Syama, Mali

Overview

Syama, Mali

Syama is located in the southwest of Mali, approximately 30km from the Côte d’Ivoire border and 300km southeast of the capital Bamako.

Syama Gold Mine is a large-scale operation, comprising the established Syama Underground Mine, the Tabakoroni Complex, Syama North and several satellite oxide pits. Syama is owned by local subsidiary Société des Mines de Syama S.A. (SOMISY) in which Resolute has an 80% interest and the Government of Mali holds the remaining 20%. The Tabakoroni complex is owned by Société des Mines de Finkolo S.A. (SOMIFI), part of the Resolute Group.

Syama Sulphide Operations

Syama’s underground mine is a modern sub-level cave operation producing around 2.4Mtpa of ore. All underground production and development activity is owner-operated. The Company operates a fleet of development jumbos, production drills, loaders and trucks. A twin decline access and variable speed primary ventilation system provide capacity for future expansion of underground operations.

The sulphide processing circuit comprises three-stage crushing, followed by ore grinding. The grinding circuit consists of three mills, 1 primary and 2 secondary. Ground ore is then fed to the concentrator, which contains 1 skim air, 2 roughers, 4 scavengers and 3 cleaner cells to produce auto thermal concentrate for feed to the Roaster. The concentrate is thickened to around 70% solids to provide direct roaster feed. The Roaster is an auto thermal circulating fluid bed roaster operating at ~720°C. The calcine product from the Roaster is then processed through conventional CIL, Elution and Electrowinning and Smelting circuits to produce bullion.

The Syama sulphide processing circuit has been progressively upgraded by Resolute, with particular attention being paid to the Roaster. After the major planned shutdowns in 2022, throughput and utilisation have increased, with the interval between future shutdowns extended by replacing much of the refractory lining of the Roaster. Resolute continues to identify opportunities to further enhance sulphide plant throughput and recoveries.
Syama Oxide Operations

Resolute operates several open satellite pits to provide oxide material for treatment at the separate oxide processing facility at Syama. These operations cover 40km of strike along the Syama shear and are served by a dedicated haul road.

The Oxide processing plant has a capacity of around 1.6Mtpa, of oxide and transitional ore. This capacity has been gradually built upon since its construction in 2015 when the plant was rated at 1.0mtpa. The oxide plant comprises single-stage jaw crushing followed by a single, variable speed SAG mill. The circuit contains a gravity concentrator and intensive leach reactor to extract coarse gold. The ore is then processed through conventional CIL, Elution, Electrowinning and Smelting circuits to produce bullion.
Syama Sulphide Conversion Project

In 2023, Resolute commenced construction of the Syama Sulphide Conversion Project (SSCP). The Project will increase overall sulphide processing capacity at Syama by 60% from 2.4Mtpa to 4.0Mtpa by modifying the oxide comminution circuit and upgrading the roaster. The Project is important for the long-term future of Syama as oxide resources deplete and the ore sources become predominantly sulphide. Importantly, the SSCP will retain operational flexibility by maintaining the ability to switch back to treat oxide ore.

The plan is to start to introduce sulphide ore into the SSCP plant once the flotation circuit has been commissioned from Q1 2026. Throughput of sulphide ore will be ramped up from Q2 2026 with sources being a combination of sulphide stockpile material and Syama
North ore.