09:51 AM EDT, 10/20/2017 (MT Newswires) -- New Gold (NGD.TO) rose 5.6% Thursday to $4.71 apiece as its Rainy River Mine achieved commercial production, approximately two weeks ahead of schedule.

Chief Executive Officer Hannes Portmann said: "We are now focused on continuing to successfully ramp up the operation through the balance of the year."

In the first 30 days of operation, Rainy River has successfully processed approximately 457,000 tonnes of ore. Inclusive of four days of intentional downtime as part of the commissioning plan, the processing rate averaged 15,200 tonnes per day, or 72% of the 21,000 tonnes per day nameplate capacity.

In a statement, the company said that to date, both grade and recoveries have also been consistent with New Gold's commissioning plan.