Asante Gold Corp has awarded PW Mining (Ghana) to begin open-pit mining operations at the Bibiani gold mine in Ghana.
Operations will begin in February. PW Mining will develop satellite pits and provide material to the Bibiani process plant starting in the March quarter.
The four-stage main pit development plans to reach 350 meters in depth by 2029.
PW Mining will use up to 125 units of heavy equipment and will build a heavy equipment maintenance facility as well as offices and a training centre.
The company will employ more than 850 people at the site, and aims to make local workers 70% of the workforce. The training centre will include a heavy equipment simulator facility.
Asante is currently refurbishing its process plant, beginning the project in September 2021. Completion of the process plant and first gold pour is anticipated for the September quarter of 2022.