According to the firm, the undeveloped Siberian deposit is the largest in the world. “As of May 31, 2020, ore reserves are initially estimated at 540 million tons with an average gold grade of 2.3 grams per ton. This is equivalent to 40 million ounces,” said Polyus chief executive Pavel Grachev. “This confirms Sukhoi Log’s status as the world’s largest new and active gold mine.”
Grachev explained that the new deposit secures Polyus’ position as the world’s second-biggest gold mining company by attributable reserves. Last month, Polyus agreed to pay $128.2 million to buy the remaining 22 percent stake in the giant deposit.
Polyus is the largest gold producer in Russia with assets in the Krasnoyarsk territory, Irkutsk and Magadan regions, and in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). In 2019, the company produced 2.8 million ounces of gold, and plans to produce the same amount in 2020.