PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Perseus Mining has reported an uptick in gold production during the three months to September, producing 65 825 oz during the quarter.
The September quarter production was up from the 64 125 oz produced in the June quarter, as gold production at the Edikan mine, in Ghana, increased by 4%, to 44 088 oz, and by 1% at Sissingue, to 21 737 oz.
Perseus on Monday said that the Edikan operation benefitted from higher throughput rates and improved gold recovery rates during the quarter, which offset the 6% lower head-grade of the ore being processed.
For its part, the Sissingue operation also experienced higher throughput rates during the quarter, elevated run times, and steady gold recovery rates, which all worked to impact a 7% decline in head grades, compared with the June quarter.
Perseus noted that all-in sustaining costs (AISC) for the quarter were also down by 7%, to $922/oz, reflecting the higher gold production and the decreased unit costs at both of the gold mines.
Looking ahead, Perseus is expecting gold production to reach between 120 000 oz and 140 000 oz in the six months to December, and between 260 000 oz and 300 000 oz for the full fiscal year, while AISC have been estimated at between $850/oz and $1 000/oz for the half-year, and between $800/oz and $975/oz for the full year.