Mining News
Eldorado Gold says Q1 production impacted by 'higher-than-anticipated' absenteeism related to COVID-19
(Kitco News) - Eldorado Gold (TSX: ELD) today announced Q1 2022 preliminary gold production of 93,209 ounces (Q1 2021: 111,742 ounces) and said it maintains full year production guidance of 460,000 to 490,000 ounces.
According to the company’s statement, production during January and February was impacted by higher-than-anticipated absenteeism related to the surge of the
COVID-19 Omicron variant.
At the Lamaque gold mine in Canada, reduced workforce hours early in the quarter due to COVID-related absenteeism delayed the underground development of high-grade stopes, which led to lower than planned gold grades and tonnage, the company said.
However, Eldorado noted that mine development progressed and the planned gold grade and tonnage were achieved in March, adding that full-year gold production is expected to be in line with guidance.
Gold production during the first quarter at Kisladag (Turkey) was lower than planned as a result of COVID-related absenteeism, severe weather, and a government-mandated power outage, the company said.
The company anticipates that production at Kisladag to be weighted to the second half of the year and maintains full year production guidance.
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At Efemcukuru (Turkey), gold production, throughput, and average gold grade were in line with expectations, despite experiencing COVID-related absenteeism.
In the early part of the quarter, gold production at Olympias (Greece) was impacted by COVID-related absenteeism, in addition to power outages related to severe weather patterns in the region.
The company added that operations at Olympias resumed mining to plan and achieved planned tonnage and grades from the mine in March.
Eldorado is a gold and base metals producer with mining, development and exploration operations in Turkey, Canada, Greece and Romania.