ASX-listed Perseus Mining has successfully completed the first underground production blast at its CMA Underground project.
The blast was fired from Blika 1120 Ore Drive South at the Yaouré Gold Mine in Côte d’Ivoire, with excavation of the first production ore commenced immediately.
This event is a key milestone for the project and signals the continuation of the project’s ramp up toward steady-state production, scheduled for Q3 FY27. The CMA Underground mine is both the first mechanised underground mine in Côte d’Ivoire and the first for Perseus.
With investment in the CMA Underground project, Perseus continues to be a key partner in assisting to build skills in the Ivorian mining sector. The start of underground ore production represents a significant milestone of the development of broader mining capability in the country.
Perseus’s Managing Director and CEO Craig Jones said: “The first production blast is a defining moment for Perseus and Côte d’Ivoire, representing the culmination of many months of intensive underground development, drilling and infrastructure installation. This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our site team and contractors, and we look forward to scaling up operations over the coming months with the higher-grade underground ore providing mill feed.”