Brigus Gold Reports Temporary Suspension of Milling Operations Due to Power Outage Caused by Local Forest Fires
Brigus Gold Corp. ('Brigus? or the 'Company?) (NYSE Amex: BRD; TSX: BRD)
Brigus announces that severe forest fires have caused a power outage at
the Company′s Black Fox Mill, located approximately 30 kilometres east
of Timmins. This has resulted in the temporary suspension of milling
operations and gold production. The power outage occurred yesterday and
power is expected to be restored early next week.
Underground and open pit mining operations at the Company′s Black Fox
Mine are currently unaffected by the forest fires. There has been no
damage to the Company′s assets and the key safety components of the Mill
are operating on backup power. The team continues to produce ore from
both the open pit and underground mine and are stockpiling the ore for
processing once the mill regains power.
'As always, the health and safety of our employees is our top priority
and we are taking every step to ensure no one is at risk. Our thoughts
go out to all those who have been affected,? said Wade Dawe, President
and CEO of Brigus. 'We want to thank the Ontario Provincial Police,
Ministry of Natural Resources, and City of Timmins for their efforts to
fight these extensive forest fires.?
Despite the temporary suspension of milling operations, the Company
remains on track to meet its second quarter production target of 18,000
to 21,000 ounces and will next release gold production numbers for the
quarter in early July.
About Brigus Gold
Brigus is a growing gold producer committed to maximizing shareholder
value through a strategy of efficient production, targeted exploration
and select acquisitions. The Company operates the wholly owned Black Fox
Mine and Mill in the Timmins Gold District of Ontario, Canada. The Black
Fox Complex encompasses the Black Fox Mine and adjoining properties in
the Township of Black River-Matheson, Ontario, Canada. Brigus is also
advancing the Goldfields Project located near Uranium City,
Saskatchewan, Canada, which hosts the Box and Athona gold deposits. In
Mexico, Brigus has granted Cangold Limited the option to acquire a 75%
interest in the Company′s Ixhuatan Project located in the state of
Chiapas. In the Dominican Republic, Brigus has signed an agreement to
sell its remaining interests in three mineral exploration projects.
Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this news release, which are not historical
facts, are forward-looking statements that involve risk, uncertainties
and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All
statements regarding the ability of the Company to achieve its
production, total cash costs, steady state annual production and mining
rate estimates; estimated average gold grades for the open pit and
underground operations; increase in gold production; increase in
profitability; exploration drill results and resource additions, are
forward-looking statements and estimates that involve various risks and
uncertainties. This forward-looking statements include, or may be based
upon, estimates, forecasts, and statements as to management's
expectations with respect to, among other things, the outcome of legal
proceedings, the issue of permits, the size and quality of the Company's
mineral resources, progress in development of mineral properties, future
production and sales volumes, capital and mine production costs, demand
and market outlook for metals, future metal prices and treatment and
refining charges, and the financial results of the Company.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from these forward-looking statements include environmental risks and
other factors disclosed under the heading 'Risk Factors? in Brigus′ most
recent Annual Information Form and Management Discussion and Analysis
filed under the Company′s name at www.sedar.com
and annual report on Form 40F filed with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov
as well as elsewhere in Brigus′ documents filed from time to time with
the Toronto Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex Equities, the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. All
forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on
information available to the Company on the date hereof. The Company
assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except
as required by applicable securities laws.
Brigus Gold Corp.
Jennifer Nicholson, CA, 902-442-7186
Executive
Vice President
jnicholson@brigusgold.com
or
Katherine
Burgess, 902-442-7184
Manager, Stakeholder Relations
kburgess@brigusgold.com
