On February 28, 2022, Open Pit Mining Operations have started, with focus on delivery of ore from the Strauss and Walsh satellite pits. The #1 Cutback at the Main Pit has also started. Refurbishment of mine haulage roads, safety berms, waste dumps and mining benches are advanced. First ore has been delivered to the Run of Mine Pad, more than one month ahead of schedule. The Bibiani Mine plans to pour its first gold in Q3 2022.
First gold poured July 7, 2022. Gold dore’ shipped late July.
• Bibiani will produce 175,000 oz in its first 12 months of operation, 230-280 Koz/ year through 2030.
• 4 stage development of the Main Pit to support mining to +/- 350m depth and +8 years operation. This will access the approximate 2.3 Moz open pit resource.
• The Mining Contractor has been mobilized to deliver +3 Mt/y ore to the process plant, from the open pit mines.
• Exploration continues, with a view to developing satellite deposits & extending open pit mining to +10 years.
Underground mine planning has been initiated, to add 90Koz/y from 2026 and increase LOM to +14years.
Mining will be undertaken by long hole open stoping (LHOS) mining methods. A trade-off study of various LHOS methods was undertaken and the selected mining methods were:
• The main mining method will be LHOS with pillars. This method was applied to the majority of the mining areas, where the stope blocks are less continuous, occur in mu ........
