SEMAFO Reports Production of 244,600 Ounces for 2018; Achieves Annual Production Guidance
Montreal, Quebec, January 10, 2019 – SEMAFO Inc. (TSX, OMX: SMF) reports 2018 production of 244,600 ounces of gold, achieving its annual production guidance.
Operational Highlights
- Record quarterly production of 95,200 ounces of gold, due to a first full quarter of production at Boungou
- Annual production of 244,600 ounces, in line with 2018 guidance of 235,000 to 265,000 ounces
- Production at Boungou totalled 53,100 ounces of gold in the quarter, reflecting average head grade of 6.34 g/t Au
Mining Operations
Boungou, Burkina Faso
| Three-month period | Four-month period | |
| ended December 31, | ended December 31, | |
| 2018 | 2018 | |
| Tonnes processed | 276,800 | 368,100 |
| Head grade (g/t) | 6.34 | 5.75 |
| Recovery (%) | 94 | 94 |
| Gold ounces produced | 53,100 | 63,600 |
During the four months of commercial production, Boungou produced 63,600 ounces of gold, meeting the 2018 guidance of between 60,000 and 70,000 ounces of gold. Boungou produced a total of 75,600 ounces in 2018 including pre-commercial production of 12,000 ounces. The strong performance in the quarter is mainly due to the head grade, as we reached the higher-grade zones of the starter pit.
Mining Operations
Mana, Burkina Faso
| Three-month period | Year | |||||||||||
| ended December 31, | ended December 31, | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 2017 | Variation | 2018 | 2017 | Variation | |||||||
| Tonnes processed | 636,300 | 653,500 | (3%) | 2,573,900 | 2,739,900 | (6%) | ||||||
| Head grade (g/t) | 2.36 | 2.43 | (3%) | 2.36 | 2.46 | (4%) | ||||||
| Recovery (%) | 87 | 97 | (10%) | 93 | 95 | (2%) | ||||||
| Gold ounces produced | 42,100 | 49,500 | (15%) | 181,000 | 206,400 | (12%) | ||||||
Mana production for the quarter and the full year was in line with our expectations. Variations between 2018 and 2017 reflect mainly the change in ore mix.
Development of Siou underground is progressing according to plan. At year-end, we had completed 1,060 of the 5,600 meters of underground development required to commence production.
2019 Outlook
The 2019 outlook and 2018 selected financial results will be released before market open on February 8, 2019.
News release dated January 10, 2019
For more information, contact
SEMAFO
John Jentz
Vice-President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
John.Jentz@semafo.com
Ruth Hanna
Analyst, Investor Relations
Ruth.Hanna@semafo.com
Tel. local & overseas: +1 (514) 744 4408
North America Toll-Free: 1 (888) 744 4408
www.semafo.com
About SEMAFO
SEMAFO is a Canadian-based intermediate gold producer with over twenty years' experience building and operating mines in West Africa. The Corporation operates two mines, the Mana and Boungou Mines in Burkina Faso. SEMAFO is committed to building value through responsible mining of its quality assets and leveraging its development pipeline.