Gold Road Resources has detailed further rain impacts to the Gruyere joint venture it shares with Gold Fields.
In early March, the gold miner said it continued to process stockpiles at the site despite incurring six months’ worth of rain in less than two weeks.
Now, Gold Road has revealed that access roads to Gruyere have been impacted by further “significant and atypical” rainfall taking place between March 19–28.
“Fortunately, the processing of low-grade stockpiles has continued through most of the rain impacted period,” Gold Road said.
“However, plant operations were suspended from March 28, with a scheduled plant shut down for maintenance brought forward to minimise the impacts on annual gold production.”
The main supply route to Gruyere – the Great Central Road – has been closed since March 5 due to extensive flood damage, leading to reduced mining for the March 2024 quarter.
The Gruyere JV has been working with the Laverton Shire, Yilka and other communities to complete repairs to the Great Central Road by utilising earthmoving equipment and personnel from Gruyere.
Gold Road said repairs to the flooded sections of the Great Central Road are “likely to take some time” and Gruyere operations are anticipated to resume during the first week of April.
“Despite the extended impact of the rainfall events, 2024 annual guidance for Gruyere is still anticipated to be in the lower half of guidance of between 300,000 and 335,000 ounces (150,000 to 167,500 ounces attributable) and the upper half of attributable AISC (all-in sustaining cost) of between $1900 and $2050 per ounce,” the company said.
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