PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Evolution Mining has reported record quarterly cash flows during the three months ended March as gold production hit targets.

During the quarter under review, Evolution produced 103 305 oz of gold, which was in line with its guidance but slightly below the 113 280 oz produced during the previous quarter.

Evolution told shareholders on Monday that the Edna May mine, in Western Australia, delivered another strong quarter, producing 25 267 oz of gold during the quarter, compared with the 29 906 oz produced in the previous quarter. A major shutdown in January, during which plant maintenance was conducted, impacted slightly on production.

The Cracow mine, in Queensland, delivered 20 112 oz of gold, compared with 23 380 oz delivered in the December quarter, owing to an increase in lower-grade development ore as well as a higher proportion of stope tonnes, which also resulted in higher unit cash costs during the quarter.

The Pajingo mine, also in Queensland, saw an increase in gold production, from 14 118 oz produced in the previous quarter to 18 151 oz. Planned higher-grade stopes and the start of remnant ounces contributed to the higher gold production at Pajingo.

Meanwhile, production at the Mt Rawdon mine, in Queensland, decreased from 27 066 oz in the December quarter to 21 315 oz, as heavy rains from the ex-tropical cyclone Marcia in February briefly interrupted mining. The rains also restricted access to higher-grade ore in the latter half of the quarter.

A total of 18 450 oz of gold was also produced from the Mt Carlton mine, in Queensland, which was comparable to the 18 909 oz produced in the previous quarter.

Free cash flow during the quarter reached A$26.9-million, far exceeding any previous quarter in the company’s three-and-a-half-year history. Evolution noted that the higher cash flow was a reflection of the continued focus on reducing costs and improving operational efficiencies.

For the full 2015 financial year, Evolution said it expected to produce between 400 000 oz and 440 00 oz of gold, at a C1 cost of between A$750/oz and A$820/oz.

The miner on Monday inked a binding agreement with private miner La Mancha to acquire all of that company’s Australian gold assets. This deal would see Evolution’s gold production increase to between 530 000 oz/y and 600 000 oz/y.