The mining company Lihir Gold Ltd says gold production fell 28 per cent in the first quarter, following a scheduled shut down of a process plant in Papua New Guinea for maintenance.
The company produced 138,000 ounces in the three months to the end of March, down from 193,000 ounces in the same quarter last year.
Lihir says the cash gold price received for the March quarter rose to 928 US dollar an ounce, from 794 dollars in the December quarter.
Lihir says while costs continue to increase across the mining industry, the company's relative cost position remains very competitive.
