Gold Corp has received a certificate of authorisation from the Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks for the construction of the $1.4bn Éléonore gold project in northern Quebec, Canada.

With this permit, the firm will start construction of the underground mine, which is expected to have a gold production of about 600,000oz of gold a year.

Currently, the exploration shaft at the project has been advanced to 588m depth and will complete to the full depth of 725m in the second quarter of 2012.

The firm will also start construction of the second production shaft and related infrastructure in addition to the 7,000t a day process facility, access road and electrical substation.