Asante Gold has completed the refurbishment of its primary crusher at the Bibiani gold mine in Ghana, and it is now operational.

The company anticipates its first gold pour in the September quarter this year.

The Vancouver-based company will continue to stockpile ore for the next few weeks to support the imminent start of processing when the downstream process plant equipment is operational.

Ore stockpiling on the run of mine pad began in February.

The primary crusher system includes a 42-inch by 72-inch gyratory crusher which can provide 544 tonnes per hour to the mill.  

"Our refurbishment efforts at the Bibiani Gold Mine have been delivered ahead of schedule," Asante Gold chief executive Dave Anthony said.

Asante Gold relied on local contractors Kenmore Limited and Harlequin International for the crusher re-build, with Kenmore acting as lead contractor. Harlequin International was responsible for the refurbishment or replacement of all associated conveyors and control equipment.

The company had also acquired and installed a Knelson 6G concentrator and Gekko intensive leach reactor.

Asante Gold said in February it was planning to begin a preliminary economic assessment of an underground mine at Bibiani in the September quarter. This underground mine would be completed by 2026.