
a diploma in Business Administration and an Affiliate of the Governance 
Institute of Australia (GIA).

Corporate secretary since 31 August 2022

CHELSEA SHERIDAN
Automic Group, Company Secretary

Austral Gold Limited

52

Annual Report 2022

INDEMNITY AND INSURANCE OF AUDITOR
•  The Company has not, during or since the end of the finan-
cial year, indemnified or agreed to indemnify the auditor of the 
Company or any related entity against a liability incurred by 
the auditor.

•  During the financial year, the Company has not paid a premium 
in respect of a contract to insure the auditor of the Company or 
any related entity.

REMUNERATION REPORT (AUDITED)

Remuneration Policy
The full Board of Austral Gold is responsible for determining remu-
neration policies in respect of executives and Key Management 
Personnel (KMP).

The Company has a Remuneration Policy that aims to ensure 
the remuneration packages of Directors and senior executives 
properly reflect the person’s duties, responsibilities and level of 
performance, as well as ensuring that remuneration is competitive 
in attracting, retaining and motivating people of the highest quality.

The level of remuneration is based on market rates and is not 
directly linked to the market value of the shares of Austral Gold.

At the most recent Annual General Meeting of the Company held 
on 27 May 2022, 85.83% of votes cast at the meeting were in 
favour of the adoption of the Remuneration Report.

Remuneration information for KMP is reported in US Dollars (US$). 
All contractual arrangements for non-executive Directors and 
the Chairman are denominated in US Dollars. The contractual 
arrangements for the CEO, Vice President of Operations and Vice 
President of Exploration are denominated in Chilean pesos (CLP) 
while the contractual arrangement for the CFO is denominated in 
Australian Dollars (AUD).

The level of remuneration for non-executive Directors is  consid-
ered with regard to the practices of other public companies and 
the aggregate amount of fees paid to non-executive Directors 
approved by shareholders.

The executive directors do not receive fees for being a director. 
Total compensation for all non-executive directors, last voted on 
by shareholders at the 2020 AGM, is not to exceed US$400,000 
per annum. The director fee for the Vice-Chairman is US$100,000 
per annum. Director fees for other non-executive directors are 
US$50,000 per annum.

Non-executive directors do not receive performance-related 
compensation and are not provided with retirement benefits apart 
from statutory superannuation for Australian Total KMP (including 
directors) in FY22 was US$2,444,080 (FY21-US$2,394,409).

DAVID HWANG
Mr. Hwang assumed the role of Company Secretary in July 2019 
and resigned in August 2022 due to his resignation to Automic 
Group. Mr. Hwang is an experienced corporate lawyer specialising 
in listings on the ASX, equity capital markets and providing advice 
on corporate governance and compliance issues.

DIRECTORS’ MEETINGS
The number of Directors’ meetings (including meetings of Commit- 
tees of Directors) and number of meetings attended by each of the 
Directors of the Company during the financial year were

Directors’  
meetings

Audit  
Committee 
meetings

Director

Pablo Vergara del Carril

Robert Trzebski

Wayne Hubert

Eduardo Elsztain

Saul Zang

Stabro Kasaneva

Ben Jarvis

A

5

4

4

4

5

5

5

B

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

A

3

3

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

3

B

3

3

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

3

A: Number of meetings attended

B:  Number of meetings held during the time the Director held office during the 

financial year

SHARES AND OPTIONS
At the date of this report there are no options over the Company’s 
ordinary shares.

During or since the end of the financial year, the Company has not 
granted options over its ordinary shares.

INDEMNITY AND INSURANCE OF OFFICERS
Under a deed of access, indemnity and insurance, the Company 
indemnifies each person who is a Director, secretary or officer of 
Austral Gold Limited against:

•  any liability (other than for legal costs) incurred by a Director, 
secretary or officer in his or her capacity as an officer of the 
Company or of a subsidiary of the Company; and

•  reasonable legal costs incurred in defending an action for a 
liability incurred or allegedly incurred by a secretary in his or 
her capacity as an officer of the Company or of a subsidiary of 
the Company.

The above indemnities:
•  apply only to the extent the Company is permitted by law to 

indemnify a Director, officer or secretary;

•  are subject to the Company’s constitution and the prohibitions 

in section 199A of the Corporations Act; and

•  apply only to the extent and for the amount that a Director, 
secretary or officer is not otherwise entitled to be indemnified 
and is not actually indemnified by another person (including a 
related body corporate or an insurer).

Austral Gold Limited

53

Annual Report 2022

The Key Management Personnel (KMP) during or since the end of the financial year were:
The Directors of the Group during or since the end of the financial year:

•  Wayne Hubert 

Executive Chair

•  Eduardo Elsztain 

Non-Executive Vice Chair

•  Saul Zang 

Non-Executive Director

•  Pablo Vergara de Carril 

Non-Executive Director

•  Robert Trzebski 

Non-Executive Director

•  Ben Jarvis 

Non-Executive Director

•  Stabro Kasaneva 

Chief Executive Officer and Director 

The Senior Executive KMP during or since the end of the financial year:

•  Rodrigo Ramirez 

Vice President of Operations

•  Raul Guerra  

Vice-President of Exploration (resigned effective 31 January 2023)

•  José Bordogna 

Chief Financial Officer

Remuneration of KMP
The Group has employment agreements with all executive KMP in accordance with the laws in the jurisdiction in which the KMP is 
employed.
Remuneration of executive KMP is made up of a fixed component and a variable (‘at risk’) component. Performance is assessed 
against financial and non-financial indicators including production, safety, cost of production, sustaining capital investments, new 
business and value accretive investments amongst others. The award of the variable component is fully discretionary as detailed in 
the `Contractual Arrangement with Executive KMP in the “31 December 2022” table.

Link Between Remuneration and Performance
The Group aims to align its executive remuneration to its strategic and business objectives and the creation of shareholder value. 
The table below shows the measures of the Group’s financial performance over the last 5 financial years as required by the 
Corporations Act 2001. However, these are not necessarily consistent with the measures used in determining the variable amounts 
of remuneration to be awarded to each KMP. Consequently, there may not always be a direct correlation between the statutory key 
performance measures and the variable remuneration awarded.

12 months ended  
31 December  
2018

12 months ended  
30 June  
2019

12 months ended  
31 December   
2020

12 months ended  
31 December  
2021

12 months ended  
31 December  
2022

Sales Revenue 
(US$’000)

Profit/(loss) before 
tax (US$’000)

Basic EPS  
(US cents per share)

Diluted EPS  
(US cents per share)

Share price  
(cents AUD/CDN)

Dividend  
(cents AUD per 
share)

122,767

102,209

88,223

64,390

49,710

(37,054)

9,508

14,335

(4,686)

(9,581)

(4.88)

0.97

1.36

(1.20)

(1.35)

(4.88)

0.93

1.34

(1.20)

(1.35)

6.0/6.0

9.0/8.5

21.0/22.0

8.5/8.0

0.039/0.035

–

–

0.009

0.008

-

Austral Gold Limited

54

Annual Report 2022

Details of Remuneration
Details of the nature and amount of each major element of the remuneration of each Director of the Group and each of the KMP of the 
Group during the financial year were:

Twelve month period ended 31 December 2022

Primary

Post-employment

Share-based

Total

Cash and 
accrued 
Salary and 
Fees 
US$

Accrued 
Cash  
Bonus 
US$1

Non-
monetary 
benefits 
US$

Superannuation 
US$

Retirement/ 
Termination 
benefits 
US$

Equity 
settled 
Shares 
US$

Options 
US$

US$

E Elsztain

100,000

S Zang

R Trzebski

B Jarvis

50,000

45,347

45,347

P Vergara del Carril

50,000

Total non-
executive director 
remuneration

290,694

W Hubert

144,000

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Directors

Non-executive directors

293

293

4,352

-

-

-

-

4,653

4,653

-

4,938

9,306

Executive Director

-

-

-

S Kasaneva

337,750

352,236

26,911

Total Director 
remuneration

772,444

352,236

31,849

9,306

Other Key Executives

R. Ramirez

273,503

284,350

8,104

R. Guerra3

245,038

127,005

14,884

-

-

J. Bordogna4

181,159

130,080

1,945

12,177

Total other 
executive 
remuneration

Total director and 
executive officer 
remuneration 

699,700

541,435

24,933

12,177

1,472,144

893,671

56,782

21,483

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

100,293

50,293

54,352

50,000

50,000

304,938

144,000

716,897

1,165,835

565,957

386,927

325,361

1,287,245

2,444,080

1  Accrued cash bonus defined as bonus earned during the year that has been paid or accrued (accrued maximum bonus for the year). Differences in calculation of maximum 

bonus from salary as bonus calculation based on foreign exchange at year end versus the spot rates for salaries paid in local currencies of employees).

2 All salaries are paid in local currency and converted to USD by average FX — only for the purpose of preparing this table.
3  Mr. Guerra resigned effective 31 January 2023. Per his settlement agreement, Mr. Guerra is to receive his 2022 bonus, a 2023 bonus of US$11,859, an exit bonus of 

US$71,762 and US$10,081 of vacation owed net of assets purchased of US3,108. The amount is to be paid in six equal monthly installments in Chilean pesos commencing 
February 2023 and ending July 2023.

4  Mr. Bordogna resigned effective 28 February 2022 and was re-hired effective 1 May 2022. During the period between Mr. Bordogna’s resignation and his employment 

contract, Mr. Bordogna received US$8,000 in consulting fees which are included in the above remuneration.

Austral Gold Limited

55

Annual Report 2022

Twelve-month period ended 31 December 2021

Cash and 
accrued 
Salary and 
Fees US$

Primary

Accrued 
Cash  
Bonus 
US$1

Non-
monetary 
benefits 
US$

Post-employment

Share-based

Total

Superannuation 
US$

Retirement 
benefits 
US$

Shares 
US$

Options 
US$

US$

Directors

Non-executive directors

295

291

–

–

4,511

4,438

–

–

4,438

–

5,097

8,876

Executive director

–

E Elsztain

100,000

S Zang

50,000

R Trzebski

45,562

B Jarvis

45,562

P Vergara del Carril

50,000

Total non-
executive director 
remuneration

291,124

W Hubert

144,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

-

–

–

–

–

–

–

S Kasaneva

349,963

318,959

2,863

Total Director 
remuneration

785,087

318,959

7,960

8,876

Other Key Executives

R. Ramirez

282,919

257,852

2,934

R Guerra3 

252,955

115,271

3,649

J Bordogna

124,117

106,120

–

659,991

479,243

6,583

Total Other 
Executive 
remuneration

Total director and 
executive officer 
remuneration

1,445,078

798,202

14,543

8,876

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

127,7103

127,710

–

–

–

–

127,710

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

100,295

50,291

54,511

50,000

 50,000

305,097

144,000

799,495

1,248,592

543,705

371,875

230,237

1,145,817

2,394,409

1  Accrued cash bonus defined as bonus earned during the year that has been paid or accrued (accrued maximum bonus for the year). Differences in calculation of maximum 

bonus from salary as bonus calculation based on foreign exchange at year end versus the spot rates for salaries paid in local currencies of employees).

2 All salaries are paid in local currency and converted to USD by average FX — only for the purpose of preparing this table.
3  Value of one million shares issued based on market price of A$0.165 and a foreign exchange rate of 0.774 at date of issue. Board discretionary issuance based on his past 

performance, and as incentive for future performance, as Chief Executive Officer of the Group approved by shareholders on 27 May 2021

Austral Gold Limited

56

Annual Report 2022

Contractual Arrangement with Executive KMP at 31 December 2022
The table below represents the target remuneration mix for group executives in the current year. The variable remuneration is provided 
at target levels.

Name

Term of Agreement 
and notice period

Notice Period by 
Either Party

Base  
salary

Bonus performance 

Bonus performance 
conditions

Termination 
payments

Stabro Kasaneva 
Chief Executive 
Officer

Rodrigo Ramirez 
VP of Operations

Open

30 days

Base salary is paid in 
Chilean pesos with no 
FX adjustment clause

0% to 100%  
of salary

Open

30 days

Base salary is paid in 
Chilean pesos with no 
FX adjustment clause

0% to 100%  
of salary

Raul Guerra 
VP of Exploration

Open

30 days

Base salary is paid in 
Chilean pesos with no 
FX adjustment clause

0% to 50% of salary

Jose Bordogna 
Chief Financial 
Officer

Open

1 month

Base salary is paid 
in Australian dollars 
with no FX adjustment 
clause

0% to 100%  
of salary

One month 
salary per year of 
employment

One month 
salary per year of 
employment

One month 
salary per year of 
employment

One month 
salary per year of 
employment

At the discretion of the 
Board based on Group 
results and individual 
performance

At the discretion of 
the Chief Executive 
Officer based on Group 
results and individual 
performance

At the discretion of 
the Chief Executive 
Officer based on Group 
results and individual 
performance

At the discretion of 
the Chief Executive 
Officer based on Group 
results and individual 
performance, which 
included various 
financial objectives 
related to marketing, 
capital markets, funding 
resources, financial 
reporting and risk 
management 

During August 2020, the Board engaged Hubert Mining Consultants to engage Wayne Hubert (director of the Group since October 
2011) to serve as Executive Chairman of the Group. The Board approved the appointment by resolution but has not entered into a 
formal agreement. Terms of the engagement are:
•  No fixed term
•  US$12,000 per month
•  Minimum of 20 hours per month
•  No payment upon termination
•  No entitlement to bonus

Relative Proportion of Fixed vs Variable Remuneration Expense
The following table shows the relative proportions of executive remuneration that are linked to performance and those that are fixed, 
based on the amounts disclosed as statutory remuneration expense in the tables above.

Name

Stabro Kasaneva

Rodrigo Ramirez

Raul Guerra
Jose Bordogna

Fixed remuneration

At risk — short-term incentive

At risk — long-term incentive

December 2022 December 2021 December 2022 December 2021 December 2022 December 2021

47%

48%

63%
54%

Executive Directors

53%

Executive Officers

52%

37%
46%

44%

52%

69%
54%

56%

48%

31%
46%

0%

0%

0%
0%

0%

0%

0%
0%

Equity Holdings 
The movement during the financial year in the number of ordinary shares in the Company held, directly, indirectly or beneficially by each 
key management person, including their related parties, is as follows:

Wayne Hubert

Eduardo Elsztain

Saul Zang

Pablo Vergara

Robert Trzebski

Ben Jarvis

Stabro Kasaneva

Raul Guerra

Rodrigo Ramirez

Jose Bordogna

Total

Balance at 1  
January 2022

2,545,500

461,294,560

1,640,763

68,119

-

250,000

7,881,230

801,000

279,514

45,724

474,806,410

Granted as 
remuneration

Market purchases

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

80,771

80,771

Balance at 31  
December 2022

2,545,500

461,294,560

1,640,763

68,119

-

250,000

7,881,230

801,000

279,514

126,495

474,887,181

Austral Gold Limited

57

Annual Report 2022

Other transactions with KMP
Chairman Wayne Hubert and Chief Executive Officer Stabro Kasa-
neva are related to Ensign as they are board members of Ensign. 
Mr. Hubert holds 1,964,865 common shares of Ensign and 395,000 
stock options and Mr. Kasaneva holds nil shares of Ensign and 
150,000 stock options.

Zang, Bergel & Viñes Abogados is a related party since one non- 
executive Director, Pablo Vergara del Carril has significant influ-
ence over this law firm based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fees 
charged and expenses to reimbursement to the Group for the 
year ended 31 December 2022 amounted to US$79,219 (2021: 
US$112,458).

IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones S.A., IRSA Propiedades 
Comerciales S.A. and Consultores Asset Management S.A. are 
related parties as they are controlled by Non-executive Director 
and Chairman, Eduardo Elsztain. During the year ended 31 Decem-
ber 2022 a total of US$72,303 was charged to the Company (2021: 
US$68,071) in regard to IT services support, HR services, software 
licenses, building/office expenses and other fees.

This concludes the remuneration report, which has been audited.

Principal activities
The principal activities of the Group during FY22 were:

•  Production of 27,686 gold equivalent ounces at the Group’s 

Guanaco/ Amancaya mine complex; 

•  Issued an updated Technical Report that increased the esti-
mated life of mine of the Guanaco-Amancaya Operation in 
accordance with NI-43-101 and JORC 2012;

•  Started the construction of the Heap Reprocessing project that 

is expected to provide ten years of production;

•  Continued its search for new discoveries with brownfield and 
greenfield exploration activity undertaken at the Company’s 
existing projects in Argentina and Chile, which included more 
than 7,000 meters of drilling at the Casposo-Manantiales  
project;   

•  Expanded the footprint in the Indio Belt in Argentina through an 
earn-in agreement with Mexplort Perforaciones Mineras S.A. 
(“Mexplort”), a subsidiary of Corporación América International 
(“Corporación América”) controlled by Mr. Eduardo Eurnekian (a 
prominent businessman from Argentina) to acquire a 50% inter-
est in the Jaguelito project, located in the Province of San Juan;

•  Signed a Share Sale Agreement with E2 Metals Limtied (“E2”) 
to sell SCRN Properties Limited (“SCRN”), the owner of the 
Pingüino project, for a total consideration of approximately 
US$10 million.

