Roxgold ramps up operations at Yaramoko

Roxgold (TSX: ROXG; US-OTC: ROGFF) expects its Yaramoko mine in Burkina Faso will produce between 145,000 and 155,000 ounces this year at cash costs of US$440-$470 per oz. and all-in sustaining costs of US$765-795 per oz.

The company expects to have a strong year with the addition of Yaramoko’s second high-grade underground mine, Bagassi South, which is expected to reach commercial production in the second quarter of the year.

Last year production from Yaramoko reached 132,656 ounces of gold, exceeding guidance of 120,000 to 130,000 ounces. The company expects cash costs and AISC’s for 2018 will come in at between US$450-475 per oz. and US$740-790 per oz., respectively.

Roxgold’s expanded processing plant is ramping up and recently recorded throughput of 1,231 tonnes per day, 12% above nameplate capacity.

The plant expansion increases capacity by nearly 50% from 270,000 tonnes per year, or 750 tonnes per day, to 400,000 tonnes per year, or 1,100 tonnes per day.

The upgrades included a secondary crushing circuit with a throughput of 100 tonnes per hour; the conversion of the SAG mill to a ball mill; expansion of the carbon-in-leach circuit (two extra adsorption tanks and an additional thickener); expansion of the gravity circuit designed to recover 70% of head grade consisting of an additional Acacia leach reactor and two electro-winning cells; and additional raw water storage and power reticulation infrastructure.

The Yaramoko mine is situated in the Houndé greenstone belt region in the Province of Balé in southwestern Burkina Faso. The property is about 200 km southwest of the capital city of Ouagadougou.

Yaramoko consists of two gold deposits: the 55 Zone, a fully operational underground mine, and Bagassi South, which is ramping up. Roxgold completed the mine build in mid-December, on schedule, and US$2.8 million under budget.

Roxgold expects to spend US$10-12 million on exploration at Yaramoko this year, and at the end of 2018 had about US$60 million in cash and US$38 million in long-term debt.