Hummingbird Resources plc (AIM: HUM) has announced that construction at Kouroussa Gold Mine in Guinea has commenced following the mobilisation of equipment and personnel in December 2021.
Ground clearing works for key infrastructure, mine camp and processing plant have commenced.
Key construction developments include
- Commencement of ground clearing works for key infrastructure, mine camp and processing plant
- Further long lead item purchases are being finalised, including: SAG mill, jaw crusher, ore feeders, agitators, interstage screens, tower crane and cyclone cluster
- The pit dewatering team is on site, and works have commenced to further stabilise the key mining deposits for future mining operations
- Construction equipment, tooling, machinery and consumables continue to arrive and are in position on site for the overall build process
- Process plant civil works are scheduled to commence in February once more ground clearing works are completed
Meanwhile, Hummingbird has received further assay results on 30 reverse circulation (RC) and three diamond holes on the high-grade Koekoe (KK) deposit, delivering approximately 3 200 m out of the company’s 24 000 m infill drilling programme for 2021. To date, the company has received about 10 050 m of assays from the 2021 programme, with more expected in Q1 2022.
The company continues to receive ongoing high-grade drill intercepts, coupled with multiple thick mineralisation zones, from our infill drilling campaign completed in 2021.
These updated results continue to provide increasing confidence and geological knowledge of the high-grade nature of Kouroussa’s key deposit KK. The KK deposit has a current maiden Reserve of 408 900 ounces (oz) at 4,38 g/t, with upside potential once all the 2021 24 000 m infill drilling data is analysed, and which will feed into our updated company 2022 Resources and Reserves statements that are scheduled for release in Q2 2022.
Additionally, the company has noted the announcement of sanctions imposed on Mali, with immediate effect, by ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), in response to the Government of Mali’s proposed timetable to hold elections. The sanctions pertain to restrictions on the movement of cash, people and goods, across borders, into and out of Mali from the wider ECOWAS region. The company is evaluating the immediate risks to its supply chain and while all plans will be made to minimise the potential impact, the company believes it is too early to say how these sanctions may potentially affect its business.
“We are pleased by the continued progress at Kouroussa and the commencement of construction, following the deployment of key equipment and construction personnel in December 2021. This marks another significant step towards our strategic goal of becoming a multi-jurisdictional gold producer,” says Dan Betts, CEO of Hummingbird Resources.
“Furthermore, our infill drilling programme from 2021 has continued to show significant high-grade intervals, allowing us to further strengthen our knowledge base of the Kouroussa asset. This data will be analysed by our technical team and provide a core component of our updated Company 2022 Resources and Reserves statements, scheduled for release in Q2 this year.,” adds Betts.
Noris Del Bel Belluz, group technical services manager of Hummingbird Resources, comments: “We continue to receive high-grade infill drilling results for Kouroussa’s key deposit Koekoe, giving us increasing confidence in the asset's geology and grade profile. We are busy assessing the data, which will be key contributors to the upcoming Resources and Reserves update and will play a pivotal role in Kouroussa’s future mine plans.”