By: Mining weekly

The company expects to produce between 290 000 oz and 360 000 oz from its Sanbrado and Kiaka mines, in Burkina Faso, this year as the Kiaka process plant is commissioned and ramped up to steady-state operations during the second half of the year.

Sanbrado will account for the majority of production at between 190 000 oz and 210 000 oz, with Kiaka being earmarked to produce between 100 000 oz and 150 000 oz following its first gold pour in the third quarter. 

While the Sanbrado mine has an average site sustaining cost of less than $1 350/oz, West African still intends to invest more capital at the project to secure continued long-term low-cost gold production.

As part of this investment, the company will start with development at the Toega openpit and the M5 underground prospect in the second half of the year

West African also plans to release an updated resource, reserve and ten-year production plan late in the second quarter, which will include the maiden ore reserve statement for the M5 underground expansion at Sanbrado, as well as throughput grades for both Sanbrado and Kiaka.

Meanwhile, the company has 115 000 m of drilling planned across its two operations this year, targeting depth extensions and near-surface anomalies to further increase gold resources and extend mine lives. The company plans to spend $20-million on exploration this year.