Ghana-focused Asante Gold has reported substantial progress at its sulphide recovery plant at the Bibiani gold mine, with the principal long-lead equipment expected to be delivered to site by mid-August.
Installation of the sulphide recovery plant is expected to improve gold recovery and have a significant impact on the all-in sustaining cost (AISC) per ounce produced and the profit margins at Bibiani. Gold recovery from sulphide ore is expected to increase from 70% to about 92%, the company said.
The sulphide recovery plant facility is key to Asante's plans to grow gold production at Bibiani to more than 250 000 oz/y, with cumulative production of 1.2-million ounces of gold over the next five years, with lower AISC.
"Asante has made substantial progress toward completion of the sulphide recovery plant, with 50% of the civil works for the project completed. Fabrication of the long-lead equipment has been completed and the items are currently being prepared for shipment to the Bibiani site, with arrival expected mid-August 2024," it said in an update on the project.
When the plant is completed, Asante expects to be producing about 20 000 oz a month of gold at Bibiani, which is in line with its long-term plan for the mine.
Asante looks forward to the completion of the sulphide recovery plant as it works to improve and optimise its operating mines, the company said.