Asante Announces Start of Mining at the Russel Starter Pit at the Bibiani Gold Mine
19 September 2024 - 3:00PM
Asante Gold Corporation (CSE: ASE | GSE:ASG |
FRANKFURT:1A9 | U.S.OTC:ASGOF) (“Asante” or the “Company”)
is pleased to announce that, following receipt of all necessary
permits from Ghanaian authorities, delivery of first mineralized
material from the Russel Starter Pit to the Process Plant at the
Bibiani Gold Mine has been achieved. Located 3.8 kilometres from
the Bibiani process plant, the Russel deposit contains 119,000
ounces of measured and indicated gold resources (open pit) at a
grade of 1.80 grams per tonne*, with mineralogy similar to the
Bibiani Main Pit.
“This is the third satellite pit explored,
defined and optimized by Asante since acquiring the Bibiani
properties, and the start of production at Russel represents
another successful milestone on our journey to grow Asante’s
production to more than 500,000 ounces by 2028,” stated Dave
Anthony, President and CEO, who added, “Approval for mining at
Russel follows other major catalysts, including the re-routing of
the Bibiani-Goaso highway, which will allow us to access additional
oxide mineralized material, and further progress on the
construction of the Bibiani sulphide treatment plant. Once fully
ramped-up, Bibiani-Chirano will be the seventh largest gold
producing district in Africa and the only Tier One Gold District in
Africa held outside of a major gold producer.”
Highlights
- First oxide mineralized
material has been mined from the upper benches of the Russel
Starter Pit on September 17, 2024
- Timely issuance of permits follows
extensive engagement with the local communities, traditional
leaders and other stakeholders, underscoring strong support from
Asante’s community partners and government regulators for the
project.
- On September 10, 2024, the Ghana
Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) granted Asante Gold Bibiani
Limited a supplementary permit to undertake mining at the Russel
Pit. This satisfies a key pre-condition to extending the Mine
Operating Plan southward to Russel.
- Subsequently, on September 16,
2024, the Minerals Commission of Ghana issued an updated Mine
Operating Permit to include operations at Russel.
- Vuluxx Company Limited (“Vuluxx”),
a local Ghanaian contractor, was engaged to complete site
preparation work, which is well advanced and includes construction
of a one-kilometre haulage road linking the existing mining
infrastructure.
- Oxides from the starter pit are
expected to yield 90% gold recovery using gravity and
carbon-in-leach treatment, with initial grade control drilling well
advanced.
- Mobilization of the initial mining
fleet has been completed and will continue as production increases
over the coming weeks, with a full run rate expected by October 30,
2024.
- Ghanaian Owned Contractor
Vuluxx MobilizedGhanaian owned and Bibiani based, Vuluxx
mobilized its team to site during the month of May 2024 and
commenced mine infrastructure development, including vegetation
clearing, topsoil stockpiling, and preparatory work on the Russel
haul road and laydown areas. Vuluxx’s fleet will peak with five
excavators sized with up to a total of 56 haul trucks and
associated ancillary equipment. Vuluxx’s experienced management
team has over 24 years in the industry and Asante is excited to be
working with another local Ghanaian contractor.
- Project DetailsThe
Russel Starter Pit will operate for the first 15 months and will
immediately be followed by Russel cut 2. It is projected to deliver
a total of 1.9Mt at 1.62g/t over a period of 30 months to the
Bibiani process plant. This material will supplement production
from the Main Pit oxides, which have been unlocked after the recent
diversion of the Bibiani-Goaso highway (see press release dated
June 13, 2024).The Russel Starter Pit is just over 390 metres in
strike and will reach a depth of 168 metres from surface. Pit slope
design parameters are consistent with those determined by the
international consulting group SRK. Oxidation reaches a depth of 60
metres, transitioning to sulphide mineralization from 80 metres. It
is anticipated that the pit can be excavated without the use of
explosives to a depth of 50 metres.The mining contractor will
provide all mining services including waste removal and
transportation of mineralized material to the ROM pad.Asante is in
the process of extending the known Russel resource down plunge and
along strike to the south. Current drilling is anticipated to not
only convert inferred mineralization but to confirm the suitability
of the resource for underground mining methods. A preliminary study
into the potential transition to underground mining at Russel will
be undertaken in line with Asante’s strategy.
Figure 1- Infrastructure Layout Russel Starter
Pit
Figure 2 - Russel Cross Section showing
model blocks, drilling and Starter Pit shell 3955m N
Qualified Person Statement
The scientific and technical information
contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by
David Anthony, P.Eng., Mining and Mineral Processing, President and
CEO of Asante, who is a “qualified person” under NI 43-101.
About Asante Gold Corporation
Asante is a gold exploration, development and
operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects and
mines in Ghana. Asante is currently operating the Bibiani and
Chirano Gold Mines and continues with detailed technical studies at
its Kubi Gold Project. All mines and exploration projects are
located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. Asante has
an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and
operators, with extensive experience in Ghana. The Company is
listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and the Ghana Stock
Exchange. Asante is also exploring its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and
Betenase projects for new discoveries, all adjoining or along
strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghana’s Golden
Triangle. Additional information is available on the Company’s
website at www.asantegold.com.
About the Bibiani Gold Mine
Bibiani is an operating open pit gold mine
situated in the Western North Region of Ghana, with previous gold
production of more than 4.5 million ounces. It is fully permitted
with available mining and processing infrastructure on-site
consisting of a newly refurbished 3 million tonne per annum process
plant and existing mining infrastructure. Asante commenced mining
at Bibiani in late February 2022 with the first gold pour announced
on July 7, 2022. Commercial production was announced November 10,
2022.
For additional information relating to the
mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for the Bibiani Gold
Mine, please refer to the technical report titled “NI 43-101
Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate, Mensin Gold
Bibiani Limited, Ghana, West Africa” dated April 30, 2024
(effective date December 31, 2023) filed on the Company’s SEDAR+
profile (www.sedarplus.ca) on April 30, 2024.For further
information please contact:
Dave Anthony, President & CEOFrederick
Attakumah, Executive Vice President and Country
Directorinfo@asantegold.com+1 604 661 9400 or +233 303 972 147
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain statements in this news release
constitute forward-looking statements, including but not limited
to, statements relating to anticipated production of gold,
resources and reserves, timing of full ramp-up of Bibiani, expected
yield of gold recovery, potential increases in future production at
Russel and conversion of inferred mineral resources.
Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other
factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects,
and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from these
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral
deposits that may be located, the Company’s inability to obtain any
necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its
planned activities, the Company’s inability to raise the necessary
capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies,
and the price of gold. The reader is referred to the Company’s
public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR+
(www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company believes that the
assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on
these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news
release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur
in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by
securities laws and the policies of the securities exchanges on
which the Company is listed, the Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
LEI Number: 529900F9PV1G9S5YD446. Neither the
CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined
in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy
or accuracy of this release.___________________* NI 43-101
Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate, Mensin Gold
Bibiani Limited, Ghana, West Africa dated April 30, 2024 (effective
date December 31, 2023)
Photos accompanying this announcement are available
at:https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/be338b75-d64f-41a2-bff7-33efc74d05adhttps://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b434c02a-15cc-4863-8494-a68934cbd460
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