PROFIT & LOSS

Wesdome production on track, costs rise

High-grade producer Wesdome Gold Mines expects to achieve full-year production guidance, despite its September quarter output being 30.8% lower than a year earlier.

Staff reporter
 Core from Wesdome’s Kiena complex in Quebec

Core from Wesdome’s Kiena complex in Quebec

The company produced 20,008 ounces from its Eagle River complex in Ontario, below the previous corresponding period's 28,910oz, due to lower grades and the impact of COVID-19.

The lower-grade Mishi openpit output increased from 15oz a year earlier to 689oz.

With year-to-date production of 70,272oz averaging 15.1g/t from the Eagle River underground mine, Wesdome said it was well-positioned to achieve guidance of 90,000-100,000oz at an average grade of 15-16.7g/t.

All-in sustaining costs rose 3.8% from the September 2019 quarter though to C$1,395/oz (US$1,047/oz), due to less ounces sold, partially offset by lower sustaining capex.

"However we believe the AISC will decrease to the upper end of full year guidance (C$1,350/oz)," president and CEO Duncan Middlemiss said.

Revenue was $55 million, up 19.7% from a year earlier, due to the average sales price rising from $1,957/oz to $2,532/oz.

Net adjusted income was $15.5 million or 11c per share.

Wesdome's cash position increased to $73.5 million from $66.7 million in the previous quarter.

Middlemiss said $2.8 million was spent during the September quarter on projects to advance Eagle River's future underground production to more than 600 tonnes per day.

It was also aiming to update the resource for its Kiena restart project in Quebec in the current quarter, where first gold was likely before the end of 2021, Middlemiss told Mining Journal recently.  

Drilling and access development was underway at Kiena and Wesdome was aiming to take a bulk sample from the high-grade A Zone.

Wesdome (TSX: WDO) closed down 0.3% to $13.05 and remains at the upper end of a one-year range.

The company is capitalised at $1.8 billion (US$1.4 billion).

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