B2Gold spent in excess of N$91 million for the nine months ending 30 September 2024 on exploration activities at its Otjokoto Gold mine in Namibia. This is nearly double what the miner spent during the same period in the previous financial year.
The mine in, in which the Company holds a 90% interest, continued to outperform during the third quarter of 2024, producing 52,131 ounces of gold, above expectations as a result of higher than anticipated mill feed grade and higher than expected mill throughput. For the third quarter of 2024, mill feed grade was 1.88 g/t, mill throughput was 0.87 million tonnes, and gold recovery averaged 98.8%. Ore production from the Wolfshag underground mine for the third quarter of 2024 averaged over 1,800 tonnes per day at an average grade of 3.64 g/t gold.
Capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2024 totalled about N$18 million for Wolfshag underground mine development.
“Following the release of an initial Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate for the Springbok Zone, the southernmost shoot of the recently discovered Antelope deposit, located approximately three km south of the Otjikoto Phase 5 open pit at the Otjikoto Mine in Namibia, in the second quarter of 2024, the Company has commenced a PEA which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025. Subject to receipt of a positive PEA and permit, mining of the Springbok Zone, coupled with the exploration potential of the greater Antelope deposit, could begin to contribute to gold production at Otjikoto in 2026.
“The Antelope deposit has the potential to supplement the processing of low-grade stockpiles at the Otjikoto Mine through 2031, with the goal of increasing gold production levels to over 100,000 ounces per year from 2026 through 2031,” the miner said last week.
The Otjikoto Mine is expected to produce between 185,000 and 205,000 ounces of gold in 2024.