Firefinch Limited (ASX: FFX) announced that the company’s plan to ramp up gold production at its Morila mine in Mali has reached yet another milestone, with the commissioning of the comminution circuit using feed from Morila Pit 5 and stockpiles.
Morila gold mine
The company had acquired Morila Gold Mine in southwest Mali on 11th November 2020. Since acquisition, Firefinch had rapidly commenced a program of work to refurbish key steel structures in the comminution circuit, prepare the crushers, screens, and all components of the plant for operation. Preparatory work also included an upgrade of the dump pocket structures, embankment stabilisation, and drainage upgrades.
Approximately US$2.5 million dollars was been spent on the refurbishments, with all work undertaken by Malian owned and operated contractors and their local workforces. Importantly, the original equipment manufacturers undertook positive technical assessments, utilising their African based presence.
Commissioning of the oxide circuit
The company reported that it has commenced the commissioning of the oxide circuit on 15th May 2021 predominantly using feed from run of mine stockpiles. The company said that the plant has ramped up well, with 20 hours of overall circuit run time by day 3.
FFX reported that ball mill run time was 21.2 hours, and processing was at an annualised rate of 2.4 million tonnes per annum for the 24-hour period. Firefinch said that the direct tipping of Morila Pit 5 feed commenced on 19th May 2021.
Second stage of ramp-up strategy
The company said that the commissioning of the comminution circuit at the Morila Gold Mine is a significant milestone, as it heralds the second stage of the Company’s ramp-up strategy, whereby open pit mining of Morila’s satellite pits is forecast to increase production from approximately 50,000 ounces of gold in 2021, to approximately 120,000 ounces in 2022.
What’s next?
The company announced that the oxide circuit will be ramped up to approximately 3 million tonnes per annum in the coming days.
“Pleasingly the work has again been undertaken safely, by Malian contractors with local workforces, on time and on budget”
Management comments
Firefinch’s Managing Director Mike Anderson said: “It was only last week that I expressed our excitement about commencing mining operations at Morila Pit 5. Now the team are commissioning the comminution circuit, and Morila Pit 5 ore will be fed today.
What an outcome, and what tremendous momentum we have. Pleasingly the work has again been undertaken safely, by Malian contractors with local workforces, on time and on budget.”
Image Source: Firefinch Limited