TSX-listed Lundin Gold has completed the south ventilation raise (SVR) at its Fruta del Norte gold mine, in south-east Ecuador, which will allow for the entirety of the deposit to be accessed and mined.
The SVR has been under construction for the past three years, during which the project encountered delays owing to Covid and various technical challenges.
In mid-2021, Lundin revised the work plan from a traditional 5.1 m raise bore to a 2.1-m-diameter pilot raise, followed by top-down slashing to 5.1 m and concrete lining.
The slash and line were completed in early October and commissioning of the fans was achieved over the past couple of weeks.
The completion of the SVR increases ventilation in the mine from 180 m3/s to 350 m3/s, resulting in improved efficiencies and enabling mining activities on all levels.
“The SVR project has had its challenges, but the team has worked tirelessly to ensure that the delays did not impact operations. With the SVR now complete and commissioned, the entirety of the Fruta del Norte deposit can be accessed and mined, and haul truck cycle times can be improved,” said president and CEO Ron Hochstein.