Improvements at the Yanfolila mine in Mali will increase processing capacity by 24%.

The second mill is scheduled to become operational in the third quarter of 2019. Capital expenditures for the project are budgeted at about $13 million.

The Yanfolila crushing circuit is currently a two-stage operation incorporating both primary and secondary crushing to treat a blend of oxide and harder ores. The original project plan was to add a tertiary crushing circuit to allow the plant to process 100% hard fresh ore later in the mine life. However, annual throughput was expected to decrease from 1.24 million to 1 million mt/y when operating with 100% fresh ore, which led to a drop-in life-of-mine average production to 107,000 ounces per year (oz/y) from 130,000 oz in the first full year of commercial production.

The ball mill project is primarily being undertaken by SENET, a South Africa- based project management and engineering firm. Under the terms of an Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Management (EPCM) contract, SENET has assumed and will maintain technical control of and responsibility for the design and construction of the new facilities and will appoint project personnel for this purpose.

SENET was the EPCM contractor for the initial construction of the Yanfolila mine. “Approving the second ball mill in place of a tertiary crusher at the same time as releasing initial results from our 2018 exploration program shows the confidence we have in increasing our reserves at Yanfolila,” Hummingbird CEO Dan Betts said. “The second mill will give us greater flexibility and 24% more throughput when operating on 100% fresh ore.”