Bibiani Mine: Operational upgrades to drive enhanced gold production, says Asante Gold
In a strategic move aimed at fortifying its position in the gold mining sector, Asante Gold, operator of the Bibiani mine has announced a series of operational upgrades and capital initiatives, as detailed in an official release.
Operating 24 hours a day with an annual throughput of approximately 3.0 million tonnes, the mine is gearing up for a significant transformation, poised to bolster gold recovery, production levels, and reduce all-in sustaining costs per ounce in Q4 2023.
Key developments and planned endeavors at the Bibiani mine include:
- Exploration Success: Recent near-mine exploration efforts have yielded success, with the Grasshopper satellite pit commencing production in Q2 2023. Additionally, a starter pit at the South Russel deposit is in the pipeline, with mineralized material delivery on the horizon by January 2024.
- Gravity Plant Enhancement: The gravity plant, which underwent upgrades ahead of production in July 2022, is delivering on expectations, with gold recovery rates ranging from 25% to 35%. An upcoming installation of a scalping screen, scheduled for late October 2023, is poised to augment gravity gold recovery by an additional 5%.
- Oxygen Plant Deployment: An oxygen plant, installed in a timely manner, has been furnishing the process plant with oxygen since September 2023. The finalization of an oxygen utilization-boosting Mach-reactor is imminent.
- Pebble Crusher Integration: A pebble crusher, on order and expected to be operational in the coming months, will amplify the process plant’s throughput capacity, elevating it from 3.0 million to 3.4 million tonnes per year.
- Sulphide Recovery Plant: Anticipated to be a game-changer, the Sulphide Recovery Plant’s long lead items are slated for shipment in September 2023. Construction is envisaged to span five months from delivery to site, with the plant anticipated to push gold recovery rates beyond the 90% mark upon activation.
- Detour Road Progress: The completion of a detour road, currently in the final stages of construction, will provide essential access to higher-grade mineralized material from the primary pit, expected to be realized by early 2024.
- Cost Optimization Initiatives: A suite of cost-saving and productivity-enhancing initiatives is in motion, with implementation scheduled over the upcoming months.
Looking ahead, for the fiscal year concluding on January 31, 2024, the Company envisions gold production in the range of approximately 80,000 to 90,000 ounces at the Bibiani mine.
Subject to the successful procurement of requisite funding and the seamless execution of the aforementioned capital projects, Asante Gold Corporation foresees Bibiani achieving a remarkable gold production of approximately 180,000 ounces for the fiscal year concluding on January 31, 2025, while maintaining all-in sustaining costs at a targeted level of $1,325 per ounce.
