Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation today (Thursday) announced that full production has resumed at its Kensington Gold Mine near Juneau.
Mining and milling activities were cutback temporarily last November to complete several underground and surface projects at the mine site, at Berners Bay about 45-miles north of the Capital City.
Coeur Alaska Spokeswoman Jan Trigg says most of the projects were finished ahead of schedule, and the rest should be complete by the end of July.
“The underground paste backfill plant is now in commissioning. The mine’s electrical infrastructure has been upgraded. Underground development continues to advance. And we’ve completed some new surface facilities, including a new warehouse, a worker dormitory, and an expanded kitchen and dining facility,” says Trigg.
According to the Coeur d’Alene Mines’ website, the company put $34-million dollars toward capital expenditures at Kensington last year.
Trigg says the upgrades should make the mine more efficient.
Kensington has about 260 employees and a $35-million dollar payroll, according to recent statements by Coeur officials. About half of the workers live in Southeast Alaska. The mine also employs about a hundred contractors.
Couer d’Alene Mines will announce first quarter 2012 financial results on Monday May 7th.
