Full Press Release Details
Aurora Cannabis Provides Update on Global
Operations and Growth Initiatives
TSX: ACB | NYSE: ACB
Cultivation Leadership Further Strengthened as Global
Facilities Achieve Significant Milestones
Global Market Expansion Continues in Medical Cannabis
Network of Strategic Partners Continue to Demonstrate
Value on Strong Execution
EDMONTON, Oct. 3, 2019 /CNW/ - Aurora Cannabis
Inc. (the "Company" or "Aurora") (NYSE | TSX: ACB), the Canadian company defining the future
of cannabis worldwide, today provided a corporate update on its global operations, business units, and portfolio of strategic investments.
As a global leader in cannabis revenues, cannabis production, research, innovation, and international market development, the Company
will provide regular, quarterly updates to its stakeholders in an effort to demonstrate continued transparency and disclosure.
The Company also launched today, Aurora Insider, an investor focused blog which will provide regular updates and insight
into the operations at Aurora.
"Aurora takes its leadership position
in the global cannabis industry seriously, and is committed to being open and transparent with all of our stakeholders," said
Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora. "The Aurora team is working to advance several major strategic initiatives in Canada, the United
States and abroad aimed at further strengthening Aurora's global position. We are laser-focused on delivering on our business plan
and prudently managing our investors' capital."
Update on Facilities in Construction:
As Aurora executes on its strategy of leading
scalable, purpose-built cultivation, it continues to prudently manage capital allocation decisions driven by global forecasts for
demand. Many of the Company's significant construction projects are nearing completion of major milestones with significant capital
investments concluded.
Aurora Sun and Aurora Nordic 2 Construction
Aurora continues to progress construction of
its 1.6 million square foot facility, Aurora Sun, located in Medicine Hat, Alberta, and its 1 million square foot facility, Nordic
Sky, strategically located in Odense, Denmark. The new purpose-built, "Sky Class" facilities Aurora are constructing
will have full control over all anticipated environmental and harvest conditions, resulting in the production of consistently high
yielding, high-quality cannabis at low-cost.
Mr. Booth added, "Aurora Sun in Medicine
Hat and Aurora Nordic in Denmark represent the next evolution of our "Sky Class" cultivation philosophy and construction
of these projects is proceeding well. Aurora Sun is nearing completion with the majority of capital investment now behind us, while
at Aurora Nordic the primary outdoor construction, including the enclosure of the facility, nears completion. Our design philosophy
allows for flexibility in licensing and commissioning in-line with the long-term growth in global demand for medical cannabis."
Aurora Sun, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada (August
29, 2019) (CNW Group/Aurora Cannabis Inc.)
Aurora Nordic Sky 2, Odense, Denmark (September
19, 2019) (CNW Group/Aurora Cannabis Inc.)
Construction of Aurora Polaris Nears
Construction of Aurora Polaris, the Company's
hub for industrial-scale production of higher margin, value-added products, such as edibles and vape products, is near completion.
Building occupancy is expected October 31, 2019 with staff starting to move in as early as the first week of November. Warehouse
racking is expected to arrive the first week of October.
drone footage of Aurora Polaris
Whistler Pemberton Facility Construction
Construction of the Whistler Pemberton facility
remains on track for completion in calendar Q4 2019. To date, four rooms are fully operational with an annual capacity of 1,200
kg of premium certified organic cannabis. Eleven additional rooms are expected to come on-line beginning in November
2019. Upon completion Pemberton is expected to produce in excess of 4,500 kg per year of certified premium organic cannabis. The
Company's organic consumer brand, Whistler Cannabis Co., intends to launch new cannabis derivative products in the consumer
market including organic certified hash and resin upon legalization in December 2019.
The Pemberton facility will incorporate a public
lounge to educate visitors to the region about Whistler and its history as cultivation pioneers of organic certified cannabis.
Whistler, British Columbia attracts over 2.7 million visitors annually and consistently ranks as one of the top global travel destinations.
Anandia to Open State-of-the-Art Cannabis
Testing Headquarters
On October 8, 2019, Anandia Laboratories Inc
("Anandia"), Aurora's wholly-owned cannabis testing subsidiary, will officially open its new headquarters in Vancouver,
British Columbia. This new facility adds 12,600 square feet of laboratory space and approximately 40 new employees, bringing
the total Anandia headcount to over 100. A further 13,000 square feet of office space is scheduled to be added to the headquarters
by the end of 2019. This represents a 700% total increase of Anandia's Canadian footprint in the last year, enabling Anandia to
scale up and service more Canadian licensed producers in support of cannabis patients and consumers.
Currently, Anandia is implementing state-of-the-art
technology and automation to increase efficiency. The new facility is capable of performing an industry leading number of different
tests on cannabis and cannabis products, including tests for 14 different cannabinoids. The new headquarters also contain
a unique plant tissue culture facility that will offer genetics archiving and backup services to support the plant genetics needs
of licensed producers to strengthen productivity of this new high-value crop and the cannabis industry in general.
Canadian Cannabis Innovation Center
Construction of Aurora's purpose-built cannabis
innovation center in Comox, British Columbia is on track for completion in December 2019 and is on budget. The new facility includes
a 22,500 square foot greenhouse and an accompanying 10,000 square foot laboratory. The Comox facility will focus on the development
of valuable IP, new genetics and specialized cultivation technology to further improve production in Aurora's Sky Class facilities.
Update on Operational Facilities:
Clone-to-Sale Tour of Aurora Sky
Production at Aurora Sky, the Company's flagship
production facility, continues to scale on track of the facility's annual production target of more than 100,000 kg of cannabis
per year. Located near the Edmonton International Airport, Aurora Sky is the Company's most technologically advanced production
facility in operation with 16 flower rooms and state-of-the-art automation to ensure precise control of each environmental variable
required for the consistent production of high-quality and low-cost cannabis. Take a unique, behind the scenes journey through
the most technologically advanced cannabis cultivation facility through an in-depth, clone-to-sale tour of the facility:
a clone-to-sale tour of Aurora Sky
First Outdoor Harvest at Aurora Valley
The first harvest at Aurora Valley, located
in Westwold, British Columbia, began on Wednesday October 2, 2019. Spanning more than 200 acres, the first harvest includes approximately
55,000 cannabis plants across six unique plant cultivars: Banana Split, Blue Dream, Cannatonic, Chocolope, Krypt Melon, and LA
Confidential. The cannabis will be shipped to Aurora Sky for extraction and further testing. This first harvest is an important
milestone for the Company as it develops cultivation techniques to further excel at growing cannabis in varying climate conditions
and examines approaches to environmentally responsible cannabis agriculture. The cultivation research performed this year is anticipated
to help the Company develop new technology, genetics and intellectual property in order to drive sustainable, high-quality outdoor
drone footage of Aurora Valley
Aurora Mountain Solar Panel Installation
Earlier this year Aurora entered into a long-term
electricity purchase contract to buy power from a 600-kW roof top solar project installed at Aurora's first flagship location,
Aurora Mountain located in Mountain View County, Alberta. The solar installation consists of 1,768 solar modules connected
directly to Alberta's power grid which will seamlessly supply the Mountain facility with green electricity. As the industry
leader in integrating technology into the design and operation of its facilities, Aurora identified the alternative energy pilot
project as an ideal way to explore the use of solar at one of its facilities. without any new investment cost. The project
is expected to reduce greenhouse gases and based on a third-party price forecast, Aurora expects the solar project will result