By:Africaminingmarket

Akobo Minerals AB(publ), a Scandinavian-based Ethiopian gold producer, provides an operational update highlighting improved smelting results from a recent production batch and ongoing efforts to access higher-grade zones at the Segele mine.

Gold production in March and April yielded a total of 1 kilogram, which fell below expectations. A small smelting conducted on 5th May, covering three days of production, resulted in the recovery of 445 grams of gold. The average grade was approximately 9 grams per tonne (g/t), supported by increased production following recent operational changes and improved access to additional areas in the mine. This outcome marks a clear improvement and represents an encouraging step toward achieving production levels more consistent with the Segele deposit’s long-term potential.

The Segele deposit is characterised by variability in gold grade due to its nuggety mineralisation. To illustrate this, the image above shows the area currently being mined, with figures and data from the SRK block model.

These differences highlight both the opportunity and challenge of mining such a deposit. While the overall average grade of all mined material since production began remains high, close to 20 g/t, the short-term predictability of gold output is affected by the inherent variability of the ore body.

The Company continues to work with three active headings underground and is focused on increasing daily tonnage through process improvements.A key development in this effort is the planned vertical shaft, which will provide more reliable and consistent access to high-grade sections of the ore body. This is expected to significantly enhance both production stability and overall efficiency.