Gold Mining Giant Newmont Announces Earthquake Recovery Plan with Cadia Mine Set to Resume 80% Capacity in Five Weeks

Newmont Corporation has outlined a recovery timeline for its Cadia gold mine in New South Wales following a magnitude-4.5 earthquake that disrupted operations in mid-April 2026. The company confirmed that underground rehabilitation is expected to be completed within five weeks, allowing a return to 80 percent operational capacity by late May, with full production restoration targeted for the end of the second quarter.

The earthquake, which occurred on April 14, 2026, approximately 30 kilometers southwest of Orange, triggered the mine’s safety protocols, prompting the evacuation of more than 150 underground workers to refuge chambers. No injuries were reported during the incident, which also generated two aftershocks. Underground operations have remained suspended since the event while safety assessments and repair work proceed.

In its first quarterly update for 2026, Newmont stated that initial investigations indicated the damage from the quake was limited. The company emphasized that surface operations continued processing stockpiled ore during the suspension, helping to maintain partial output while underground repairs are underway.

Production from the Cadia mine is expected to be lower in the second quarter due to the temporary gap in mill feed from underground operations. However, Newmont projects a return to normal production levels at the start of the third quarter, with full operational capacity restored by the end of June 2026.

The Cadia site, one of Australia’s largest gold mining operations, has historically contributed significantly to Newmont’s overall output. The company noted in its Q1 2026 earnings release that increased output from Cadia, alongside improvements at other sites such as Merian and Ahafo, supported stronger group-wide gold production during the quarter.

Newmont reiterated that the safety and wellbeing of its workforce remain the top priority throughout the recovery process. The company confirmed that all personnel were accounted for and safely returned to the surface following the earthquake, with debriefings conducted as part of standard procedures.