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FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of November 2006
Commission File Number: 001-31819
Gold Reserve Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
926 W. Sprague Avenue, Suite 200
Spokane, Washington 99201
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F _____
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes No X
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-____________
Filed with this Form 6-K is the following, which is incorporated herein by
reference:
99.1 Press Release
November 13, 2006
GOLD RESERVE ANNOUNCES IMPROVED BRISAS PROJECT ECONOMICS
AND UPDATES BRISAS PROJECT 43-101 REPORT
Certain statements included herein, including those that express management's
expectations or estimates of our future performance or concerning the Brisas
Project, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-
looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are
inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive
uncertainties and contingencies. We caution that such forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risks that
may cause the actual financial results, performance, or achievements of Gold
Reserve Inc. to be materially different from our estimated future results,
performance, or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking
statements. Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially
from those in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation,
concentration of operations and assets in Venezuela; corruption and uncertain
legal enforcement; requests for improper payments; regulatory, political and
economic risks associated with Venezuelan operations (including changes in
previously established legal regimes, rules or processes); the ability to
obtain or maintain the necessary permits or additional funding for the
development of the Brisas Project; in the event any key findings or
assumptions previously determined by us or our experts in conjunction with our
2005 bankable feasibility study (as updated or modified from time to time)
significantly differ or change as a result of actual results in our expected
construction and production at the Brisas Project (including capital and
operating cost estimates); risk that actual mineral reserves may vary
considerably from estimates presently made; impact of currency, metal prices
and metal production volatility; fluctuations in energy prices; changes in
proposed development plans (including technology used); our dependence upon
the abilities and continued participation of certain key employees; and risks
normally incident to the operation and development of mining properties. This
list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's
forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance
on forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-
looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf
are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company
disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly these forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Gold Reserve Inc.
(Registrant)
Date: November 14, 2006
By: s/ Robert A. McGuinness
Name: Robert A. McGuinness
Title: Vice President - Finance & CFO
EXHIBIT INDEX
99.1 Press Release
GOLD RESERVE ANNOUNCES IMPROVED BRISAS PROJECT ECONOMICS
AND UPDATES BRISAS PROJECT 43-101 REPORT
Gold Reserve Inc.
NR-06-15
GOLD RESERVE ANNOUNCES IMPROVED BRISAS PROJECT ECONOMICS
AND UPDATES BRISAS PROJECT 43-101 REPORT
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON November 13, 2006
Gold Reserve Inc. (TSX: GRZ - AMEX:GRZ) announced the completion of an updated
CSA National Instrument 43-101 Report for the Brisas Project. The Report,
prepared by Pincock Allen and Holt (PAH) includes updated resource and reserve
estimates, capital and operating costs, and current project economics.
The current operating plan assumes a large open pit mine containing proven and
probable reserves of approximately 10.4 million ounces of gold and 1.3 billion
pounds of copper in 485 million tonnes of ore grading 0.67 grams of gold per
tonne and 0.13% copper, at a revenue cutoff grade of $3.04 per tonne using a
gold price of $400 per ounce and a copper price of $1.15 per pound. The plan
anticipates utilizing conventional truck and shovel mining methods with the
processing of ore at full production of 70,000 tonnes per day, yielding an
average annual production of 456,000 ounces of gold and 60 million pounds of
copper over an estimated mine life of approximately 18.5 years. The stripping
ratio is estimated at 1.96:1.
The updated 2006 mine plan extends the mine life to 18.5 years as compared to
the 2005 feasibility study mine life of 16 years. Estimated annual gold and
copper production declined approximately 6% although the estimated life of
mine production has increased approximately 10% from 7.59 million ounces to
8.41 million ounces of gold and copper production has increased from 997
million pounds to 1.113 billion pounds.
This revised 43-101 Report assumes a base-case economic model utilizing $470
per ounce gold and $1.80 per pound copper which is derived from the historical
three-year rolling average for metal prices as of September 2006. At such
prices, cash operating costs (net of copper byproduct credits) are estimated
at $126 per ounce of gold. Total costs including cash operating costs,
exploitation taxes, initial capital costs (excluding sunk cost), and
sustaining capital costs are estimated at $245 per ounce of gold. Initial
capital costs are currently estimated to be $638 million. All amounts are in
U.S. dollars.
