About this episode
Wesdome Gold Mines (TSX: WDO) President and CEO Anthea Bath says the company is entering 2026 as a debt-free, high-margin gold producer after delivering record 2025 production of 185,000 ounces and ending the year with $356 million in cash and zero debt. Speaking with Kitco Mining at the 2026 BMO Metals Mining & Critical Minerals Conference, Bath said Wesdome generated about $250 million in free cash flow in 2025 and expects to generate roughly $350 million in 2026 at budget assumptions below $4,000 gold. “Wes generated about $250 million in free cash last year,” she said.With mill utilization currently running between 30% and 60% at Eagle River and Kiena, Wesdome is advancing a “fill the mill” strategy aimed at increasing throughput, extending mine life, and lowering unit costs through fixed-cost leverage without significant new mill capital. The company completed about 200 kilometers of drilling in 2025 and plans about 270 kilometers in 2026 across 250 exploration targets, with updated resource disclosures expected in June and technical reports expected in the second half of 2026. Bath said Wesdome is targeting mid-tier scale of 400,000 to 500,000 ounces annually while maintaining disciplined capital allocation and evaluating high-quality acquisition opportunities.Don’t forget to subscribe to the Kitco Mining & Kitco News YouTube channels to stay up to date on the latest industry news and interviews. Special thanks to our sponsor, First Majestic Silver. To learn more, visit https://firstmajestic.com/01:19 - “Fill the Mill” Strategy and 30–60% Utilization02:04 - Gold Price Leverage and Resource Expansion03:52 - 270km Drill Program and June Resource Update04:53 - Capital Requirements and Infrastructure Readiness05:30 - $250M Free Cash Flow and Share Buybacks06:49 - Path to 400–500k oz Mid-Tier Scale07:33 - M&A Criteria and Tier-One Jurisdiction Focus09:17 - Takeover Risk and Gold Sector Discipline10:30 - Investor Feedback and Capital Returns__________________________________________________________________Kitco Mining is dedicated to reporting on the mining industry. Our mandate is to be the top resource for all mining information and news, offering a clear perspective on where the industry is going through breaking news coverage, mining trends, and in-depth reporting, presented with precious, rare earth, base metals, and industry stock prices.Get important precious and base metal updates while on the go with the Kitco Gold LIVE! app - https://applications.kitco.comStay connected with usX - https://x.com/KitcoMiningInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kitcominingLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kitco-miningFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/KitcoMiningConnect with the Kitco Mining anchorsPaul Harris - https://x.com/paulharrisgold For more in-depth mining coverage, visit us
