Montreal-based Aya Gold & Silver has announced the official launch of commercial production at the Zgounder silver mine, located in the Moroccan Anti-Atlas Mountains. The plant processed 45,683 tonnes of ore over a period of 30 days, an average rate of 84 tonnes per hour.
According to a company release, processing rates at the plant averaged 1,523 tonnes per day with a recovery rate of 76% of rated capacity, while the silver recovery rate is 79%. %. These figures were observed over a thirty-day period, ending on December 29, the official day commercial production began.
The factory, which laid its foundations in mid-2022 in Zgounder, also recalls that it managed to produce its first silver bar on November 27, 2024, less than a month before the launch of commercial production.
Between December 19 and 29, 2024, the company indicates that the plant was able to improve its performance by reaching a processing rate of 1,834 tonnes, reaching a peak on December 27 showing the processing of 2,152 tonnes of ore per day. day.
In this improved configuration, the plant was able to run at full capacity for 86% of the total time available for operation with a silver recovery rate maintained at 79%.
Read also: Aya Gold & Silver: A new lease of life with the start-up of the Zgounder factory
Furthermore, the press release indicates that commercial production was defined as a period of 30 days of operations during which the plant operated at a minimum throughput of 60% of its nominal capacity, namely 2,000 tonnes per day. A milestone reached on December 29, with 45,683 tonnes processed during the period, an average of 76% of capacity.
The CEO of the Aya Gold & Silver company, Benoit Lasalle welcomed the launch of production on time and on budget, according to the press release before declaring that “This transformative milestone reflects the dedication and expertise of our employees and contractors who built, tested, commissioned and are now processing ore from Zgounder’s open pit and underground operations “. And to add that with “ over 600 permanent employees, a fully funded expanded operation and a strong financial foundation, Aya is well positioned to sustain growth while setting a new standard for innovative CSR financing in the global mining industry ».
Finally, the company, which has already invested $250 million in the Zgounder factory, plans to invest $50 million in the coming years according to a statement from Benoit Lasalle to Asharq Business.
It should be noted that with these new performance levels, the Zgounder plant has tripled its silver production capacity to 8 million ounces per year, making it the second largest silver mine in Morocco. , after the Imider de Managem mine.
