Otago Daily Times

Oceana delivers 14% lift in gold production

- SIMON HARTLEY simon.hartley@odt.co.nz

STRONG gold production across all of Oceana Gold’s four mines has meant a 14% quarteronq­uarter production lift.

The mines’ delivered 268,596oz of gold and 7808 tonnes of copper for its Oceana’s firsthalf trading period to the end of June.

This time last year Oceana had produced 272,352oz and 10,277 tonnes of copper.

In June, Oceana increased its calendar 2018 production guidance range to between 500,000oz to 540,000oz and up to 16,000 tonnes of copper.

Of its four mines, Macraes in East Otago made the largest contributi­on for the first half, with production at 94,786oz; booking a 13% quarteronq­uarter lift.

Oceana chief executive Mick Mr Wilkes said the secondquar­ter gold production of 142,950oz was 14% higher compared to previous quarter of

2018, which reflected stronger production across all its mine assets.

Copper production at the Didipio mine in the northern Philippine­s for the period was 7808 tonnes.

He said at Macraes the 13% quarteronq­uarter increase in production was related to processing higher grades to get better recoveries, delivering 94,786oz of gold.

Mr Wilkes said the firsthalf production of 268,597oz was ‘‘broadly inline’’ with the correspond­ing period a year ago, noting at Haile, South Carolina, there was a ‘‘steady state’’ of operations during the sixmonth period which offset lower production at Didipio in the Philippine­s.

He said at Haile the quarteronq­uarter production increase was mainly attributab­le to improved plant availabili­ty and utilisatio­n rates.

Gold recovery had remained steady in the low 80% range and Mr Wilkes said progress was continuing with installati­on of an upgraded fine grind circuit to further improve recoveries and its commission­ing was expected early next year.

At Didipio, Mr Wilkes said the 30% quarteronq­uarter production increase came from the continued rampup of undergroun­d operations and implementa­tion of a revised mine plan.

At Waihi, which produced 39,320oz of gold for the half year, the 12% quarteronq­uarter production increase came from better equipment utilisatio­n and higher mill throughput.

Oceana has begun resource consenting at Waihi, to open up a new undergroun­d operation beneath the historic Martha pit; which is closed down. The new mine could add a decade of mine life to the Waihi operations. Oceana’s complete financial and operationa­l results are scheduled for release later this month.

 ?? PHOTO: SUPPLIED ?? Tracking . . . Gold production from Oceana Gold’s open pit Haile mine in South Carolina (pictured) offset a decline in production from its Philippine­s operation.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED Tracking . . . Gold production from Oceana Gold’s open pit Haile mine in South Carolina (pictured) offset a decline in production from its Philippine­s operation.

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