ACG Metals has produced its first copper concentrate at the Gediktepe mine in Türkiye, marking the transition of the sulphide operation into its production ramp-up phase.
The milestone follows commissioning activities at the mine and represents a shift from Gediktepe’s previous gold and silver heap-leach operation toward the production of copper and zinc concentrates.
Gediktepe Moves Into Production Ramp-Up
ACG said first concentrate was produced on August 31, allowing the company to move beyond construction and commissioning and focus on establishing stable operating performance. The next stage will centre on increasing plant throughput, recoveries and concentrate quality as ACG works toward planned full production by the end of 2026. The company has maintained its 2026 production guidance of 20,000-22,000 tonnes of copper equivalent. It also continues to forecast all-in sustaining costs of $2.40-$2.60 per lb of copper equivalent. The ability to reach those targets will depend on the plant achieving consistent throughput and recoveries while producing concentrates that meet commercial specifications.
Sulphide Processing Brings New Operating Challenges
The transition to sulphide processing introduces greater operational complexity than the oxide heap-leach process previously used at Gediktepe. ACG will need to manage changing ore characteristics while maintaining stable processing performance and producing saleable copper and zinc concentrates. As a result, the ramp-up will be assessed through more than the volume of ore processed. Recovery rates, concentrate grades and payable metal production will be key indicators of the operation’s progress.
Copper Exposure Adds Strategic Importance
Gediktepe gives ACG additional exposure to copper, a metal for which mining companies are seeking new sources of supply, particularly through existing and brownfield projects that can potentially reach production faster than major greenfield developments. Türkiye also provides Gediktepe with an established mining environment, developed infrastructure and access to European and regional metal markets.
With first concentrate achieved, the project’s main challenge now shifts from completing construction and commissioning to operational execution. ACG must demonstrate that the processing plant can operate consistently at its designed throughput and that copper and zinc recoveries are sufficient to support the company’s production and cost targets. For investors, first concentrate marks an important reduction in commissioning risk, but the project now enters a ramp-up period in which operational performance becomes the primary focus. Sustained throughput, concentrate quality, recoveries and progress toward the upper end of ACG’s copper-equivalent production guidance will be among the key measures of Gediktepe’s performance.
