Production at the Mana mine in the third trimester of 2023 remained stable compared with the previous trimester, at 30,000 oz, according to a press release issued on 9 November 2023 by Endeavour Mining. At the same time, it informs that the lower quantity of ore milled and lower recovery rates were partially offset by higher average grades processed.
Production costs increased from 1,481 $/oz in the second trimester 2023 to 1,734 $/oz in the third trimester 2023 due to higher open pit mining unit costs, lower volumes mined from the open pit, higher hard ore processing unit costs from the Siou and Wona underground deposits, higher fuel prices and lower gold volumes sold. This was partly offset by lower underground mining costs.
Higher grades of higher-grade ore from the Wona and Siou underground deposits in the mill feed offset the decrease in lower-grade ore from the Maoula open pit.
Recoveries declined due to fresh ore from the Wona underground deposit, as well as the impact of the shutdown and restart of the processing plant after a maintenance shutdown.
For the rest of 2023, due to the slow ramp-up of the Wona underground mine, production at Mana is expected to be below guidance by 190,000 to 210,000 oz at costs above the guided range of 950$ to 1,050 $/oz. In the fourth trimester of 2023, average grades processed are expected to increase, offsetting lower open pit feed.
Pierre Balma
#Mines_Actu_Burkina
