Equinox Gold will install Orla Mining’s Jason Simpson as CEO on 1 November, accelerating a leadership change just days after closing their C$25.4 billion all-share merger to form a six-mine producer targeting 1.1 million oz. of gold per year. The enlarged portfolio includes Greenstone, Valentine and Musselwhite in Canada, forecast to deliver 685,000 oz. annually, with further growth tied to South Railroad, Castle Mountain, Los Filos and an underground build at Camino Rojo. Simpson must quickly prioritise capex and integration as Greenstone and Valentine ramp up and Equinox prepares consolidated guidance.

Namibia’s expanding uranium, gold and copper sector is drawing new investment, and AECI Mining argues that project success will hinge on how efficiently operations manage scarce water and other natural resources. The company promotes integrated blasting, reagent and water-treatment packages tailored to arid conditions, linking emulsion explosives, process chemicals and closed-loop water circuits to cut freshwater intake and improve plant stability. For mine planners and process engineers, the message is to embed water stewardship into early pit design, tailings strategies and plant selection rather than bolt-on compliance later.

Gold gave back Thursday’s post-Fed bounce, with the Comex continuous contract down 1.6% to $4,037.86/oz and December futures at $4,099.50/oz as traders priced a 63% chance of a September US rate hike. World Gold Council data show record mine output of 966 tonnes in Q2 and 1,867 tonnes in H1, but industry all-in sustaining costs hit a record $1,785/oz in Q1, driven by higher royalties and overheads, with further energy cost pressure emerging. Production growth was concentrated in Canada, Chile, Burkina Faso and Ghana, while Mexico, Nicaragua, the US and China declined, and central banks bought a net 289 tonnes in Q2, a record for a second quarter.