By: OrePulse

Allied Gold Corporation said it has begun wet commissioning at its Kurmuk gold mine in Ethiopia's Benishangul-Gumuz region, a milestone that brings the roughly $500 million project closer to its first gold pour. The company said on October 30 that it expects to introduce ore into the processing circuit imminently, with the ramp-up continuing through November and December.

Wet commissioning is the stage at which water and ore are introduced into a plant to test its crushing, grinding and processing circuits under near-operating conditions, immediately ahead of a mine's first gold pour.

The milestone follows the mine's recent connection to Ethiopia's electricity grid and an earlier stage in which the first ore reached the crusher, steps that preceded the start of wet commissioning.

Allied Gold said it expects to produce between 25,000 and 35,000 ounces of gold at Kurmuk over November and December combined, and to reach commercial production within that period. The company said both figures remain targets while commissioning and plant testing continue.

Describing progress at the site, Allied Gold said water has been transferred from the mine's main storage dam to the processing plant, with circuits being tested in stages ahead of the introduction of ore. The semi-autogenous grinding mill and ball mill drives have been energized, and testing of them is nearing completion, the company said.

The crushing circuit is already operating and building a stockpile of crushed ore that Allied Gold said is approaching nearly three months of plant feed ahead of the scheduled ramp-up. Mining grades are in line with expectations, the company said. Allied Gold described the mine and plant infrastructure — including water and tailings storage, mining service areas and the main access road — as complete.

For the first quarter of 2027, Allied Gold said production is expected to rise month by month to between 55,000 and 65,000 ounces for the quarter, averaging roughly 20,000 ounces a month. The company's guidance calls for full-year 2027 production of 240,000 to 270,000 ounces, rising to about 300,000 ounces in 2028.

Over Kurmuk's first four full years of operation, Allied Gold said it expects average annual production of about 300,000 ounces, and it is assessing whether that output rate can be sustained beyond the initial period to extend the mine's life further.

The company also said it has reached an arrangement with local stakeholders, including artisanal miners working within parts of its exploration licenses, for cooperative exploration of new prospective areas. Allied Gold said the arrangement is paired with continued company support for surrounding communities.

Kurmuk is on track to become Ethiopia's first large-scale commercial gold mine. The project, in the west of the country, is expected to add a new source of supply as African producers account for a growing share of gold output reaching global markets.