Asante Gold Corporation has commenced mining operations at the Russel Starter Pit after receiving full regulatory approvals. The company’s move to begin mining marks a significant milestone in its growth strategy and contributes to Ghana’s burgeoning gold mining sector.
The Russel Pit is part of Asante Gold’s wider Bibiani Gold Mine project, which has attracted attention due to its high production potential.
Asante Gold secured the necessary approvals from Ghanaian regulatory bodies, including the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These clearances allow the company to move forward with open-pit mining activities while adhering to strict environmental and safety standards.
The Russel Starter Pit is expected to be the initial phase of a larger mining project at Bibiani. The pit will provide early ore feed for the Bibiani Processing Plant, enabling the company to ramp up gold production. Asante Gold is confident that mining activities at Russel will contribute significantly to its overall production targets.
The Russel deposit, located 3.8 kilometres from the Bibiani process plant, holds an estimated 119,000 ounces of measured and indicated gold resources, grading at 1.80 grams per tonne. This latest development positions Asante to accelerate its production plans, with the company targeting output of more than 500,000 ounces annually by 2028.
Asante Gold has outlined an ambitious plan for gold production, with the Russel Starter Pit serving as a catalyst for meeting these targets. The Bibiani Gold Mine is projected to produce approximately 190,000 ounces of gold per year once fully operational, reinforcing Ghana’s status as a leading gold producer in Africa.
The commencement of mining at Russel is expected to generate local employment opportunities and stimulate economic activity in the surrounding communities. Asante Gold has also committed to adhering to Ghana’s local content policies, which aim to maximize the participation of Ghanaians in the mining sector through job creation and the use of local suppliers.
As part of its mining operations, Asante Gold is implementing environmental management systems to minimize the impact on the local ecosystem. The company is also investing in reclamation activities to ensure that the mined areas can be restored once operations are complete.
