Canadian junior Orezone is working on an updated feasibility study for its Bomboré gold mine, in Burkina Faso, and is envisioning a bigger sulphide expansion than contemplated in the 2019 study.
The company says its Phase 2 sulphide expansion study will incorporate more than 100 000 m of drill results, including those from the Phase 3 drilling completed in 2022.
The results of the expansion study will be released this year, says Orezone president and CEO Patrick Downey.
Orezone is focusing on mining and processing the Phase 1 near-surface free-dig oxides at a planned yearly throughput of 5.2-million tonnes. The company believes that Bomboré has a significant underlying sulphide resource to support a substantially larger Phase 2 expansion.
The Bomboré project poured its first gold in September 2022 and declared commercial production on December 1. Orezone delivered Bomboré on schedule and under budget with final project construction costs of $168.9-million.
Bomboré produced 22 258 oz in the fourth quarter and 27 831 oz in 2022 at an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $1 075/oz.
Orezone is targeting 140 000 oz to 155 000 oz in 2023 at an AISC of between $1 010/oz to $1 110/oz.