•  There were no other significant changes in our principal activi-

ties during the year.

Objectives
The group’s objectives for 2023 are to:

•  Meet or exceed our production forecast of 34,000-38,000 gold 

equivalent ounces

•  Continue to explore the Paleocene Belt’s High Sulfidation 

systems in Northern Chile to find a significant deposit,

•  Continue to explore our Casposo-Manantiales properties in 
San Juan, Argentina to restart profitable mining operations, and

•  Continue to explore the Jaguelito project in San Juan and Sierra 

Blanca in Santa Cruz, Argentina.

Events subsequent to reporting date
Effective 31 January 2023, the Group’s Vice President of Explora-
tion Raul Guerra resigned.

On 1 March 2023, the Group executed a loan agreement of US$1 
million from two of its directors, with Eduardo Elsztain, the control-
ling shareholder loaning US$850,000.

Likely developments
The Group will continue to pursue its objectives for 2023.

Environmental
The Group’s operations are subject to environmental regulation in 
the areas where it operates, Chile and Argentina.

The Group is committed to achieving a high standard of environ-
mental performance.

The environmental monitoring program implemented for the 
Guanaco Amancaya Operation includes meteorology, air qual-
ity, water quality, flora and fauna, archaeology. Air quality is 
monitored at two locations in Guanaco and one in Amancaya. 
Meteorological parameters are collected at one air quality station 
in Guanaco and the air quality station in Amancaya. There is 
also a meteorological station in Guanaco. independent from the 
air quality monitoring system. Monitoring of flora and fauna is 
conducted in Punta del Viento, Las Mulas and Pastos Largos 
approximately 30 km east of Guanaco. Additional details are 
provided on page 25 of the annual report.

Auditors
KPMG continues in office as auditors in accordance with the 
requirements of the Corporations Act 2001.

Non-audit services
Details of the amounts paid or payable to the auditor for non-audit 
services provided during the period by the auditor are outlined 
in note 10 to the financial statements. There were no non-audit 
services provided by KPMG in 2022 (2021: Nil).

The Directors are satisfied that the provision of non-audit services 
during the period by the auditor (or by another person or firm on 
the auditor’s behalf), is compatible with the general standard of 
independence for auditors imposed by the Corporations Act 2001.

The Directors are of the opinion that the services as disclosed in 
note 10 during the period do not compromise the external auditor’s 
independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 for the 
following reasons: 

•  all non-audit services have been reviewed and approved to 
ensure that they do not impact the integrity and objectivity of 
the auditor; and

•  none of the services undermine the general principles relat-
ing to auditor independence as set out in APES 110 Code of 
Ethics for Professional Accountants issued by the Accounting 
Professional and Ethical Standards Board, including reviewing 
or auditing the auditor’s own work, acting in a management or 
decision-making capacity for the company, acting as advocate 
for the company or jointly sharing economic risks and rewards.

Dividends
No dividends were paid to shareholders during the year.

Proceedings on Behalf of the Company
No person has applied for leave of Court to bring proceedings on 
behalf of the Company or intervene in any proceedings to which 
the Company is a party for the purpose of taking responsibility on 
behalf of the Company for all or part of those proceedings.

Austral Gold Limited

58

Annual Report 2022

Auditor’s Independence Declaration
The lead auditor’s independence declaration for the period ended 
31 December 2022 has been received and is included in this report. 
Signed in accordance with a resolution of Directors at Sydney.

Rounding of Amounts
The Company is a company of the kind referred to in ASIC Instru- 
ment 2016/191, dated 1 April 2016, and in accordance with that 
Instrument amounts in the Directors’ Report and the financial 
report are rounded off to the nearest thousand dollars, unless 
otherwise indicated.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of Directors made pursuant 
to s.298(2) of the Corporations Act 2001.

Review of prospects for future years
The Group’s prospects for are based on the achievement of its 
2023 objectives described on page 58.

The achievement of these objectives are subject to several risks 
including business integration risks; uncertainty of production, 
development plans and cost estimates, commodity price fluc-
tuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; 
environmental risks, currency fluctuations, the state of the capital 
markets, uncertainty in the measurement of mineral reserves and 
resource estimates, the Group’s ability to attract and retain quali-
fied personnel and management, potential labour unrest, reclama- 
tion and closure requirements for mineral properties; unpredictable 
risks and hazards related to the development and operation of a 
mine or mineral property that are beyond the Company’s control, 
and the availability of capital to fund all of the Company’s projects. 
Note that these risks are not exhaustive of all risks.

For and on behalf of the board

Robert Trzebski 
Director 
30 March 2023

Austral Gold Limited

59

Annual Report 2022

Austral Gold Limited

60

Annual Report 2022

KPMG, an Australian partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organisation of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organisation. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Lead Auditor’s Independence Declaration under Section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 To the Directors of Austral Gold Limited I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, in relation to the audit of Austral Gold Limited for the financial year ended 31 December 2022 there have been: i.no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in theCorporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; andii.no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.KPMG  Jessica Dillon Partner Sydney 30 March 2023 Austral Gold Limited

61

Annual Report 2022

FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS

Austral Gold Limited

62

Annual Report 2022

AUSTRAL GOLD LIMITED FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Continuing operations

Sales revenue

Cost of sales (including depreciation and amortisation)

Gross profit

Other expenses

Administration expenses

Finance income

Finance costs

Share of loss of associates

(Loss) before income tax

Income tax benefit (expense)

(Loss) after income tax expense

(Loss) attributable to: 

Owners of the Company

Non-controlling interests

Items that may not be classified subsequently to profit or loss

Foreign currency translation

Total comprehensive (loss) for the year

Comprehensive (loss) attributable to: 

Owners of the Company

Non-controlling interests

(Loss) per share (cents per share):

Basic (loss) per share

Diluted (loss) per share

The notes on pages (67) to (99) are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

For the year ended 31 December

Note

2022

2021

13

6

7 

8

9

9

22

11

12

12

49,710

(47,144)

2,566

(2,676)

(9,007)

1,292

(1,080)

(676)

(9,581)

1,315

(8,266)

(8,257)

(9)

(8,266)

(17)

(8,283)

(8,274)

(9)

(8,283)

(1.35)

(1.35)

64,390

(52,120)

12,270

(9,578)

(9,393)

3,199

(238)

(946)

(4,686)

(2,642)

(7,328)

(7,324)

(4)

(7,328)

(69)

(7,397)

(7,393)

(4)

(7,397)

(1.20)

(1.20)

Austral Gold Limited

63

Annual Report 2022

AUSTRAL GOLD LIMITED FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

As at 31 December

Note

2022

2021

Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Prepaid income tax

Other financial assets

Inventories

Assets held for sale

Total current assets

Non-current assets

Other receivables

Prepaid income tax

Mine properties

Property, plant and equipment

Exploration and evaluation expenditure

Investments accounted for using the equity method

Deferred tax assets

Total non-current assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Income tax payable

Employee entitlements

Loans and borrowings

Lease liabilities

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Provisions for reclamation and rehabilitation

Loans and borrowings

Lease liabilities

Employee entitlements

Deferred tax liability

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Issued capital

Accumulated losses

Reserves

Non-controlling interest

Total equity

14

15

16

17

18

15

19

20

21

22

11

23

24

26

20

23

25

26

20

24

11

27

28

29

30

926

2,422

1,076

641

8,946

8,294

2,346

1,818

3,510

1,717

10,601

-

22,305

19,992

904

476

4,054

42,257

27,261

60

-

75,012

97,317

1,054

750

1,217

42,007

32,322

628

20

77,998

97,990

15,690

10,263

770

4,053

7,382

1,925

-

4,224

5,338

2,920

29,820

22,745

1,003

10,934

1,264

911

35

4,535

18,682

48,502

48,815

-

9,233

415

1,843

9

6,647

18,147

40,892

57,098

109,114

109,114

(59,320)

(1,158)

179

48,815

(51,063)

(1,141)

188

57,098

The notes on pages (67) to (99) are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Austral Gold Limited

64

Annual Report 2022

AUSTRAL GOLD LIMITED FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the years ended 31 December 2022 and 2021

All figures are reported  
in thousands of US$

Note

Issued 
capital

Accumulated
losses

Reserves

Balance at 31 December 2020

102,177

(43,871)

2,962

Loss for the year

Expired share options

Foreign exchange movements from 
translation of financial statements to US$

Total comprehensive income/ (loss)

Windup of Cachinalito Limitada

Acquisition of Sierra Blanca

Issued Capital

Options expired unexercised

Dividends paid

-

-

-

-

-

-

27

6,937

-

-

(7,324)

(321)

-

(7,645)

453

-

-

-

-

Balance at 31 December 2021

109,114

(51,063)

Balance at 31 December 2021

109,114

Loss for the year

Foreign exchange movements from 
translation of financial statements to US$

Total comprehensive (loss)

Balance at 31 December 2022

-

-

-

109,114

(51,063)

(8,257)

-

(8,257)

(59,320)

The notes on pages (67) to (99) are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

Non- 
controlling 
interest

-

          (4)

-

-

Total

61,268

(7,328)

-

(69)

            (4)

(7,397)

              -

192

-

-

-

188

188

(9)

-

(9)

192

6,829

(4)

(3,790)

57,098

57,098

(8,266)

(17)

(8,283)

48,815

-

321

(69)

252

(453)

-

(108)

(4)

(3,790)

(1,141)

(1,141)

-

(17)

(17)

(1,158)

179

Austral Gold Limited

65

Annual Report 2022

AUSTRAL GOLD LIMITED FINANCIAL REPORT 2022
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Changes in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents, at the end of the year
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Causes of change in cash and cash equivalents
Operating activities
Loss after income tax
Adjustments for
Income tax benefit/(expense) recognized in loss
Income tax collection / (payments), net
Impairment of exploration and evaluation expenditure
Impairment of investment in associate
Depreciation and amortisation
Gain on sale of equipment
Non-cash net finance charges
Provision for reclamation and rehabilitation
Inventory write-down
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Non-cash employee entitlements
Share of loss of associates
Loss in fair value of other financial assets
Net cash from operating activities before change in assets and liabilities
Changes in working capital
Decrease in inventory
(Increase) /decrease in trade and other receivables
Increase /(decrease) in trade and other payables
(Decrease)/Increase  in employee entitlements
Net cash provided through operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Additions to plant, property and equipment
Proceeds from sale of inventory and equipment
Payment for investment in exploration and evaluation
Payment for investment in mine properties
Payment for equity investments, net of costs
Payment for other financial assets
Cash paid to acquire Revelo
Cash acquired in Revelo acquisition
Proceeds from sale of other financial assets
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from loans and borrowings
Repayment of loans and borrowings
Interest paid on loans and borrowings
Repayment of lease liabilities
Interest paid on leases
Proceeds from exercise of options net of costs
Transaction costs related to issuance of shares
Dividends paid
Net cash used in financing activities
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

The notes on pages (67) to (99) are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements

For the year ended 31 December

Note

2022

2021

2,346
926
(1,420)

12,401
2,346
(10,055)

(8,266)

(7,328)

22.1

20

21
19
22
16
35
35

32

(1,315)
2,134
926
-
7,778
(485)
1,089
(1,096)
-
238
27
676
968
2,674

1,655
(690)
7,626
(172)
11,093

(6,434)
535
(5,790)
(30)
(124)
(27)
-
-
135
(11,735)

11,735
(8,842)
(330)
(3,133)
(208)
-
-
-
(778)
(1,420)

2,642
(9,383)
1,322
5,189
12,403
(287)
366
(1,910)
24
(199)
112
946
512
4,409

4,043
2,808
(281)
331
11,310

(6,897)
518
(8,390)
(363)
(2,720)
-
(920)
14
287
(18,471)

4,513
(839)
(141)
(3,032)
(244)
656
(17)
(3,790)
(2,894)
(10,055)

Austral Gold Limited

66

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. REPORTING ENTITY

Austral Gold Limited (“the Company”) is a company limited by shares that is incorporated and domiciled in Australia. 
The Company’s shares are publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange under the symbol AGD and on the TSX 
Venture Exchange under the symbol AGLD.

These consolidated financial statements (“financial statements”) as at and for the year ended 31 December 2022 comprise 
the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the “Group”). The nature of the operations and principal activi-
ties of the Group are described in the Directors’ Report.

The consolidated annual financial statements of the Group as at and for the year ended 31 December 2021 are available 
upon request from the Company’s registered office at Level 5, 126 Phillip Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia at www.
australgold.com.

2. BASIS OF PREPARATION

The financial statements are general purpose financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with Austra-
lian Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (‘AASB’) and the 
Corporations Act 2001, as appropriate for profit oriented entities. The consolidated financial statements also comply 
with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. They were 
authorised for issue by the Company’s Board of Directors on 30 March 2023.

Details of the Group’s accounting policies are described in Note 40. 

2.1  Functional and Presentation currency

These consolidated financial statements are presented in United States dollars (US$), which is the Group’s functional 
currency. The Group is of a kind referred to in ASIC Corporations (Rounding in Financial/Directors’ Reports) Instrument 
2016/191 and in accordance with the legislative instrument, amounts in the audited financial statements have been 
rounded off to the nearest thousand dollars, unless otherwise stated.

2.2  Parent entity information

In accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, these financial statements present the results of the Group only. Supple-
mentary information about the parent entity is disclosed in note 36.

3. GOING CONCERN

The financial report has been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the continuity of normal busi-
ness activities and the realisation of assets and settlements of liabilities in the ordinary course of business. For the year 
ended 31 December 2022, the market fundamentals of gold and silver remained strong and the Group produced 27,686 
gold equivalent ounces with sales revenue totaling US$49.710 million from sales of 27,648 gold equivalent ounces at 
an average selling price per ounce of US$1,798 (year ended 31 December 2021: production of 31,142 gold equivalent 
ounces and sales revenue of US$64.390 million from sales of 35,838 gold equivalent ounces at an average selling price 
per ounce of US$1,797 including the sale of 4,010 gold equivalent ounces produced in the previous year). 

During the year ended 31 December 2022, the Group incurred a net loss after tax of US$8.266 million (year ended 31 
December 2021: US$7.328 million net loss after income tax) with net cash flows of US$11.093 million in 2022 (2021: 
US$11.310 million) generated through operating activities. At 31 December 2022, the Group has net assets of US$ 
48.815 million and net current liabilities of US$7.515 million (31 December 2021: US$57.098 million and US$2.753 
million, respectively). For the year ended 31 December 2022, the net increase of loans and borrowings was US$2.893 
million (2021: US$3.674 million).

The Directors have prepared cashflow forecasts underpinning the basis of preparation as a going concern. These include 
acknowledgement of the intrinsic operational risks of the business, the existing cash position of the Group, the ongoing 
loan repayment requirements and the strategy to further support capital investment at the Amancaya/Guanaco mine 
and other exploration and investment activities. 

The 12 month cashflow forecast underpins the basis of preparation of the Group as a going concern and are dependent 
on a combination of the following main assumptions:

•  Continued support of existing financiers for short term and longer-term financing through the renewal of existing 360 

days and 180 days pre-export facilities maturing in 2023;

•  Source new financing of US$1.0M from related parties on 1 March 2023 (completed) and continued ongoing funding 

support as required; 

•  Continued cash management controls including supply chain financing arrangements with trade creditors to defer 

payment terms as required;

•  Production from the heaps processing project forecast to commence in June 2023. For the financial year ended 31 
December 2023, 11,000 – 11,500 gold equivalent ounces (‘GEOs’) are forecast to be produced at lower production 
costs than from the Amancaya underground mine;

Austral Gold Limited

67

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

•  Average 2023 prices realised per gold equivalent ounce of approximately US$1,800;

•  Sale of SCRN Properties Ltd. owner of the Pingüino project (completed) - the Group received cash of US$2.5M on 1 

March 2023 and an additional $2.5m is forecast to be received in 2024-2025; 

•  Sale of other non-core plant and equipment; and 

•  Deferral of certain exploration expenditures.

The going concern basis presumes that a combination of the above funding and operational solutions, as deemed 
appropriate by the Directors, will be achieved and that the realisation of assets and settlement of liabilities will occur in 
the normal course of business. The combined effect of the above represents a material uncertainty as to whether the 
Group would continue as a going concern. 

