Vancouver-based Lundin Gold has reported fourth-quarter gold production of 107,915oz, making the total output 428,514oz for 2021.

This beat the company's 2021 guidance of between 380,000oz and 420,000oz.

The 77% rise in output reflected the first full year of operations. Furthermore, production in 2020 was hit when operations at Fruta del Norte were suspended due to the COVID pandemic.

Of the total December quarterly production, 75,299oz were produced as a concentrate and 32,616oz as doré.

During the same quarter in 2020, output from Fruta del Norte - which is in southeast Ecuador - was 96,830oz, making the equivalent 2021 total a rise of 11.5%.

President and chief executive officer Ron Hochstein said the company was pleased with Fruta del Norte's first full year of production.

"This achievement would not have been possible without our team's hard work," he said.

Recoveries at Fruta del Norte were improved and a plant expansion was completed on time and on budget.

The average throughput rose from 3,500 tonnes per day to 4,200t/d.

In the fourth quarter, the mill processed 379,166 tonnes and the average grade mill was 9.9 grams per tonne. Average recovery was 89.7%.

The company said recovery rates have improved during every quarter of 2021.

Lundin described Fruta del Norte as among the highest-grade operating mines in the world.

The 2020 mineral estimate sat at 5.41Moz of gold at an average 8.1g/t and 7.68Moz of silver.