Previous recipients of the award include Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain.

The US Department of the Interior found that as many as 66 communities whose subsistence-style living activities could be affected.

Production is expected to reach or even exceed its 67.7 tonnes forecast for 2023, according to a mines ministry official.

At the base case, the project's after-tax net present value (at 5% discount) is calculated at $212.4 million with an internal rate of return of 22.8%.

The company aims to become Russia's third-largest gold producer.

Gold surged by the most since March on Friday.