Doug Belanger, President of Gold Reserve stated, "We are very pleased with the
results of the updated 43-101 Report. The mining industry has experienced
significant increases in capital and operating costs, the Brisas Project
included. However, the Brisas Project continues to demonstrate low projected
operating costs, robust economics at conservative metal prices, excellent
leverage and significant value at current metal prices."
The more important conclusions contained in the updated 43-101 Report are
summarized below and compared to the previous 43-101 Report published in 2005.
Proven & Probable Reserve- 2006 43-101 Report
Au Au Cu
Reserve Tonnage Au Grade Grams Ounces Cu Grade Cu pounds
Category (000's) g/t (000's) (000's) % Tonnes (000,000's)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proven 226,252 0.69 156,517 5,032 0.12 272,376 600
Probable 258,398 0.64 166,628 5,357 0.13 334,397 737
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Ore 484,649 0.67 323,145 10,389 0.13 606,773 1,338
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strip ratio (waste to ore) - 1.96:1
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on Internal Cutoff Using Revenue of $3.04/tonne ($400/oz Au, $1.15/lb
Cu). Note that Gold Reserve updated the proven and probable reserve in May
2005 to reflect drilling completed after the January 2005 Bankable Feasibility
Study. The results shown above are based on the same drilling as the May 2005
reserve. See Gold Reserve Inc.'s press release NR-05-04 dated May 17, 2005 for
details on the May 2005 reserve update.
Proven & Probable Reserve- 2005 43-101 Report
Au Au Cu
Reserve Tonnage Au Grade Grams Ounces Cu Grade Cu pounds
Category (000's) g/t (000's) (000's) % Tonnes (000,000's)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proven 193,248 0.71 136,826 4,399 0.12 237,985 525
Probable 221,315 0.68 149,548 4,808 0.13 296,823 654
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Ore 414,563 0.69 286,375 9,207 0.13 534,808 1,179
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strip ratio (waste to ore) - 1.81:1
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on Internal Cutoff Using Revenue of $2.76/tonne ($350/oz Au, $0.90/lb Cu)
Key Economic Parameters and Results
2006 2005
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mill Through-Put (tonnes per day) 70,000 70,000
Metallurgical Recovery
Plant Recovery - Gold 83% 83%
Plant Recovery - Copper 87% 87%
Net Payable Metal - Gold 81% 82%
Net Payable Metal - Copper 83% 84%
Life of Mine Production (payable metals)
Gold (million ounces) 8.41 7.59
Copper (million pounds) 1,113 997
Average Annual Production
Gold (ounces) 456,000 487,000
Copper (million pounds) 60 64
Mine Life (years) 18.5 16.0
Initial Capital Cost ($million)1 2006 2 2005
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mine $ 76.6 $ 106.7
Mill 241.5 201.0
Infrastructure 65.8 75.7
Tailings 14.1 31.6
Owner's Costs 65.3 10.0
Pre-Stripping 18.3 15.0
Indirect Costs (includes EPCM and Camp) 97.0 57.3
Contingency 59.4 54.8
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Initial Capital $ 638.0 $ 552.1
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 A value added tax (VAT) of approximately US$70 million, is not part of the
initial capital cost as it is expected to be recovered within the first few
years of construction and operations, pursuant to Venezuelan tax
regulations. All IRR, NPV and total cost calculations include VAT and
sustaining capital.
2 Capital costs were developed by SNC-Lavalin Engineers & Constructors, Inc.
("SNC-Lavalin") and Gold Reserve in April 2006 as part of the Project Scope
and Definition phase of the EPCM process.
