Golden Star Resources reported in early February it has re-commissioned the oxide (non-refractory) processing plant at its Bogoso/Prestea operations in southwest Ghana. The Bogoso/Prestea oxide plant operated from 1990 to 2008 until a lack of oxide ore required that it be put on care and maintenance. Since that time, the comminution and flotation circuits in the oxide plant have been operated periodically to supplement flotation concentrate supply to the sulphide plant’s BIOX circuit.
Since July 2011, the oxide plant has been refurbished, from the crusher to the carbon treatment and gold room circuits, at a capital cost of about $3 million. Cold commissioning of the oxide mill began on January 9, followed by hot commissioning (ore being introduced to the SAG mill) on January 18. The first gold pour from the refurbished mill was expected before the end of February.
Golden Star President and CEO Tom Mair said, “With a steady supply of non-refractory ore from Pampe and other active pits, and retreatment of tailings, we expect oxide gold production at Bogoso/Prestea to continue for at least the next seven years, beginning with up to 70,000 oz in 2012.”
With the addition of production from the oxide mill at Bogoso/Prestea, Golden Star’s total production from its Bogoso/Prestea and Wassa mines in Ghana is expected to rise from 301,000 oz in 2011 to between 350,000 and 370,000 oz in 2012.
