Aya Gold & Silver triples output as Morocco mine scales up

Aya Gold & Silver has kicked off 2025 with a sharp surge in production, signaling a major ramp-up at its flagship Zgounder mine in Morocco. 

The Canadian miner reported first-quarter output of 1.07 million ounces of silver — nearly triple last year’s figure for the same period.

The jump comes on the heels of a new processing plant commissioned in late 2024, which has significantly boosted the site’s capacity. Ore throughput rose 207% year-over-year to nearly 250,000 tonnes, while silver recoveries held steady at 82%.

“These are solid results, achieved despite planned shutdowns and seasonal weather,” said Raphaël Beaudoin, VP of Operations. “The plant is running at full throttle — and there’s still room to push further.”

With silver prices climbing, the timing couldn’t be better. Aya fetched an average of over $32 per ounce this quarter, a steep rise from sub-$22 levels a year ago.

The company is now aiming to produce between 5 and 5.3 million ounces in 2025 — more than triple last year’s total of 1.65 million ounces.

To hit that target, Aya will need to keep momentum strong through the rest of the year.

But with its upgraded infrastructure now online and performing above nameplate capacity, the path to becoming a mid-tier silver producer looks increasingly within reach.