OREANDA-NEWS. GOLDCORP INC. (TSX: G, NYSE: GG) announced today that first gold production has been achieved at Eleonore, located in the James Bay region of Northern Quebec.

"Following a four year development period I am pleased to announce first gold production at Eleonore, on schedule and in line with our capital cost guidance," said Chuck Jeannes, Goldcorp President and Chief Executive Officer. "The team has done a tremendous job bringing this mine into production safely, in partnership with the Cree Nation of Wemindji, the Grand Council of the Crees of Eeyou Istchee / the Cree National Government (GCC(EI)/CNG) and our suppliers and contractors from Quebec. Located in one of the most attractive mining jurisdictions in the world, the project during its development stage created 2,000 jobs in the province of Quebec and approximately 900 of these will be maintained as we move towards full production. Eleonore is expected to ramp-up to design throughput of 7,000 tonnes per day by 2018."

On October 1, the initial dore bar was poured containing an estimated 70 ounces of gold recovered from the gravity circuit. Commissioning of the remainder of the plant is underway with gold production from the leaching and CIP circuit expected in October. Overall, progress at the mine remains on track for declaration of commercial production in the first quarter of 2015. Production for 2014 is expected to be between 40,000 and 60,000 ounces of gold. Capital costs remain unchanged at between USD 1.8 and USD 1.9 billion.

Goldcorp is one of the world's fastest growing gold producers. Its low-cost gold production is located in stable jurisdictions in the Americas and remains 100% unhedged.