PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Dual-listed OceanaGold has increased its gold production during the three months to March 31, owing to record production from the Didipio gold mine, in the Philippines.
The ASX- and TSX-listed miner reported on Friday that gold production for the first quarter ended March had increased to 122 782 oz, compared with the 119 500 oz delivered in the previous quarter, while copper production also increased slightly to 59 722 t, compared with the 5 591 t produced in the December quarter.
OceanaGold told shareholders that the quarter-on-quarter increase in production at Didipio was a result of record quarterly mill feed and higher head grade.
Mining operations at Didipio focused on the high-grade core of Stage 5 of the openpit mine, with the majority of the ore mined stockpiled at surface.
In New Zealand, OceanaGold's Waihi operation produced 36 983 oz, while its Macraes and Reefton operations produced a combined 38 988 oz.
Production from the Macraes and Reefton operations was lower than the previous quarter owing to a decrease in production at the Reefton mine, where the operation transitioned to care and maintenance, following the depletion of stockpiles.
During the quarter under review, gold sales increased from the 143 612 oz of gold sold in the December quarter to 161 051 oz, generating revenues of A$161.1-million.