Fortuna announced on 12 April 2023, that it produced 94,110 ounces of gold in the first trimester of 2023.
Fortuna operates four mines in Latin America and West Africa. In West Africa, it operates the Yaramoko mine (Rox Gold located in Bagassi) and soon Seguela in Côte d’Ivoire.
Highlights:
- Gold and silver production on track to meet 2023 annual forecast
- Gold production of 60,092 ounces; down by 10% on the 1st trimester 2022 mainly due to lower grades
- Silver production of 1,586,378 ounces; 5% decrease from the 1st trimester 2022
- Zinc and lead production of 13.1 million pounds and 9.5 million pounds; 21% and 4% increase over the 1st trimester 2022, respectively
- Total production 94,110 ounces
- Construction of the Seguela mine is well underway and it will begin producing gold in May 2023.
Gold production of 60,092 ounces was mainly due to contributions of 25,258 ounces from the Lindero mine and 26,437 ounces from the Yaramoko mine. The year-on-year decline in gold production was primarily due to lower feed grades at both mines, although consistent with the mining sequence and mineral reserves. Silver production of 1,586,378 ounces is similar to the comparable period in 2022, with slightly lower tonnage and head grades milled at the San Jose and Caylloma mines.
Fortuna reiterates its annual production guidance range for 2023 of 6.3 to 6.9 million ounces of silver and 282 to 320 thousand ounces of gold or 412,000 to 463,000 ounces of gold equivalent, including by-product lead and zinc.
In West Africa: Yaramoko on track
The Seguela mine is on track to start gold production in May 2023. In the first quarter of 2023, the Yaramoko mine continued its steady performance and is on track to meet the annual guidance range.
During the first quarter of 2023, Yaramoko produced 26,437 ounces (822.296 grams, per ounce at 31.104 grams) of gold at an average grade of 5.94 g/t Au, a decrease of 6% and 21%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2022. The operation benefited from increased mill throughput, offset by reduced operating time due to planned maintenance and lower head grade. Production in the trimester was in line with the mining sequence and mineral reserve estimate.
Underground mineralised material was sourced from Zone 55, and development also contributed outside the current resource boundary on the western side of the deposit.
In Seguela, construction and operation activities have progressed well. At the end of March, construction of the project was 96% complete. Mining of the Antenna pit started and the waste material was used to construct the ore processing platform. In early April, commissioning of the crushing circuit began using ore from the Antenna pit. The mineralised material will continue to be stockpiled on the ROM platform prior to commissioning of the crushing circuit and the transition to steady state operations.
Summary by Elie KABORE
Pour #Mines_Actu_Burkina
