Asante Gold Corp. has announced that the contract to conduct mining activities at the Bibiani Mine has been awarded to PW Mining (Ghana), and mobilisation to the site has commenced.

Open Pit Mining Operations will start in February, to include development of satellite pits and provide feed material to the process plant from 2Q22. Main pit development, to its planned ultimate +350 m depth in 2029, includes a 4-stage cut back program. Total material movement will be up to 75 million tpy. PW Mining will mobilise up to 125 units of heavy equipment, including drills, excavators, haulage trucks, bulldozers, and ancillary equipment. Site establishment includes construction of a heavy equipment maintenance facility, offices, and a training centre.

More than 850 people will be employed by PW Mining at the Bibiani site. Having previously been contracted to mine at Bibiani, PW Mining is well known to the local communities where most of its workforce will be sourced. Asante and PW Mining are committed to employ more than 70% of the mine workers from the immediate community. To support achievement of this objective, a training centre will be built and equipped with a state-of-the art heavy equipment simulator facility, safety miner lamps, etc ensuring operators are trained and certified to the highest industry standards.

Refurbishment of the process plant was initiated in September 2021 and remains on track and on budget for first gold pour in 3Q22. To achieve this objective, more than 900 people have been working on site.

Douglas MacQuarrie, President & CEO, comments:

“Our team has been impressed by the quality of people, resources, and record of success in the mining business that PW Mining brings to the Bibiani Mine. Asante looks forward to working with PW Mining, and all our other project partners, to continue to deliver a safe and successful operation.”