Asante Gold Corporation (CSE:ASE | GSE:ASG | FRANKFURT:1A9 |
U.S.OTC:ASGOF) (“Asante” or the “Company”) is pleased to report a
significant ramp-up in activity to accelerate growth initiatives at
Bibiani, supported by the immediate deployment of proceeds from the
initial US$100 million gold forward sale.
Highlights
- Acceleration of stripping
activities at the Main pit and the Russel pit, with 300% increase
in monthly material movement expected by June 2025 compared to
recent levels
- Sulphide treatment plant
commissioning expected to be complete in May 2025
- Bibiani monthly gold production
expected to increase to 9,000 ounces by February 2025 and to 23,000
ounces by September 2025.
Dave Anthony, President and CEO stated,
“We are pleased to report a rapid increase in
operational activities at the Bibiani mine, funded by the $100
million gold forward agreement with our key strategic partner
Fujairah. This will more than double monthly gold production by
February 2025, with additional catalysts for growth expected to
follow over the course of the year supported by the Company’s
financing plans that continue to advance.”
Russel Pit Rapidly Expands Beyond “Starter
Pit” Size
Operational activities at the Bibiani Mine are
accelerating, driven by ongoing expansion of the Russel pit and a
rapid increase in equipment availability from the primary mining
contractor. The Russel pit continues to outperform our
expectations, with gold production up by more than 700% during the
last quarter of 2024, to upwards of 7,000 ounces per month. As a
result, an aggressive drilling program has been initiated to
confirm the southward extension into Cutback #3 during the second
half of 2025. This will support advancement of waste stripping at
the Main pit during the first half of 2025.
Main Pit Stripping Activity
Accelerates
At the Main pit, mining is ahead of schedule by
approximately 200% since starting the build-up program in November
2024. The mining contractor is increasing its fleet to meet an
agreed schedule of the production build-up. Main pit Cutback #2
also starts during Q1 2025 to ensure consistent supply of
mineralized material. The Underground Mine project preparation is
targeted to start during the last quarter of 2025.
As shown in the below table, the Company expects
the primary mine contractor fleet to double by June 2025 in terms
of trucks and excavators at work.
The planned ramp-up activities and completion of
commissioning the sulphide treatment plant in May 2025 will support
a sharp increase in monthly gold production to 9,000 ounces by
February 2025, 12,000 ounces by June 2025 and 23,000 ounces by
September 2025.
Qualified Person Statement
The scientific and technical information
contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by
David Anthony, P.Eng., Mining and Mineral Processing, President and
CEO of Asante, who is a "qualified person" under NI 43-101.
About Asante Gold
Corporation
Asante is a gold exploration, development and
operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects and
mines in Ghana. Asante is currently operating the Bibiani and
Chirano Gold Mines and continues with detailed technical studies at
its Kubi Gold Project. All mines and exploration projects are
located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. Asante has
an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and
operators, with extensive experience in Ghana. The Company is
listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Ghana Stock
Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Asante is also exploring
its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase projects for new discoveries,
all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre
of Ghana’s Golden Triangle. Additional information is available on
the Company’s website at www.asantegold.com.
About the Bibiani Gold Mine
Bibiani is an operating open pit gold mine
situated in the Western North Region of Ghana, with previous gold
production of more than 4.5 million ounces. It is fully permitted
with available mining and processing infrastructure on-site
consisting of a newly refurbished 3 million tonne per annum process
plant and existing mining infrastructure. Asante commenced mining
at Bibiani in late February 2022 with the first gold pour announced
on July 7, 2022. Commercial production was announced November 10,
2022.
For additional information relating to the
mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for the Bibiani Gold
Mine, please refer to the 2024 Bibiani Technical Report filed on
the Company’s SEDAR profile (www.sedarplus.ca) on April 30, 2024
and the Company’s press release dated January 14, 2025.
About the Chirano Gold Mine
Chirano is an operating open pit and underground
mine located in the Western Region of Ghana, immediately south of
the Company’s Bibiani Gold Mine. Chirano was first explored and
developed in 1996 and began production in October 2005. The mine
comprises the Akwaaba, Suraw, Akoti South, Akoti North, Akoti
Extended, Paboase, Tano, Obra South, Obra, Sariehu and Mamnao open
pits and the Akwaaba and Paboase underground mines.
For additional information relating to the
mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates for the Chirano Gold
Mine, please refer to the 2024 Chirano Technical Report filed on
the Company’s SEDAR profile (www.sedarplus.ca) on April 30,
2024.
For further information please
contact:
Dave Anthony, President & CEOFrederick
Attakumah, Executive Vice President and Country Director
info@asantegold.com+1 604 661 9400 or +233 303
972 147
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain statements in this news release
constitute forward-looking statements, including but not limited
to, statements relating to increases in monthly material movement
at the Bibiani mine, timing of commissioning of the sulphide
treatment plant, potential increases in monthly gold production,
timing of underground mine project preparation, increases in
primary mine contractor fleet, estimated mineral resources,
reserves, exploration results and potential and development
programs. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties
and other factors that could cause actual results, performance,
prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from these
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral
deposits that may be located, the Company’s inability to obtain any
necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its
planned activities, the Company’s inability to raise the necessary
capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies,
and the price of gold. The reader is referred to the Company’s
public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR
(www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company believes that the
assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on
these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news
release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur
in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by
securities laws and the policies of the securities exchanges on
which the Company is listed, the Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
LEI Number: 529900F9PV1G9S5YD446. Neither IIROC
nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available
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