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Burkina Faso:
“We are very pleased to have crushed the first M5 open-pit ore ahead of schedule at Sanbrado. The overall construction project is tracking ahead of schedule, which is a credit to the skill and experience of WAF’s owners’ team and the quality and cooperation of the contactors and consultants working with us on the build.”
Richard Hyde
Executive Chairman West African Resources
Gold developer West African Resources Limited has announced the completion and commissioning of its primary crusher ahead of schedule as the Company prepares for gold production at its Sanbrado Gold Project, Burkina Faso.
Highlights
- First gold pour now expected in early Q2 2020, ahead of schedule
- Crushing circuit commissioned and operational
- Commissioning is well underway on the process plant and power station
- Open-pit mining ramped up to include both the M5 and M1 South pits
- M1 South underground on schedule for first development ore in late March 2020
- Open-pit ore stockpiles building with 200,000t at 1.4 g/t Au already on the ROM pad.
West African Executive Chairman Richard Hyde commented: “We are very pleased to have crushed the first M5 open-pit ore ahead of schedule at Sanbrado. The overall construction project is tracking ahead of schedule, which is a credit to the skill and experience of WAF’s owners’ team and the quality and cooperation of the contractors and consultants working with us on the build. “
Double shift open-pit mining has recently started with over 200,000t of oxide ore now on the ROM pad. Commissioning activities are also progressing well, with the project now.
Project Update
During the week, the primary crushing circuit was successfully commissioned with first ore from M5 processed and conveyed to the coarse ore stockpile. Construction activities are nearing completion with only minor piping and instrumentation work remaining. Mechanical and electrical works are now expected to be completed in late Q1 2020 on all plant and equipment. First power from the heavy fuel oil (HFO) medium speed generators is forecast to be on-line in March 2020.
Commissioning activities have started and are progressing well on both the process plant and the power station. Introduction of ore downstream of crushing, including water and reagents, is set to begin by late Q1 2020 which should result in first gold by early Q2 2020. Open Pit Mining Open-pit mining contractor African Mining Services, a subsidiary of the Perenti Group (ASX: PRN) has ramped up mining activities to include both the M5 and M1 South pits, with double shift starting in the last week. Over 200,000 tonnes of oxide ore has been delivered to the ROM pad at average grade of 1.4g/t gold.
Underground development continues to progress to schedule with mining contractor Byrnecut Offshore, a subsidiary of the Byrnecut Group. The primary ventilation raise bore has now been drilled with back reaming in progress. First development ore is on track for late March and first stoping ore is forecast for Q3 2020.
West African Resources Limited announced the results of its updated Feasibility Study for the Sanbrado Gold Project in Burkina Faso in April 2019. The study envisages an initial 10-year mine life, including 6.5 years of underground mining, with Probable Reserves to 1.7 million ounces (21.6Mt at 2.4g/t gold). The project will have average annual production over the first 5 years of mine life of 217,000 ounces gold and a 14-month post-tax pay back on US$186 million pre-production capital costs. Project economics are robust, with AISC figure that is bound to turn competitors green with envy of US$600/oz over first 5 years and US$650 over life of mine. Year 1 production is anticipated to be over 300,000oz gold from underground and open pit ores, at All-In Sustaining Costs of less than US$500/oz. West African is fully funded with construction underway and first gold pour scheduled in early Q2 2020.