Ascot Resources has placed its Premier gold mine in northwestern British Columbia on care and maintenance to enable ample mine development. Currently, the number of stoping areas is insufficient for the amount of ore needed to feed the mill adequately.
The Canadian miner’s initial estimate is that approximately three to six months of development will be required to be undertaken, primarily at Premier Northern Lights, subject to further investigation and cost determinations.
“This is difficult news for all of our stakeholders, and especially all of our employees and contractors who have worked extremely hard during the commissioning period,” said CEO Derek White. “The company believes we need to focus on mine development to prioritize asset value and ensure we have the best path forward to sustainable and profitable operations.”
At the end of August, Ascot had a cash resource of approximately C$15 million. The miner said that it expected the funds to be sufficient enough for properly suspending operations during the upcoming winter season and ensuring compliance with all environmental programs. However, Ascot noted that “there is no certainty the Company will be able to raise the funds required to complete the necessary mine development work and to restart operations.”
Source: Ascot Resources