Endeavour Mining (TSX:EDV) has poured first gold from the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX Expansion project in Senegal, which has been executed on schedule and on budget.
Since the start of wet commissioning on 27 February 2024, some 50,000 tonnes of ore have been processed through the BIOX Expansion, with the processing plant operating in line with expectations.
The first gold pour from the gravity circuit was completed on 18 April and yielded about 112 ounces of gold, while the first gold pour from the BIOX circuit was completed on 28 April and yielded some 612 ounces.
The BIOX Expansion is expected to achieve commercial production in late Q2 2024 and ramp up to its stable nameplate capacity of 1.2Mtpa in Q3 2024.
CEO Ian Cockerill says there were 3.5 million man hours worked to achieve the milestone in just two years and with no lost time injuries, marking the fourth capital project the company has completed in the past 10 years.
“All of these have been completed in two years or less, and have been delivered on schedule, on budget and with no lost time injuries. This is a testament to the quality of our projects team and the competitive advantage we have in West Africa,” he says.
“At the Sabodala-Massawa BIOX Expansion we expect to achieve nameplate capacity in Q3 2024 driving stronger production at lower all-in sustaining costs through the year, sustaining the Sabodala-Massawa complex’s industry leading cost profile.
With the Sabodala-Massawa expansion successfully commissioned, we are now focussed on delivering the Lafigué project in the coming weeks, a full quarter ahead of schedule. The successful launch of both the Sabodala-Massawa expansion and the Lafigué project will further improve the quality of the portfolio, adding low-cost production and extending mine life visibility.
The completion of the two projects underpins our transition to a more cash flow generative phase, from the second half of the year, when we will focus on enhancing shareholder returns and de-levering our balance sheet, as we continue to execute on our strategy.”
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Endeavour