Base Case Economics 2006 2005
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metal Prices
Gold $ 470 $ 400
Copper $ 1.80 $ 1.00
Cash Operating Cost Per Ore Tonne
Mining and Dewatering $ 2.08 $ 1.70
Processing 2.59 2.21
General and Administrative 0.42 0.39
Transport and Freight 0.34 0.37
Smelting and Refining 1.02 0.61
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total cash operating cost per tonne $ 6.45 $ 5.28
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost Per Ounce of Gold
Cash Operating Costs 1 $ 126 $ 153
Exploitation Tax 16 13
Capital Cost (initial and sustaining) 111 96
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Costs 2 $ 253 $ 262
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Tax
Internal Rate of Return 3 15.4% 12.1%
Net Present Value (NPV)
@ 0 % discount (billions) $1.91 $1.05
@ 5 % discount (millions) $783 $392
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Net of copper by-product credit.
2 Net of copper credit and excluding sunk costs.
3 The 2006 and 2005 after-tax IRR is 11.4% and 9.1%, respectively.
Brisas Project Gold and Copper Price Sensitivity
Pre-Tax
Cash ---------------------------
Operating Total NPV NPV
Metal Prices Cost per Cost per @ 0% @5% Payback
Gold and Copper Ounce 1 Ounce2 IRR% 3 millions millions Years 4
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
$570 Au/$2.80 Cu ($ 2) $127 25.8% $3,756 $1,812 4.3
$520 Au/$2.30 Cu $ 62 $186 20.9% $2,833 $1,298 5.2
$470 Au/$1.80 Cu $126 $245 15.4% $1,909 $ 783 6.7
$420 Au/$1.30 Cu $181 $297 9.5% $1,043 $ 303 10.2
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Prices:
$620 Au/$3.10 Cu ($ 40) $ 93 29.3% $4,468 $2,207 3.9
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Net of copper by-product credit.
2 Net of copper credit and excluding sunk costs.
3 The after-tax IRR is 11.4% using $470 gold and $1.80 copper.
4 Payback Years relates to recovery of equity invested as the financial model
has been prepared on an after tax, un-leveraged equity only basis.
Initial Capital and Operating Cost Variance
Initial capital cost for the Brisas Project is now estimated to be $638
million compared to the previous estimates of $552 million. Primary cost
variances are noted in Gold Reserve Inc.'s press release NR-06-04 dated
April 24, 2006.
Total cash operating cost per ore tonne is currently estimated at $6.45
compared to the previous estimate of $5.28. Primary cost variances are as
follows:
Mining costs are $2.08 per tonne compared to $1.70 per tonne. The increase
is due mainly to price escalations in manpower, explosives, and operating
supplies. Tire costs have escalated significantly for each equipment type.
Processing costs are estimated at $2.59 per tonne compared to the previous
estimate of $2.21 per tonne. Primary cost variances are due to increases in
reagents, liners and grinding media, and electrical demand and rate
changes. The electrical rate has increased 6.8 percent from the original
estimate contained in the 2005 feasibility study.
Smelting and Refining costs are $1.02 per tonne compared to the previous
estimate of $0.61 per tonne. The costs were updated based on negotiated
smelter terms, which are based on a sliding scale dependent on metal
prices. If metal prices in the current model are reduced to $400 per ounce
for gold and $1.00 per pound for copper, as used in the previous
feasibility study estimate, smelting and refining costs would be
approximately $0.67 per tonne, which is more in line with the previous
feasibility study estimate.
Preparation of the updated CSA National Instrument 43-101 Report
Pincock, Allen and Holt (PAH) was retained by Gold Reserve Inc. to update the
Brisas Project 43-101 Report in accordance with the Canadian Securities Act
National Instrument 43-101. This update includes the results of various
studies that have been completed since the January 2005 Brisas Project
Feasibility Study. The resource and reserve estimates were conducted in
accordance with the Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Form
43-101F1 and Companion Policy 43-101CP dated December 23, 2005.
The updated financial model was prepared on an un-leveraged (equity only)
basis, provided for depreciation and amortization on a straight line and units
of production basis, assumed a 34% Venezuelan corporate income tax rate, and
excluded an inflation allowance.
