Harte Gold exceeds guidance, expects substantial production growth in 2021

Last year, Ontario-focused miner Harte Gold (TSX: HRT; US-OTC: HRTFF) produced 25,649 gold oz., exceeding its prior guidance of 20,000 to 24,000 ounces. The emerging producer churned out a record 10,835 oz. in the fourth quarter, which is a quarterly record for the Sugar Zone mine in White River since reaching commercial production in January 2019.

In 2021, Harte expects to grow its output to 60,000 to 65,000 gold oz., as throughputs are anticipated to reach 800 tonnes per day in the first quarter of this year and grades are forecast to trend towards the 7.1 grams gold per tonne reserve grade.

Last year “was an important transitional year for Harte Gold; one in which we made a series of operational enhancements to production and mine planning at the Sugar Zone mine,” Frazer Bourchier, Harte Gold’s president and CEO, said in a news release. “Since restarting operations, we have made steady improvements across a number of key metrics –including mine ore production, development metres, and processed grades. These changes have resulted in record quarterly production for Harte Gold and exceeding our revised production guidance for 2020.”

Bourchier also added that next year’s cash costs are expected to come in around US$800 to US$850 per ounce. (All in sustaining costs are forecast around US$1,400 to US$1,550 per oz.) as Sugar Zone maintains 800 tonne per day throughputs around the reserve grade.

Harte expects that approximately two-thirds of its 2021 gold production will be unhedged.

This year, the miner expects to spend $26 million on mine development and $13 million on a camp upgrade and on a heavy equipment shop. A further $5 million is allocated for regional exploration.

Fourth-quarter head grades averaged 7.7 grams gold per tonne, with increasing development rates. The higher development activity is expected to lead to increased ore mining by the first quarter of this year. In 2021, average grades are anticipated to remain consistent with the reserve grade.

Harte is also completing a feasibility study for an expansion to 1,200 tonnes per day with results expected after market close on Jan. 20, the study will also include a reserve and resource update.

The company’s fourth quarter and full year 2020 results are expected on Mar. 23.