• Pacgold transitions from explorer to producer with first gold production
• Initial 60oz of gold recovered from first 14 days of pad irrigation
• Refurbishment of plant and mine facilities completed, ramp-up underway

Pacgold Limited (ASX: PGO) has announced the commencement of maiden gold production from its White Dam Gold Project, located 80km east of Broken Hill in South Australia's Olary Province. The heap leach operation at the Project has undergone significant refurbishment, with the plant and mine facilities now recommissioned. Production has successfully restarted, with approximately 60oz of gold recovered from the first 14 days of absorption. Pacgold plans to complete 3 more strip cycles from the plant before producing and shipping its first Doré product around month-end. The company is now focused on maximizing recovery of the gold already leached in the system and currently recirculating, as it continues to absorb and redistribute the significant water influx from recent heavy rains. Another major milestone has been achieved with the first package of re-crushed ore from the top lift of the pad now under irrigation, with the screening and crushing circuit steadily increasing output to around 1,500t per day. Pacgold will continue ramping up re-crushing and leaching to a targeted 90kt per month. Design work is also ongoing on a proposed pad expansion area, with highly experienced North American group Newfields engineers carrying out the design work, expected to be completed by late July. Pacgold's Managing Director, Matthew Boyes, commented that the entire team is extremely proud to have achieved the company's first gold production, marking the transition from explorer to producer.

Pacgold is targeting a crushing throughput of 80-90kt per month as it ramps up production at the White Dam Gold Project.

Pacgold will continue to focus on ramping up re-crushing and leaching at the White Dam Gold Project, with a targeted throughput of 90kt per month. The company is also progressing design work on a proposed pad expansion area, which is expected to be completed by late July.