SEMAFO had resumed development of the Wona North pit at its Mana mine in Burkina Faso. A total of 2.3 million metric tons (mt) of waste material will be extracted this year from the Wona North pit. The company expects to increase its annual mining capacity to 40 million mt for the next three years to produce more than 200,000 ounces of gold per year at Mana.
In 2017, the Mana mine should process ore from the Fofina, Siou and Wona North pits with the Fofina deposit expected to be depleted in the first half of 2017. Mineral reserves at Wona currently stand at 12.7 million mt at an average grade of 2.30 g/mt gold for 935,100 oz of gold contained. In light of the commencement of stripping at Wona, the 2016 capital expenditures budget at Mana has been adjusted from $44.3 million to $47 million.
