Rockbolting at Tahoe Resources’ Escobal project in Guatemala. Commercial production is scheduled to begin
in early 2014, providing 317 million oz of silver over an 18-year mine life. (Photo courtesy of Tahoe Resources)

As of early March, all underground equipment was on-site, and all long lead-time items had been ordered. Procurement for the mine and mill was on schedule and budget, and major plant components had begun to arrive. Civil work was under way, foundations for the crushing plant and ball mill had been formed, concrete placement had begun, and warehouse steel construc-tion was well advanced. Upgrades to the San Rafael substation and on-site power lines and electrical distribution were near-ly complete.

Underground development is planned to be completed in time for mill commis-sioning in the second half of 2013.

Tahoe President and CEO Kevin McArthur said, “We have seen impressive exploration results over the last year, indi-cating the potential for future mine expan-sion. In the second quarter of this year, we expect to update the mineral resource and to develop a plan to increase future throughput from the currently planned 3,500 mt/d to 5,000 mt/d. The expansion plan would be financed with internal cash flow and completed within five years of mine start-up.”