Batu Hijau’s copper, gold decline in Q3
Thursday, November 2 2006 - 09:14 AM WIB
US-based gold miner Newmont Mining Corporation reported Thursday consolidated copper and gold sales from Batu Hijau mine in West Nusa Tenggara declined to 90 million pounds and 59 million ounces in the third quarter of 2006 from 190 million pounds and 289 million ounces respectively in the same period last year.
Newmont said in its quarterly report that copper sales decreased due to the reducing mill output which was caused by a harder ore and lower ore grade in the quarter.
Consolidated sales for 2006 are expected to total between 215 and 230 million pounds of copper and between 185,000 and 200,000 ounces of gold, Newmont said.
Sales are expected to continue at these levels through 2009, Newmont said.
Newmont expanded its Batu Hijau mine fleet with 26 new haul trucks, an additional shovel and currently evaluating additional grinding capacity to increase mill output. (denny)