April 2, 2025
In 2024, Côté achieved nearly 200,000 ounces of production in its first year of operations. Milestones include pouring first gold on March 31, 2024, achieving commercial production on August 1, 2024, and completing a comprehensive mill shutdown in September.
Congratulations to the team, including contractors, for their relentless efforts in driving progress and to the local communities for their support. In addition, Côté closed 2024 with an impressive milestone: maintaining a record of no medical treatment injuries (MTI) for all individuals, including contractors.
The target this year is for Côté to produce 360,000 to 400,000 ounces, effectively doubling production from last year. We have the goal to achieve the steady-state nameplate throughput rate of 36,000 tpd in the fourth quarter of 2025. In December, the plant operated at an average of 87% of the designed throughput level over a two-week period, prior to an unscheduled shutdown due to a split in a conveyor belt associated with ramp-up wear and tear. When online in December, the plant averaged 1,593 tph, or effectively 106% of nameplate, with a record daily throughput of 42,635 tonnes per day.
Subsequent to quarter end, the HPGR rollers required a changeover ahead of schedule limiting the secondary crushing capacity in January. The changeover of the HPGR rolls was completed in February 2025. Inside the plant, the grinding circuit was impacted early in the quarter due to repairs required on one of the Vertimills following a faulty start-up post-maintenance. Prevention and mitigation procedures have been put in place. Plant throughput is expected to be lower in the first quarter as a result of the impact of the timing of these maintenance issues, while operating guidance has been maintained.
