(Kitco News) - Orla Mining (TSX: OLA; NYSE:ORLA) today reported that construction of its Camino Rojo gold project was 89%complete as of September 30, 2021, and that the project is on schedule forfirst pour in December 2021 and commercial production in the first quarter of2022.
Importantly, the company saidthat wet commissioning with introduction of ore into the crushing circuit hascommenced, with ramp up of mining activities in line with plan.
The company added that constructionactivities planned for the fourth quarter will primarily focus on completion ofdry commissioning followed by wet commissioning and leaching to achieve thefirst gold pour in December 2021.
This includes commissioningof the crushing, conveying, and stacking equipment, application of cyanide onthe heap leach pad, and commissioning of the Merrill-Crowe plant and refinery.
Project to date safety andenvironmental performance have been excellent and strict COVID-19 measuresimplemented at Camino Rojo have allowed construction progress to continueuninterrupted, the company noted in a statement.
"The march towards first goldpour continues at Camino Rojo and the team is focused on achieving thisimportant milestone by year end," said President and CEO Jason Simpson. "Whilethe rate of construction advance has been impressive, I am most encouraged bythe diligence exhibited by our team in maintaining a safe and healthy operationduring this intensive and challenging period."
Orla is developing the CaminoRojo oxide gold project, an advanced gold and silver open-pit and heap leachproject, located in Zacatecas State, Central Mexico. Orla also owns 100% of theCerro Quema project located in Panama which includes a near-term goldproduction scenario and various exploration targets. The Cerro Quema project isa proposed open pit mine and gold heap leach operation.
By Vladimir BasovFor Kitco News
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