History and timeline
On June 18, 2024, the Company announced positive Preliminary Economic Assessment results on the Gramalote Project. Based on the preliminary results completed in 2022, the contemplated larger-scale project with AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. did not meet the combined investment return thresholds for development. In 2023, B2Gold completed a detailed review of the Gramalote Project with the goal of identifying a higher-return project than the previously contemplated joint venture development plan. The results of the review allowed the Company to determine the optimal parameters and assumptions for the PEA.
The PEA, with an effective date of April 1, 2024, was prepared by B2Gold and evaluates recovery of gold from an open pit mining operation that will move up to approximately 97,000 tpd (35.3 Mtpa) with an approximately 16,500 tpd (6.0 Mtpa) processing plant that includes crushing, grinding, flotation with fine grinding of flotation concentrate and agitated leaching of the flotation concentrate followed by a carbon-in-pulp recovery process to process doré bullion. The Mineral Resource estimate for the Gramalote Project that formed the basis for the PEA includes Indicated Mineral Resources of 192.2 million tonnes grading 0.68 g/t gold for a total of 4,210,000 ounces of gold and Inferred Mineral Resources of 85.4 million tonnes grading 0.54 g/t gold for a total of 1,480,000 ounces of gold.
The PEA outlines a significant production profile with average annual gold production of 185,000 ounces over a 12.5 year project life with a low-cost structure and favorable metallurgical characteristics. Additionally, the PEA outlines strong project economics with an after-tax NPV5% of $778 million and an after-tax IRR of 20.6%, with a project payback on the pre-production capital of 3.1 years, and an estimated pre-production capital cost for the project of $807 million (including $93 million for mining equipment and $63 million for contingency). A robust amount of historical drilling and engineering studies have been completed on the Gramalote Project, which significantly de-risks future project development. Based on the positive results from the PEA, B2Gold believes that the Gramalote Project has the potential to become a medium-scale, low-cost open pit gold mine.
The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes a small amount of Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA based on these Mineral Resources will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
B2Gold has commenced feasibility work with the goal of completing a feasibility study in mid-2025. Due to the work completed for previous studies, the work remaining to finalize a feasibility study for the updated medium-scale project is not expected to be extensive. The main work programs for the feasibility study include geotechnical and environmental site investigations for the processing plant and waste dump footprints, as well as capital and operating cost estimates. These work programs, as well as processing engineering and site infrastructure design, are underway and the study is on schedule.
The Gramalote Project will continue to advance resettlement programs, establish coexistence programs for small miners, work on health, safety and environmental projects and continue to work with the government and local communities on social programs.
Due to the desired modifications to the processing plant and infrastructure locations, a Modified Environmental Impact Study is required. B2Gold has commenced work on the modifications to the Environmental Impact Study and expect it to be completed and submitted shortly following the completion of the feasibility study. If the final economics of the feasibility study are positive and B2Gold makes the decision to develop the Gramalote Project as an open pit gold mine, B2Gold would utilize its proven internal mine construction team to build the mine and mill facilities.
Capital expenditures in 2025 at Gramalote are expected to be relatively stable throughout the year, totaling $28 million related primarily to feasibility study costs and ongoing care and maintenance.
Photo via AngloGold.