The Boungou mine in Burkina Faso remains closed, following last month’s roadside ambush in which militants killed 37 of the mine’s workers, Canadian miner Semafo said on Monday.

Although the company was evaluating a number of options to restart operations, it said that Boungou would not resume operations this year, as it needed government to increase security of the public road to the mine.

News agency Bloomberg quoted Burkina Faso Mines and Quarries Minister Oumarou Idani as saying that the mine sites in the country were generally safe, but that access roads were more difficult to secure as this was linked to the overall security of the country.

One of Semafo’s contractors, African Mining Services (AMS) – part of Australia’s Perenti Global – has indicated that it planned to withdraw from the Boungou site. The company lost several personnel in the November 6 attack.                                                         

Semafo said that it was considering scenarios to limit the use of the public road, such as transporting people by air from Fada to Boungou. It has already begun building an airstrip before the attack last month and said that it would take another three months to complete once construction activities were restarted.

In the meantime, employees are transported by helicopter to the site.

There are only a small number of personnel remaining on site to manage the processing plant to allow for a smooth restart when possible. As part of the process, some gold in circuit will be recovered for a last shipment in December. 

Semafo explained that it might opt for a phased restart plan.

Phase 1 would involve processing the stockpile only without mining. As of November 6, the stockpile held about 1.1-million tonnes of ore at an estimated average grade of 3.4 g/t. This would allow for a quicker restart as it required a smaller number of personnel and would generate positive cash flow. The stockpile would provide about ten months of feed for the mill.

Phase 2 would involve restarting the mining. Semafo is in discussions with AMS to ensure a seamless transition should the contractor not return to Boungou.

"It has been a very difficult time, but our team has risen to the occasion. Initially we were focused on the safety, security and wellbeing of the victims and their families and those of our employees, contractors and suppliers. It has been almost a month since the unprecedented attack, and we continue to support the victims and their families while working on plans for now and for the future,” said president and CEO Benoit Desormeaux.