How is VGCX performing YTD?A few points up for discussion:
1. Waste mined plan for 2020 is 13.5 M Mt (equivalent of 14.88M tonnes). Total waste mined end of April was 2.41 tonnes. That means VGCX will have to average 1.55M tonnes of waste/month for the rest of the year, starting May. The ones with basic open pit mining knowledge will understand the ramifications of falling behind with waste removal.
So keep and eye open for monthly waste removal - anything below 1.55M tonnes/month is just weak. Mining and primary crushing were reported as 100% ramped up, no excuse there.
2. Waste removal plan for 2021 and 2022 is even more aggressive. 2020 performance will be a good indicator for what is to come down the road.
3. Ore mined/crushed plan for 2020 is 9.9M Mt (equivalent of 10.9M tonnes). Total ore mined end of April was 1.7M tonnes. That means VGCX will have to mine an average of 1.15M tonnes of ore/month for the rest of 2020.
So keep and eye open for monthly ore mined tonnage - anything below 1.15M tonnes/month is just weak. Mining and primary crushing were reported as 100% ramped up, no excuse there.
4. Stacking conveyors are still at 70% ramp up. This means they may "overwork" the HLP using loaders and dozers to spread the ore. Besides higher costs this will also have a negative impact on recoveries. This will eventually come to surface later on in the year, it will be another "Murphy" excuse...LOL.
5. Gold produced plan for 2020 is 205,000 oz. Total gold produced to end of April is 17,312 oz. This means VGCX will have to produce an average of 23,461 oz/month or 5,865 oz/week for the rest of the year.
So keep an eye open for monthly gold production, anything below 23,400 oz is just weak. I see people advertising 5 gold bars/month and saying how great that is, makes me wonder why are they so happy with such mediocre performance.
Can VGCX make it happen? Time will tell...
Good luck!