Allied Gold said on October 29 that wet commissioning is under way at its Kurmuk mine in Ethiopia. Water transfer from the main storage dam into the processing plant has begun, the SAG and ball mill drives are energised with testing nearing completion, and the crushing circuit is operating. Ore is expected to enter the circuit this week, with first gold targeted soon after.
The ramp up numbers are specific. Allied expects production to rise through November and December to between 25,000 and 35,000 ounces, with commercial production expected in that period. First quarter 2027 production is guided at 55,000 to 65,000 ounces, about 20,000 ounces a month, with 240,000 to 270,000 ounces for 2027 and an outlook of about 300,000 ounces in 2028. Ore stockpiles sit close to the planned three months of plant feed, and mining grades are in line with expectations.
Mine and plant infrastructure is complete, including the water storage and tailings facilities, the main access road and mining service areas. Allied also said it has reached an agreement with local stakeholders, including artisanal miners active on parts of its exploration licences, to advance exploration cooperatively in new areas.
Kurmuk’s stage is commissioning, not yet steady production, and the test is the November ramp. If the plant reaches commercial production this year on the stated profile, Allied adds a large, lower cost Ethiopian operation to a portfolio whose growth case has rested on this single build.