A disappointing performance from one of Northern Star Resources’ three production hubs has kept overall full-year gold sales at the lower end of the precious metal miner’s guidance.
Yandal — which incorporates the Jundee, Thunderbox and Bronzewing mines in the northern Goldfields — reported total sales of 491,000 ounces, well outside Northern Star’s forecast 500,000oz to 570,000oz range in what in described as a “challenging” year.
It blamed the miss on lower-than-planned plant availability at Jundee and Thunderbox throughout the year, along with weather impacts in the March quarter.
But it was better news for the miner’s Kalgoorlie hub — which includes the famous Super Pit — and its Pogo production centre in Alaska, which both hit targets of 851,000oz and 278,000oz, respectively.
All-in costs at both hubs were also within guidance — at $1701/oz and $2037/oz, respectively — while Yandal again missed the mark, turning out gold at $2012/oz.
Overall sales came in at 1.621 million ounces at all-in costs of $1853/oz. It is targeting sales of between 1.65moz and 1.8moz this financial year at costs of between $1850/oz and $2100/oz.
More to come