B2Gold advances Antelope project with mega savings
B2Gold has reduced the estimated pre-production capital cost for its Antelope underground deposit near the Otjikoto mine by US$24 million, from US$129 million to US$105 million. The project forms part of the company’s plan to develop a small-scale, low-cost gold mine with an inferred resource of 390,000 ounces at 6.91 g/t gold, expected to produce 65,000 ounces annually between 2029 and 2032.
“B2Gold is pleased to announce it has approved a development decision on the Antelope underground deposit at the Otjikoto mine. Subsequent to the release of the preliminary economic assessment results for the Antelope deposit on 4 February 2025, B2Gold has completed further optimisation work on a small-scale, low-cost underground gold mine at Antelope, and believes that the estimated pre-production capital cost can be reduced from US$129 million to US$105 million,” the company said.
The Canadian gold miner expects to allocate the majority of its pre-production capital over a two-year phase starting in 2026. Most of this expenditure is scheduled for 2026 and 2027, with production from Antelope expected to increase Otjikoto’s annual gold output to around 110,000 ounces over the life of the underground mine.
B2Gold also anticipates that the Otjikoto operation will exceed its targeted production.
“The Otjikoto mine has continued to outperform expectations into the third quarter of 2025. As previously disclosed, open-pit mining activities at Otjikoto are scheduled to conclude in the near term. During mining of the final phases of the Otjikoto pit, ore tonnes and average gold grade mined have exceeded expectations, providing more robust ore stockpiles than previously anticipated,” B2Gold said.
“Due to the positive ore tonne and grade reconciliations described above, the company is increasing its 2025 gold production guidance for the Otjikoto mine to 185 000 to 205 000 ounces,” it added.
“B2Gold is pleased to announce it has approved a development decision on the Antelope underground deposit at the Otjikoto mine. Subsequent to the release of the preliminary economic assessment results for the Antelope deposit on 4 February 2025, B2Gold has completed further optimisation work on a small-scale, low-cost underground gold mine at Antelope, and believes that the estimated pre-production capital cost can be reduced from US$129 million to US$105 million,” the company said.
The Canadian gold miner expects to allocate the majority of its pre-production capital over a two-year phase starting in 2026. Most of this expenditure is scheduled for 2026 and 2027, with production from Antelope expected to increase Otjikoto’s annual gold output to around 110,000 ounces over the life of the underground mine.
B2Gold also anticipates that the Otjikoto operation will exceed its targeted production.
“The Otjikoto mine has continued to outperform expectations into the third quarter of 2025. As previously disclosed, open-pit mining activities at Otjikoto are scheduled to conclude in the near term. During mining of the final phases of the Otjikoto pit, ore tonnes and average gold grade mined have exceeded expectations, providing more robust ore stockpiles than previously anticipated,” B2Gold said.
“Due to the positive ore tonne and grade reconciliations described above, the company is increasing its 2025 gold production guidance for the Otjikoto mine to 185 000 to 205 000 ounces,” it added.
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