KEY POINTS
- Gediktepe’s sulphide expansion is substantially complete, with commissioning underway ahead of August production.
- ACG Metals targets 20,000–22,000 tonnes of copper equivalent production in 2026.
- The expansion is expected to shift the mine towards copper-zinc production and extend its life by about 11 years.
ACG Metals’ Gediktepe sulphide expansion project in Türkiye is nearing the end of construction, with commissioning now underway ahead of its planned production start in August 2026.
The project is expected to significantly change the mine’s production profile, moving it from primarily producing gold and silver doré to becoming a major producer of copper-zinc concentrates. ACG Metals expects the operation to produce between 20,000 and 22,000 tonnes of copper equivalent in 2026.
Major infrastructure required for the sulphide processing operation has now been completed, including conveyor systems and filter presses.
Construction of the flotation plant, primary jaw crushers, fine ore bins and thickeners has also progressed substantially. The infrastructure was developed under a fixed-price engineering, procurement and construction contract, helping the company reduce exposure to inflation and construction-cost increases.
Earlier in 2026, major processing equipment, including the ball mill and SAG mill, was delivered and installed at the site. At the height of construction activity, the project employed around 500 workers.
From Gold-Silver to Copper-Zinc
Gediktepe was initially developed as a joint venture between Alacer Gold and Lidya Madencilik. A 2019 prefeasibility study proposed a two-stage open-pit mining strategy.
The first phase focused on extracting the upper gold-silver oxide ore, while the second phase targeted the deeper copper-zinc sulphide resource.
Lidya Madencilik eventually acquired Alacer Gold’s 50% non-operating interest for $10 million, along with net smelter return royalties. The company subsequently developed the necessary infrastructure and brought the oxide gold-silver heap-leach operation into commercial production.
ACG Metals later acquired the mine from Lidya Madencilik for $290 million. Following the acquisition, the company placed greater emphasis on Gediktepe’s large sulphide resource, with the aim of establishing the mine as a significant mid-tier copper producer.
While the sulphide expansion has been under construction, improvements have also been made to the existing heap-leach operation.
These changes have lifted gold recovery to approximately 85%. At the same time, extensive waste stripping has exposed the underlying sulphide ore body, helping to ensure that sufficient ore is available to feed the new flotation plant once production begins.
The completion of the sulphide expansion is expected to transform Gediktepe’s role within ACG Metals’ portfolio.
