Nord Gold SE, the internationally diversified gold producer, plans to launch in the third quarter of 2020 its new West Africa Training Centre, located near its Lefa mine in Guinea. Once completed, this centre will further develop the technical skills of Nordgold’s 1,300-strong workforce based in the country. The centre’s facilities will include a maintenance workshop covering 24 different types of equipment, a welding section and a mining fleet operator simulator. These facilities will enable the whole workforce to further improve their skill sets which are unique to their individual roles. Training will also be provided to the local communities.

Nordgold expects the total investment, including the construction of the centre and the purchase of the equipment, to cost approximately $800,000. Yulia Sklar, Human Resources Director of Nordgold said: “West Africa is an important part of Nordgold’s business model, with approximately half of the company’s gold production coming from the region. It is therefore vital that the regional workforce continues to develop its skills and help take our company forward. The construction of the West Africa Training Centre in Guinea will help us achieve this goal. In particular, the centre represents part of our strategic Employee Development Programme while being fully in line with our overall Operational Strategy.”

Nordgold operates 10 mines (five in Russia, three in Burkina Faso and one each in Guinea and Kazakhstan). It has several prospective projects in feasibility study and advanced exploration phases, as well as a diverse portfolio of early-stage exploration projects and licences in Burkina Faso, Russia, French Guiana and Canada. Nordgold employs over 8,000 people.