The achievement comes 14 months after the company acquired the project through its takeover of Mutiny Gold.

Practical completion of the new 480,000 tonne per annum plant had been achieved on schedule with commissioning of the milling, gravity and flotation circuits continuing.

Doray managing director Allan Kelly thanked contractor GR Engineering, as well as staff, contractors and consultants.

“In the 14 months or so since we completed the takeover of Mutiny Gold, we have funded, permitted and built a new 480,000tpa processing plant, a new 150-person accommodation village and all other associated mine infrastructure, and commenced open pit mining at Deflector,” he said.

“I’m now very pleased to be able to announce the commencement of gold production at Deflector, the second high-grade gold mine we have funded, permitted, built and commissioned in just under four years.”

Mining by open pit contractor MACA started in February.

Ramp-up to commercial production will occur over the next two months, and the first shipment of concentrate is expected late next month.

The underground mining contractor GBF is mobilising to site in preparation for the establishment of the portal and start of underground development next month.

Deflector is set to produce around 60,000 ounces per annum of gold, plus copper and silver credits, over an initial six-year life.

It will boost Doray’s overall production to around 140,000ozpa from mid-year.

Shares in Doray closed at 85c yesterday, down from a 52-week high of $1.02 two weeks ago.