Modern Mining June 2016

WEST AFRICA

US$10 million less than initial capex guidance of US$155 million due to significant savings achieved during earthworks conducted in- house and lower equipment prices combined with disciplined procurement and foreign exchange gains. All major mechanical equipment, plate work and structural steel have been installed with piping and electrical installation progressing on schedule. The entire mining fleet had been delivered to site and was commissioned by the end of Q1 2016. Pre-stripping of the starter pit began in late February 2016 and the first ore was mined in March. Approximately 76 % of earthworks on the heap leach pad and 56 % of the pad HDPE lining were completed by the end of Q1 2016. Nordgold produced 950 000 ounces of gold in 2015. Its portfolio of mines includes three in Africa – Taparko and Bissa in Burkina Faso and Lefa in Guinea – with the balance being in Russia and Khazakstan. Nordgold was established in 2007 as Severstal Gold, a gold producing subsidiary of Severstal, the Russian steel company owned by Alexey Mordashov. The proximity of Bouly to Bissa means that the two mines will be able to share infrastruc- ture. Commissioned in early 2013, Bissa is an open-pit/CIL mine which is expected to pro- duce 200 00 ounces of gold in 2016. Nordgold’s other operating mine in Burkina Faso, Taparko,

also an open-pit/CIL operation, is located 200 km north-east of Ougadougou. It produced approximately 83 000 ounces of gold in 2015. Nordgold’s third African mine, Lefa in Guinea, is similar in size to Bissa in terms of gold pro- duction (214 000 ounces in 2015). Opened in 2008 and acquired by Nordgold in 2010, it is a typical open-pit mine with processing via a CIP plant. Photos courtesy of Nordgold

Pit design. The pit will eventually be approximately 3 km long and 500 mwide with a maximum depth of around 80 m. Nordgold will undertake the mining in-house. Bouly has been designed as a heap leach project. The agglomeration drum is seen here.

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June 2016  MODERN MINING  37