Centerra reduces Mt Milligan mill production

2nd April 2020 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Canadian miner Centerra Gold will reduce its workforce and cut its mill throughput to 50 000 t/d for a two-week period, starting on April 6.

The company explains that the remote mine has a large camp accommodation facility where substantially all of the on-site employees reside while on their rotation. The next scheduled rotation change is April 6.

During this two-week period, mill feed will be sourced from surface ore stockpiles and be processed using only the primary crusher. Centerra says mining activities will continue, but will be limited to support building of the tailings storage facility.

The site will also continue preparation to capture and store the maximum volume of water from the upcoming spring melt. 

Elsewhere, Centerra has reduced manpower and operations at the Öksüt project, in Turkey, on March 31, for an initial two-week period. The decision was taken in response to recent Turkish government initiatives aimed to reducing the spread of Covid-19.

The company has also temporarily closed its head office in Toronto and regional offices in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Prince George, British Columbia and Ankara, Turkey and has asked its workforce to operate remotely.

Kumtor, in Kyrgyzstan continues for the time being.

The company says it is continuing to review the impact of Covid-19 on its 2020 production and cost guidance, but stresses that it has significant liquidity, including cash net of debt of about $35-million as at March 31, and total overall liquidity in excess of $500-million.