Ity, which began processing ore on February 20, successfully completed performance trial testing with all key metrics meeting their targets: a processing rate of over 11,100t per day, an overall plant availability of 96% and gold recovery rate of 94%.
Endeavour said Ity should produce between 160,000oz and 200,000oz this year thanks in part to the expedited ramp-up - it confirmed its achievement four months early - and the plant actually producing above nameplate.
Company president and CEO Sébastien de Montessus called the commercial production milestone "transformational" for Endeavour's history.
The Ity CIL project, located 480km north-west of Abidjan, commenced construction in September 2017. It is 85% owned by Endeavour, with the remaining held by the government of Ivory Coast (10%) and SODEMI (5%).
Endeavour operates four mines across the Ivory Coast (Agbaou and Ity) and Burkina Faso (Houndé, Karma).
