Hummingbird Resources Ltd (LON:HUM) said its 2.2mln ounce Yanfolila mine project in Mali is on-schedule and on-budget.
Leading industrial infrastructure group IMAGRI has been hired for the civil works, which include the primary crusher and the milling and carbon in leach (CIL) area.
The work is targeted to begin at the start of next month (October).
Chief executive of Hummingbird Dan Betts said: "Development at Yanfolila continues on-schedule and budget, as we target initial production of 130,000oz gold from the first full year of production.
"The appointment of the civil contractor and mobilisation of equipment is a pivotal undertaking in the project's evolution into a producing mine. IMAGRI's local experience, which includes working for Randgold in Mali, will be invaluable as we advance Yanfolila.
The mine will be one of Africa's newest and highest margin gold mines, generating in excess of US$70 million free cash flow in its first full year of production at current gold prices.