Hydro-power has been switched on at the Osisko Mining/Gold Fields-owned Windfall gold project in Quebec, Canada, where a 2022 feasibility study outlined a US$607 million operation producing an average 306,000oz a year at US$758/oz AISC.
The partners announced last October a 27,400kW hydro-electricity power allocation from Hydro-Quebec. They’ve since connected the nearby substation at Waswanipi with Windfall, switching over from diesel-generated power to operate the mine camp and underground infrastructure.
An 85km-long, 69kV hydro-electric power line has been built and is now owned and operated by the Waswanipi Cree First Nation.
“Today is a significant milestone for the Windfall project and for the Cree First Nation as the powerline comes into operation on schedule,” Osisko Mining CEO John Burzynski said Thursday.
“We are looking forward to an exciting year with our 2024 regional work program, and have confidence that additional Windfall-style deposits will come to light in the Urban-Barry District as we push forward with new exploration.”
Windfall, between Val-d’Or and Chibougamau in the Abitibi region of Quebec, has 811,000 tonnes grading 11.4 grams per tonne gold (297,000 ounces) of measured resource, 10.25 million tonnes at 11.4gpt (3,754,000oz) indicated and 12.3Mt at 8.4gpt (3,337,000oz) inferred, down to about 1600m vertical depth.
