Aureus Mining has improved performance and production at its New Liberty gold mine, in Liberia, in the first few weeks of 2016 after raising recovery levels towards design levels.
Total gold production since 1 January 2016 is 11.0 koz, versus 17.2 koz produced from the official opening of the mine in August 2015 to the end of the year.
In January, the company started to optimise the plant and has made incremental improvements in the gravity circuit and improved the CIL leach kinetics. Gold recovery levels have accordingly increased from approximately 73% in mid-January to in excess of 87%. Further improvements in gold recovery are expected following the introduction of new carbon into the CIL circuit.
The company has once again delayed commercial production, which is now expected by the end of March.
The company expects to announce an updated mine plan by the end of February and this will form the basis of discussions with the company’s bankers on deferral of the first debt repayment, which was due on 31 January 2016.
Aureus increases gold recovery rates at New Liberty: AUE