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COVER

West Africa’s new

gold king

by Fraser Palamara

Paul Carter (Morgans, Justin Osborne (Hamelin Gold/Matador
Mining), Lynda Burnett (Regis Resources) - above - and Kristie
Young (ChemX) - over - made up the GMJ Awards judging panel

For a second consecutive year, GMJ’s Miner of the Year award
has gone to a West African-focused producer, with the judging
panel unanimously praising West African Resources Ltd (WAF)
for its speedy work, high grades, responsible operating and
strong leadership.

erseus Mining Ltd could have had a back-to-back win by The company went on to produce almost 280,000oz gold in
Pall accounts, but WAF’s performance just four years on 2021 and was clearly not satisfied with just that, later taking
from taking out the accolade for Explorer of the Year was part majority ownership of the 6.8 moz Kiaka gold project, also in
of its prolific journey from the ground up. Burkina Faso.
Matador Mining Ltd and Hamelin Gold Ltd director Justin Morgans institutional sales director Paul Carter attributed the
Osborne was blunt with his praise for WAF’s multi-faceted rise. break-neck speed exhibited by WAF to its high-grade gold.
“WAF is the best development in the last 8-10 years,” he said. “To steal a quote from Gordon Gekko, and change it a little,
“They have taken a project, on their own, as a single company, ‘grade is good’,” Carter said. “That’s what WAF has a lot of;
from discovery, to studies, to development, to construction and good grade and they’ve performed well with it to generate a lot
finally to production without missing a beat. of cash. It’s what a gold mine should do and they’ve done that
“I think Richard [Hyde, WAF executive chairman] has done an in just over 12 months.”
outstanding job. He has done everything that he said he would It was a note of interest last year when Perseus was crowned
do, they brought it on time and under budget. They’ve also Miner of the Year as the first solely overseas-focused company
exceeded production targets, all in the middle of the pandemic. in 12 years to take home the award, and a rare case of an
I cannot praise them enough for what they’ve done.” established African producer sitting on the throne. But WAF’s
WAF only began production at the Sanbrado gold mine in position in Burkina Faso arguably played to its strengths this
Burkina Faso in March 2020 and other accolades have quicky year.
poured in, including the prestigious Digger of the Year award Regis Resources Ltd non-executive director Lynda Burnett said
at the 2021 Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum. WAF continued to showcase the high-quality professionalism

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