Newcrest's Cadia mine set to reopen in Q1

Gold miner Newcrest expects the earthquake-hit Cadia East mine to restart operations in the September quarter, but has cut its 2017/18 production guidance.

Newcrest Mining's Cadia East gold mine

Newcrest expects it Cadia East mine to restart operations early in the new financial year. (AAP)

Newcrest has lowered its 2017/18 production guidance for the Cadia gold mine in NSW due to damage from last month's earthquake.

Newcrest said on Friday it expects to restart production from both underground panel caves in the first quarter of 2017/18, subject to permission from authorities.

Cadia - Newcrest's biggest and lowest-cost mine - was struck by a magnitude 4.3 earthquake in central west NSW in early April, resulting in operations being suspended.

The mine is still subject to a prohibition notice from authorities.

Newcrest has not specified the likely production hit in the current financial year, but last month said Cadia would not meet its guidance of 730,000 to 820,000 ounces.

The company now expects 2017/18 production to also be lower than that level at between 650,000 and 750,000 ounces.

Newcrest said damage to the underground mine infrastructure was minimal, with the majority of rehabilitation work being undertaken to increase ground support capacity.

It estimated the cost of rehabilitation and upgrades at about $25 million.

The miner is processing surface stockpiles in the interim period, while it plans to temporarily recommission the nearby Ridgeway mine by June.

Cadia accounts for about 70 per cent of earnings for Australia's largest gold miner.

Royal Bank of Canada analyst Paul Hissey estimates 2016/17 production of about 650,000 ounces.

At 1226 AEST, Newcrest shares were 58 cents, or 2.9 per cent higher, at $20.79.


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Source: AAP



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