2017 was a record year of financial and operating performance for OceanaGold. For the sixth consecutive year the company achieved their full-year production and cost guidance, producing 574,606 ounces of gold, 18,351 tonnes of copper, and delivering a record revenue of $724 million.
Operations
OceanaGold owns four operating assets, these include the Macraes and Waihi Gold Mines in New Zealand, the Didipio Gold and Copper Mine in the Philippines and the Haile Gold Mine in the United States of America. Each of the company’s operating assets hold additional growth potential.
New Zealand
The Macraes Goldfield is an open pit and underground operation in Otago in the South Island of New Zealand. New Zealand’s largest gold producing operation, it has produced over 4 million ounces of gold to date. Macraes produced 160, 266 ounces of gold in 2017. The Waihi Gold Mine is an underground operation in Waikato in the North Island of New Zealand. In March 2018 the company announced the commencement of the resource consenting process to construct and operate a new underground mine. Waihi produced 119,084 ounces of gold in 2017.
Philippines
The Didipio Gold-Copper Mine is an underground operation in Nueva Vizcaya, Luzon. Didipio produced 176,790 ounces of gold and 18,351 tonnes of copper in 2017. Didipio has been internationally recognized for exceptional safety, environment and social development performance. Environmental and indigenous people's groups have alleged that mining operations in Nueva Vizcaya have depleted drinking water and contaminated surface water. Concerns were also raised regarding labor issues, human rights, and land acquisition.
United States
OceanaGold acquired the Haile Gold Mine in South Carolina as an exploration project in 2015. Construction was completed in 2016 and Haile achieved commercial production in October 2017. Haile is an open pit operation, and produced 118,466 ounces of gold in 2017.
Closed Sites
El Salvador
OceanaGold acquired the El Dorado Project in El Salvador in late 2013 through the acquisition of Pacific Rim Mining Corporation. El Dorado operated as an underground mine from 1948 to 1953. At the time of its purchase by OceanaGold and today, El Dorado has been an exploration project and has not been an operating mine since 1953. OceanaGold has closed the El Dorado project and does not plan future investments in El Salvador.
New Zealand
The Reefton Restoration Project is a comprehensive closure and rehabilitation program currently underway at the former Reefton Mine on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Rehabilitation works to date have included ground preparation, including waste rock reshaping, backfilling operations and seedling coverage.
Strategic investments
OceanaGold has a growing and significant pipeline of strategic investments that include active option and joint venture agreements—one in New South Wales in Australia, one in New Zealand and four in the eight Basin of the UnitedStates of America and two in Argentina. OceanaGold also has important equity positions in four exploration companies: Gold Standard Ventures Corp, NuLegacy Gold Corp, MOD Resources and Locrian Resources Inc.
