B2Gold expects 10koz lower Q2 production after fire damage
TSX- and NYSE-listed B2Gold has developed a preliminary revised mill processing plan for the Goose mine, in Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut, Canada, following a fire incident on April 16.
While the company confirmed to injuries to personnel, nor damage to the mine's mill or power facility, it did find localised fire damage worth about C$10-million to the crushing circuit area.
The Goose mine currently has mobile crushers available on site and the preliminary operational plan is to use these mobile crushers to feed crushed ore directly to the fine ore stockpile. B2Gold has sourced additional temporary crushing capacity, which will be transported to the mine in the second quarter to supplement the mobile crushers.
B2Gold estimates the repairs to the crushing circuit will be completed in the third quarter and will coincide with the company's previously announced addition of a run-of-mine bin and apron feeder.
The Goose mine crushing circuit will be able to operate at an average daily capacity of about 3 200 t by the end of the third quarter.
Gold production is expected to continue over the near-term, albeit at a reduced level than previously anticipated in the second quarter owing to lower throughput rates of crushed ore.
The prior estimate was that Goose would produce 29 000 oz in the second quarter, which has been revised down to between 18 000 and 20 000 oz.
B2Gold left its guidance for the full year unchanged at between 170 000 and 230 000 oz owing to the impact of the fire damage being limited to the second quarter of the year, and the availability of crushed ore in the second half of the year remains unchanged from previous estimates.
