Arrow Minerals Ltd (ASX:AMD) is tapping the 20-year experience of veteran iron ore executive Mamadouba Yansane to help push the company’s mineral exploration agenda in West Africa as exploration manager in Guinea.
“Mr Yansane’s knowledge and understanding of the geology of the Simandou Range, combined with his experience operating with the local communities, strengthen Arrow’s team in Guinea and enables Arrow to fast-track its exploration efforts in an efficient, systematic and scientific manner,” Arrow managing director Hugh Bresser said.
Yansane formed part of the SimFer Rio Tinto team that advanced the 2 billion-tonne iron ore deposits on Simandou Blocks 3 and 4, Pic de Fon and Quelaba, from grassroots discoveries, resource definition, through pre-feasibility to deliver a full feasibility study.
He later assisted Winning Corporation Simandou (WCS) as a technical consultant in preparing the winning bid for the acquisition of the 1.8 billion-tonne iron ore deposits on Simandou Blocks 1 and 2, as well as leading community engagement workshops focused on understanding local cultural sensitivities.
Laying the foundation
Arrow has commenced training local geologists in Guinea and engaging local communities in anticipation of shareholder support for the acquisition of the first stage of the Simandou North Iron Project.
The Simandou North Project lies at the northern end of the Simandou Range and forms an extension of the stratigraphy that hosts one of the largest undeveloped high-grade iron deposits in the world.
WCS’s Block 1 and 2 host a measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource of 1.8 billion tonnes at 65.4% iron, while Rio Tinto Simfer’s Simandou Project Block 3 & 4 has a total measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource estimate of 2 billion tonnes grading 65.5% iron. Both are in the Simandou Range.
The Government of Guinea, Simfer and WCS created the joint venture company La Compagnie du TransGuinéen (CTG) on July 27, 2022, to co-develop the megaproject requiring the construction of the 670-kilometre TransGuinean railway, extending from the Simandou Ranges to Forécariah on the coast, where a deepwater port and ship loading infrastructure will be built.
This US$15 billion major capital investment is set to deliver shared-purpose infrastructure to the area and is expected to be completed by December 2024, enabling commercial production from mines in the area by 2025.
Arrow intends to establish itself as a major West African mining company with the Simandou North Iron Project allowing it to participate in the development of an area where, until now, mineral wealth has been locked up due to infrastructural constraints.
The company plans to fast-track the exploration of the project over the coming months, while continuing to monitor the elevated security situation in Burkina Faso following the September 30 coup in the country.