Polyus intends to receive the first gold from Sukhoi Log in 2024

By Rhod Mackenzie

According to a report by TASS, , Alexey Vostokov the head of Polyus expects to receive the initial batch of gold from the Sukhoi Log project in the Irkutsk region in 2024. The ore processing for the project will take place at the Verninskaya mill, also located in the Irkutsk region.

The company initiated pilot work at Sukhoi Log towards the end of 2023. Considering the geopolitical situation, several modifications had to be made to the almost finished feasibility study, specifically due to alterations in the equipment and machinery supply.

Polyus will present a revised development schedule for the Sukhoi Log project later in 2024, taking into account the aforementioned changes.

It is important to note that, as per the established schedule, the first stage of the gold extraction plant is planned to be commissioned in 2028, with a processing capacity of 10 million tons of ore per year. The second stage is scheduled for commissioning in 2030, which will increase the enterprise's total production capacity to 30 million tons of ore per year. Once the Sukhoi Log mill reaches its design capacity, Polyus expects to be able to produce approximately 70 tons of gold annually.

The Sukhoi Log gold deposit is situated in the Bodaibinsky district of the Irkutsk region. The license is valid until February 23, 2037. As of May 31, 2020, the deposit holds 40 million ounces of gold and 540 million tons of ore. The development of the field requires $3.3 billion. The object will be developed using an open-pit method, and ore processing will follow the gravity-flotation enrichment scheme. Based on the pre-feasibility study, the gold recovery plant is projected to produce 2.3 million ounces of precious metal with a productivity of 33.2 million tons.