Higher mining, transport and shipping costs due to rising diesel and power prices have forced West Australian miner Sandfire Resources to lift costs guidance by 10% for its DeGrussa copper-gold mine in WA’s Mid West after lifting Dec qtr (Q2FY22) production to 18,675t Cu (Q1: 15,946t) and 8,739oz Au (7,515oz). Q2 costs improved to $US1.07/lb ($1.13/lb).
Sandfire has maintained FY22 guidance at 64,000-68,000t Cu and 30,000-34,000oz Au while lifting its C1 cost forecast to $1.10-1.20/lb from $1-1.10/lb previously.
MD-CEO Karl Simich says, with DeGrussa’s outstanding performance, completion of its acquisition of the MATSA mining complex in Spain due about end-Jan will make Sandfire one of the ASX’s largest copper-focused base metal producers.