(Ecofin Agency) - Russia’s Nordgold announced last weekend that its 2018 exploration plan is rapidly advancing at Taparko mine in Burkina Faso, and it’s on track to achieve its objectives of replacing mined gold and increasing resources.

While in 2017, exploration activity added more than 200,000 oz to Taparko’s Mineral Resources and 100,000 oz to the ore reserves, the company plans higher levels in 2018 with over 40km of drilling. Nordgold is working simultaneously at different scales and depth levels at the mine.

“Taparko is maintaining sustainable annual production and resources replacement volumes. Each year the mine continues with large exploration activity, which helps Taparko to remain an important employer and taxpayer in Burkina Faso,” commented the Mineral Resources Director of Nordgold Arnand Van Heerden. 

Overall, the company plans, through its intensive exploration activities, to extend the mine life of its Burkinabe assets, which also include the Bissa-Bouly gold mine.

Louis-Nino Kansoun