Iamgold’s Lemelin Credits Mentor as Company Hits Record Gold Output

The Côté Gold mine in Northern Ontario. (Image courtesy of Iamgold.)

Iamgold’s Chief Operating Officer Bruno Lemelin has reflected on the pivotal role his first boss played in shaping his career, as the Canadian gold producer celebrates record output and prepares for further expansion. Lemelin recalls being encouraged by Gilles Ferlatte more than a decade ago to join the Essakane mine team in Burkina Faso, just as regional politics were becoming unstable. It was his first time managing a department of 800 people in charge of producing 400,000 ounces of gold annually in a remote West African location. He describes Ferlatte as a mentor who helped him develop operational skills and confidence in one of the company’s largest mines.

That experience proved formative. Lemelin rose through the ranks to become COO in 2023, overseeing the construction and ramp-up of Iamgold’s flagship Côté Gold mine in Northern Ontario. The achievement earned him the Northern Miner Group’s Operator of the Year Award, sponsored by EY, which he accepted in London at the International Metals Symposium in November. He emphasized that the recognition was the result of teamwork, noting the collective effort behind bringing Côté into commercial production.

Iamgold’s third-quarter results highlight the scale of the company’s progress. The Côté mine delivered 106,000 ounces, leading overall output, while Essakane contributed 92,000 ounces and Westwood in Quebec added 23,000 ounces.

Quarterly revenue reached nearly $707 million (C$992 million) from sales of 203,000 ounces at an average realized gold price of $3,492 per ounce. Year-to-date revenue totaled $1.76 billion, with all-in sustaining costs averaging $1,956 per ounce, placing the company at the upper end of its cost guidance. Lemelin has made cost control his top priority for 2026, stressing the importance of protecting margins even in a high gold price environment.

The Côté mine, located 125 kilometers southwest of Timmins, Ontario, poured its first gold in April 2024. The project originated with Iamgold’s 2012 takeover of Trelawney Mining, and Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining acquired a 30% stake in 2017. Construction was approved in 2020, with capital costs totaling nearly $3 billion. The processing plant now operates at full capacity of 36,000 tonnes per day, drawing from proven and probable reserves of 233 million tonnes grading 0.96 grams per tonne for 7.17 million ounces of gold. The mine is expected to average 365,000 ounces annually over an 18-year life, with output potentially reaching 495,000 ounces in its first six years.

Expansion plans are already underway with the adjacent Gosselin deposit, which is due for a resource update and prefeasibility study by the end of 2026. Drilling has confirmed extensions of the deposit, supporting the concept of a “super-pit” that could extend mine life to 30 or 40 years. Gosselin currently hosts 161.3 million indicated tonnes grading 0.85 grams gold for 4.4 million ounces, and 123.9 million inferred tonnes grading 0.75 grams for 3 million ounces.

In Africa, Essakane remains a cornerstone of Iamgold’s portfolio. The mine is heading toward lease renewal in 2028, with a technical report expected in 2027. Burkina Faso’s new mining code, introduced in 2024, increases the government’s stake in projects to 15% from 10%, with an option to rise to 30%. It also requires greater local processing and supplier participation, while limiting tax exemptions.

Lemelin acknowledges that navigating these changes will involve extensive discussions with government officials and local communities.\Back in Quebec, Iamgold expanded its footprint in October with the acquisition of Northern Superior Resources for $267.4 million in cash and stock, along with Mines D’Or Orbec for $12.3 million. The deals nearly triple the company’s presence in the Chibougamau region, where it is considering developing a processing hub at the Nelligan property to serve multiple mining areas. Lemelin describes Nelligan as a promising project that complements the transformative impact of Côté.

With a doctorate in mineral economics and degrees in engineering and finance from Laval University, Lemelin once considered becoming a professor. Instead, his career path led him through Falconbridge and Xstrata before joining Iamgold. Today, he is focused not only on operational excellence but also on attracting younger generations to mining. He sees artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles as key to making the industry more appealing, likening the control of mining fleets to video gaming. For him, the integration of technology is both a recruitment tool and a step toward the future of mining.