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Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) announced that operations have resumed at their Lucky Friday mine and they anticipate production of approximately two million ounces of silver in 2013.
Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) announced that operations have resumed at their Lucky Friday mine and they anticipate production of approximately two million ounces of silver in 2013.
As quoted in the press release:
The Company has recalled all employees necessary for Lucky Friday to reach full production. All employees, both returning and new, have received supplemental safety training, with enhanced procedures for risk assessment and accident prevention designed to improve existing safe work practices. Work crews have completed the bypass drift at the 5900 foot level, around an area impacted by a rock burst in December 2011. Ground support has been upgraded for over 7.5 miles of underground workings; these upgrades include, in appropriate areas, the incorporation of recently developed ground support bolting products. Current production is coming from #10 stope and #11 stope, located on the intermediate-vein package and 30-vein, respectively.
Hecla’s President and CEO, Phillips S. Baker, Jr., said:
The 12 months of down time at Lucky Friday allowed work crews to improve many aspects of the mine’s operations. Besides cleaning and improving the efficiency of the main Silver Shaft, we upgraded mining methods; conducted supplementary training; hired additional safety experts, mine management and engineering staff; and purchased $2.3 million in new equipment, including mechanized rock bolters, which will be used to implement new ground control measures.