The Directors of the Group consider it appropriate that the Group will continue to fulfil all obligations as and when they 
fall due for the foreseeable future and accordingly consider that the Group’s financial statements should be prepared on 
a going concern basis. Accordingly, no adjustments have been made to the financial report relating to the recoverability 
and classification of recorded asset amounts or to the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary 
should the Group not continue as a going concern.

4. USE OF ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

In preparing these financial statements, Management has made judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect 
the application of the accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual 
results may differ from these estimates.

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to estimates are recognised prospec-
tively. Information about assumptions and estimation uncertainties that have a significant risk of resulting in a material 
adjustment in the year ended 31 December 2022 are detailed below:

Carrying value of Mine Properties 
The Group estimates its ore reserves and mineral resources annually at each year end, based on information compiled 
by Competent Persons as defined in accordance with the Australasian code for reporting Exploration Results, Mineral 
Resources and Ore Resources (JORC code 2012). The estimated quantities of economically recoverable reserves 
are based upon interpretations of geological models and require assumptions to be made regarding factors such as 
estimates of short and long-term exchange rates, estimates of short and long-term commodity prices, future capital 
requirements and future operating performance. Changes in reported reserves estimates can impact the carrying amount 
of mine development (including mine properties, property, plant and equipment and exploration and evaluation assets), 
the provision for mine closure provisions (further details on the mine disclosure provision are included in note 25), the 
recognition of deferred tax assets (further details on deferred tax assets are included in note 11), as well as the amount 
of amortisation charged to the statement of profit or loss.

Impairment 
Significant judgements, estimates and assumptions are required in determining value in use or fair value less costs of 
disposal. This is particularly so in the assessment of long life assets. It should be noted that the CGU recoverable amounts 
are subject to variability in key assumptions including, but not limited to, gold and silver prices, currency exchange rates, 
discount rates, production profiles and operating and capital costs. A change in one or more of the assumptions used 
to determine value in use or fair value less costs of disposal could result in a change in a CGU’s recoverable amount 
(further details on the value of the CGU’s are included in note 19).

Carrying value of exploration and evaluation assets
The Group tests at each reporting date whether there are any indicators of impairment as identified by AASB 6 “Exploration 
for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources”. Where indicators of impairment are identified, the recoverable amounts of the 
assets are determined, and an impairment is recorded when the carrying value exceeds recoverable value. In assess-
ing indicators of impairment, assumptions relating to whether the exploration and evaluation activity will be recouped 
through successful development and exploitation of the area are made.

Mine closure provisions
Obligations associated with exploration and mine properties are recognised when the Group has a present obligation, 
the future sacrifice of the economic benefits is probable, and the provision can be measured reliably. The provision is 
measured at the present value of the future expenditure and a corresponding rehabilitation asset is also recognised. On 
an ongoing basis, the rehabilitation will be remeasured in line with the changes in the time value of money (recognised 
as an expense and an increase in the provision), and additional disturbances (recognised as additions to a correspond-
ing asset and rehabilitation liability). The calculation of this provision requires assumptions such as application of envi-
ronmental legislation, mine closure dates, available technologies and engineering cost estimates. The related carrying 
amounts are disclosed in note 25.

Austral Gold Limited

68

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Measurement of fair values
The Group has established a control framework with respect to the measurement of fair values. Estimates and underly-
ing assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to estimates are recognised prospectively. Information 
about assumptions and estimation uncertainties that have a significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment in the 
year ended 31 December 2022 are detailed below:

A number of the Group’s accounting policies and disclosures require the measurement of fair values, for both financial 
and non-financial assets and liabilities.

When measuring the fair value of an asset or a liability, the Group uses market observable data as far as possible. Fair 
values are categorised into different levels in a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used in the valuation techniques 
as follows:

i.  Level 1 — quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

ii. Level 2 —  inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e. 

as prices), or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices)

iii. Level 3 — inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

If the inputs used to measure the fair value of an asset or a liability might be categorised in different levels of the fair value 
hierarchy, then the fair value measurement is categorised in its entirety in the same level of the fair value hierarchy as the 
lowest level input that is significant to the entire measurement.

The Group recognises transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period during which 
the change has occurred.

The Group holds listed equity securities on the Australian and Canadian stock exchanges and listed Argentine sovereign 
bonds at fair value, which are measured at the closing bid price at the end of the reporting period. These financial assets 
are held at fair value fall within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. The Group also holds options which rely on estimates 
and judgements to calculate a fair value for these financial instruments using the Black Scholes model. These financial 
assets held at fair value fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

Further information about the assumptions made in measuring fair values is included in Note 31 — Financial instruments.

5.  CHANGES IN SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ADOPTION OF NEW/AMENDED AASB AND 

AASB INTERPRETATIONS

Adoption of other narrow scope amendments to IFRSs and IFRS Interpretations
A number of new standards and amendments to standards are effective for annual periods beginning after 1 January 
2022 and earlier application is permitted; however, the Group has not early adopted the new or amended standards in 
preparing these consolidated financial statements as the impact of adoption was not significant to the Group’s Consoli-
dated Financial Statements.

6. COST OF SALES

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Production

Staff costs

Royalty 

Mining Fees

Gold precipitate stolen

Inventory movements

Total cost of sales before depreciation and amortisation expense

Depreciation of plant and equipment

Amortisation of mine properties

Total depreciation and amortisation expense

Total cost of sales

Severance included in staff costs

For the year ended 31 December

2022

26,864

9,307

1,134

594

838

736

39,473

6,663

1,008

7,671

47,144

467

2021

23,535

10,668

1,480

576

-

3,615

39,874

10,122

2,124

12,246

52,120

453

Austral Gold Limited

69

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

7. OTHER EXPENSES/(INCOME)

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Severance of mining employees due to outsource of operations

Impairment of exploration and evaluation expenditure (note 21) 

Impairment of investment in associates (note 22.1)

Care and maintenance

Exploration expenses

Loss on financial assets

Gain on sale of equipment

Equipment rental

Other

Total other expenses/(income)

8. ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Consulting and professional services

Office and utility costs

Staff costs (1)

Non-executive director fees

Depreciation on equipment

Business, property and other taxes

Other

Total administration expenses

(1) Severance included in staff costs

9. NET FINANCE INCOME/COST

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Interest income

Gain from foreign exchange

Total finance income

Interest expense

Interest expense on leases

Present value adjustment to mine closure provision

Total finance costs

Net finance income 

10. AUDITOR’S REMUNERATION

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Audit and review services

Auditors of the Group-KPMG

Audit and review of financial statements-Group

Audit and review of financial statements-controlled entities

For the year ended 31 December

2022

-

926

-

1,465

421

968

(485)

(298)

(321)

2,676

2021

487

1,322

5,189

1,559

851

512

(287)

-

(55)

9,578

For the year ended 31 December

2022

1,728

834

4,869

300

107

980

189

9,007

493

2021

1,995

1,030

4,212

300

157

1,457

242

9,393

-

For the year ended 31 December

2022

4

1,288

1,292

(452)

(208)

(420)

(1,080)

212

2021

-

3,199

3,199

(194)

(283)

 239

(238)

2,961

For the year ended 31 December

2022

2021

113,343

99,200

212,543

85,512

136,215

221,727

Austral Gold Limited

70

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

11. INCOME TAX EXPENSE

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

(A) Income tax expense comprises:

Current income tax expense

Deferred income tax (benefit)/expense

Income tax

(B) Reconciliation of effective income tax rate:

Loss before tax

Prima facie income tax (benefit)/expense calculated at 30%

Difference due to blended overseas tax rate*

Impairment of investment in associates

Share of loss of associates

Non-deductible expenses

Prior year income tax expense adjustments 

Recognition of previously unrecognised deductible temporary differences and tax losses

Income tax

* Chile tax rate: 27% (31 December 2021: 27.0%). Argentina tax rate: 30-25% (31 December 2021: 25%) 

For the year ended 31 December

2022

777

(2,092)

(1,315)

(9,581)

(2,874)

1,008

-

186

(921)

690

596

(1,315)

2021

75

2,567

2,642

(4,686)

(1,406)

(181)

1,557

261

1,587

69

755

2,642

All figures are reported  
in thousands of US$

(C)  Deferred tax assets and liabilities

31 December 2022

31 December 2021

Chile

Argentina

Other

Total

Chile

Argentina

Other

Total

224

69

-

1,932

650

5,860

-

268

-

177

-

44

45

686

-

631

-

-

191

-

-

-

-

-

-

224

113

45

2,618

650

7,226

13,717

-

-

-

-

-

268

191

177

71

69

-

1,517

540

3,239

-

280

-

511

-

77

78

438*

-

725*

521*

-

544*

1

-

-

-

-

-

71

146

78

1,955

540

7,628*

11,592

-

-

-

-

521

280

544

512

-

(1,550)

(7,226)

(8,776)

-

(1,752)*

(7,590)*

(9,342)

9,180

47

-

9,227

6,227

632

38

6,897

Deferred tax assets

Other receivable 

Inventory 

Mining concessions brought  
into account

Accrual for mine closure

Financial assets

Tax losses carried forward

Property, plant and equipment

Payroll accrual

Other

Leasing

Allowance for tax carry forward 
losses and deferred tax assets

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Mining concessions

Deferred income

Property, plant and equipment 
inflation adjustment

(12,512)

(774)

-

-

-

(415)

(415)

(368)

20

(8)

(380)

(368)

-

-

(61)

(61)

(61)

(12,512)

(12,809)

(774)

(476)

(45)

-

(13,762)

(12,854)

(4,535)

(6,627)

(20)

(6,627)

(4,403)

8

(49)

(61)

-

-

2,092

(2,224)

(4,535)

(6,627)

-

-

(612)

(612)

20

432

(75)

(337)

20

-

-

(58)

(58)

(20)

(12,809)

(45)

(670)

(13,524)

(6,627)

(23)

(3,994)

9

(6)

(66)

(2,567)

(20)

(6,627)

Deferred tax liabilities

(13,286)

Net deferred tax (liabilities)/assets

(4,106)

Movement in deferred tax balances

Opening balance

Exchange rate difference

Charged to profit or loss

Closing balance

(6,627)

-

2,521

(4,106)

Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect to tax losses for certain entities of the Group. See Note 38 for details. 
* During the year ended 31 December 2022, the Group updated the amounts of certain 2021 accounts to better reflect the nature of the items.

Austral Gold Limited

71

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

12. EARNINGS PER SHARE

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Net loss attributable to owners

Weighted average number of shares used as the denominator

Number for basic earnings per share

Number for diluted earnings per share

Basic earnings per ordinary share (cents)

Diluted earnings per ordinary share (cents)

13. OPERATING SEGMENTS

For the year ended 31 December

2022

2021

(8,257)

 (7,324)

612,311,353

612,311,353

600,584,618

600,584,618

(1.35)

(1.35)

(1.20)

(1.20)

Management have determined the operating segments based on reports reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker 
(“CODM”). The CODM considers the business from both an operations and geographic perspective and has identified 
two reportable segments, Guanaco/Amancaya which is based in Chile and Casposo which is based in Argentina. The 
CODM monitors the performance in these two regions separately. During the year ended 31 December 2022, the Group 
earned 95% of its consolidated revenue from sales made to one customer (2021-100% of its consolidated revenue from 
sales made to three customers, of which sales to each customer exceeded 10%).

All figures are 
reported in 
thousands of US$

Revenue:

Gold

Silver

Cost of sales

Depreciation 
and amortisation 
expense

Other expense 

Administration 
expenses

Finance income 
(costs)

Share of loss of 
associates

Income tax 
(expense)/ benefit

Segment  
(loss)/profit

For the year ended 31 December 2022

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Guanaco/ 
Amancaya

Casposo

Group and 
unallocated 
items

Consolidated

Guanaco/ 
Amancaya

Casposo

Group and 
unallocated 
items

Consolidated

47,772

1,938

(39,473)

(7,671)

(1,290)

(4,791)

-

-

-

-

(395)

(666)

-

-

-

-

47,772

1,938

62,243

2,147

(39,473)

(39,874)

(7,671)

(12,246)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

62,243

2,147

(39,874)

(12,246)

(991)

(2,676)

(1,578)

(1,891)

(6,109)1

(9,578)

(3,550)

(9,007)

(4,375)

 (629)

(4,389)

(9,393)

(1,183)

730

665

212

1,270

1,851

(160)

2,961

-

-

(676)

(676)

-

-

 (946)

(946)

1,822

(380)

(127)

1,315

(2,308)

(336)

2

(2,642)

(2,876)

(711)

(4,679)

(8,266)

5,279

(1,005)

(11,602)

(7,328)

Segment assets

Segment liabilities

64,518

39,708

15,332

5,783

17,467

3,011

97,317

48,502

68,033

35,733

13,027

4,265

Capital 
expenditure

8,780

2,864

2,211

13,855

14,143

1,258

16,930

894

365

97,990

40,892

15,766

Austral Gold Limited

72

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Geographic information:

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Revenue by geographic location

Chile

Argentina

Australia

Canada

United States

Total revenue

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Non-current assets by geographic location

Chile

Argentina

United States

Canada

British Virgin Islands

Australia

Total revenue

14. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Cash at call and in hand

Short-term investments

Total cash and cash equivalents

Reconciliation of Cash

For the year ended 31 December

2022

2021

49,710

64,390

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

49,710

64,390

As at 31 December

2022

2021

60,074

14,768

60

-

110

-

58,650

18,610

628

-

110

-

75,012

77,998

As at 31 December

2022

926

-

926

2021

2,346

-

2,346

Cash at the end of the financial year as shown in the Statement of Cash Flows, is reconciled to items in the Statement of Financial 
Position as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents

926

2,346

Risk Exposure
The Group’s exposure to interest rate risk is discussed in note 31. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the 
carrying amount of each class of cash and cash equivalents mentioned above.

15. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Current

Trade Receivables

Other current receivables

GST/VAT receivable

Total current receivables

Non-current

GST/VAT receivable

Other

Total non-current receivables

Allowance for doubtful accounts

Net non-current receivables

Trade debtors

The ageing of trade receivables is 0-30 days

>30 days

As at 31 December

2022

2021

808

611

1,003

2,422

1,117

339

1,456

(552)

904

808

-

86

212

1,520

1,818

1,022

346

1,368

(314)

1,054

86

-

Austral Gold Limited

73

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

15.1 Past due but not impaired

There were no receivables past due at 31 December 2022 (31 December 2021: nil). 

15.2 Fair value and credit risk 

Due to the short-term nature of trade receivables, their carrying amount is assumed to approximate their fair value. Refer 
to note 31 for more information on the risk management policy of the Group and the credit quality of the receivables.

15.3 Key customers

The Group is reliant on two customers to which gold and silver produced from the Guanaco/Amancaya mines are sold. 
The major customer purchased 95% (2021-60%) of sales and the other customers purchased the remaining 5% of 
sales (2021-40%).

16. OTHER FINANCIAL ASSETS

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Current

Listed bonds — level 1

Listed equity securities — level 1

Ensign warrants — level 3

Rawhide warrants— level 3

Total current other financial assets at fair value

As at 31 December

2022

2021

23

590

28

-

641

32

1,543

86

56

1,717

The table above sets out the Group’s assets and liabilities that are measured and recognised at fair value at the end of   
each reporting period with any movements recorded through the profit and loss statement.

Listed equity securities and bonds are shares of Canadian listed mining companies nominated in C$ and sovereign 
bonds nominated in ARS as at 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021, respectively.

Fair value hierarchy
Refer to note 4 of these financial statements for details of the fair value hierarchy.

Transfers
During the year ended 31 December 2022 there were no transfers between the financial instrument levels of hierarchy.

Key assumptions for warrants

Strike price

Annual volatility

Interest rate

Expiration date

17. INVENTORIES

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Materials and supplies

Ore stocks

Gold bullion and gold in process

Total inventories

Ensign

C$1.50

55%

0.20%

18 February 2024

As at 31 December

2022

7,167

274

1,505

8,946

2021

8,086

132

2,383

10,601

* Ore stock inventories require estimates and assumptions most notably in regard to grades, volumes, densities, future completion costs and ultimate sale price. Such 
estimates and assumptions may change as new information becomes available which may impact upon the carrying value of inventory. The allowance for inventory 
obsolescence forming part of the above balance is US$1,572k (31 December 2021:US$1,572k).

18. ASSETS FOR SALE

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Transfers from property, plant and equipment

Transfers from exploration and evaluation expenditures

Assets held for sale

As at 31 December

2022

951

7,343

8,294

2021

-

-

-

On 25 November 2022, the Group entered into a Share Sale Agreement with E2 Metals Limited (“E2”) to sell the common 
shares of its subsidiary, SCRN Properties Ltd., whose major assets are exploration assets and property and equipment.  
As closing of the transaction is subject to several conditions including E2 shareholder approval of the total shares and 
options to be issued by E2, the Group recorded the transaction as an asset held for sale at its carrying value. 

Austral Gold Limited

74

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

All conditions for closing were met and the sale was completed on 1 March 2023.

On closing, the Group received US$2.5M of a total of US$5.0M due over three years, 49,751,970 shares of E2, which is 
equal to 19.9% E2’s shareholding on a non-diluted basis and 15M options of E2. The value of the E2 shares at closing 
was US$6.2 million (A$6.2 million) and are being held in escrow with 50% released on the first anniversary of the closing 
date and 50% released on the second anniversary of the closing date. The value of the Black-Scholes model at closing 
was US$0.6 million.

The US$2.5M in deferred cash payments is secured by a share mortgage over 51% of SCRN’s common shares until the 
second cash installment is paid, at which time the share mortgage is to be reduced to 19%. The deferred cash payments 
are to be received as follows: 

•  US$0.75 million on the first anniversary of the closing date;

•  US$0.75 million on the second anniversary of the closing date; and 

•  US$1 million on the third anniversary of the closing date. 

The Group also has the right to appoint one person to the E2 Board for as long as it holds at least nine percent (9%) of 
E2’s outstanding shares.

19. MINE PROPERTIES

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Mine Properties-31 December 2021

Cost

Accumulated depreciation

Carrying value — Mine Properties

Mine Properties – 31 December 2022

Cost

Accumulated depreciation

Carrying value — Mine Properties

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Costs carried forward in respect of areas of interest

Carrying amount at the beginning of the year

Additions

Transfers from exploration and evaluation expenditure

Transfers to property, plant and equipment

Increase (decrease) in provision for reclamation and rehabilitation

Amortization

Carrying amount at end of the year

Guanaco/
Amancaya

Casposo

Total

62,017

(60,800)

1,217

65,862

(61,808)

4,054

9,795

(9,795)

-

9,795

(9,795)

-

2022

1,217

30

3,585

(368)

598

(1,008)

4,054

71,812

(70,595)

1,217

75,657

(71,603)

4,054

2021

3,876

363

-

-

(898)

(2,124)

1,217

Carrying value — Guanaco/Amancaya
The Guanaco and Amancaya mines have been determined by Management to be a single cash generating unit (“CGU”). 
The fair value less cost of disposal, is used to assess the recoverable value of the CGU. The mine properties noted 
above and the property, plant and equipment that is an intrinsic part of the mine and its structure (included in note 20) 
with a total book value of US$42 million are included in determining the carrying value of the CGU for the purposes of 
assessing for impairment.

Management have assessed the fair value to be above book value of the Guanaco/Amancaya project and therefore no 
impairment charge has been applied to the assets for the current year. An impairment test was also performed internally 
using the discounted cash flow model (DCF) as the primary valuation methodology along with a crosscheck method 
using comparable listed market values.

Main assumptions of the DCF model for impairment test purposes are as follows:

•  Real Forecast Gold price (2023-2033): US$1,800/oz-1,720/oz (31 December 2021 (2022-2033): US$1,610/oz – 

US$1,720/oz

•  Real Forecast Silver price (2023-2033):US$20/oz-23.25/oz (31December 2021 (2022-2033) US$22/oz– US$23.8/oz

•  Life of mine operations based on the current model are forecast to end in 2033.

•  Real Discount Rate (pre-tax): 7.5% (31 December 2021: 6.9%)

Austral Gold Limited

75

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

•  Proven and Probable reserves and resource estimates to 31 December 2022 are based on an independent technical 

report provided to the Group in 2022.

The sensitivity to +/- 10% variation in the gold price (US$1,582-1,933/oz) on the fair value of the Guanaco/Amancaya 
project results in an impact of +/- US$18.0 million.

The sensitivity to +/- 10% variation in the discount rate (6.8%-8.3%) fair value of the Guanaco/Amancaya project results 
in an impact of +/- US$1.6 million.

The sensitivity to +/- 10% variation in production costs on the fair value of the Guanaco/Amancaya project results in an 
impact of +/- US$10.0 million.

None of these reasonable possible changes would result in a fair value below the book value of any of the projects.

20. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Property, plant and equipment owned

Right-of-use-assets

Property, plant and equipment owned

Cost

Accumulated depreciation

Carrying amount at end of the year

Movements in carrying value

Carrying amount at beginning of the year

Additions

Transfers from mining properties

Transfers to assets held for sale

Depreciation

Disposals

Depreciation on disposals

Carrying amount at end of the year

As at 31 December

2022

35,549

6,708

42,257

164,967

(129,418)

35,549

34,334

6,434

368

(952)

(4,590)

(1,687)

1,642

35,549

2021

34,334

7,673

42,007

161,185

(126,851)

34,334

34,725

6,897

-

-

(7,288)

(9)

9

34,334

The majority of the property, plant and equipment is included in the Guanaco/Amancaya Cash Generating Unit (“CGU”). 
Property, plant and equipment that does not form part of the Guanaco CGUs are being carried at the lower of their book 
value and recoverable amount. The Casposo property, plant and equipment is recorded at salvage value as it is currently 
not being used.

Austral Gold Limited

76

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

20.1  Reconciliation of carrying amount

Underground 
Mine 
Development

Plant

Mining 
Equipment

Buildings

Heap

Land

Other

Total

76,175

35,312

20,972

13,817

4,895

-

404

-

565

(9)

763

-

81,070

35,716

21,528

14,580

5,663

336

262

42

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1,687)

-

-

-

(196)

(304)

-

-

-

-

105

368

139

-

-

815

7,206

154,297

-

-

270

-

6,897

 (9)

815

7,476

161,185

-

-

-

-

26

-

(139)

-

6,434

368

-

(1,687)

(815)

(18)

(1,333)

86,733

36,052

19,907

14,318

612

-

7,345

164,967

Underground 
Mine 
Development

Plant

Mining 
Equipment

Buildings

Heap

Land

Other

Total

59,408

25,241

16,901

11,240

4,150

-

1,775

-

541

(9)

633

-

63,558

27,016

17,433

11,873

Depreciation

3,378

590

-

-

-

-

309

(1,637)

238

-

(190)

(174)

66,936

27,606

15,915

11,937

17,512

8,700

4,095

2,707

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

6,782

119,572

189

-

7,288

(9)

6,971

126,851

75

(5)

(17)

4,590

(1,642)

(381)

7,024

129,418

815

505

34,334

19,797

8,446

3,992

2,381

612

-

321

35,549

Austral Gold Limited

77

Annual Report 2022

All figures are 
reported in 
thousands of 
US$

Cost

Balance at 
31, December 
2020

Additions

Disposals

Balance at 
31, December 
2021

Additions

Transfer 
from Mine 
properties

Reallocation

Disposals

Transfers to 
asset held for 
sale

Balance at 
31, December 
2022

All figures are 
reported in 
thousands of 
US$

Accumulated 
depreciation

Balance at 
31, December 
2020

Depreciation

Disposals

Balance at 
31, December 
2021

Disposals

Transfers to 
asset held for 
sale

Balance at 
31, December 
2022

Carrying 
amounts

At 31 
December 
2021

At 31 
December 
2022

Office

Vehicles

Machinery and 
equipment

193

13

-

(98)

108

-

-

(99)

9

3,677

1,461

(231)

(1,830)

3,077

1,220

(5)

(1,748)

2,544

5,551

-

-

(1,063)

4,488

-

-

(333)

4,155

Total

9,421

1,474

(231)

(2,991)

7,673

1,220

(5)

(2,180)

6,708

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

20.2  Right of use

All figures are reported 
in thousands of US$

Balance at 31 
December 2020

Additions

Disposals

Less depreciation

Balance at 31 
December 2021

Additions

Disposals

Less depreciation

Balance at 31 
December 2022

20.3  Lease payments*

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Undiscounted

Less than a year

Greater than a year

Discounted

Less than a year

Greater than a year

*Expiration dates are disclosed in note 31 (d)

21. EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION EXPENDITURE

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Costs carried forward in respect of areas of interest:

Carrying amount at the beginning of the year

Additions(1)

Transfers to assets held for sale

Transfers to mining properties

Impairment for the year

Carrying amount at end of the year

As at 31 December

2022

2021

2,026

953

2,979

1,925

911

2,836

3,078

1,893

4,971

2,920

1,843

4,763

For the year ended 31 December

2022

2021

32,322

6,793

(7,343)

(3,585)

(926)

27,261

18,941

14,703

-

-

(1,322)

32,322

(1) (2021) Includes the fair value of US$5.298 million of Exploration and Evaluation rights acquired from Revelo in 2021 (note 35)

The recovery of the carrying amount of the exploration and evaluation assets is dependent on the successful development 
and commercial exploitation or sale of the areas of interest. This balance mainly relates to expenditures at the Guanaco, 
Casposo and Pingüino exploration projects and the fair value of the properties acquired from Revelo. Additions for the 
year ended 31 December 2022 and 2021 relate mainly to exploration on the Guanaco and Casposo projects and the 
exploration and evaluation expenditure  on the Sierra Blanca project in Santa Cruz, Argentina.

During 2022, the Group impaired the Orca property acquired from Revelo for US$156,460 as it abandoned the property.

Jaguelito Option Agreement
During February 2022, the Group signed a binding offer letter with Mexplort Perforaciones Mineras S.A. (”Mexplort”) 
where the parties agreed to enter into a Joint Venture Agreement to identify and develop new precious metal projects 
located in the Indio belt in the Province of San Juan, Argentina and Mexplort is to grant Austral Gold Argentina S.A., a 
subsidiary company in Argentina, an earn-in option whereby it may acquire a 50% of the mining rights the Jaguelito 
project (“50% interest”) held by Mexplort through a concession granted by the Instituto Provincial de Exploraciones y 
Explotaciones Mineras de la Provincia de San Juan (IPEEM) in October 2011 which was approved on 10 August 2022. 
As at 31 December 2022, the Joint Venture Agreement had not been entered into. The consideration to acquire the 50% 
interest is as follows:

Austral Gold Limited

78

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

a. US$2 million in exploration expenditures on Jaguelito within two years from the approval of the Option by IPEEM (the 
“First Stage”), including drilling a minimum of 5,000 meters. As of 31 December 2022, US$1 million of exploration 
expenses was incurred and US$1 million was accrued as a non-current liability (note 23).

b. US$2 million in exploration expenditures on Jaguelito within two years after completing the First Stage (the “Second 

Stage”), and 

c. US$3 million payment to Mexplort if the Board of the JV Company approves the construction of the project based on 
a bankable feasibility study (“BFS”). The Group committed to the first US$2 million and must comply with the condi-
tions in (a-c) above to acquire a 50% interest in the Jaguelito project.

At the time of acquisition, the Jaguelito project had no probable and proven resources. The project was not in production 
and there was no mine plan to place them into production. For these reasons, the acquisition was accounted for as an 
acquisition of assets and liabilities and not a business combination as defined under AASB3.

Pampa Option Agreement
On 28 July 2021, the Group entered into an Option agreement which enabled it to acquire up to an 80% ownership inter-
est in two mining properties in northern Chile currently held by Pampa Metals Corporation (“Pampa”). During 2022, the 
Group impaired US$769,350 related to Cerro Blanco after advising Pampa that it was withdrawing from the property.

Consideration for the Option consisted of the return of 2,963,132 shares of Pampa valued at US$0.827 million, which 
reduced the number of Pampa shares held by Austral to 5,926,264. Austral may exercise the initial 60% interest option 
within five years from the date of the agreement by incurring US$3 million in exploration expenses on the Properties as 
follows: 

i.  at least US$1 million in year 1 (completed); and

ii. an additional US$2 million in year 2 

If the Group exercises the initial 60% interest option and earns a 60% interest in a property or the Properties, Austral 
may increase its interest in each such property to an aggregate total of 65% (“Stage 1”) within five years from the date 
of closing the Option agreement for the following consideration on each Property: 

a. minimum drilling of 15,000m, 

b. studies required to complete a preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”), 

c. PEA by an internationally recognized engineering firm to the standards, and in the form, prescribed under National 

Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”), and 

d. minimum annual exploration expenditures on each property of US$250,000. 

After completion of this stage, both parties intend to form a Joint Venture (JV) Company and execute a Shareholder 
Agreement in respect of each Property subject to the JV. Any Property on which a Preliminary Economic Assessment is 
not completed will be returned to Pampa. 

The Group may at its sole discretion, elect to earn an additional 15% interest to increase its interest to 80% in a property 
or the Properties (“Stage 2”) by completing the following activities within 5 years from providing notice to Pampa that it 
intends to reach Stage 2: 

a. minimum drilling of 10,000m

b. studies required to complete a bankable feasibility study (“BFS”), and

c. BFS by an internationally recognized engineering firm to the standards, and in the form, prescribed under NI 43-101.

If Austral does not complete these activities, then Pampa will be named operator of a property or the Properties and may 
increase its ownership from 35% to 80% by completing these activities, on the same conditions established for Austral.

Sierra Blanca Agreement
The significant terms of the transaction to acquire the Sierra Blanca signed with New Dimension Guernsey Ltd. in 
October 2020 include the payment of US$100,000 cash (paid) on signing and work commitments of US$700,000. The 
transaction is being accounted for as an acquisition of an asset and the future work commitments are to be paid before 
the following dates

31 August 2021: $100,000 (paid) (Year 1)

31 August 2022: $200,000 (paid) (Year 2)

31 August 2023: $400,000 (Year 3)

As the work commitments in Year 1 were incurred, the Group acquired a 51% interest in Sierra Blanca S.A., which resulted 
in Exploration and Evaluation rights of US$392,000, the non-controlling interest at the time of acquisition, for total cash 
consideration of US$200,000. If the work commitments in Year 2 and Year 3 are incurred, the Group will acquire an 
additional 29% interest. Expenditures may be incurred earlier than the work commitment dates.

Austral Gold Limited

79

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

If 80% of the project is earned, the Group has an option to purchase the final 20% of the project for a total of US$2.3 
million cash and US$1.6 million in work commitments as follows:

31 August 2024: Cash of US$0.5 million and work commitments of US$0.4 million (Year 4)

31 August 2025: Cash of US$1.0 million and work commitments of US$0.4 million (Year 5)

At the time of acquisition, the Sierra Blanca project had no probable and proven resources. The project was not in produc-
tion and there was no mine plan to place them into production. For these reasons, the acquisition was accounted for as 
an acquisition of assets and liabilities and not a business combination as defined under AASB3 and note 40.

Impairment for the year ended 31 December 2022 and 2021 relate to impairment on the exploration projects with no 
expected value.

22. INVESTMENTS ACCOUNTED FOR USING THE EQUITY METHOD

The Group’s interests in equity-accounted investees comprise an interest in a Rawhide Acquisition Holding LLC. 
(“Rawhide”) that owns Rawhide Mining LLC, a gold and silver operating mine in Nevada, USA and an interest in Ensign 
Gold Limited (“Ensign”) that is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious metal mineral 
properties primarily in the state of Utah, United States through its subsidiary, Ensign Gold (US) Corp. Subsequent to 
acquiring the interest, Ensign changed its name to Ensign Minerals Inc.

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Carrying amount of interest in associates

Carrying amount of interest in Ensign

Group’s total carrying amount of interest in associates

22.1 Investment in Rawhide

As at 31 December

2022

60

60

2021

628

628

During the year ended 31 December 2021, the Group recorded an impairment on its investment in Rawhide of 
US$5,188,644 to reduce its carrying value to nil. During the year ended 31 December 2022, the Group advanced Rawhide 
US$123,686. As the Group does not expect to recover this amount, the Group has recognised this amount in share of 
loss of associates in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income.

22.2 Investment in Ensign

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Percentage ownership interest

Non-current assets

Current assets

Non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Net assets (liabilities) (100%)

Group’s share of net liabilities

Carrying amount of interest in associate

As at 31 December

2022

11.91%

4,339

722

-

(14)

5,047

601

60

2021

11.93%

3,557

5,428

(6)

(170)

8,809

1,051

628

i.  During February 2021, the Group acquired 5,950,000 units (19.96%) of Ensign Gold Inc, a Canadian entity that 
changed its name to Ensign Minerals Inc. (“Ensign”) on 21 July 2021. Ensign is currently assembling a 5,000-hectare 
land package on Carlin-type gold deposit geology in the state of Utah. Two of Ensign’s five board members are board 
members of Austral. The Group paid C$0.25 per Unit, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately US$1,173,107 
(C$1,487,500). Each Unit consists of one Class A share (each, a “Share”) in the capital of Ensign and one-half of one 
transferable share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a “Warrant”). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase 
one additional Share at an exercise price will C$1.50 for a period of 36 months, subject to an acceleration provision 
that will accelerate expiration of the Warrants if the closing sale price for a Share on a public market exceeds C$2.00 
for 30 consecutive trading days. In addition, for a period of 12 months from the date of acquisition, Austral agreed to 
not acquire more than 19.99% of Ensign’s shares without the prior written consent of Ensign.

ii. As two directors of Austral Gold are on Ensign’s board of directors, the Group has determined that Austral has significant 

influence over Ensign and accounts for its investment in Ensign using the equity method of accounting.

iii. During July 2021, Ensign raised US$7.4 million (C$9.16 million) and during the remainder of the year issued additional 

shares which reduced the Group’s interest to 11.91% as at 31 December 2022.

Austral Gold Limited

80

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Revenue

(Loss) from continuing operations (100%)

Other comprehensive (loss) income (100%)

Total comprehensive (loss) (100%)

Group’s share of total (loss) and comprehensive income*

For the 12 months 
ended 31 December 
2022

For the period from 
19 February 2021 to 
31 December 2021

-

(4,636)

(122)

(4,758)

(567)

-

(3,330)

41

(3,289)

(451)

* Weighted average of 11.92% and 13.73% ownership in Ensign Minerals during the twelve month period ended 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2021, prorated for the 
period 19 February 2021 to 31 December 2021, respectively.

23. TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Current

Trade payables

Trade payables-supply chain financing arrangement

Accrued expenses

Royalty payable

Director fees

Other

As at 31 December

2022

2021

8,655

876

4,668

376

341

774

4,346

-

4,927

485

198

307

Total current trade and other payables

15,690

10,263

Non-Current

Other payables (note 21)

1,003

-

The Group participates in a supply chain financing arrangement (SCF) under which its supplier may elect to receive early 
payment of their invoice from a bank by factoring their receivable from the Group. Under the arrangement, a bank agrees 
to pay amounts to a participating supplier in respect of invoices owed by the Group and receives settlement from the 
Group at a later date. The principal purpose of this arrangement is to facilitate efficient payment processing and enable 
the willing suppliers to sell their receivables due from the Group to a bank before their due date.

The Group has not derecognised the original liabilities to which the arrangement applies because neither a legal release 
was obtained, nor the original liability was substantially modified on entering into the arrangement. From the Group’s 
perspective, the arrangement extends payment terms to six months. The Group incurs interest ranging from 8%-9% 
per annum to the bank on the amounts due to suppliers. The Group therefore discloses the amounts factored by suppli-
ers within trade payables because the nature and function of the financial liability remain similar to those of other trade 
payables but discloses disaggregated amounts in the notes. All payables under SCF are classified as current as at 31 
December 2022.

The payments to the bank are included within operating cash flows because they continue to be part of the normal 
operating cycle of the Group and their principal nature remains operating-i.e. payments for services required to earn 
revenue. The payments to a supplier by the bank are considered non-cash transactions and amount to US$854,382 plus 
accrued interest of US$21,633 as at 31 December 2022.

24. EMPLOYEE ENTITLEMENTS

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Current

Salaries and bonuses

Employee entitlements

Total employee entitlements

As at 31 December

2022

2021

3,009

1,044

4,053

3,075

1,149

4,224

The current provision for employee entitlements includes all unconditional entitlements in accordance with the applicable legislation. 
The entire amount is presented as current, since the Group does not have an unconditional right to defer payment. The entire balance 
of employee benefits is expected to be settled within the next 12 months.

Total employee salary, benefits and bonuses of the Group in the profit and loss statement was US$14.2 million (2021-US$14.9 
million), including US$9.3 million (2021-US$10.7 million) in cost of sales and US$4.9 million (2021-US$4.2 million) in administration.

Non-current

Employee entitlements

35

9

Austral Gold Limited

81

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Retirement benefits
Retirement benefits are to be paid upon the death of workers and for disability and retirement.

The methodology followed to determine the provision for all employees adhering to the agreements has considered turn-
over rates and the RV-2014 mortality table established by the Superintendency of Securities and Insurance to calculate 
the reserves of life insurance in Chile according to the valuation method called Accumulated Benefit Valuation Method or 
Accrued Benefit Cost. This methodology is established in AASB 119 Employee benefits on Retirement Benefits Costs. The 
parameters of turnover rates, rates of increase of remunerations and discount rate have been determined by the Group. 

25. PROVISIONS

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Current

Mine closure

Other

Closing balance

Movement in non-current provisions

Opening balance

Additions

Increase/ (decrease) of provision for reclamation an rehabilitation

Exchange difference

Present value adjustment

Closing balance

As at 31 December

2022

2021

10,924

10

10,934

9,232

8

598

676

420

10,934

9,136

97

9,233

11,050

93

(898)

(773)

(239)

9,233

Mine closure provision 
Provision for rehabilitation work has been recognised in relation to estimated future expenditures including rehabilitating 
mine sites, dismantling operating facilities and restoring affected areas. These future cost estimates are discounted to 
their present value. The calculation of this provision requires assumptions such as application of environmental legislation, 
mine closure dates, available technologies and engineering cost estimates. The carrying amounts of the mine closure 
asset are disclosed in note 19.

As at 31 December 2022, the total restoration provision amounts to US$7.2m (31 December 2021–US$5.7m) for Guanaco/
Amancaya mine. The present value of the restoration provision was determined based on the following assumptions:

Undiscounted rehabilitation costs: US$7.7m (31 December 2021– US$ 7.7m); and

Discount period: 4 years (Discount period based on expected timing of restoration activities). Discount rate: 1.7% 
(2021- 4%)

As at 31 December 2022, the total restoration provision amounts to US$3.8m (31 December 2021: US3.6m) for the 
Casposo mine. The present value of the restoration provision was determined based on the following assumptions:

Undiscounted rehabilitation costs: US$3.9m; and Discount rate: 2.2% (2021–US$4.2m and 11.24%)

26. LOANS AND BORROWINGS

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Current

Loan facilities

Total current loans and borrowings

Non-current

Loan facilities

Closing balance

As at 31 December

2022

2021

7,382

7,382

1,264

1,264

5,338

5,338

415

415

Loan Facilities 
At 31 December 2022, the current and non-current Loan facilities are to be repaid over 11 months and 48 months 
respectively at an annual average interest rate of 6.9% (2021–5.5%). 

Austral Gold Limited

82

Annual Report 2022

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Reconciliation of movements of liabilities to cash flows arising from financing activities 

Loans 

2,077

4,513

(839)

-

143

(141)

5,753

5,753

11,735

(8,842)

-

330

(330)

8,646

Leasing

6,321  

-

(3,032)

1,474

244

(244)

4,763

4,763

-

(3,133)

1,220

194

(208)

2,836

Value (US$)

Carrying value (US$)

Interest rate (%)

Maturity date

Balance at 1 January 2021

Change from financing cash flows

Proceeds from loans and borrowings

Repayments

Other changes

New leases

Interest expense

Interest paid

Balance at 31 December 2021

Balance at 1 January 2022

Change from financing cash flows

Proceeds from loans and borrowings

Repayments

Other changes

New leases

Interest expense

Interest paid

Balance at 31 December 2022

Lender

BCI

Santander Bank

BCI

Santander Bank

Santander Bank

BCI

Santander Bank

Santander Bank

Santander Bank

Santander Bank

BCI

BCI

BCI

BCI

Santander Bank

Total

27. ISSUED CAPITAL

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Fully paid ordinary shares

Number of ordinary shares

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

62,097

1,000,000

62,370

500,000

500,000

77,000

250,000

250,000

500,000

3,600,000

1,000,000

500,000

500,000

500,000

3,500,000

12,801,467

63,292

1,018,990

63,668

508,020

506,700

78,909

252,753

252,865

505,624

415,120

1,029,092

512,645

504,812

502,495

2,430,556

8,645,541

6.92

6.05

7.49

7.91

7.20

6.97

7.64

7.34

7.64

5.54

6.63

6.95

8.88

6.19

4.27

20 January 2023

8 March 2023

21 March 2023

17 April 2023

21 April 2023

24 April 2023

02 May 2023

03 May 2023

05 May 2023

19 June 2023

21 July 2023

17 August 2023

17 November 2023

27 November 2023

25 January 2025

As at 31 December

2022

109,114

612,311,353

612,311,353

2021

109,114

612,311,353

600,584,618

Austral Gold Limited

83

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Movements in ordinary share capital

Balance at 31 December 2020

Share issuance pursuant to acquisition of Revelo

Share issuance to management

Exercise of options

Share issue costs pursuant to exercise of options

Balance at 31 December 2021

Balance at 31 December 2022

Number of 
oridinary shares 

566,070,265

35,475,095

1,000,000

9,765,993

-

612,311,353

612,311,353

US$000’s

102,177

6,061

128

774

(26)

109,114

109,114

Ordinary shares participate in dividends and the proceeds on winding up of the Parent Entity in proportion to the number 
of shares held. At shareholders meetings each ordinary share is entitled to one vote when a poll is called, otherwise each 
shareholder has one vote on a show of hands. The ordinary shares do not have any par value.

28. ACCUMULATED LOSSES

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Accumulated losses at beginning of year

Net (loss) for the year

Transfer from share option reserve

Transferred from profit reserve

Accumulated losses at end of year

29. RESERVES

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Foreign currency translation reserve

Balance at beginning of year

Foreign exchange movements from translation of financial instruments to US dollars

Balance end of year

Share option reserve

Balance at beginning of year

Unlisted options exercised

Unlisted options expired unexercised

Transfer to accumulated losses

Balance end of year

Business combination reserve

Balance at beginning of year

Windup of Cachinalito Limitada

Balance end of year

Profit appropriation reserve

Balance at beginning of year

Dividend paid

Balance end of year

Total reserves

For the year ended 31 December

2022

(51,063)

(8,257)

-

-

(59,320)

2021

(43,871)

(7,324)

(321)

453

(51,063)

For the year ended 31 December

2022

251

(17)

234

-

-

-

-

-

(1,406)

-

(1,406)

14

-

14

(1,158)

2021

320

(69)

251

(209)

(108)

(4)

321

-

(953)

(453)

(1,406)

3,804

(3,790)

14

(1,141)

Foreign Currency Translation Reserve 
Exchange differences arising on translation of the non-US$ denominated non-monetary balances of Group Companies 
are recognised in the foreign currency translation reserve. The reserve is recognised in profit or loss when the net invest-
ment is disposed of.

Business Combination Reserve
Created on the acquisition of non-controlling interests The reserve is reversed when the entity acquired is sold or wound up.

Share Option Reserve
Options granted/issued as share-based payments and a capital raise are recognised in the share option reserve.

Austral Gold Limited

84

Annual Report 2022

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Profit appropriation Reserve
Transfers up to the net income earned during the year may be transferred from accumulated losses and paid as a dividend.

30. NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Non-controlling interest in subsidiaries comprise

Acquired as part of subsidiary

Non-controlling interest during the year

Balance end of the year

For the year ended 31 December

2022

-

(9)

179

2021

188

-

188

During November 2021, the Group completed the work commitment to acquire 51% of Sierra Blanca S.A as disclosed in note 21.

30.1 Assets and liabilities assumed

The following table summarises the recognised amounts of assets and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition.

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Cash and cash equivalents

Exploration and evaluation rights

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Related party liabilities

Total identifiable net assets acquired

31. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

2

423

(4)

(29)

392

Financial risk management objectives
The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise borrowings, receivables, listed equity securities, cash and short- 
term deposits. These activities expose the Group to a variety of financial risks: market risk (interest rate risk and foreign 
currency risk), credit risk, price risk and liquidity risk.

The Group recognises the importance of risk management and has adopted a Risk Management and Internal Compliance 
and Control policy which describes the role and accountabilities of management and of the Board. The Directors manage 
the different types of risks to which the Group is exposed by considering risk and monitoring levels of exposure to the 
main financial risks by being aware of market forecasts for interest rates, foreign exchange rates, commodity and market 
prices. The Group’s exposure to credit risk and liquidity risk is monitored through general business budgets and forecasts.

The Group holds the following financial instruments:

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Financial Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Other financial assets

Financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Financial leases

a. Market Risk

As at 31 December

2022

2021

926

3,326

641

16,693

8,646

2,836

2,346

2,872

1,717

10,263

5,753

4,763

i. Foreign Currency Risk
The Group undertakes certain transactions denominated in foreign currency and is exposed to foreign currency risk 
through foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

Foreign exchange rate risk arises from future commercial transactions and recognised financial assets and financial 
liabilities denominated in a currency that is not the functional currency of the Group. The risk is measured using cash 
flow forecasting. Foreign currency risk is minimal as most of the transactions are settled in US$.

At 31 December 2022, the Group was exposed to foreign exchange risk through the following financial assets and 
liabilities denominated in currencies other than the Group’s functional currency (thousands of US$).

The following significant exchange rates have been applied.

Austral Gold Limited

85

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

USD

ARS

CLP

AUD

CDN

Average rate

Year-end spot rate

2022

139.84

850.28

1.44

1.25

2021

93.34

777.85

1.33

1.29

2022

177.06

855.86

1.48

1.35

2021

102.62

844.69

1.38

1.27

Sensitivity analysis
A reasonably possible strengthening (weakening) of the Argentine peso, Chilean peso, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar 
and US dollar against all other currencies at 31 December 2022 would have affected the measurement of financial 
instruments denominated in a foreign currency and affected equity and profit or loss by the amounts shown below. This 
analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular interest rates, remain constant and ignores any impact of forecast 
sales and purchases.

Effect in thousands of USD 
31 December 2022

Profit or loss

Equity, net of tax

Strengthening

Weakening

Strengthening

Weakening

ARS (70% movement)

CLP (10% movement)

AUD (5% movement)

CDN (2% movement)

31 December 2021

ARS (22% movement)

CLP (19% movement)

AUD (6% movement)

CDN (1% movement)

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Other financial assets

Financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Financial leases

688

(585)

-

-

(688)

585

-

-

688

(585)

-

-

(688)

585

-

-

Strengthening

Weakening

Strengthening

Weakening

401

229

-

2

(401)

(229)

-

(2)

401

229

-

2

(401)

(229)

-

(2)

Argentinian Peso 
(ARS)

Chilean Peso 
(CLP)

Australian Dollar 
(AUD)

Canadian Dollar 
(CAD)

75

1,599

23

709

-

5

17

1,128

-

6,799

-

-

10

20

-

30

-

-

24

9

590

40

-

-

Austral Gold Limited

86

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ii. Price Risk
The Group’s revenues are exposed to fluctuations in the price of gold, silver and other prices. Gold and silver produced 
is sold at prevailing market prices in US$.

The Group has resolved that for the present time the production should remain unhedged. The Group considers exposure 
to commodity price fluctuations within reasonable boundaries to be an integral part of the business. 

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0
2004

2005

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Gold Price (US$/oz)

Silver Price (US$/oz)

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Sensitivity to Changes in Commodity Prices (Gold and Silver)

The below sensitivity analysis demonstrates the after tax effect on the profit/(loss) and equity which could result if there 
were changes in the gold and silver commodity prices by +/- 10% of the actual commodity prices realised by the Group.

All figures are reported 
 in thousands of US$

10 % increase in gold and silver prices

10 % decrease in gold and silver prices

Effect on profit/(loss) For the year ended 
31 December

Effect on equity For the year ended 31 
December

2022

4,971

(4,971)

2021

6,439

(6,439)

2022

4,971

(4,971)

 2021

6,439

6,439

iii. Interest Rate Risk
The Group’s main interest rate risk arises from finance leases. The Group’s borrowings are at fixed rates and therefore 
do not carry any variable interest rate risk. Changes in interest rates are not expected to have a significant impact on 
the Group.

a. Financial Market Risk
The financial market risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of the financial instruments will fluctuate 
because of changes in market prices, which occurs due to the Group’s investment in listed securities where share prices 
can fluctuate over time. This risk however is not deemed to be significant as these investments are held for long term 
strategic purposes and therefore movement in the market prices do not impact the short-term profit or loss or cash 
flows of the Group.

The group holds listed government bonds, and listed equity securities (note 4). These are classified as level 1 within the 
fair value hierarchy as per AASB 7 “Financial Instruments”.

b. Credit Risk
The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date to recognised financial assets, including receivables from 
government authorities, is the carrying amount, net of any allowance for doubtful debts, as disclosed in the statement 
of financial position and notes to the financial statements.

The Group trades only with recognised, creditworthy third parties, and as such collateral is not requested nor is it the 
Group’s policy to securitise its other receivables.

In addition, receivable balances are monitored on an ongoing basis with the result that the Group’s exposure to bad 
debts is not significant. There are no significant concentrations of credit risk.

Austral Gold Limited

87

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

c. Liquidity Risk
The liquidity of the Group is managed to ensure sufficient funds are available to meet financial commitments in a timely 
and cost effective manner.

Management continuously reviews the Group’s liquidity position through cash flow projections based upon the current 
life of mine plan to determine the forecast liquidity position and maintain appropriate liquidity levels.

d. Maturities of financial liabilities
The tables below analyses the Group’s financial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings based on the remaining period 
at the reporting date to the contractual maturity date.

The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows.

All figures reported in thousands of US$

6 months

6-12 months

1-5 years

> 5 years

Total

Consolidated

31 December 2022

Financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Leasing

Total 31 December 2022 liabilities

31 December 2021

Financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Leasing

Total 31 December 2021 liabilities

32. DIVIDENDS

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Dividends paid

33. COMMITMENTS

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Operating leases not recognised as liabilities

15,690

4,367

1,405

21,462

10,263

4,960

1,539

16,762

-

3,226

621

3,847

-

434

1,539

1,973

1,003

1,296

953

3,252

-

422

1,893

2,315

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

16,693

8,889

2,979

28,561

10,263

5,816

4,971

21,050

For the year ended 31 December

2022

-

As at 31 December

2022

-

1,003

616

-

616

2021

3,790

2021

-

-

-

-

-

Exploration commitment at the reporting date and recognised as liabilities (note 23)

Capital expenditure not recognized as liabilities

Within one year

Two to five years

Total Capital expenditure not recognized as liabilities

To maintain legal rights to its properties, the Group pays fees for mining concessions and exploration. It anticipates that 
it will need to pay approximately US$0.9m during the next year to maintain legal rights to all of its properties.

Austral Gold Limited

88

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

34. SUBSIDIARIES

Subsidiaries

Country of Incorporation

% owned as at 31 December

2022

2021

Guanaco Mining Company Limited

British Virgin Islands

Guanaco Compañía Minera SpA

Minera Mena Chile Ltda

SCM Pampa Buenos Aires Ltda

Minera Celeste Chile Ltda

Minera Serena Chile Ltda

SMC Montezuma Ltda

Casposo Energías Renovables S.A.U.

Austral Gold Argentina S.A.

Sierra Blanca S.A.

Chile

Chile

Chile

Chile

Chile

Chile

Argentina

Argentina

Argentina

Austral Gold North America Corp.

United States

Austral Gold Canada Limited

SCRN Properties Ltd.

Casposo Argentina Limited

Revelo Resources Corp.

1388631 BC Ltd

35. ACQUISITION OF REVELO  

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

Canada

100.000

99.998

99.99

99.99

99.99

99.99

99.99

100.000

99.970

51.000

100.000

100.000

100.000

100.000

100.000

100.000

100.000

99.998

99.99

99.99

99.99

99.99

99.99

100.000

99.970

51.000

100.000

100.000

100.000

100.000

100.000

100.000

On 4 February 2021, the acquisition of Revelo was finalised under a statutory plan of arrangement (“the Arrangement”) in 
Vancouver, Canada between Austral Gold and Revelo Resources Corp. (“Revelo”). Under terms of the Arrangement, in 
exchange for each common share of Revelo, Revelo shareholders received (i) 0.9184 ordinary shares of Austral, and (ii) 
C$0.03045715 per share in cash. Austral Gold issued an aggregate of 35,475,095 common shares and paid cash total-
ing approximately US$920,353 (C$$1,176,471) to Revelo shareholders. Under the Arrangement Austral paid liabilities 
of Revelo totaling US$923,121.

At the time of acquisition, Revelo’s main assets were its exploration properties and 7,798,747 shares of Pampa Metals 
Corp “Pampa”. Based on the listed price of Pampa of approximately US$0.351 (C$0.45), the total shares were valued at 
US$2,745,432. The projects held by Revelo were not in production and there were no plans to place them into produc-
tion. For these reasons, the acquisition was accounted for as an acquisition of assets and liabilities and not a business 
combination as defined under AASB3.

The fair value of the Austral ordinary shares issued was based on the listed price of the Company at the date of issue on 
4 February 2021, approximately US$0.171 (AUD $0.225) per share, which valued the share consideration transferred 
at US$6,060,654.

35.1  Assets and liabilities assumed

The following table summarises the recognised amounts of assets and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition.

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

As at 4 February 2021

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Other financial assets

Exploration and evaluation expenditure

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Related party liabilities 

Total identifiable net assets acquired and purchase consideration

14

29

2,745

5,298

(924)

(181)

6,981

Austral Gold Limited

89

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

36. PARENT ENTITY INFORMATION

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Issued capital

Accumulated losses

Reserves

Total shareholders’ equity

(Loss)/ profit for the year

Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the year

Details of any guarantees entered into by the parent entity in relation to the debts of 
its subsidiaries

Details of any contingent liabilities of the parent entity

Details of any contractual commitments by the parent entity for the acquisition of 
property, plant or equipment

A* Austral Gold Limited is guarantor for the credit facility of US$xm between BAF and Guanaco Compañía Minera SpA.

37. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 

37.1  KMP holdings of shares and share options at 31 December 2022

As at 31 December

2022

334

73,260

13,515

13,515

59,745

109,114

(48,963)

(406)

59,745

(1,293)

(1,296)

A*

None

None

2021

1,008

73,935

12,893

12,893

61,042

109,114

(47,670)

(402)

61,042

3,452

3,383

A*

None

None

•  Mr. Eduardo Elsztain holds 461,294,560 shares directly and indirectly in Austral Gold Limited. (31 December 2021— 

461,294,560 shares)

•  Mr. Saul Zang holds 1,640,763 shares directly in Austral Gold Limited. (31 December 2021— 1,640,763 shares)

•  Mr. Pablo Vergara del Carril holds 68,119 shares directly in Austral Gold Limited. (31 December 2021—68,119)

•  Mr. E. Elsztain and Mr. S. Zang are Directors of IFISA which holds 380,234,614 shares (31 December 2021—380,234,614)

•  Mr. P. Vergara del Carril, Mr. E. Elsztain and Mr. S Zang are Directors of Guanaco Capital Holding Corp which holds 

38,859,957 shares. (31 December 2021—38,859,957)

•  Mr. Stabro Kasaneva holds 7,881,230 shares indirectly in Austral Gold Limited. (31 December 2021—7,881,230)

•  Mr. Wayne Hubert holds 2,545,500 shares indirectly in Austral Gold Limited. (31 December 2021—2,545,500)

•  Mr. Raul Guerra holds 801,000 shares directly in Austral Gold Limited. (31 December 2021—801,000)

•  Mr. Rodrigo Ramirez holds 279,514 shares directly in Austral Gold Limited. (31 December 2021—279,514)

•  Mr. Ben Jarvis holds 250,000 shares directly in Austral Gold Limited (31 December 2021—250,000)

•  Mr. Jose Bordogna holds 126,495 shares directly in Austral Gold Limited. (31 December 2021—45,724)

37.2  Directors and Key Management Personnel Remuneration

The aggregate compensation made to Directors and other members of Key Management Personnel of the Group is set 
out below.

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Short-term employment benefit

Share based payment

Total

For the year ended 31 December

2022

2,444,080

-

2,444,080

2021

2,267,188

127,710

2,394,898

Other transactions with related parties
Chairman Wayne Hubert and Chief Executive Officer Stabro Kasaneva are related to Ensign as they are board members 
of Ensign. Mr. Hubert holds 1,964,865 common shares of Ensign and 395,000 stock options and Mr. Kasaneva holds nil 
shares of Ensign and 150,000 stock options.

Zang, Bergel & Viñes Abogados is a related party since one non-executive Director, Pablo Vergara del Carril has significant 
influence over this law firm based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Fees charged and expenses reimbursed by the Group for 
the year ended 31 December 2022 amounted to US$79,219 (2021: US$112,458).

Austral Gold Limited

90

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones S.A., IRSA Propiedades Comerciales S.A. and Consultores Asset Management 
S.A. are related parties as they are controlled by Non-executive Director and Chairman, Eduardo Elsztain. During the year 
ended 31 December 2022 a total of US$72,303 was charged to and reimbursed by the Company (2021: US$68,071) in 
regard to IT services support, HR services, software licenses building/office expenses and other fees.

37.3  Ultimate parent entity

The Parent Entity is controlled by IFISA with a 62.1% non-diluted and diluted interest in Austral Gold Limited and is 
incorporated in Uruguay.

The ultimate beneficial owner of IFISA is Eduardo Elsztain.

38. UNRECOGNISED DEFERRED TAX ASSETS

 In certain entities of the Group, deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of the following items, because 
it is not probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the Group can use the benefits.

The ability of the Group to utilise Australian, Argentina, US or Canadian tax losses will depend on the applicability and 
compliance with the respective country’s tax laws regarding continuity of ownership or same or similar business tests.

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Australia

Tax losses

Capital losses

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Canada

Tax losses

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

USA

Tax losses

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Argentina

Tax losses

Deferred tax assets

All figures are reported in thousands of US$

Total

Tax losses

Capital losses

Deferred tax assets

39. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

As at 31 December

2022

Expiry

2021

Expiry

13,505

2,187

no-expiry

no-expiry

14,462

2,342

no-expiry

no-expiry

As at 31 December

2022

Expiry

2021

Expiry

5,123

2036-2043

5,232

2035-2042

As at 31 December

2022

Expiry

2021

Expiry

5,405

no-expiry

5,405

no-expiry

As at 31 December

2022

Expiry

2021

Expiry

2,524

3,676

2023-2027

no-expiry

2,840 

2022-2026

4,168

no-expiry

As at 31 December

2022

26,557

2,187

3,676

2021

27,941

2,342

4,168

39.1   On 1 March 2023, the Group completed the sale of SCRN Properties Ltd., owner of the Pingüino property to E2 Metals 

as disclosed in note 18.

39.2  On 1 March 2023, the Group received a loan from two of its directors for an aggregate of US$1M, The loans are due in 

six months and bear interest at an annual rate of 8% per annum.

Austral Gold Limited

91

Annual Report 2022

 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

40. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The group has consistently applied the following accounting policies to all periods presented in these consolidated 
financial statements, except if mentioned otherwise (see also Note 5).

Change in classification
During the year ended 31 December 2022, the Group updated the classification of certain disclosures to better reflect 
the nature of the items.

Comparative amounts in the profit and loss and other comprehensive income and notes to the financial statements 
were re-stated as follows:

31 December 
2021
$000’s

Re-stated financial statement captions

31 December 
2021
$000’s

Previous financial statement captions

Profit or loss and other comprehensive income

Net finance income/(costs)

Note 11 (C) – Deferred tax assets and liabilities

Argentina

Accrual for mine closure

Tax carryforward losses

2,961

Finance income

Finance costs

2,961

Argentina

319

 Accrual for mine closure

15

 Tax carryforward losses

Property, plant and equipment

106 Property, plant and equipment

Other

36

  Other

Allowance for tax carry forward losses 
and deferred tax assets

-

Allowance for tax carry forward losses and 
deferred tax assets

Other

Tax carryforward losses

Allowance for tax carry forward losses 
and deferred tax assets

Note 33 - Commitments

Exploration commitments at the 
reporting date and not recognised as 
liabilities

Within one year

Two to five years

Note 38 – Unrecognised Deferred Tax Assets (Gross)

Canada

Tax losses

USA

Tax losses

Argentina

Tax losses

Other

9,951

Tax carryforward losses

Allowance for tax carry forward losses and 
deferred tax assets

(9,913)

514

Exploration commitments at the 
reporting date and not recognised as 
liabilities

872 Within one year

3,488

Two to five years

4,360

Canada

18,042

Tax losses

USA

3,974

Tax losses

Argentina

-

Tax losses

Deferred tax assets

- Deferred tax assets

24,358

Austral Gold Limited

92

Annual Report 2022

3,199

(238)

2,961

438

725

521

544

(1,752)

7,628

(7,590)

514

-

-

-

5,232

5,405

2,840

4,168

17,645

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

40.1

40.2

40.3

40.4

40.5

40.6

40.7

40.8

40.9

40.10

40.11

40.12

40.13

40.14

40.15

40.16

40.17

40.18

40.19

40.20

40.21

40.22

40.23

40.24

40.25

40.26

Basis of consolidation

Revenue recognition

Goods and services tax (GST)/ Value added tax (VAT)

Foreign currency

Mine properties

Exploration and evaluation expenditure

Property, plant and equipment

Cash and cash equivalents

Income tax

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Trade and other payables

Interest bearing liabilities

Provisions

Leases

Impairment of non-financial assets

De-recognition of financial assets and financial liabilities

Contributed equity

Earnings per share

Borrowing costs

Employee leave benefits

Segment reporting

Share-based payment arrangements

Capital management

Assets held for sale

New, revised or amending Accounting Standards and Interpretations adopted

40.1  Basis of consolidation

A subsidiary is any entity over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group is exposed to, 
or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through 
its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. 
They are de-consolidated from the date that control ceases.

A list of subsidiaries is contained in note 34 to the financial statements. The financial statements of the subsidiaries are 
prepared for the same reporting periods as the parent company using consistent accounting policies.

All intercompany balances and transactions between entities in the Group, including any unrealised profits or losses, 
have been eliminated on consolidation.

The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting.

Non-controlling interests in the equity and results of the subsidiaries are shown separately in the statement of profit or 
loss and other comprehensive income, statement of financial position and statement of changes in equity of the Group.

Business combinations
The Group accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method when control is transferred to the Group. 
The consideration transferred in the acquisition is generally measured at fair value, as are the identifiable net assets 
acquired. Any goodwill that arises is tested annually for impairment. Any gain on a bargain purchase is recognised in profit 
or loss immediately. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred, except if related to the issue of debt or equity securities.

Austral Gold Limited

93

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

40.2  Revenue Recognition

Under AASB 15, the sale of minerals is recognised at the transfer of control or point of sale, which is when the customer 
has taken delivery of the goods, the risks and rewards have been transferred to the customer and there is a valid contract. 
Determining the timing of the transfer of control at a point in time or over time requires judgement.

The Group has an agreement with the refinery and sales are made via correspondence or an on-line trading platform 
with the customer.

When the customer is the refinery, the control of the metals is transferred at the metal availability date. The metal availability 
date is when the metals are available for pricing by the refinery. If the customer is not the refinery, revenue is recognized 
when the metals are transferred to the customer upon receipt and the customer obtains control of the metals. Invoices 
are payable two business days after the metal availability date. At the Guanaco/Amancaya mine revenue was recognized 
when silver/gold doré bars were shipped to the refinery which was taken to be the point in time at which the customer 
accepted the material and related risk and rewards of ownership transferred. When the customer is a refinery, control 
occurs when material is received and when the customer is not a refinery, control occurs when the ounces of metals are 
received. The price is set by the market using the London gold market.

40.3  Goods and services tax (GST)/ Value added tax (VAT)

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of GST/VAT, except where the amount of GST/ VAT 
incurred is not recoverable from the tax authorities. In these circumstances the GST/VAT is recognised as part of the cost 
of acquisition of the asset or as part of the expense. Receivables and payables in the statement of financial position are 
shown inclusive of GST/VAT. Cash flows are presented in the statement of cash flows on a gross basis, except for the 
GST/VAT component of investing and financing activities, which are disclosed as operating cash flows.

Foreign currency
The financial statements are presented in United States Dollars (US$), which is the Group’s functional and presentation currency.

40.4  Foreign currency transactions

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at the 
exchange rate at the reporting date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value in a foreign 
currency are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rate when the fair value was determined. Non- 
monetary items that are measured based on historical cost in a foreign currency are translated at the exchange rate at 
the date of the transaction. Foreign currency differences are generally recognised in profit or loss and presented within 
finance costs.

Foreign currency transactions are translated into US$ using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transac-
tions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at 
financial year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised 
in profit or loss.

40.5  Mine Properties

Mines in production represent the aggregated exploration and evaluation expenditure and capitalised development 
costs in respect of areas of interest in which mining is ready to or has commenced. Mine development costs are deferred 
until commercial production commences, at which time they are depreciated on a units-of-production basis of gold 
equivalent ounces over mineable reserves. Once production commences, further development expenditure is classified 
as part of the cost of production, (e.g. stripping costs) unless substantial future economic benefits can be established.

Amortisation
Aggregated costs on productive areas are amortised over the life of the area of interest to which such costs relate on 
the units-of-production basis.

Deferred stripping costs
Deferred stripping costs represent certain mining costs, principally those that relate to the stripping of waste, which 
provides access so that future economically recoverable ore can be mined. Stripping (i.e. overburden and other waste 
removal) costs incurred in the production phase of a surface mine are capitalised to the extent that they improve access 
to an identified component of the ore body and are subsequently amortised on a systematic basis over the expected 
useful life of the identified component of the ore body.

