Gold Road Resources continues to process stockpiles at its Gruyere gold project in Western Australia despite incurring six months’ worth of rain in less than two weeks.
Gruyere – which is a joint venture between Gold Fields and Gold Road – has been lashed with more than 50 per cent of average annual rainfall for the region in the first two weeks of March, stifling operations as a result.
Gruyere has received over 140mm of rain so far this month, with the nearby town of Laverton reporting around 110mm over the same period.
The substantial rainfall event has resulted in the closure of Laverton Shire roads that provide access to Gruyere and the suspension of mining operations, with the likely resumption of open pit access expected next week.
The company said it has been processing stockpiles for much of the month while mining operations are suspended.
March quarterly gold production is anticipated to be in the range of 68,000–73,000 ounces (oz).
Despite the recent rainfall, the 2024 annual guidance for Gruyere is unchanged, sitting between 300,000 and 335,000oz at an attributable all-in sustaining cost of between $1900–2050/oz.
Gold Road expects mining and production to continue to ramp up through the first half of 2024 with stronger production performance expected for the second half of the year.
Total material movement rates ramped up to targeted annualised daily rates prior to the deluge.
As Gold Road gears up to grow Gruyere, the company’s mining contractor MACA has recruited labour to support the ongoing expansion.
Gold Road remains focused on bench turnover of the stage three and four pits to improve access to ore at Gruyere.
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