File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

New Afton Mine

New Gold trumpets milestone in New Afton C-zone production, mine life extension

Oct 29, 2024 | 3:57 PM

KAMLOOPS — New Gold, the international mining company that operates the New Afton mine just west of Kamloops, says it has hit a major milestone in its effort to extend the mine’s life.

In a news release issued Tuesday (Oct. 29), New Gold says the massive C-zone block cave is now in commercial production — well ahead of schedule.

In announcing development of the C-zone four years ago, the company said it planned to pump nearly half-a-billion dollars into getting the cave ready for production. The province approved the development in 2022, with the company saying the mine’s life would be extended to 2030.

New Gold began ramping up copper and gold production from the C-zone one year ago.

The company says the materials handling system has now come online.

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“Installation of the gyratory crusher and conveyor system was completed ahead of schedule and C-Zone is now set up for high capacity, low-cost, low-emission ore transportation for the life-of-mine,” said the release.

Continued ramp-up will see the mine processing more than 14,500 tonnes per day by 2026, according to the company.

“At New Afton, safely achieving commercial production at C-Zone and commissioning of the crusher and conveyor system will have a meaningful and immediate impact on costs, which will translate to ongoing and annual sustained free cash flow generation,” said New Gold President and CEO Patrick Godin.