Asante Gold awards early works EPCM contract to fast-track Bibiani

SE-listed Asante Gold has awarded an early works engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract to Ghana-based Harlequin to initiate the refurbishment of the three-million-tonne-a-year Bibiani mine processing plant.

Harlequin, based in Takoradi, would focus on building local competence, Asante said on Tuesday, stating that the project would employ up to 300 people, including subcontractors, over its nine-month duration.

Works have already started on site and the process plant refurbishment project would be completed in June next year.

Asante last month concluded the $90-million transaction to buy Bibiani, in Ghana, from Australia’s Resolute Mining. The company aims to bring it to production within the next year.

Meanwhile, Asante announced the appointment of Walter Agbey to its operations management team as metallurgical manager. The Ghana resident holds a master’s degree in business administration and a BSc in metallurgical engineering from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Agbey has 26 years working experience with mining companies in Ghana. He has worked to develop and commission three gold processing plants, including the 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.