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Highlights
- Aya Gold & Silver reaches commercial production at Zgounder Mine, Morocco.
- New Zgounder mill processed 45,683 tonnes of ore, achieving 76% of nameplate capacity.
- Company continues ramp-up efforts with a target to reach nameplate capacity by Q1 2025.
Aya Gold & Silver Inc. (TSX: AYA; OTCQX: AYASF) is pleased to announce that it has officially reached commercial production at its 100% owned Zgounder Mine, located in the Kingdom of Morocco. This significant milestone comes after the mill began processing ore on November 4th, 2024, and the first silver pour occurred just three weeks later on November 27th. Commercial production was officially achieved on December 29th, less than two months after the first ore was processed.
Over the 30-day period ending on December 29th, a total of 45,683 tonnes of ore were processed at the new processing plant. During this time, the mill averaged 84 tonnes per hour ("tph") at 75% availability, processing an average of 1,523 tonnes per day ("tpd"), which represents 76% of the mill’s nameplate capacity. Silver recovery during this period was 79%, showcasing solid operational performance in the early stages of commercial production.
Between December 19th and 29th, the mill achieved even better throughput, with the average reaching 1,834 tpd, and reaching a peak of 2,152 tpd on December 27th. Mill availability during this period improved to 86%, with silver recovery remaining steady at 79%. The mill is expected to continue improving as ramp-up activities proceed towards full capacity.
Aya defined commercial production as a 30-day period where the mill operates at a minimum of 60% of the nameplate throughput capacity of 2,000 tpd. The milestone of processing 45,683 tonnes over 30 days with an average of 76% capacity was successfully achieved by December 29th, marking a key achievement for the company.
President & CEO Benoit La Salle expressed pride in reaching this transformative milestone. He stated, "I am proud to announce the start of commercial production of the new mill at Aya’s expanded Zgounder mine, completed on budget. This milestone reflects the dedication and expertise of our employees and contractors who built, tested, ramped up, and are now processing ore from both Zgounder’s open-pit and underground operations."
La Salle further highlighted that the company is well-positioned for future growth, noting, "With over 600 full-time employees, a fully funded expanded operation, and a strong financial foundation, Aya is poised to support its growth while establishing a new standard for innovative ESG financing in the global mining industry. We remain committed to our sustainability objectives, including our near-term decarbonization targets, as we continue with ramp-up activities."
Construction of the new processing plant at Zgounder began in mid-2022, with the goal of declaring commercial production in 2024. The ramp-up of the plant has progressed according to the company's expectations. With commercial production now achieved, Aya continues its efforts to improve throughput and recovery, targeting full nameplate capacity by the first quarter of 2025.
