Nordgold announces Gross Mine Expansion Project
2020 Highlights:
- Nordgold launched the heap leach Gross mine in September 2018, the third new mine developed and launched by Nordgold since 2013
- The Gross district in Yakutia, Russia, is a world class mining district with high development potential
- c. US$58 million investment, which began in 2020, is expected to increase mining and processing capacity by approximately 24% to approximately 18 million tonnes per year from the third quarter of 2021
London, United Kingdom, 18 January 2021 — Nord Gold UK Societas (“Nordgold” or the “Company”), the internationally diversified gold producer, expects to increase mining and processing capacity of its largest mine, the flagship Gross mine (Yakutia, Russia), by approximately 24% to approximately 18 million tonnes of ore per year from the third quarter of 2021, up from 14.5 million tonnes of ore processed in 2019, following the completion of a two year expansion project that began in 2020.
The total capital expenditure on the project is expected to be approximately US$58 million.
Gross is Nordgold’s largest mine. In 2020, Gross increased production by 7% year-on-year to 278 koz, contributing 26% to Nordgold’s total production of 1,045.6 koz.
The expansion project consists of three main stages:
- the installation of additional processing equipment including a new 22 meter stacker, three adsorption columns, five new pumps and all associated infrastructure and services;
- an increase in the mining fleet by the addition of ten new mine trucks, one excavator and two drilling rigs and a number of auxiliary vehicles, including buses, fuel trucks, mobile repair units, a crane truck and a front loader; and
- the expansion of auxiliary infrastructure, including new camp facilities and laboratory equipment.
Nordgold intends to complete a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) in the first half of 2021 in respect of a plan to further increase the Gross mine’s mining and processing capacity up to approximately 26 million tonnes of ore per year from 2023, which, if successful, will be followed by a corresponding Feasibility Study (FS) expected to be completed in the second half of 2021. Initial order of magnitude assessments indicate that this expansion would require a capital investment in the region of US$150 million and increase production by up to 100 koz of gold per annum with an expected Life of Mine AISC (after expansion) of US$720/oz. These statistics are subject to confirmation by the planned PEA and FS.
“The Gross mine has been an outstanding asset for Nordgold. The mine was our third new development since 2013 and was completed on time and on budget. It has delivered excellent results from the day it was launched. The Gross district in Yakutia is a world class mining district, with high growth potential. We see considerable further opportunity at the Gross mine and are pleased to be able to announce this investment which will increase capacity. In addition, we continue development of the new Tokko project, adjacent to our Gross mine. It is expected that Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Tokko project will be completed shortly and is expected to confirm approximately 3.0 million ounces of resources with further exploration potential. Like Gross, Tokko has the potential to be developed into a mine with an estimated construction cost of US$400 million and production of approximately 200 thousand ounces per year, at life of mine AISC as low as approximately $650 per ounce. This project forms an exciting part of our longer term development strategy.” Nikolai ZelenskiNordgold CEO
Enquiries
Nordgold
Olga Ulyeva
Head of Corporate Communications
olga.ulyeva@nordgold.com
Powerscourt
Peter Ogden
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7250 1446
About Gross
Launched in 2018, the Gross mine has exceeded all expectations and has developed quickly to become Nordgold’s largest mine, and one of the largest operations in Sakha Republic. Gross is the third mine that Nordgold successfully conceived, developed, and built (in two years), after the Bissa and Bouly mines in Burkina Faso (West Africa). Gross is an all seasons heap leach open pit mine with over 17 years life of mine. It supports about 2000 jobs.
About Nordgold
Nordgold is an internationally diversified one million ounce gold producer with over 8,000 people operating a portfolio of ten mines (in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Russia and Kazakhstan) and a number of development and exploration projects in West Africa, Eurasia and the Americas. Since its foundation in 2007, Nordgold has established a global reputation as a leading developer of tier one gold mining assets with a proven commitment to community engagement, sustainability, efficiency and operating in an environmentally responsible manner.