We are excited to announce that Manh Choh poured its first gold bar on July 8th!
The 37.5-pound gold bar is valued at US$1.4 million and was stamped with an eagle crest to represent the Tetlin Village’s symbol for interconnectedness of life and the importance of conservation and respect for land – a core value of Athabascan Culture and Kinross Alaska.
To celebrate this milestone, a commemorative gold pour ceremony was attended by members of Kinross’ leadership team, the Tetlin Village Council, business and industry partners, and government officials including Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom.
During the ceremony, attendees heard from key leaders including Paul Rollinson, CEO, Terence Watungwa, Vice-President and General Manager, Kinross Alaska, Chief Michael Sam of the Native Village of Tetlin, and Lt. Governor Dahlstrom. The speakers highlighted the importance of community and partnership, and how trust and mutual respect have been instrumental in bringing this project to life over the past 17 years.
“Today is a very special day, and I am honoured to be here attending this commemorative milestone for Kinross,” said Paul Rollinson, CEO. “Manh Choh is now an integral part of Kinross Alaska’s operations, and our approach is to work closely with our stakeholders to reflect their priorities and ensure we have long-lasting beneficial partnerships.”
Prior to the gold pour, attendees traveled to Fort Knox to see the Black Gold Trucks during transport, receive a tour of the mine and witness the Manh Choh mill in operation. This was an opportunity to see how the two companies are working together to complete the mining process in a safe and efficient way.
In 2020, Kinross acquired 70% of the Manh Choh project (formerly Peak Gold) from Royal Gold and Contango Ore, and broke ground on the project in August 2023. The project is expected to increase Kinross’ production profile in Alaska by approximately 640,000 attributable Au eq. oz. over the life of mine, while adding over 400 jobs to the state of Alaska.
Check out photos from the commemorative gold pour ceremony below!