TSX-V-listed gold mine developer Aton Resources has announced that its country and general manager in Egypt Dr Sherif Sousa will step down owing to personal reasons and other commitments, effective March 31.
He will continue to provide consultation support to the company and assist with the transition to new management of Aton’s operations in Egypt.
Interim CEO Tonno Vahk will assume the position of GM at Aton’s branch in Egypt, while Cherif Barakat will serve as country manager.
Barakat has more than 20 years’ experience in the international resource space, having worked in the US, Europe and Egypt. He has held roles at oil and gas company Exxon Mobil corporation and government affairs firm Glover Park Group.
He also founded Acacia Consultants which has been dedicated to improving Egypt’s mining policy environment and raising exploration investment for the country.
Vahk comments that Sousa has helped to set Aton on a solid path towards a mining licence at the Abu Marawat Concession, which is wholly owned by Aton and located in Egypt’s Arabian-Nubian Shield.
Sousa also provided incomparable leadership to the project, Vahk adds.
Equally, Vahk is happy to have Barakat joining the company to help Aton become only the second foreign-listed company to have been issued a gold mining licence in Egypt.
Aton aims to publish a new mineral resource estimate covering the Rodruin and Hamama deposits later this year, as well as submit a mining licence application for the Abu Marawat Concession soon after.
Meanwhile, the company has started with site preparation for a reverse circulation percussion drilling programme, which will start in May. Aton plans to drill for the first time at the Semna, Abu Gaharish, Zeno, Bohlog and Sir Bakis regional prospects.