Kinross Gold’s Paracatu operation in Brazil has returned to normal production levels following a partial production curtailment on November 5 due to lack of sufficient rainfall. Both Plant 1 and Plant 2 resumed full production on November 20, and the Paracatu area has seen an increase in rainfall as the rainy season, which historically runs from October to April, progresses. The Santo Antonio tailings reprocessing project, scheduled to commence in Q4 2015, remains temporarily suspended until the water balance is fully restored.
The temporary curtailment of Plant 1 and Plant 2 is expected to impact production by a minimum of 16,000 gold ounces (oz) and a maximum of 34,000 gold oz during the fourth quarter, depending on the amount of rainfall received in December. The impact range contemplates the possibility of another curtailment should the site receive less than one-third of the average rainfall for the month of December. Given December is typically the wettest month of the year, the company forecasts this to be a low probability.
