Australia-based West African Resources has awarded Metso Outotec an order for state-of-the-art comminution equipment worth €30 million ($32 million) to be delivered to its greenfield Kiaka gold project in Burkina Faso.

Metso Outotec’s delivery includes two Planet Positive Premier™ grinding mills with a total installed power of 27 MW, as well as Metso Outotec’s proprietary metal and rubber mill linings and spare parts.

Kiaka, an asset with 7.7 Moz of reserves and resources on its books, is West African Resources’ second gold mine in the country on top of its operating Sanbrado asset.

WAF’s feasibility study, released in August 2022, outlined pre-production capital costs of $430 million and a 2.5-year pre-tax pay back at a $1,750/oz gold price for the project. Kiaka was expected to operate over an 18.5-year life of mine, producing, on average, 219,000 oz/y of gold (on a 100% basis).

Matt Scully, Project Director, West African Resources, said: “We are pleased to again team up with Metso Outotec for this project. West African is in an exciting growth phase, as we aim to be a multi-project, producing more than 400,000 oz/y of gold in 2025.”

Oskar Gustavson, Technology Director, Grinding at Metso Outotec, said: “The Premier SAG mill to be delivered to the Kiaka project is one of the largest gear-driven grinding mills in the world with its 18 MW of installed power. The Premier ball mill has been designed to pair smoothly with the SAG mill. Both mills are equipped with fail-safe Metso Outotec Polymer Hydrostatic Shoe Bearing systems, significantly increasing reliability and reducing maintenance costs. We are delighted to work with West African Resources on this project.”