Eldorado Gold Corporation has announced a significant milestone at its Skouries copper-gold project located in Northern Greece, with the first ore successfully processed through the newly commissioned crushing circuit. This development marks the transition of the project into the commissioning phase, which is a crucial step towards full production. The company is targeting the production of copper-gold concentrate in the third quarter of 2026, with plans for commercial production to commence in the fourth quarter of the same year, contingent on the completion of final site energization and commissioning activities.
The successful crushing of the first ore is a testament to the effective operation of the front-end processing systems at Skouries. The company has reported that commissioning activities are progressing across various operational areas, including crushing, grinding, flotation, and concentrate handling. Eldorado Gold has also taken proactive measures to ensure that commissioning readiness is maintained, including the addition of supplemental generators to provide interim power while awaiting final site energization from the Greek power authority.
With an ore stockpile of approximately 3.9 million tonnes, the open pit mining operations at Skouries are running ahead of schedule, allowing for a steady ramp-up of the processing plant. This stockpile is expected to support the commissioning and first year of production, reducing risks associated with the initial operational phase. Eldorado Gold’s CEO, George Burns, expressed confidence in the project’s progress, highlighting the team’s commitment to completing the remaining steps safely and methodically as they work towards the first concentrate production.
