On April 14, 2026, a magnitude‑4.5 earthquake struck the New South Wales Central West region near Newmont’s Cadia gold mine, prompting the company to immediately suspend underground operations and deploy specialist teams for inspections and assessments.
Newmont confirmed that all underground personnel were accounted for and that no injuries were reported. The company emphasized that safety procedures functioned effectively and that the pause was a precautionary measure to ensure continued operational integrity.
Cadia is one of Newmont’s key tier‑one assets, having produced 385,000 ounces of gold and 82,000 tonnes of copper in 2025. The temporary halt could affect short‑term production figures and underscores the mine’s importance to the company’s overall output.
Newmont’s 2026 guidance already projects a decline in Cadia’s output to 270,000 ounces of gold and 65,000 tonnes of copper, with an all‑in sustaining cost of $1,575 per ounce. The earthquake adds an additional layer of uncertainty to an already projected lower‑production year.
Investors reacted negatively to the pause, citing uncertainty about the duration of the operational halt and its potential impact on 2026 production targets. The event highlights the operational risks inherent in underground mining and the importance of robust safety protocols.
Management reiterated that "the safety and wellbeing of our people remains our highest priority," and that specialist teams are working to assess the mine’s structural integrity before operations resume.
A magnitude‑4.3 earthquake in 2017 near Cadia also led to a three‑month suspension, highlighting the region’s seismic risk.
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