Modern Mining January 2017

GOLD

Asanko shaping up to be one Africa has seen some very successful gold mine startups over the past several years, among them Otjikoto in Namibia and Kibali in the DRC. But shaping up to be possibly the most successful of all is the Asanko Gold Mine (AGM) in Ghana, which has turned in a stunning performance since starting up in January 2016. Modern Mining’s Arthur Tassell recently spoke to Hugo Truter, Chief Operating Officer of Asanko Gold, about the current Phase 1 operation and also the recently approved Phase 2A expansion. Ultimately, when both Phases 2A and 2B are up and running, Asanko will rank as the second largest gold mine in Ghana and the seventh largest in Africa.

B uilt ahead of schedule and on budget (US$295 million) without a single Lost Time Injury (LTI), Asanko Phase 1 was designed to produce 190 000 ounces of gold a year but is already operating well above de-

sign capacity. Says Truter: “We poured our first gold in late January 2016 after commissioning the plant one month ahead of schedule and we were able to declare commercial produc- tion on 1 April. Steady-state production was achieved by the end of the second quarter of

Stockpiles and conveyers at Asanko Gold Mine in Ghana.

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46  MODERN MINING  January 2017