JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The 2018 exploration programme at gold producer Nordgold’s Bissa and Bouly mine, in Burkina Faso, is advancing rapidly.

The mine is on track to achieve its objectives of replacing mined gold and increasing resources.

In 2017, exploration activity added almost 1.15-million ounces to Bissa and Bouly’s mineral resources and some 70 000 oz to the ore reserves.

The company is planning to drill 86 km as part of its 2018 exploration programme, following the 61 km drilled in 2017.

Nordgold is taking a three-pronged approach to the extensive exploration programme. The company’s specialist team at Bissa will be focussing on near-mine extensions at existing pits, with a particular emphasis on increasing reserves at the SW, 51, I-O, Bissa Hill, Bouly and Gougre openpits.

An aggressive effort will be aimed at the discovery of new brownfield satellite deposits, enabled by the acquisition of the highly prospective Rolle, Sadoure and Nonglado exploration licences, where geological work is ongoing.

Nordgold added that a programme of reserve definition, resource addition and various permitting activities will come into effect at the Samtenga, Ronguen, Zinigma and Yimiougou satellite deposits, enabling these reserves to be put into production progressively between 2019 and 2022.

Nordgold geology director Howard Golden said that, taken together, the exploration, mining and continuous improvement projects at Bissa and Bouly will result in a safe and effective prolonged life-of-mine, securing the future not just of these high-quality assets, but also the jobs of more than 1 200 local workers.

Bissa and Bouly’s combined yearly gold production is projected to exceed 300 000 oz over the medium term. “That makes the combined asset one of the largest enterprises in Burkina Faso, an achievement that we at Nordgold are very proud of,” he noted.

In parallel with the ongoing resource and reserve focus, Bissa-Bouly will carry on with its continuous improvement programme that comprises personnel engagement, community relations, environmental studies and remediation, capital investment in equipment, mining fleet maintenance improvement, and planning upgrades.