Modern Mining November 2020

GOLD

Progress update: Yaouré Gold Mine to With several key milestones reached, Perseus Mining’s Yaouré Gold Mine is expected to pour first gold in December this year, more than a month ahead of schedule, according to MD and CEO Jeff Quartermaine. By Mark Botha .

I n an April 2020 article published in Modern Mining on the progress made at the Yaouré Gold Mine in Côte d’Ivoire, Andrew Grove, group GM, BD and IR at ASX and TSX-listed Perseus Mining, said several key substructures of the project had been “progress- ing well”, in line with a stretch target of pouring first gold by December 2020. The contracted date for first gold was January 2021, he said. We touched base with Perseus Mining once more, for an update on the progress made at the Yaouré Gold Mine project since April. Milestones Jeff Quartermaine, the company’s MD and CEO, says the commissioning of “elements” of the pro- cessing plant has commenced with first ore being “put through the crusher and over conveyors.” He says the tailings storage facility (TSF) is fully con- structed and lined, and that a Certificate of Practical Completion has been issued. “High-voltage power lines and construction of the substations is complete. The system is capable of being fully energised from the grid, and this is due to be completed by the Ivorian power authorities by 17 November, enabling full commissioning of a fully

Perseus Mining MD and CEO Jeff Quartermaine. loaded plant to take place.”

In terms of completion targets and budget, he says the mine is expected to pour first gold in December this year, more than a month ahead of schedule. The total construction cost, including measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, is projected to be below the budget of US$265-million. Ramp-up to production Quartermaine says first mining activities were car- ried out by mining contractor EPSA Internacionale

Once fully operational, the mine is expected to process approximately 3,3-million tonnes of ore per year.

16  MODERN MINING  November 2020