a delay of roughly a month isn't a big deal; every new mine has start-up issues. but the announcement of a search for turkish partners appears to be a non-sequitur. at least i hope it is. anatolia has enough cash to build copler by itself, and should not be looking for a joint venture partner for this project.

July 27 (Reuters) - Canada's Anatolia Minerals Development Ltd (ANO.TO) said its Copler gold project in Turkey could be delayed as major earthworks activities planned for the beginning of July has been pushed back by nearly a month.

The company also said that it continued to evaluate prospective Turkish strategic partners for the project and sees such partnership as a key element for long-term strategic sustainable growth in that country.

"The pre-stripping and major earthworks activities have been delayed approximately a month. In turn, this delay may cause a similar slippage in subsequent milestones," the company said in a statement.

Anatolia Minerals also said that it was evaluating various options to reduce the construction period and reviewing the financial impact of this delay.

The company plans to produce about 1.3 million ounces of gold at a cash cost of about $260 per ounce from the Copler project and expects the first gold pour in 2010.

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idAFBNG44878820090727?rpc=44