OceanaGold Corp has made the first shipment of the Didipio concentrate from the San Fernando port in the Philippines. This is one of many projects covered in IM’s SE Asia focus in the May issue of the magazine. This first shipment of some 5,000 t (dry) of copper-gold concentrate is now en route to Hibi, Japan. The first cash receipt for Didipio concentrate is due mid-April. There are 1,500 t (dry) of copper-gold concentrate currently at port and 8,800 t of copper-gold concentrate currently at Didipio mine site. The next 5,000 t shipment is expected late April 2013.

OceanaGold Managing Director and CEO, Mick Wilkes, said “Commissioning activities continue to progress well at the Didipio mine. To date, we have produced over 15,000 dry t of copper-gold concentrate and the first shipment of the Didipio concentrate is another significant milestone for the operations team. The process plant continues to ramp up well and recoveries of copper are approaching steady-state expectations. Gold recoveries are also increasing and will be further boosted as the gold head grade increases. As we further optimise the transportation logistics combined with regular outbound shipments to smelters, we expect to be in a position to announce commercial operations during this quarter.”