Tag Archives: CSA Global

Cora Gold adds SENET, CSA Global and Epoch Resources to Sanankoro DFS team

Environmental, Mineral exploration, Mineral project development, Mining services, Precious metals, Water management, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Cora Gold Ltd has made key appointments related to the definitive feasibility study (DFS) it is carrying out on the Sanankoro gold project in southern Mali, bringing SENET, CSA Global and Epoch Resources into the study team, as well as naming Russell Bradford as Project Manager.

SENET, a DRA Global group company, has been appointed as independent project manager to oversee the critical elements of the DFS, while CSA Global, a member of the ERM group of companies, will be the geological and mining consultant, tasked with managing the updated mineral resource estimate and mining study. Epoch Resources has been appointed to oversee the tailings storage facility of the DFS.

The DFS will build upon the January 2020 scoping study, which outlined average annual production from Sanankoro of 45,632 oz.

Following positive metallurgical test work results in the second half of 2020, in addition to more recent positive drilling results, the company says it is likely it will look to focus on a conventional gravity/carbon in leach processing route at Sanankoro to allow higher recoveries.

Bert Monro, CEO of Cora Gold, said: “2021 has seen significant activity at Sanankoro with exceptional results reported from our largest ever drill campaign at the project. These results will support an updated mineral resource estimate in the coming months, which, in turn, will be used as the basis for our DFS aimed at outlining the optimum route to develop Sanankoro into a new gold mine in Mali.

“Last year’s scoping study highlighted the potential high returns for Sanankoro and fuelled our confidence in Sanankoro’s strong fundamentals, and the company looks forward to publishing the DFS in the first half of 2022.”

Avesoro enlists CSA Global for Youga gold mine turnaround

Mine operation news, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , ,

Avesoro Resources says it is expecting a “material improvement” in grade and production at its Youga gold mine, in Burkina Faso, after implementing mining and grade control recommendations from consultant CSA Global to stem an output drop that saw production fall 19% quarter-on-quarter in the three months ending June 30.

The mine’s output was affected not only by falling grades in the June quarter, but also a stoppage in mining activities during June, which followed a transition to contractor mining.

In the three-month period, total material movement was 4.44 Mt, 7% lower than the previous quarter. Waste mined also dropped 6% in this period to 4.23 Mt, while ore mined decreased 27% to 214,000 t, resulting in a waste to ore stripping ratio of 19.8:1.

Avesoro said: “During the period, mining focused predominantly on the Gassore pit adjacent to the Youga process plant, where mined grades continued to be below forecast. Following a review of both grade control and mining practices, undertaken by CSA Global, the company made the decision to bolster its on-site technical team by hiring of additional technical staff to manage mining production and grade control.”

Serhan Umurhan, CEO of Avesoro, said he was confident the company would see a “material improvement in the situation as a result”.

Due to the temporary stoppage in mining activities in June, some emergency low-grade ore stockpiles were blended into the plant feed during June, reducing overall June quarter run of mill grade to 1.59 g/t Au, a quarter-on-quarter reduction of 23%. An increase in plant throughput of 4% to 332,000 t during the period helped to offset the grade impact, however gold production fell 19% to 15,516 oz.

Avesoro’s New Liberty gold mine, in Liberia, meanwhile saw production drop 27% to 18,822 oz in the quarter.

The company put this down to a number of staff in the mining and heavy mining equipment maintenance teams resigning during April, which led to a drop in mining productivity during this month and early May. Total material movement dropped, which had a knock-on effect to mine ore grade and mill feed grade.

Despite the company only recording 34,338 oz of gold production from the two mines in the quarter – bringing first half output to 79,435 oz – Avesoro reiterated its revised production guidance of 180,000-200,000 oz of gold for 2019.

Umurhan said: “With the operational aspects of the transition to contractor mining at both Youga and New Liberty now in place, I am confident that the challenges experienced during Q2 (June quarter) have been overcome and that total material movement and gold production will increase in the second half of the year.”

ERM adds CSA Global mining consultancy to sustainability business

Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , ,

Australia-based sustainability service provider, ERM, says it has completed the acquisition of CSA Global, providing additional capabilities to address mining clients’ issues and challenges across the full life cycle of their business.

CSA Global provides technical and management consulting services, as well as independent corporate advice to mining and exploration companies, and financial and legal groups worldwide. The business, headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, has offices that serves clients across Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

This is the second acquisition ERM has made this year after, in January, acquiring SustainAbility Ltd, a think tank and advisory firm “that inspires business to lead the way to a sustainable economy”. The company also signed a strategic partnership with eVision Industry Software, a Wolters Kluwer business, to enhance innovation, accelerate operational excellence and improve safety performance for clients, in February.

Founded in 1984, CSA Global has grown to serve a diverse range of clients, comprising junior, mid-tier and major mining companies, the financial services industry, and development agencies and governments.

ERM said: “Employing over 100 people, and complemented by an extensive network of expert associates and partner groups, CSA Global has supported mineral projects around the globe. CSA Global is recognised as one of the leading specialist mining consultancies in the world.”

ERM said the company is already considered a leading provider of sustainability services in the mining sector, “helping companies operate more safely, efficiently and as stewards of society and the environment”.

It added: “The addition of CSA Global’s services and expertise provides additional capabilities to address clients’ issues and challenges across the full life cycle of their business. This, coupled with ERM’s global implementation capability and access to its 5,000-plus subject matter experts, will provide a world leading service to mining companies anywhere in the world.”

Keryn James, ERM Group Chief Executive, said: “At a time when our clients in the mining sector face major challenges on numerous fronts from investors, customers and broader public sentiment, the acquisition of CSA Global further strengthens ERM’s capability to help our mining clients address their most complex challenges whether that be their business strategy, highly technical exploration or operational issues.

“CSA Global’s already well-founded technical reputation and the two firms’ strong alignment around clients and services creates a powerful capability and service offering that will materially add value to our clients’ business.”

Jeff Elliott, CSA Global’s Managing Director, said: “We are very happy and excited to join the ERM Group, to combine forces, and enhance what we are each doing in the mining sector. CSA Global is passionate about geoscience and exploration and mining practices, and ERM is passionate about sustainability in mining practices. It is a very good strategic fit, both culturally and operationally; our mining services are complementary across geographies, clientele and capabilities.

“Combining our businesses provides the opportunity to offer our clients a far broader range of services, across the entire life of mine value chain, with greater scale, leveraging ERM’s global infrastructure and with the combined value of our broad networks. We believe it creates a world leading position as an advisor to the mining industry.”