As the mine moves toward the start of open-pit operations next month, Asante Gold has mobilised the team from its chosen mining contractor, PW Mining Ghana, to begin work at the Bibiani gold operation in Ghana.
While no financial details were released, it is known that PW Mining will have about 850 staff working at Bibiani, and its work plan includes up to 125 units of heavy equipment, including drills, excavators, haulage trucks, bulldozers, and ancillary equipment. Site establishment includes construction of a heavy equipment maintenance facility, offices, and a training centre.
“PW Mining has been in operation in Ghana since 1994 and has delivered projects for many major mining companies in Ghana, including most recently for the Asanko Gold (Galiano Gold) Obotan mine. PW Mining employs a highly trained and motivated workforce in West Africa, with Ghanaians representing over 98% of its staff. PW Mining’s reputation of delivering projects safely, on time, and to the highest standards has been well established,” the company said.
The open-pit operations set to start in February will includes satellite pit development and providing feed material to the process plant beginning in the second quarter. Main pit development, to its planned ultimate 350-plus metres depth in 2029, includes a four-stage cut back program; total material movement will be up to 75 million tonnes per year.
Refurbishment of the process plant first began last September. Progress remains on track and budget, the miner said, for a third-quarter first gold pour.
Bibiani had previous production of near 5 Moz, is fully permitted with available mining and processing infrastructure on-site consisting of a 3 Mt/y mill and processing plant, and existing surface and underground mining infrastructure. The current mineral resource estimate for Bibiani, as reported on 7 November 2021, is Measured and Indicated 20.1 Mt plus Inferred 8.41 Mt.
Source: Asante Gold