(Ecofin Agency) - Abandoned in 2014 by SEMAFO, the Kiniero gold mine was set to resume activity this year, but Robex Resources, its owner, pushed back the resumption date to 2025. Robex postponed the resumption to amend its calendar for ramping up the mine’s future output. 

Robex Resources issued, on March 18, an updated schedule for resuming activity at the Kiniero gold mine in Guinea. According to the update submitted to Guinean authorities, the mine should resume activity in 2025, instead of 2024. 

The Canadian owner of the mine said it postponed the resumption to have time to ramp up the mine’s expected capacity, by leveraging the Mansounia deposit. 

An update issued in December 2023 pointed out that the inferred resources at the Kiniero mine grew by 169% compared to the estimate disclosed in the feasibility study conducted in 2023. According to the December update, the mine could deliver 851,000 ounces (24.12 tons) of gold over 9.5 years. This could increase even more with Mansounia’s resources. 

Robex should issue an updated feasibility study next September, after carrying out additional drilling works at the Mansounia mine. Subsequently, construction works at Kiniero could start with the first gold expected in December 2025. 

"This updated feasibility study will present the revised project while retaining the entirety of the capital invested to date for large-scale development and a quick restart of construction," said Aurélien Bonneviot, CEO of Robex.

Robex awaits the Guinean government’s approval of its plans. 

The Kiniero mine was abandoned in 2014 by SEMAFO. In 2019 it was reattributed to Sycamore. The latter was, however, purchased in 2022 by Robex Resources, which consequently secured the gold mine. The mine has therefore been inactive for a decade.

Emiliano Tossou