Barrick said Nevada Gold Mines, its majority-owned joint venture with Newmont, has commissioned the first seven of a new 22-unit Komatsu 930E fleet of electric mine trucks ahead of schedule. The rest of the fleet is due later this year.
Nevada Gold Mines Chairman Mark Bristow said that despite the exceptional quality of the complex’s assets and vast potential, addressing processing constraints is needed to enhance operational flexibility.
“We see at each of the three Tier One assets (Carlin, Cortez and Turquoise Ridge) multiple opportunities to strengthen the life of mine with near-mine growth using the current infrastructure in the midterm (Leeville, Ren); new projects that can extend the use of the processing facilities (Robertson); and a long-term portfolio targeting significant brownfields and greenfields (Fourmile, Turquoise Ridge Underground) to sustain current production past the 15-year window,” said Bristow.
“We’re planning to achieve this by increasing processing and mining run times, stepping up development at all the underground mines, improving and standardizing maintenance management, identifying and implementing efficiency initiatives, and tightening control of compliance with mine plans.”
Nevada Gold Mines’ assets comprise 10 underground and 12 open pit mines, two autoclave facilities, two roasting facilities, four oxide mills, a flotation plant and five heap leach facilities. Its considered the single largest gold-producing complex in the world.
Source: Barrick