Resolute Mining Ltd. said Dec. 20 that the sulfide roaster at its Syama gold mine in Mali has been brought back online after repairs and is operating at nameplate capacity.

The roaster was taken offline in October after a crack was found in its main external shell. The repairs were completed in early December on schedule and within budget.

CEO John Welborn said the material loss in sulfide output over the course of repairs at Syama was expected to have a minor impact on overall 2019 gold production, which is guided at 400,000 ounces.

"The lost production in 2019 is more than offset by the additional production we now expect to gain in 2020 by the deferral of the next major roaster shutdown to early 2021," the executive added.

The company also said a new secondary cone crusher was commissioned Dec. 14.

The company noted that underground mining at Syama continued without interruption during the roaster repairs.

The next major biennial roaster maintenance shutdown was scheduled for May 2020, but the company has deferred it to January 2021 after completing the comprehensive roaster repair program and refurbishment and maintenance of the entire Syama sulfide circuit.

Meanwhile, the company said it intends to investigate opportunities to expand the underground mine capacity and the processing capacity of the sulfide circuit beyond the current nameplate of 2.4 million tonnes per year.