Name of the Project
Yaouré gold project.

Location
The project is located on the southern edge of Lake Kossou, 35 km north-west of the capital, Yamoussoukro, and 25 km east-north-east of Bouaflé, in central Côte d’Ivoire.

Project Owner/s
Perseus Mining.

Project Description
A 2017 definitive feasibility study (DFS) has confirmed the high quality of the Yaouré project.

The project comprises two adjacent pits (CMA and Yaouré), with ore also expected to be sourced from three pre-existing heap-leach pads close to the run-of-mine pad.

Proven and probable reserves have been estimated at 26.8-million tonnes grading 1.76 g/t gold for 1.52-million ounces of gold.

The chosen method for the openpit reserves is conventional openpit mining using hydraulic excavators and trucks.

The process plant will comprise a primary crusher with a 6 MW semiautogenous mill and a 6 MW ball mill, pebble crushing, as well as a gravity and carbon-in-leach circuit with cyanide detoxification.

The processing plant will process up to 3.3-million tonnes a year on average over an 8.5-year mine life, recovering 1.37-million ounces over the period.

The DFS estimated that Yaouré could produce 215 000 oz/y over its first five years of operations.

Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to have a workforce of 257, and 470 contract personnel.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Based on a gold price of $1 250/oz, the project has a net present value (NPV), at a 10% discount rate, of $170-million and an after-tax internal rate of return of 27%, with a payback of 32 months.

At a 5% discount rate, the project has an NPV of $259-million.

Capital Expenditure
The project was completed under budget. The initial estimated development capital cost was $265-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Full-scale development of the project started in May 2019, with first gold production expected in late 2020.

Latest Developments
Perseus Mining has successfully poured its first gold at its Yaouré gold mine.

The milestone was achieved under budget, and nearly five weeks ahead of schedule, which is consistent with its ‘stretch target’ of first gold at the mine in December.

With construction of the Yaouré processing plant and associated infrastructure largely complete, Perseus will now focus on satisfying continuous performance tests and positioning to declare commercial production, targeted for March 2021, when the first gold shipment from Yaouré is also expected to occur.

Initially, lower-grade oxide ore from the decommissioned heap leach will be processed in the Yaouré plant, pending access to higher-grade fresh ore from the CMA pit.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
EPSA Internacional SA (mining services contract).

Contact Details for Project Information
Perseus Mining, tel +61 8 6144 1700, fax +61 8 6144 1799 or email info@perseusmining.com.