Interview with Judy Baker, Director & CEO of Argo Gold Inc.

Recording date: 9th January 2025

Argo Gold, a Canadian junior oil producer, has successfully transformed from a gold exploration company into a profitable oil producer in Alberta's Lloydminster region. The company currently generates $2.8M in revenue and $1.8M in net operating cash flow from its oil operations, which produce approximately 120 barrels of oil per day.

Originally founded in 2016 as a gold exploration company in Ontario, Argo Gold pivoted to the oil sector in 2023, recognizing significant opportunities in the Canadian oil patch due to lack of capital investment. The company deployed $1.8 million to participate in three successful heavy oil development wells in the Lloydminster area, where major producers like CNRL and Baytex also operate.

The economics of Argo's heavy oil business are particularly attractive, with all-in costs averaging $25 per barrel while realizing sale prices of $71 per barrel over the past two years. The company maintains low corporate overhead at $400,000 annually and leverages expert consultants rather than maintaining a full-time technical team, allowing for operational flexibility and cost efficiency.

Looking ahead, Argo Gold plans to pay down its $1 million debt in 2025 and aims to initiate a dividend of approximately one cent per share in 2026. The company maintains a dual focus, continuing its oil development drilling while also holding strategic mineral claims, including a 200 square kilometer land position near the Rottenstone discovery in Saskatchewan and uranium claims in the Athabasca Basin.

CEO Judy Baker emphasizes the company's advantageous position in the Canadian heavy oil market, noting strong demand from US refineries and reliable export infrastructure via pipelines and rail. Despite federal government policies creating headwinds for the Canadian oil industry, Argo benefits from supportive provincial regulations in Alberta.

With a market capitalization of approximately C$6M, Argo Gold represents a unique investment opportunity in the Canadian resource sector. The company combines current cash flow from oil production with potential upside from its mineral claims, which it hopes to develop through exploration partnerships. Its strategy focuses on maintaining low costs and high margins in its core oil business while providing investors with exposure to strategic minerals through a prospect generator model.

The company's evolution showcases an opportunistic approach to resource development, adapting to market conditions while maintaining a focus on generating shareholder value through both operational cash flow and strategic asset development.

View Argo Gold's company profile: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/argo-gold

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