Heavy snow and high winds shut down mining from July 17 to 24 and again from August 10 to 22. Three significant single-day snowfalls followed. Rio2 attributes the extraordinary season to what it calls a super El Niño affecting weather patterns in Chile and Peru.
During the storms, Rio2 safely evacuated personnel. The leach pad, process plant and power generators remained intact and operated at reduced capacity, preserving the site for a return to mining. Management is now implementing initiatives to recover lost production.
The company is forecasting conditional monthly gold production of 4000 ounces in October, 6000 in November and 7000 in December as a possible path through the final quarter, assuming minimal further disruption.
The storms also forced the temporary suspension of the exploration drilling program at Fenix Gold. So far, 43 holes have been completed for 14,669 metres of a planned 21,880 metre program. Drilling is expected to resume in January 2027, during Chile's summer.
The completed holes were designed to test deeper mineralisation up to 100 metres beneath the reserve pit and within the wider resource pit shell. To date, 60 per cent of samples taken have been assayed, with the balance expected within two months. Once all assays are received, Rio2 plans to release the results and continue drilling at depth and along the existing resource in the new year. The findings will feed a revised geological model and an updated resource estimate, slated for Christmas next year.