Ban Houayxai Gold-Silver Operation

The Ban Houayxai Gold-Silver Operation is located approximately 25 kilometres west of PanAust's Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation.

Commencing production in 2012, Ban Houayxai comprises an open-pit mine feeding ore to a conventional carbon in leach and gravity recovery process.

December quarter 2020 production

During the December quarter 2020, the Ban Houayxai Operation poured 18,715 ounces (oz) of gold and 199,729oz of silver in doré for a C1* cost of US$793/oz gold. An all-in sustaining cost (AISC**) of US$1,346/oz gold was released.

The Operation mined more than 3.7 million tonnes (Mt) of ex-pit material during the quarter which included 980,000t of gold-silver ore. Over 1.1Mt of ore was processed.

Gold and silver doré sold during the quarter totalled 16,844oz and 184,515oz respectively.

Award-winning operation

During the December quarter 2020, the Operation retained its Caterpillar 5-star contamination control ratings for its mobile maintenance workshop and associated supply facilities. This was the eighth consecutive year the Ban Houayxai Operation has achieved this highest rating.

Ban Houayxai was designed in accordance with the International Cyanide Management Code (the Code) - a voluntary program for the responsible manufacture, transport, use and disposal of cyanide in the production of gold. The Operation received pre-operational certification in 2012, operational certification in 2013, and was recertified in 2019.

In 2013, PanAust received the Project Development of the Year Award at the Mines and Money Hong Kong Asia Mining Awards. The accolade recognised the application of outstanding project management during the development of the Ban Houayxai Gold-Silver Operation.

For the most up-to-date information about the Ban Houayxai Operation (including production costs), see the quarterly reports and other statements on the Company Announcements page.

 

*Brook Hunt convention for the reporting of direct costs comprising: mine site, product transportation and freight, treatment and refining charges and marketing costs; based on payable metal content after by-product credits

**AISC reported are the C1 cost plus royalties, allocated corporate support charges, shared services costs, sustaining capital; lease principal and interest charges; and deferred mining and inventory adjustments capitalised