Inca One said that because Lima decreed on June 4 that mining was an essential economic activity, stockpiled ore can now be transported to its Chala One and Kori One facilities.

The firm has also deployed ore buying teams across the country to purchase stockpiled gold-bearing material for shipment to its plants. The firm has entered into agreements with several legal small-scale miners, with gold-bearing material purchased at a discount to spot prices from legal small-scale miners after systematic testing.

"We are hopeful for a swift return to normalized and socially responsible operations," stated Edward Kelly, president and chief executive.

The company said that during lockdown it had also implemented process improvements at Chala One and Kori One.

Chala One plant, which constitutes a full-service milling facility, with weighing, sampling and metallurgical test facilities, has a permitted capacity of 100 t/d. Kori One, which features a carbon-in-leach gold circuit, has a maximum permitted capacity of 350 t/d.

It provides processing services to government-approved small-scale miners in the country.