Name of the Project
Yanfolila gold project.

Location
The project comprises two main clusters of ore deposits: Komana East (KE), Komana West (KW), Guirin West (GW) and Gonka (GK), in the south; and Sanioumale East (SE) and Sanioumale West (SW), in the north of Mali.

Client
Hummingbird Resources.

Project Description
Hummingbird has completed an optimised mine schedule, which has improved the Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant ore reserve statement and updated economic sensitivities based on the new reserve and mine schedule for the Yanfolila gold project.

The project’s reserves have increased from 6.82-million tonnes at a grade of 3.03 g/t of gold in the January 2016 definitive feasibility study (DFS) to 7.04-million tonnes at a grade of 3.14 g/t of gold in the optimised mine schedule.

The DFS financial model has been updated to incorporate the increased ore reserve and new mine schedule, with a resulting improvement in project economics. The project will be developed as an openpit, low-cost gold- mining operation.

The DFS life-of-mine (LoM) plan envisages the progressive mining of five openpits, starting initially with KE and KW, and then progressing to GW, SE and SW.

Hummingbird is also considering developing the high-grade Gonka resource, initially as an openpit and then as an underground mine.

The plant will have a throughput of 1.24-million tonnes a year, producing up to 107 000 oz/y of gold.

The ore is nonrefractory and the simple process plant design uses gravity and carbon-in-leach (CIL) for the processing and recovery of the gold, which averages 92.5% over the LoM.

Jobs to be Created
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project’s net present value (NPV) has increased from $88-million, at an 8% discount rate in the 2016 DFS, to an NPV, at an 8% discount rate, of $162-million.

The project’s internal rate of return has increased from 37% in the DFS to 60% in the optimised mine schedule.

Value
The project’s estimated capital expenditure has remained at $79.36-million from the DFS to the optimised mine schedule.

Duration
Initial gold pour is targeted for the end of 2017.

Latest Developments
Hummingbird Resources has awarded the structural, mechanical, plate work and piping (SMPP) contract for its Yanfolila gold project, where mine construction is currently under way, to construction company Imagri-SARL.

The company has indicated that plant construction is on track, with completion planned for the fourth quarter, ahead of its first gold pour expected by the end of the year.

Steelwork has also started to arrive at the project, with the CIL tanks to be assembled soon.

Much of the mechanical equipment has been ordered and many items are being shipped to site. The tower crane, which will be used to help build the plant and later maintain it when in operation, is also on site.

To facilitate mining, the drilling of the pit dewatering bores has started and the pit dewatering is scheduled to start in the second quarter.
 
Key Contracts and Suppliers
DRA Projects (DFS); CSA Global (mineral resource and ore reserves reports); Senet (metallurgical testwork, process design and engineering, and capital and operating cost estimates for the processing plant and the associated plant infrastructure); Schlumberger Water Services (hydrology and hydrogeological studies); and Ausenco Engineering Canada (design and cost estimates for the tailings storage facility); Afromix (agitators); Delkor (linear screens); Kemix (regeneration kiln and interstage screens); Metso (primary and secondary crushers, screens and feeders).

On Budget and on Time?
The company remains on time and within budget, having committed to $12-million to date.

Contact Details for Project Information
Hummingbird Resources, tel +44 20 3416 3560.