Modern Mining May 2018

MINING News

released by Teranga last year, Wahgnion will be mined by way of conventional open-pit techniques using drill and blast with material movement by hydraulic excavators and trucks. The project scale suits 110- to 140-tonne class excavators in a backhoe configuration matched to 50-tonne class mining haul trucks operat- ing at 5-m bench heights. The process plant will be located adjacent to the Nogbele deposit, which contains approximately 50 % of the ini- tial reserves. The Fourkoura, Stinger and Samavogo deposits are located 6, 15, and 25 km, respectively, from the pro- cess plant. The haul trucks selected have the ability to haul ore directly to the process plant. The process plant design is based on a conventional CIL gold process flow- sheet consisting of primary crushing, SAG and ball milling, with a pebble crusher, CIL tanks, elution, electro-winning and gold smelting to produce doré on site. Throughput is expected to range between 2,2 and 2,5 Mt/a, depending on the blend of soft and hard ore. Wahgnion will produce 119 koz/a at an AISC of US$843/oz over a nine-year mine life. “We have a clear vision for Teranga and that is to become a multi-asset, mid-tier gold producer in West Africa,” said Richard Young, President and Chief Executive Officer. “With the financings now in place to build our second mine and to move a third project through a future feasibility study, we have a well-defined roadmap for executing on our vision. Beyond the near- term priorities of Wahgnion and Golden Hill, we are also focused on advancing our extensive organic pipeline in Côte d’Ivoire for future growth.” 

PEAs completed on three Ethiopian gold projects East Africa Metals Inc (EAM), listed on the TSX-V, reports it has received from Tetra Tech Canada Inc positive results from Preliminary Economic Assessments (PEAs) for its three gold projects in Ethiopia.

approximately 15 km from Mato Bula and Da Tambuk. According to its PEA, Mato Bula could deliver an average annual metal produc- tion of approximately 34 750 oz of gold, 1,67 million pounds of copper and 4 780 oz of silver over a minimum eight-year mine life. It would be an open-pit operation allied to a processing plant able to process at a rate of 1 400 tonnes/day using conven- tional crush/grind comminution, gravity concentration and flotation to produce a copper-gold concentrate. In addition, a gold-bearing pyrite concentrate would be produced and treated off-site using CIL technology. Pre-production capex is esti- mated at US$54,2 million. The PEA on the Da Tambuk project envisages an average metal production of approximately 24 000 oz of gold per year and 6 000 oz silver per year with the ore being produced by an underground mine utilising ramp access, cut and fill and open stope mining. The processing rate would be 550 tonnes/day using crush/ grind comminution, gravity concentra- tion and CIL technology. The mine would have a minimum life of four years based on mining to a depth of 200 m below surface. The pre-production capex is estimated at US$34,1 million. The Terakimti PEA proposes a produc- tion of approximately 17 800 oz gold per year and 57 250 oz of silver per year over a four-year mine life. Mining would be by open-pit methods while the process- ing rate contemplated is 715 tonnes/day using two-stage crushing, heap leaching and Merrill Crowe technology. Of the three projects, it has the lowest pre-production capex – just US$17,2 million. 

Separate PEAs have been received for the company’s 100 %-owned Mato Bula gold copper project, its 100 %-owned Da Tambuk gold project and its 70 %-owned Terakimti gold heap leach project in the Tigray Regional National State of Northern Ethiopia. According to East Africa Metals, each of the projects demonstrates robust econom- ics utilising industry standard mining and processing technology. “These PEA studies indicate very posi- tive results that demonstrate the significant commercial development potential of East Africa’s Ethiopian projects, and provide a sound basis for ongoing development engineering, with the ultimate objective of establishing commercial production,” com- ments Andrew Lee Smith, Chief Executive Officer of East Africa. “Collectively, under the development scenario described in the PEAs, these three projects present the opportunity to develop mining operations and revenue over the next 18 to 24 months and position EAM to continue the expan- sion of the scope of development and the current resource”. All three projects are located within 10 km of existing paved highways and the national power grid, and approximately 35 km from the town of Shire, which has an airport and extensive services. The Mato Bula and Da Tambuk projects are located 5 km apart and offer the opportunity to share access road and power line construc- tion costs. The Terakimti gold project is

May 2018  MODERN MINING  5