Randgold Resources’ 89%-owned Tongon gold mine, in Côte d’Ivoire, has commissioned its fourth-stage crushing circuit, completing an extensive capital project designed to improve throughput and recovery. The new circuit is currently being optimised.
2015 gold production at Tongon was 243 koz, up 7% on 2014, and the company is targeting production of 290 koz this year as the flotation upgrade and crushing circuit extension programme continues to deliver results. Production is forecast to reach 300 koz/y from 2017 until at least 2020.
The company continues its drive to extend the life of the mine through exploration, with the latest drilling results indicating the potential for additional reserves and resources within and below the existing open pits.
Randgold chief executive, Mark Bristow, said at the mine this week that there are still significant challenges in its way. “Chief among these is the continued instability of the grid power supply, which has a major impact on the mine’s cost structure,” he said.
Total cash costs were US$836/oz in 2015, down from US$872/oz the previous year. The company is targeting cash costs below US$700/oz from 2016 onwards.
Randgold commissions additional crushing capacity at Tongon: RRS