Kouroussa gold mine processing plant in Guinea enters commissioning phase

Hummingbird Resources, a UK-based mining company, has announced that its Kouroussa gold mine processing plant in Guinea has reached the completion stage and has entered the commissioning phase.

The Kouroussa gold mine is the company’s second operating gold asset in West Africa and is considered a high-grade mine with over four grams per tonne (g/t) of gold in its open-pit operations. The completion of the priority systems at the processing plant has enabled the commencement of the commissioning phase. Hummingbird Resources is currently undertaking pre-operational and cold commissioning activities and expects to begin the first gold pour during this quarter.

First gold pour

During the commissioning phase, Hummingbird’s specialist commissioning personnel and the plant’s engineering contractor, Soutex, are working together. Mining activities are being expedited to provide an increased amount of ore feed tonnes for the first gold pour, and semi-autogenous grinding mills are being commissioned by contractor NCP International.

In addition, permanent power units have been installed to energize the medium-voltage substation at the plant. Hummingbird CEO Dan Betts expressed confidence that the Kouroussa gold mine is on track to pour its first gold within the current quarter. He emphasized the company’s focus on safety and highlighted the importance of operational readiness and the transition to daily operations as they aim not only for the first gold pour but also to ramp up production to nameplate capacity. Hummingbird Resources envisions becoming a multi-asset, multi-jurisdiction gold producer with an annual production exceeding 200,000 ounces of gold.