Caledonia's Blanket mine records strong production

9th July 2020 By: Tasneem Bulbulia - Senior Contributing Editor Online

Gold miner Caledonia Mining's Blanket mine, in Zimbabwe, produced about 13 499 oz of gold in the quarter ended June 30.

This is an increase of about 6.2% on the 12 712 oz produced in the corresponding quarter of 2019.

This brought gold production for the first half of the year to 27 732 oz, a 12.5% increase on the 24 660 oz produced in the first half of 2019. 

Caledonia maintains its full-year production guidance at 53 000 oz to 56 000 oz and it remains on track to reach its target of 80 000 oz by 2022.

"The production of 13 499 oz in the second quarter is an outstanding achievement given the challenges faced during the quarter as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"To have achieved a 6.2% increase on the comparable quarter of 2019 during a period where our workforce and supply chains were disrupted is a performance of which every employee should be justifiably proud. Thankfully the virus has not affected our operations or the broader Zimbabwean gold mining sector too seriously although we remain vigilant,” comments CEO Steve Curtis.

"For production to be 12.5% ahead of the corresponding 2019 level at the half-year stage leaves us well placed for the full year and on track to meet our full year guidance of 53 000 oz to 56 000 oz. This strong performance and high gold prices have ensured that the business remains on a very solid foundation as we prepare for the next phase of our growth with the completion of the central shaft in 2020 and increased production to 80 000 oz by 2022,” he added.