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“Project success relies on the premise that we are in
partnership not only with our people and clients, but also
with our contractors, vendors, suppliers, local communities
and local governments. If we are not working in sync, and
sympathetically with each other, you simply can’t deliver
these projects and meet the metrics,” De Leo said.
Case in point: Lycopodium’s latest venture in West Africa,
the delivery of Perseus Mining Limited’s Yaouré gold mine
in Côte d’Ivoire, was delivered ahead of schedule and under
budget, despite the pandemic. Full-scale construction
commenced in the September 2019 quarter, with COVID-19
manifesting globally only a few months later. Despite this,
construction continued throughout 2020 and the stretch
target of first gold in December 2020 was achieved.
“We adjusted our plans, procedures and operating protocols
to manage the potential implications of the pandemic on
our operations. Success was only possible because of the
commitment of our people and their willingness to stay
on site and keep delivering the project, and through the
Pulling together them to drive best-for-project outcomes,” De Leo said. Wahgnion
strength of our relationship with Perseus, working alongside

Lycopodium works with clients across the globe and De
Leo observes that most companies in mining are adept
and Pushing through at leveraging the technology available to make this the award of further scope on a number of the projects.
transcontinental industry work.
This includes the award of the front-end engineering and
“Drawing on the expertise of our people globally, it’s not
unusual for us to have teams working together across three design (FEED) scope and subsequent full engineering and
procurement works for Sandfire Resources Limited’s Motheo
continents.” T3 copper-silver project in Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt,
A consequence of the pandemic, the remote control of one of the world’s most exciting and emerging copper
operating plants, already a feature of the iron ore industry, is producing regions.
likely to become more widespread. Lycopodium subsidiary “We always take a long-term approach with our clients,
OMC and its partner provide optimisation for their clients’ developing solid and mutually respectful relationships that
plants around the world from Perth in real-time using data enable us to work together to progress through the various
gathered automatically on site via their proprietary MillROC stages of project development, from initial scoping studies
technology. In a time when it is not possible for people to right through to project delivery,” De Leo said.
visit remote sites, it is a major advantage for a company With Yaouré now wrapped up, the company is turning its
to be able to ensure that its processing plants are working attention to its next big project in West Africa, Orezone
optimally and to be able to interrogate the data in real-time. Gold Corporation’s Bomboré gold project, considered the
“Perseus’ Yaouré mine is the first project to be built ‘MillROC largest undeveloped gold deposit in Burkina Faso. Having
ready’,” De Leo said. completed the feasibility study in 2018 and the updated
In addition to the completion of Yaouré, Lycopodium feasibility study in 2019, in addition to the previously
has completed two other significant EPCM projects in completed FEED, Lycopodium will undertake the detailed
West Africa over the past 12 or so months; West African engineering, procurement and construction management
Resources Ltd’s Sanbrado gold mine and Teranga Gold services for the design and construction of the Stage 1
Corporation’s Wahgnion gold mine, both completed safely, oxide process plant.
ahead of schedule and within budget. “Given our involvement with this project over a number
Closer to home, Mondium, Lycopodium’s JV with of years and having completed the construction of more
Monadelphous, commenced its EPC scope on Rio Tinto’s than a dozen gold development projects in West Africa
Western Turner Syncline Phase 2 iron ore project in the over the past decade, Orezone is confident we are the right
Pilbara in early 2020, with delivery ongoing into 2021. partner to progress this project in a cost effective and timely
The bedrock of its business, Lycopodium’s studies group manner, despite the underlying issues the current operating
has completed numerous studies over the past year across environment with COVID may present,” De Leo said.
a spectrum of commodities, including gold, copper, lead, With this significant award announced in early January, it’s a
zinc, silver, lithium graphite, mineral sands and sulphate of positive start to 2021 for the company.
potash, and the successful completion of these has led to