Gold processing plant and infrastructure for the first commercial gold operation in Senegal

The Sabodala Gold Project, located in Sabodala in southeast Senegal, approximately 600 km by air from Dakar, encompasses the design and construction of a fully functional gold processing plant and associated infrastructure works.  The operation consists of an open-cut mine and associated CIL process facility comprising crushing, grinding, leaching and desorbtion circuits designed to treat 2.0 Mtpa of gold-bearing ore.

Our scope was to provide the engineering, procurement, construction, management, commissioning and performance testing services for the delivery of the 2.0 Mtpa gold mine processing plant and associated infrastructure including a 650 person accommodation facility, mine vehicle workshops and light industrial areas.

Project Highlights

• First Senegalese commercial gold operation
• Achieved an excellent safety record with over two million man hours managed with one off LTI with predominantly Senegalese labour and minimal safety awareness
• Peak project staffing on site of 1,200 personnel with 80% Senegalese semi-skilled and unskilled labour use
• Overcame significant shipping and land transport logistics issues
• Practical completion on 4 March 2009
• First gold poured on 15 March 2009
• Exceeded the nameplate performance of the plant within the commissioning period
• Completion of the performance trials and client final handover on 10 April 2009.