Endeavour Mining has achieved commercial production at both its Sabodala-Massawa Biox Expansion in Senegal and its Lafigué mine in Côte d’Ivoire on budget and schedule, with the full ramp-up to nameplate capacity underway.
“We are pleased to have achieved commercial production at both of our organic growth projects, fully de-risking construction and ramp-up activities,” said company chief executive Ian Cockerill.
“Both projects will drive stronger operating performance in the second half of the year, underpinning our Group production guidance, while adding low-cost production, extending mine life visibility, and increasing the geographic diversification of the portfolio.”
The Biox Expansion achieved its first gold pour from the gravity circuit on 18 April 2024 and its first gold pour from the Biox circuit on 28 April 2024.
All circuits are operating in line with expectations, and during July and August combined, 160,000 tonnes (t) of ore were processed at a grade of 2.8g/t gold.
Processing rates exceeded 2,580 t per day, equivalent to 80% of nameplate capacity, and plant availability was above 94%.
Endeavour said average metallurgical recoveries were above 72% as it processed lower-grade transitional ore during the ramp-up, while mining activities have now advanced into fresh ore in the Massawa Central Zone, supporting higher grades and higher recovery rates for the remainder of the year.
It said the Lafigué processing plant achieved its first gold pour on 28 June 2024.
All circuits are also operating in line with expectations, and during August, 241, 000 t of ore was processed at a grade of 1.8g/t gold.
Processing rates exceeded 7,700 tonnes per day, equivalent to 72% of nameplate capacity, and overall plant availability was above 87% with average gold recovery rates above 95%, said Endeavour.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief, Rough&Polished
