Nordgold plans 3 tpy mine at the Uryakh gold deposit in Russia;s Irkutsk region - - authorities

IRKUTSK. Sept 5 (Interfax) - Nordgold plans to build a mine at the Uryakh hardrock gold deposit in Russia's Irkutsk region in the next few years, the press service of the region's governor, Igor Kobzev, said following his meeting with the company's CEO Georgy Smirnov.

"Nordgold has been carrying out geological exploration in the Irkutsk region for several years, and this is bearing fruit. According to preliminary estimates, a mine with production capacity of about 3 tonnes of gold per year and life of more than 10 years can be built at our Uryakh deposit in the next few years; front end engineering design is currently underway," the press service quoted Smirnov as saying.

The Uryakh project is a promising ore field with gold resources amenable for an open-pit operation and significant potential for resource growth. It is located next to the operating Nordgold Irokinda gold mining enterprise, 100 km from a Baikal-Amur Mainline station and airport, which makes developing it more economically viable.