Eldorado Gold has provided an update on progress at its Skouries copper-gold project in northern Greece, saying first ore has now been processed through the crushing circuit.
Skouries is in the final stages of construction and has entered the commissioning phase. The company continues to target first production of copper-gold concentrate in the September quarter of 2026 and commercial production targeted for the December quarter of 2026, subject to completion of final site energisation, integrated commissioning and ramp-up activities.
The company says first ore feed through the commissioned crushing circuit is an important demonstration that front-end processing is operating as expected.
Commissioning continues across the site. Wet and dry commissioning activities are progressing across the crushing, grinding, flotation, concentrate handling and tailings circuits, with systems being handed over from construction to the combined commissioning and operations team on a staged basis.
Final site energisation remains subject to Greek power authority completion of testing, the company clarified. The final transmission tower has been installed following a coordinated and successful eight-hour power outage on the transmission line. Full site energisation remains contingent on final inspection by the relevant Greek authority and receipt of final sign-off. To support commissioning readiness and ongoing process plant activities while final site energisation progresses, the company has proactively added additional generating sets to provide interim power as required.
Open-pit mining continues to run ahead of schedule, building a run-of-mine stockpile of approximately 3.4 Mt to support a steady ramp-up of the plant. Including ore from the underground, total stockpiles have reached approximately 3.9 Mt. This stockpile is expected to provide the ore feed required through 2026 and supports a lower-risk commissioning and first year of production, the company explains.
Underground development also continues to advance in parallel. This stockpile is expected to provide the ore feed required through 2026 and supports a lower-risk commissioning and first year of production.
“Crushing first ore is an important milestone for Skouries and reflects the steady, safe progress being made by our team as the project moves through the final stages of construction and staged commissioning,” George Burns, Chief Executive Officer, said. “While final site energisation remains subject to final inspection and sign-off by the Greek power authority, we are taking proactive steps to maintain momentum, including adding the supplemental generators to support commissioning readiness and activities within the process plant. Full integrated operation of the process plant will require final site energisation, and our focus remains on completing the remaining steps safely and methodically as we work toward first concentrate in the third (September) quarter.”
First ore has been fed through the commissioned crushing circuit, with ore now being processed as part of staged commissioning. Full handover of the crushing circuit from the commissioning team to the operations team is currently underway. The company expects to introduce ore to the grinding and flotation circuits as those systems are progressively commissioned, building toward first copper-gold concentrate production in the September quarter of 2026.
Power infrastructure construction at Skouries has continued to advance and construction of all 12 towers and conductors is now complete. A coordinated, successful eight-hour power outage on the transmission line enabled installation of the final transmission tower. Initial tests of the sub-station have been completed by a third-party testing group. Final site energisation remains contingent on inspection, final testing and installation of metering equipment by the relevant Greek authority and receipt of final sign-off.
In the interim, Eldorado has proactively added additional generating sets to support commissioning activities and maintain progress where practical, including readiness and commissioning activities within the process plant. Full operation of major process plant systems, crushing, grinding, flotation, concentrate handling and tailings disposal, requires final site energisation by the power authority.
Commissioning is progressing on a staged basis across multiple areas at Skouries. Dry, wet and hot commissioning activities are advancing where practical through the crushing, grinding, flotation, concentrate handling and filtered tailings circuits. Individual systems are being tested, verified against design parameters and handed over from the construction team to the operations team in a sequenced manner.
The company will continue to advance commissioning of remaining circuits as it works toward integrated plant operation and first concentrate production.