Gold developer West African Resources Limited (ASX: WAF) has completed commissioning of the primary crusher ahead of schedule as the company prepares for gold production at its Sanbrado Gold Project in Burkina Faso.
Executive Chairman Richard Hyde said the first gold pour is now expected to occur ahead of schedule in in early Q2 2020.
We are very pleased to have crushed the first M5 open-pit ore ahead of schedule at Sanbrado,” Mr Hyde said.
“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.
“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 tracking towards an early Q2 maiden gold pour.”
During the past 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, while mechanical and electrical works are now expected to be completed in late Q1 2020 on all plant and equipment.
Mr Hyde said commissioning activities have started and are progressing well on both the process plant and the power station.
Meanwhile, open-pit mining contractor African Mining Services, a subsidiary of the Perenti Group, has ramped up mining activities to include both the M5 and M1 South pits. 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.
The Sanbrado Gold Project is forecast to have 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 five years of mine life of 217,000 ounces gold.