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MODERN MINING
April 2017
MINING News
The Bouly gold mine of Nordgold in
Burkina Faso is reportedly operating
very successfully. The heap leach opera-
tion, which represents an expansion of
Nordgold’s existing Bissa mine, was com-
pleted on schedule and under budget in
the second half of last year. After com-
ing on line in September, it reached its
full capacity in November. It produced
31,4 koz in 2016, ahead of 2016 production
guidance of 20 koz.
In Nordgold’s financial and operating
results for Q4 and FY2016, Chief Executive
Nikolai Zelenski says that a highlight of
the year was the successful launch of
Bouly, which “once again demonstrates
our strong track record in developing
outstanding mining assets from the
ground up, following the success of our
flagship Bissa mine in 2013.” He adds that
Bouly has “delivered well ahead of our
expectations”.
Built in 13 months, Bouly represents an
investment of US$140 million by Nordgold
and – according to the feasibility study
– will produce approximately 110 000
ounces of gold a year over a life of mine of
10 years at an AISC of US$730 per ounce. It
is located 100 km north of Ouagadougou,
the capital of Burkina Faso.
The combined Bissa-Bouly operations
produced 213,9 koz in 2016 and 78,5 koz
in Q4 2016. The standalone Bissa mine pro-
duced 185,8 koz in 2016, down 21 % year
on year due to lower ore mined volumes
and head grade mainly related to higher
waste stripping activities performed in
order to facilitate pits cutbacks for higher
grade ore supply in 2017. The mine
increased gold production in Q4 2016
by 14 % quarter on quarter to 53,0 koz,
with this increase being driven by higher
throughput and grade.
According to Nordgold, in 2017 Bissa
will benefit from 2016 investments in the
pit cutback programme which will enable
ore supply from pits to match annual plant
capacity. Ore will be mined from the South
West, IO, Zone 51, Zone 52 and Gougre pits
with a planned average stripping ratio of
8,0 t/t. The average head grade is expected
to be 1,7 g/t, while increasing hardness of
The new Bouly mine in Burkina Faso produced 31,4 koz in 2016, after being commissioned in September (photo: Nordgold).
New Bouly gold mine delivers ahead of expectation
ores from the deepening of pits will result
in slightly lower total throughput of 3,9 Mt
over the year. The seventh leach tank com-
missioned in October 2016 will increase
residence time and help to maintain recov-
eries at approximately 87 % in 2017 while
processing lower recovery harder ores.
The mine will be focused on mining
efficiency and productivity in 2017 as pits
increase in depth and more fresh rock is
mined.
In 2016, Bissa continued near mine
exploration with a focus on resources
conversion, reserve replacement and
extensions of current pits, and defini-
tion of satellite pits. Exploration teams
completed drilling programmes at satel-
lite deposits Yimiougou and Noungou,
encountering additional mineralisa-
tion that will be included in the annual
resource update.
Mining licence applications for the Bissa
satellite pits Ronguen and Zinigma are pro-
gressing through the regulatory process.
Contracts were awarded for feasibility and
environmental studies for the Yimiougou