Hummingbird Resources plc / Ticker: HUM / Index: AIM / Sector: Mining

2 May 2023

Hummingbird Resources plc

("Hummingbird" or the "Company")

Kouroussa Gold Mine Commissioning Begins

Hummingbird Resources plc ("Hummingbird" or the "Company") (AIM: HUM) is pleased to announce that the Kouroussa Gold Mine processing plant has reached the practical completion stage, and has entered the commissioning phase towards achieving first gold pour this quarter, Q2 2023.

The Kouroussa Gold mine in Guinea is a high grade, over 4 grammes per tonne ("g/t"), open pit operation, and is the Company's second operating gold asset in West Africa.

Key highlights:

·      Practical completion on priority systems at the Kouroussa processing plant has now been achieved, allowing the commissioning phase to begin.

·      Pre-operational and cold commissioning is currently underway and, once completed, will move to the hot commissioning phase, followed by the first gold pour this quarter, Q2 2023.

·      Soutex ("Soutex"), Kouroussa's engineering contractor, along with specialist Hummingbird commissioning personnel, are working together on site to coordinate the commissioning phase. 

·      Sufficient ore feed tonnes are on the ROM pad for commissioning, with mining activities accelerating to provide increased ore feed tonnes on the ROM pad for first gold pour followed by name plate production.

·      Hydrotesting completed on the pre-leach, CIL, raw water, and reagent tanks, with mechanical equipment pre-operational testing also in progress.

·      Cold commissioning commenced on priority water and air services systems.

·      OEM vendors on site for dry and wet plant equipment commissioning.

Dan Betts, CEO of Hummingbird, commented:

"Kouroussa is on track to pour first gold within the current quarter, and the start of commissioning of the processing plant is a significant step forward in achieving this objective. As we begin the commissioning phase to bring Kouroussa online, we remain heavily focussed on safety at this busy time. Additionally, operational readiness and the transition to daily operations is a key part of this phase as we look not just to first gold, but to ramping up production to name plate capacity, moving the Company to being a +200,000-ounce, multi-asset, multi-jurisdiction gold producer."  

Further practical completion and commissioning phase updates

Process plant hydrotesting:

·      The Pre-leach, CIL, Detox and Raw water tanks were filled from the raw water supply lines.

·      The reagents mixing tanks were hydrotested by pumping water from the raw water tank into the subsequent reagent mixing tanks.

·      The reagents holding tanks were filled with water using the reagent transfer pumps.

Electrical commissioning:

·      Permanent power units have been installed and are being used to energise the medium voltage ("MV") substation.

·      Final quality assurance and control checks are being performed on the low voltage substations, which are fed power from the MV substation.

·      Design engineer contractors are on site to assist with the commissioning phase.

SAG mill commissioning:

·      NCP International Ltd (international mill specialists) commissioning team, comprising of mechanical specialists, an instrument technician and program logic control engineers, are on site to assist with the commissioning phase.

·      The SAG mill mechanical and piping installations are practically complete.

·      The SAG mill lubrication units are being filled with lubricants and instrument testing has commenced.

·      The SAG mill variable speed drive ("VSD") has been configured.

Ore on the ROM pad for commissioning and increasing for first gold pour: 

·      Sufficient ore feed tones on the ROM pad for commissioning.

·      Overall mining activities by Kouroussa's contract miner, Corica Mining Services, are ramping up to ensure sufficient ore feed on the ROM pad for first gold pour and then into name plate production.

Operational readiness program updates: 

·      Permanent mine camp completed, allowing 140 work personnel to be accommodated on site.

·      Permanent power units installed and operational at site for the commissioning phase, with additional units being installed ready for first gold pour and the production ramp up phase.

·      Security accommodation complete, with increasing security personnel now arriving on site, including security fencing being installed as a priority at the tailing storage facility, permanent mine camp, ROM pad, and around the processing plant.   

·      Increasing processing plant inventory supplies arriving on site including: reagents, explosives for pit blasting, lubricants, grinding media, safety equipment and spares.

·      Final key processing plant, maintenance, geology and administrative personnel are currently being recruited.

Processing plant hydrotesting.

Electrical substation commissioning.

SAG mill commissioning.

Ore on the ROM pad for commissioning and increasing for first gold pour and beyond.

**ENDS**

Notes to Editors:

Hummingbird Resources plc (AIM: HUM) is a leading multi-asset, multi-jurisdiction gold producing Company, member of the World Gold Council and founding member of Single Mine Origin (www.singlemineorigin.com). The Company currently has two core gold projects, the operational Yanfolila Gold Mine in Mali, and the Kouroussa Gold Mine in Guinea, which will more than double current gold production when in production, scheduled for first gold pour the end of Q2 2023. Further, the Company has a controlling interest in the Dugbe Gold Project in Liberia that is being developed by joint venture partners, Pasofino Gold Limited. The final feasibility results on Dugbe showcase 2.76Moz in Reserves and strong economics such as a 3.5-year capex payback period once in production, and a 14-year life of mine at a low AISC profile. Our vision is to continue to grow our asset base, producing profitable ounces, while central to all we do being our Environmental, Social & Governance ("ESG") policies and practices.

For further information, please visit hummingbirdresources.co.uk or contact: