VMS Ventures’ Reed Mine Reaches Commercial Production

VMS Ventures Inc. (TSXV:VMS) announced that the the Reed mine, near Flin Flon Manitoba, of which VMS Ventures owns 30% and Hudbay Minerals Inc. (TSX:HBM)(NYSE:HBM) (“Hudbay”) owns 70% and is the Operator, reached commercial production.

Highlights from the project include:

• Averaging 60% of full production tonnage (1,300 tonnes per day) over the last 90 days, having operated at 792 tonnes per day in the first quarter of 2014.
• During the first quarter Reed mined 71,236 tonnes of ore at a copper grade of 1.92% and a zinc grade of 2.14% from a combination of ore development and longhole stope mining.
• The project has invested $66 million to the end of Q1, 2014 and approximately $4 million of project capital will be spent as sustaining capital over the life of mine.
• The project was completed under budget and ahead of guidance with no lost time accidents.
• Sale of copper and zinc concentrates will start to pay back the Company’s project loan and advance VMS towards cash flow.
• During the month of March development advanced 288 metres or 9.3 metres per day, for a total of 3,215 metres project to date.
• 27,407 tonnes of ore were mined in March.

Neil Richardson, COO of VMS Ventures stated:

We are very pleased to see the Reed copper project advance to mine status and achieve commercial production. The mine continues to advance towards full production and has operated without any lost time accidents. Thanks to all the employees and contractors for a job well done.

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