Roxgold begins construction at Yaramoko Gold Project in Burkina Faso, West Africa
Exploration and development company Roxgold has started construction at its Yaramoko Gold Project in Burkina Faso.
As part of the construction works, bulk earthworks including excavation of the boxcut; clearing and preparation of the processing plant area; and building the project's water storage facility have begun.
The works also include building the project's tailings storage facility, as well as construction of roads within the Yaramoko project area.
Roxgold president and CEO John Dorward said: "In less than three years, Roxgold has advanced the project from a maiden resource through feasibility and permitting and now into construction.
"We remain well-funded and expect to be pouring gold at our high-grade, low-cost operation in the second quarter of next year."
In late-March, the company mobilised its camp construction contractors following the completion of compensation arrangements for affected landholders on the property.
West African contractor De Simone is building a permanent 190 person camp at the project.
In order to enable Roxgold maintain its target schedule, DRA/Group Five, the fixed price, lump sum Engineer, Procure and Construct contractor, together with African Underground Mining Services are scheduled to mobilise to site later this quarter.
Roxgold chief operating officer Paul Criddle said: "The commencement of construction on the project marks the beginning of another exciting phase in our development, and puts us well on track for first gold in the second quarter of 2016."
The company estimates the pre-production capital costs for the project to be at $110.8m.
On long lead project items such as the SAG mill, detailed engineering design, the Armtec tunnel for the underground mine access, in addition to tower steel and a transformer for the 90kV power line Roxgold spent $10.8m to date.
The expected project expenditures remaining stand at $100m at present.