US mining company Newmont has begun production at its Boddington gold mine in Western Australia, the company announced in a statement.
The company said it has processed around 100,000 ounces of gold and copper concentrate over the first two weeks of August.
Newmont president and chief executive Richard O’Brien said he expects the Boddington mine to become a very important asset in the company’s future.
“As we continue to ramp-up towards commercial production, Boddington will become a cornerstone in our asset portfolio,” he said.
Newmont said it expects the life of the mine to last in excess of 24 years, and is aiming for a first five year average annual gold production of one million ounces, with Boddington ultimately becoming the largest gold producer in the world.