JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim-listed gold-miner Avocet Mining on Monday reported that commercial production at its Inata mine, in Burkina Faso, could be delayed until January 2010, as the mine made changes in its plant design.

The company had reported in July this year that the first gold pour at its Inata project was expected to take place in the October to December quarter.

The company said in a statement that significant changes have been required in a number of key areas of the plant’s design in order to ensure a more sustainable ramp up, and to avoid operational or maintenance problems once the mine reached steady state production.

“Although these changes were previously considered minor in the context of the construction project, further detailed engineering work in July and August has resulted in material changes to the plant design. These changes have increased the cost to completion of the project, and the most likely date for first gold pour is now expected to be January 2010,” Avocet said in a statement.

However, the company added that its management efforts were now focused on optimising all aspects of logistics and construction in an effort to deliver first gold before that date.

The areas requiring further work included the gravity tower, piping and pumping , as well as the carbon-in-leach (CIL) and other processing tanks.

Avocet noted that these items, as well as numerous other smaller items, have now been costed and scheduled into the construction phase in order that effective commissioning of the plant to the design capacity of 2,25-million tons a year could be achieved.

Meanwhile, a new operational management team has been assembled at Inata and the majority of senior positions have been filled. This would allow commissioning and operations to ramp-up to design capacity over an assumed six-month period.

Mining activities, which started in April, continued at the Inata North openpit with ore and waste mining. About 330 000 t of ore at a grade of 2,43 g/t have been stockpiled on the run-of-mine pad, awaiting commissioning of the plant.

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.