PRECIOUS METALS

Asante outlines timeline for Bibiani restart

Aiming for first gold in 2022

Staff reporter
 Asante Gold is refurbishing Bibiani in Ghana as it plans first gold in 2022

Asante Gold is refurbishing Bibiani in Ghana as it plans first gold in 2022

Asante said it was preparing a new NI 43-101 mine development technical report based on an openpit mining model, slated for delivery in the second quarter.

It's aiming to produce about 190,000 ounces in the first 12 months of operation then 240,000oz annually for at least six years.

The company said mining contractor tenders had been invited and it anticipated mobilisation early next year.

More than 200 people were on site last month and Asante said the process plant refurbishment was slightly ahead of schedule and on budget.

Equipment was being upgraded or installed and gravity recovery equipment was being upgraded, including the purchase of a new concentrator and intensive leach reactor.

It had acquired the past-producing mine from ASX-listed Resolute Mining in August in a US$90 million deal and appointed Harlequin International for the refurbishment EPCM contract in September as it eyed a fast-track to production.

Bibiani has been suspended since 2013 when the previous owner collapsed.

Resolute picked it up in 2014 and looked into a restart, before announcing a strategic review and a sale to China's Chifeng Jilong Gold - which fell through earlier this year after Ghana temporarily terminated Bibiani's mining lease.

Asante is also aiming to develop its brownfields Kubi gold mine project, next to AngloGold Ashanti's Obuasi mine.

Asante shares (CSE: ASE) closed down 2.3% yesterday but have gained more than 1,000% over the past year.

The close of $1.27 capitalises the company at $175 million (US$141 million).

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