PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed West African Resources has awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract for the process plant and associated infrastructure at its Sanbrado gold project, in Burkina Faso, with first gold production still scheduled for the second half of 2020.
West African on Tuesday said that it has signed a conditional letter of intent with Australian engineering firm Lycopodium for the engineering and procurement of portions of a new two-million-tonne-a-year carbon-in-leach treatment facility, as well as supporting infrastructure.
The EPCM contract will be signed at the end of 2018, following the agreement of the final terms and conditions, and West African board approval.
Meanwhile, West African has awarded the mill package and placed the order for a 4 MW semi-autogenous grinding and ball mills
“The award of the EPCM contract, the order of the mill package, and the key construction team hires keeps West African Resources on track to pour gold at Sanbrado in the second half of 2020,” said MD Richard Hyde.
“Infill drilling continues, which is expected to increase the current underground mine life past five years. Optimisation studies to be completed by the first quarter of 2019 will include resource and reserve updates, and planned higher process plant throughput rates resulting in increased annual gold production.”
The $185-million Sanbrado project is currently expected to produce an average of 211 000 oz/y of gold over the first five years of operation, with production averaging 133 000 oz/y over the 11-year life-of-mine.