West Red Lake Gold has achieved a significant milestone by reaching commercial production at its Madsen gold mine in the Red Lake mining district of north-western Ontario, Canada. This achievement was officially reached on 1 January 2026, with the mill achieving an average throughput of 689 tonnes per day (tpd) in December 2025.
This throughput represents 86% of the permitted capacity of 800tpd, meeting the company’s requirement for commercial production, which stipulates maintaining at least 65% of permitted capacity over a 30-day period. Additionally, the mine demonstrated operational stability standards during this period.
In December, the mill achieved an impressive average gold recovery rate of 94.6%, leading to the production of 3,215oz of gold. West Red Lake Gold president and CEO Shane Williams expressed his delight at the achievement, stating, “We are delighted to announce commercial production at the Madsen Mine, achieved only seven months after completion of the bulk sample. Achieving commercial production is a major milestone for any producer and it comes after a strong December that saw tonnage, grade, recoveries, and production all perform to plan.”
Williams also acknowledged the efforts of the site operations team for their responsible and methodical mine ramp-up, as well as the support from partners including the Lac Seul and Wabauskang First Nations and the community of Red Lake. Looking ahead, Williams anticipates that Madsen will reach sustained permitted capacity by mid-2026.
Moving into the first quarter of 2026, the majority of the mill feed is expected to come from the 4447 area high-grade zone in South Austin, with an average gold grade exceeding six grams per tonne (g/t). In the previous month, the Madsen mine processed 21,389t of ore at an average gold grade of 4.94g/t.
During Q4, the total ore processed amounted to 49,162t, with an average processing rate of 534tpd and a grade of 5.06 g/t gold. The mill recovery rate during this period was approximately 95%, resulting in the production of 7,379oz of gold and a total of 7,200oz being poured.
The operation generated $30m (C$41.62m) from sales at an average price of $4,150/oz in Q4, with a total of 20,000oz of gold poured throughout 2025 at an average price of $3,650/oz, yielding $73m in revenue. By the end of the year, the company reported having C$46m in cash and gold receivables.
In October 2025, West Red Lake Gold commenced a 5,000m drilling program at its Rowan project in the Red Lake gold district. This ongoing exploration activity demonstrates the company’s commitment to further expanding its operations and unlocking the full potential of its mining assets.
The achievement of commercial production at the Madsen gold mine marks a significant milestone for West Red Lake Gold, reflecting the successful execution of its operational strategy and the dedication of its team. The company’s continued focus on ramping up production and exploration activities positions it for sustained growth and success in the future.
