We supported communities neighboring our operations with donations of 2,747 packages of basic food and supplies, 36,300 face masks and 1,169 containers of antibacterial gel, with a total value of Ps. 2.6 million. We also engaged ten physicians from UNAM to provide medical services and, in coordination with the authorities, we held campaigns to promote the sanitary measures necessary to prevent contagion.
We donated 50 Philips model E30 ventilators to the governments of Chihuahua and Guerrero in order to strengthen their medical infrastructure.
Two community committees were created during the year: one at Capela, in which a council of inhabitants from the mining region of Tehuixtla, Guerrero was formed to follow up on social infrastructure projects that would benefit neighboring communities; and the San Martín Health Committee in Sombrerete, Zacatecas, involving the Sabinas unit, in support of COVID-19 prevention actions.
Production and performance
Consolidated mining production (including 100% of payable production by Fresnillo plc) in 2020, and the change against the previous year, was as follows:
|
2020 |
2019 |
% chge. |
| Ore milled and deposited (Mt) |
44.0 |
55.5 |
-20.7 |
| Gold (oz) |
824,087 |
910,871 |
-9.5 |
| Silver (koz) |
62,551 |
62,325 |
0.4 |
| Lead (t) |
86,420 |
84,332 |
2.5 |
| Zinc (t) |
288,072 |
292,291 |
-1.4 |
| Copper (t) |
8,969 |
8,806 |
1.8 |
| Copper cathodes (t) |
12,444 |
22,488 |
-44.7 |
The volume of ore milled and deposited was 44.0 million metric tons, 20.7% less than in the previous year due to pandemic-related restrictions and the suspension of operations at Madero, Milpillas and Bismark. Production at Herradura and Noche Buena was also affected, since in the state of Sonora, public health restrictions were extended to open pit mines. For this reason, gold production decreased by 86,785 ounces, or 9.5% compared to the previous year.
Silver production—62.6 million ounces—was similar to that of the previous year, supported by volume at Capela—which began operations in 2020—, the development ore from the Juanicipio project—which was processed at the Fresnillo plant—, and higher head grades at San Julián, Fresnillo, and Tizapa; the latter, in addition to improvements in recovery. These units offset lower production at Saucito and Sabinas due to a decline in volume processed and lower grades; at Velardeña, due to a lower head grade; Herradura, due to lower volume; and shortfalls at Madero and Bismark, resulting from the suspension of their operations.
The production of lead in concentrates grew slightly—2,070 metric tons—due to the contribution from Capela and the higher head grades obtained in Saucito, Ciénega, Sabinas and Tizapa, which offset lower grades and recoveries at Velardeña and San Julián, in addition to the absence of production from Madero and Bismark, which were out of commission for the entire period.
Production of zinc content dropped slightly—4,291 metric tons—due to the lack of production from Madero and Bismark and, to a lesser extent, lower head grades at San Julián. However, these effects were almost completely offset by the production of Saucito, Fresnillo, Sabinas and Tizapa, all four with higher grades; Velardeña, with a higher volume of ore milled and processed, and the production from the new Capela unit.
Regarding copper in concentrates, the output from Capela and Velardeña offset the lower volume from Bismark, Madero, Sabinas and Tizapa; the latter two also reported lower head grades and metallurgical recoveries. Milpillas produced a lower amount of cathodic copper because of the suspension of operations, although the ore deposited in the leaching pads will continue to be processed to produce cathodes, until it is exhausted.
We maintain the national leadership in the mining production of gold, zinc and lead and international in silver.
