An overview of the plant construction site in July 2023.
The $1.23-billion Greenstone project, in Ontario, Canada, is progressing on budget and schedule to pour gold in the first half of next year, 60%-owner Equinox Gold reported on Tuesday.
With overall construction hitting the 85% completion mark, the team’s focus is shifting toward commissioning and operational readiness of Greenstone, which will produce 400 000 oz/y.
In a construction update, the company reports that all major equipment for the mining project is on site.
Mechanical installations are 75% complete and electrical and piping installations are both 67% complete.
Power plant construction is complete and pre-commissioning commenced in the second quarter of 2023.
The Highway 11 relocation is substantially complete and ahead of schedule, with handover planned for the third quarter.
With all auxiliary facilities now handed over to operations, the remaining construction effort is focused on completion of the process plant and tailings storage facility (TSF).
Further, the first two Epiroc Pit Viper 235 drill rigs and the eighth CAT 793F haul truck were commissioned during the quarter. Mine pre-production activities have been operating 24/7 since the fourth quarter of last year, with more than 10.6-million tonnes of material moved to date. The current priority for mined material continues to be supplying waste rock for the TSF and other construction activities.
Mining of ore for the commissioning stockpile is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2023.