Gold projects in West Africa are the main theme of this issue. Kicking off our coverage of the region, we look at B2Gold’s Fekola project in Mali, which is due to produce its first gold late next year. Fekola, being built by the same team that was responsible for the successful Otjikoto gold project in Namibia, will have an annual gold production of 350 000 ounces in its first seven years of life, which will make it the second biggest gold mine in Mali after Randgold’s Loulo-Gounkoto Complex.
In neighbouring Burkina Faso, Canada’s Roxgold has recently poured the first gold at its low-cost, high grade Yaramoko underground mine, developed at a cost of US$110,8 million, while LSE-listed Nordgold is advancing ahead of both budget and schedule at its 7 Mt/a Bouly open-pit, heap leach project. Production at Bouly is expected to start in Q3 this year.
In Ghana we look at two underground projects being undertaken by Golden Star Resources (GSR) at its Wassa and Prestea properties in western Ghana. Wassa Underground is the more advanced project and is due to deliver its first gold production within the next few weeks while Prestea Underground should be in production by mid-2017.
Moving to technology, our cover story in this issue looks at the ingenious products of Sleipner Finland – available locally through Sleipner Africa – which make it easy to transport tracked mining machines such as dozers, excavators and drill rigs around mine sites while in a second story we examine four innovative shaft boring systems developed by German engineering company Herrenknecht.
Five-year offtake agreement for graphite project signed
ASX-listed Syrah Resources, which is constructing the Balama graphite project in northern Mozambique, has signed a ‘Spherical Graphite Offtake Agreement’ with Marubeni Corporation, a major Japanese integrated trading and investment conglomerate. An open-pit project, Balama will produce over 350 000 t/a of graphite concentrate.
Gangama Dry Mine successfully commissioned
AIM-listed Sierra Rutile reports that plant commissioning of the Gangama Dry Mine project in Sierra Leone and handover from DRA Projects to Sierra Rutile was successfully completed on 31 May 2016. The Gangama Dry Mine is now operational and producing high quality natural rutile, a high grade titanium feedstock.
Fekola destined to be Mali’s second biggest gold mine
Construction is well underway in south-western Mali on the US$395 million Fekola project of B2Gold, which will be one of West Africa’s biggest gold mines. B2Gold acquired Fekola in 2014 after it merged with Papillon Resources.
Perseus poised to emerge as a major West African player
With its recent acquisition of Amara Mining, Perseus Mining, headquartered in Perth, Australia, now has a strong growth pipeline in place in West Africa, including the Sissingué and Yaouré gold projects in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as the Baomahun gold project in Sierra Leone. Yaouré has the potential to be one of the biggest mines in West Africa.
Baoulé bulk sampling completed
Stellar Diamonds has completed its 100 000-tonne bulk sampling and trial mining programme at its Baoulé kimberlite pipe in Guinea. The programme delivered 11 808 carats, including over 900 stones greater than 1 carat. Prices received for the diamonds have generally varied from US$91 to US$156 per carat.
