Gold junior achieves commercial production at Australia mine

In breaking news Thursday, Vancouver-based ATW Gold Corp. (TSX: V.ATW) reported that it has completed the commissioning phase and achieved commercial production at its Burnakura Gold Mine in Western Australia.

ATW notes that since mining and processing operations began in March, output has reached the point where this week’s pour results in total recovered gold ounces surpassed the 5,000 ounce mark.

The company says the planned expansion targeting 50,000 ounces of annual gold production is underway, as a result of Burnakura reaching the first targeted commercial level of 36,000 ounces annually.

“We are very encouraged with the speed at which the ramp-up to commercial production at Burnakura was achieved. Efforts to maximize recoveries, output and throughput, will continue as our engineering teams work diligently to achieve the increased rate of 50,000 gold ounces per annum this year,” said Brent Butler, the company’s president and CEO. 

Shares of ATW Gold were up 1.3% to 76 cents Thursday.