West African Resources (ASX:WAF) is beginning mining operations at the Kiaka Gold Project in Burkina Faso, with all major equipment onsite.
CEO Richard Hyde says mining activities are ramping up ahead of schedule and will increase further when night shift operations start later this month and remaining equipment is commissioned, with the first gold expected in Q3 2025.
“With the Kiaki build nearing completion, West African Resources is on the cusp of having two long-life, unhedged, low-cost gold production centres in operations in 2025, which will see West African Resources more than double annual gold production to over 420,000 ounces per year,” Hyde says.
The tailings storage facility has been fully lined with installation of the flownet geotextile layer nearing completion. The 225 kilovolt grid power for Kiaka is well-progressed for connection in Q3. Genset backup power is being used for the commissioning activities.
During commissioning of the mining fleet, 800,000 bank cubic metres of material from the Kiaka Main pit was mined to the end of April 2025. Initial mining activity focused on stripping waste material for construction of the run-of-mine pad, which has been completed.
Further, ore mining is increasing in preparation for beginning processing operations. A total of 184,000 tonnes of ore from the main pit was stockpiled on the run-of-mine pad by the end of April 2025.
The Kiaka Project is expected to be a long-life, low-cost gold project averaging 234,000 ounces of gold production per year for 20 years.
World gold supply increased by 1% year-on-year to reach 4,974 tonnes in 2024, as high prices pushed up gold recycling and primary production.
According to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) March 2025 Resources and Energy Quarterly, Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Central and South America are all forecast to lift their gold mine production in 2025, with expansions in existing projects and higher output offsetting output falls in Indonesia.
From 2026, gold supply is projected to remain relatively stable at about 5,000 tonnes per year. The rise in mine output to 2026 is expected to come from higher output from existing mines, as miners use high-grade gold veins to capitalise on high gold prices, as well as new, DISR reports.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: West African Resources
