West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. has completed Phase One of the refurbishment program for the Madsen Mine shaft in Ontario’s Red Lake district, establishing an initial material hoisting capability of approximately 200 tonnes per day.

The initial phase reaches Level 10 at a depth of roughly 500 metres, enabling the shaft to hoist gold ore and waste material from active mining complexes in Austin and South Austin. All major equipment required for Phase Two is now on site, with installation and upgrade work currently underway.

The refurbishment program is designed to restore the shaft to its historical design capacity of approximately 2,000 tonnes per day, supporting the operation as mining moves to deeper levels. Historically, the shaft served as the primary material haulage system for about five decades, providing access to operations as deep as Level 26 at the bottom of the shaft.

Phase Two hoist and skip upgrades are scheduled for completion in the second half of 2027, targeting an increased hoisting capacity of approximately 700 tonnes per day. Phase Three is planned for the second half of 2028 to establish a steady-state production shaft configuration supporting long-term mining from deeper levels, such as Level 17, at approximately 2,000 tonnes per day.

“The phased refurbishment of the Madsen Shaft represents an important investment in the long-term growth of the Mine. As mining advances to deeper levels, the Shaft will complement underground truck haulage by providing an additional means of moving ore and waste to surface at much lower costs while reducing haulage distances and improving operational flexibility. While underground trucks will continue to play an important role throughout the Mine, the Shaft is expected to improve operating efficiency and contribute to lower operating costs and all-in sustaining costs over time.”

— Shane Williams, President and CEO

Read the full announcement: West Red Lake Gold Completes Phase One Madsen Mine Shaft Refurbishment