Wesdome plans to increase the production rate at its Eagle River mill in Ontario from 980 mt/d of gold ore to 1,380 mt/d by 2019.
The expansion will also include a new tailings management facility. (Photo: Wesdome Gold Mines)

The increased gold production rate at Eagle River will be achieved by increasing the mill processing rate from 980 mt/d in 2016 to 1,380 mt/d in 2019. Operating costs are forecast to drop from a range of C$1,070 to C$1,190/oz in 2016 to a range of C$795 to C$880/oz in 2019.

Concurrently, Wesdome plans to construct a new tailings management facility with an operating life of at least 10 years to accommodate higher levels of mill throughput, as well as to provide a modern facility for tailings management.

Wesdome president and CEO Rolly Uloth said, “Wesdome’s core growth strategy is to expand margins with modest capital outlays. The mill expansion is within this strategy and is designed to increase output from low-cost Mishi ore. Additionally, once the high-grade Eagle River underground mine development is completed to access all three high-grade parallel zones, we expect to deliver strong free cash flow for years to come.”