Newmont Goldcorp has announced that the Quecher Main project at Yanacocha in Peru achieved commercial production safely, ahead of schedule and under budget. The full project, including future leach pad expansions, is expected to be completed for approximately $275 million of development capital which is below the company’s initial estimate (on a 100% basis).

Quecher Main extends the life of the Yanacocha operation to 2027, contributing average annual gold production of approximately 200,000 oz from 2020 through 2024 at all-in sustaining costs between $900 and $1,000. The project is expected to generate an internal rate of return of approximately 15% at a $1,200 gold price.

“Quecher Main is the fourth profitable project we’ve brought into operation on four different continents this year, on schedule and within budget,” said Tom Palmer, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The project takes advantage of Yanacocha’s existing infrastructure to add profitable production from remaining oxide ores while also serving as a bridge to future growth opportunities, including Yanacocha’s extensive sulfide deposits.”

The project included development of the Quecher Main pit, two smaller oxide deposits and a heap leach pad. Yanacocha began commercial production in 1993 and has since produced more than 38 Moz of gold from open pit oxide and transitional ores processed at Yanacocha’s gold mill and leach pads. The operation is a joint venture between Newmont Goldcorp (51.35%), Minas Buenaventura (43.65%) and Sumitomo Corporation (5%).