Previous work by PAH on the Brisas Project includes the preparation of the
resource model, mine plans, resource and reserve estimates, and economic model
for the Brisas Project January 2005 Feasibility Study. Additionally, in
November 2005 PAH issued a supplement to the Feasibility Study based on
additional drillhole information. Marston & Marston Inc. (Marston) has used
the PAH resource model to develop a new mine design, production schedule and
resource and reserve estimates.
The Qualified Personnel for the updated 43-101 Report are Susan Poos of
Marston, Richard Addison of PAH, and Richard Lambert of PAH, all registered
professional engineers.
Ms. Poos has been involved with the project since January 2004. Ms. Poos was
responsible for the development of the resource and reserve estimates reported
in the 2005 Feasibility Study and the 2005 43-101 report. She was also
responsible for developing the current mine design and production schedules on
which the reserve estimate was based and providing the applicable sections of
the current 43-101 Report.
Mr. Addison reviewed the metallurgy and processing portions of the 2005 Brisas
Project Feasibility Study (previously prepared by an independent engineering
firm) and SNC-Lavalin prepared the current scope and project definition
documentation. Based on this review, he wrote the applicable sections of the
current 43-101 Report.
Mr. Lambert developed the mine capital and operating cost estimates, and the
economic model for the Feasibility Study. He has updated the capital and
operating costs in the current economic model and has provided the
corresponding sections for the current 43-101 Report.
The proven and probable reserve (within a pit design) has been estimated in
accordance with the SME Reporting Guide, SEC Industry Guide 7 and CIMM
Standards as adopted by CSA National Instrument 43-101. The qualified person
involved in the property evaluation and resource and reserve estimates was
Susan Poos, P.E. of Marston.
The 43-101 Report will be available to the public at www.sedar.com and
www.sec.gov, as well as, the Company's website at www.goldreserveinc.com
within 45 days of the date of this release.
Gold Reserve Inc. is a Canadian company, currently developing its Brisas
gold/copper project in Southeastern Venezuela. The Company currently has $32
million in cash and investments. Before full construction can proceed, the
Company must obtain the Permit to Affect Natural Resources and adequate
financing.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included herein, including those that express management's
expectations or estimates of our future performance, constitute "forward
looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements are necessarily
based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered
reasonable by management are inherently subject to significant business,
economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies.
We caution that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other risk factors that may cause the actual
financial results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be
materially different from our estimated future results, performance, or
achievements expressed or implied by those forward looking statements.
Numerous factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements, including without limitation the risk that
actual mineral reserves may vary considerably from estimates presently made,
our ability to obtain funding for development and production of the Brisas
project, the impact of currency, metal prices and metal production volatility,
the concentration of our operations and assets in Venezuela, the regulatory,
political and economic risks associated with Venezuelan operations, changes in
proposed development plans (including technology used), delays or inability in
obtaining required permits or concession interpretations or extensions, our
dependence upon the abilities and continued participation of certain key
employees, and the risks normally incident to the operation and development of
mining properties. These are discussed in greater detail in Gold Reserve's
filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov
(including under the heading "Risk Factors") and the Annual Information Form
and other reports filed with Canadian provincial securities commissions at
www.sedar.com. Gold Reserve expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to
update or revise any forward looking statement whether as a result of new
information, events or otherwise.
TO THE EXTENT IT IS DETERMINED THE COMPANY'S FINANCING PLANS WILL INCLUDE THE
ISSUANCE OF ANY SECURITIES, ANY SECURITIES THAT MAY BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO ANY
FINANCING OR OTHER OFFERING BY THE COMPANY MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE
UNITED STATES EXCEPT PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. THIS NEWS RELEASE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER
TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SUCH SECURITIES, NOR SHALL
THERE BE ANY SALE OF ANY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH AN OFFER,
SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO APPLICABLE REGISTRATION OR
QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Internet - www.goldreserveinc.com
A. Douglas Belanger, President
926 W. Sprague Ave., Suite 200
Spokane, WA 99201 USA
Tel. (509) 623-1500
Fax (509) 623-1634