TSX-V-listed West Red Lake Gold Mines has successfully completed Phase 1 of the Madsen mine's refurbishment programme, located in the Red Lake mining district of Ontario.

The company is undertaking refurbishment of the past producing Madsen gold mine shaft in phases, which is an important infrastructure project poised to increase material handling capacity, improve mining efficiency and lower operating costs while supporting higher production rates as mining advances to deeper levels.

The initial Phase 1 works supports a hoisting capacity of 200 t a day, with Phase 2 and Phase 3 upgrades due to support higher hoisting rates to 700 t a day and 2 000 t a day, respectively.

West Red Lake Gold Mines says all major equipment required for the Phase 2 shaft refurbishment works is now on site, with installation underway.

Combined, the Phase 1 and Phase 2 shaft refurbishment programme will reach Level 10 of the Madsen mine, or 500 m deep, which can hoist material from the active mining complexes in Austin and South Austin, while Phase 3 will support material haulage from deeper in the mine, potentially at Level 17.

The phased approach to the Madsen shaft allows the company to progressively commission the shaft while continuing to invest in the infrastructure required to unlock the mine's full long-term value.

"As mining advances to deeper levels, the shaft will complement underground truck haulage by providing an additional means of moving ore and waste to surface at much lower costs while reducing haulage distances and improving operational flexibility.

"While underground trucks will continue to play an important role throughout the mine, the shaft is expected to improve operating efficiency and contribute to lower operating costs and all-in sustaining costs over time," explains West Red Lake Gold Mines president and CEO Shane Williams.

Historically, the Madsen shaft served as the mine's primary material haulage system for about five decades, providing access to mining operations as deep as Level 26, which is the bottom of the shaft.