Asante Gold Announces Early Works EPCM Contract to Fast Track Bibiani to Production
VANCOUVER, Sept. 07, 2021 - Asante Gold Corp. (CSE:ASE/ FRANKFURT:1A9/U.S.OTC:ASGOF) ("Asante" or the "Company") announces that following a period of detailed review, Harlequin International (Ghana) has been mobilized to initiate the refurbishment of our 3Mtpa Bibiani Mine Processing Plant.
Harlequin is a locally owned company based in Takoradi, Ghana. Since 1998 Harlequin has become a byword for quality in heavy industry within Ghana and internationally. Harlequin practices recognized standards for construction, fabrication, and maintenance and was recently recognized as the Best Specialist Engineering Services Firm 2020, West Africa. It also received the Distinction Award for Component Manufacturing and Fabrication 2020 at the African Business Excellence Awards.
Harlequin has created employment in its local communities by providing opportunities for graduates through internship/national service placements. Over 90% of its staff are Ghanaian. As part of the Asante strategy, Harlequin will continue to focus on building local competence. To this end, the project is expected to employ up to 300 people, including sub-contractors, over its 9-month duration. Asante anticipates that the Process Plant Refurbishment Project will be complete in June 2022.
Douglas MacQuarrie, President & CEO states, "I am impressed by the quality of people, resources and record of success in the mining business that Harlequin brings to this project. Asante looks forward to working with Harlequin and all of our project partners, towards a safe and successful project execution. Works have already commenced on site. Design and planning initiatives for other aspects of the Bibiani Mine Development Project continue to advance in accordance with our previous communications."
In addition, the Company is pleased to welcome Mr. Walter Agbey to our operations management team as Metallurgical Manager. A resident of Ghana, Mr. Agbey holds a Master's degree in Business Administration (Project Management), from Ghana Institute of Management & Public Administration (GIMPA), and a BSc in Metallurgical Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Mr. Agbey has 26 years working experience with mining companies in Ghana. He has worked to develop and commission three gold processing plants, including our Bibiani plant. He is a former Metallurgical- Processing Manager for the Chirano, Nzema, and Asanko-Goldfields Nkran gold mines. He has previously been the Project Manager responsible for several plant upgrades. While working at Asanko, Mr. Agbey led his team to achieve ICMC certification. During this period, Asanko was awarded the Innovation Mine of The Year award for two consecutive years.
"Douglas R. MacQuarrie"
President and CEO
About Asante Gold Corporation
Asante is a pure gold exploration and development company with a high-quality portfolio of projects in Ghana, Africa's largest and safest gold producer. Asante is focused on developing high margin gold projects including the Bibiani and Kubi Gold mines located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. Asante has an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and operators, with more than 24Moz of gold resources and reserves discovered and developed in Ghana. Asante is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange and Frankfurt Stock Exchange and has announced plans to co-list its shares in Ghana. Asante is also exploring its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase projects for new discoveries, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghana's Golden Triangle. Additional information is available on our web site at: www.asantegold.com
About the Bibiani Gold Mine
Bibiani is a historically significant Ghanaian gold mine situated in the western region of the country. Bibiani has previous production of 4Moz, is fully permitted with available mining and processing infrastructure on site consisting of a 3 million tonne per annum mill and processing plant, and existing underground mining infrastructure. In July 2018, Resolute Mining Ltd., the former owner of the Bibiani Mine, based on some 50,500 metres of drilling, released an updated feasibility study for Bibiani (see ASX Announcement dated 13 July 2018) and published JORC compliant Mineral Resources of 21.7 million tonnes at 3.6 grams of gold per tonne for 2.5Moz of gold.
Qualified Person Statement
Scientific and technical information contained in this news release that relates to Exploration Targets, Exploration Results, Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves for the Bibiani Gold Mine, is based on information compiled from public disclosure by ASX and LSE listed Resolute Mining Ltd.. The information has been reviewed and approved by Dan Bansah the Chairman and MD of Minecon Resources & Services Ltd. of Accra, Ghana, a "qualified person" under NI 43-101. Mr. Bansah has over 30 years-experience in the gold mining industry in Africa including 16 years with Ashanti Goldfields when it operated the Bibiani mine. He has an MSc. in Mineral Exploration with Distinction from Leicester University, UK, is a Member and a Chartered Professional of AusIMM, a Fellow of the West African Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (WAIMM) and a Member of the Ghana Institute of Geoscientists.
Mr. Bansah has reviewed and confirmed the current project exploration database and he is content that based on his review and his experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken, there are no differences to the data that would materially affect the mineral resource statements contained in the Bibiani Feasibility Study published by Resolute on 13 July 2018 on the ASX and the Competent Persons Report for the Bibiani Gold Mine dated 17 June 2019 and prepared for Resolute for their London Stock Exchange listing by Optiro Pty Ltd. of Perth, Western Australia.
To the best of the Company's knowledge, information, and belief, there is no new material scientific or technical information that would make the disclosure of the Bibiani mineral resources, mineral reserves or results of the Bibiani Feasibility study inaccurate or misleading. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
For further information, please contact:
Douglas MacQuarrie, President & CEO, tel: +1 604-558-1134; E-mail: douglas@asantegold.com
Malik Easah, Executive Director, E-mail: malik@asantegold.com
Alec Rowlands, Capital Markets Consultant, E-mail: alec@asantegold.com
Valentina Gvozdeva, Business Development, E-mail: valentina@asantegold.com
Kirsti Mattson, Media Relations, E-mail: kirsti.mattson@gmail.com
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the resources, reserves, exploration and development program at Bibiani and Kubi, including results of drilling, and future exploration plans. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, and the Company's inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. The reader is referred to the Company's public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. No securities of the Company have been or will, in the foreseeable future, be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.
LEI Number: 529900F9PV1G9S5YD446. Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
