Exploration and development company Toubani Resources has announced the appointment of Lycopodium Minerals as the engineering lead for the Definitive Feasibility Study Update (DFS Update) of the company’s Koboda Gold Project in southern Mali.
Lycopodium’s primary role will be to optimise the processing flowsheet, plant design and both capital and operating estimates for the DFS Update.
The company will work closely with Toubani’s team to manage the study update and together both companies aim to optimise an initial oxide phase, evaluating the potential for an increased processing rate, which could later lead to a boost in annual gold production.
The primary focus will be on an oxide-centric phase, with the subsequent inclusion of fresh material later in the mine plan.
Toubani CEO said: “We are very pleased to be partnering with Lycopodium on the DFS Update. Lycopodium is a Tier 1 engineering company with an enviable track record in both studies and project execution in Mali and West Africa, and its operational insight and experience will be key as we position Kobada as an oxide-dominant gold project of significance.
”The DFS Update will utilise the recent Mineral Resource update as the foundation for the Kobada pit design and mine planning. With some 1.5 million ounces in shallow, free-digging oxide mineral resources, we are able to plan an oxide focussed project phase over an extended life leveraging the technical strengths that make Kobada compelling.
”We look forward to advancing the DFS Update at a key point in time for Toubani and the sector overall given the dearth of low technical risk projects of scale currently coming through the development pipeline,” said Russo.
Lycopodium stands out as a leader in its domain, with an impressive history in Mali and West Africa — the company has successfully completed numerous studies and construction projects in recent times.
Toubani Resources remains committed to advancing its Kobada Gold Project and believes that the collaboration with Lycopodium will significantly enhance the prospects and potential of the project.
The DFS Update is set to kick off immediately, with the goal of completion by the first quarter of 2024.