PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Resolute Mining has reported a 9% increase in gold pour during the three months to June, as performance at the Syama sulphide operations improved.

Resolute on Thursday reported that gold recovery during the June quarter was up 20% on the March quarter, from 71 868 oz to 86 060 oz, while gold pour increased from 81 770 oz to 89 134 oz.

Gold sales for the quarter were down by 4% on the March quarter, from 88 773 oz to 84 944 oz, while the averaged realised price was down 2% from A$1 846/oz to A$1 802/oz.

Resolute told shareholders that the increase in gold production during the quarter was attributed to performance improvements at the Syama sulphide operation, in Mali, which was offset by scheduled minor shutdowns at Mako, in Senegal, and at the Syama oxide processing plant.

The Syama sulphide operations milled a record 610 000 t in line with a now re-rated annualised 2.4-million-tonne-a-year capacity and record roaster throughput of 49 000 t/y.

“We are particularly pleased with the performance at Syama’s sulphide operation since the scheduled maintenance shutdown in March,” said Resolute MD and CEO Terry Holohan.

“This quarter saw a 40% increase in production which is 26% higher than the average quarterly sulphide production in 2021. Despite inflationary pressures being felt, we remain focused on maintaining and improving the group’s production profile for the remainder of 2022. This, coupled with ongoing cost control efforts, should offset some of these pressures.

“We are progressing the exploration programme at Syama, which has delivered very promising drill results and has the potential to add significant sulphide resources below the historic oxide openpits at Syama North. An updated mineral resource will be announced in the second half of this year,” Holohan said.

Resolute has maintained a full-year guidance of 345 000 oz for 2022, and an all-in sustaining cost guidance of A$1 425/oz. However, the company noted that unit costs could be adversely affected if input costs continued to rise.