Tag Archives: Brian Wesson

Otso Gold names Hartikainen as contract miner ahead of restart

Mine operation news, Mineral project development, Mining services, Precious metals, , , ,

Otso Gold Corp has executed a mining contract with E Hartikainen Oy, one of Finland’s largest mining and construction contractors.

The agreement is for the provision of all mining services at the Otso gold mine, in central Finland, for a term of three years.

As part of the agreement, machinery for mining has begun to be mobilised to site in advance of the start of mining next month.

Brian Wesson stated “The company is pleased to have partnered with Hartikainen at the Otso Gold Mine and looks forward to working together. The execution of the mining contract is an important milestone towards the start of production next month.”

Arto Hartikainen, Managing Director of Hartikainen, said: “We are very happy with Otso Gold Mine’s partnership and we are starting preparation work right away. Safety, quality and productivity will play a key role in the development of our services at the Otso Gold Mine’.

Back in March 2019, Nordic Gold (the previous owners of the mine) terminated its agreement with mining contractor Tallqvist Oy and decided to place the Laiva (now Otso) gold mine on care and maintenance, months after pouring first gold.

In July, following an $11.155  million financing, Otso Gold started its move to production, announcing plans to get back up and running at the 2 Mt/y nameplate operation in the September quarter.

Otso Gold enlists Tetra Tech for new restart plan at Finland gold mine

Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , ,

Otso Gold has appointed Coffey Geotechnics Ltd, a Tetra Tech Company, to complete and publish an updated NI 43-101 feasibility study for the restart of the Otso gold mine, in Finland.

Tetra Tech is running a live model to support and optimise the current drill program at the project that will inform the feasibility study.

“The feasibility study will be particularly focused on the optimised mine plan to underpin the return to production on a long-term sustainable basis,” the company said.

The drill program will also seek to upgrade the resources. Further, pursuant to the requirements of NI 43-101, all areas of the Otso gold mine will be included in the feasibility study, therefore the company will seek to use the opportunity to optimise the process plant further, it said.

“The company notes that its process plant has a 2 Mt nameplate capacity and has previously produced at recoveries above the modelling on which the process plant was designed and built,” Otso said. “It is also noted that the company’s initial decision to proceed to production was made without first establishing mineral reserves supported by a feasibility study.”

Brian Wesson, President and CEO, said: “The appointment of Tetra Tech for the feasibility study is another important milestone in the return to production of the Otso gold mine.

“Management judged that the completion of a feasibility study was necessary notwithstanding the mine having a process plant, infrastructure and licences all in place – to provide further confidence in the company’s restart plan and the economics of a competent sustainable mine plan. The company has been working closely with Tetra Tech to expedite the feasibility study.”

Back in March 2019, Nordic Gold (the previous owners of the mine) terminated its agreement with mining contractor Tallqvist Oy and decided to place the Laiva (now Otso) gold mine on care and maintenance, months after pouring first gold.