Polyus pours first gold at Natalka project in Russia

PJSC Polyus has poured the first doré gold at its Natalka greenfield project as part of the ongoing hot commissioning process at Natalka mill, Russia.

Currently, 24-hour trial runs are in-progress at the processing facility in preparation for commissioning at the Natalka project.

The company is planning to ramp-up the capacity of the processing plant, which has an existing capacity of 10mtpa, to ensure the mill delivers annual production of around 420,000oz-470,00oz for the duration of the mine-life.

Through the expansion, Polyus aims to increase overall gold production by around 2.8 million ounces in 2019.

The full ramp-up of the Natalka mill is slated for completion by the end of next year.

Natalka is estimated to have a mine life of 31 years of open-pit mining, based on the company’s current life of mine plan .

“Polyus aims to increase overall gold production by around 2.8 million ounces in 2019.”

The project is located in the Tenkinskiy District of the Magadan Region and comprises ore reserves of 16Moz and aggregate mineral resources of 34Moz.

The Natalka deposit was initially discovered in 1942, with pilot mining was carried out in 1944. A processing plant was subsequently built in 1972.

Source: mining-technology