Nevada Copper has deferred the 5,000mt per day ramp-up in output at Pumpkin Hollow to Q3 2021 from the first half of this year due to issues with its main hoisting shaft at the mine in Yerington, Nevada.
According to a release on Feb 19, Nevada reported a series of non-routine production halts in its main shaft due to mechanical issues. As a result, the average daily hoisting ore rates fell to 1,600mt, against the planned 3,000mt. The copper miner also expects its first quarter copper concentrate production to be impacted by this issue.
The company said that it was retrofitting equipment to overcome this challenge and increase underground motive power. Once this work is completed, Nevada expects production to reach the projected rate of 5,000mt ore mined per day in the third quarter of this year.