AngloGold Ashanti has declared commercial production at the Boston Shaker underground mine three months after firing the first production stope, and is now ramping up towards its 1.1Mtpa design production rate expected to be reached by March 2021.
The first underground operation at AngloGold’s 70%-owned Tropicana JV with IGO is forecast to deliver 100,000ozpa gold over seven years from a 317,000oz (2.8Mt @ 3.84g/t) ore reserve, with significant potential to increase at depth.
The new mine will sustain production in the coming year following completion of Tropicana’s initial openpit and treatment of low-grade stockpiles during transition to the new Havana cutback, with forecast output declining to 380,000-430,000oz at AISC of $A1,730-1,8670/oz from 463,118oz at $1,171/oz in FY20.
The development and commissioning by contractor Macmahon of the new mine 330km NE of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia was completed on time and below its $US79.3M budget.