Australian gold miner Perseus Mining has poured first gold at its Yaouré gold mine in Cote d’Ivoire.

The company said that the milestone was achieved nearly five weeks ahead of schedule, and added that the gold pour is in line with its ‘stretch target’ of first gold at the mine in December.

Yaouré is situated near the Ivorian capital of Yamoussoukro adjacent to the Koussou hydro-electric power station. It is located in central Côte d’Ivoire.

As the processing plant and associated infrastructure of the mine is almost complete, Perseus will now focus on performance tests and positioning to achieve commercial production.

The Australian firm expects to achieve both during the March quarter of next year, when the first gold shipment from the Yaouré mine site is also expected to take place.

Perseus CEO and managing director Jeff Quartermaine said: “Being able to successfully develop the Yaouré Gold Mine, ahead of schedule and under budget during a year in which the Covid-19 pandemic has severely disrupted many businesses around the world, is a testament to the skill, resilience and dedication of our in-house development team, technical and commercial support staff, our contractors and consultants.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

“We are now looking forward to achieving our next target of increasing our production to more than 500,000 ounces of gold per year at a cash margin of not less than US$400 per ounce in FY2022.

“We will also extend our capacity to consistently produce gold at these levels for many years to come by organically increasing our Ore Reserve inventory through successful near-mine exploration programmes across our three mines.”

In May last year, Perseus Mining secured approval from its board of directors for the development of the Yaouré gold mine with capital costs of $265m.

Mining Technology Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Mining Technology Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now