SEMAFO Inc. announced that construction of the Boungou mine in Burkina Faso was progressing well and is on budget for commissioning of the open-pit mine in the second half of 2018. Development was on schedule with $69 million spent and construction of the mine was 35% complete. Concrete works are progressing on the SAG, vertimill, crusher and surge bin foundations and erection of the leach and water tanks has commenced. The vertimill, the first long-lead item, has also been delivered. Work has commenced on the power plant and fuel depot. The water storage facility has been excavated and is ready to collect rainwater. Pre-strip mining at the Boungou deposit has commenced. Construction of the resettlement village is 65% complete. About 1,540 personnel including contractors were employed on site, 93% of whom are Burkinabe.
During the second quarter of 2017, a total of 23,700 meters (m) was drilled in 156 holes, completing the infill programs (40-meter by 40-meter hole spacing) on the West and East Flank sectors, with 49,400 m in 326 holes, of the Boungou reserves pit. Results continue to be in line with the 80-m x 80-m model. The East Flank, although much smaller, has a similar structure to that of the West Flank. The geotechnical drilling program on the East and West flanks has also been completed. Samples have been sent to Rocklab in South Africa to establish engineering parameters.
SEMAFO is a Canadian-based mining company with gold production and exploration activities in West Africa. It operates the Mana mine in Burkina Faso, which includes the high-grade satellite deposit of Siou.
