Noche Buena
Acquired in 2008 from Seabridge as part of the Group’s district consolidation strategy; commenced operations as an open-pit gold mine in 2012. Located in the Herradura District 23 kilometres from the Herradura mine. Noche Buena produced 18% of the Group’s total gold in 2018 and generated over 9% of total Adjusted revenue.
| Ownership: |
Minera Penmont (100% Fresnillo plc) |
| Location: |
Sonora |
| Commodity: |
Gold |
| Operational since: |
2012 |
| Facilities: |
Open-pit mine, heap leach and Merrill-Crowe plant |
| Workforce: |
513 employees, 553 contractors |
| Mine Life: |
1.9 years (2017: 2.8) |
Quarterly Production
| |
3Q19 |
2Q19 |
% change |
3Q18 |
| Ore processed (t) |
3,215,167 |
3,663,549 |
-12.2 |
4,834,512 |
| Total vol. hauled (t) |
11,447,273 |
13,135,058 |
-12.8 |
20,489,682 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Production |
|
|
|
|
| Gold (oz) |
37,570 |
35,252 |
6.6 |
42,460 |
| Silver (oz) |
14 |
17 |
-13.9 |
5 |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Ore grades |
|
|
|
|
| Gold (g/t) |
0.58 |
0.56 |
4.9 |
0.52 |
| Silver (g/t) |
0.25 |
0.22 |
13.2 |
0.05 |
History
2008
Acquired through Penmont JV
2009
Exploration commenced
2011
Construction commenced
Production
Gold
(oz)
167,208
(FY18)
% (2.9) Change
Silver
(koz)
52
(FY18)
% 67.7 Change
Ore grade
(g/t)
0.52
(FY18)
% 0.0 Change
Ore dep.
(kt)
18,196
(FY18)
% 2.1 Change
Financial Highlights
Adjusted Revenue
(US$m, FY18)
211.4
% (1.9) Change
Segment Profit
(US$m, FY18)
85.9
% 13.8 Change
Capital Expenditure
(US$m, FY18)
50.2
% 168.4 Change
Exploration
(US$m, FY18)
3.0
% (47.4) Change
1H19
-
Contained costs.
-
Construction of leaching pad 7 continued.
-
Commissioned the Carbon in Column process facility.
-
Mine closure plan advanced.
3Q19
-
Quarterly gold production increased 6.6% vs. 2Q19 due to higher ore grade resulting from the increased mining in deeper areas of the pit, and an improved recovery rate driven by the larger irrigation area at the 7th leaching pad. This was partly offset by the expected lower volume of ore processed.
-
Quarterly and year to date production decreased 11.5% and 21.1% vs. 3Q18 and YTD18, respectively due to a lower volume of ore processed, but in accordance with the mine plan, mitigated by higher ore grades and recovery rates.
-
Expected gold ore grade in 2019 remains at approximately 0.55 g/t.
2H19 Priorities
- Maximise production, maintain comparative low cash cost profile.
- Complete construction of leaching pad number 7, expected by year end.
- Continue to prepare the mine for closure.
|