Capitalised stripping costs are disclosed as a component of Mine Properties. Components of an ore body are determined 
with reference to mine plans and take account of factors such as the geographical separation of mining locations and/ 
or the economic status of mine development decisions. Capitalised stripping costs are initially measured at cost and 
represent an accumulation of costs directly incurred in performing the stripping activity that improves access to the 
identified component of the ore body, plus an allocation of directly attributable overhead costs. The amount of stripping 
costs deferred is based on a relevant production measure which uses a ratio obtained by dividing the tonnage of waste 
mined by the quantity of ore mined for an identified component of the ore body. Stripping costs incurred in the period 
for an identified component of the ore body are deferred to the extent that the current period ratio exceeds the expected 
waste to ratio for the life of the identified component of the ore body. Such deferred costs are then charged against the 

Austral Gold Limited

94

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

statement of profit or loss when the stripping ratio falls below the mine ratio. These are a function of the mine design and 
therefore any changes to the design will generally result in changes to the ratio. Changes in other technical or economic 
parameters that impact on reserves may also have an impact on the component ratio even though they may not impact 
the mine design. Changes to the mine plan, identified components of an ore body, stripping ratios, units of production 
and expected useful life are accounted for prospectively. Deferred stripping costs form part of the total investment in a 
cash generating unit, which is reviewed for impairment if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying 
value may not be recoverable.

40.6  Exploration and evaluation expenditure

Exploration and evaluation expenditure incurred is capitalised in respect of each identifiable area of interest and carried 
forward in the statement of financial position where rights to tenure of the area of interest are current; and one of the 
following conditions is met:

i.  such costs are expected to be recouped through successful development and exploitation of the area of interest or 

alternatively, by its sales; or

ii. exploration and/or evaluation activities in the area of interest have not, at reporting date, yet reached a stage which 
permits a reasonable assessment of the existence or otherwise of economically recoverable reserves and active and 
significant operations in the area are continuing.

Expenditure relating to pre-exploration activities, including costs incurred prior to the Group having an exploration license, 
is written off to the profit or loss during the period in which the expenditure is incurred.

A regular review is undertaken of each area of interest to determine the appropriateness of continuing to carry forward 
costs in relation to that area of interest.

Accumulated expenditure on areas that have been abandoned, or are considered to be of no value, are written off in the 
year in which such a decision is made.

When the technical and commercial feasibility of an undeveloped mining project has been demonstrated, the project 
enters the construction phase. The cost of the project assets are transferred from exploration and evaluation expenditure 
and reclassified into construction phase and include past exploration and evaluation costs, development drilling and 
other subsurface expenditure. When full commercial operation commences, the accumulated costs are transferred into 
Mine Properties or an appropriate class of property, plant and equipment.

When production commences, the accumulated costs for the relevant area of interest are amortised over the life of the 
area according to the production output basis

40.7  Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses.

Depreciation
The depreciated amount of property, plant and equipment is recorded either on a straight-line basis or on the production 
output basis to the residual value of the asset over the lesser of mine life or estimated useful life of the asset.

Depreciation rates and methods are reviewed annually for appropriateness. When changes are made, adjustments are 
reflected prospectively in current and future periods only. Depreciation is expensed, except those that are included in 
the amount of exploration assets as an allocation of production overheads. Fixed assets except for underground mine 
development are depreciated on a straight line basis over three years. The depreciation rate used in underground mine 
development is provided for over the life of the area of interest on a production output basis. Assets that are idle or no 
longer ready for use are not depreciated but are separately tested for impairment and where the recoverable value is 
less than the book value of the asset, an impairment is recorded.

De-recognition and disposal
An item of property, plant and equipment is de-recognised upon disposal or when no further future economic benefits 
are expected from its use or disposal.

Any gain or loss arising on de-recognition of the asset (calculated as the difference between net disposal proceeds and 
the carrying amount of the asset) is included in the statement of profit or loss in the year the asset is de-recognised.

40.8  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash includes:
i.  cash on hand and at call deposits with banks or financial institutions; and

ii. other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts.

Austral Gold Limited

95

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

40.9  Income tax

Current tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior years are measured at the amount expected to be recovered 
from or paid to the taxation authorities. The tax rates and tax laws used to compute the amount are those that are enacted 
or substantively enacted by reporting date.

Deferred income tax is provided on all temporary differences at reporting date between the tax bases of assets and 
liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes.

Deferred income tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences except:

i.  when the deferred income tax liability arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or of an asset or liability in a trans- 
action that is not a business combination and that, at the time of the transaction, affects neither the accounting profit 
nor taxable profit or loss; or

ii. when the taxable temporary difference is associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates, or interests in 
joint ventures, and the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference can be controlled and it is probable that the 
temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Deferred income tax assets are recognised for all deductible temporary differences, carry-forward of unused tax assets 
and unused tax losses, to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible 
temporary differences and the carry-forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses can be utilised, except:

i.  when the deferred income tax asset relating to the deductible temporary difference arises from the initial recognition 
of an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects 
neither the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss; or

ii. when the deductible temporary difference is associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates, or interests in 
joint ventures, in which case a deferred tax asset is only recognised to the extent that it is probable that the temporary 
difference will reverse in the foreseeable future and taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differ-
ence can be utilised.

The carrying amount of any deferred income tax assets recognised is reviewed at each reporting date and reduced to 
the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred 
income tax asset to be utilised.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply for the year when the asset 
is realised or the liability is settled, based on tax laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at reporting date.

Income taxes relating to items recognised directly to equity are recognised in equity and not in profit or loss. Deferred tax 
assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset only if a legally enforceable right exists to set off current tax assets against current 
tax liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority.

40.10  Inventories

Materials and supplies used in production are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value on a ‘first in first out’ 
basis. Cost comprises direct materials and delivery costs, direct labour, import duties and other taxes, an appropriate 
proportion of variable and fixed overhead expenditure based on normal operating capacity.

If the ore stockpile is not expected to be processed in 12 months after reporting date, it is included in non-current assets 
and the net realisable value is calculated on a discounted cash flow basis. Stockpiles are measured by estimating the 
number of tonnes added and removed from the stockpile, the number of contained ounces based on assay data, and 
the estimated recovery percentage. Stockpile tonnages are verified to periodic surveys.

Gold bullion and gold-in-process are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Net realisable value is deter-
mined using the prevailing metal prices.

40.11  Trade and other receivables

Trade accounts receivable, amounts due from related parties and other receivables represent the principal amounts due 
at balance date plus accrued interest and less, where applicable, net of provisions for doubtful accounts.

40.12  Trade and other payables

These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Group prior to the end of the financial year 
and which are unpaid. They are measured at amortised cost and are not discounted. The amounts are unsecured and 
are usually paid within 30 days of recognition.

40.13  Interest bearing liabilities

Loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration received, net of transaction costs. 
They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Where there is an unconditional 
right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting date, the loans or borrowings are clas-
sified as non-current.

40.14  Provisions

Austral Gold Limited

96

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a legal or constructive obligation, as a result of past events, for which it 
is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will result and that outflow can be reliably measured.

If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are determined by discounting the expected future cash 
flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and where appropriate, 
the risks specific to the liability. Where discounting is used, the increase in the provision due to the passage of time is 
recognised as a finance cost.

Mine Closure provision
Close-down and restoration costs include the dismantling and demolition of infrastructure and the removal of residual 
materials and remediation of disturbed areas. Provisions for close-down and restoration costs do not include any addi-
tional obligations which are expected to arise from future disturbances. The costs are based on the net present value of 
the estimated future costs of a closure.

Estimated changes resulting from new disturbances, updated cost estimates including information from tenders, changes 
to the lives of operations and revisions to discount rates are capitalised within the property, plant and equipment. These 
costs are then depreciated over the lives of the assets to which they relate.

The amortisation or “unwinding” of the discount applied in establishing the net present value provisions is charged to 
the income statement in each period as part of finance costs.

The cost of property, plant and equipment includes the estimated cost of dismantling and removing infrastructure and 
restoring the site to the extent that such cost is recognised as a provision.

40.15  Leases

At inception of a contract, the Group assesses whether a contract is, or contains, a lease. A contract is, or contains, a lease 
if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period for time in exchange for consideration.

At commencement or on modification of a contract that contains a lease component, the Group allocates the consid-
eration in the contract to each lease component on the basis of its relative stand-alone prices. However, for the leases 
of property the Group has elected not to separate non-lease components and account for the lease and non-lease 
components as a single lease component.

Right of use
The Group recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date. The right-of-use asset is 
initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for any lease payments made at 
or before the commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred and an estimate of costs to dismantle and remove 
the underlying asset or to restore the underlying asset or the site on which it is located, less any lease incentives received.

The right-of-use asset is subsequently depreciated using the straight-line method from the commencement date to the 
end of the lease term, unless the lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the Group by the end of the lease 
term or the cost of the right-of-use asset reflects that the Group will exercise a purchase option. In that case the right- 
of-use asset will be depreciated over the useful life of the underlying asset, which is determined on the same basis as 
those of property and equipment. In addition, the right-of-use asset is periodically reduced by impairment losses, if any, 
and adjusted for certain remeasurements of the lease liability.

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at the commencement 
date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the Group’s 
incremental borrowing rate. Generally, the Group uses its incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate.

The Group determines its incremental borrowing rate by obtaining interest rates from various external financing sources 
and makes certain adjustments to reflect the terms of the lease and type of the asset leased.

40.16  Impairment of non-financial assets

At each reporting date, the Group reviews the carrying values of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether 
there is any indication that those assets have been impaired. If such an indication exists, the recoverable amount of the 
asset, being the higher of the asset’s fair value less costs to sell or value in use, is compared to the asset’s carrying value. 
Any excess of the asset’s carrying value over its recoverable amount is expensed to the profit or loss. In assessing value 
in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax rate.

Impairment testing is performed annually for goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives or more frequently if 
events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired.

Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the Group estimates the recoverable 
amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Austral Gold Limited

97

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

40.17  De-recognition of financial assets and financial liabilities

Financial assets
A financial asset (or, where applicable, a part of a financial asset or part of a group of similar financial assets) is derec-
ognised when:

i.  the rights to receive cash flows from the asset have expired; or

ii. the Group retains the right to receive cash flows from the asset, but has assumed an obligation to pay them in full 

without material delay to a third party under a ‘pass- through’ arrangement; or

iii. the Group has transferred its rights to receive cash flows from the asset and either;

40.17.1.1 has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset; or

40.17.1.2  has neither transferred nor retained substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset but has transferred 

control of the asset.

When the Group has transferred its rights to receive cash flows from an asset and has neither transferred nor retained 
substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset nor transferred control of the asset, the asset is recognised to the 
extent of the Group’s continuing involvement in the asset. Continuing involvement that takes the form of a guarantee over 
the transferred asset is measured at the lower of the original carrying amount of the asset and the maximum amount of 
consideration received that the Group could be required to repay.

Financial liabilities
A financial liability is derecognised when the obligation under the liability is discharged or cancelled or expires. When 
an existing financial liability is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms 
of an existing liability are substantially modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as a de-recognition of the 
original liability and the recognition of a new liability, and the difference in the respective carrying amounts is recognised 
in profit or loss.

40.18  Contributed equity

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are 
shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.

40.19  Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is determined by dividing net profit after income tax attributable to members of the parent, 
excluding any costs of servicing equity other than ordinary shares, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares 
outstanding during the financial year, adjusted for bonus elements in ordinary shares issued during the year.

Diluted earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share adjusts the figures used in determination of basic earnings per share to take into account 
the after income tax effect of interest and other financing costs associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares and 
weighted average number of shares assumed to have been issued for no consideration in relation to dilutive potential 
ordinary shares.

40.20  Borrowing costs

Borrowing costs are recognised as an expense when incurred unless they are attributable to qualifying assets, in which 
case they are then capitalised as part of the assets.

40.21  Employee leave benefits/Short-term employee benefits

Liabilities for employees’ entitlements to wages and salaries, annual leave and other employee entitlements expected 
to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date are recognised in the current provisions in respect of employees’ 
services up to reporting date and are measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled. Liabili-
ties for non- accumulating sick leave are recognised when the leave is taken and measured at the rates paid or payable.

Long service leave
The liability for long service leave is recognised in the provision for employee benefits and measured as the present 
value of expected future payments to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date 
using the projected unit credit method. Consideration is given to expected future wage and salary levels, experience 
of employee departures, and periods of service. Expected future payments are discounted using market yields at the 
reporting date on national government bonds with terms to maturity and currencies that match, as closely as possible, 
the estimated cash outflows.

Superannuation
The Company contributes to employee superannuation funds. Contributions made by the Company are legally enforce-
able and contributions are made in accordance with the requirements of the Superannuation Guarantee Legislation.

Austral Gold Limited

98

Annual Report 2022

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

40.22  Segment reporting

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the Chief Operating 
Decision Maker (“CODM”).

The CODM, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been 
identified as the Chief Executive Officer.

40.23  Share-based payment arrangements

The grant-date fair value of equity-settled share-based payment arrangements granted to employees is generally 
recognised as an expense, with a corresponding increase in equity, over the vesting period of the awards. The amount 
recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the number of awards for which the related service and non-market 
performance conditions are expected to be met, such that the amount ultimately recognised is based on the number 
of awards that meet the related service and non-market performance conditions at the vesting date. For share-based 
payment awards with non-vesting conditions, the grant-date fair value of the share-based payment is measured to reflect 
such conditions and there is no true-up for differences between expected and actual outcomes.

40.24  Capital management

The Group’s policy is to maintain a strong capital base so as to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to 
sustain future development of the business. Management monitors the return on capital, as well as the level of dividends 
to ordinary shareholders.

The Group maintains strong relationships with its lenders, including banks which provide the Group with borrowings and 
lines of credit, and the gold refinery that the Group has an agreement with, and other customers of the Group that may 
fund the purchase of gold and silver in advance of delivery.

40.25  Assets held for sale

Non-current assets, or disposal groups comprising assets and liabilities, are classified as held-for sale if it is highly prob-
able that they will be recovered primarily through sale rather than through continuing use.

Such assets, or disposal groups, are generally measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less costs to 
sell. Any impairment loss on a disposal group is allocated first to goodwill, and then to the remaining assets and liabilities 
on a pro rata basis, except that no loss is allocated to inventories, financial assets, deferred tax assets, employee benefit 
assets, investment property or biological assets, which continue to be measured in accordance with the Group’s other 
accounting policies. Impairment losses on initial classification as held-for-sale or held-for distribution and subsequent 
gains and losses on remeasurement are recognised in profit or loss.

40.26  New, revised or amending Accounting Standards and interpretations adopted

The Group has adopted all of the new, revised or amending Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the 
AASB that are mandatory for the current reporting period. The adoption of these Accounting Standards and Interpreta-
tions did not have any significant impact on the financial performance or position of the Group.

Austral Gold Limited

99

Annual Report 2022

DIRECTORS’  
DECLARATION

Austral Gold Limited

100

Annual Report 2022

IN THE DIRECTORS’ OPINION:
1. the attached consolidated financial statements and notes thereto comply with the 
Corporations Act 2001, the Corporations Regulations 2001 and other mandatory 
professional reporting requirements;

2. the attached consolidated financial statements and notes thereto comply with Inter-
national Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting 
Standards Board as described in note 1 to the consolidated financial statements;

3. the attached consolidated financial statements and notes thereto give a true and fair 
view of the Group’s financial position as at 31 December 2022 and of its performance 
for the 12 months ended on that date; and

4. there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts 

as and when they become due and payable. 

The Directors have been given the declarations required by section 295A of the Corpora-
tions Act 2001. Signed in accordance with a resolution of Directors made pursuant to 
section 295(5)(a) of the Corporations Act 2001.

