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with production up 82% in component of the CMA
the September quarter to deposit.
52,127oz, it is producing The PFS suggested the CMA
above expectations. underground could offer up
Quartermaine put the 720,000 tpa, enabling the
improvements down to mill production profile at Yaoure
efficiencies and productivity, to be maintained once CMA
an often elusive goal in West open pit operations came to
Africa. an end in Year 5.
“In the early days, I used to “We will be able to blend that
Jeff Quartermaine
go off my tree about run time and the fact we had to be underground material with the
resigned to not doing better than 85%,” he said. “Now, we lower-grade Yaoure pit and
are consistently at 95-99% run time. I think it is a case of keep the production profile consistent,” Quartermaine said.
not just accepting, ‘this is Africa’. Instead, we have gradually “We have absolute confidence the material can be treated
lifted standards across the board. in the plant. If anything, we have been a bit conservative
“You can’t do anything about grade and every day is a because we have consistently outperformed on recovery
challenge but the team on the ground is quite adept at during operation.”
addressing the challenges.” At Edikan, the company has rejuvenated its exploration push
At Yaoure, production was down nearly 10,000oz to 71,469oz following the discovery of the Nkosuo deposit, 7km north-
in the September quarter but with AISC at an industry-leading west of the mine, where it has defined an indicated resource
$US658/oz, the mine remains an exceptional performer. of 14.5mt @ 0.91 g/t for 422,000oz gold.
“Anyone who thinks their operation will run 100% all the “The assumption was that the area was barren but in the last
time has never been involved in mining,” Quartermaine said. 10 years artisanal miners have been mining alluvials there,
“But your team becomes adept at recognising things. I have so we picked up options on three blocks,” Quartermaine
full faith in the team and it is never about one person, from explained. “We have flown geophysics and done mapping,
Chris Woodall as chief operating officer and Craig Fawcett etc and defined a series of structures and our geologists
as head of technical services, to the GMs on site and their noted blocks of granite similar to what we are mining at
excellent teams.” Edikan.
Sissingue is the smallest operation in the group but still “We will continue with scout drilling and incrementally add to
managed to reduce AISC to $US1,336/oz in the September the reserve. Don’t be surprised if we replicate the 2 moz gold
quarter as it pulled out 13,864oz. we already have at Edikan.”
Perseus is now turning to extension opportunities at all three The second generation of operations in both Cote d’Ivoire
mines. and Ghana – as well as the opportunity in front of it in Sudan
– suggest Perseus will enjoy its elevated status for some
Yaoure is offering the most immediate opportunity, Perseus
time to come.
having produced a maiden reserve of 3.7mt @ 4.48 g/t
for 537,000oz gold and related PFS for the underground

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