West African Resources (ASX, TSXV:WAF) has bought a second- hand heap leach plant for the Bousla Project in Burkina Faso with the aim of producing gold from its Mankarga 5 gold deposit in 2015.
The plant, with an expected throughput capacity of 1.6 million tonnes per annum, was acquired substantially below replacement costs with the plant package including primary and secondary crushers, agglomerator, conveyor and radial stacker.
Subject to study outcomes, the company believes the heap leach plant could help fast-track the recently acquired Mankarga 5 deposit into production, processing 1.6 Mtpa to achieve initial production of at least 50,000 ounces of gold per annum,
A resource upgrade for Mankarga 5 is likely by end of this quarter and completion of a preliminary economic assessment and scoping study expected in the first half of this year.
The Boulsa Project in Burkina Faso covers over 6,000 square kilometres and 200 kilometres of strike length of early Proterozoic Birimian green-stone belts which are highly prospective for gold mineralisation.
In January 2014 West African Resources acquired Channel Resources, which owned the Tanlouka Permit hosting the Mankarga 5 deposit.
It also recently reaffirmed gold grades at the Mankarga 5 deposit intersecting up to 15 metres at 4.69g/t gold from 17 metres; including 7m at 9.15g/t gold ending in mineralisation.
With a targeted gold production from Mankarga 5 in 2015, West African Resources is likely to make a low risk transition from explorer to producer.
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