Signed on behalf of the Directors by:

Robert Trzebski 
Director 
Sydney 
30 March 2023

Austral Gold Limited

101

Annual Report 2022

INDEPENDENT 
AUDITOR’S
REPORT

Austral Gold Limited

102

Annual Report 2022

Austral Gold Limited

103

Annual Report 2022

  KPMG, an Australian partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organisation of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organisation. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.    Independent Auditor’s Report  To the shareholders of Austral Gold Limited  Report on the audit of the Financial Report  Opinion We have audited the Financial Report of Austral Gold Limited (the Company). In our opinion, the accompanying Financial Report of the Company is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including:  • giving a true and fair view of the Group’s financial position as at 31 December 2022 and of its financial performance for the year ended on that date; and • complying with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Regulations 2001. The Financial Report comprises:   • Consolidated Statement of financial position as at 31 December 2022 • Consolidated Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, Consolidated Statement of changes in equity, and Consolidated Statement of cash flows for the year then ended • Notes including a summary of significant accounting policies • Directors’ Declaration. The Group consists of the Company and the entities it controlled at the year-end or from time to time during the financial year. Basis for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the Financial Report section of our report.  We are independent of the Group in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 and the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board’s APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including Independence Standards) (the Code) that are relevant to our audit of the Financial Report in Australia. We have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.  Austral Gold Limited

104

Annual Report 2022

                                Material uncertainty related to going concern We draw attention to Note 3, “Going Concern” in the financial report. The conditions disclosed in Note 3, indicate a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and, therefore, whether it will realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business, and at the amounts stated in the financial report.  Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter. In concluding there is a material uncertainty related to going concern we evaluated the extent of uncertainty regarding events or conditions casting significant doubt in the Group’s assessment of going concern. This included:  • Analysing the cash flow projections by: • Evaluating the underlying data used to generate the projections for consistency with other information tested by us, our understanding of the Group’s intentions, and past results and practices; • Assessing the planned levels of operating cash inflows and outflows, including capital expenditures, for feasibility, timing, consistency of relationships and trends to the Group’s historical results, particularly in light of recent loss making operations, results since year end, and our understanding of the business, industry and economic conditions of the Group; • Assessing significant non-routine forecast cash inflows and outflows for feasibility, quantum and timing. We used our knowledge of the client, its industry and current status of those initiatives to assess the level of associated uncertainty. • Reading correspondence with existing and potential financiers to understand the financing options available to the Group, and assess the level of associated uncertainty resulting from renegotiation of existing debt facilities, and negotiation of additional/revised funding arrangements;  • Reading Directors minutes and relevant correspondence with the Group’s advisors to understand the Group’s ability to raise additional shareholder funds, and assess the level of associated uncertainty; • Evaluating the Group’s going concern disclosures in the financial report by comparing them to our understanding of the matter, the events or conditions incorporated into the cash flow projection assessment, the Group’s plans to address those events or conditions, and accounting standard requirements. We specifically focused on the principle matters giving rise to the material uncertainty.   Austral Gold Limited

105

Annual Report 2022

                                Key Audit Matters In addition to the matter described in the Material uncertainty related to going concern section, we have determined the matters described below to be the Key Audit Matters: • Carrying value of Guanaco/Amancaya mine assets and plant and equipment • Carrying value of exploration and evaluation assets Key Audit Matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the Financial Report of the current period.  These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the Financial Report as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.  Carrying value of Guanaco/Amancaya mine assets and plant & equipment (US$42 million) Refer to Notes 19 “Mine properties” and 20 “Property, plant and equipment” to the Financial Report The key audit matter How the matter was addressed in our audit The Group’s Guanaco/Amancaya mine properties and plant & equipment are a significant portion (43%) of the Group’s total assets. The recoverable value of the Guanaco/Amancaya cash generating unit (CGU) is based on the Group’s fair value less costs of disposal model for the CGU, and this is a key audit mater due to: • the high level of judgement used in evaluating key assumptions applied by the Group in the Guanaco/Amancaya CGU model, which are affected by expected future operating performance and market conditions, including: - level of resources and reserves capable of being produced economically, as reported in the Group’s external expert Reserve Report  - forecast  costs of developing areas of interest and producing silver and gold; - future production costs, volumes, and timing; and - specific discount rate applied in the model. These forward-looking assumptions necessitate additional scrutiny by us due to: • the inherent uncertainties in auditing these assumptions which are forward looking and not based on observable data; Our procedures included: • testing the design and implementation of the management review control associated with the approval of the fair value less costs of disposal model used to assess the recoverable amount of the Group’s Guanaco/Amancaya CGU; • evaluating the fair value less costs of disposal methodology used by the Group for consistency with the requirements of the Accounting Standards; • working with our valuations specialists we critically evaluated the Group’s key assumptions used to determine the recoverable amount of the Guanaco/Amancaya CGU. The assumptions evaluated are those relating to commodity prices, production costs and discount rate based on our knowledge of the industry, publicly available data of comparable entities and published forecast price expectations of industry commentators; • working with our valuations specialists we considered the sensitivity of the Guanaco/Amancaya CGU model by varying key assumptions. The assumptions considered include, commodity prices, production costs and discount rate within a reasonably possible range to identify those assumptions at higher Austral Gold Limited

106

Annual Report 2022

                                • the consistency of application of assumptions and the fluctuations in forecast silver and gold (commodity) pricing increasing the risk of inaccurate forecasting; and • the sensitivity of assumptions in the Group’s Guanaco/Amancaya CGU model such as commodity prices, production costs and discount rate, reducing available headroom. This drives additional audit effort specific to their feasibility and consistency of application.  risk of impairment, inconsistency in application and to focus our further procedures; • checking the forecast cost of developing areas of interest and producing silver and gold, future productions volumes and timing to those within the Group’s Reserves Report, Board approved plans and budgets. We assessed these against our understanding of the business, and industry trends; • assessing the level of resources and reserves capable of being produced economically by examining mine closure plans and the Group’s Reserve Report with the Group’s key operational and finance personnel; • assessing the historical accuracy of budgeting and forecasting by the Group to inform our evaluation of forecasts incorporated in the Guanaco/Amancaya CGU model; • evaluating the scope, competence, and objectivity of the Group’s external expert engaged and assess the completeness and accuracy of the key assumptions used by the external expert. Working with our valuation specialist, this involved challenging the key assumptions and assessing the framework applied based on our understanding of the business and industry and the procedures the expert performed; This is to assist the Group prepare the Group’s Reserve Report as utilised within the Guanaco/Amancaya CGU model and, • assessing the financial report disclosures based on our understanding obtained from our testing and the requirements of the accounting standards.  Carrying value of exploration and evaluation assets (US$27.2 million) Refer to Note 21 “Exploration and evaluation expenditure” to the Financial Report The key audit matter How the matter was addressed in our audit Exploration and evaluation expenditure capitalised (‘E&E’) is a key audit matter due to: • the significant of the balance (28%) of the Our procedures included: • evaluating the Group’s accounting policy to recognise E&E assets using the criteria in the Austral Gold Limited

107

Annual Report 2022

                                Group’s total assets; • the greater level of audit effort to evaluate the Group’s application of the requirements of the industry specific accounting standard AASB 6 Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources in particular the conditions allowing capitalisation of relevant expenditure and presence of impairment indicators. The presence of impairment indicators would necessitate a detailed analysis by the Group of the value of E&E, therefore given the criticality of this to the scope and depth of our work, we involved senior team members to challenge the Group’s determination that no such indicators existed.  In assessing the conditions allowing capitalisation of relevant expenditure, we focus on: • the determination of the areas of interest (areas); • documentation available regarding the rights to tenure, via licensing, and compliance with relevant conditions, to maintain current rights to an area of interest and the Group’s intention and capacity to continue the relevant E&E activities; and • the Group’s determination of whether the E&E assets are expected to be recouped through successful development and exploitation of the area of interest, or alternatively, by its sale. In assessing the presence of impairment indicators, we focused on those that may draw into question the commercial continuation of E&E activities for the areas of interest where significant capitalised E&E assets exist. In addition to the assessments above, and given the financial position of the Group, we paid particular attention to: • the impact of changes in gold and silver prices to the Group’s strategy and intentions; and • the ability of the Group to fund the continuation of activities. accounting standard; • testing the design and implementation of the management review control associated with the approval of the impairment assessment used to assess the carrying value of the E&E assets; • evaluating the Group’s determination of areas of interest for consistency with the definition in the accounting standard based on the Group’s planned work programs and results of exploration activity of each area of interest; • for each area of interest, we assessed the Group’s current rights tenure by examining the ownership of the relevant license to government registries and agreements in place with other parties. We also tested for compliance with conditions, such as minimum expenditure requirements, on a sample of licenses; • testing the Group’s additions to E&E assets for the period by evaluating a sample of recorded expenditure for consistency to underlying records, the capitalisation requirements of the Group’s accounting policy and the requirements of the accounting standard; • evaluating Group documents, such as minutes of director’s meetings and ASX market announcements, for consistency with the Group’s stated intentions for continuing E&E activities in certain areas. We corroborated this through interviews with key operational and finance personnel; • analysing the Group’s determination of recoupment through successful development and exploration of the area by evaluating the Group’s documentation of planned future work programs and project and corporate budgets for a sample of areas; • assessing the impact of changes in the gold and silver prices to the Group’s modelling underlying their decision for commercial continuation of activities; and • obtaining project and corporate budgets identifying areas with existing funding and those requiring alternate funding sources. We compared this for consistency with areas of E&E activities, for evidence of the ability to Austral Gold Limited

108

Annual Report 2022

                                fund continued activities. We identified those areas relying on alternate funding sources and evaluated the capacity of the Group to secure such funding.  Other Information Other Information is financial and non-financial information in Austral Gold Limited’s annual reporting which is provided in addition to the Financial Report and the Auditor's Report. The Directors are responsible for the Other Information.  Our opinion on the Financial Report does not cover the Other Information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or any form of assurance conclusion thereon, with the exception of the Remuneration Report and our related assurance opinion. In connection with our audit of the Financial Report, our responsibility is to read the Other Information. In doing so, we consider whether the Other Information is materially inconsistent with the Financial Report or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. We are required to report if we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this Other Information, and based on the work we have performed on the Other Information that we obtained prior to the date of this Auditor’s Report we have nothing to report. Responsibilities of the Directors for the Financial Report The Directors are responsible for: • preparing the Financial Report that gives a true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards and the Corporations Act 2001 • implementing necessary internal control to enable the preparation of a Financial Report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error • assessing the Group and Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and whether the use of the going concern basis of accounting is appropriate. This includes disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless they either intend to liquidate the Group and Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.  Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the Financial Report Our objective is: • to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the Financial Report as a whole is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; and  • to issue an Auditor’s Report that includes our opinion.  Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Austral Gold Limited

109

Annual Report 2022

7 Report on the Remuneration ReportOpinion In our opinion, the Remuneration Report of Austral Gold Limited for the year ended 31 December 2021, complies with Section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001. Directors’ responsibilities The Directors of the Group are responsible for the preparation and presentation of the Remuneration Report in accordance with Section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001. Our responsibilities We have audited the Remuneration Report included in pages 47 to 52 of the Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2021.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Remuneration Report, based on our audit conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. PAR_SIG_01 PAR_NAM_01 PAR_POS_01 PAR_DAT_01 PAR_CIT_01 KPMG Jessica Dillon Partner Sydney 31 March 2022 Misstatements can arise from fraud or error. They are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the Financial Report. A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the Financial Report is located at the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board website at: https://www.auasb.gov.au/admin/file/content102/c3/ar1_2020.pdf. This description forms part of our Auditor’s Report. Report on the Remuneration ReportOpinion In our opinion, the Remuneration Report of Austral Gold Limited for the year ended 31 December 2022, complies with Section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001. Directors’ responsibilities The Directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation and presentation of the Remuneration Report in accordance with Section 300A of the Corporations Act 2001. Our responsibilities We have audited the Remuneration Report included in pages 53 to 58 of the Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2022.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Remuneration Report, based on our audit conducted in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. KPMG Jessica Dillon Partner Sydney 30 March 2023 ADDITIONAL  
INFORMATION

Austral Gold Limited

110

Annual Report 2022

Forward Looking Statements 
IIn this annual report that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical, and consist primarily of 
projections — statements regarding future plans, expectations and developments. Words such as “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “may”, “could”, “potential”, “should”, “antici-
pates”, “likely”, “believes” and words of similar import tend to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown 
risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied, including, without limitation, business integration risks; 
uncertainty of production, development plans and cost estimates, commodity price fluctuations; political or economic instability and regulatory changes; currency fluctuations, 
the state of the capital markets, uncertainty in the measurement of mineral reserves and resource estimates, Austral’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and manage-
ment, potential labour unrest, reclamation and closure requirements for mineral properties; unpredictable risks and hazards related to the development and operation of a mine 
or mineral property that are beyond the Company’s control, the availability of capital to fund all of the Company’s projects and other risks and uncertainties identified under the 
heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s continuous disclosure documents filed on the ASX and SEDAR. You are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors 
and assumptions which may have been used. Austral cannot assure you that actual events, performance or results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and 
management’s assumptions may prove to be incorrect. Austral’s forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance 
and speak only as of the date hereof and Austral does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management’s beliefs, expecta-
tions or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. For the reasons set forth above, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

Austral Gold Limited and its subsidiaries have adopted the corporate governance framework and practices set out in its Corporate 
Governance Statement. The Corporate Governance Statement is available on the Company’s website at www.australgold.com.

STATEMENT OF ISSUED CAPITAL
As at 28 February 2023 the total issued capital of Austral Gold Limited was 612,311,353 ordinary shares. 547,604,352 shares were 
quoted on the Australian Securities Exchange under the code AGD. The only shares of the Company on issue are fully paid ordinary 
shares. None of these shares are restricted securities or securities subject to voluntary escrow within the meaning of the Listing Rules 
of the Australian Securities Exchange. 63,707,001 shares were quoted on the Toronto Venture Exchange under the code AGLD. There 
are no restrictions on the voting rights attached to the fully paid ordinary shares. On a show of hands, every member present in person, 
by proxy, by attorney or by representative shall have one vote. On a poll, every member present in person, by proxy, by attorney or by 
representative shall have one vote for every share held.

DISTRIBUTION OF FULLY PAID ORDINARY SHARES
As at 28 February 2023

Holders

Shares held

% of issued capital

Size of Holding

1 - 100

101 - 1,000

1,001 - 5,000

5,001 - 10,000

10,001 - 50,000

50,001 - 100,000

>100,000

 379 

 579 

 543 

 247 

 298 

 99 

 139 

 15,928 

 291,198 

 1,499,954 

 36,694,563 

 7,108,286 

 7,349,945 

 559,351,478 

0.00%

0.05%

0.24%

5.99%

1.16%

1.20%

91.35%

100%

SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS
The Company has been notified of the following substantial shareholdings as at 28 February 2023:

 2,284 

 612,311,353 

Registered Holder

HSBC Custody Nominees  
(Australia) Limited

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited

HSBC Custody Nominees  
(Australia) Limited

HSBC Custody Nominees  
(Australia) Limited

Beneficial Holder

Shares Held

Inversiones Financieras  
Del Sur SA (IFISA)

Inversiones Financieras  
Del Sur SA (IFISA)

Guanaco Capital  
Holding Corp

380,234,614

47,658,462

 35,870,730 

Eduardo Elsztain

35,573,716

Austral Gold Limited

111

Annual Report 2022

TWENTY LARGEST SHAREHOLDERS

Rank

Name

No. of shares % of issued capital

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

EDUARDO SERGIO ELSZTAIN

 461,294,560 

75.34%

MICHAEL D WINN

 15,502,212 

2.53%

EMX ROYALTY CORPORATION

 9,381,770 

1.53%

HSBC CUSTODY NOMINEES

 9,244,452 

1.51%

STABRO KASANEVA

 7,881,230 

1.29%

BNP PARIBAS NOMINEES PTY LTD ACF CLEARSTREAM

 7,034,241 

1.15%

CITICORP NOMINEES PTY LIMITED

 4,700,774 

0.77%

WAYNE HUBERT

 2,545,500 

0.42%

MRS ANNA VORONTSOVA

 2,312,594 

0.38%

10

HEPHAESTUS CONSULTING SERVICES

 1,760,308 

0.29%

11

SAUL ZANG

 1,640,763 

0.27%

12

ASOCIACION ISRAELITA ARGENTINA

 1,158,265 

0.19%

13

MR POH SENG TAN

 1,100,000 

0.18%

14

FUSION ELECTRICS (AUST) PTY

 1,000,000 

0.16%

15

MS LEANNE MARION HUNTER

 1,000,000 

0.16%

16

MRS NICOLA PAULINE COURT

 900,000 

0.15%

17

MR PHILIP BOMFORD

 850,000 

0.14%

18

MR DEAN MICHAEL MATHEWS

 843,800 

0.14%

19

TAYLOR FAMILY INVESTMENTS PTY

 800,000 

0.13%

20

NATIONAL NOMINEES LIMITED

 712,386 

0.12%

Total

Other

 531,662,855 

86.83%

 80,648,498 

13.17%

Total Shares on issue

 612,311,353 

100%

*Beneficial holdings

Austral Gold Limited

112

Annual Report 2022

Austral Gold Limited

113

Annual Report 2022

Austral Gold Limited

114

Annual Report 2022

Austral Gold Limited

115

Annual Report 2022

www.australgold.com