Toronto’s IAMGOLD said construction progress of its Côté mine project near Gogama is at the 92 per cent mark.
In a news release, the company said activity is at a point where construction is largely wrapping up and pre-production teams are moving in to begin commissioning various elements of the open-pit operation.
Côté is expected to start gold production sometime during the first quarter of 2024.
Mining is already underway, having started last July. In the course of digging out the pit, 3.7 million tonnes of gold-enriched material has been stockpiled, on track to compile 5 million tonnes by year’s end.
The workforce at the site, located halfway between Sudbury and Timmins, averaged between 1,800 and 1,900 in September.
While labour availability and turnover is a concern, the company said on the hiring front it’s filled 400 positions.
On the construction side, the first phase of the tailings dam is complete and ready to store up to one million square metres of water.
Main construction at the processing plant will wrap by the end of this month.
The main electrical substation and hook-ups to the provincial power grid is done. Extending power across the site continues.
Mine development has reached down 364-metre bench level in the south end of the pit.
An interesting aspect of Côté will be its use of autonomous vehicles. Ten CAT 793F autonomous haul trucks are already running.
More equipment is coming on site in the form of electric shovels, loaders and dozers.
Autonomous drilling is underway with four rigs now in operation in the pit.
The company said all critical permitting and environmental work is done. Community consultation with its Indigenous project partners and implementing an impact benefit agreement still continues.
Meanwhile, drilling continues to outline and expand the gold resource at a nearby satellite deposit called Gosselin.
The company said the favourable assay results are indicating a “highly prospective corridor” that extends beyond the last mineral estimate posted in 2021. A new mineral estimate on Gosseliin comes out at year’s end.
IAMGOLD will be posting its third quarter results on Nov. 9.
