Ariana Resources plc LON:AAU has told DirectorsTalk that mine construction is proceeding on schedule at the Kiziltepe Sector of the Red Rabbit Gold Project (“Red Rabbit”) in western Turkey, which is being developed in partnership with Proccea Construction Co. The partnership is expected to deliver its first gold pour in H2 2016.
Highlights:
— Process plant construction on the ADR and CIL circuits to commence imminently along with structural steel for the crushers and ball-mill housing.
— Site administration, accommodation, depot and laboratory buildings fully completed and internals fitted: on site accommodation will be utilised by construction crews from next week.
— No delays being experienced on equipment orders, with jaw and cone crushers, screens, automation and drives having already been delivered to site.
— Earth-moving commenced on the open-pit access ramp and blasting permission granted for open-pit mining: first blast completed.
— Haul road to the process plant has been completed and new site access road under construction.
-- Drainage system finalised at the waste-rock dump site, which is now ready for commissioning.
— Renewable mining permit granted until 2021 for the operational licence containing the tailings storage facility (TSF): TSF site works will commence within one month.
Dr. Kerim Sener, Managing Director, commented: “We are very pleased to report on the rapid progress with construction at the Kiziltepe Mine. The joint venture team is operating on schedule and will be commencing the installation of various process plant components during the second half of February. We are also encouraged to have received our new blasting permit and to see the commencement of work on the open-pit, which marks the beginning of mining operations.
With recent exploration drilling results having highlighted the potential for resource expansion at Kiziltepe, the progress being sustained by both the construction and exploration teams must be commended. We wish the teams further success as they continue their work to deliver the project in to production.
We will provide further guidance on construction progress and the timeline to first gold-pour during Q2 2016. At this stage, we remain on target for first production to commence in H2 2016.”
