Can you provide an update on i-80 Gold Corp’s latest production targets?

i-80 Gold Corp is currently advancing several projects that we believe will make us the fastest-growing gold producer in Nevada. We expect limited production in 2022, around 20 to 30,000 oz Au, but with the development of new operations, we expect significant increases year-on-year until 2025. By 2026, we forecast that we should be the second-largest producer in the state after Nevada Gold Mines (NGM), with a production of 250-300,000 oz/y. Additionally, we are advancing a polymetallic deposit at Ruby Hill, which we are targeting to bring to production by 2026, resulting in a gold equivalent production of closer to 500,000 oz/y.

What are the latest updates on i-80 Gold Corp’s projects at Ruby Hill, Lone Tree, and Granite Creek?

Over the past year, we have had substantial exploration success, including three discoveries at Ruby Hill. Our goal is to diversify our production with the inclusion of lead, zinc, and silver. At our Lone Tree processing facility, which is fully constructed, we are permitting changes to maximize recoveries from our deposits and meet new environmental requirements. This facility is critical to our growth, providing infrastructure that can process several ore types. Our most advanced project is Granite Creek, where we began our development and test-mining program in early 2022. We are in the process of mining refractory ore to deliver to NGM as part of our processing agreement, and we plan to test the initial 10,000 tons of material in their autoclave facility at Twin Creeks. On the exploration front, we made the discovery of the South Pacific Zone (SPZ), which is expected to become the most important horizon for mining at Granite Creek. Our goal is to begin underground drilling at the SPZ in H1 2023 and mining in H2 2023.

Could you discuss how rising costs are impacting your operations?

Certainly. In general, cost escalation is less of an issue for high-grade mines compared to lower-grade operations, particularly open pit ones. The latter requires a significant amount of material to be moved, which necessitates a lot of trucking, blasting, and fuel consumption to reach production goals. However, since our mines, such as Granite Creek, have average grades ranging from 10-13 g/t Au, and Ruby Hill is anticipated to be more than 8 g/t Au, we expect to be less affected.

Can you provide more details about i-80’s community engagements?

Yes, community engagement is one of our top priorities at i-80 Gold Corp. As a mining company, it is crucial for us to be an accepted and integral part of the local communities in which we operate. We believe that educating the people who may not have any prior knowledge about mining is necessary to ensure their understanding and acceptance of our operations. For instance, if someone sees a large open pit mine for the first time, they may not fully comprehend that the pit will eventually be filled with water, and in some cases, it can become a flourishing fishery. Therefore, we make it a priority to educate and engage with the local communities to ensure they understand our operations, and we can coexist peacefully.