https://www.miningweekly.com

Salares Norte gold project, Chile – update

5th April 2024

By: Sheila Barradas

Creamer Media Research Coordinator & Senior Deputy Editor

     

Font size: - +

Name of the Project
Salares Norte gold project.

Location
Atacama region, northern Chile.

Project Owner/s
Minera Gold Fields Salares Norte Ltda (MGFSNL), in which Gold Fields indirectly holds a 100% interest.

Project Description
Salares Norte is proposed as an openpit mining operation using conventional mining equipment. 

Average gold equivalent production for the first five full years of mine life (2025 to 2029) is expected to be 485 000 oz/y at an all-in cost (AIC) of $790/equivalent ounces oz (in 2024 money), while gold equivalent ounces produced over the life-of-mine (from 2025 to 2033) is expected to be 360 000 oz/y at an AIC of $820/equivalent ounces (in 2024 money).

Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to about 900 permanent jobs.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has an estimated net present value, at a 7.5% discount rate, of $654-million and an internal rate of return of 25%, with a payback of 2.2 years.

Capital Expenditure
Gold Fields reported in March 2024 that the total capital cost remains in line with the guidance provided in February 2024 at $1.18-billion to $1.2-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Production started in March 2024.

Latest Developments
The Salares Norte project started production with the delivery of first gold on March 28, 2024. 

Circuit A and Circuit B of the processing plant have now been commissioned and are being handed over to the operational team. Ramp-up of the project to steady state is progressing, with gold equivalent production of 250 000 oz at an all-in cost of $1790/equivalent ounce to $1 850/equivalent ounce expected for 2024.

Production volumes for 2025 are expected to be 580 000 oz.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Fluor (engineering, procurement and construction management).

Contact Details for Project Information
Gold Fields, email Investors@goldfields.com.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

The content you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION