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With a new phase of investments, the company extends the project's useful life and strengthens the economy of the northern region of Maranhão
Equinox Gold announced a investment of BRL 900 million to expand its operations at the Aurizona Mine, located in Godofredo Viana, Maranhão. The company, which has been producing around 120 ounces of gold per year since 2019, now plans to also explore the potential section of the mine, with the start scheduled for 2028. This new step will extend the mine's lifespan and bring new job opportunities to the region, generating positive results in an area where development is still limited.
According to Cesar Torresini, Vice President of Public Relations and Licensing for Equinox Gold in Brazil, the construction of the underground mine location in 2025. He highlighted that the project gained importance after the activation of the Tatajuba satellite deposit, close to the main body, Piaba. This new reservoir, fruit of the company's geological investigations, will add volume of minerals to production, reinforcing the mine’s capacity.
New deposits and mine life extension
Equinox Gold is committed to extending the operation of the Aurizona Mine, previously scheduled to close in 2026. With the Tatajuba reservoir and future underground exploration, activities at the mine could extend until 2037 or longer. Torresini revealed that the continuity of deposits at depth is reminiscent of the exploration of Minas Gerais, with the potential to keep the mine active for up to 40 years.
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With constant surveys, Equinox Gold seeks new reserves below a thousand meters, a practice that already has proven successful in other operations, such as Fazenda Brasileiro, in Bahia. Comparing the two mines, Torresini highlighted that Fazenda Brasileiro started with a ten-year exploration forecast in the 1980s and, due to the reserves discovered over time, it is still productive.
Economic and social impact of Equinox Gold in Godofredo Viana
Equinox Gold Operation has driven the development of Godofredo Viana, municipality with about 10 thousand inhabitants. Since 2019, the company has invested in local infrastructure and tax contributions that strengthen the economy. Between 2017 and 2023, R$ 77 million were paid in ISS for the municipality. In addition, the Financial Compensation for the Exploration of Mineral Resources (CFEM) generated an additional R$42 million for the city, and the Distributor Union Participatory Fund totaled R$14 million in 2023.
These features play a crucial role in the development of Godofredo Viana, helping to financing of public services and infrastructure projects, and generating a significant increase in municipal revenue. In this way, the company not only contributes to mining, but also to the social progress of the region.
History and new perspectives for the Aurizona Mine
The Aurizona Mine has previously been operated by Luna Gold, who explored the site between 2010 and 2015. However, the activities were interrupted due to the fall in the price of gold and the lack of an adequate structure for processing transitional materials. In 2016, Equinox Gold contracted the project and invested R$750 million in the modernization of the plant, with the installation of rod and ball mills, optimizing mineral processing.
Since resuming production in 2019, the mine reaches an average of 120 thousand ounces of gold per annum, processing about 3 million tons of ore. The modernization of the plant brought greater efficiency and stability to production, ensuring consistent results over the years.
